February 2024 Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Reepham Parish Council held on
Tuesday 27 February 2024 at 7.30pm in Reepham Methodist Chapel
Present: Cllrs D Perkins (Chairman), A Brammer, B Wharton, C Wilson, D Davies,
M Doughty, H Gee, D/Cllr M Palmer, D/Cllr T Bridgwood, D/Cllr C Darcel, Mrs M Vail (Clerk).
Absent: Cllr J Oxby
There were no members of the public.
Meeting started at 7.30pm.
Matters raised by members of the public: No members of the public in attendance.
1. Apologies: Cllr N Ward, C/Cllr I Fleetwood
2. Declarations of Interest: Cllr D Perkins in respect of item 5, correspondence from the village hall (defibrillator) as he sits on the village hall committee.
3. Minutes of Meeting held on 28 November 2023:
At the proposal by Cllr D Davies, seconded by Cllr B Wharton, it was RESOLVED that the minutes be accepted, and they were duly signed.
4. Clerk’s Report:
Change of May 2024 meeting date to Wed 15 May has been confirmed.
Annual Litter Pick will take place on April 14th 2024, meeting at 10am at the village hall. Collected rubbish to be left at Cllr N Ward’s yard for collection by WLDC. At the proposal by Cllr D Davies, seconded by Cllr H Gee, it was RESOLVED to adopt the draft Litter Pick Risk Assessment, as had been circulated.
Action: Clerk to advise school, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, Cllr N Ward, and to promote via Reepham News. Action: Clerk to produce a register of attendance to be signed by those taking part. Action: Cllr M Doughty to promote via social media.
5. Correspondence:
To note: The correspondences listed below were all noted as received:
o Police updates, priority set is the fatal 5 (Speeding, mobile phones, drink/drug driving, seat belts and driving without due care and attention.)
o Police Parish Council Engagement Session on Road Safety on 20th February 2024
o WLDC Parish News Dec 2023
o LCC email - Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and Northeast Lincolnshire councils consultation on a Greater Lincolnshire devolution proposal, deadline 29th Jan.
o Nettleham Parish Council – Neighbourhood Plan consultation, deadline 22nd December 2023
o Anglian Water – environmental upgrades to Waste Recycling Centre WRC, off Barfields Lane (04 March - Winter 2024).
o Change to LCC processes ref. planning application consultations from LCC
Action Required:
o LRSP response - resident concerns re Kennel Lane SID:
LRSP had provided a well-reasoned answer to the queries raised by a resident; and had also offered to conduct a speed survey. At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr M Doughty, it was RESOLVED to 1) send LRSP’s reply to the resident and 2) accept the offer of the survey. Action: Clerk.
o R&CW Village Hall – request to part fund defibrillator costs
Noted that CWPC have also been approached by the village hall to contribute the other 50% of costs. At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to fund half the costs, these being:
o £31.25 + VAT for 2023-24 service costs (part-year)
o £44.17 + VAT for 2024-25
o and annually thereafter for service costs
o a one-off payment of £200.00, (being half of the one-off installation costs)
Action: Clerk.
o Resident request to replace Reepham village sign adj. Village Hall:
The request has been submitted to LCC as the responsible Authority.
o LCC request to help identify suitable locations for future EV charge points: Action: All to pass any suggestions to the Clerk.
o LCC request for sustainable travel ideas eg cycle stands, more footpaths, improved bus stops:
Suggestions were made for a bus shelter on Fiskerton Road (which is already in hand) and improving the footpaths such as the railway – Rudgard Avenue, Mellows Close – railway, and across the airfield. Action: All to pass any suggestions to the Clerk.
o Resident request for Parish Council to fund replacement defibrillator pads at £29.99 for the defibrillator located at the school:
At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to purchase the replacement pads at £29.99. Action: Clerk. Noted that a resident periodically checks the defibrillator, and that WLDC offer a Defibrillator scheme with quarterly checks and free replacement parts, for an annual fee. Action: Clerk to approach WLDC to ascertain if they would accept the defibrillator into their scheme, and to advise the school.
o Police: Parish Council Engagement sessions, 4th July 2024, Teams, appoint attendee:
Noted that the event is too far in the future for Councillors to know their availability. Item deferred.
6. Financial matters
a) Presentation of Accounts for Payment (Jan):
M Vail – Jan salary, £ 238.21
PAYE – Jan, £ 59.60
M Vail – paper/printing (Sept – Jan), £38.40
Sage payroll, Jan, £ 9.60 (inc. £1.60 VAT)
Methodist Hall Hire, 2024, £ 216.00
LALC Annual Subscription, 2024-25, £ 276.08
TOTAL, £ 837.89 (inc. £1.60 VAT)
b) Presentation of Accounts for Payment (Feb):
M Vail – Feb salary, £ 238.41
PAYE – Feb, £ 59.40
Sage payroll, Feb, £ 9.60 (inc. £1.60 VAT)
TOTAL, £ 307.41 (inc. £1.60 VAT)
At the proposal by Cllr D Perkins, seconded by Cllr M Doughty, it was RESOLVED that these accounts be paid. Action: Clerk, Cllr A Brammer
c) Consider LALC Annual Training Scheme at £125.00 + £25.00 VAT:
RESOLVED not to join the Annual Training Scheme for 2024 – 25.
d) Updating bank mandate, and online access for Cllr H Gee:
Cllr H Gee was thanked for his ongoing efforts. He advised that Barclays had raised a complaint against themselves and were likely to pay £50.00 as compensation to the Parish Council.
e) Grass cutting quotes and hedge/weed treatments:
At the proposal by Cllr B Wharton, seconded by Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED to accept the quote from Glendale at £3164.70 + VAT for grass cutting. Action: Clerk.At the proposal by Cllr B Wharton, seconded by Cllr M Doughty, it was RESOLVED to accept the quote from Glendale at £1602.12 + VAT for hedge cutting and weed killing work. Action: Clerk.
7. Planning Matters
Report from Planning Committee:
147238: 16 Fiskerton Road – granted with time restrictions
147321: 21 Fiskerton Road - granted with time restrictions
147284: Lawris Cottage: an extension to the time period has been applied, with changes having been made to the window drawing. Cllr D Perkins declared an interest in this item.
58 Fiskerton Road – granted by WLDC on the basis that this application was an improvement on the present, unapproved, arrangement. Noted that the original observations and suggestions made by the Parish Council had not been followed and the originally proposed open verge will not be restored.
Goods Farm Development: nothing to report.
Update on WLDC’s enforcement position ref wall at Lansdown Villas 5 High Street: WLDC have advised that the wall had not been built in line with the plans approved under application 144101. No formal enforcement action was taken at the time; however, as application 145579 has since been refused, WLDC will consider whether it is expedient (in line with the Local Plan) to serve an enforcement notice in relation to the wall. WLDC have re-opened a case for this matter (Ref: 435622) and will keep the Parish Council updated.
Proposed telecommunications upgrade - Reepham Manor Farm, Kennel Lane:
Due to deadline time constraints, a response had been submitted based on feedback received from three Councillors. At the proposal of Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr B Wharton, it was RESOLVED to ratify the contents of the response, and its submission.
Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group: update, finances, website: The Draft Plan is still with WLDC (Regulation 16 consultation).
8. Roads and footways
Mellows Close to Manor Rise footpath – holding item
Mellows Close yellow lines – holding item
Meadows Lane – holding item
LRSP update on bus shelter for Lincoln bound travellers at the bus stop in Fiskerton:
The Engineering Team at LRSP are working through a long list of requests to assess bus stop/shelter locations across Lincolnshire. Reepham Parish Council’s request will be reviewed as soon as possible.
Footpath between Fiskerton Road and Meadow Close - trees from property(ies) overhanging this footpath – LCC advise no further action.
LCC consultation re. speed reduction from 40mph to 30mph from Village Hall towards Kennel Lane - deadline 6th February 2024, public notice (21/03/24 deadline for public objections). The Parish Council have supported this proposal to reduce the speed limit.
U turn-type manoeuvre at the Hawthorn Road/bypass junction – the Police have advised that this is an LCC matter. LRSP have passed the matter on to LCC’s Design Team as they had been involved in the original build of this junction. LRSP will also investigate any possibility of enforcement of the Traffic Regulation Order.
Noted that vegetation opposite the Post Office is overhanging the road. Action: Clerk to report.
Noted that drains generally cannot cope with regular rainfall, with the drain opposite the Post Office being especially bad. Action: Clerk to report.
9. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
Reepham /Greetwell PF 131: Delayed works due to weather
Footpath to airfield – footbridge has rotten handrails: holding item
10. Conservation area
Village Green – project update, quotes, preferred contractor, Star Energy
Community Fund 2024:
Three quotes had been circulated, with Cllr A Brammer providing an explanation of these in the context of the requirements of the project. Noted that the information boards still require financing. It was agreed that one quote could be dismissed immediately, and that Cllr A Brammer will speak with the remaining two companies to finalise the exact costs of the work to be undertaken. Action: Cllr A Brammer.
Action: Clerk to submit grant application to Star Energy Community Fund.
11. Amenity areas
Play Area inspections – internal: No issues to report.
Concerns were raised regarding the path by the play area. Action: All to inspect.
12. Priory Pembroke Academy:
Noted that the Head of the Academy will be stepping down at the end of the academic year. The recruitment process is underway to appoint a new Head.
13. Business for next agenda:
Approve financial risk assessment
Meadow Lane – request for road sign to be fitted
Kennel Lane – request for repeater speed roundels to be fitted along Kennel Lane
Revisit remaining two quotes for Green project.
Concerns regarding path by play area
Speed limit signs for wheelie bins.
14. Date of next meeting
26th March 2024 at 7.30pm in the Methodist Chapel
Meeting ended at 8.36pm.
Mrs Michelle Vail, Parish Clerk/RFO 8 March 2024