2022 Rauceby PC Minutes of Meetings

Minutes
Rauceby Parish Council

email: raucebypc@gmail.com, website: https://rauceby.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk

Minutes from the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday, 28 September 2022 at 7.30 pm at The Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

Present:      Cllr M Ireland (in the Chair), Cllr J Malloch (Vice-Chairman), Cllr R Enstone, Cllr M Froggatt, Cllr B Balderston, Cllr S Waite, Cllr J Hoare, Cllr S Waring (NKDC) and the Clerk, Mr I Grady. 

Public speaking time:  There were no members of the public present. 

1. The Queen: The council members stood for one minute in reverent silence to mark the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
2. Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Cllr R Wright (LCC) and Cllrs G Enstone and S Enstone. 
3. To receive any Declarations of Interest: The Chairman excused himself from the discussion of the planning application reported at item 8(i) below.
With respect to the completion of the revised Declaration of Pecuniary Interests on adoption of the new Code of Conduct, it was concluded that despite the somewhat ambiguous advice, it was a requirement for all councillors to complete and submit an updated declaration. Some councillors had already submitted forms but a few were still outstanding. The Clerk requested those outstanding forms to be sent to him as soon as possible for submission to NKDC.
4. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: None required. 
5. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meetings held on 6 July 2022: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes.
6. Rauceby Gigabit Project: An update was given by Cllr Ireland in the absence of Cllr. S Enstone. Pledges to date now total £341,500 which is above the quote received from Openreach of £322,383 which is good news as it allows some leeway in the future. For the next step Openreach will send a voucher validation request to each signed-up parishioner which needs responding to prior to the contract being signed between the Rauceby Gigabit Company and Openreach which will be the trigger to commence the installation, estimated to take one year to complete. Cllr Ireland commended Cllr S Enstone for the tremendous work he has done over several years to get to this stage.
7. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: 

• LCC – Nothing to report.
• NKDC – Cllr Waring gave feedback regarding the financial situation of the local authority and how it was managing the current strictures.
• Police – nothing to report from the police. Cllr J Malloch was concerned that it was getting exceedingly difficult to contact the PCSOs.

8. Planning Applications Received from NKDC (This may include plans received since the agenda was circulated):
i. 22/1289/FUL | Change of use from industrial to class F (museum) with associated parking, access road and PV panels | Heath Farm C322 Between A17 And Main Street North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QR. No Objections by Rauceby Parish Council.
ii. 22/1153/HOUS | Demolition of a single-storey disused garage to construct a single-storey workshop/store and erection of a solar canopy to the existing property on the south elevation. | Stonelea Cottage Church Lane North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QU. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council.
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
iii. 22/1202/TCA | T1 / T2 Maple - establish pollard; T3 / T4 / T7 Conifer - fell; T5 Ash - crown reduce by 2.5m and deadwood; T6 Blue Cedar - fell; T8 Crimson King - 1.5m radial reduction; T9 Cedar deodar - fell; T10 - remove section of hedge | 43 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QQ. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. TPO not served by NKDC.
iv. 22/1009/HOUS | Erection of first floor extension and alterations to existing building | Boiling Wells Farm House Boiling Wells Farm Grantham Road Greylees Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QX. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. Approved by NKDC.
9. New Business Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. New Councillors’ Code of Conduct adopted by NKDC, 12 May 2022. All Councillors have signed the acknowledgement of receipt of the new Code of Conduct and these acknowledgements have been sent to the NKDC Monitoring Officer (item complete).
ii. To consider the proposed Pledge for Civility and Respect to our suite of procedures and policies. This was discussed in the meeting and it was unanimously decided not to pledge as it is considered that each Member’s innate code of ethics and the new Code of Conduct adequately covers such matters (item complete).
iii. Minor modification to Records Retention Policy. This item concerns the minor adjustment of some timescales of the Policy that records should be kept. Changes were agreed unanimously (item complete).
iv. Situation of Tree overhang in N. Rauceby as reported by Cllr G Enstone in May 2022. The offending overhang has been cut back (item complete).
v. Purchase of Wreath for Remembrance Day. It was agreed that the Clerk shall purchase a wreath for the Remembrance Day service.
vi. Replacement of vandalised dog waste bins. Two dog waste bins were vandalised recently – one was totally destroyed and the other was damaged but is still serviceable. The destroyed bin has been replaced and a second was purchased and will be held in store until it is required (item complete).
vii. Replacement of defibrillator battery and method for identifying early equipment failures. On a routine inspection, the defibrillator battery was found to be discharged. It was replaced without delay. 
A notice has been placed on the inside of the device retaining box and visible through the window requesting any passers-by to contact the Clerk (details provided in box) in the event the 5-6 second green light flash period was not occurring.
The Chairman is to contact the chair of the Village Hall management committee to see if any of their more frequent occupiers could carry out this routine visual check and report any deficiencies to the Clerk.
Action: Cllr M Ireland to contact Village Hall Management
viii. The Clerk has proposed next year’s meetings as follows. Members are asked to check their own diaries and confirm acceptability at the next meeting. 

Proposed meeting dates for 2023: 

• 19h30 Wednesday, 18 January 2023 
• 19h30 Wednesday, 15 March 2023
• 19h00 Wednesday, 17 May 2023 (including Open Meeting)
• 19h30 Wednesday, 5 July 2023
• 19h30 Wednesday, 20 September 2023
• 19h30 Wednesday, 15 November 2023

10. Update on Outstanding Matters 
i) Actions from the last meeting: all complete except three (see items below table):

ii) Traffic calming measures/gates: Cllr J Malloch announced that a local contractor has been approached to install the gates and it was hoped this would be completed imminently. 
With regards to the red tarmac aspect, Cllr Ireland is still awaiting feedback from Cllr Wright of LCC to confirm that Rowan Smith of LCC Highways will complete the work by April 2023. 
iii) Damage to Buttercross monument. Repairs complete and the monument is back in as near as possible, original condition (item complete). 
iv) Rauceby Booklet. It appears the booklet is not as rare as was originally thought. Permission to copy it will therefore no longer be sought. The Clerk holds the booklet for anyone who wishes to consult it (item complete).
11. Financial report – for approval and signing; September 2022
i) The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman.
The Current account stands at £18,686.49 at 22 August 2022.
ii) This month’s payments were approved and cheques signed:

• T J Bookkeeping and Accounts (3 months) £15.00
• HMRC (PAYE clerk) £190.40
• J Earl (Grass cutting 6 months) £192.00
• I Grady fees (2 months) £190.66
• Glasdon (dog waste bins, 2 off) £263.90

12. Matters of Urgency:  Any matters which have occurred after the agenda was published – for discussion only.

• The WI have contacted the Chairman regarding a poppy event at the church for Remembrance Day. Because our next meeting will be after Remembrance Day, this matter was discussed and it was decided to agree to the WI request. 
• The condition of Church Lane was described as getting increasingly unstable. The Chairman agreed to raise the issue with Cllr R Wright of LCC. Action Cllr Ireland
• The Chairman commended Cllr G Enstone for organising the Book of Condolence at the Church over the period of the Queen’s mourning. 

13. Date of Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, 16 November 2022 at the Rauceby Village Hall starting at 19h30.

Matters which have been raised in meetings and which may be considered further at a future date:

• Flooding and drainage at the junction of Rauceby Drove and A153 (Lincolnshire Highways are aware of this issue and have it on a long term planning strategy.)
• S Rauceby Well refurbishment: deferred until more appropriate.
• Discuss with NKDC Planning the definition of the term “permitted development”. Cllr Waring reported back that she was having difficulty getting a representative to come a explain the subtleties to us. Cllr Waring will continue to press for this engagement.