November Minutes
Langworth Group Parish Council
Serving the grouped parishes of Barlings, Newball, Stainton by Langworth and Reasby
E:mail: langworthgroupparishcouncil@gmail.com
Minutes of the Meeting of Langworth Group Parish Council held at
Langworth Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 7 November 2023.
Present: Cllrs M Herbert (Chairman), H Stilgoe-McCombe, K Tyrrell, P Bowser, R Waite, J Machin, A Hyatt,
S Taylor, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr C Darcel, Mrs M Vail (Clerk). There were sixteen members of the public.
Open session began at 7.30pm
1. Public Forum: All were welcomed.
Much of this open session saw residents speaking, and raising various queries and concerns, in respect of the recent flooding event. Cllr M Herbert, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr C Darcel, and Memorial Hall Committee members have all helped residents during the crisis. Thanks were extended for their ongoing efforts.
Public representation was also made regarding the following non-flood related matters:
o possible parish council funding towards a Christmas meal for the elderly at the Memorial Hall.
o a tidy up of the play area. The Memorial Hall Committee is willing to assist.
o report of vehicles driving through red lights at the pedestrian crossing.
o the main road having been without street lights
Meeting commenced at 8.23pm.
2. Apologies: Cllr A Curtis, D/Cllr M Palmer, D/Cllr T Bridgwood
3. Declarations of Interest: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe in respect of matters relating to Langworth Local.
4. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3 October 2023:
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd October 2023 as a true record, and these were duly signed. Action: Clerk.
Proposed: Cllr P Bowser, seconded: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe. All in favour.
5. Comments from County Councillor, District Councillors and Chairman:
D/Cllr C Darcel: he is very sorry for the suffering of residents because of the flooding. He has never witnessed such a bad flooding event and is hopeful that WLDC will announce a flood financial help package soon.
C/Cllr I Fleetwood: he spoke on matters relating to the recent flooding, noting an unprecedented volume of water in a short time, with water levels having rapidly risen. He attends Environment Agency and Witham Third Internal Drainage Board meetings where he champions the concerns of the local community.
Chairman: D/Cllr T Bridgwood has brought planning application 147131 to the Parish Council s attention. This is for the construction and operation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land south of Barfield Lane, Reepham. D/Cllr T Bridgwood has raised serious concerns and issues with WLDC regarding the fire dangers of this type of installation.
RESOLVED that the Parish Council will support the concerns raised by both D/Cllr T Bridgwood and by neighbouring parish councils by submitting comments and concerns to WLDC. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr M Herbert, seconded: Cllr P Bowser. All in favour.
6. To review the Action Log: Item deferred.
7. Clerks Report
a) To receive the financial report: as previously circulated:
RESOLVED to approve the financial report. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe, seconded: Cllr S Taylor. All in favour.
(Note: approval to pay all regular accounts was made at the May 2023 meeting).
b) Approval of any non-regular payments: reimburse expenditure of 23.40 + VAT to Cllr P Bowser for purchase of paint to treat the bus shelter:
RESOLVED to approve this reimbursement to Cllr P Bowser. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr A Hyatt, seconded: Cllr S Taylor. All in favour.
c) Budget and Precept setting approve precept estimate to WLDC
RESOLVED that an estimated precept figure of 34,969.00 will be submitted to WLDC. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr M Herbert seconded: Cllr J Machin. All in favour
The final precept figure will be submitted to WLDC following the agreement of a budget for 2024/25 at the January 2024 meeting.
8. Recent Flooding: update and approve any actions:
During this item, Standing Orders were suspended between 8.56pm and 9.03pm to allow residents to speak.
RESOLVED that the Parish Council is to:
o produce an Emergency Plan. Noted that some residents are interested in assisting with this.
Action: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe.
o talk with WLDC s Planning Department about the Fosters Yard development, as concerns have been raised regarding its possible role in the recent flooding event. Action: Cllr M Herbert
o District Councillors and C/Cllr I Fleetwood will be attending a LCC Community Emergency Planning Session in November their subsequent feedback will help inform any future parish council actions.
Noted that B&Q sell items such as airbrick and toilet covers, clamps, and flood barriers for doors.
At 9.03pm, seven residents left the meeting, having been thanked for attending.
9. Play Area
a. new/replacement play item quotes reviewed:
Cllr J Machin is due to undertake a site visit to review the play equipment in conjunction with the latest ROPSA report. Consideration as to whether to replace or repair play items is needed, with Cllr J Machin to provide direction on this.
b. Inspection reports:
Both the ROSPA report and the latest quarterly inspection report have been received.
c. Swallow Homes: proposed children s play area/trim trail on Barlings Lane development:
Action: All to email Cllr M Herbert with suggestions as to suitable equipment for this location.
10. Highways:
Cllr M Herbert advised on the many Highways issues which he has reported to LCC via Fix My Street. LCC have repaired several separate reported locations along Barlings Lane. However, they have ignored adjacent problem areas where these have not been reported.
Standing Orders were suspended between 9.15pm and 9.17pm to allow a resident to speak during this item.
11. Correspondence:
Appoint attendee for Police Parish Council Engagement Session: (6 8pm, Thursday14th Dec.
2023, Microsoft Teams): RESOLVED that Cllr M Herbert will attend. Action: Clerk.
12. Planning:
Neighbourhood Plan: An advert has been sent to Langworth Local asking for the help of any interested people. An application is to be made to WLDC to change the designated area that will be encompassed by a Neighbourhood Plan. The revised designated area will cover all the parishes. Action: Clerk
13. Parish Champions:
Action: Cllr K Tyrrell to contact the owner and the planning consultant for the New Station site.
Action: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe to report straw in culverts near to Knights of Langworth.
14. Approve meeting dates for 2024:
RESOLVED to approve the following meeting dates:
Jan 9th, Feb 6th, March 5th, April 2nd, May 7th, Jun 4th July 2nd, Sept 3rd, Oct 1st, Nov 5th, Dec 3rd
No meeting in August. APM May 7th
15. Date of the next meeting: Tuesday 5th December 2023, 7.30pm, Memorial Hall
16. Resolve to move into Closed Session to consider the following items which contain information of a confidential or sensitive nature:
RESOLVED to move into Closed Session. At 8.29pm, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr C Darcel and all
residents left the meeting, having been thanked for attending.
17. LL contract:
A revised contract is being finalised.
Meeting ended at 9.34pm.
Michelle Vail Clerk/RFO to the Council Dated: 15 November 2023
LANGWORTH GPC - BANK RECONCILIATION 1st Oct - 31st Oct 2023
CURRENT ACCOUNT
01/10/2023, OPENING BALANCE, £4164.52
09/10/2023, Memorial Hall - repay LL monies, £349.24
16/10/2023, Mrs Michelle Vail , expenses, Oct, £82.69
16/10/2023, Glendale, £716.41
18/10/2023, Sage, £9.60
19/10/2023, HMRC - PAYE, Oct, £47.96
19/10/2023, LCC pension, Oct, £ 247.06
19/10/2023, Mrs Michelle Vail, salary, Sept, £757.50
23/10/2023, LCC grass cutting contribution, £647.15
CLOSING BALANCE, £3299.69
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
01/10/2023, OPENING BALANCE, £51741.57
09/10/2023, INTEREST, £ 47.63
TOTALS, £47.63
CLOSING BALANCE, £51789.20
Non-regular Accounts for Payment in October
Reimburse Cllr P Bowser paint for bus shelters, TBC
TOTAL 0.00
Ear Marked Reserves
Elections reserve, £4,000.00
CIL monies, £2,655.40
Total, £6,655.40