DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL

DEEPING ST JAMES PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held at The Institute on Thursday, 3 January 2002.

Councillor Dilks, Chairman, presided over Councillors Abel, Auger, Bulmer-Jones, Chambers, Lewis, Shinkins, Stevens, Thompson, Warrick and the clerk. 4 members of the public and P.C. Capp were present.

083 PRESENTATION BY STUDENTS OF THE DEEPINGS SCHOOL

Two members of the upper sixth Travel & Tourism course gave a presentation on their proposals for a seminar to be held at Barnsdale Hotel & Country Club on 4 February 2002. In a team of six, they have organised the venue, speakers and other presentations on behalf of 100 course students from a number of schools in the area. They have succeeded in getting the venue free of charge and sold tickets to help defray the other costs, securing sponsorship for the remainder. Members were extremely impressed with the manner in which they have both approached this project and delivered the presentation and wished them every success.

084 MATTERS RAISED IN THE OPEN FORUM

Attending the meeting with an elector of the parish, Mr Barry Windsor of Market Deeping was given permission to address the meeting. He has been trying to get allotments provided in Market Deeping for some time with no success due to a lack of available land. He has obtained written requests from six electors of this parish asking that the Parish Council provide allotment gardens in Deeping St James. The clerk explained that under the provisions contained in the Small Holdings & Allotments Act 1908, the Parish Council had a duty to provide allotment gardens if there was evidence of an unsatisfied demand. The fact that six electors had requested allotments did not in itself indicate an unsatisfied demand but required further investigation. Members agreed that allotment gardens should be encouraged and that the Parish Council would investigate their viability through seeking responses through its newsletter. If this indicates an acceptable level of demand, this could be followed up by a resolution put forward at the Annual Parish Meeting, which would enable the Parish Council to seek suitable land, either through local agreement or via the District Council. Mr Windsor agreed to liase with the clerk on behalf of the group seeking allotments and was thanked for bringing the matter to the Council.

085 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Councillors Anderson, Fisk, Walker and Watkins.

086 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2001, having previously been circulated, were corrected as follows – minute 077.3 line 3 addition of ‘not’ to make the statement ‘not appropriate’, minute 077.4 line 6 removal of incorrect apostrophe in ‘Councils’ and minute 081.1 para 3 line 1 removal of ‘great’ to better reflect the statement. The minutes were then approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

087 MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

.1	Deepings R.U.F.C. (073)	Cllr Auger reported that the District Councillors had met with the South Kesteven District Council Officers and that a further meeting with representatives of the Deepings R.U.F.C. committee has been arranged.
.2	Playschemes (076.2)	The clerk advised that Ofsted has confirmed that it is acceptable for playschemes to be ‘working towards’ the requirement of 50% of assistants qualified to level 2.
.3	Conference (076.3)	A report of the Rural Conference has been received and made available to members.
.4	Code of Conduct (077.1)	Further information has been received but no dates on training are available yet.
.5	Golden Jubilee (077.3)	A booklet produced by the Group co-ordinating garden parties has been received and will be available to any group or organisation interested in organising such an event.
.6	Memorial Group (080.1)	The clerk advised that the meeting to approve the final design had been arranged for Monday, 14 January 2002 at the Deepings Community Centre and that all members were invited to take part.
.7	Unification of the Councils (081.1)	The clerk advised that a letter from the Chairman of the Deepings Management Partnership had been received confirming that the Partnership had agreed to leave the matter to the two councils and offering any help. The clerk confirmed that the decision of the Parish Council following the debate at the last meeting had been communicated in response.
.8	Rural Transport Grant (081.8)	The clerk confirmed that the informal meeting with Delaine Buses Ltd had been arranged for Monday, 21 January 2002 at 7.30pm in The Institute.

088 CORRESPONDENCE

.1	Community Development	The clerk was asked to complete the questionnaire issued by South Kesteven District Council on the Parish Council’s behalf.
.2	Highways – Best Value	The clerk was asked to complete the questionnaire issued by Lincolnshire County Council as part the Review that is currently being undertaken on highway services.
.3	Precept 2002/03	It was noted that the final date for submission of the precept was 25 January 2002. In view of the timing of the next Council Meeting (31 January), it was agreed to convene an additional meeting on Thursday, 24 January 2002 at 8.00pm in The Institute to set the Council’s budget and precept for the next financial year.
.4	Cemetery complaints	Members heard a complaint concerning the positioning of a litter bin which encroached on to a grave and was causing distress to the relatives. The adjacent seat, whilst not on any grave, was causing damage to a nearby grave through people walking over it to get to the seat. It was unanimously agreed to resolve the problem by immediately removing the seat and placing it temporarily to the rear of the cemetery, and relocating the bin next to the path. The Cemetery Committee will meet on site to discuss a new, permanent location for the seat. The Committee, at the meeting referred to above, will discuss a second complaint concerning the problems caused to gravestones by debris from the large conifer tree. The clerk reminded members that as the cemetery falls within the Conservation Area, all trees are automatically included in a tree preservation order.
.5	Traffic calming	The clerk reported that Lincolnshire County Council Highways had advised that it was unlikely that there would be a sufficient budget available for traffic calming treatment at the approach to all three schools and the bend on Church Street near The Waterton Arms, even if the Parish Council was able to part fund 50% of the cost. The likelihood was that two schemes might be viable. The Department also explained that ‘hard’ traffic calming was not available and that the type of scheme which would be considered consisted of red textured road surfacing containing the word ‘slow’ and florescent backing boards to existing road signs. The estimated cost of each scheme was £5,000. Members were disappointed with this response but recognised that a certain amount of work had already been carried out on Crowson Way and Hereward Way near the two primary schools. It was agreed to continue to pursue the Park Road and Church Street sites and accept the Department ‘s offer to meet the Council to discuss the matter further. The clerk was asked to arrange the meeting for 24 January 2002, when the precept is being finalised.
.6	Other items noted	Local Government White Paper on Quality Public Services. South Kesteven District Council Forward Plan – December 2001. Hereward Way Play Area – no problems regarding litter/glass reported but to be kept under review. Lincolnshire County Council - Pension fund actuarial valuation report. Deeping St James Community Primary School – acknowledgement of grant aid. Lincolnshire Ambulance Service – Is your number up? poster. Local Policing Forum at Harrowby on 22 January 2002. Register of electors – new register received. The Electoral Registrar has reminded that the register is provided solely for the use of the Parish Council and cannot be inspected by electors other than to identify their own entry is correct. D.M.P. report of meeting on 6 December 2001. Society of Local Clerks – it was unanimously agreed that the Council should meet the clerk’s membership of this organisation in view of the benefits it will bring to the Council’s administration. The initial fee is £70 with annual subscriptions thereafter.

089 PLANNING MATTERS

Having regard to S.K.D.C.’s probity in matters relating to planning, Cllrs Auger and Bulmer-Jones took no part in the discussion and did not register a vote. It was unanimously agreed to submit no objections to the following applications:

Ref.	Address	Proposal
S01/1431	77 Manor Way	Store extension (rear) to restaurant.
S01/1445	34 Church Street	Erection of kitchen extension to takeaway. * Subject to the retention of the Collyweston slate roof.
S01/1453	117 Spalding Road	Change of use of land from domestic garden to Class B1, B2 & B8 use.
S01/1457	57 Broadgate Lane	First floor front extension, garage and porch extension to front of property, two storey rear extensions.
S01/1475	50 Horsegate	Erection of conservatory.

For your information, the following applications have been approved by the Planning Authority (S.K.D.C.) since the last Council meeting. These decisions are in accordance with the Council’s previously notified observations:

Ref.	Address	Proposal
S01/1284	4 Brownlow Drive	Erection of conservatory.
S01/1297	48 Horsegate	Extension to rear of bungalow and addition of pitched roof to garage.
S01/1298	The Goat, Spalding Rd	Storeroom extension to rear of public house.
S01/1302	104 Church Street	First floor side and rear extensions.

The Chair of the Planning Committee advised members that the Deposit Draft Local Plan was expected imminently and that a meeting of the Planning Committee would be held on 24 January 2002 at 7.00pm in The Institute to discuss the Committee’s response. The Committee’s recommendations will be put forward at the next Council meeting.

090 ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT/FINANCIAL MATTERS

It was unanimously resolved to pay the following accounts:

Payee	Service/Item of Expenditure	Amount
Clerk	Salary	606.11
	Stationery	99.53
Inland Revenue	Quarterly PAYE/NIC	379.96
L.C.C.	Pension	139.36
S W Fisk	Mileage – Tree collection/planting	53.90
Garden Groomers	Cemetery maintenance	329.00
Onyx UK Ltd	Litter picking – Jubilee Playing Field	11.75
	Supply and erection of post and fitting of dog waste bin – Millennium Wood	80.80
Hirst Conservation	Removal of graffiti to The Cross	329.00
Adcentre Ltd	Meetings advert (subject to 50% reimbursement from MDTC).	30.55
L.A.L.C.	Subscription to Association of Burial Authorities	12.00
ABB Ltd	Lights maintenance – The Cross	10.68
S.K.D.C.	Printing of laminate stickers for composter bin in cemetery	1.20

The clerk was given approval to place an advert in the Deepings Advertiser seeking tenders for the cemeteries grounds maintenance contract which was due to expire on 31 March 2002.

Quotations for the ground works and preparation of bases required prior to the installation of the bus shelters had been sought from S McCabe, Robinson Construction (Deeping) Ltd and Thompson Plant Hire. Only one quotation had been received, that from Robinson Construction in the sum of £2,226.25 plus VAT. Members were satisfied that the quotation and proposed works met the specification required and ications were considered.

Citizens Advice Bureau – assistance towards costs of providing a surgery at the Deepings Community Centre. Proposed by Cllr Lewis, seconded Cllr Warrick - £350. Amendment by Cllr Stevens, seconded by Cllr Shinkins - £300. Amendment received 5 votes to 4 against. The sum of £300 was therefore put as a substantive motion and was carried unanimously.
Deepings Carnival Committee – assistance towards administrative costs. It was noted that the Committee uses its profits to make charitable donations to local groups in the same way as the Parish Council. Disappointment that the Carnival no longer proceeds along the original route through Deeping St James was registered. Proposed by Cllr Warrick - £50. No second was received and no further proposal. No grant made.
Deeping Gang Show – assistance towards production costs. Proposed by Cllr Stevens, seconded Cllr Warrick and carried by 7 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions - £100.
Deepings Gardening Club – assistance towards administration costs for Deepings In Bloom weekend. Proposed by Cllr Stevens, seconded by Cllr Warrick - £50. Amendment by Cllr Chambers, seconded by Cllr Auger - £100. Amendment received 4 votes to 5 against and failed. Original proposal received 6 votes to 1 with 2 abstentions and carried.
Deepings School Travel & Tourism Group – sponsorship for seminar. Proposed by Cllr Shinkins, seconded by Cllr Abel and carried by 5 votes to 4 - £100.
Lincolnshire Playing Fields Association – assistance towards general costs. Proposed by Cllr Warrick, seconded by Cllr Stevens - £25. Amendment by Cllr Lewis, seconded by Councillor Thompson - £50. Amendment received 4 votes to 5 against and failed. Original proposal received 5 votes to 0 with 4 abstentions.
Deeping St James Community Primary School. The clerk informed members of an application received after the deadline date and after the agenda had been issued. It was unanimously agreed that in fairness to other applicants, this application could not be considered at this meeting.

Parish newsletter

Councillor Stevens produced a working paper for members on the way in which it was envisaged that the newsletter would be produced. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed that Councillors Dilks, Stevens and Walker form a working party to produce a quarterly newsletter of A3 size folded to A4 with the first edition issued at the beginning of February 2002. The first edition will be distributed to all members for comment on the editorial style but thereafter left to the working party to produce.

Quality Parish Status

The clerk reported that the first draft response to the consultation document by Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils had just been received. It was agreed that everyone should receive a copy of this and consider its content in light of the questions asked in the consultation paper. A provisional meeting to discuss the Council’s formal response has been set for 5 February 2002 at 7.30pm in The Institute in the event that the matter cannot be completed at the next Council meeting

Out-of-hours doctor cover

Cllr Shinkins drew members’ attention to concern raised directly with her about the out-of-hours cover provided by the WellDoc service. She went on to give examples of recent incidents, which questioned the quality of care and service offered, and felt that a community of this size, with its own Health Centre, should be able to have access to its own doctors rather than have to travel to Stamford Hospital. This system creates problems for the elderly, disabled and those without transport, particularly at night. The clerk had been asked to write to the Deepings Practice before the meeting to obtain background information, which was provided by letter by the Practice Manager. Members noted comments made in the letter but agreed that more information on the service was needed. The Practice Manager and the Manager of the WellDoc service offered to come to the next meeting of the Council to discuss the concerns of the Council and this offer was accepted. The clerk was asked to provide every member with a copy of the letter from the Practice Manager.

Deepings On-line

Cllr Warrick drew members’ attention to the recent newsletter produced by Deepings On-line and that the next meeting would be held at 6pm on 6 February 2002 at the Deepings Community Centre. It was hoped that someone would be able to attend.

093 PARISH-PUMP

No items were raised.

The meeting closed at 10.06pm.