June 2024 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 4 June 2024
Present: Cllrs M Herbert (Chairman), K Tyrrell, H Stilgoe-McCombe, R Waite, A Curtis, P Bowser, A Hyatt, S Taylor, Mrs M Vail (Clerk), C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr T Bridgwood. There were 7 members of the public.
Meeting began at 7.30pm
1. Public Forum:
Members of the public spoke variously on matters as follows:
o Noting lack of Memorial Hall news in Langworth Local, nor a telephone number for hiring the Hall.
It was explained that all advertisers are required to supply adverts in a particular format to ensure that their adverts are printable, but that the Memorial Hall Committee were not complying with this. The Council wants to see more Langworth-specific content in the magazine, and one Councillor has been acting in a liaison capacity with the Memorial Hall Committee to help them meet the advert requirements. The Memorial Hall Committee took the decision not to supply any further adverts.
o Suggesting that the bookings number be added to the list of numbers at the back of the magazine.
o Poor state of New Station – this is reported on below. One Councillor is appointed to champion it.
o Grass cutting – the standard of cuts was questioned. It was explained that the grass is cut monthly. It had been cut on 22nd April and had grown very long by its due cut date in May. Extra cuts will increase expense to parishioners. The schedule can be reconsidered when the 2025 contract is renewed.
o Planning application 148103 to erect 5no. dwellings: land off Station Road. Noted that WLDC have refused permission. There had been issues with WLDC’s Planning Portal at the time of this application being out for consideration, which had been flagged up to WLDC.
o Swallow Homes development, Barlings Lane– no start date is known of currently.
o Fibre Broadband into Barlings Lane – no plans for this are known of currently.
o Increased traffic bringing materials into Barlings Lane Park making road slippery – the Enforcement Team had been contacted but they had been dismissive: it was suggested that the resident could approach the developer directly.
o Tree on Barlings Lane close to power line – it was suggested that the resident could report this via Fix My Street
o Noted that Lincs Road Safety Partnership have been asked to deploy a police van to monitor speeding traffic but they had advised that it was not warranted.
At 8.03pm, 5 residents left the meeting.
2. Apologies: D/Cllr M Palmer
3. Declarations of Interest: None.
4. To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 May 2024:
RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7th May 2024 as a true record, and these were duly signed. Action: Clerk.
Proposed: Cllr S Taylor, seconded: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe. All in favour.
5. Comments from County Councillor, District Councillors and Chairman:
C/Cllr I Fleetwood:
o Lincoln Southern Bypass has been approved for a dual carriageway, including several roundabouts, at a cost of approx. £150 million, with work due to commence in approx. 2 years’ time. Funding has come from Levelling Up, Government, and from LCC.
o The Clerk has been provided with a copy of a Witham Third Drainage map.
D/Cllr T Bridgwood:
o Noted that WLDC has updated its planning portal, and the new version is not available on mobiles.
6. To review the Action Log:
Many jobs have been completed. Updates were provided as follows:
Spruce up of play area – noted that 3 parish councillors, and some members of the public had turned up, but no Memorial Hall Committee members. Some progress had been made in tidying the play area up.
7. Clerks Report
a) To receive the financial report for May 2024:
RESOLVED to approve the financial report. Action: Clerk
Proposed: Cllr S Taylor, seconded: Cllr H Stilgoe-McCombe. All in favour.
b) Approval of any non-regular payments for June 2024: None.
c) Consider quotes for replacement noticeboard (Barlings Lane):
Quotes had been received from three companies for noticeboards in aluminium and composite (low maintenance) materials, in two sizes.
After consideration, RESOLVED to approach a local supplier to quote to supply and fit a wooden noticeboard (9 x A4 sheet), and to dispose of existing noticeboard. Action: Cllr P Bowser.
Proposed: Cllr M Herbert, seconded: Cllr A Hyatt. All in favour.
8. Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2023/24
a) To receive the Internal Audit Report 2023/2024:
The report was received. It was noted that all internal control objectives had been met; and that an income and expenditure report had also been provided by the Internal Auditor.
b) To resolve to approve Section 1- Annual Governance Statement 2023/2024:
The Annual Governance Statement 2023/24 had been circulated; and was duly confirmed.
RESOLVED that this be approved and signed.
Proposed: Cllr K Tyrrell, seconded: Cllr P Bowser. All in favour.
c) To resolve to approve Section 2 - Accounting Statements 2023/2024:
The Accounting Statements for 2023/24 had been circulated. RESOLVED that this be approved.
Proposed: Cllr K Tyrrell, seconded: Cllr P Bowser. All in favour.
Action: Clerk to complete all audit requirements
9. Community Emergency Plan:
a) Diagram of hierarchy and the need to appoint an EPGTL and Deputy before the Evacuation Centre Manager:
The Emergency Plan covers different emergency scenarios, including that of flooding. It is currently about 85 - 90% completed, which is the result of much hard work and effort by Cllr Hazel Stilgoe-McCombe. Once the Emergency Plan is completed, it will be submitted to LCC, and this will then release ‘kit’ to the community for storage against any future emergency event.
Some key roles still need to be filled. Cllr M Herbert has agreed to take on the role of Emergency Planning Group Team Lead. The Memorial Hall Committee is to be approached with a request to help populate the vacant roles. Action: Cllr M Herbert.
10. Correspondence:
a) Email re. New Station:
The Parish Council has been asked if it knows of the owner’s intentions for the site. The Parish Council has, for several years, been periodically reaching out to the owner to encourage upkeep and redevelopment of the site. It is understood that the owner has been exploring ideas for the site, but no planning application has, as far as it is known, ever been submitted to WLDC.
b) Grass cutting – Barlings:
Following a query concerning Langworth looking an eyesore in May, it was confirmed that the Parish Council had not taken part in No Mow May, and that the grass had been cut correctly to the monthly schedule. Grass does grow more vigorously at this time of year, and when the grass cutting contract is reviewed for 2025, the Parish Council can consider at that time amending the cutting schedule. Additional cuts will increase the cost to the parish.
c) Thank you from Jack Machin:
A warm thank you has been received for the good wishes and leaving present given to Mr Machin.
d) WLDC Training Session - Code of Conduct / Standards:
Cllrs A Hyatt, M Herbert, S Taylor, P Bowser and H Stilgoe-McCombe expressed an interest in attending a training session. Action: Clerk
11. Date of the next meeting: Tuesday 2nd July 2024, 7.30pm, Memorial Hall
12. Resolve to move into Closed Session as the following items contains information of a confidential or sensitive nature: RESOLVED to move into Closed Session.
At 8.52pm, C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr T Bridgwood and 2 members of the public left the meeting.
13. Consider any applications for the vacancy of Parish Councillor (Newball Parish):
Applications had been received from two excellent candidates. After much consideration, RESOLVED to appoint Mr John Jarvis to the vacancy of Parish Councillor (Newball Parish). Action: Clerk
14. Consider request from neighbouring Parish Council to assist with a formal complaint:
RESOLVED not to assist. Action: Clerk
Michelle Vail – Clerk/RFO to the Council Dated: 11 June 2024
LANGWORTH GPC - BANK RECONCILIATION 1st May - 31st May 2024
CURRENT ACCOUNT, ACCOUNTS PAID
01/05/2024, OPENING BALANCE, £12063.00
16/05/2024, Sage, £9.60
16/05/2024, Clear Insurance, £361.88
16/05/2024, Hazel Stilgoe-McCombe, INV 24/25 LLQ2, £ 1075.00
16/05/2024, EKM Ltd, £ 60.00
16/05/2024, Glendale INV 0115, £788.10
17/05/2024, HMRC, PAYE, May, £18.54
17/05/2024, LCC Pension, May, £273.94
17/05/2024, Mrs M Vail, salary, May, £843.24
CLOSING BALANCE, £8632.70
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
01/05/2024, OPENING BALANCE, £64,103.06
09/05/2024, Interest, £64.93
CLOSING BALANCE, £64167.99
Non-regular Accounts for Payment in June, NIL
Ear Marked Reserves
Elections reserve, £4,000.00
CIL monies, £2,655.40
Total, £6,655.40