March 2022 Minutes
ALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held at Allington Village Hall
Wednesday 09 March 2022
Present: Councillor Plummer
Councillor Marsh
Councillor Mould
Councillor Scott
Councillor Reynolds
Councillor Sharp
Councillor Goodall
Janet Morton (clerk)
Guests District Councillor Mark Whittington
1. WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIR
Cllr Plummer welcomed everyone to the meeting. District Cllr Mark Whittington was congratulated on becoming Grantham Towns Deputy Mayor as of May 2022.
2. APOLOGIES: TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN
2.1 No apologies
3. TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
3.1 To receive declarations of Members interests in relation to agenda items.
3.1.1 No declarations received.
3.2 To consider request for dispensations from Members.
3.2.1 No requests received.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4.1 It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 19 January 2022. Duly signed by the Chair Cllr Plummer.
5. PLANNING
Applications received and determined since the last meeting on 19 January 2022
5.1 S21/2330 Approved
Applicant: Miss Molly Wright
Proposal: Replacement of existing conservatory with oak framed orangery.
Location: Woodbine Cottage Side Street Allington NG32 2DZ
5.2 S21/1831
Applicant: Mr Alan Duley
Proposal: Erection of Conservatory.
Location: 46 Meadow View Allington Gardens Allington Lincolnshire NG32 2EH
5.3 S21/2479 Approved
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Filby
Proposal: Erection of a two-storey side extension, alterations to first floor bedroom to create an en-suite & partial demolition of existing double garage.
Location: Old Manor Lodge Bottesford Road Allington NG32 2DH
5.4 S22/0364
Applicant: Sue Jackson
Proposal: T1 -Sycamore - Crown reduce sycamore tree by 3-4 meters
Location: Allington Hall, Bottesford Road, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2DH
5.5 S22/0383
Applicant: Mr Paul Hempstead
Proposal: Works to Trees
Location: St James Church Yard, Bottom Street, Allington, Grantham, NG32 2DT
6. CORRESPONDENCE.
6.1 All general correspondence circulated since the last meeting was noted.
6.1.1 Queens Jubilee update letter.
6.1.2 National Grid re upcoming work on power lines.
6.1.3 AGRA letter re updating the refurbishment of the defibrillator on The Gardens.
6.1.4 Request for written support for improvements to Holy Trinity Church.
7. FINANCE
7.1 Income was noted from 19 January 2022 as outlined below.
7.2 To resolved to approve the expenditure since 19 January 2022 as below.
7.3 It was resolved to approve the Quarterly Accounts for September 2021 December 2021
8. VILLAGE CROSS
8.1 Update on funds
8.1.1 The total raised so far is £15382.84.
8.2 Village Cross renovation update
8.2.1 Requests for the renovation is now waiting for Historic England to respond and give approval regarding the type of stone to be used. Hopefully this will be resolved by the end of March 2022.
8.2.2 3 contractors have been asked to quote for the renovation: -
a) Goldholme Stone have given a quotation of £35,762.98 inclusive of VAT this includes removal of the concrete plinth and cleaning of the cross.
b) Stamford Stone initially gave a quote of £14,820.00 including VAT but when asked to requote with the additional work required of removing the concrete plinth, they would not give an exact figure stating that additional work would be costed as work progressed. This was due to them not knowing what they might find once the concrete was removed from the plinth. Councillors considered that this approach may result in too much additional and unknown cost.
c) RLS Restoration Ltd has given a quote of £22,200.00 including VAT. This includes replacing the plinth and cleaning the cross with the latest Thermatec system which will help with matching the new stones and making the pointing less visible. They also recommended the use of Cadeby Limestone as being the most resilient as opposed to Clipsham/Ancaster Stone.
8.2.3 Cllr Scott proposed RLS Restoration to do the work, seconded by Cllr Reynolds and unanimously agreed by all councillors.
8.2.4 Cllr Mould and Cllr Plummer will contact the firm and inform them of the decision. The Council is now waiting for agreement from Historic England to been given as to which stone and mortar is to be used . Once this has been agreed the Clerk will write a formal letter for RLS to proceed.
8.2.5 £6,700.00 including VAT shortfall to be made up from council funds. The VAT will be reclaimable and any surplus funds will return to the councils working capital Cllr Sharp proposed and Cllr Marsh seconded all councillors unanimously in favour.
8.2.6 A grant application that had been sent to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for up to £10,000 unfortunately this was unsuccessful.
9. QUEENS JUBILEE
9.1 Lighting of the Beacon and events for the Queens Jubilee update.
9.1.1 A calendar of events has been produced by Cllr Scott with all the different events that are going to take place each day over the Jubilee weekend with timings. This will be published on all media sites.
9.1.2 Cllr Scott is to apply for a grant from SKDC for assistance to help fund the various items that need to be bought for the events.
9.1.4 Fireworks and other costs come to approximately £1300 plus VAT which Cllr Scott is hopeful that the grant (if successful) will cover. Cllr Scott is going to see if other sources would be willing to cover the expenses if the grant is unsuccessful.
9.2 Green Canopy.
9.2.1 Trees have been planted along Marston Lane, and others are due to be planted in the Community Wood and Playing Field. The trees are to be added to the Green Canopy database and given a virtual plaque. Cllr Goodall to follow up.
10. PLAYING FIELD
10.1 Cllr Marsh and Clerk have been investigating renewal of 3 panels, still awaiting responses from companies. It was discussed whether the damaged ones could be repaired Cllr Sharp to look into this.
10.2 Playing field hedges have now been trimmed for the first time in 3 years. A dead silver birch was also removed.
10.3 Dog Fouling on the playing field seems to have improved with none being located by the dog poo warden.
10.4 Signs to encourage people to collect their dog excrement have been purchased and will be placed around the playing field along with one for the MUGA stating no dogs allowed inside.
10.5 Wild flowering the bonfire site has been agreed and volunteers have been found for this to proceed. It is expected that it will cost no more than about £50.
10.6 Refreshing of the toilets
10.6.1 Security gates outside the toilets require adjusting Cllr Scott volunteered to sort.
10.6.2 The sapele doors are deteriorating and will need replacing in the near future.
10.6.3 The walls within the toilets need refreshing.
10.6.4 A deep clean is required of both toilets to bring them up to scratch.
10.6.5 A light in the ladies doesn’t work.
10.6.6 The internal screens in the toilets require some attention to stop them wobbling.
Cllr Plummer said he would repair these.
10.6.7 A filing cabinet needs to be removed and a cleaners cupboard installed.
10.7 A sink, cupboards and worktop have been sourced by Cllr Scott who has volunteered to fit the items and connect the sink outside waste pipe.
11. PUBLICATION AND UPDATES ON MEDIA SITES
11.1 All sites are now up to date with Minutes with a link to the Parish Council Website.
12. HIGHWAYS
12.1 There was a discussion as to whether the road would be needed to closed during the cross renovation. It was decided this would not be necessary due to access being available around the cross for any vehicles however this will be checked with the contractor.
12.2 District Councillor Mark Whittington informed the council that the signs warning of the turning to Peach Lane are on order and the SLOW painting on the road has been done.
13. RED PHONE BOX
13.1 A quote has been received from X2 Connect for the placement of a red telephone box fitted out ready for a defibrillator to be connected. The total cost will be £5,225.00 plus VAT. The ringfenced funds raised so far stand at £2,023.00. The shortfall of £3,202.00 to be made up from council funds was proposed by Cllr Marsh, seconded by Cllr Reynolds and unanimously agreed by all councillors
14. GREAT BRITISH SPRING CLEAN
14.1 Cllr Goodall agreed to lead the Great British Spring Clean for the village this year. Updates will be posted regarding this.
13 April 2022
16. ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
11 May
17. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Hedges in St James churchyard
Village Cross
Red Phone Box
Queens Jubilee
Playing Field
Notice board for Allington Gardens
7 Jubilee Trees
Moving of existing Defibrillator or purchase a new one.