Minutes of SPC Meeting held on 14 September 2023
Present:The Chair C Wood, The Vice Chair G Mahoney, Cllr C Warby, Cllr J Denton, Mrs J Bratton (Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer), County Councillor Mark Whittington and 24 members of the public.
1 Chairman’s Remarks – the Chairman welcomed a record number of people present and introduced the Parish Councillors and Clerk.
2 Apologies for absence and reasons given – District Councillors Pam Bosworth and Robert Leadenham with two parishioners had given their apologies.
3 To receive declarations of interest on any item on the Agenda under The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 of the Localism Act 2011 – none.
4 Notes of the last meeting held on 13 July 2023
The notes of the last meeting, held on 13 July 2023, were approved as being a true record, and signed by the Chairman.
5 Correspondence
5.1 To National Highways requesting the grass/vegetation to be cut further back at the A52 Allington Road junction.
5.2 To DV8 Design with a cheque and thanks for all the design work which has been completed for the Sedgebrook map for the lectern.
5.3 Information was received on a proposed planning application for 9 new dwellings and 3 replacement dwellings to Sedgemede, Lincolnshire Statics. A letter of reply had been sent - see item 8.1.
5.4 The August/September issue of the Allington News had been received – copy deadline for next issue is the 22 September.
5.5 The Parish Council had been asked for help with a continuing problem of dog fouling a resident is having on his pathway. Clerk Action: to write to the resident.
5.6 SKDC sent a Notification of a Planning Application – No S23/1515 – proposed log cabin for occasional use by Whitehouse Farm Day Nursery. SKDC were informed that there was no technical reason to object to the application.
5.7 SKDC also sent a Notification of a Planning Application – No S23/1479 – single storey rear and front extensions and a two-storey side extension at 3 Bowmans Way. There was no technical reason to object to the application and SKDC were informed accordingly.
5.8 A Monthly update report from SKDC regarding the Electoral Register had been received.
5.9 A letter of acceptance had been completed and returned to SKDC with a copy of a bank statement regarding our successful application for the South Kesteven UK Shared Prosperity Fund to instal a picnic table, bench, new goal posts and shelving for the telephone box. SKDC acknowledged receipt of the documentation. A request had been received from SKDC for three quotations over £2500.
5.10 Paul Hempstead had notified the Clerk that the top bar of the goal post had been caught and had fallen off while they were cutting the grass in the playing field. Clerk Action: to send a reply.
6 Public Forum
6.1 A resident had brought up the issue of the “epidemic” amount of dog bags being thrown from the Recreation Field into the Manor Gardens and asked what can be done.
6.2 A parishioner brought up the issue regarding overgrown hedges – this comes under the County Council/Highways Authorities. It is up to the relevant authority to decide if a hedge is causing an obstruction of the pathways or road. A parishioner had recommended that anyone with concerns to take photographs and upload the information on the FixMyStreet website. The more people who upload the information, the greater chance the issue will be dealt with. Concern was raised with the pathway near to the nursery which isn’t wide enough for pushchairs – there was one instance where a lady with her pushchair had to go onto the road and, thankfully, there was no traffic coming in the opposite direction. The County Councillor stated that the roadways are inspected annually for any issues.
6.3 Tree on the Village Green – a parishioner was concerned about the health of the hornbeam tree. The Vice Chair and her husband had been watering the tree every other evening with 20 litres of water to keep the tree going following advice she had been given from Majestic Trees. Vice Chair Action: to take another photograph and obtain further advice from Majestic Trees.
6.4 A parishioner was concerned about the cost of £6000 for paving which had been installed on the Village Green. The Vice Chair had seen eight contractors and obtained three quotations ranging from £5000 to £12000. The contractor which we had used had helped us with the turf and will be concreting in the lectern which was not on his original quotation.
6.5 Concerns were raised regarding the incidents on the A52. There had been an accident on the 30 July with 4 – 5 casualties transported to hospital but, according to police records, no fatalities. There has also been an incident at the Barrowby junction earlier in the day – see 7.2 – Highways.
7 Highways
7.1 General update – none given.
7.2 Recent incidents on the A52 – the Chair had circulated an explanatory letter to parishioners via the Village Email on the 21 February in which he explained the A52 is a trunk road and is the responsibility of National Highways. All the rest of the road and footpath network within the parish comes under the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council. The Parish Council does raise issues with both of the authorities, but it does not have any jurisdiction, powers or budgets to do anything.
A letter was written to National Highways on the 25 November and in their reply they stated they are conducting an analysis of of the A52 East of Sedgebrook (Ranked 16) which will be considered for more detailed collision analysis once locations ranked higher have been looked at. A route review of the A52 has been done along the length of the A52 with a number of safety improvement schemes identified for investigation including: A52 Saxondale to New Lane, A52 Bottesford By-Pass and the A52 Sedgebrook. Limited funding is available for safety improvement works on the network and all proposals are subject to a value for money assessment based on the potential casualty reductions of the scheme. The Government controls the budget – the Secretary of State for Transport MP needs pressure. A parishioner stated that even the A1 at Ponton isn’t ranked high enough to consider closing the crossroads.
Members of the public were encouraged to write individual letters to their MP, Dr Caroline Johnson. Her contact details will be circulated via the Sedgebrook Village Email. Improvements could be made to the A52 with improvements to visibility, speeding and traffic engineering. The County Councillor stated that the speed limit could be reduced to 40 mph. He will write to the Road Safety Partnership, who produce statistics of accidents over the past few years. Parishioners could visit www.crashmap.co.uk for details of accidents along the stretch of the A52. The County Councillor suggested getting a petition organised. The Clerk had spoken with Greg Payne from National Highways who would like to attend a future meeting to get local feedback. Clerk Action: to send copy email regarding the conversation to the County Councillor.
If there is agreement in a reduction of the speed limit, it could take 18 months before something happens. A group of people had cut the grass/hedgerow back (after gaining permission on private land) so visibility has been improved. The majority of the overgrown areas are on private land. The static caravans also obscure the view. You could write to SKDC to ask the owners to move them, but there is currently a national shortage of enforcement planning officials. County Councillor Action: Mark Whittington will have a word with Gareth Davies MP and will also write to Dr Caroline Johnson MP. He will be joining forces with Allington, Barrowby, Bottesford and Sedgebrook to arrange a meeting with National Highways.
In relation to a possible future development, if houses were built on both sides of the road it would automatically be a 30 mph limit.
7.3 Dip in the road in Village Street near the bridge and Bowman's Way – this has already been dealt with.
8 Planning Applications
8.1 Recent enquiries with regards to the land off the A52 – a letter had been sent with a questionnaire to villagers which will be used to iron out any difficulties in a future planning application. There are a number of issues – access to the A52, there will unlikely be any green space and there is no connectivity with the rest of the village. The Parish Council will consider it further when there is a planning application.
9 Footpaths
9.1 Damaged Inspection Cover on Footpath PF11 – School Lane to Allington Road/Village Street – Andy Savage, the Senior Countryside Officer had been over and looked at the cover and had informed the Parish Council he will be contacting the resident to request the cover is replaced as a matter of priority. Cllr Warby informed the meeting that this still hasn’t been replaced. Clerk Action: to inform the Countryside Officer.
10 The Green
10.1 Village Green – update on the lectern – The Vice Chair reported we were waiting for a delivery date once the anti-graffiti coating on the cover of the information board had been sorted.
11 Recreation Field
11.1 Adult Exercise Equipment for the Playing Field – suggestions of the type of equipment totalling £5000 to £10000 were requested before we can proceed further. Lottery Funding could be applied but the equipment would be open to everyone to use, not just for villagers.
12 CPR Course – update – the course has been organised by Dr K Steele on the 6 October 2023 at 7 pm with a maximum of 12 people. The Social Club would not be charging the Parish Council for the hire of the hall for this event.
13 SKDC Prosperity Fund – decision for purchase of items – we are required to send one quotation for each item under £2500 and three quotations for each item from £2500 to £25000 to SKDC for the goal posts, bench, picnic bench and leaflet holders. If necessary, it was agreed the Parish Council funds £50 for the nets for the goal posts. Vice Chair Action: to send the quotations to SKDC.
14 Finance (The Clerk)
14.1 Details of income and outgoings since the last meeting as per the bank statements from the 5 July
14.2 Verification of Bank Statements/Bank Reconciliations - the Vice Chair verified the bank statements, accounts and bank reconciliations.
14.3 HSBC Bank Account – consider moving to online banking? The Community Cleaner had requested his pay be sent straight into his bank account. Following discussion, it was agreed not to change to online banking. Clerk Action: to email the Community Cleaner regarding paying his cheque in via a banking app.
14.4 Payments List for Authorisation:-
15 Items for the next meeting?
15.1 Dates of next year’s meetings. The Clerk to organise dates with the Social Club Secretary.
16 Date of the next meeting: 9 November 2023