2023 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, 15 March 2023 at 7.30 pm at The Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

Present:      Cllr M Ireland (in the Chair), J Hoare, M Froggatt, R Enstone, G Enstone, B Balderston, and the Clerk, Mr I Grady. 

Public speaking time: There were no members of the public present. 
1. Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Cllrs J Malloch, S Waite and S Enstone. 
2. To receive any Declarations of Interest: None were received.
3. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: Yes, item 8(xii) will be discussed in closed session. 
4. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on 18 January 2023: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes. 
5. Rauceby Gigabit Project: An update was provided by Cllr S Enstone. His report states that the targeted commitment of parishioners to sign up to the Gigabit project had been achieved. It was unanimously agreed by the Parish Council to support the signing of the contract between Rauceby Gigabit Ltd and Openreach and that work on installation should commence without delay. 
6. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: 
Nothing to report. 
7. Planning Applications Received from NKDC (This may include plans received since the agenda was circulated):
i. 23/0162/TCA | T5 / T10 Cypress - fell; T9 Yew - fell; T7 False Acacia - fell | 35 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QG. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council; NKDC has approved the application (Tree Preservation Order not served).
ii. 23/0083/HOUS | Erection of single storey extension to the rear garden, unblock existing window opening and install new window and install new gate to the drive. | The Manor House 16 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QG No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council; an observation was made that highway safety should not be compromised when vehicles enter and leave the driveway. 
iii. 23/0044/TCA | T19 Ash - fell; T278 Beech - reduce to 12m; T276 Ash - fell | 32 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QG. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. NKDC has approved the application (Tree Preservation Order not served).
iv. 23/0047/TCA | T277 Sycamore - fell; Cypress tree (as marked on map) - fell | 30 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QG. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. NKDC has approved the application (Tree Preservation Order not served).
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
v. 22/1769/PNAGR | Erection of an agricultural storage building. | Boiling Wells Farm Grantham Road Greylees Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QX. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council; NKDC has approved the application.
8. New Business Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. Rauceby Estate development (Well Plantation): a paper submitted by Mr D Spurrier regarding the development of the Rauceby Estate Well Plantation had been circulated to the councillors earlier. The council had nothing further to add to the discussion and is happy with what is being proposed. 
Action Mar (1): Clerk to notify Mr Spurrier of its assessment.
ii. Budget and Precept for 2023/24. The Precept has been finalised and a demand made to NKDC. The budget for next year was presented and agreed. Matter finalised.
iii. Neighbourhood Plan. The council has had since the last meeting to consider the implications of creating a Neighbourhood Plan for Rauceby and to view the Plans of other Parishes (plans by Welbourn and Hough on the Hill had been circulated). It was acknowledged that such an exercise would require the co-option of parishioners because the work involved would be too much for solely councillors to engage in. It was decided to request either a member of the NKDC Neighbourhood Plan Dept or someone from a local parish which had created a plan to give a talk at the Open meeting of the Parish in May.
Action Mar (2): Chairman to approach NKDC and another PC to seek a speaker
iv. Missing/damaged Information boards: As no-one appears to accept ownership of these boards, it was decided to maintain the text of the boards, recovered from NKDC, on the web site until such time the Parish can afford to reinstate new boards. Matter finalised.
v. Parish Elections: These are to take place in May. Nomination papers have been distributed to councillors and the statutory notices advertising the call for nominations have been placed on the village notice boards.
There was some confusion regarding which councillors represented which ward (North or South) of Rauceby. 
Action Mar (3): Clerk to find out representation.
vi. Parish Grants: The council indicated little interest in these grants as the application date had passed. Matter finalised. 
vii. Coronation of King Charles III. Although it had been decided that the Parish Council would not take the lead on any celebration in the village there was some support for presenting some item of memorabilia to mark the occasion. If a gift, it would probably be to the children of the village and could consist of a commemorative mug or spoon or somesuch. Otherwise, a commemorative bench or some other structure in the village could be considered. It was also suggested that the parishioners may have ideas on the subject and that an item could be placed in the village newsletter to advertise the fact.
The Monday of the coronation weekend has been designated a “Volunteering Day” it was suggested that parishioners be asked to volunteer to litter pick on this day.
Action Mar (4): Chairman to contact councillors within a couple of weeks 
to assess what kind of commemoration may be made.
Action Mar (5): Chairman to organise an insertion in the village newsletter
 to notify the community about Volunteer Monday.
viii. Coronation garden party. Cllr Hoare said that (outside the purview of the Parish Council) he was opening the gates of the Hall for the Sunday of the coronation to enable villagers to picnic and celebrate the occasion. 
ix. Donations to be considered for this FY. After discussion it was decided to make donations to St Peter’s Church (£450) in respect of its churchyard maintenance and to Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire (£50) to aid its charitable work.
x. Safety Checks. A reminder was given to the councillors to carry out its annual requirement of safety checks of village assets and other aspects of the village structure and to report findings at the annual May Parish meeting.
Action Mar (6): all councillors to carry out safety checks
xi. Policies and Procedures. A reminder was given to the Councillors to carry out its annual requirement checks that the Parish Council’s procedures and policies published on the Parish website (including those shown at the bottom of each page: “About”, “Accessibility”, “Contact” and “Privacy” – but not “Cookies”) are still fit for purpose and to report findings at the annual May Parish meeting. 
Action Mar (7): all councillors to carry out procedures and 
policies fit-for-purpose checks
xii. Village domestic property tidiness. This item was discussed in closed session.
9. Update on Outstanding Matters 
i. Ownership of Street Artwork: these items consist of wooden carvings, stone sculptures and metal structures placed around the village. NKDC supplied us with a legal document for signing that the council was not happy with – it implied that ownership was not ours but that care, maintenance and insurance would be for our account. It was decided that the council will not pursue the transfer of ownership of these items.
Action Mar (8): Clerk to notify NKDC of its decision.
ii. Actions from the last meeting: 

iii. Speed awareness gates: these have been installed. A discussion took place on whether to add a sign highlighting the limit and need to be speed cautious.
Action Mar (9): Chairman to investigate signs used by other villages.
iv. Leaf clearing: Mr Earl has agreed to carry out two annual leaf clearing campaigns by the bus shelters.
10. Financial report – for approval and signing; March 2023
i. The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman.
The Current account stands at £16,944.01 on 16 February 2023.
ii. This month’s payments were approved and cheques signed:
* Information Commissioner (GDPR fees), by Direct Debit £35.00
* I Grady expenses (paper) £7.50
* I Grady fees (2 months) £(redacted under GDPR provisions)
* LALC subscription £169.65
* St Peter’s Church donation £450.00
* Citizen’s Advice Mid Lincolnshire donation £50.00
iii. Councillors were notified that the S.137 allocation for 2023-24 is £9.93/elector.
iv. Review of Clerks fees. This was carried out in the absence of the clerk.
11. Any Other Business:  Any matters which have arisen after the agenda was published. 
A parishioner emailed to comment about the leaf mulch on Pinfold Lane pavement – it being a slipping hazard. It was agreed to contact the Estate whose contractors are cutting trees in that area and who may be contributing to the mess.
 Action Mar (10): Chairman to contact the Estate management regarding clearing up the mess.
12. Date of Next Meeting: The meeting closed at 21h00. The next regular meeting will be held at 19h30 on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at Rauceby Village Hall. It will be preceded by the Annual Open Meeting which will commence at 19h00.

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.