2024 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, 17 January 2024 at 7.30 pm at the Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

Present:      Cllr M Ireland (in the Chair), Cllrs J Malloch, G Hall, G Enstone, P Ireland, B Balderston, J Hoare and M Froggatt; A Hagues of NKDC and the Clerk, Mr I Grady. 

Public speaking time: There was one member of the public present. 
1. Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Cllr S Enstone and Cllr J Clarke of NKDC. Cllr R Wright of LCC sent belated apologies.
2. To receive any Declarations of Interest: None were received.
3. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: None required. 
4. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes. 
5. Rauceby Gigabit Project: It is clear to everyone in the village that work has commenced on this installation. It is expected that the civils work will be completed by the end of January. It is anticipated that OpenReach will give whatever guidance and advice is necessary to any householder who asks for it during the individual property installations. 
6. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: 
LCC   No report was presented. 
NKDC   Grants of up to  £5000 are to be made available to property owners affected by the floods in Lincolnshire. Applications should be made to LCC. 
Police   Nothing to report. 
7. Planning Applications Received from NKDC (This may include plans received since the agenda was circulated):
i. 24/0013/TCA | T1 - Scots Pine - Reduce height by a maximum of 5 metres. Shorten back growth by 2 metres on the larger lateral branches to reduce weight and balance crown. | 5 Thorpe Drove South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QH No Objections at regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC complete 19/01/24).
ii. 23/1533/FUL | Erection of 2 no. broiler poultry units (meat production) with feed silos, roof mounted Solar PV panels and hardstanding | Boiling Wells Farm Grantham Road Greylees Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QX No Objections at regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council (Submission to NKDC complete 19/01/24).
iii. 23/1490/HOUS | Demolition of existing conservatory, erection of single storey extension to rear and garage converted with alterations to roof. | 38 Pinfold Lane South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QE No objections by Planning Sub-Committee (Submission to NKDC complete 03/01/24).
iv. 23/1325/LBC | Conversion of existing barn to form 1no. dwelling and erection of a detached outbuilding | Stone Barn Dovecote Rise South Rauceby Sleaford NG34 8WZ.      No Objections at regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council (Submission to NKDC complete 16/11/23). Amendment regarding windows added 04/01/24; no comments invited by NKDC.
v. 23/1324/FUL | Conversion of existing barn to form 1no. dwelling and erection of a detached outbuilding | Stone Barn Dovecote Rise South Rauceby Sleaford NG34 8WZ. No Objections at regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council (Submission to NKDC complete 16/11/23). Amendment regarding windows added 04/01/24; no comments invited by NKDC.
vi. 23/1321/LBC | Conversion and change of use of barns to class E retail gun shop | North Rauceby Lodge Church Lane North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QU. No objections by Planning Sub-Committee (Submission to NKDC complete 07/12/23).
vii. 23/1320/FUL | Conversion and change of use of barns to class E retail and gun shop | North Rauceby Lodge Church Lane North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QU. No objections by Planning Sub-Committee (Submission to NKDC complete 07/12/23).
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
viii. 23/1301/HOUS | Erection of single storey rear extension and hipped roof to garage | 17 Southgate Spinneys South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QF. No Objections by full membership of Rauceby Parish Council (Submission to NKDC complete 16/11/23). Approved by NKDC.
ix. 23/1399/TCA | T1 - In front of property reduce large conifer to right hand side of gate by around 1/3 of its current size and trim tidy sides to make more uniform shape. T2 - To the left hand side of drive trim back cotoneaster back to the boundary. T3 - In rear garden pollard sycamore to where it was done previously at around 15ft. Remove 2 x stems behind in decline to ground level. T4 - Crown reduce and raise cherry by around 20% of its current size. | 21 Main Street North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QP. No objections by Planning Sub-Committee (Submission to NKDC complete 08/12/23). Approved by NKDC, TPO not served.
x. 23/1330/TCA | T1 Ash - 1m reduction in height and 1m radial reduction | Residential Development Off Main Street North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QP. No objections by Planning Sub-Committee (Submission to NKDC complete one day late 08/12/23). Approved by NKDC, TPO not served.
8. Matters Arising and New Business Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. Propose and ratify Precept for 2024/25 
The Precept for 2024/25 as calculated by NKDC at  £6137.69 represents a zero percent increase. This was discussed and although other figures were suggested it was agreed by a majority vote to apply for this value of precept.
Action Jan (1): Clerk
ii. Propose and ratify Budget for 2024/25 
The interim draft budget was required to assist in the setting of the precept. The final draft budget will be presented to the Parish Council at the next meeting.
iii. 80th anniversary of D-Day village consideration
This anniversary takes place on 6 June 2024 and the Council is keen to participate with other village groups to organise suitable events. The council voted a budget of  £500 for the event. Cllr P Ireland will gather suggestions regarding the events that may be suitable. The clerk will try and source a beacon as a permanent fixture in the village.
Action Jan (2): Clerk
Action Jan (3): Councillors to make event suggestions to Cllr Ireland
iv. NKDC Digital Hubs available in Sleaford
The council was notified that posters advertising the availability of NKDC assistance for parishioners to understand better the technical world around them have been placed on the village notice boards.
v. Lorry watch
The council was notified that a scheme for reporting overweight lorries passing through villages has been initiated by LCC. It was decided that as there are no weight restricted roads in Rauceby, this would be of little value to us.
vi. Signs for gates at South Rauceby entrance.
A quote is to be obtained for the gates at South Rauceby
Action Jan (4): Clerk
vii. Access to Electoral Register for councillors
The procedure for councillors to obtain the electoral register for their constituencies was explained. A councillor is to made direct contact with NK Elections dept who will then give him the specific security information to enable access to the register. The clerk is no longer part of that loop.
viii. Supply of defibrillators by Shock Sleaford 
The organisation Shock Sleaford is installing at least one (maybe two) new defibrillator in the village. They will carry out all maintenance and checks. They have offered to take on these responsibilities for our defibrillator but after discussion it was decided to not take them up on their offer.
ix. Lincs Police Engagement event for December 2023   report back
The Chairman attended this event and gave a positive feedback to the meeting. 
x. Village sheep signs maintenance   progress feedback.
No progress has been made with this project. The weather has to improve to allow any.
xi. Telephone kiosk   maintenance progress feedback
The paint has been received, free of charge from Dacrylate Paints and the Community Heartbeat Trust. A quote from a local contractor has also been received for the painting job. The contactor has informed us that he would not be able to start the job until the weather improved. After discussion in the meeting it was agreed to accept the quote.
Action Jan (5): Clerk
9. Update on Outstanding Matters 
i. Actions from previous meetings: 

10. Financial report
i. The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman.
The Current account stands at  £17,705.96 as of 6 December 2023.
ii. This month s payments were approved:
* HMRC: PAYE
* I Grady: fees (2 months) and expenses (litter bag hoops and printer ink)
* S Clegg: payroll administration fee.
* Village Hall: rent.
* NBB Recycled Furniture: planks to repair damaged benches.
iii. A savings account has been opened at Lloyds Bank to make some of our accumulated funds more effectively used. A deposit of  £10,000 was made which will attract a fixed interest rate of 5.08% for 15 months. The savings account cannot be accessed until late February 2025 so the remaining balance of about  £7700 will be our only liquid asset until then. Our foreseen budgeted expenses are substantially less than this.
11. Any Other Business:  Any matters which have arisen after the agenda was published. 
i. Funding for Capital Projects in North Kesteven
A press release has been received notifying the council that there is a new fund of up to  £10,000 available to certain organisations for capital projects. There was no interest in the meeting for such a grant. 
ii. Consultation: Street Vote Development Orders.
LALC has notified us that a possible change to the Planning Procedure has been made open to consultation. It was decided that individual councillors may make their own representations and the Parish Council would not participate as an organisation.
iii. Flood warning and mitigation guidance
GoCompare Insurance has compiled a document giving guidance to home owners regarding flood protection and what to do in the event of flood damage. GoCompare has agreed that the document can be placed on our website without the links to their insurance products. The Council agreed that it should be placed onto the website.
Action Jan (6): Clerk
12. Date of Next Meeting: The meeting closed at 20h50. The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, 20 March 2024 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:
* South Rauceby Well refurbishment: deferred until more appropriate.
* Rewilding of Rauceby Drove verge: deferred until results of pilot study on the land by Main Street have been evaluated.