2025 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 January 2025 at 7.30 pm at the Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

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

Public speaking time: There was one member of the public present. She did not ask to speak.
1. Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Cllr B Balderston. 
2. To receive any Declarations of Interest: None were received.
3. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: None requested. 
4. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on 20 November 2024: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes. 
5. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: 
NKDC – Cllr A Hagues had distributed the latest NKDC newsletter to councillors earlier in the month. 
Cllr Clarke also reminded the meeting of several emergency phone numbers that parishioners should be made aware of. These emergency numbers are available through the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (https://www.lincolnshireresilienceforum.org).
LCC – Cllr Wright reported that there is an ongoing discussion regarding the formation of Unitary Councils. As these are for the County and District only there is little impact, as yet, for the Parish.
Cllr Wright also congratulated Cllr S Enstone on the NKDC Contribution to Community Resilience Award regarding his efforts in overseeing and driving the Gigabit project in the village.
Police – No representative was present to make a report.
6. Planning Applications 
Received from NKDC (This may include plans received after the agenda was circulated):
i. 25/0039/TCA| x3 Leylandii - Fell| Manor House Main Street North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QP. 
ii. 24/1324/FUL| Erection of 2 No. additional poultry houses and associated infrastructure| Ermine Street Farm, High Dike, Byard's Leap, Cranwell, Lincolnshire, NG32 3RN PI. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 27/11/24.)
      Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
iii. 24/1302/TPO| Sycamore tree - fell.| Rauceby Hall Park, Pinfold Lane, South Rauceby, NG34 8QE (Submit to NKDC by 04/12/24). No Objections were raised at the regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 23/11/24.) Decided by NKDC: TPO works approved.
iv. 24/1310/TCA| Well Plantation - remove young, dead and diseased elm.| Well Plantation Surrounding 28 Main Street, South Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8QG (Submit to NKDC by 04/12/24). No Objections were raised at the regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 23/11/24.) Decided by NKDC: TPO not served.
v. 24/1110/LBC| Alterations to roof to include new tiles and roof timbers and trusses, removal of roof dormer and replace with 3no veluxs and additional first floor window to rear. | 46 Main Street, South Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8QQ. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 16/10/24.) Decided by NKDC: approved.
7. Matters Arising and New Business Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. Maintenance of Village entrance sheep signs. It was decided to hold the matter over until all the costing information has been received. We are aware that refurbishment cannot take place in winter.
ii. Speed monitoring in the village. The purchase of one device has been approved in principle by the Parish Council (at a cost of about £2250). However it was also decided to delay the purchase until the results of a road traffic survey planned for Spring 2025 and carried out by the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership become available. 
We are still awaiting information from the LRSP about different (possibly cheaper) monitoring devices. This would also inform us as to the type of device to be purchased. 
Action Jan (1): Chairman (to contact officer)
Action Jan (2): Clerk (to monitor project)
iii. Emergency Planning. The development of Emergency Planning arrangements for the village is in progress. A workshop given by the Lincolnshire Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Service on Emergency Plan preparation is being attended by members of the PC later in January. 
Action Jan (3): Chairman (to attend, with one other)
iv. Provision of Gritting Bins. LCC has already agreed to supply, free of charge, a one tonne bag of salted grit for the winter. LCC agree that the verge at the bottom of the Village Hall entrance steps is a suitable and qualified location for the gritting bin. This verge is owned by LCC, not the Village Hall. As a curtesy the VH management has been contacted for their comment. (A reply accepting the proposal was received on 17 January.)  
Action Jan (4): Clerk (to place order)
v. Village Hall Solar Panel history. The information requested at the last meeting has been handed over to the RVH Committee. (Issue finalised)
vi. Sleaford Neighbourhood Plan. This Plan has been published by Sleaford Council and comments have been invited. It was agreed that individual members of the public and the PC should make their own submissions; the Parish Council will not be making a community response.

8. Update on Outstanding Matters 
i. Actions from previous meetings: 

9. Financial report
i. The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman.
The Current account stands at £7377.34 as of 15 January 2025 (after the approval of expenditure described below).
ii. This month’s payments were approved:
* I Grady: fees (2 months) (GDPR)
* HMRC: PAYE (GDPR)
* LALC and NALC subscriptions £185.06
* Stuart Clegg Associates (Payroll management) £25.20
* J Earl Gardens £160.00
iii. The Savings account stands at £10,000 at 15 January 2025. Interest for the 12 months ending November 2024 of £509.39 was deposited into the current account.
iv. The proposed precept was discussed. Several options were put forward to the members ranging from a zero percentage increase above the base tax level (which gives a precept of £6160 – up from £6137, last year) up to 5% increase above the base level (a precept of £6470). As the NKDC have proposed a 2.99% increase for the Council Tax increase it was agreed (by a vote 7 for to 1 against) to make the Parish Council demand for the same percentage increase (2.99% above base level) resulting in a precept of £6344.
Action Jan (5): Clerk (to submit precept demand)
v. The proposed Rauceby Parish Council draft budget for the next FY was discussed. The proposal was agreed and will be presented as a final document at the next meeting.
Action Jan (6): Clerk (to finalise the budget for the next meeting)
The proposed Lincolnshire County Council Tax budget was also discussed. It has suggested a range of increase between 2.99% and 4.99%. we agreed that a 2.99% increase (which was LCC’s preferred option) would be most appropriate.
Action Jan (7): Clerk (to notify LCC of our agreement, via a survey)
vi. A query has been raised as to whether the amount of £412, ring-fenced for the War Memorial, could be absorbed into the general Parish accounts. During the discussion it was explained that a fund for the purpose of maintaining the village War Memorial had been raised by public subscription. As the fund did not have its own bank account the Parish acted (is acting) as a convenient repository for the money. After the maintenance had been completed there was an underspend of £412. Because the fund had been raised for a specific purpose, it cannot be used for anything else but will be available for any future maintenance requirements of the memorial.
vii. Further contact is required with Lloyds Bank to set up on-line banking with respect to the other co-signatories required for cash transactions.
Action Jan (8): Clerk (to follow-up with Lloyds Bank)
10. Any Other Business:  Any matters which have arisen after the agenda was published. 
i. North Kesteven Heritage Strategy
Heritage Lincolnshire are supporting North Kesteven District Council in the development of a shared heritage strategy for the whole district to be delivered from 2025 to 2035. As part of this process, all parish and town councils and councillors are being invited to take part in the creation of the heritage strategy and its associated action plan by attending a workshop or by contributing to our online survey. 
Cllr R Wright of LCC recommended this initiative as one that is important to the community and should be supported by the PC. The Parish Council agreed that each councillor should decide whether to take part as individuals.
An email circulated to Councillors on 13 January 2025 gives all the specific information concerning workshop dates and times and other contact details.
Action Jan (9): All Councillors (to consider participation and take action as required)
ii. LALC newsletter of 10 January 2025 
Several issues were raised in this issue that were considered to merit discussion at the meeting:
a. There has been a request by LCC to survey for local Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs. Cllr Hall has agreed to follow this up.
Action Jan (10): Cllr Hall (to report findings directly to LCC)
b. There were various notifications concerning Local Audit Reform. After discussion it was considered that as our PC was considerably smaller than the threshold of concern, this matter would not impact us greatly. No further action required at this stage.
c. NALC has called for stronger neighbourhood governance in response to the English Devolution White Paper. Again, after discussion it was considered that as our PC was considerably smaller than the threshold of concern, this matter would not impact us greatly. No further action required at this stage.
d. NALC supports the government's move to exempt parish and town councils from council tax referendum principles. After discussion we agreed with this. It would not be practical to call a village-wide referendum if we demanded a greater than normal precept. No action required.
e. NALC backs the government’s remote meeting proposals. After discussion we broadly agreed that we should be able to decide how and when we could hold our meetings. However voting mechanisms (including proxy voting if desired) would have to be considered in greater detail. No action is required at this stage.
f. A “heads up” notification that the 80th anniversary of VE Day is taking place on 8 May 2025. It was agreed to raise this at a future date.
g. There was a reminder that Asda Foundation Funding is available for investment in outdoor community spaces. It was agreed to raise this at a future date.
h. NALC welcomes the Law Commission's burial and cremation proposals. Although this is not a PC issue Councillors with ties to the church are asked to make the church aware of the proposals. No further action is required.
11. Date of Next Meeting: The meeting closed at 20h45. The next regular meeting will be held at 19h30 on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at Rauceby Village Hall. 

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.
* Watching brief on requirement for EV charging points for the public and for residents who do not have off-road parking facilities (originally discussed March 2024).
* Councils’ new duty to prevent sexual harassment: when more information becomes available about how compliance is to be managed the Clerk will prepare a policy document for adoption by the PC (originally discussed March 2024). 
* The Council shall keep a watching brief on the progress of the Rauceby Foundation re-wilding project at the plot of land on Main Street ear-marked for a public leisure area (originally discussed May 2024).