2024-25 Minutes

MINUTES OF WILSFORD PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 14 JANUARY 2025 AT 7.00PM IN THE SMALL ROOM OF THE VILLAGE HALL

Present: Cllr Sirs (Chair), Cllrs Harrison, Corner, Blankley, Brickles and Miller.

In Attendance:        County/District Cllr Hagues and Denise Gascoyne Parish 
            Clerk

Public Forum:        No members of the public present.

The meeting began at 7.00pm.

1.Chair’s Welcome. 
The Chair Cllr Sirs welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.Apologies for Absence. Apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received. 
From Cllr Reseigh. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to accept apologies for absence with valid reasons from Cllr Reseigh.

3.Declarations of Interest. There were none.

4.To approve as a true record the notes of the Closed Meeting held on 10 December 2024. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:  to accept the notes of the Closed Meeting held on 10 December  2024 as a true record. These were signed by the Chair.

5.Reports from County Cllr and District Cllr.
County Cllr Hagues said there was a possibility that the County and Mayoral elections due to take place may well be postponed until May 2026.
Cllr Corner asked for the photographs circulated of the Footpath on Town End/Main Street to be forwarded to County Cllr Hagues.

6.Reports from Outside Bodies.
a. Allotments – nothing to report.

b. Biodiversity – Cllr Miller said it was very quiet now. She had checked on the new trees and they all seem healthy.
Cllr Harrison was concerned about the ‘wild areas’ said they looked a real mess last year. Cllr Miller said the majority of the village was kept neat and tidy and the wild areas were quite small.  A plan would be drawn up for the end of season wilding areas.

c. Cemetery – The hedge had now been cut at the top. The handyman would now be asked to cut the hedge inside the cemetery.

d. CLT – nothing to report.
                        
e. Playing Field – Cllr Harrison was still concerned about the ramp from Blackberry Way to the playing field. However, Cllrs didn’t think it was a real problem but would monitor the situation.

The skate half pipe had still not been repaired. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to approach another contractor as the work needed doing in Spring.

f. St Mary’s Church – nothing to report.

g. Village hall – It had been suggested a live planted Christmas tree be purchased. However, the village hall committee were not interested, and would continue to purchase a real tree every year.

h. Handyman -  Parish Cllrs expressed  thanks to the Handyman for his work during December/January, this included cleaning all  village signs and removing all the moss, and clearing footpaths behind BlackBerry Way. Cllr Corner would ask the Handyman to remove the ivy from the tree outside the cemetery, and to clear the brambles from the walkways leading to the playing field.

7.Chair Update.
a. The Chair and other members of the parish council had met with Highways on 12 December to discuss a number of issues in the village.
Pub corner – It was suggested double yellow lines outside the Plough from the window round to the grit bin, would help the traffic situation. People tend to park outside the pub instead of going into the carpark and people with blue badges struggle to park there. The landlord and landlady of the Plough have no problems with this initiative. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: The Chair to write to County Cllr Hagues re the above for forwarding to Highways.

Speed Limit Back Lane – It was suggested that the Speed Limit on Back Lane should be reduced to 30mph from  the 30mph sign to the railway crossing. Also, the 30mph sign is right on the corner of Town End and Cllrs agree it should be before the electric sign and not after it. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: The Chair to write to County Cllr Hagues re the above for forwarding to Highways.

Cllr had suggested the overgrown wall near the Cresent should be attended to. However, after the meeting with Highways it was agreed to leave it as it is. The wall did not belong to Highways so possibly NKDC. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to not pursue the matter any further.

The Chair reminded Cllrs to report anything they see on Fix My Street. If is a policy issue it has to go through the County Cllr.

b. Fireworks bank account – The Chair told the meeting that Lloyds bank was bringing in new regulations with bank charges etc. He asked if the Parish Council would hold the money as it is a Parish Council event. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: The Parish Council would hold the money subject to authorisation by LALC.

8. Clerk update.
a. The Clerk confirmed that the fly tipping Ancaster/Wilsford hill had been removed before Christmas.
b. The Clerk confirmed we have 2 hours in hand for maintenance of the website.

9.Correspondence.
a. LALC e-news – circulated to all Cllrs.
b. LCC Winter Readiness – circulated to all Cllrs.
c. LCC Town & Parish Newsletters November and December 2024 - circulated to all Cllrs.
d. NKDC Active Travel Strategy Consultation - circulated to all Cllrs.
e. NALC Events Newsletter - circulated to all Cllrs.
f. Sleaford Neighbourhood Plan Consultation ends 09.02.25 – circulated to all Cllrs. 
g. Notification of Level Crossing maintenance 27.01.25  and 28.01.25 - circulated to all Cllrs.
h. Notification of traffic restrictions surface water drain Main Street 17.01.25-31.01.25 – circulated to all Cllrs.
i. LCC Budget and Council Tax Proposal 2025-2026 – any comments by 28.01.25
j. Heritage Lincolnshire – have your say.

10.Planning.
a. 24/1464 Planning application to remove twisted willow to ground level 18 Main Street. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to make no comments on this application.

11.Finance.
a. The Bank Reconciliations and Cashbook to 31 December had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to accept the Bank Reconciliations and Cashbook to 31 December. These were signed by the Chair.

b. The Approval List for BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to accept the BACS Approval List and authorise the Clerk to make the payments.

c. The Clerk confirmed the Precept Request for £18540 had been submitted to NKDC. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

12.Reports from Cllrs.
a. Cllr Corner said he could not understand why all the Highway Lights had not been changed to LED. He said SKDC had just about replaced all theirs. When one went out recently they replaced it with a bulb. County Cllr Hagues said he would ask Highways and report back.

13. Training:
a. The LALC Training Bulletin had been circulated to all Cllrs.

b. Introduction to planning – National Planning Policy Framework 04.02.25 Zoom 6.00pm-
7.00pm

c. JADU Training (Website) will be offered on various dates and times. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to continue using the Webmaster at this time.

14.Date of Next Meeting.
a. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 11 February 2025 in the small room of the village hall at 7.00pm.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.20pm.

It is important to understand that the information given above represents notes of the  meeting which took place in the small room of the village hall on 14 January 2025 and do not  become minutes of Wilsford Parish Council until accepted or otherwise at the meeting.