January 2025 Minutes
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 2nd January 2025 at The Ruby Hunt Centre.
Present Cllrs Rollinson, Geaney, Harris, King, Lovell, Lunn and Wray. District Cllrs, Bingham and Geaney, 2 members of the public and Clerk Diane Fairweather.
TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR – following meeting with Highways, they have not agreed to 40 m.p.h. on A52 at Church Street junction but would put forward recommendations of 50. Police were main objectors. Cllr King still requesting refuse which again was denied. Chairman reported it was the opinion of the whole Council there be some form of refuge on A52, Cllr King to revisit with Highways.
Bollards at entrance to Flinders Park. Not Highways. PC responsibility. Cllr Lovell to investigate removing one bollard.
National Grid compound at top of Northorpe Road. Had received permission but would be removed imminently.
Speed sign in Wykes, reported.
Chairman would like double yellow lines in the layby over A52 to alleviate problems for farmer egressing his property with machinery.
Ward walk on 28th January if anything new to report.
TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
Cllr Geaney -SHDC budget consultation, had asked for link to be publicised. Deadline on 2 days away.
Cllr Bingham – there will be changes in planning, will report when further details known. Donington will not be affected massively. Problems with rubbish collection. Is being rectified. Disturbingly poor figures for recycling in South Holland.
1/25 TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES were received and accepted by Cllrs Campbell, Hawkins, Stanley and Walsh.
2/25 TO RECEIVE DECLARATION OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
None
3/25 TO RECEIVE DRAFT NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 5th DECEMBER 2025– Were signed as a true copy, to become minutes. Proposed Cllr Lunn seconded Cllr Harris.
4/25 TO RECEIVE CLERK’S REPORT ON MATTERS ARISING AND UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS –
Christmas in the village – due to the poor show of Christmas in the village there is a group of business holders that are going to take on Christmas. To obtain grants and purchase better decorations.
5/25 TO RECEIVE UPDATES OF TWINNING
Nothing received from Mauritius. Chairman to write for an update. Clerk had not yet met with Sleaford group.
6/25 TO RECEIVE UPDATES OF COMMITTEES
a) Allotments - frozen
b) Cemetery – all looking good. Fallen tree, majority cleared. Contractor to return but a further tree fallen in old cemetery. Reports that overhanging branches in new cemetery could cause problems. Finance had discussed the need for a tree survey on Council responsible tree to have a working project going forward. Cllr Lovell suggested ivy should be cut back from trunks. Cllr Harris says Council should hold a tree log for ownership of any trees in village. Cllr Lovell advise
P & P French work with Sleaford Council. Work at this stage is the survey for all trees and their condition. Must be a qualified arborist.
Hedging in cemetery – hedge laying or cutting needs to be done before 1st March.
Neighbouring residents to old cemetery have placed a fence along their paddocks on footpath side. Been reports fence is quite high. Also erected a new gate in their boundary onto the footpath. No planning application made. Letter to be sent.
c) Finance –
i) Approval of Payment as per Schedule. Proposed Cllr Harris seconded Cllr King.
ii) To Approve Precept. LALC recommendations to increase precept by cost of living. Healthy contingency, only unknown is toilet electricity, as still sorting from change over from South Holland. Once sorted a smart meter to be installed. Finance Committee recommended an increase from £50,000 to £55,000. Proposed Cllr Harris seconded Cllr Lunn. Unanimous.
iii) Market Place bollard. Cllr Wray had quotation of £400 to take off at ground level and relace. Difficulty being top would not be ornate. Clerk advised new bollard of the original style is £198. Cllr King to ascertain if Highways would be able to assist in this if PC purchased bollard.
d) Human Resources - ntr
e) IDEA – Had agreed to precept £2500 from budget again.
Tree works in park has been completed in line with UKSP grant. Good clean up in whole area.
f) Library – new boiler and radiators being installed.
g) Planning
H04/1051-24 - 53 Towndam Lane – replacement windowH04-0062-25 10 Mill Lane – front porch and garden shed.
H04-1059-24 – Abendbloem, Towndam Lane – erection of self-build replacement.
H04-1066-24 Harvey’s Barn, Days Lane – erection of general industrial building
H04-1071-24 Cilcarn 2 Holyrood Close -erection of boundary fencing and gate (retrospective)
H04-1082-24 41 Ash Court – erect 2.5 fence on eastern boundary.
h) Red Cow Paddock – nothing to report
7/25 TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS
MR – Parish Council representative for Cowley Foundation accepted nomination, has advised Secretary. Bloom had previously insured themselves put could they be added onto Parish Council insurance.
SH – Couple of areas for ward walk.
PL – Community Speed Watch – 6 months since agreed to purchase equipment, nothing happening yet. Why? Resident that was to be leader, had not been available. Specific points for speed checks awaiting approval from Lincs Road Safety Partnership. Once up and running the group could apply for funding from Bicker Wind Farm Trust for reactive signs.
Raised last month, did PC yet know why half of Hunters Way been cut and not the rest? Part had been done by a resident in Church View Close. Can PC please arrange for contractor to complete remaining work?
Beacon at school crossing has been knocked over. Contractors in site.
Other local villages look decorative at Christmas with houses lit. Should Parish Council offer a couple of prizes for best dressed residential dwelling and best business. Offer 1st prize for both. Clerk advised this had been done previously. Perhaps businesses could promote.
Has been investigating local areas to justify reducing speed limit to 40 on A52. A17 has an example between two filling stations where it has been reduced to 40 m.p.h. What is different with Donington? Original speed limit of 30 m.p.h. was only moved as bypass erected. Is this another argument to put to Highways?
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 6th February 2025