Clerk's Notes of SPC Meeting held on 13 March 2025
Present: The Chair G Mahoney, The Vice Chair C Warby, Cllr C Wood, Cllr J Denton, County Councillor Mark Whittington, District Councillor Rob Leadenham, Mrs J Bratton (Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer) and two members of the public.
1 Chairman’s Remarks – the Chair welcomed two members of the public who were showing an interest in joining the Parish Council. The Chair had attended the Lincolnshire County Council meeting regarding A1 Road Safety.
2 Apologies for absence and reasons given – District Councillor Pam Bosworth.
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
The notes of the last meeting, held on 9 January 2025, were approved as being a true record and were signed by the Chairman.
5 Correspondence
5.1 The Clerk had emailed LALC confirming the renewal of the Annual Subscription and the Annual Training Fees for April 2025/March 2026.
5.2 KOMPAN had replied regarding further information regarding the wooden supports to the seesaw.
5.3 SKDC had sent the monthly updates of the Electoral Register.
5.4 The Play Inspection Company informed us they are running slightly behind schedule with our playground inspection.
5.5 The Information Commissioner’s Office informed us that their fees will increase from £35 to £47 (this includes our discount of £5 for Direct Debit payments).
5.6 District Councillor Rob Leadenham had sent a copy of the Belvoir Ward Newsletter for Winter 2025 which were circulated to the parishioners.
5.7 Allington News for February/March 2025. Deadline for next newsletter is the 17 March for their April/May issue.
5.8 The Society of Local Council Clerk’s 2025 Membership Subscription is £110. To be discussed under the Finance Section item 15.4.
5.9 SKDC sent details of the revised Local Development Scheme (2025-2028) which is on their website.
5.10 National Highways sent notification of safety improvements and maintenance work on the A52 Bottesford which is planned to start on the 25 February 2025 and completed by 17 April 2025 working overnight from 8 pm to 6 am.
5.11 Julian Withington from SK Leisure sent details of Save a Life Sessions, Adult CPR and Defibrillator Training. Available dates were requested and received. See item 14 (Defibrillator Training)
5.12 LALC had sent a copy of the Lincolnshire County Council Working Group Report which was carry out scrutiny work in the flooding issues resulting of the Storms Babet and Hank in Lincolnshire.
5.13 The Play Inspection Company Ltd had sent their Annual Inspection Report – play equipment inspected on the 17 February 2025. See item 12.2 Recreation Field.
5.14 District Councillor Rob Leadenham had sent a copy of the Environmental Crime Partnership Report.
5.15 Invitation to Road Safety on the A1 Workshop on the 12 March from 19.00 to 21.00.
5.16 Details received regarding a joint meeting with National Highways regarding the A52 – see item 8.1i
5.17 Barrowby Neighbourhood Plan – draft for consultation. Comments by the 11 April 2025.
5.18 HSBC sent details of interest rate reduction from1.68% to 1.56% gross with effect from the 29 April 2025.
5.19 Rowan Smith, LCC had replied regarding the ownership of the highway boundaries of the ditches either side of Village Street from the junction with the A52. See 8.4.
5.20 Mobile Library South will be calling at Sedgebrook on a Tuesday morning every 4 weeks and were looking for a suitable parking place. See 11.2.
5.21 SKDC sent an offer to purchase sandbags/aqua sacs.
5.22i A villager informed the PC that Hempsteads were contracted to cutting the church’s grass.
5.22ii The current Union Flag may need to be replaced within the next 12 months. A request was made to purchase a St George’s Flag.
5.22iii Playing Field – a number of incidents occurring in the children’s play area regarding dogs in the play area.
5.22iv A number of vehicles appearing for sale at the garage on the A52 (Old Bistro).
5.23 District Councillor Rob Leadenham had sent the Annual Report for 2023/24 for the Upper Witham Internal Drainage.
5.24 County Councillor Mark Whittington had sent an update on the A52 safety and had reminded Rowan Smith concerning the S19 reports which the Parish Council had requested.
5.25 SKDC had sent details of Design Code Workshops Stage 2 which will be held on the 3 April 6 pm to 8 pm at Witham Room, St Peter’s Hill.
5.26 Information had been sent to two parishioners who had expressed an interest in becoming Parish Councillors.
5.27 A copy of a letter to Cllr R Leadenham was received from SKDC Planning Enforcement Team regarding the land to the South of The House, Barrowby View, Nottingham Road – change of use of land to vehicle storage. They will be carrying out an initial investigation.
6 Public Forum – None.
7 To receive written applications, consider and approve co-option of new member/s to the Parish Council – the Clerk had passed the New Councillor and Eligibility forms to the two members of the public who attended the meeting. Clerk Action: to put the item on the agenda of the next PC meeting.
8 Highways
8.1i A52 Safety Meeting – any update? Barrowby, Allington and Sedgebrook Parish Councils have been invited to send representatives to the National Highways Meeting on the 24 March 2025 at 2 pm, Barrowby Memorial Hall to discuss road safety issues on the A52 from the A1/A52 junction down to the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border. Phil Shaw (the Route Manager for National Highways) will be looking at improvements late Spring, early summer this year. Junction improvements are in the pipeline for the A1/A52 (South bound) slip road. National Highways will return to look at the North bound slip-road later.
8.1ii Councillor Chris Warby enquired as to why the lights were not working as you come out of Barrowby and onto the A52. The County Councillor had already raised this with Phil Shaw. Any items which are reported on FixMyStreet relate to Lincolnshire County Council Highways - the A52 is National Highways. An engineer is being sent to do an assessment and, if there needs to be a road closure to complete the work, 3 months’ notice will be required.
8.2 Sand and Sandbags – a further supply of sand and sandbags were delivered in January by LCC and are being stored at Abbey Farm. It was noted LCC do not have the manpower to put the sand in the sandbags prior to delivery.
8.3 S19 Reports – following investigations into the flooding at Sedgebrook a summary of recommendations had been sent to the Parish Council from LALC. Further questions had been requested from Rowan Smith which were then passed to Ryan Davies from the Floods Team. The County Councillor is still waiting for a reply. Action: County Councillor Mark Whittington will chase a reply.
The investigation Flood Risk Team will plan the existing drains system so they can understand the system and why certain drains want digging up.
8.4 LCC – Freedom of Information regarding ditches/dykes on Village Street/Allington Road – the Parish Council have been trying to get clarification on the boundaries of the ditches/dykes which the Parish Council feels are the responsibility of LCC – Clerk Action: to send all the relevant emails to the County Councillor who will then speak with Rowan Smith.
8.5i A52 – Old Bistro – issue with cars/vans parking which causes issue with vision when turning left and right from School Lane – there is nothing which can be done about the visibility splay.
8.5.ii A52 – Old Bistro – issue of cars being sold from the forecourt – District Councillor Rob Leadenham had contacted the Planning Enforcement Team at SKDC with the alleged breach of change of use of land to vehicle storage. An officer will be visiting the site with an initial outcome and proposed course of action.
9 Planning Applications
9.1 None.
10 Footpaths
10.1 Increase in Dog fouling in the village – SKDC have new enhanced powers regarding dog fouling. The Parish Council can contact the Public Protection Team to obtain extra powers and seek advice. The fines can be up to a maximum of £1000. District Councillor Rob Leadenham had written an article in his Newsletter which had been circulated around the village. Dog fouling is still happening and is not too bad in the village but there are a few instances in the main area of the Recreation Field but not in the play area.
11 The Green
11.1 The Bus Stop – two new bus stops have been installed. There is no timetable (this is displayed on the Notice Board) but there is a QR code to access the up-to-date information by mobile phone. Clerk Action: to check to see if there is an updated version on the company’s website.
11.2 Mobile library visits to Sedgebrook – to discuss parking options – the Parish Council had suggested the small layby adjacent to The Green but it is up to LCC to decide where it is best to park. Clerk Action: to write to Elizabeth Houlden of Lincolnshire Libraries for details of library visits so they can be put on the website and notice board.
12 Recreation Field
12.1.i To consider installing Ecosmart Matting to the pedestrian gate entrance to the playground area of the field – complaints had been received about the mud and it was agreed to request a quotation for matting either side of the gate, when the re-quote for the repair to the seesaw is requested. Clerk Action: to email KOMPAN.
12.1.ii A parishioner had suggested wood chips could be put down on the entranceway to the Recreation Field which can get very muddy in the wintertime. Clerk Action: to write to the owner of the entranceway to see if there were any objections.
12.2 Annual Inspection Report of the play equipment – we had a moderate risk with the seesaw timber splits. This matter is in process - KOMPAN will need to take out the seesaw and re-set. Another moderate risk was algae which is on the climbing frame (this is also showing signs of wear which we will need to monitor). The Chair monitors the chain ware on a regular basis.
13 Annual Parish Meeting to be held on the 15 May 2025 – to discuss the format and book a main speaker – the County Councillor will see if both Richard Fenwick, Head of Highways Assets and Rowan Smith, Area Highways Manager will speak at the meeting. Clerk Action: to organise invitations, leaflets. To check with the Secretary of the Social Club, for entry to the room for 6.30 am to allow setting up for a 7 pm start. Councillor Action: Councillors C Warby and J Denton to liaise regarding the refreshments for the evening.
14 Defibrillator Training – to discuss – the parish councillors were in agreement for defibrillator training to go ahead on Sunday 6 April at 2 pm. Twelve residents were interested in attending. Another course will be run providing there is enough interest.
15 Finance (The Clerk)
15.1 Details of income and outgoings since the last meeting as per the bank statements as at 5 March 2025 – the current account balance b/f on the 5 January was £3653.52. We paid Manor Farm Tree Services, refunded the Clerk for the Defibrillator Replacement Parts, the Clerk and Community Cleaner and the balance to c/f is £1614.83. The balance of the deposit account remains the same at £25607.87 (this includes £3973.34 of General Reserves). The Clerk gave a list of expenses expected during March which totalled £1155.70 which would leave £459.13 in the bank account at our year end (31 March 2025). P E Hempsteads had completed the first grass cut and payment would be made in April. The precept (£13490) should be received from SKDC during the first week to 10 days of April.
15.2 Verification of Bank Statements/Bank Reconciliations – the documentation was verified by Cllr Jane Denton.
15.3 To discuss original and revised quotations for the repair of the seesaw – it was agreed to obtain an updated quotation to break out and reset the seesaw and to repair the existing surfacing and request a quotation for Ecosmart matting on either side of the pedestrian gate entrance to the play area. The funding will be taken out of the reserves put by specifically for the renewal and repairs of the playground equipment.
15.4 Renewal of Society of Local Council Clerks’ subscription – to discuss - the renewal was £110 and it was unanimously agreed to renew.
15.5 Payments List for Authorisation
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16 Items for the next meeting –
17 Date of the next meetings:-
15 May 2025 – Annual Parish Meeting
22 May 2025 – Annual Parish Council Meeting