2025 Minutes

SKILLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Chair:  Adrian Clark  Vice-Chair:  Paul Elston
Councillors:  Emily Clark, Neville Clark,  Bronwyn Hedley, Mike Jackson,  Roseanne McKee. 
Parish Clerk:  Pamela Harrison (Mrs), 9 Telford Way, Colsterworth, Grantham, Lincs.  NG33 5GH   
Telephone:  07707 104187   email:  clerk.spc@gmail.com

Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 3rd March 2025 at Skillington Village Hall at 6.30pm.        

Present:  Cllrs N. Clark, A. Clark, E. Clark, B. Hedley, P. Elston, R. McKee, B Green (SKDC) C. Vernon (LCC).                  
In Attendance:  Mrs P. Harrison (Clerk).

1.       Apologies for absence:  Cllrs M. Jackson and D. Bellamy (SKDC)

2.       Councillors’ Declaration of Interest:  None.

3.       Notes of meeting of the Parish Council on 3rd February 2025:  Agreed and signed into minutes.  

4.       Matters arising from the minutes: 
          4.1   12.24/4.2    Grit bins:  Lords Lane is half full.  The one near the Chapel is almost empty.  Councillors will check .the rest of the bins.
          4.2   12.24/10.1  Prosperity Fund application for Notice Board.  Cllr Bellamy informed us that it has been processed.  The Clerk will submit a quote and other details required.
          4.3    12.24/11.1  Community Orchard:  Councillors met and reviewed the size needed, which will be smaller and more manageable.  The Clerk will look for fencing quotes.  We may have some free trees, if we             wait until October or November.
         4.4    12.24/11.4   Village Hall access:  Cllr Elston now has a key available for meetings.
          
5.    Planning applications:
          5.1      S25/0191     Colsterworth Triangle Quarry (Stainby) Crabtree Road@  Environmental Permit consultation.
          5.2     S25/0261     Mr J Stoneman:  Manor Farm House, Middle Street- Section 322 notice to T1 Sycamore – to reduce western side branch back to main stem.  T2 – Weeping Ash, reduce large  ……………………          branch on western side by 2.5 metres – No objections.
             5.3      Any further planning applications.
                    

  6.   Cemetery:                                            
          6.1         Infestation of ants:  There is still an ant infestation. Rolling may help, so we will ask the playing field groundsman for advice.
          6.2           Cemetery extension:  The Chair and Clerk have seen the Solicitor, and signed the transfer document.
          6.3           Review of cemetery charges:   There has been no increase in charges for over three years, so Cllr Elston proposed,  by Cllr Hedley, a 10% increase. All agreed to this proposal.
          6.4           Memorial application:  There were no objections to the memorial application.
          6.5           Any maintenance or other matters arising: 

   7.   Payments and Accounts:                    
            7.1    Bank Balances as at 25th February 2025: 
                     Virgin Money a/c: £1264.50  after invoices paid.
                     Melton Mowbray Business 100 Day Notice a/c: £12084.44.
           7.2     Income received in February: None.       
             
           7.3      Invoices due for payment on 28th February:
Name                                                          Details                                                                                                                 Date & Minute No. of Approval    Total Amount  £
Colsterworth and District Parish Council    Community cleaner:  Feb 2025 (inc emptying 5 dog bins @£2.50/bin/month)    6.10.14  Page 2091  Item 8.6          167.04
LALC                                                          JADU course                                                                                                         Per budget                                        36.00
     
8.   Clerk’s Report:   
       8.1      Litter pick:  Councillors have been reviewing the need for a litter pick, but the Community Cleaners are doing a good job and there is little to pick up.
       8.2       Flood planning:  The PC had an offer of aqua bags.  The Clerk will check with Mr Wrigley to see if the sand bags are still usable, then add this to the website.
       8.3       The meeting dates have been confirmed and will be available to view.

9.   Matters to be discussed at this meeting:   
       9.1      Streetlights: The reported light has been mended.
       9.2      It was agreed that the PC should reimburse the Village Hall a third of their black bin charges for the year.
       9.3      The Fish Well:  It has been reported that there is more deterioration to the Fish Well.  Repairs are already in place for later in the Spring, but The Clerk will contact the mason to try and bring it forwards.
10.  District and County Councillor’s Reports: 
                Cllr Vernon reported that there is a further A1 meeting on 12th March at the Old Barne Hotel at Marston.
                LCC Council tax will increase by 2.99% this year. 
               There will be some A1 Southbound closures at night, which will hopefully coincide with litter picking on the  verges.
               Mayoral elections are going ahead on 1st May, so Councillors will be going into Purdah.
               World book day is Friday 7th March.  Libraries will be lending costumes.  Grantham Library will be getting some funding to become a business hub.
               Cllr Green informed us that SKDC Band D Council Tax will rise by 2.98%.  Social housing by 2.7%
               £100k is being moved from the reserve to the flood defence reserve.

11.  Any matters arising at the discretion of the Chair: 
        None.

The meeting was closed at 7.10 pm.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be the Annual Parish Meeting which will be held on Monday 7th April 2025 at 6.30pm.  It will be held at Skillington Village Hall.