2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Allington Parish Council 

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held at Allington Village Hall

15 November 2023

Attendees   

Cllr Marsh
Cllr Baron
Cllr Lowes
Cllr Reynolds
Cllr Storer
Cllr Plummer
Cllr Marvin

Janet Morton (Clerk & RFO)

Guests

County Councillor Mark Whittington
1 Resident

1.   WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIR

Cllr Marsh welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2.   APOLOGIES: TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN

District Councillor Pam Bosworth

District Councillor Rob Leadenham

3.   TO RECEIVE DECLARIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011

No declarations of Members interests in relation to agenda items.

One request for dispensation, Cllr Marvin declared an interest regarding the donation towards the AGRA building.

4.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8 September 2023 to be approved as minutes.

Proposed by Cllr Baron, seconded by Cllr Lowes unanimously agreed.

5.   CLERKS REPORT

Correspondence.

St Barnardo Hospice fundraising
SKDC Richard Cleaver
Slow Ways - National walkways
Resident re parking by GYFC on 10 Sept.
Thank you letter to resident for repairing Bottom Street road sign
Housing Strategy Invitation
Parish Council Engagement Session - North and South Kesteven - 7th December 2023
The Rookery
Lincolnshire Community Foundation Launch Household Support funding in South Kesteven
Changes to SKDC Recycling – this is a National Environment Government Scheme and has to be implemented by law.  Bins have been funded by LCC.
Melton Local Plan
Proposed Prohibition of Driving - The Drift & Sewstern Lane

Finance

Income from last meeting as outlined in the respective Finance Reports was noted. 

It was resolved to approve the expenditure since the last meeting as outlined in the respective Finance Reports. 

It was resolved to approve the External Audit 

It was resolved to approve Q2 report

It was resolved to approve the budget to date

It was resolved to approve the 2024/25 Budget 

It was resolved to approve the precept of £24,000 for 2024/25. Proposed, Seconded and agreed by all councillors.

AGRA asked if the Parish Council could donate towards a storage shed for keeping their equipment in.  After discussion it was agreed to donate £400 towards the storage shed. Proposed, Seconded and unanimously agreed.

Grass Cutting Contract for 2024 season
Three contractors were asked to quote for the 2024 grass cutting season.
It was resolved to approve the P E Hempstead & Sons for the 2024 grass cutting season.

6.   DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT

The Drift and Sewstern Lane consultation – the first consultation to try and downgrade many rights of ways within Lincolnshire are to be held.

Speedwatch – DC Leadenham is collecting the names of volunteers for training.

Sedgebrook bridge flooding – The bridge flooding is being looked into by the flood management team.  Unfortunately, this occurs partly due to poor ditch management by the landowners and the railways.

A52 has an increase in accidents which has an impact on all the local villages it is being considered reducing the speed limit to 50mph a champion from each village is wanted as a representative. 

7.   PLANNING

To consider the following planning applications-

S23/0831 Conditional Approval
Date Registered: 27th April 2023 
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Machin 
Proposal: Submission of details in relation to conditions 3 (method statement) and 4 (joinery) of S22/2226 (Replacement timber sliding box sash windows). 
Location: Corner House The Green Allington

S23/1431 Permission Refused
2nd August 2023 Date Received: 
Applicant: Proposal: Mr R Smith Removal of approx. 1530 metres of self-set hedgerow to prevent future flooding of farmland and improve management of the land. 
Location: Marston Lane Allington Lincolnshire NG32 2DY

S23/1491 Permission Granted
Proposal: GT1 - (Sycamore, Cherry) - clearance around telephone wires and limb reduction GT2 - (Limes and Sycamore) - deadwood removal 
Location: Land At The Green Allington 

S23/0830 Permission Granted
Date Received: 27th April 2023
Applicant: Mr & Mrs M Barnett
Proposal: Conversion and extension of outbuildings to gym/home office and open fronted garage
Location: Chestnut Farm, Bottom Street, Allington Lincolnshire NG32 2DT

S23/1505 Permission Granted
Date Received:15th August 2023
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Filby
Proposal: Addition of a bespoke timber and double-glazed garden room.
Location: Old Manor Lodge Bottesford Road Allington Lincolnshire NG32 2DH

S23/1743
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Matt Street
Proposal: Proposed single storey extension to the rear of the property.
Location: Greenbanks, Bottom Street, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2DT

S23/1854
Applicant: Mrs Theresa Burrows
Proposal: Replace degraded brickwork on 3x chimneys. Replace broken bricks with matching reclaimed engineering bricks and repoint with lime mortar.
Location: Plumtree House, The Green, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2EA

S23/1848
Applicant: Mrs Theresa Burrows
Proposal: Replacement of 14 existing windows the front, side and rear elevation.
Replacing single glazed windows with heritage slimline double glazed
Yorkshire Sash windows to ensure identical appearance.
Location: Plumtree House, The Green, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2EA
App Type: Listed Building Consent

The Rookery

Information regarding the outcome of the planning consultation complaint.  Cllr Baron was not happy with the response and feels that it was not looked into properly but accepted that nothing further could be done.

The application regarding works on the site was discussed and a letter has been sent to SKDC planning.

The contractors have already breached conditions three times even before being given a works order.

8.   VILLAGE IN BLOOM

Planters around the village

It was suggested large concrete blocks to be placed on The Green to protect it whilst the building work is done at The Rookery.  Although unsightly it would be for a short term and would protect The Green from damage.

Tree pruning around the Village, Park Road, Community Wood trees - This is now 

The dead wooding and trimming trees of trees around the village has now been completed. The contractor suggested another inspection in a couple of years.

9.   VILLAGE CROSS

To discuss and agree the future maintenance of the village cross. – Cllr Plummer suggested that a team of people look after the weeding around the Cross.  Resident Mr Mould who was present at the meeting put himself forward for this.

10.   PLAYING FIELD

MUGA – Muga maintenance, weed killing done, padlocks on goal posts cleaned of all sand and replaced higher to prevent blockages, 

Damaged MUGA Fencing – Cllr Plummer is still looking into.

Car Park and further extension – The car park hedge has been cut back. Clerk has sourced someone to put weedkiller down over for the area.  The ‘No BBQ or fires’ signs put back, strimming protection has been put around the car park posts.  Further gravel is required for the carpark to level it up, Cllr Plummer to source colour and costing and report back to the council this was Proposed, seconded and agreed by all councillors.

Toilet doors update – The toilet doors have now had a treated veneer over the top to prolong their life.

It was resolved to approve a councillor to do monthly play area checks.  Training will be given via LALC.

It was resolved to get further stones to extend the entrance near the bonfire site entrance.

The artificial grass footpath has become very slippery sand has been applied as a temporary measure. – Clerk to ask Smith Construction if they can give it a clean at the same time as the MUGA clean

11.   DEFIBRILLATORS

Red Phone Box and Playing Field defibrillators update – contractor hoping to be able to fit towards the end of December

12.   HIGHWAYS

The recent flooding caused some of roads to become only passable if you had a 4x4 vehicle.  

The bridge at Sedgebrook - CC Mark Whittington is already in communication with the railways and local farmers.  

The A1 unfortunately is out of our control and is a National Highways issue we are hoping they will be looking into problems.

Sedgebrook Road overgrown hedgerows – This needs everyone to put it on Fix my Street, CC Mark Whittington has already highlighted to LCC but needs more people to do so to support his application to give it higher priority.  

13   POLICIES

It was resolved to approve the following policies 

Code of Conduct
Environment and Sustainability Policy
Communications Policy
Equal Opportunities Policy
Complaints Policy
Media Policy

14.   AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING

Petanque Piste
District Diary

15.   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

3 January 2024

Closed session if required

A 5% pay increase was agreed for all staff