2025 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LEVERTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN LEVERTON CHURCH HALL ON MONDAY 17 MARCH 2025

 

Present: Cllr D Durrant – Chairman

Cllrs: Mrs J Self-Shutts , Mr D Horwat, 

 

                                      

Also Present:    Mrs C Anderton – Clerk of the Council 

Cllr P Skinner, Lincolnshire County Council

Cllr P Bedford, Boston Borough Council

Cllr D Broughton, Boston Borough Council

 

Public Forum

There were no members of the public present. 

 

25/10  Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllr Osborne and Cllr N White.

The Chairman informed members that he had received Mr N Chandler’s resignation in the period between meetings and stated that the Parish Council would now be looking to co-opt 2 new members. 

 

25/11 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011

There were no declarations of interest given.

 

25/12  To receive and approve the notes of the Council meetings held on Monday 20 January 2025 

It was RESOLVED that the notes of the meeting held 20 January 2025 be approved as a record of the meeting and be signed by the Chairman.

 

25/13 Reports from Lincolnshire County Council/Boston Borough Council

Cllr D Broughton gave a verbal report regarding matters relating to Boston Borough Council

Cllr P Skinner gave a verbal report regarding Lincolnshire County Council updates and encouraged members to continue to use the FixMyStreet facility to report potholes.

 

25/14  Issues relating to the Playing Fields, Potholes and the Environment of the Parish

Playing Fields

Cllr Horwat raised a suggestion that had been made by the Boston marathon chairman to site their equipment container on the Jane Moore Playing Field, next to the Parish Council container, as the current location was unsuitable with it being the other side of Boston to where the marathon course is situated.  Members of the council agreed the idea in principle and asked Cllr Horwat to approach the residents adjacent to the site to ensure there were no objections. 

Cllr Horwat also confirmed that the Parish Council lawn mower had been serviced along with the lawn mower used to cut St Helenas graveyard. Cllr Horwat stated that the Church lawn mower was not in a very good state as the deck was wearing thin, had worn through in places and that it would need replacing sooner rather than later. Cllr Horwat suggested the Parish Council’s mower be donated to the church for the cost of trade in value and a new one be sourced. Members of the council discussed the matter and suggested that as the Church lawn mower had only recently been serviced it would be prudent to wait until the next service was due and make the donation then.

 

 

Potholes

The Chairman stated that several potholes had been addressed on Highgate and Cllr Horwat confirmed several had been repaired on Laceys Lane. 

Environment 

The Chairman confirmed that Cllr White had displayed the outstanding dog fouling signs in the parish.

Cllr Self-Shutts stated that she had received a question from a parishioner regarding the new 30 mph speed restriction which had been placed along David’s Lane in Benington and asked if it could be extended to cover the length of Highgate. Cllr Self-Shutts stated that the staff at Highgate nursery often walked along Highgate with the children in buggies and pushchairs and the 60mph speed limit was unsuitable given the size of agricultural vehicles and the speed which vehicles often travelled along it.  Highgate was also used as an alternative cut through from the A52 and often at speeds in excess of 60mph on a road not suitable for such speeds. Cllr P Skinner suggested for the clerk to email him a request to reduce the speed limit to 40mph along Highgate from the Benington boundary to the Hampton Lane junction. 

 

25/15  To discuss and consider adoption of the NALC Civility and Respect Pledge and the Councillor-Officer protocol

Members discussed the Civility and Respect pledge and the Councillor – Officer protocol and members agreed to defer the matter for further discussion at the next meeting when the absent councillors were present to offer their opinions.

25/16 Leverton Leisure Centre

Cllr Horwat reported that the Leisure Centre had failed the annual fire inspection, it had been necessary to install a new alarm system and asked if a donation could be made towards the cost. Members discussed the matter and asked if an invitation could be extended for the Leisure Centre committee members to attend the next parish council meeting where Councillors could be updated with the financial situation and plans for fundraising before making a decision on if they were prepared to award ongoing grant support.

 

25/17   Finance

It was proposed and RESOLVED to accept the payments as per the payment sheet 03/2025 details below:

 

Retrospective approval of February’s payments

 

17/02/2025	Viking	48.32	Stationary
17/02/2025	Staff Costs	654.22	Staff Costs
March 2025 17/03/2025	SD Moore	325.02	PC mower servicing
17/03/2025	SD Moore	302.04	Church mower service (Donation)
17/03/2025	D Horwat	27.58	Mower fuel
17/03/2025	Staff Costs	658.63	Staff Costs
Total		2015.81

 

Members of the council also agreed  annual donations of £150.00 each towards 10th Boston Scouts, RNLI and £250.00 to St Helenas PCC for use of the hall for Council meetings during the 2024/25 financial year.

 

25/18 Matters for discussion only or to be added to the next agenda.

The Chairman asked if any replacement dates had been provided for the meeting with Richard Tice MP which had been cancelled, the clerk confirmed she would chase this up with his secretary.

The Chairman also stated that he had reviewed the documents provided from BBC planning department regarding the Ossian Windfarm project however he confirmed this project would not have a direct impact on the village itself but possibly the outlying areas.

The Clerk advised that she had attended a recent training event for the new National Planning Policy Framework updates however due to technical issues the session was postponed and replacement sessions would be scheduled. The clerk confirmed once this had been completed, she would provide members with a full report on the changes which had been implemented.

 

25/19 Date of the next Parish Council Meeting

Date of the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 28 April 2025. There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman thanked those in attendance and declared the meeting closed.