10th November 2022
WILLINGHAM BY STOW PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the November MEETING of WILLINGHAM by STOW PARISH COUNCIL held on Thursday 10th November 2022 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs D Bingham (Chairman), M Bates, Q Connell, J Didcock, D Leak, D Wain
In Attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (Clerk)
2022/479 Apologies for Absence
None – all present
2022/480 Public Participation
None present
2022/481 Minutes of last Meetings
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 6th October 2022 were approved and signed as true & correct record Resolved
2022/482 Declarations of Interest
None received
2022/483 Representatives Report
WDLD Cllr T Couslon – sent an updated to say her plan is to return to meetings & work in general
in December but will be checking emails for anything that needs her attention.
Saxilby Police – monthly crime report circulated prior to meeting
2022/484 Clerks Report
- Cemetery Wall has been repaired
- Cemetery – memorials for Sharp & Aryton
- Cemetery – missed black bin collection – bin overflowing, reported to WL
- Everyone Active survey – passed on to the VH, which has been completed, hoping to fund again for Active Seniors
- FOI & GDPR training on Tuesday, clerk needs to check all policies updated/reviewed yearly, one subject was councillors’ emails – all councillors must have WPC email and have a controller of all data – the clerk, to be compliant with Section 1. Councillors must not change the passwords as if/when leave the position the clerk must close but keep control of the email address in case of FOI requests.
2022/485 Councillor Walk
Date/time for a walk around the village to be arrange in the New Year
2022/486 Parish Agreement Scheme – Urban Highway Grass Cutting
Approved & Resolved
2022/487 Solar Farms
To receive any updates and discuss further action required
- Gate Burton Energy Park - targeted consultation on localised changes (03 Nov to 13 Dec 2022) Comments - Willingham by Stow Parish Council strongly oppose the massive scale of the 4 Solar Energy Projects that have been earmarked for the area. The parish council support plans for renewable energy generation but consider these 4 projects unacceptable.
And have concerns of the safety of children/residents crossing the roads & Howson House residents due to the increased, large heavy traffic and the noise volume. The large area of land required for these would mean a huge loss and waste of agricultural land to development, consequently impacting food production in the local area. 10 thousand acres of agricultural land would be compromised, equivalent to 3x the size of the town Gainsborough. With solar panels surrounding all local villages. Would this land really be suitable for farming again once all solar panels and concrete have been removed? Many people are concerned about the implications such major schemes will have on the area; considering the visual impact, negative affect on wildlife and archaeology, loss of countryside and associated agricultural jobs. In addition, the loss of footpaths and byways during construction, as well as bearing in mind that local roads are unsuitable for construction traffic on this scale.
It would dramatically change our local rural scene for the worse. The attractive link between the village and the countryside would be destroyed.
The ground underneath the solar panels will not be able to absorb water, hence there will be additional run off. Where will this water go? The area has history of flooding.
- Introducing Tillbridge Solar – Community Newsletter October 2022 received
- Cllr Bates to attend the 7000-acre group- Proposed meeting with local Parish Council members Tuesday 22nd November 2022 at 1930 Glentworth village
2022/488 WLDC Community Infrastructure Levy
Information received on CIL spending and several options were discussed – clerk to contact the PF
committee asking for any projects/purchases for the play park. To be discussed at future meeting
2022/489 2023 Meeting Dates
The dates/times of 2023 meetings including APM were discussed and approve, 2nd Thursday of each
Month 7.30pm, excluding no meetings in January/August. APM 20th or 27th April 2023 Resolved
2022/490 Cemetery
To discuss any issues & decide future actions
- Layby – the possibility of a layby as no parking spaces for visitors/funerals only grass verge. Clerk contacted Cllr Buttroid for advice, awaiting reply
- Trees – Cllr Bingham met with Essential Trees regarding the condition of the tree, awaiting quote
- Email regarding geocaching.com – no objections
2022/491 Grant Funding Request S137 2022
The request for funding for new cable up to the value of £140, for the Christmas/other occasion
lights at St Helens was approve Resolved
2022/492 Grant Funding Requests 2023/24
Grant Funding Requests were received from the PF committee for £2400 & the VH Committee for
£1000. These were discussed in detail and approved to fund the PF Committee the full amount
requested £2400 Resolved
The VH Committee’s request was refused due to the committee having a healthy bank balance but
would consider a future request if they had a project to fund. Resolved
2022/493 Parish Field Development
To discuss any developments/requirements and approve any future actions required
- WL Grant Funding – clerk to offer dates for a site visit
- Clerk to get quote to install benches
- Litter bins/dog bin quotes – clerk to request dog bin from WLDC and to purchase litter bin £79.99+vat
- Trees – awaiting quote (ash tree rotten, approved to fell when quote received)
- Volunteer party – due to the time of year, not a lot to do. Clerk to ask if they are able to cut briars otherwise leave to the spring
2022/494 Defibrillator Training Request
Clerk to contact the previous LIVES representative regarding Defibrillator training requested by the
VH committee with information for next meeting
2022/495 Christmas – Best decorated house
After discussion, it was approved to send £60 for the prizes under S137 Resolved
2022/496 Willingham School Trust
Not a lot of information is known, clerk to check archived Meetings Minutes and seek advice
2022/497 Highways
- Fix my street – all issues resolved
- Parking issues on Marton Rd outside Howson House – clerk to email the manager
2022/498 Bus Stop
To be discussed at next meeting
2022/499 Planning
To receive any correspondence/decisions by WLDC and discuss any planning applications.
Ref: 145655, Request for confirmation of compliance with conditions 4 & 5 of planning permission 141858 granted 17 February 2021 Cotgarth Farm, Cotgarth Lane – no comments
2022/500 Finance
- The 2023/24 Budget was discussed and approved Resolved
- The 2023/24 Precept was discussed and approved to send an estimate of £14,000 to WLDC
The monthly accounts for payment & corresponding bank statements were approved as a true & correct record Resolved
NET VAT
| BACS | 01.11.22 | St Helens repair to wall | 40.00 8.00 | 48.00 |
| BACS | 11.11.22 | Salary October | 356.61 | |
| BACS | 11.11.22 | Village Hall hire - year ending 31.03.22 | 18.00 | |
| BACS | 11.11.22 | Ink Cartridges | 36.37 7.27 | 43.64 |
| TOTAL | 466.25 |
2022/501 Correspondence for Information
- NALC NEWSLETTER (emailed prior)
- Town and parish council newsletter October 2022 (emailed prior)
- West Lindsey and Lincoln Safer Together Team Newsletter - Quarter 2 (emailed prior)
- NALC publishes new report on the 2022 local elections (emailed prior)
- Community Matters newsletter (emailed prior)
2022/502 Agenda Items for next meeting and to take any points from members
- Surgery Layby – to extend for more vehicles
- Newsletters/welcome to Willingham – Cllr Didcock volunteered to deliver to new residents
- NB Grange Lane – door wont open, swelled with rain
- Planter Grange Lane – consider revamp of concrete planter
- Thank you, card received from village Litter Pickers
2022/503 To consider the exclusion of the public and press in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s1 (2) due to the confidential nature of the items to be Discussed none
The date & time of next Parish Council meeting was confirmed as Thursday 8th December 2022 at 7.30pm in Willingham Village Hall committee room
Meeting Ends – 9.25pm