2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

CAYTHORPE AND FRIESTON PARISH COUNCIL

MEETING NUMBER 6

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY 13th March 2024

Present:

Councillors: Crawley (Chairman), Stojanovic, Manderfield, Topley, Macpherson, Sandy, Dudfield, Farr & Middleditch

There were 2 members of the public and SKDC Cllr Penny Milnes

Clerk:  Mrs D Manderfield

Item 1 – Apologies for absence

Councillors: Macer, Maughan & Roberts. All councillors had notified the clerk and the council Resolved to accept the reasons for absence. 

Item 2 – Declaration of Interests under the Local Government Act

Cllr Crawley expressed a declaration of interest as a committee member of the Playing Field Committee  

Cllr Manderfield expressed a declaration of interest as a committee member of the Village Hall Committee

Cllr Topley expressed a declaration of interest as a member of the Allotment Association

Item 3 –  Approval of Minutes of meeting number 5 held on 10th January 2024 and the Extra-Ordinary meeting held on 9th February 2024

It was Resolved to accept both sets of minutes as  a true record of events. They were signed by the chairman, Cllr Crawley

Item 4 – Parish Clerk’s Update on Matters Arising Since Last Meeting  

1. updated the website and the agenda/ meeting archives, organising them into 10 year sections, apparently this will help save space

2. Arranged 3x EROB’s for parishioners

3. An invoice was received by Time Assured for repairs to the church clock that became apparent whilst the clock was dismantled. I contacted The Benefact Trust who agreed that the grant supplied by them towards the electrification of the clock could be used for this purpose

4. I was approached by LALC to aid another parish with past AGAR’s

5. It became more and more apparent that the levelling of graves at the Burial Ground had not been completed to the standard expected by the Parish Council or by local residents. I have 2 quotes so far and expect to have 3 by this meeting. 

6. I joined an online Parish Council Engagement Session with Lincolnshire Police. The primary concern was about road safety, speed limits, reducing death on our roads. However, when questions were encouraged the main topic from councillors and clerks was the state of the roads and potholes!!

7. We continue to get complaints from the residents of Frieston Green and the grass cutting contractor has now agreed to put a mulching machine on the back of his mower. It is hopeful that this will appease all concerned.

8. I have liaised with other clerks with regard to Burial Ground charges and collated a spreadsheet comparison with our charges that haven’t been increased since 2018.

Item 5 - Financial Matters

5.1 Authorisation of BACS/Cheque payments. 

Councillors considered the list, previously circulated, and Resolved to accept the payments

Please see Appendix A below

5.2 Review and Approval of CFPC accounts 

Councillors considered the bank reconciliations and the management accounts, previously circulated, and Resolved to approve both reports

Please see Appendix B below for management accounts 

5.3 Update from Cllr Farr – Finance Committee Chair

The Clerk summarised that the accounts as at 13.3.24 were £46884.03 and that after salaries and the invoice for the Electrification of the Church Clock, that is expected before year end, the balance at year end will be around £36000

Cllr Farr reiterated that he was happy and that the accounts were in ‘good shape’ for the new financial year

5.4 Investment Account

The Clerk has opened an investment account with Unity Bank. The mandate was signed by Cllrs Crawley, Sandy and Dudfield

Item 6 Registers 

7.1 Risk Register – this was distributed previously.

It was Resolved to approve this document

7.2 Maintenance Register – this was distributed previously and reviewed.

It was Resolved to approve this document

Item 8 -  Project Register Update 

8.1 Caythorpe Hall Footpath Re-Route

Cllr Middleditch has been in contact with all concerned and has made suggestions to the landowner. There are currently two footpaths open across the land. Please see 12.3.1 below

8.2 Burial Ground Levelling

The maintenance job achieved was not considered adequate by councillors or parishioners. Please see 9.2 below

8.3 Armada Beacon

The Beacon has now been made safe and the possibility of lighting it to commemorate D-Day was discussed. it was decided to light the beacon as a sign of respect. Cllr Manderfield will contact the army, to inform them and place a piece in News & Views, on our website and on Facebook to encourage residents to be present at the lighting.

8.4 Fireworks

After discussions it was decided that a meeting of the sub-committee was required and that marketing the event would start in October

8.5 Tree Survey

The clerk has contacted the arborist to determine a start date

8.6 Sand Bags

This project is now complete

8.7 Electrification of the Church Clock

Time Assured reported that that they were hopeful to complete by 14th March

8.8 New Defibrillator

This project is now complete

8.9 Grit Bin – Arnhem Drive

Cllr Topley has been unable to expedite this further at this point

8.10 Police Office

Cllr Crawley reported that there had been no response from LCC and that further investigation was required

8.11 2 Historical Books

Cllr Stojanovic reported that he was investigating their availability digitally and was waiting on responses from a third party. He was doubtful that one of them would be available

Item 9 - New Proposals. 

9.1 To Support PFI with their bid for Brown Signs

Please see 10.2.1. After much discussion the councillors all agreed that the signs were necessary but until the PC are asked to comment there will be no further action

9.2 Burial Ground Contract

The Clerk garnered 3 quotes as per the standing orders and Cllr Sandy had spent time with the 2 of the contractors at the site. The question arose about how the grass seed would be watered as there is no water at the Burial Ground.

After much discussion it was decided that Cllr Farr contact a local farmer who might be able to help with the watering situation . Cllr Farr also suggested he contact another local company to provide a further quote

Action: SF

9.3 Grass Cutting on Frieston Green

Cllr Crawley explained how the current contractor had purchased a mulching machine to produce a better finish on the greens, therefore it was no longer necessary to explore other options

9.4 Burial Charges

The Clerk had previously circulated a ‘comparison list’ of how CFPC burial charges compare to those of other parishes. Cllr Sandy proposed that the charges be trebled as there have been no increases since 2018. After much discussion Cllr Crawley amended the proposal to double the current fees. It was Resolved to approve this proposal. Cllr Sandy then brought a second proposal to increase the charges annually by the precept percentage. It was Resolved to approve this proposal

Action: Clerk

9.5 New Village Hall Floor

The proposal was passed to Cllr Crawley who explained that the Village Hall floor required maintenance due to rising damp. After much discussion it was Resolved to grant the committee £1300 towards the cost of this

9.10 Portrait of King Charles III

NALC and the Cabinet Office are offering free portraits of King Charles III. Cllr Sandy proposed that the PC order one to be hung in the Village Hall. It was Resolved to approve this proposal

Action: Clerk

Item 10– The Parish Environment

10.1 Planning Issues 

There are no specific issues

10.2 Report from Cllr Dudfield – Planning Committee Chair

10.2.1 PFI Kart Circuit

The PC received a copy of the Karting Circuit annual report which indicates they are aware they could be considered to a nuisance due to noise and the measures they are taking to mitigate the problem.

They also indicated they want to have road signs to show where they are, I believe the process for obtaining the brown tourist signs, requires them to contact LCC, who if they agree signs are required, will consult with district and parish councils.

My own view is we should support them as they are a local business and employer located within the parish.

10.2.2 Brandon Wood Clay Shooting Ground

We have been advised Dave Rawlins the chair of Brandon Wood Clay Shooting Association which I believe is an action group of local residents who have concerns of the noise the shooting ground creates,  that SKDC had issued an enforcement notice against the shooting ground on the basis they had exceeded the number of days they could hold shoots.

I've looked into the planning history of the site and they are allowed to hold shoots on 50 days per with restricted hours of operation and only pre-booked groups no walk in pay on the day customers.

The applicant seems to have a long history of planning application to increase the number of days and hours of operation which have been refused.

Subsequent to the enforcement notice we have been advised by SKDC that the applicant has appealed this enforcement, and we can comment on the appeal process either supporting the appeal or objecting to it.

The applicant has gone on record in the local press saying he does not recognise the planning restriction and could operate 365 days per year if he chooses to, which could be considered a bit inflammatory.

As this is outside our parish we don't have to do anything, however I can hear the gunfire from where I live, so it must be noisier on the western edges of the village.

S24/0128

31 Church Lane

Tree work in conservation area

Including myself 9 councillors supported this application, there have been no objections

S24/0190 and S24/0191

Waggon and Horses

I’m not sure why there are two what appear to be identical applications for this work at the Waggon and Horses, could be something to do with listed buildings consent as Andy suggested.

The application involves fairly minor works to the exterior of the pub, broadly comprising :-

• Removal of existing rotten faux window shutters

• Repainting external windows and doors blue.

• Replacing the two pergolas

• Timber cladding to two small areas of brick work facing the garden

• Installation of two 6ft x 8ft timber sheds

There is no mention of the existing container located behind the pub, but it is not shown on the planning drawings.

I’m sure we would all please to see the exterior of the pub tided up.

Including myself 8 councillors supported the application there have been no objections.

S24/0297

Caythorpe Residential Home

77 High Street

Retrospective application for extensions new windows and doors to the rear of the building.

At this point Cllr Crawley invited SKDC Cllr Penny Milnes to speak. Cllr Milnes reiterated much of what Cllr Dudfield had covered, pointing out that the Brandon Clay Pigeon Shoot does effect parishioners on the edge of the parish and as such the PC should be invited to comment on future submissions. Cllr Milnes’ full  report can be found below

Cllr Macpherson has volunteered to procure a copy of the work permit granted to Mid UK Recycling. The PC plan to post this on Facebook, our website and News & Views to encourage residents to contact the Environment Agency directly

Item 11 – Community Safety

There was 1 x violence and sexual assault reported in December and 1 in January

.Item 12 – Community Activities by Portfolio Councillor – the following are reports written by the individual councillors.

12.1 Report by Councillor Crawley

12.1.1 Litter Picking and the Big Clean

The litter picker employed by the Council has handed in his resignation in order to continue with his studies. An advert has been placed and so far one reply has been received. An appointment will be made after the closing date of 15th April.

A member of the public has volunteered to do some litter picking around the village. I will issue him with some equipment and basic guidelines.

I have reported various fly tippings to SKDC who have cleared these promptly.

12.1.2 Environmental Sustainability

Sites for new tree planting are sought as I have a number of trees that have been raised by myself and volunteers that currently have no destination.

A number of trees are under cultivation to replace trees previously planted that have died back. These will be planted by myself and volunteers during this week.

The work to increase the insulation levels to the Hammond Pavilion and renew the gutters and fascias has been carried out.

Complaints are still being received about the smell from Mid UK. They have promised to install an odour suppression system although this may take some time. Complaints about noise from the trammel on the site are also being investigated. Nothing has been heard from them recently.The Environment Agency have been contacted regarding the smell by myself and other residents.A complaint of Sunday working has been forwarded to LCC planning Dept. A follow up meeting with Mid Uk is arranged for Tuesday 16th April at 7pm at the Village Hall.

12.1.3 Playing Fields

Following the receipt of quotes for replacing the bark on the play area with a rubberised material, it was apparent that the cost was prohibitive. The bark surface will be topped up in the spring /early summer. Alternative quotes are being obtained for the supply of suitable material.

An extension to the patio area outside the Sports and Social club is wanted and contractors have been approached, and several quotes have been obtained. It appears that Lincolnshire Cricket are unable to help with funding this work. Alternative sources of funding are being explored. No progress to date.

12.2  Report by Cllr Manderfield

12.2.1 Highways

I have continued to report potholes via Fix My Street including Gorse Hill Lane, Chappel Lane, Back Lane & High Street, most of which have been marked for repair or have been filled.

The road sign on the A607 which had fallen or been knocked over has be replaced, I have reported the wonky sign on the A607 at the Love Lane junction.

I have contacted SKDC regarding a number of streetlights around the village which are not working, some have been repaired, some are still not working. I have requested an update on the planned work.

12.2.2 Village Hall

I attended the village hall meeting on 27th of February.

Now that the repair of the flat roof has been completed the committee are hoping to move forward with some internal improvements, these include the repair of the floor in the two storerooms. They are also in the process of trying to find a plasterer to carry out work in the kitchen areas.

Numerous events are planned to include the regular breakfast a fund raiser on the 9th of March and a film night on Friday 22nd of March.

Bank balance as of the 27th of Feb 2024

Savings ac - £28,929.17

Current ac - £4,495.17

Date of next meeting is 9th of April. 

12.2.3 Beacon 

Cllr Macer, McPherson and I met at the playing field on Sat 10th February and removed the bar on which the banner should hang and painted the exposed steel.

Cllr Crawley spoke to Neil Fritzche after the last PC meeting regarding the safety of the beacon. It was determined that the beacon is safe to use but chicken wire would need to be positioned around the inside of the basket to prevent small pieces of burning wood from falling. 

12.3 Report by Cllr Middleditch

12.3.1 Footpaths

On Monday 22nd January Cllr Andy Crawley (Chair) and Cllr Julie-Anne Middleditch (Footpaths Portfolio holder) met with Mr Peter Sowerby, owner of Caythorpe Hall to discuss the footpath diversion he wishes to implement. Following previous advice from Lincolnshire County Council Public Rights of Way and Access Team, Mr Sowerby wished to discuss how the Parish Council could be involved in community consultation.

Following the meeting Cllr Middleditch contacted the Public Rights of Way and Access Team to clarify the process and procedure. In a response from the County Council on 14th February it was confirmed amongst other things that the Parish Council would be a statutory consultee should the County Council take forward an application for the footpath to be diverted. 

The Parish Council's role is therefore to support both Mr Sowerby as a parishioner and the Parish as a whole in helping to promote as wide a consultation as possible. 

Mr Sowerby was contacted with suggestions of how he could proceed with consulting the Parish, with the offer of assistance by way of the Parish Council hosting a drop-in event one afternoon/evening at the village hall. Suggestions of attendance at other village events was also put forward. Cllr Middleditch will keep the Parish Council informed of progress

12.4 Report by Cllr Farr

12.4.1 Gala Committee

A member of the public summarised that the gala had recently launched, a gala specific bank account had been opened and it was all looking positive

12.5  Report by Cllr Dudfield

There are more dog waste signs around the village thanks to SKDC

12.6 Report by Cllr Stojanovic

Nothing further to report. Cllr Stojanovic requested the standing orders for Remembrance Day be forwarded to him

12.7  Report by Cllr Topley

12.7.1 Sand Bags

We have now received delivery of new sand bags and sand. These have been delivered to Ben Ullyotts yard on love lane NG32 3DE. Around 50 smaller bags have been filled and are ready in case of emergency. Thanks to Dave Manderfield, Neil Macer, Tim Dudfield and Michael Topley with your help in filling these

12.8 Report by Cllr Macer

all defibrillators working, checked and updated on the Webnos site

12.9 Report by Cllr Sandy

Nothing further to Report

12.10 Report by Cllr Roberts

Nothing further to Report

Item 13 -  Items of Urgent Business

Cllr Crawley advised that Cllr Dudfield was intending to resign from the PC at the end of March and thanked him for all his help during his time on the council, especially at the beginning of the new term of office when the PC would not have been quorate.

Cllr Crawley also inferred that Cllr Roberts was preparing to stand down after 37years. Cllr Roberts joined the council in 1987

Action AC

Item 14 - Arrangements for Next Meeting 

The next Parish Council Meeting Number 1 of 2024  will be on Wednesday 8th May 2024

Open Forum

SKDC Report from Cllr Penny Milnes

Smells Caythorpe Recycling Centre

Please note that SKDC Environmental Protection are not the agency to consider this issue and the Environment Agency is the responsible authority to investigate complaints regarding odour from this business. Their case number: 230712/CMC20 

They encourage reporting of the problem to them as this helps them to determine the severity of the problem and the appropriate course of action.

Please can residents be encouraged to contact the environment agency with any complaints so it can be added to the file the case number is 230712/CMC20, the contact details are:

enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or 03708 506 506

The environment agency prefers direct contact from affected individuals as they often have supplementary questions, even if they don’t respond immediately, they will add comments to the file to build up a picture.

Planning

The Brandon Shoot Appeal.

An appeal has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate against an Enforcement Notice following the refusal of planning permission for 150 days and a contested breach of planning permission “00/00471/71 for 50 days. No date has been set but it will be a Hearing in the offices at Grantham. 

Ref: APP/E2530/C/24/3337083 &3337084 

The subject application, S20/0098 was refused for the following reasons:

It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the shooting noise management plan will reduce adverse noise impact to a level which would be appropriate to justify the proposed use of land for 150 shooting days. The noise impacts associated with the current position and fall-back position are acknowledged, however, it is considered that the proposed increase in the number of shooting days would result in an adverse impact on the amenity of local residents. The proposal is therefore contrary to Local Plan Policies SD1, E5e, E7c, EN4 and DE1b, Stubton Neighbourhood Plan Policy NE1 and the National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 185.

PC Comments 30 Apr 2020: Objection.

With reference to planning application S20/0098 Application for a continuance of shooting up to 150 days total by the Brandon Wood Clay Pigeon Shooting Club the majority of the Caythorpe and Frieston Parish Council are against the proposal. The objections are based on the material planning considerations of increased noise and disturbance through additional shooting days, bolstered by previous rejection decisions to similar extension applications. The prevailing South-west to westerly airstreams transports the sound of gunfire up and beyond the escarpment ridge and into the village causing some level of irritation. However, for the small number of residencies within the parish boundary that are close to the club this noise is highly intrusive and any further increase in frequency of exposure would be stressful and possibly detrimental to health.

25 Apr 2022 

There is no reason to withdraw our original objections to this plan. The new proposals clearly confirm that the shooting is a noise nuisance – they actually refer to no-shooting times as a respite! Furthermore, their proposed complaints procedures at no point says that they will stop shooting if conditions make the noise worse than anticipated. Are they really going to turn away paying customers, or close a booked stand if the wind isn’t as forecast? Local residents do not deserve any increase in the noise nuisance produced by this business.

Please note all 5 parish councils in the Ward objected.

SKDC Draft Local Plan Consultation

The long-awaited review of the Local Plan, governing planning in the District, is currently out for consultation. The Plan has to concur with the latest NPPF – currently December 2023.

I believe it is very important for the Parish Council and individual residents to comment at this stage - deadline Thursday 25th April 2024.  There is a quick link to the consultation and the Plan on the SK website bottom of the Home page. It is a very important planning policy document for the District, our villages and countryside.

The main issues affecting Caythorpe remain relatively unchanged. 

Caythorpe remains a larger village, but no allocations have been identified for housing.

Slightly edited policies SP3 – Infill, SP4 Edge of Village, and SP5 Open Countryside – changed to Outside Settlements - are the most pertinent relating to any development applications.  The NP should remain reasonably up to date but needs to be considered if any minor edits may be required.

The term ‘affordable housing’ creates a lot of confusion but majorly eligible people are those on the Council Register. The definition in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is:

Annex 2: Glossary 

Affordable housing: housing for sale or rent, for those whose needs are not met by the market (including housing that provides a subsidised route to home ownership and/or is for essential local workers); and which complies with one or more of the following definitions81: 

a) Affordable housing for rent: meets all of the following conditions: (a) the rent is set in accordance with the Government’s rent policy for Social Rent or Affordable Rent, or is at least 20% below local market rents (including service charges where applicable); (b) the landlord is a registered provider, except where it is included as part of a Build to Rent scheme (in which case the landlord need not be a registered provider); and (c) it includes provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision. For Build to Rent schemes affordable housing for rent is expected to be the normal form of affordable housing provision (and, in this context, is known as Affordable Private Rent). 

b) Starter homes: is as specified in Sections 2 and 3 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and any secondary legislation made under these sections. The definition of a starter home should reflect the meaning set out in statute and any such secondary legislation at the time of plan-preparation or decision-making. Where secondary legislation has the effect of limiting a household’s eligibility to purchase a starter home to those with a particular maximum level of household income, those restrictions should be used. 

c) Discounted market sales housing: is that sold at a discount of at least 20% below local market value. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Provisions should be in place to ensure housing remains at a discount for future eligible households.

 d) Other affordable routes to home ownership: is housing provided for sale that provides a route to ownership for those who could not achieve home ownership through the market. It includes shared ownership, relevant equity loans, other low cost homes for sale (at a price equivalent to at least 20% below local market value) and rent to buy (which includes a period of intermediate rent). Where public grant funding is provided, there should be provisions for the homes to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for any receipts to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision, or refunded to Government or the relevant authority specified in the funding agreement

The Gypsy and Traveller issue is difficult and will continue to prove contentious in the rural area as no sites have been put forward for these uses. The Council have a duty to allocate land for these purposes as there is an identified and growing need; hence a further call for sites has been issued. 

Due to receiving no Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople sites through the first call for sites exercise, no sites are proposed for allocation through the Draft Local Plan to meet the need identified in policies H5 and H6 of the Draft Local Plan. However, alongside consultation on the Draft Plan we have also launched another Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Call for Sites. Any sites received will be considered at the next stage of plan preparation (pre-submission), which will also be consulted on. 

In the interim, we remain vulnerable to unauthorized sites being set up. When a planning application has been submitted, criteria have been inserted into Policy SP5 which detail that Gyspy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation sites will be supported in the open countryside.  This leaves it wide open, albeit subject to compliance with Policy H5, Gypsy and Traveller and Policy H6, Showpeople but with a new, very welcome, requirement to consider design, scale and layout. 

Another contentious issue are the many applications for large solar farms on agricultural land and the impact on food security. It is useful that certain criteria have been included in the policy. 

RE1: Renewable Energy Generation Proposals for renewable energy generation will be supported subject to meeting the detailed criteria as set out in the accompanying Renewable Energy document (currently an Appendix of the adopted Local Plan) and provided that: 

a. The proposal does not negatively impact the District’s agricultural Land asset; 

b. The proposal can demonstrate the support of affected local communities; 

c. The proposal includes details for the transmission of power produced; 

d. The proposal details that all apparatus related to renewable energy production will be removed from the site when power production ceases; and 

e. That the proposal complies with any other relevant Local Plan policies and national planning policy.

You will note that Landscape impacts, whilst considered, are not given high priority – hence the need for the NP policies.

Please comment on how you see these policies affecting the parish. May I add that it is also important that individual residents send in their own responses to the consultation.

New Leader of SKDC

In January Cllr Richard Cleaver announced that he was stepping down as Leader. An election took place and Cllr Ashley Baxter narrowly defeated Cllr Graham Jeal – Leader of the SK Coalition of which I am a member. This highlights how finely balanced the Council became after the May elections last year. I pushed for a more equally balanced and responsible representation across the Council to better serve the electoral outcome within our large and diverse District with a potential rural urban divide.

Council Tax

The District Council element of the Council Tax has been set to rise by 3.1% which equates to £171.81 for a Band D property in this parish. The parish precept (£36,090.68pa) which will then be £240.0 addition on the tax bill. 

Consultation was carried out around the District, and 792 responses were received! 48% agreed with the rise; 46.2% didn’t and 5.8% didn’t know/not sure. The consultation process has been improved by utilising the email addresses of resident who have agreed to receive Hello SK digitally and agreed to participate in consultations. I strongly recommend residents to take advantage of this scheme.

The total Council Tax bill includes precepts from LCC – £1578.69 an increase of 5%, LPCC - £304.20 an increase of 4.4% = £1882.89 plus the £240.30 parish precept =

Grand total: £2,123.19 for Band D.

The Budget

The Council is required to set a balanced budget. It is aligned with the ambitions of the Council’s Corporate Plan and the Vision to be ‘a thriving District to live in, work and visit’. Whilst the plan was approved in January 2024, I have concerns around how realistic, affordable and the wider implications are for some of the recommendations, particularly around climate change.

The context is significant financial external events which have had a detrimental impact – increased inflation, energy prices and employee pay proposals. The cost-of-living crisis has the potential to increase demand for council services. The financial future and risks remain uncertain, but the Budget Stabilisation Reserve can fund short term pressures if needed however it is not a long-term approach. 

A capital loan of £8 million for a new depot for the bin lorries has been approved to replace the current site which is no longer fit for purpose. It is hoped that the land could be sold for development in the future.

The council has approved somewhat controversially a Fair Tax Policy for SKDC to use only companies for our investments that do not have tax avoidance policies. This was not costed and has unknown outcomes. Unlike tax evasion, tax avoidance is perfectly legal.

Leisure SK, which runs our 3 leisure centres in the District, have been granted £447K to help them through a difficult financial situation due mainly to difficult trading conditions post covid and financial challenges ranging from increased utility costs to staffing costs.

Furthermore, after a vigorous debate, £850k was agreed to ‘gift’ as a subsidy to the Deepings Leisure Centre which closed in 2021 as unaffordable refurbishment was required. A Community Interest Company has been formed by residents and including the new Leader and councillors to try and reopen the centre. Fortunately, the money has been severely caveated before any release as there are concerns around the feasibility of the plans and complications with LCC’s intentions as owner of the building. 

Bins

The rollout of the purple lidded bins appears to have gone well. However, there are issues with the silver bins. For example, if there was just one small item wrong eg crisp packet or a sock in a bin the bin was rejected. Some 6000 bins were rejected ending in ‘bingate’ with so called tags of shame. The council waste operatives and office staff suffered significant abuse and the Chief Executive called a halt and arranged for the discarded bins to be recollected. Even so, contamination rates and non-acceptance at the recycling centre were high despite education on Right Thing Right Bin. Please ensure that only dry clean paper and card go into the purple lidded bin and be very careful with the contents of your silver bin. If in doubt put the item into the black bin. I believe that the silver bin issue was introduced too soon, and advice was ignored. Caveated apologies were made, and more education and more time will now be allowed for people to get on board with the requirements. Unfortunately, there will always be a part of our society that doesn’t care and contaminates with dirty nappies and dirty food packaging etc – what to do?

Grantham High Street Heritage Action Zone

In 2019 SKDC was successful in securing £887,000 in funding from Historic England through the High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, to support regeneration of the historic town centre.  This was matched with £375,000 in funding from SKDC. 

There are 68 High Street Heritage Action Zones across England, and Grantham’s scheme is one of only two in Lincolnshire (the other being in Lincoln).

An additional £90,000 of funding was secured from Historic England to support cultural activity within the town centre. 

The focus for the work is High Street, Westgate and the Marketplace. 

The project began in May 2020 and is now coming to a close, it will formally finish on 31st March 2024.   

The project has included: 

Supporting a major restoration project at Westgate Hall

A £300,000 grant was awarded to support the restoration of the long-term vacant Grade II listed former Corn Exchange. The property owner provided an additional £120,000 in funding.   

This grant supported urgent repair works to the roof – to reinstate skylight windows, repair and replace rotten roof timbers which had been damaged through excessive water ingress, and prevent further water damage to the building.  It also supported the reinstatement of appropriate windows, internal doors and joinery, and resolved other structural issues with the building. 

Unfortunately, due to the rapid increase in construction costs, we were not able to resolve all the issues with the building through the grant – however we have been able to prevent further deterioration.  The property owner and tenant will now work together to complete the other works and complete the fit out for the building’s new life as a restaurant. 

It is estimated that this will result in an additional £200 – 250,000 (private|) investment into the building. 

Shopfront Regeneration

Grants have been provided to eight projects to support the restoration and reinstatement of historic shopfronts within the High Street Heritage Action Zone. 

As well as supporting the restoration of individual properties, these schemes make a significant positive impact on the wider environment, improving the quality of the conservation area as a whole and has a positive economic bonus to the shopkeepers with customer perceptions of quality.

The scheme has leveraged over £200,000 in private sector investment in direct match funding contributions from the grant recipients.  Additional investment has also been made by grant recipients completing work over and above what the grant has funded. We are currently in the process of calculating the total investment generated as part of the evaluation process. 

This follows on from the previous scheme which was in operation from 2015 -2020 during which time 22 shopfronts were restored. 

Other projects have included:

Community consultation to understand the long-term ambitions of residents and businesses for the town. 

Funded feasibility studies and survey works to support future long-term regeneration projects.

Community engagement projects to highlight and celebrate Grantham’s town centre heritage - including the creation of a Top Trumps style game which highlights historic buildings in the town, and the Trigge Library Colouring Book celebrating artwork from the Chained Library within St Wulfram’s church (available free from St Wulfram’s) 

A cultural programme which supported the Festival of Angels at St Wulfram’s (2020), Ghost Dances – a special commission from Chantry Dance which used the music of Grantham born composer Nicolas Maw, Community print and ceramics projects, Costumed history tours led by Grantham Dramatic Society, and supported the creation of the Society’s Westgate Hub which will support a long-term legacy of community arts activity on Westgate. 

Appendix A

Appendix B

Caythorpe & Frieston Management Accounts as at 29.2.24

Electronically signed

D Manderfield

Clerk