2015/02
WILLOUGHBY AND DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WILLOUGHBY AND DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL
HELD AT 8pm ON 19th FEBRUARY 2015 AT WILLOUGHBY VILLAGE HALL
OPEN FORUM
One member of the public attended – no comments
Present: Councillors Stephen Eyre (Chairman) Keith White, Alan Vassar, William Hales, Eve Roach and
Melvin Pashley, Vera Brobson
Also present were County Councillor Colin Davie and 1 member of the public
1. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS:
The Chairman welcomed all those present.
2. APOLOGIES:
Apologies were received from Cllrs Mary Pridgeon and Jay Smedley
3. DECLARATION OF INTEREST – None
4. NOTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Minutes of the meeting dated 15th January 2015 were approved and signed by the Chairman.
5. CLERK’S REPORT ON MATTERS OUTSTANDING
a) Despite being promised for December, there is still no action on road repairs with regard to flooding
in Sloothby – Colin Davie to take this up.
b) 30 mph speeding signs still not to hand – Clerk will chase up
c) Two lights on Station Road reported to ELDC – now repaired
6. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
a) LALC Newsletter left out for information.
b) Election Nomination forms left out for collection.
c) RWE Newsletter and questionnaire left out for information.
d) Letter from RWE announcing a new partnership with Statkraft.
e) Letter from Planning & Regeneration dated 11th February regarding Crossing Cottage on Dawber
Lane asking what the Council would like to happen to it. Clerk to pass to Cllr Pridgeon for
comments.
f) Letter from Willoughby and District History Group regarding the John Kirby Collection & Village
History Display Board and the deterioration of the display boards. The group cannot pay for this
from their funds but grant funding could be obtained. Clerk to email Colin Davie re this.
7. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF OUTSIDE BODIES
County Cllr Colin Davie reported that:
 The Government have awarded another £10M over the Christmas period for Highways repair. This
is to be split between the four areas and £2.5M will be used for roads in the area. It is currently
being discussed how best to spend this.
 Highways will be launching in April a new desktop system to report on line the status of roads.
 The general economic picture in Lincolnshire is very positive with a 29% fall in unemployment from
January last year.
 He is working on a strategy to enhance market towns and protect the area.
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The RAF are looking to expand in Lincolnshire.
LCC have been very successful in funding bids with £10M awarded in Skegness.
They will very shortly be announcing the funding rounds with £30M in European Funding to bid for.
They are looking to develop a new school of medicine for this area.
There is to be a new strategy for the A15/A16
Virgin Trains will be operating a London to Lincoln line by 2019.
Broadband is being rolled out – keep checking the web site for when the area will be covered
8. FINANCE
a) Payment of accounts was approved for £1710.16 to the Clerk for annual salary and £186.08 to
LALC for annual subscription.
b) The Clerk recommended the same Internal Auditor as last year and would speak to him accordingly
unless any other auditor was proposed.
c) Discussion took place on the playing field and a prior agreement to pay one third of the cost of
grass cutting. The playing field funds could not cover this cost. Cllr Vassar reported that repairs to
the playing field were required through damage by moles but he was hoping to get grants to be able
to put in a five a side football pitch. It was agreed that although the Playing Field Association could
not pay for grass cutting, the school should be asked to pay the one third which had been agreed
with them. The Clerk would write to the school accordingly.
d) After discussion it was unanimously agreed that the allotment rent would be increased from £12 per
annum to £15. The Clerk would shortly be writing to the allotment holders asking for payment of the
annual fees in this new amount, payable before the 1st April.
e) Cllr Vassar asked if the grass cutting contract had been put out to tender in recent years. Clerk to
speak to Cllr Pridgeon regarding this.
9. PLANNING
a) Planning application by George Bateman for change of use conversion and extension to workshop
at the Willoughby Arms was supported subject to concern about the frontage of the blacksmith’s
shop relative to the footpath and that it is a significant building in the village and the impact of the
alterations on the character of the village.
b) The Clerk confirmed that Approval of Prior Approval had been granted for dwelling houses on lane
adjoining Mill House Farm subject to conditions. No reports had been submitted to Planning
Department. Councillors were asked to report any work which was being done on the land.
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HIGHWAYS AND VILLAGE MAINTENANCE
a) Light on corner of Main Road/Bontoft Road needs repair – Clerk to report
b) Light No 10 in Sloothby needs repair – Clerk to report
c) Cllr Roach asked if anything could be done regarding the state of the verges after the cutting of the
hedges around Sloothby. Clerk to write to the land owner.
11 SUMMER FAIR
Cllr Vassar reported that the summer fair would be held on one day only as the cost for two days was
very prohibitive. The date set was 18th July. There will be no focal attraction. All the equipment was
available. Stalls would be charged a fee this year instead of a donation. Cllr Vassar also noted that this
would be the last year he would take responsibility for the organisation of the summer fair.
12 SPEAKER AT ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Suggestion of L J Fairburn, egg producer – the Chairman will contact him.
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13 CLERK’S POSITION
The Chairman reported that the current Clerk would be leaving at the end of March. She would ensure
that the accounts were completed for the year. Another village clerk was interested in taking the
position but it was agreed that it should be advertised through LALC and the News of the Wold.
14 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting is set for 8 p.m. on 19th March 2015 at the Willoughby Village Hall.
15 OTHER MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION OR NEXT AGENDA
The Chairman noted that Lark Energy had been in contact again. It was agreed that as discussed at a
previous meeting, they would not be invited to present to the Parish Council. They could, if they
wished, hold a meeting in the village to which Parish Councillors could be invited.
Cllr Brobson again brought up the question of trees opposite her property. Nothing had been done
even though the owner had promised to get them cut. It is understood that the current owner will be
leaving shortly. The Chairman will contact the owner to ask that the trees be cut before he leaves.
Cllr Hales reported that the hedge at Claxby corner had been cut but it may need cutting back further in
the spring when the new growth appears. He would monitor the situation.
The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.
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