Minutes 2022

WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 14th FEBRUARY 2022

IN REDWOOD DRIVE COMMUNITY CENTRE

Present:        Councillors:          Barling, Barnshaw, Bayston, Gallagher (Chairman),

    Mrs Hopkins, Kenyon, Newman, Ms Norman,

    Stewart, Williams,

Clerk:                   Mrs Smith, 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

1.   Apologies for absence. (Reasons to be given to the Clerk in advance of the meeting)

Apologies were received from Cllr Edwards, Mrs Belli, Hallam, Sanders and Spence.

2.   Declarations of interest for any agenda item.

None.

3.  Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the meeting held on 10th January 2022.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Barnshaw that the minutes of 10th January were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

9 agreed, 1 abstention, Carried.

4.   Finance

a)   Monthly finance report – to receive and accept the monthly finance report.

It was proposed by Cllr Barling and seconded by Cllr Stewart that the finance report be accepted.

All agreed.  Carried.

b)   Signing of cheques. To resolve to authorise the BACS payments listed by the RFO. And certify invoices.

It was proposed by Cllr Barnshaw and seconded by Cllr Williams that the BACS payments and invoices could be signed.

All agreed.  Carried.

5.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk informed that they had received the full playground inspection report from Wicksteed.  There were mainly low risk items highlighted, with one high risk being the wetpour at the Village Hall that we already knew about, the total cost of repairs will be £2,415.00.

We have had wind damage to two trees in the burial ground.  The trees have been made safe and Continental will be cutting back the trees and removing the branches at a cost of £300.

6.   Matters arising from the last meeting.  Only for discussion.

Cllr Williams asked if there was any update on the Horse & Jockey.

The Clerk informed that Cllr Spence had spoken to someone at Ever So Sensible, who had confirmed that they were in discussions to take over the pub and had been since early 2020 before COVID.  They had done some work inside the building and they were meeting with star again that week.

7.   Village Hall One Way System.  Update on the work.

Highways are going to repair potholes and mark out the current car park, a new layout for the car park is going to be drawn up.

Highways have concerns about the old tennis court / basketball court being turned into a road / car park, they believe that it may not be constructed well enough to take such use.  Therefore, they are going to drill some holes to see.  If it is not and they need to redo a section for the road they estimate this will cost around £10,000.  The remaining area will be resurfaced and marked out for car parking.

Highways mentioned that we may need planning permission for the road, the Clerk has contacted NKDC and was informed that we will.  Robert Doughty Consultancy are going to contact NKDC and see what is required on our behalf.  Therefore, the contractors have been put on hold, pending approval.

The Clerk and Cllr Sanders have had a good look at the project and have established that one of the football pitches will have to be moved as it is very close to the proposed road.

What will be the new entrance will be improved, by having some trees removed, new fencing and gate erected and signage.  This will make the area visible for passing traffic and clearly signpost the Village Hall and Playing Field.

Lights for the new road are proposed to be placed on the end of the Changing Rooms and Band hut.

8.   Queen’s Jubilee picnic in the park.  Update on the event.

The picnic in the park will be on Sunday 5th June from 2pm to 6pm. 

We have ordered the large marquee, this will allow the event to go ahead whatever the weather, we can have the sides up or down. 

Foss Dyke band have confirmed they will be able to attend and we have booked Cleopatra Ridgeway to sing.

The bar will be open and we will do teas and coffees.  With a free cake for everyone.

People will be asked to bring their own picnic or purchase from the food trucks. 

We will have games, bouncy castle and we hope to have a family game of cricket.   In the past we have done children’s races, this could tie in with the cubs idea of mini Olympic games.

9.   Redwood Drive Community Centre.   Update and discuss the plans going forward.

The Clerk informed the council of the problems with the Community Centre, for those who were not aware.

In 2019 some cracks appeared in the building that were of a concern and so a building surveyor was brought in to assess the building.  His findings were that the building was built as a temporary building in the 1970s.  It has no foundations and was only expected to last around 30 years.  With ground movements, due to the number of trees surrounding the building, the building is to be demolished within 5 years, making that 2024.  Due to COVID things have not happened and now we need to move forward.

It will be very costly to built a new building, we do not qualify for any grants as we already have a Village Hall and Community Hub and we are not in a deprived area.  To get a loan to pay for the building, financially can not be justified, as the building does not pay for itself and the running costs can be costly.  A loan would be paid for by all the residents in Waddington and is used by just a few.  Therefore, we have to obtain the money in other ways, such as selling off land.

The Clerk has been in contact with Robert Doughty Consultancy, who are going to put together a plan of works. 

The idea being that we will first have some plans drawn up and then we will need to do public consultation.  This will determine whether or not we go forward with the plans for a new building or we just demolish the old one.

10.   Urgent matters for attention – Items which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency due to special circumstances.

None.

11.   ‘In Camera’ item.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that in view of the special/confidential nature of the business about to be transacted it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw.

All agreed.  Carried.

1.  Parish Council staff.  It was agreed that the HR committee would meet. 

12.  Date of the next meeting.  The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 14th March 2022 in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 8.40pm.

Reports

RAF

Fg Off Gillian Talbot and Fg Off Georgia Challenger attended the meeting on behalf of RAF Waddington.

Fg Off Talbot informed the council that they were starting to reintroduce more visits and social events.

Fg Off Challenger informed that in March there was going to be Operation Cobra Warrior taking place and the Red Arrows will be moving to Waddington later on in the year.  There will be another exercise taking place in September.

County Cllr Tom Dyer

Cllr Dyer informed that he was aware of the 2 potholes on Valley Road, last week he had requested an emergency repair on the potholes.  They had been repaired with a temporary repair and they will be back to do a proper repair.  He is looking into Valley Road and would be happy to hear about any issues with the road, like parking etc.

He had received a complaint regarding the new footpath on Station Road, he has had a look at it and the contractors went of plan to help a resident, but it makes the footpath slope, the contractors will be out to fix the issue at their cost.

LCC are meeting on Friday to discuss the budget, the proposal is for a 5% increase in Council tax, 3% for adult social care and 2% to help with the funding gap from the government.

District Cllr Peter Burley, NKDC Report

Cllr Burley sent his apologies.

District Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, NKDC Report

Cllr Cawrey sent her apologies.

District Cllr Lance Pennell, NKDC Report

Cllr Pennell sent his apologies.

Members of the 10th Lincoln Cubs from Waddington attended the meeting.  10 Cubs addressed the Council and informed them of things they like about cubs and things they would like the Parish Council to consider for them and the people of Waddington.

Things they like about cubs:

• Going on camps
• Playing games in the Scout Hut and outside
• Earning badges for our uniforms and camp blankets
• Being outside together
• Visiting fund and interesting places together
• Trying new activities like crate stacking
• Learning new skills like first aid and knot tying
• Making new friends that we don’t go to school with
• Interacting with our leaders
• Going on trips together

Things they would like the Parish Council to consider for us and the people of Waddington:

• A twisty slide, roundabout, monkey bars and a miniature train in the play park area
• A garden area with flowers and benches so people can observe wildlife
• A village water play area
• No mowing of grass for one month to protect wildlife
• Weekend clubs or activities for young people, arts and crafts, sports, outdoor activities, indoor games
• A village youth council
• Bug hotels around the village to support wildlife
• Basketball and tennis courts
• A village Olympic Games event
• Signs around Waddington explaining the history of the village to help us with our Local Knowledge badge

The Parish Council thanked the cubs for attending and agreed to look at their ideas.