2025 Minutes

 

Present: Cllrs S Marvin (Vice Chair), C Baron, C Storer, J Plummer, R Leadenham (SKDC) and M Whittington (LCC)

In attendance; Kate Griffin (Clerk & RFO), 16 village residents.

 

1. WELCOME

Due to the absence of the Chair the meeting was Chaired by the Vice Chair, Cllr Marvin. Cllr Marvin welcomed all those in attendance and also welcomed the new Parish Clerk, Kate Griffin.

 

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND REASONS GIVEN

Apologies were received from Cllr Reynolds (Chair) due to illness and Cllr Scott due to holidays.

 

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

No declarations were made

 

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

It was resolved to approve the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 8th January 2025 as a true record of the meeting. Cllr Storer was the proposer and Cllr Plummer seconded the resolution.

 

5. CLERKS CORRESPONDENCE REPORT 

Clerk reported on the correspondence detailed on the agenda received since the last meeting.

It was resolved to approve:

Payment of invoice from Allington Gardens Residents Association for the replacement defibrillator pads.

 

6. CLERKS FINANCE REPORT

Schedule of payments for approval – date and signature of 2 x cllrs required.

New invoices received since the last meeting were read out by the clerk.

 

Since the last meeting and following advice from the internal auditor the following invoices were received which required payment due to deadlines for payment but would still require to be approved and two signatures. It was resolved to approve the payments already made of the following: 

 

Tax payment to HMRC £98.80

LALC Annual Training Scheme £162.00

Allington Gardens Defibrillator pads £264.00

Invoice received from LALC regarding payment for 3 hours of webmaster time £64.80

Invoice received from Hempsteads regarding the payment for cutting the hedge in St James Churchyard & Cutting the lower branches around the inside of the playing field £372.00

 

Invoice from Smith Construction for maintenance inspection of the MUGA £360.00

 

The following new invoices were also received since the last meeting and it was agreed and resolved to approve payment of:

 

GDPR Date Protection Act fee of £52.00 invoice (paid by Direct Debit)

Invoice from G Guilder for the hedges £120.00 

LALC New Clerk Day lunch £15.00

Email from Webmaster advising how many minutes usage we have left(49). Invoice requested for a further 5 hours £108.00 ( invoice since received ).

Receipt from Parish Clerk to purchase a printer for the use of parish council £159.99

 

Two further invoices were received since the agenda was raised which will also require payment before the next meeting. These were included for approval to be paid:

1st Galaxy Fireworks deposit £484.38 + VAT to be paid from ringfenced playing field account.

EDF Energy electricity supply Feb 2025 estimated reading £56.39

 

It was resolved to approve that the fireworks deposit could be paid.

 

The EDF invoice was discussed and agreed to submit an actual reading rather than the estimated.

It was also raised by Cllr Baron that the invoice for EDF/ electric should be paid from the playing fields fund raising account as this electric is to supply the playing fields and is not for electric used by the parish council. Cllr Marvin agreed and commented that it would however be courteous to discuss this with the playing field fund raising committee before actually putting into place . Cllr Storer suggested that it should start from the new financial year April 2025.  (and it was agreed that a meeting would be arranged with the Playing Field Committee and for the clerk to check how much of the budgeted amount for electric had been used since April 2024.) A meeting is to be arranged with the Fundraisers.

 

Donation of £35.00 made in advance of use of the playing field car park for overflow parking for a wedding at Allington Manor in May 2025

 

 

15 &16. DISTRICT/COUNCTY COUNCILLORS REPORT AND VE/VJ DAY

Cllrs Leadenham and Whittington advised that they both had to leave the meeting early by 845 pm and requested that items 15 and 16 of the agenda were brought forward at this point. Cllrs had no objections to this,

Cllr Leadenham updated on SKDC latest news and asked about the VE/VJ day anniversary celebration plans. Discussion took place regarding the celebrations including an update on replies from groups and whether Allington would be lighting the beacon. The Parish Clerk updated councillors on the response from various groups so far.

Cllr Whittington gave an update on the recent flooding issues and discussed various investigations which have taken place by the highways floods team since. Cllr Whittington also confirmed that a representative from highways and flooding will attend the APM in April.

Cllr Whittington also advised he was working on a representative from National Highways to hold a meeting regarding speeding issues on the A52 between Sedgebrook and Bottesford. Cllr Baron agreed to attend the meeting as representative of Allington Parish Council and Cllr Whittington advised he would email CB with details of the meeting once he had them.

Cllrs Leadenham and Whittington left the meeting at 845 pm.

7. CLERKS PLANNING REPORT

Applications sent out in advance of the meeting were read out by the clerk. 

 

- Application No: S23/1098 Date Received: 13th June 2023 Applicant: Dr Cilla Eisner FIRST SCHEDULE Use/operations/other matter Replacement roof to art studio including roof lights SECOND SCHEDULE Location: Home Farm House Bottesford Road Allington Decision/Date 21st January 2025 The South Kesteven District Council hereby certify that, on the 13th June 2023, the details specified in the First Schedule above in respect of the land referred to above is NOT LAWFUL within the meaning of Section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), for the following reason(s):- 1. The proposed alterations do not accord with Class C (b) of Schedule 2 Part 1 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. The lawful development certificate is refused.

 

- Application No: S25/0255 Applicant: Mr Richard Cookson Proposal: Section 211 notice for the following works: Maple tree (T1) to fell. Maple tree (T2) -25-30% crown reduction and crown thinning. Cracked Willow tree (T3) - to be felled. Conifer (T4) - 25-30% crown reduction and crown thinning. Wild Cherry tree (T5) - 25-30% crown reduction and crown thinning . Monkey tree (T6) - crowned at base. Shrubs on property boundaries to be maintained, reduced and thinned, ensuring aesthetically no impact to the property appearance. Laurel (T7) - reduction in height by 50% to bring in line with garage guttering. Location: Rose Barn, 5 Dalestorth Court, Sedgebrook Road, Allington, Lincolnshire App Type: Trees in CA - Section 211 Notice Case Officer: Telephone Ext: Email: Alex McDonough 01476 406247 alexander.mcdonough@southkesteven.gov.uk I have received a Notice for consent to carry out work on trees as described above within the Conservation Area. The forms, plans and any other submitted documents can be viewed by clicking on the following link, using the format S25/0255 : www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planningsearch/ I would be pleased to receive any comments the Town/Parish Council may wish to make on the proposal within 14 days of the date of this letter. If a formal reply is not received by 7th March 2025 it will be assumed that you do not wish to make any comments. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries

 

8. OPEN LETTER

Cllrs discussed whether the letter was sent to residents. The Parish Clerk advised that she thought it was on the website but would check this and report back. 

It was proposed and resolved to carry this forward to the next meeting on May 14th. Proposed by Cllr Plummer and seconded by Cllr Baron.

 

9. VILLAGE HALL 

Cllr Marvin reported that disappointingly no communication had been received from the VH

Cllrs briefly discussed a request for a grant by the village hall committee and  agreed that the village hall need to provide more evidence of ideas of how they are going to generate income to support the grant. 

Cllr Marvin discussed the delivery of defibrillator case for the village hall and advised that an electrician had been sourced and work would be carried out shortly.

 

10. PLAYING FIELD

 

Cllr Plummer confirmed that the hedges have been cut and are satisfactory as per the invoice.

Cllr Plummer also confirmed that the Playing Field car park posts require maintenance Cllr Plummer is willing to carry out the work with assistance.

Cllr Marvin asked the attendees from the Playing Fields Committee if they could assist?  Cllr Plummer explained in more detail to the PFC the work involved. The PFC confirmed they had the required machinery to assist with this and it was agreed that Cllr Plummer to make contact when ready.

It was resolved to authorise the costs of the cement required which was proposed by Cllr Baron and seconded by Cllr Storer.

Discussion of quotation for MUGA Maintenance from Smith Construction received.  

It was discussed that due to the high costs of maintenance whether this should be continued with and whether to approach the village residents for their opinion.

Cllr Marvin mentioned that Cllr Leadenham had previously confirmed the surface would not qualify for a grant to change its use. Cllrs discussed whether the area was getting beyond repair and it was agreed on the advice of Cllr Leadenham that the Parish Clerk is to contact Victoria Herbert on the funding team at SKDC for further advice to find out whether any grants or funding might be available. 

Cllr Whittington also advised there may be a potential source of funding from WREN if a location was within a certain radius of a coal mine of which Allington is. It was agreed that the Parish Clerk should also check this with Victoria Herbert who would be able to advise further. 

Cllrs agreed not to include this at the APM until further information regarding possible funding towards maintenance was received. 

 

11. BUS SHELTER MAINTENANCE

It was agreed at the previous meeting that works would be looked at in the spring.

Cllr Marvin asked Cllr Plummer whether he had been able to contact Richard Bradley regarding this. Cllr Plummer confirmed that he had not yet spoken with Richard, but would have an answer for the next meeting.

Cllr Marvin asked Cllr Leadenham for an update regarding the emptying of an additional dog waste bin on Marston Lane. Cllr Leadenham agreed to look in to this and report back.

12. DOG WASTE BIN FOR MARSTON LANE

Cllr Marvin confirmed that the village only has 2 dog waste bins and that a third one was required on Marston Lane and enquired whether Cllr Leadenham could investigate the costs involved in having a 3rd bin. (The village only has 2 dog waste bins currently one on Peach Lane and one on the playing field with a third required on Marston Lane). Cllr Leadenham agreed to investigate further and respond with costs.

 

13. REVIEW REPLACING CURRENT SPEED INDICATOR WITH A SOLAR POWERED UNIT

It was agreed to put discussions for this on hold.

 

14. ALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE

Following discussions at the last meeting regarding the lack of usage of the Allington Parish Council Facebook Page, options are either delete or deactivate.  It was the opinion that it is not used and the Village FB page was a more useful tool. Cllr Storer offered to monitor the page if the PC wished to carry on with their own page. It was agreed to wait until we had a full council attending to make the final decision.

 

15. DISTRICT / COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT

Brought forward at request of councillors due to having to leave early.

 

 

16. VE/VJ DAY CELEBRATIONS

Emails had previously been read by the Parish Clerk at item 15. Councillors agreed it was a very disappointing response.

 

17. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING 

Cllr Whittington has already confirmed that a guest speaker will attend to discuss local flooding. The Parish clerk confirmed all groups had been sent a letter of invitation.

Cllr Baron suggested the Parish clerk reminded residents via the village facebook page nearer the time to generate interest to attend along with some posters around the village. Also to contact John Slater to add to the parish village hall website . It was agreed this also needs to be included in the next Allington News. It was resolved that Cllr Storer would put this in to Allington news.

 

 

18. INTERNAL AUDIT

Cllr Marvin advised that she felt many of the issues raised by the auditor were inherited from previous years.

 

It was discussed that many policies and procedures highlighted, could be resolved by Cllrs and the new clerk. Cllr Marvin advised that contact had been made with LALC for their advice and guidance. The Clerk will have a buddy to refer to.

Cllr Baron suggested that there should be an additional meeting solely to go through the audit and resolve any further outstanding recommendations, seeking further advice from LALC if needed. 

 

It was therefore resolved that the internal audit would be discussed and resolved at an additional meeting on April 7th 2025. This was proposed by Cllr Storer and seconded by Cllr Baron.

 

19. COOPTION

It was proposed to move this to a separate meeting on April 7th for discussion and to invite the applicants to attend.

A closed session will be required for this.

 

 

20. HAWORTH GROUP – DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS NEAR A1 GONERBY MOOR.

It was discussed to arrange a meeting for the village residents to attend and give their views with the Haworth Group. A date of April 23rd was proposed and Cllrs requested that the clerk contact Haworths to arrange for them to present to the village. Also, for the clerk to post a notice inviting residents to the meeting on the Facebook page and posters around the village.

 

21. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

 

Additional meeting for 7th April:

Internal Audit

Co-option (closed session).

 

Agenda items for next meeting 14th May 2025:

Open letter

Facebook page

Outcome of the Haworth/ residents meeting

 

 

22. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

 

7th April 2025

 

The meeting closed at 9.08pm