2025 Minutes

Londonthorpe & Harrowby Without Parish Council

Clerk; Peter A. Armstrong 27 Belton Ave Grantham Lincs NG31 9JE

Tel 07929321426   E-mail londonthorpeharrowby@ntlworld.com

The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 8TH Jan 2025 at Belmont school. The Meeting started at 7.00pm, Pete Armstrong the Clerk took the notes.

Councillors present:  Paul Bakker, Alan Bowling, Carol Markwell, Paul Bavin, Richard Keeler, Geoff Parnham, Paul Nesbitt and Scott McGrane. Y Martin arrived at 7:30 from work. Cllr C Markwell took the Chair. 9 members were present. and SKDC Cllr P Gadd were also in attendance.

24/63 Apologies: Avril Gregory, Roland Wright). LCC Cllr L Wootten sent her apologies by email.

24/64 Declarations of Interest; Cllr A Bowling declared that as he is now assisting at SKDC, he will at times declare any interests to the meeting as it goes along. It is not expected that this will arise.

24/65 Notes of the 13th of November Meeting; these were agreed and signed as a true record, proposed by A Bowling Sec P Nesbitt Unan.

24/66Clerks Progress report: All covered elsewhere in the agenda.

24/67 Financial Statement No 5: Councillors as usual had received the reports taken off the Scribe system prior to the meeting. The Clerk went through the report in the detail explaining all the payments. 

Salaries £2101.25, HMRC £764.22. L/O: Gardens £166.18 VAT £12.83, Repairs £268.68 VAT £0.61, Strimmer £387.19 VAT £64.55. Grass Mats £1517.34 VAT £252.89

Office: Cloudnext £179.98 VAT £30.00. Comm Orchard:  £360.00 VAT £60.00, Meeting Exp £17.76 VAT £2.96, Training £24.00 VAT £4.00. Bank Charges £12.60.

S137 St Johns Grass-cut £250, LIVES £250.00, Foodbank £250.00. 

Income Grant Com Orchard £599.25, Interest £84.17, Donation £100.00. Total £783.42.

Total Expenditure £6549.30 VAT £427.84.

Payments due prior to the next meeting: Salaries, Repairs, Office Annual Expenses, Section 137s £250 to Bhive, Fitting of play equipment at Londonthorpe & Bridge End Grove.

Agreement to accept the Financial Statement No 5 for 2024/25 plus the normal expected payments for up to the March meeting was proposed by R Keeler seconded by S McGrane who signed them off. Agreed Unan. 

24/68 Precept 2025-26: the proposed precept increase, of £1000 up to a £34000.00 total was confirmed. Proposed A Bowling Sec G Parnham Unan.

24/69 Leisure & Outdoor: A. Playground Safety: the ROSPA Inspection has taken place two items reported for immediate fixing. 

B. Belfry: Reported repairs required at this site from ROSPA, the parts have been purchased and work to be completed next week.

C. Londonthorpe Amenity Park Etc:. Swings to be fitted by WACS they are in storage and subject to the weather conditions will be done this month.

Church Lane Tree. The Cercis tree was planted by villagers and was paid for by a donation from the Clerk. Memorial Tulip Bulbs, these were also planted by the above around the tree. The Planters were once again plated up by the villagers.

The Defibrillator has been fitted a small problem has arisen with heater switching off after any power cuts, it is always accessible.

D. Bridge End Grove: New Noticeboard required to allow for the fence to be repaired. This will now be done in the next financial year. Agreed. The Play Equipment: we expect the equipment to be deliver later this month and WACS will be doing the erection. We have taken possession of a large amount of other equipment including Rockers and Trim Trail. Will be fitted ASAP.

E. Withambrook: Community Orchard, we now have received the first half of the Grant and some clearing work done which used over 50% of that. Selected trees a problem as all councils who have received grants in Lincolnshire have gone for the local varieties. A selection of neighbouring counties agreed. Trees have been ordered ready for planting in early 2025. Working Party in the next two weeks to finishing clearing the site. A suggestion to ask some Belmont pupils to assist with planting was agreed.

F. Hills & Hollows: the Information board frame has been destroyed by vandals. A decision to be made by L&O as to the next steps. Hedges: Tony Parker has completed the cutting of the hedge. R Keeler is continuing to cut out the Hawthorn, but now with our new strimmer, both were thanked. Working Party: new date to be set. 

G. Jubilee Mount: /Blessed Hugh More: Working Party: Quote for the pathway received, we have asked for some more information. Awaiting the contractor to clarify a couple of things about the number of steps. Possibly hold fire on the work until the new financial year. 

H. Woodland Trust Working Parties: Three held so far this season, all working to raise the clearances over the Five Gates Footpath. Next meeting12th Jan 25 where the raising of the crowns on the oaks will be undertaken.

I. Millennium Garden: The school Gardening Club will recommence in March and then continue to look after it. Discussion was had about whether or not the Apple tree should be removed as it is leaning and also blocks out the sunlight to the plant’s underneath.

20/70 Planning: Ash Tree Farm, Church Lane &: Welby North Solar farms nothing further heard from Planning ongoing.

Somerby Hill: (Bloor’s) They have started work on site roads and drainage; it appears to have caused flooding to properties as they have disturbed some underground water source Cllr R Wright has had had a successful hands-on approach over the weekend. He sent emails and phoned SKDC & Bloor’s. Bloor’s came back quite soon but SKDC still have not connected with us. Bloor’s did some more work on the Monday and the problem has stopped. Cllr R Wright was duly thanked for his work on this. His connection with Bloor’s has been invaluable. The Clerk had contacted SKDC and Bloor’s by email but no response.

Bloor’s Street Naming: we have been asked to provide street names for the estate for consideration by Bloor’s & SKDC. After discussion it was agreed on prop by R Keeler Sec P Nesbitt that we put forward a list of names relating to the 80-year anniversary of the ending of the war, this is to recognise Spittlegate’s involvement, this includes Aircraft and Missions etc flown from the camp. A list of ten names to be forwarded. A secondary list of Birds will be kept should our suggestion be refused.

Spittlegate Garden Village: nothing new. A Bowling related to details about S19 cases locally including one for 205 Bridge End Road.

The Barracks: Ministry of Defence Consultation Event some members attended this event and questioned them about numerous things. All in all, this new team seem easier to work with and they have said they are keen to work with us. A few incorrect statements they put out were corrected by our members.

All other items received, passed out as they arrived.

A request to put a name to the road we know as Queen Mary Lane has been put forward. At present SKDC don’t know that that’s what it’s been called since the war. This was due to the Queen Mary transporters using that road to access the camp. The original suggestion put forward by the developers of the traveller’s site have requested Gipsy/Gypsy Lane/Road, this we could not agree with.

20/71 Highways: Harrowby Lane Drains; this we thought was sorted but one is again blocked outside the new bungalows. Its full of runoff from the site. Cllr L Wootten dealing with for us.

Harrowby Lane Speed Indicator Device: the SID is working well with vehicles noticeably slowing when they spot it. Clerk & A Bowling to obtain the info from it for the Newsletter.

Londonthorpe: Mobile SID. Now recharged ready for putting up again. To work with a resident to replace.

Community Speed Watch: lack of volunteers, meaning very little action at present. This coming week is National Road safety Week it would be good to have at least one event, C Markwell to see if they can muster a team.

Harrowby Lane: Lorry Parking in a dangerous manner without lights close to the junctions of Kenilworth and Fifth Aves. Inform Police, LCC.

Road Sign High Dyke/Harrowby Lane Junction: This has again been demolished in an RTA, report to LCC

24/72 Emergency Planning Event: Cllr Bowling outlined the next steps in setting up this team. This previous weekend had highlighted the need as we saw many people local flooded etc from the extreme weather. The events at Eastwood Drive/Bloor’s Site also highlighted what the future may bring.  All members have been sent the copy of the notes from the working party formed to take this matter further. It was agreed to progress this by firstly advertising and main story in the Newsletter. Members also agreed a £1000 pot for any setting costs not covered by LCC.  Risks include Major Fire on the Industrial Estate, Solar farm, Plane Crash, PWGB incident, Chemical Spillage, Weather related incidents (Floods) and Road Accidents (Heavy Goods Carrying Hazardous Goods) etc. the Committee that started to work on this of Cllrs A Bowling, P Nesbitt, P Bakker, R Wright, G Parnham & the Clerk will continue until set up.

20/73 Newsletter: items will include Emergency Planning (AB), L&O (GP), Highways, Gardens, Planning inc Solar, Bloor’s & PWGB (CM, AB, PA, RW), Precept, PCSO’S & Vicars reports if possible, Adverts (PBk), Chairs Report (CM) LCC Report, W Parties, Belton Festival & SID report. Along with usual PC information

Belton Community Event: this is going ahead again, and we have been invited to attend. It was agreed to do so.

24/74 Policies: None this meeting.

24/75 Councillor Area of Responsibilities: Cllr P Gadd SKDC, informed us of a meeting to be held with the PCSO’s. The Clerk & A Bowling hope to be invited to attend.

.24/76 Correspondence: As usual all other relevant correspondence has been passed on as it arrived by email. 

24/77 Matters for the 12th of March 2025 Agenda.  This is also the Parish General meeting.

Meeting closed 8.55pm 

 

Next meeting: @ Belmont School Wednesday March 12th, 2025, at 7.00pm. 

Signed as a true copy of the meeting held November 8th, 2025.