March 2021 Minutes
MINUTES OF OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD BY ZOOM
TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2021 7PM
Present: Cllrs: Lowndes, Stephens and Burrows with Parish Clerk David Holmes.
Also present: Cllr Bob Adams, Maisie McMahon by invitation and 2 members of the public.
1. APOLOGIES: An apology had been received from Cllr North which was accepted as being an acceptable reason for absence. Cllr Trotter also apologised as unable to log in.
2. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS: None
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting held 12 January 2021 had been circulated. A typographical error at 8b which should have read - 2 X 3 Bed-dwellings - has been corrected.. Proposed: Cllr Lowndes they be accepted as a correct record. AGREED unamimously.
4. PREVIOUS CLERK: The Clerk reported that all of the money stolen had now been repaid.
5 .CLERK AND COUNCILLORS' ACTIONS/UPDATE REPORTS:
a) Bus Shelter Renovation:
The Clerk reported that 2 Contractors had visited the site and both considered the bus shelter to be a sound
structure merely in need of power washing and repainting as necessary. A window could be fitted at a cost of circa £600 if
desired. Cllrs Burrows and Stephens had visited the site and agreed with that synopsis. A volunteer Working Party has been
set up and the necessary equipment sourced. They will report back regarding a possible seat with prices. An email from a
resident had neen received suggesting the structure be replaced with a more modern version to provide better vision and
safety. A new bus shelter had been priced at circa £2575 plus VAT and the cost of the hard standing.
AGREED Unanimously: The Working Party to proceed as above and report back. ACTION: The Clerk.
b) Flooding issues::
The Clerk reported he had forwarded as requested a video showing flooding on the Main Road
in January 2021 to Anglian Water. It had been acknowledged and he was waiting a further response. ACTION the Clerk.
d) Speeding:
The volunteer had forwarded recent data which had been distributed to Councillors. It shows the average speed of those
speeding at around 38mph. The were some notable individual very high speeds. The average speed overall remains at 29mph.
The second new bracket should be delivered shortly. ACTION: The Clerk.
d) The Well Head::
The Parish Council has been in discussions with the Solicitors for G A Jenkinson & Sons Ltd regarding the Village Well Head.
The Well Head bears an inscription which reads “In compliance with the will of the late Rev John Myers that a benefaction
should be given to the inhabitants of the Parish of Somerby this well was sunk for their use – this tablet erected to his
memory. AD 1811”.A second inscription reads “This Well was sunk in this spot by permission of the Rev E Dowdeswell DD”.
The landowners have indicated that following a review of their Deeds it was discovered that the land on which the Well Head
is situated is within their legal ownership and the land was registered in 2019.
The latest letter from the Solicitors indicates “For the avoidance of doubt, our clients fully intends to preserve the Well Head
so it is there for all inhabitants of the village to enjoy for many years to come and it has insured the Well Head in the sum
of £10,000.” The Parish Council welcomes this statement and hopes it can now see a way forward to settle the issue.
The Parish Council, having taken legal advice, understand that statement to mean that inhabitants of the village will have
full and unrestricted access to the Well Head in perpetuity. They also understand that the Landowner having insured the
Well Head will also maintain it.
For many years up until now the Parish Council has taken responsibility for the maintenance of the Well Head on several
occasions. The Parish Council has previously worked with the landowner in that maintenance. It is hoped that co-operation
can continue.
Accordingly, in the terms of the above understanding and in the best interests of all concerned the Parish Council propose
to take no further action. In those terms the Parish Council will consider removing the Well Head from its Asset Register
and cease to insure it and the matter can be settled.
The Parish Council will take that to be the case, as stated above, unless we hear to the contrary by the next Parish Council
meeting.
e) Roundabout: The Clerk reported that it was now clear that the work on moving the Roundabout would take place in
October 2021 or threabouts. The intention was to move and rebuild the Roundabout on a "Like for Like" basis so as to
accommodate the new 5th road. The Clerk had been in touch with the LCC pointing out that the existing stonework on the
Roundabout had deterioated to the extent it seemed unusable for the new Roundabout. He had forwarded a photograph with
a suggested alternative design with virtually no maintenance requirements. He was awaiting further responses. He
suggested enlisting the help of Cllr Bob Adams as well as keeping all Councillors informed. AGREED: ACTION the Clerk.
f) Village Seat: The search for a suitable location continues. ACTION: The Clerk and Councillors.
g) Grit Bins: The supply of grit from the LCC was kindly stored at White House Farm. The bins were now full but a further
supply will be obtained later in the year for storage at the Farm.
h) Litter Picking: The Clerk reported there were 7 local volenteers who had all been briefed regarding safety. The Parish
Councl was very grateful for their involvement.
6: LCC LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE: Cllr Adams gave a comprehensive report concening recent developments at LCC
in particular that the Government had recently given the green light for the County to move towards a Unitary Council.
He mentioned the forthcoming Election which would involve County Councillors elections as well as the Election of the
Lincolnshire County Councillors and also the Old Somerby Parish Referendum concerning our Neighboourhood Plan.
He said that Litter seems to be a real issue in most areas. In one Litter Pick alone over 100 bags were collected.
7: SKDC LOCAL COUNCILLOR UPDATE: Cllr Trotter had given her apologies.She had sent a summary of current issues
facing the SKDC. Those included reiterating the significant steps taken nationally as we follow the roadmap out of Lockdown.
Everyone was still urged to take all necessary precautions to safeguard their health and also others.
There will be some changes regarding channels of communication into the Planning Service. A new appointment would be
made whereby the Planning Policy, Development Management and Special Project Functions will now report to a single
Planning Lead.
8. PLANNING APPLICATIONS:
S18/0944 Appeal against planning refusal for traveller site at Cold Harbour. There was no further news. The Clerk had
obtained some data showing some 6000 vehicles daily use both the High Dyke and also the A52. The appeal before an
Inspector would be by ZOOM on a date to be announced.
9 SAFER TOGETHER TEAM: The newly appointed Local Co-Ordinator Maisie McMahon was present. She was thanked
for her attendance but because of time being so short she was asked to come to the next meeting to give her briefing.
10. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN: The last stage of the process - the Referendum - could not be reached last year due to
the Pandemic. The Referendum will now take place on Thursday 6 May 2021 when voting will take place at the Polling
station in Old Somerby at the Fox and Hounds. On the same day there will also be elections for LCC Councillors and
also for the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
9 FINANCE: a) Payments over £100 i) £150 grant to the local Paroachial Church Council and ii) £245.46 for the Clerk's
annual expenses claim. b) Finance update:The clerk had supplied the councillors with the update showing a balance of
£9373.33. c) To consider joining LALC Annual Traning Scheme. It was decided not to join.
12 RETENTION OF DOCUMENTS POLICY: The draft policy had been circulated to Councillors. AGREED Unanimoulsy:
ACTION: The Clerk.
13. CORRESPONDENCE: a) Email from Roythornes Solicitors re the ownership of the Well Head. See item 5 d) above.
b) Email from Resident regarding the Bus Shelter. Noted at item 5 a) above.
c) Amended Bus Timetables: Details had been published on the Notice Boards.
d) Email from Resident re the Minutes. See Item 3 above.
e) The Woodland Trust Free Tree Offer. A Resident had written in expressing interest. Various sites had been considered
on land in the control of LCC. Those enquiries to continue. Whilst the current offer of free trees had now closed it would
be opened again in May and also September 2021. As the Parish Council had no land of its own to plant trees Residents
will most likely be able to plant trees in their front gardens. Anyone interested should contact the Clerk. This is a Nation
Wide iniatiative to have trees planted across the county for a variety of valid reasons not least being to benefit climate
change and alsofor future generations to enjoy and benefit from. The Resident to be thanked for her concerns.
14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The clerk advised that HM Government had declined to renew the legislation allowing
ZOOM meetings to continue and from 17 May 2021 council meetings would have be be face-to-face. A national leg
challenge was in hand though.
It was intended that the next meetings would include both the Parish Annual Meeting and also the Annual Parish Council
Meeting. They were both fixed for TUESDAY 25 MAY 2021 at 7pm. Further confirmatory details will follow.
The meeting closed at 7.42 pm.
Annexed to these minutes.
a) The Finance Update.
b) Recent speeding Data.
OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL
Bank Reconciliation for PC Meeting 31 March 2021
Bank statement 477 9976.65
Unpresented cheques:
100495 LALC 77.83
100496 Old Somerby PCC 150.00
100497 Unipart 98.40
100498`Clerk’s Expenses 245.46
100499 Print Hub 31.63
603.32
Balance *9373.33
*The balance includes £250 ring fenced donation from
Mitchells and Butlers to be used towards Bus Shelter Renovation due
to completed shortly.
David J Holmes
Parish Clerk
30 March 2021