Minutes 2023

              WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

                                    MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

                                                    HELD ON 13th MARCH 2023

                                                     IN THE COMMUNITY HUB

Present:        Councillors:          Barling, Barnshaw, Bayston, Gallagher, Mrs Hopkins, Kenyon,

    Sanders (Chair), Spence, Stewart, Richardson, Williams,

    Wilson

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 who was unable to attend due to work commitments and Cllr’s Hallam and Norman who were absent due to health reasons.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that they accept the apologies and reasons for absence.

All agreed.  Carried.

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 13th February 2023.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Williams that the minutes of 13th February were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

9 Agreed, 2 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 Barnshaw that the finance report be accepted.

All agreed.  Carried.

b)   Authorising of the payments. To resolve to authorise the BACS payments listed by the RFO and certify invoices.

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

All agreed.  Carried.

5.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk informed that Lindum had been unable to attend the Annual Parish Meeting, and therefore, would be attending the next Parish Council meeting on the 17th April.  They would be attending at 6.30pm, and therefore it was up to the Councillors if they wanted to attend or not.

The new bus shelter on the A607 will be installed on the 27th March.

The structural survey on Redwood Drive Community Centre, will be carried out next week.

The Clerk informed that she had had a request for wi-fi in the Village Hall.

It was agreed that the Clerk should look at the cost of having wi-fi put in.

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

None.

7.   Co-option.  To receive and discuss applications for co-option.

A request to be co-opted onto the Council had been received from Mr Roger Richardson, who was in attendance at the meeting.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Barnshaw that they co-opt Mr Richardson onto the Council.

10 Agreed, 1 Abstention.  Carried.

Cllr Richardson joined the meeting.

8.   Sidney Hall Playing Field.  To discuss the play equipment on the field.

Cllr Wilson informed that the new climbing wall on Sidney Hall Field was a good addition to the field, however, young people were using it as a rebound wall to play football and so  could a rebound wall be considered for them.

The Clerk had some pictures of a rebound wall for the Council to see. 

It was agreed that the Clerk should get some quotes and bring it back to the next meeting.

9.   Energy costs and energy efficiency.  With the rising cost of energy, discuss the way ahead, such as solar panels on other buildings.

Cllr Wilson asked if due to the increase in energy costs, especially at Redwood Drive Community Centre, if it would be cost effective to install solar panels.

The Clerk informed that the Playing Field Trust had been looking into them for the Changing Rooms and she had received some emails about grants that were available.

It was agreed that they would look at the costs and grants available.

10.   The Village Hall one-way system.  To receive and discuss the quotes received for the work.

The Clerk informed the Council of the quotes received.  It was discussed how the costs had increased due to the rise in prices of materials, the specification had been set by highways and the planning permission had put in some stipulations.

It was proposed by Cllr Kenyon and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that they go ahead with the work.

All agreed.  Carried.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Barling that they go ahead with the cheapest quote of £93,271.29 + VAT.

All agreed.  Carried.

11.   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.

12.  Date of the next meeting.  The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Monday 17th April 2023 in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 8.30pm.

Open Forum

Mr Graham Woolsey for Hollywell Road had two questions for the Council.  He asked for an update on Redwood Drive Community Centre as the residents down there had not heard anything since the consultation.

The Clerk informed that they had had difficulties getting the structural survey, but they now had someone, and it was going to be carried out next week.

Mr Woolsey asked if they could be kept informed via the magazine.  He also commented that at the last North Hykeham Relief Road consultation event, he had asked if it could be moved down to Redwood Drive as it would affect those down there more.

County Councillor Dyer informed that at the last consultation event they had just received one request to move it to Redwood and therefore for continuity they had decided to remain at the Community Hub.

County Cllr Tom Dyer, CC Report

Cllr Dyer informed that the second round of consultation events on the North Hykeham relief road are taking part this week.  Wednesday at the Community Hub from 3pm to 8pm,

Thursday at the Bentley Hotel from 3pm to 8pm and Friday at Bracebridge Heath Pavilion from 1pm to 6pm.

The County Council are investing £1m into the Collection Museum, the name of the museum is to change to the Lincoln Museum.

The main road through Harmston will be closed due to road works from 20th March to 24th April, traffic will be diverted through Waddington.

The work on Brant Road is continuing, they are taking longer due to the extra work involved now with replacing the drainage pipes that were found to be damaged.

District Cllr Peter Burley, NKDC Report

Cllr Burley informed of the proposed new solar farm on the Blankley Estate, being built on agricultural land.  More information can be found on their website springwellsolarfarm.co.uk.  It will be the government that will be making the decision on it not the County or District Council.

Empty homes, more than 250 empty homes have been brought back into use by North Kesteven.  One house in Bracebridge Heath has been empty for over 10 years.  If you have a property that is empty the Council tax will be doubled after 2 years.  Steven Priestley is part of the team at NK that deal with them.  More information can be found on the website.

District Cllr Lance Pennell, NKDC Report

Cllr Pennell commented on the North Hykeham Relief Road consultation and asked that residents are encouraged to attend.

Don’t forget you will need photo ID for the elections in May.

The new NK plan was adopted at the Council meeting the week before last.

North Kesteven are working with community groups in Heckington, to boost biodiversity.  They will transform a number of the Council owned green spaces in the village, which are currently mown by, letting the grass grow longer, planting wildflowers and trees and providing other habitats for wildlife.

District Cllr Jordan Moran, NKDC Report

Cllr Moran informed that the commonwealth flag was raised at NK today.   Solar panels are going up at the NK offices, installation to be completed by early April. 

The scope for the Community Lottery grants has been expanded, allowing more people to apply for a grant up to £500.

Cllr Gallagher asked if the payment to District Councillors was still £5,000 a year and if the payment was the same regardless of how many meetings they attended.

Cllr Moran replied that yes it was still £5,000 and yes it is.

District Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, NKDC Report

Cllr Cawrey sent her apologies.