2019-20 Parish Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes

NOTES of the Hough on the Hill Parish Council meeting  held at 7.20 pm on Thursday 12th March 2020 at All Saints Church Community Area, Hough on the Hill.

Present:  Cllr R Kingscott (RK) (in the Chair), Cllrs. R. Holden (RH), Vicky McLean (VM) and Steve Rowland (SR),  Cty Cllr A Maughan,   Dist Cllr Milnes plus 2 members of the public.

A member of the public said the standard of repair of potholes was very poor and asked about the flooding in Brandon.  Cllr Maughan said that the culvert would be jetted by Highways (it may have been done) but most of the problems are the landowner’s responsibility.  The member of the public then proceeded to question the Chair on matters pertaining to his declarations of interest in the past.  He was advised that this was not a matter for the public forum and was directed to the Monitoring Officer.

1.    Chairman welcomed those present. 

1. – Cllr S Morgan. 

49/19. There were no declarations of interest.

1. of the meeting held on 5th December 2019 were read and it was resolved unanimously to accept them as a true record, and they were duly signed.

S18/0078 and S20/0098 – Brandon Wood Clay Shoot – the appeal was cancelled and the enforcement notice withdrawn. A new application has been submitted and this Council has objected.The area of the site has been extended and shooting increased from 50 days per nine months to 150 days per nine months – this equates to every weekend and 2 days a week.An independent noise mitigation assessment is being sought.The planning application is likely to be approved with conditions but there could be problems implementing those conditions.Likely to go to committee in April.

S19/0735 – Drive through coffee shop at A1 petrol station site – LCC and Highways England (HE) have removed their objections to the scheme.Committee meeting on 29 April are likely to approve the application.Cllr Maughan is attempting to get the relevant report from HE on the appropriate area of the A1.An SK condition to meet national guidelines will mean a publication/consultation on closure of the right hand turn on the northbound A1, onto Toll Bar Road.RK will publicise on NextDoor.Further comments to go from the PC to SKDC.

S19/1937 – Hall Farm, Brandon – all conditions discharged.

S19/1952 – 3 Gelston Road, Hough – new timber garage approved.

S19/2024 – tree works at New Hill, Hough – approved.

S20/0187- tree works at The Old Vicarage, High Road, Hough – pending consideration.

S20/0300 – removal of tree at 8 Grantham Road, Hough – approved.

S20/0320 – extension at 5 Village Street, Gelston- comments required.

52/19.   Playing field:

               The annual Wicksteed report had been circulated and December and February reports too. 

               It was agreed that treatment of the wood was required in some areas and that this should

               be done by Councillors during the summer.  Alternative options for a new net had been

               looked at but it was resolved to accept the Wicksteed quote in the sum of £957.58.  Clerk to

               check that there is a guarantee.  Resolved that Clerk should order 3 bags of bark.  RK is

               dealing with spikes for the swings, and gate closures.

53/19. Road safety/Highways:

               The “Brandon” sign on the C001 is now in place. The flooding at 1 Hough Road, Brandon is in

               the hands of Highways.  There doesn’t appear to have been any further flooding at Church

               Lane, Brandon but if there are any further issues RK will advise Cllr Maughan.  The water at

               High Road, Hough is a spring that is coming through the tarmac.  The drains along High Road

               are blocked and need jetting – Cllr Maughan to enquire as to whether this has been done. 

               There is no update on the sewer dyke at Brandon but Cllr Milnes will chase.

1. no update as yet.

1. resolved unanimously to pay the annual maintenance invoice for £419.40.

56/19. Communications:VM asked whether Councillors were aware of a magazine called News

and Views which goes out to properties in Caythorpe.They hadn’t seen it but were advised

that it is a free publication but has to be delivered by volunteers.Resolved that we would

request it and that councillors (personally rather than as Councillors) will deliver it or

arrange delivery.

57/19. Financial matters:

[a] Bank balances at 29.2.20 £4408.85  (deposit a/c} and £4066.31  (current a/c).  

[b] Resolved to sign the bank reconciliation/income and expenditure accounts at 29.2.20.

1. Kart Clubs annual report handed to RK.  Floodlight problem at Hough has been dealt with and no action taken.  Clerk to advise Cllr Morgan of the Rural North Police Panel Meeting on 28th March.

              Cllr Milnes advised that SKs budget had been approved and that Band D Council tax will rise by £5.  Council reserves are satisfactory so no borrowing is required.  Car parking charges will go up.  EnviroSK are continuing with an intention of making a profit.  InvestSK are encouraging businesses to grow.  The Local Plan has been adopted.  The Neighbourhood Plan is still part of the system but it would be prudent to update it.  The New CEO is in place.

               Cllr Maughan said that the LCC budget has been approved.  It costs LCC £590,000,000 to run the services.  Council tax has been increased by 3.5%.  There is £125,000,000 of earmarked reserves which cannot be spent “willy nilly” but £12,000,000 has been released in to next years budget.  A one off sum of £4,000,000 has been put into creating a new highways team for non-urgent matters.   Highways West (which is NKDC and SKDC) has the same number of staff but 50% more area to cover than others so being re-jigged to loose some of the area to other counties.   

60/19. Next meeting:    6th May (Annual Parish Council meeting) at 6.15 pm and

                                          14th May (regular meeting) at 7.30 pm.

Meeting closed at 9 pm.