Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held at The Institute on Thursday, 26 April 2001 at the earlier starting time of 7.00pm.

Councillor Dilks, Chairman, presided over Councillors Abel, Auger, Bulmer-Jones, Chambers, Lewis, Shinkins, Stevens, Thompson, Walker, Watkins and the clerk.

4 members of the public were present.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2001, having previously been circulated, were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman. A correction was made to the third line of page 2 – duplicity was corrected to duplication – and initialled by the Chairman.

Budget available: £565.

Citizens Advice Bureau – assistance towards room hire at the Community Centre: Proposed by Cllr Thompson, seconded by Cllr Auger and carried unanimously: £282.50.

L.I.V.E.S. First Responder Scheme – assistance to set up a scheme to aid people suffering heart attacks: Proposed by Cllr Thompson, seconded by Councillor Auger and carried unanimously: £282.50 * Cllr Shinkins declared an interest.

5.2 CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL

The Chair reviewed the activities of the last month culminating in his attendance at the Customer Services Committee meeting on 24 April 2001. During the open session, he tabled a question asking for a full enquiry through the District Council’s scrutiny process to establish how much money had been wasted on this matter and to investigate whether Best Value had been achieved for the tax payers of South Kesteven. During the committee meeting, an Officer’s report concerning the introduction of vouchers identified that residents of Bourne would pay less for their return journey to Peterborough than people from the Deepings, and that the bus company had warned the scheme was unworkable. Nonetheless, the Committee voted to accept the proposals. Councillors were concerned at the lack of foresight in planning such an ill-conceived scheme and continued to believe that the best interests of the residents of Deeping St James were not being served. Councillor Auger reminded members that the District Council had no control over the fare structure or the operations of bus companies and that the District Council had a responsibility to all constituents where an impact on the Council’s budget was concerned.

Members noted the District Council’s intention to review the matter in September and agreed to make this issue an agenda item for the October meeting.

5.3 WASTE RECYCLING

The Chair reported on a meeting held at Market Deeping Town Hall on Monday, 23 April between Mr Prentice, the Parish & Town Councils and representatives from the three authorities concerned - L.C.C., S.K.D.C. and the Environment Agency. Mr Prentice reviewed events leading up to the withdrawal of his kerb-side service and reported that he was still waiting for a reply from the Environment Agency regarding his application for an Exemption Licence, one of the issues which had led to the County Council withdrawing the payment of credits. As the Environment Agency confirmed that a decision had still not been made, the Parish and Town Councils requested a response within five-working days. It was apparent from the meeting that no thought had been given to providing a service in place of Mr Prentice’s and the whole waste collection and management system in the Deepings was starting to break down. There are problems with the weekly household collections and the twice-monthly Saturday supplementary service at Rainbow, which was unanimously deemed to be entirely inadequate for the needs of a community of this size, was becoming a melee. Although it was recognised that Mr Prentice’s operation must be properly licensed and run, it was generally agreed that this service was fulfilling a need not met by South Kesteven District Council. Compared with the costs of starting a new operation, only a small amount of money was needed to bring this site up to the required standard. It was agreed to keep the issue under close review.

5.4 30MPH SPEED CAMPAIGN

The campaign was launched on 23 April 2001 with extensive press and television coverage. Every house in Deeping St James had received a publicity leaflet and car sticker and speed awareness signs had been erected all over the parish. Arrangements to take down the signs at the end of the campaign were agreed and members gratefully acknowledged the extensive work by Councillor Warrick in connection with this campaign. The Clerk was also asked to write to PC Haynes of Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership thanking him for his involvement.

5.5 HALL MEADOW ESTATE

The Clerk reported that the last rent review had been in 1986 when it was increased from £25 to £40 per annum plus drainage board rates. A proportion of this rent is payable to the Parochial Church Council as part of the land is not included in the Charity; it is unclear which portion this relates to from the map extract. Furthermore, the land is located at the north-eastern end of Hall Meadow Road and not near The Goat public house as previously thought. The Charity Commission has provided information on how the land can be dealt with but it was clear that legal advice would in all probability be needed. Bearing in mind the current assets of the Charity it was agreed to keep the matter under review. It was unanimously resolved to accept the advice of Mr Moulsher concerning current rental values and increase the rent to £150 per year plus drainage rates with immediate effect. The tenants are also to be advised that the Council, as Trustees of the Charity, may require the land for other use at some point in the future.

5.6 THE CROSS INFORMATION BOARD

The wording for the proposed board, produced by Councillor Abel in conjunction with Mrs Dorothea Price of the Local History Group was approved following minor amendment. The Clerk will now consult with the Planning Authority to see whether planning permission is needed and write to Mrs Price thanking her for her assistance.

5.7 DEEPINGS COUNCILS’ JOINT LIAISON MEETING REPORT

The report of the meeting held on 6 March 2001, which had previously been circulated, was unanimously approved. The next meeting will be held on 15 May 2001 at The Institute. Members agreed that this Forum was an effective way of taking matters of mutual interest forward to the benefit of the wider community. It was agreed that the following items should be put forward for discussion: Rural White Paper, proposed shelter for Crowson Way, waste management, and support for C.A.B.

5.8 DEEPINGS MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP – ACCESS & AMENTIES COMMITTEE REPORT 27.2.01

The notes of the meeting stated that the committee had agreed that the ‘merger of the two Councils of the Deepings would be a strength and opportunity and that public consultation and a referendum was needed’. Members were concerned that issues of this nature were being discussed in this forum before consulting with the two councils concerned. As a body sponsored by the District Council, it was strongly felt that matters of local democracy were not part of the Partnership’s remit and that this went beyond their terms of reference. The Chair of the Management Partnership went on to inform the committee that ‘due to the statistical nature and perception of the size of the two separate authorities, the Deepings as a whole was losing out on vital infrastructure and other funding available from Government and Development Agencies’. As this appears contrary to the recent Rural White Paper, the Clerk was instructed to write to Chair of the Management Partnership explaining the Council’s concerns, requesting evidence of missed opportunities and the rationale behind the committee’s observations. It was also agreed to raise this as an item for discussion at the next Joint Liaison Meeting.

Councillor Lewis requested that this issue be an agenda item for a future meeting.

5.9 RURAL SUPPORT CONFERENCE

This item was deferred in the absence on Councillor Warrick.

5.10 P.A.T.A.C. COMMITTEE REPORT

Councillor Lewis drew attention to the forthcoming disbanding of the P.A.T.A.C. There was concern that the P.A.T.A.C. had never been formally advised of the changes and therefore, no one had been able to apply for a position on the new body. This was also the last opportunity for the Committee to lobby for the sale of Road Fund Licences at Deeping St James Post Office. It was unanimously agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry, with copies to our MP, on both these issues. A copy of the report is attached to the Official Minutes.

The following applications were considered by the Planning Committee at their meeting immediately preceding this Council meeting. The Committee’s observations and recommendations were discussed and it was unanimously agreed to submit no objections to any of the proposals:

Notice of Appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment has been received in respect of application S01/0091 - Change of public open space to domestic garden at land adjacent to 19 Allen Close. It was unanimously agreed to continue to strongly object to this application.

The following applications have been determined by the Planning Authority (S.K.D.C.) or the Secretary of State for the Environment, where indicated, since the last Council meeting. Unless stated otherwise, the decisions are in accordance with the Council’s previously notified observations:

It was resolved to pay the following accounts:

9.3 ANNUAL AUDIT

The accounts for the year ended 31 March 2001 were received and adopted, and the Chairman reported that the Annual Audit had been completed on 25 April 2001. He advised members that the Auditor had been highly complimentary of the manner in which the accounts had been presented and commended the Clerk for the work done in this respect. Members of the Council congratulated and thanked the Clerk. The accounts are now on public deposit until 15 May 2001.

In view of the time (10.02pm), no further business could be transacted. The remaining items on the agenda were deferred until May and the meeting closed.