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 5 December 2023

 

Present:  Cllrs M Herbert (Chairman), K Tyrrell, R Waite, A Curtis, J Machin, A Hyatt, S Taylor, D/Cllr M Palmer, D/Cllr C Darcel (arrived at 7.35pm), Mrs M Vail (Clerk). There were two members of the public.

Meeting began at 7.30pm

   

1. Public Forum: 

Matters were raised concerning: flooding and what is being done to prevent it happening again; speeding; and vehicles having been observed driving through the pedestrian crossing lights whilst these were on red.  

In response it was explained that, following long debate in previous meetings, the Parish Council had decided to support the speed limit remaining at 40mph.  Noted that the reactive speed indicator devices are effective, and that replacement parts have been obtained for one device which is due to be repaired.  Councillors do share residents  concerns, and they feel frustrated that busy roads elsewhere have speed cameras, so why not at Langworth.

Further noted that the Parish Council does not have powers to enable it to take direct action itself in respect of those driving through red lights.  It can raise this issue with Lincs Road Safety Partnership (LRSP), who in turn can carry out a traffic survey/deploy a camera.  The Community Speed Watch scheme is ready to run.  

Action: Clerk   item for February agenda to consider relocation of one speed indicator device.

Action: Cllr M Herbert to contact LRSP to request presence of police van with camera.

 

2. Apologies: Cllr P Bowser, Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr T Bridgwood.

 

3. Declarations of Interest: Cllr M Herbert in respect of item 12b as he knows the applicant.

 

4. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2023:

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7th November 2023 as a true record, and these were duly signed. Action: Clerk.

Proposed: Cllr J Machin seconded: Cllr S Taylor.  All in favour.

 

5. Comments from County Councillor, District Councillors and Chairman:

D/Cllr M Palmer: noted that WLDC circulate information to Clerks for forwarding on the councillors. 

Cllr C Darcel: noted that the TV programme, Panorama, is highlighting the issue of sewerage being tipped into water courses, as had happened on Scothern Lane recently.

Chairman: noted that a written report from D/Councillors would be welcomed, especially at meetings which they cannot attend. 

 

6. To review the Action Log:

Many jobs have been completed.  Updates were provided as follows:

Neighbourhood Plan (NP)   an advert for volunteers has appeared in Langworth Local, and WLDC has been updated on progress to date.  An application to amend the area to be covered by the NP, so that it encompasses all four parishes, has been submitted to WLDC for approval.

It was suggested that the first action should be to create a NP Committee.  Action:  Cllr A Hyatt to submit a relevant LALC article to Langworth Local for publication.

New Station   the owner has been emailed for an update, but no reply has been received to date.

 

7. Clerks Report

a) Receive the financial report: Received.  

RESOLVED to approve the financial report.

Proposed: Cllr S Taylor seconded: Cllr K Tyrrell.  All in favour.  Action: Clerk

(Note: approval to pay all regular accounts was made at the May 2023 meeting).

b) Approve any non-regular payments: None to pay.

c) Note national pay award: increase of  1.00per hour: Noted.

d) Consider proposal to purchase a Canva licence for Langworth Local use at  99.00:

Item deferred.

 

8. Recent Flooding: update and approve any actions:  

a) Emergency Plan:

C/Cllr I Fleetwood and D/Cllr T Bridgwood have attended an LCC Community Emergency Planning Session held in November.  D/Cllr T Bridgwood has expressed disappointment that the session focussed on parish councils developing individual emergency plans, rather than taking an overview approach.  

Noted that an emergency requires a coordinated response with communication between Agencies.  In the recent flood event, it appeared that no accountability or responsibility had been assumed by anyone in any Agency.  Cllr M Herbert has attempted to contact various Agencies but has found it extremely difficult to speak directly to the relevant staff who are in a position to be able to instigate action.  These apparent operating inefficiencies are frustrating. D/Cllr C Darcel has chased people, but it takes a while to receive any responses.  The Parish Council will continue to pursue matters and seek resolutions to the problems.

Having attended a public meeting at Washingborough, arranged by their C/Councillor and attended by senior personnel from various Agencies, Cllr M Herbert has since contacted C/Cllr I Fleetwood in the hope that he can arrange a similar meeting here.  The Clerk has also spoken with the Environment Agency and LCC Resilience Forum to suggest a similar meeting.

 

At 8.22pm, Standing Orders were suspended to allow a resident to ask about Fosters Yard.  The resident was advised that Fosters Yard appears as an agenda item below, before Standing Orders were resumed at 8.23pm.

Noted that drains along Scothern Lane and Barlings Lane require emptying.  Action: Clerk. 

 

b) LCC Community Emergency Planning Session:

Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe is leading on developing an Emergency Plan.  This work is in progress and will cover different emergency scenarios, not just that of flooding.  

c) Resident s letter:

A resident has raised concerns regarding the recent flooding event and related issues in connection with Fosters Yard.  RESOLVED that Cllr M Herbert be authorised to write to WLDC s Planning Manager in respect of Fosters Yard. Action:  Cllr M Herbert

Proposed:  Cllr S Taylor seconded:  Cllr A Hyatt.  All in favour.

d) Fosters Yard development: Considered within the previous item.

 

9. Play Area

a) new/replacement play item   quotes reviewed:

Noted that grants are available towards new equipment, and that the Parish Council would be held culpable if someone were to be injured on the play equipment if reasonable due care has not taken place.

Cllr J Machin, as lead councillor for the play area and with relevant play inspector training, has assessed the play area in conjunction with the latest ROSPA report.  His recommendation is that there are no matters of concern.  He has not reviewed quotes for play items as he considers that no existing play item requires replacing.  However, some minor maintenance is needed, which he will advise the Clerk about.  Action:  Cllr J Machin

RESOLVED to accept the abovementioned report and recommendations.

Proposed:  Cllr K Tyrrell seconded:  Cllr A Curtis.  All in favour.

 

10. Highways: 

Cllr M Herbert continues to report and chase repairs to roads/footpaths with LCC. Noted that other Lincolnshire locations have had proper remedial works carried out even though their footpaths are in better condition.

 

11. Correspondence: Nothing to report.

                          

12. Planning:

a) Neighbourhood Plan: update: As above.

b) 147579: erect garden building: 1 Woodside Cottages Bardney Road Newball Lincoln LN3 5DQ:

            After consideration, RESOLVED that there are no objections.  All in favour.  Action: Clerk

                         Proposed:  Cllr J Machin seconded: Cllr K Tyrrell.  All in favour.

 

13. Parish Champions: As reported above.

 

14.  Date of the next meeting: Tuesday 9th January 2024, 7.30pm, Memorial Hall (Budget and precept setting) 

 

15. Resolve to move into Closed Session to consider the following item which contains information of a confidential or sensitive nature:

RESOLVED to move into Closed Session.  At 9.03pm, the public left the meeting.

 

16. LL contract:

The Chairman, Clerk, Editor and Cllr A Hyatt have met, and the resultant draft contract has been circulated to all. Following consideration, RESOLVED to approve amendments to the draft contract, and to provide a copy to the Editor. Action: Clerk.

Proposal: Cllr J Machin seconded: Cllr A Curtis.  All in favour.

 

Meeting ended at 9.26pm.

 

Michelle Vail   Clerk/RFO to the Council                                                  Dated: 11 December 2023