October 2024 Minutes
MINUTES OF OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD MONDAY 28 October, 2024 7pm AT THE FOX AND HOUNDS OLD SOMERBY
PRESENT: Cllrs: Vicky Lowndes (Chairman) Nigel Percy (Vice-Chairman), Veronica Stephens, Betty North and Parish Clerk, David Holmes. LCC Councillor Charlotte Vernon.
Also present 5 members of the public.
PUBLIC FORUM.
During the Public Forum the following issues were raised by residents present:
a) Chevrons on the corner into Old Somerby: ACTION – Clerk to report on Fix my Street for the second time to have the ivy removed and any broken signs replaced. Their present conditions constitute a danger to motorists;
b) 6 Bungalow Site – concerns over water gathering on the roadway which cannot now disperse via soakaways or via dropped kerbs;
c) The Telegraph Pole is now situate in one of the gardens – might affect access;
d) Salt Bin
return to original site if possible.
ACTION: Clerk to try and arrange an on-site meeting with a SKDC Planning Officer and Councillors. Individual residents were encouraged to make their own complaints.
1. The Chairman welcomed everyone present
2. APOLOGIES: Cllr Peter Burrows had given his apologies due to illness. Accepted;
SKDC Councillor Sarah Trotter has given her apologies but had provided a written report.
3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS/APPLICATIONS FOR DISPENSATIONS: None.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the meeting held 5 August, 2024 had been circulated. They were unanimously accepted as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. ACTION: Clerk.
5. CLERK AND COUNCILLORS’ ACTIONS AND UPDATES/LATEST.
a) Cold Harbour issues:
i) The remaining pothole had now been filled;
ii) Cllr Percy raised the issue of the lack of indication to motorists of the turn into Cold Harbour. There are no white lines across the entrance and the one sign is hidden in a dense hedge. Motorists tend to be too close to vehicles endeavouring to turn into Cold Harbour. Cllr Percy had experienced a recent accident there. It is an area of concern requiring attention by LCC Highways. ACTION: Councillor Nigel Percy.
b) Next Parish Newsletter; pending;
c) The Bus Shelter frontage; repair is in hand;
d) Visibility of drivers at the Roundabout. The Clerk reported the response from LCC Highways which was to the effect that no action is needed in their view;
e) LCC – Local Deer incidents – The LCC Highways had replied to the effect that current signs should be sufficient if drivers take care, in their view;
f) SKDC Local Parish Clerks Forum: The Clerk had been unable to attend but gave a resume.
6. LOCAL COUNCILLORS UPDATES:
a) Cllr Trotter had given her apologies but had sent a report dealing with the following matters:
a) Cllr Trotter had attended a forum at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks which inter alia dealt with a proposed Consultation locally concerning the future of the site once the Army leave in 2028. Old Somerby Parish Council will be included in that Consultation; A Public Consultation will take place at Grantham Cricket Ground, Gorse Lane on 22 and 23 November 2024. Formal Invitations will be sent out.
b) Cllr Trotter had attended the opening of the new Customer Service Centre underneath the main Council Offices at the Picture House. It is a vast improvement.
c) Planning Enforcement have attended the Traveller Site at Cold Harbour. Pending.
B) Cllr Vernon was is attendance and gave her verbal report:
i) LCC had published details of a flyer concerning wrist bands available for dementia suffers as an indication to others;
ii) Concern had been raised at LCC that many people who could claim pension credit had not done so. In view of the cuts to winter heating allowances for pensioners those who could claim were being encouraged to do so to ease their financial situation this winter.
iii) Cllr Vernon had supported a recent request that the 40 mph speed limit signs on the approach to Cold Harbour should be moved back nearer the Roundabout to reduce speeding as motorists approached Cold Harbour;
iv) Open Reach will be working in Old Somerby between 6- 8 November and could result in a footpath closure in the village. Cllr Vernon was thanked for her helpful report.
7. POSSIBLE PURCHASE OF LAND NEAR MIDDLE PATH:
The Chairman reported that the Parish Council is hoping to be able to acquire a piece of land near Middle Path. There will be a full local consultation process to discuss its best use including a Public Meeting to enable a full discussion in due course.
8: PLANNING:
a) The current Financial Report was circulated by the Clerk which had been signed off by Lead Councillor Finance – Cllr Peter Burrows and also by the Internal Auditor Nick Craft. The Report was noted by Councillors and approved. ACTION: The Clerk -Copy to be attached to these Minutes and published;
b) Audit 2023/2024; It is understood that the Resident has once again submitted an Objection to External Auditors regarding the current Audit 2023/2024. The Parish Council has not seen the Objection but understands no action is being taken on it.
c) Annual Asset Inspection: The Clerk reported that Cllr Stephens and he had inspected the Parish Councils Assets on 8 October 2024. The only issues related to the Millennium Seat which required a wash down – already actioned by Cllr Stephens; and some signs required repositioning and cleaning – to be undertaken by a volunteer and the Clerk:
d) Lloyds Bank - now clear OSPC is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme;
e) Solar Speed Indicator – This was purchased in 2022 with a 2 year warranty. An Extended Warranty is offered by Elan City who supplied it. ACTION: The Clerk;
f) LALC Letter re an alternative banking arrangement –Noted – no action.
9. PLANNING:
a) S21/1715/24/1514 re The Conifers, School Lane– Update given by the Clerk. Objections had been submitted but Non-Material Amendments had been granted by the Planners.
b) National Planning Framework Consultation. The new Labour Government had undertaken this Consultation which is now ended. The outcome is awaited.
c) S24/162 Planning application regarding Blue Harbour House, Cold Harbour – No issues.
d) 6 Bungalow Site, School lane. The Clerk had raised with the Planners the issue of replacing the hedge and some trees as was required condition of the original grant. The Clerk had been informed a member of the Enforcement Team would visit and report back.
10. REVIEWS:
a) Community Resilience Plans . The Clerk reported on a Forum presented by LCC and SKDC attended by LOCAL Parish Clerks and Cllr Sarah Trotter. This is a Government initiative and there existed some 38 Local Resilience Forums in Counties across England including Lincolnshire. All Emergency Services being represented. There is a County Resilience Plan in force to deal with sudden Emergencies such as Severe Flooding, loss of Electricity (or gas), Pandemics, major fires, cyber attacks, extreme cold or heat. Large scale issuers such as these could occur in Lincolnshire.
Local Communities are encouraged to prepare their own “Local Community Resilience Plans”. A Template is available and parish councils are encouraged to join with other local parish councils to work together on this plan. The Clerk reported that it was agreed at the Forum that Old Somerby Parish Council might join with Ropsley, Ingoldsby and Booth Pagnell councils.
AGREED: Cllr Percy and the Clerk to take this on and report back in due time. Possibly a local Resident might wish to help also.
b) Neighbourhood Plan – Councillors noted that the National Planning Framework Consultation is awaited. The delay has caused a considerable delay to the SKDC Local Plan update. The Clerk had consulted on it as required and the advice to parish councils generally is to delay consideration of the annual review for Neighbourhood Plans until more is known, unless a review is urgent. AGREED: A review is not considered urgent and is delayed in line with the advice given.
c) Determination made concerning a Resident under the parish councils Vexatious Policy. The Councillors noted that the Resident’s Appeal to the Upper Tribunal against a decision of the Information Commissioner‘s ruling earlier this year is still pending. AGREED: The Determination to be renewed for a further 6 months. ACTION Clerk
11. CORRESPONDENCE :
a) SKDC – New Household Battery Collections – now well published and in hand.
b) Greater Lincs Devolution – progressing
c) LALC – sudden death of Pete Langford – Webmaster. Pete’s sad sudden death was noted. The clerk had send condolences. He will be greatly missed.
d) LCC Temporary Road Closure School Lane. Now concluded.
e) LALC email 25 July 2024. ACTION: Clerk.
f) Call for space for Nature. Hedgehogs in particular are in danger and need gaps in fences to be able to roam for food.
12: DATE AND TIME OF THE NEXT MEETING:
This was fixed for Tuesday 28 January 2025 at 7.15pm with a Public Forum at 7pm.
The meeting closed at 20.55
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OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL
Financial Statement for Parish Council Meeting 28 October, 2024
BANK RECONCILIATION:
Balance as at 14 October, 2024 13738.02
(No outstanding cheques)
Income since 1 April 2024 4223.32
Expenditure since 1 April 2024 Cheque No.
Elan City Repair to Speed Indicator 191.90 013
D Warden Grass cutting 100.00 014
Community HeartBeat Maintenance Defibrillator 29.94 015
LALC Annual Subscription website maintenance 108.00 016
LALC Annual Subscription for services 89.38 017
D Warden Grass cutting 115.00 018
Parish Clerk Expenses for year ended 31 March 2024 262.84 019
Zurich Insurance renewal 311.57 020
D Warden Grass cutting 115.00 021
D Warden 115.00 022
Krystal Hosting renewal 84.00 023
D Warden Grass Cutting 115.00 024
D Warden Grass Cutting 115.00 025 Lost
-do- (026 Replacement)
Sub Total 1752.63
Inspected and approved
(Signature redacted)
Nick Craft, Internal Auditor
21 October 2024
(Signature redacted) (Signature redacted)
David J Holmes Cllr Peter Burrows
Parish Clerk and RFO Lead Councillor Finance
21 October, 2024 24 October, 2024
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OLD SOMERBY PARISH COUNCIL
INTERNAL AUDIT INSPECTION
BY NICK CRAFT INTERNAL AUDITOR.
On the 21 October, 2024 I undertook a review of the accounting systems, controls, risk management, governance processes and financial practices of Old Somerby Parish Council. I had regard to my Report dated 13 May 2024. Once again, after a thorough inspection I found them to be sound, safe and reliable.
I noted that the practice continued for the Lead Councillor Finance, Councillor Peter Burrows, to visit the clerk before every Parish Council Meeting to also undertake a check of the accounts and associated files before counter-signing the Financial Statement presented at each Parish Council Meeting. I was informed that Cllr Burrows was due to attend the clerk’s office for that purpose on Thursday of this week, 24 October, 2024.
I inspected the Financial Statement which had been prepared for that meeting. It had yet to be signed off by Cllr Burrows. I was able to confirm its accuracy. I have a copy of that statement.
I am available to answer any questions from the Parish Councillors.
(Signature redacted)
Signed…………………………………………Nick Craft, Internal Auditor
21 October, 2024
(Signature redacted)
Signed…… …………………………………..David J Holmes, Parish Clerk and RFO
21 October, 2024.