Draft Minutes 7.2.24
NOTES of the Hougham Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 7th February 2024 at 7.30 pm
in Hougham and Marston Village Hall.
Present: Cllr John Wright (in the Chair), Cllrs P Baker, P McAllister and Jo Wright. Also Cty Cllr A Maughan and Dist Cllr P Wood. There was one member of the public present.
The member of the public asked whether there was any update on the speed reduction requested between the railway bridge on the C001 and the Hougham turn as there had been quite a few accidents there recently. We advised that Cllr Maughan would be able to update us on that.
Cllr Maughan advised that a LCC assessment had been carried out which looks at development units, accident data, bus stops etc and is assessed against policy criteria. The outcome is marginally near the criteria. The speed assessments have been looked at and he has been told a decision will be made this week which may also change the criteria as far as the Marston bridge.
Cllr Maughan went on to say that he is on the committee regarding highways policies. Highways always has to bear in mind the NPPF policies when commenting on planning applications. LCC devolution has been signed by all 3 councils and the consultation finished at the end of January. The results are being independently assessed and the outcome should be available at the end of March. The election of the Mayor will be in May 2025 and he/she will work with leaders of the 3 councils so the Mayor’s powers are restrained. The LCC budget is out for consultation – expenses are £650,000,000 and Council Tax is likely to go up by 4.99% which is £1.44 per week on a Band E property. He offered a highways walkabout for Hougham with Rowan Smith, Alex and our Chair and advised that Coach Lane is still on the list for re-surfacing. Clerk to write to Highways reporting the intrusion on to the Highway outside Windrush, Coach Lane.
Paul Wood then spoke and said that District Councils have a limited role in devolution – a small majority didn’t vote for it and it is not a perfect deal. The new SKDC leader got in by a small majority. They are spending £8,000,000 on a new depot and the expenditure is questionable. The Council is very near a 50/50 split. Council Tax will go up by £5 p.a. on a Band D property. Housing is now on top of its statutory inspections but maintenance is still a mess. The land purchased in Stamford is a loss leader already – they were to build a number of houses but that is failing.
28/23. Apologies had been received from Cllr J Forbes.
29/23. There were no declarations of interest.
30/23. The Minutes of the meeting held on 16th November 2023 had been read and approved and it
was unanimously agreed that the Chair should sign them.
31/23. Planning matters: S23/2302 – Cornfield, Main Street – extensions – no objections and pending consideration. S24/0147 – Plan amendments at Chapel Farm Barns – no objections and pending consideration.
32/23. Highways – see public forum above.
33/23. Defibrillator training – 12 people have signed up for the First Responder training so far but there are spaces for 20 people. There is still time for more to apply as training isn’t until 29th February. The PC has already agreed a £50 donation and attendees will be asked to contribute.
34/23. Financial matters -
Resolved to sign bank reconciliations at 30.11.23, 31.12.23 and 31.1.24. The balance at 31.1.24 is £6,054.76.
35 /23. Advised that SKDC streetlight number 11 is not working correctly – on and off at odd times and 2 and 1 are out. Clerk to report on Fix My Street. Litter pick is to take place on 17th March.
Clerk to ask Highways whether they can join up the footpath as you exit Hougham village towards Marston, to the footpath on the kennels corner.
36/23. Next meeting – 2nd May 2024 (APM, AMPC and regular meetings)
Meeting closed at 8.30 pm