2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Allington Parish Council 

Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held at Allington Village Hall

3 January 2024

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

The Chair welcomed and wished everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year and looked forward to working together to continue making Allington a lovely safe Village to live in.

To add structure to meetings and become more professional, the Chair asked councillors to “speak through the Chair” raising their hand to be invited to speak. The Chair encouraged all councillors to participate. 

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

District Councillor Pam Bosworth

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

No declarations of Members interest in relation to agenda items.

No requests for dispensation. 

4.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 15 November 2023 to be approved as minutes. -  All agreed

5.   CLERKS REPORT

Correspondence.

Proposed Prohibition of Driving - The Drift/Sewstern Lane
Parish Council Engagement Session - North and South Kesteven - 7th December 2023
Flood Alert
Summary of Devolution Deal Lincolnshire
Thank you letter from AGRA for the donation.
Community Ownership Fund
Digital Transformation survey
Email from a resident regarding Sedgebrook Rd hedges.
Invitation to stakeholder workshop 18th January - SKDC Tree & Woodland Strategy

Finance

Councillors discussed how best to deal with the “playing field fundraisers” finances. This voluntary group are an important asset to the village and take primary responsibility for a series of events each year, raising funds to be used in conjunction with the parish council for playing fields projects. A full report of the fundraiser’s accounts will be available for the next meeting.

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. 

Q3 report was noted

Grants

The clerk informed the council that she had had a meeting with the grant advisor at SKDC and was advised that for most positive grant outcomes you need to show that you have involved the local residents, it was suggested that a survey regarding any applications is done, the best way to do this is via internet sites such as survey monkey.  Generally, there is a response rate of about 5%. 

6.   DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT

Flooding

DC Mark Whittington informed the council that The Beck was flushed through before Christmas but a month’s rainfall in 24 hours it could not cope.  The bridge flooded due to the amount of rain in a such a short timescale, the work done previously is sufficient with normal rainfall, monitoring will continue to see if further work is required.  During the latest floods the fire brigade pumped out the bridge at Sedgebrook and Gonerby Lane these have remained clear since. It has been agreed with Railways and LCC that the bridge drainage will be jetted on a regular basis.

Ditches are the responsibility of the landowners. DC Whittington is having a meeting with the Drainage Board agency who is responsible for enforcing the clearing of the ditches by landowners.

DC Whittington asked that any information regarding ditches and flooding to be sent to him preferably with photographic evidence.  

Peach Lane with regard to the field flooding over into Allington Gardens and Bottesford Road next to Cow Lady Lane and opposite the playing field were also highlighted.

Fix my Street should be used to report flooding as well as to the LCC flood site.

A councillor suggested a live webcam to assist road users to see if the bridge was clear.  

Sedgebrook and Allington could work together reporting the state of the bridge and putting signs out.

Grants

DC Rob Leadenham informed the Council that a Community Grant and Prosperity Grant is available but believes that they may not be around for much longer. 

SKDC is going to start having information stalls and come to village events and shows where possible to explain what the District Council does and how to get assistance if required.

DC Leadenham is to send out a list of who to contact in an emergency within the District Council

An Emergency Plan is required for the village this will give information as to who is available in an emergency within the village and have a contingency plan if required. Cllr Marvin volunteered to look at this.

Speedwatch

Training for the speedwatch programme will hopefully be in February.

Areas for specific speed checks to be noted and sent to DC Leadenham.

7.   PLANNING

To consider the following planning applications-

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

S23/1803 Approved
Applicant: Mr McCabe
Proposal: Submission of details reserved by Conditions 3 (Archaeology), 4 (Construction Management Plan), 6 (Materials), 7 (Site Levels), 9(Landscaping), 10 (Sustainable Buildings) and 11 (Access Improvements) of planning permission S23/1017 (Erection of 2(no) detached 1.5 storey
dwellings following demolition of the existing dwelling)
Location: The Rookery, The Green, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2EA
App Type: Discharge of Conditions (Planning)
Any damage to the village green area whilst building work at the Rookery is in progress is to be photographed and sent to the planning office immediately.  Photos are to be taken now to show that there is no current damage.

S23/2317
Applicant: Barry and Carole Raynor and Hobster
Proposal: Garage conversion and reforming roof to provide first floor accommodation including rear dormer.
Location: 28 Park Road, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2EB

S23/2228 Approved
Date Received: 4th December 2023
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Knox
Proposal: Non-material amendments in relation to S15/2610 (The erection of single storey side and rear extensions and two-storey front, side and rear extensions; erection of a two-storey detached garage)
Location: Conifers Sedgebrook Road Allington

8.   VILLAGE IN BLOOM

Planters around the village

The possibility of further planters around the village green was discussed - clerk to source some information regarding planters.

9.   PLAYING FIELD

Damaged MUGA Fencing the source has unfortunately used all the panels they had but will let Cllr Plummer know when they purchase some more.

The artificial grass footpath has become very slippery, sand has been applied as a temporary measure. The contractors that maintain the MUGA have been asked for a quotation to include this area when they next attend – clerk awaiting a response
No parking on the grass signs to be sourced - clerk

10.   DEFIBRILLATORS

Red Phone Box and Playing Field defibrillators are now in place - Cllr Reynolds to register the defibs and put contact instructions on each in case of usage.

11.   HIGHWAYS

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

It was suggested that a live webcam be placed to observe the state of Sedgebrook Bridge rather than people having to use the Facebook site.  Cllr Lowes to supply further information as to costing.

Cllr Plummer and Cllr Marvin to speak to Sedgebrook Parish Council to see if they would be willing to do a joint venture with the webcam and monitoring.

Sedgebrook Road overgrown hedgerows – Fix my Street report from LCC have said they will be monitoring but they have other priorities at the moment.  Cllr Marsh to send the response to DC Whittington.  

The purchase of a further 5 x 30mph signs at £20 each to place around village was agreed. 

12.   EASYFUNDRAISING

Unfortunately, no information regarding Easyfundraising was promoted on the run up to Christmas period, the council has been told that it will be promoted on a regular basis from now on via different types of media.  

13.   AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING

Planters for the Village in Bloom 
Emergency Flood Plan
Petanque Piste funding for a picnic table
District Diary to prevent a clash of dates with other villages
To review the Village Plan

14.   DATE OF NEXT MEETING

6 March 2024