March 2022

WELBY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of meeting of the Welby Parish Council (WPC) held in Sycamore Cottage on:

Tuesday 22nd March 2022 at 7.00pm.

Present

Cllr John Fisher (Chairman)                 Cllr Michael Priestley (Vice)               Cllr James Pask

Cllr Ivan Jones                                     Cllr Ian Shippey                                  

In Attendance 

Roel van Aken (Clerk)                        

1. Apologies for absence      

Cllr Martin Hill (LCC)                           Cllr Sarah Trotter (SKDC)

2. Confirmation of eligibility, quorum and declaration of interests.

All councillors present remained eligible, the meeting was quorate and no declaration of interests declared.

3. Public Representations

The public were allowed to be in attendance, but on this occasion no parishioners attended, and there were no questions raised prior to the meeting.

4.  Minutes from previous meeting.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting dated 25th January 2022 were an accurate record of the parish council meeting and were signed off by The Chairman.

5.

a) Reducing speeding through Welby

Speed watch:

Despite a notice posted on WPC website and an email issued via NHW unfortunately no responses were received for new volunteers.

SID:

Results from Church Lane and west village entrance show much the same type of behaviour: drivers facing the display head-on reduce their speed more then drivers approaching from the other side. There are still significant speeds being recorded well in excess of the legal limit. As there are significant traffic volumes passing through the village perhaps other traffic calming measures (e.g. speed humps at the village entrances well away from the nearest houses) should be considered. This will be explored further with LCC Highways. Also the police will be asked to increase speed monitoring in the village where possible.

Whilst there are several 30mph reminder signs along Main Street none exist along Church Lane. Possibility to put up a few signs along Church Lane will be explored.

The SID batteries last around 20 days before needing to be recharged so a rota based on battery life would be easiest to maintain. It was therefore suggested that main street locations would benefit from periods covering 3 battery changes and other locations from periods covering 2 battery changes.

b) Updates for Speed Indicator Device (SID) & White gates Projects:

We are allowed to move the village name signs and mount them on the white gates if so desired. The new location for the 30mph signs in the east end of the village were marked out and LCC Highways will arrange the relocation.

Undergrowth near the white gates at the east end of the village has been cleared. The possibility of planting some shrubs / conifers next to the far-side of the white gates will also be considered.

6. County and District Councillor Reports (if Councillors present at meeting)

• To receive an update from the County Councillor Martin Hill on Lincolnshire County Council matters: no update available.
• To receive an update from the District Councillor Sarah Trotter on South Kesteven District Council matters:

A cash injection of 5.3 million Grantham Hospital will provide 2 new operating theatres to cope with the back log of operations, which may breathe a bit of new life into Grantham Hospital. The 24 hour A & E is unlikely to ever happen but remains as day time hour A & E.

In Lincolnshire, the Afghans refugees are still being housed in hotels, together with Syrians, economic migrants and Hong Kong escapees from the previous years. The new influx of Ukraine families being housed within Lincolnshire with Volunteers/Family Members.

Although nothing particularly to report within the Welby Parish, PCSO Stuart Boyden is contactable but on restricted duties. Babs Mooney (PCSO) is covering but as there have been Ropsley Issues, Stuart is the best form of contact.  As the SKDC representative for the Police & Crime Panel in which SKDC hold the Police Commissioner to account, please feel free as a committee to pass on any questions or issues.

7. Lincolnshire Police Report (if PCSO present at meeting)

To receive an update from PCSO Stuart Bowden in regards to local police matters: no update available.

8.  Correspondence:

The clerk reported to the meeting below, relevant correspondences received since last meeting;

This information was received by councillors and agreed that appropriate action had been taken.

9. Planning Applications

Current planning applications to consider:

10. Highways

The Clerk updated on previous highway faults reported by WPC to LCC Highways and SKDC.

11. Village Matters

a) Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: discussion on ways Welby can participate in national celebrations

Welby Weekenders explored the possibility of hosting an event on the village green on Saturday 4th June from say 2-6pm. Background live music could be provided. A bake-off cake competition with a royal theme was also considered. Drinks and food would be BYO or pre-order from the pub. WPC could contribute £150 towards live entertainment. Welby Weekenders are putting a more detailed proposal together.

b) Signage in village: refresh of 30mph speed signs, dog-fouling signs, NHW signs

Only 3 signs left to be put up which will be completed in the near future.

c) Dog-waste bin Red Lane:

The bin will be replaced with a general purpose type bin so that it can be emptied as part of the regular waste collection.

d) Parish Agreement Scheme for grass cutting

WPC agreed that we should continue this and the agreement was signed.

e) Dog fouling Red Lane

Recent events were multiple dog waste bags were stuffed into the stone wall near the corner of Red Lane and Main Street are totally unacceptable. Consideration will be given to high-lighting this behaviour on the WPC website in the hope of preventing future occurrences.

f) Welby Facebook page

WPC felt that the current website was providing enough exposure and that maintaining a separate Facebook page would be unnecessary.

12.  Finance

a)   Cash Book: The Clerk reported the Bank statement shows the following balances as of 23 January 2022:

• Current a/c:    £2,637.43
• SID a/c:           closed      

Since the last meeting the following income has been received:

Since last meeting payments made from the bank:

Cheques raised during meeting:

The petty cash has a balance of £7.06 as of today’s date.

Since last meeting payments made from Petty Cash:

The Chairman signed off Cashbooks as a true record after agreement from Councillors that both bank statement and cash books were accurate.

13. Urgent/any other business

To consider any urgent business: none raised.

14.  Date of next meeting of the parish council is on: Tuesday 17 May 2022 at 18:30 for the AGM and 19:30 for the regular WPC meeting – both meetings will take place at St Bartholomew’s church in Welby.

Signed: …………………………………………………………  Chairman                     Dated: ……………………………

It is important to understand that the information this document contains represents notes of the meeting which took place and do not become Minutes of Welby Parish Council until accepted or otherwise at the following meeting.