June 2025 Minutes
Digby Parish Council
Notes of the PARISH COUNCIL MEETING held on Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 7pm, in Digby War Memorial Hall.
PRESENT Cllrs K Groves, Chairman (KG), A Barnham (AB), J Bourne (JB), G Garton (GG), D Green (DG), M Lewington (ML) and H Snowden (HS)
In attendance – Angie McDonald, Clerk and Proper Officer.
Public Forum – 3 residents present – discussion took place regarding the appeal notice received for land off North Street. There was a request to consider a public meeting.
Concerns were expressed about the reduced footpath width of the footpath near The Smoot junction with North Street and the poor condition of the footpath along North Street. LCC Highways will be informed.
The road signs for Church Street are either covered by vegetation or have faded so they cannot be seen. Requests for new signs will be made to NKDC
.
District & County Councillors' Matters
Cllr Kendrick, spoke about the County Councils decision on the Solar Farm, and announced further LCC volunteer days will be available.
The Chairman then declared the meeting in session.
1.Chairman’s Opening Remarks. (25/087)
a) Welcome.
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies for Absence (25/088)
a) Apologies.
There were no apologies as all were present.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest & Applications of Dispensation (25/089)
a) Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest declared.
4. Signing of the Minutes (25/090)
a) It was proposed by DG, seconded by JB that the minutes of the Annual Parish
Council Meeting held on Wednesday 14th May 2025 be signed as a true record.
5. Planning Matters (25/091)
a) Planning Applications Received.
24/1480/FUL Proposed site at land off North Street – Appeal Ref. APR/R2520/W/25/3367064
Due to this application only being received on the day of this meeting it was agreed to call a full council meeting on Wed 18th June at 6pm to discussed the appeal application, therefore giving the councillors time to read all the relevant documents.
b) Decision Notice Received.
24/1480/FUL – Land off North Street, Erection of 9 dwellings – The application was refused by NKDC
c) Formation of a planning committee.
Due to the small number of councillors it was agreed a committee for Planning would not be practical.
d) Update on the Planning Matters associated with Spring Farm Solar Farm.
The Clerk had forwarded all the information received from Scopwick Action Group, which included a timetable of the Planning Inspectorate examinations stages. Further details about the BESS at Navenby and Colby had been distributed. It was agreed to send an objection to NKDC on the loss of land and possible contamination of the aquifer.
6. General Parish Matters (25/092)
a) Review of Policies.
The Health and Safety policy, the Accessibility Statement & the Freedom of Information Publication Scheme, which contained the amendments from the previous month, had been forwarded to the councillors prior to the meeting for them to review.
It was proposed by ML seconded by KG, and all agreed, the policies were current and up to date.
b) Inspection on the Village Assets.
It was agreed to meet on 4th July at 14.30 commencing at the village hall to inspect the assets and identify any works needed.
c) Gov.uk Email.
The Clerk had forwarded all the information available from LALC about parishes being requested to move to a Gov.UK domain. It was proposed a vote be taken to identify whether the council would proceed with purchasing a Gov.uk domain. Two councillors were for the Gov.uk domain and 5 were against. The motion to not sign up for Gov.uk domain, at this time, was carried.
d) Improvements to the footpath on Lincoln Road.
There is still no update. Cllr Kendrick will make enquiries.
e) Update on the Old Pond area, North Street
The Clerk had forwarded information received from LALC giving advice on how to proceed with checking ownership and maintaining an open area. It was agreed to request from the Land Registry a full title register and title plan of the area. The Clerk had already written to NKDC asking if the land was on their Open Space register and NKDC have confirmed it is not. The Clerk has also written to LCC to check whether it is on the Common Land Register. In the meantime, the Clerk is also to look back through the parish documents to see when work had been carried out on the area by the council to establish a time line of maintenance.
A resolution to maintain the Old Pond area, for the village, as an informal community amenity space, if no owner of the land can be established, was put forward by ML, seconded by KG. A vote was taken; there were 6 for and 1 against. The motion to maintain the land in the future, if no owner can be established, was carried.
Action: The Clerk to contact Land Registry
7. Highways (25/093)
a) Pot Holes or Highways Issues.
A pot hole on Church Street has been reported by HS and has already been assessed for repair.
A Street Light on the Smoot footpath at the Greendyke/Chestnut Close end is currently not working. Action: The Clerk to report this on FixMyStreet.
b) Update on the LCC volunteer days.
Cllr Kendrick has agreed to look into what has happened to our request.
8. The Village Hall (25/094)
a) Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee.
The minutes of 15th May had been distributed to the councillors.
b) The Bar in the Village Hall.
It was proposed by ML and seconded by KG to move this item to closed session
c) Maintenance of the Village Hall Garden.
GG thanked KG for all her work in trying to keep on top of the garden along with the gardener, but it is obvious the time the council can afford to allocate is not enough in its present layout. It was suggested to reduce the flower borders width with either gravel areas or return to lawn. In the meantime, it was proposed by AB, seconded by DG and agreed 4 extra hours this month be allocated to the gardener.
Action: KG to inform the gardener of the extra time and to identify areas that could be either gravelled or grassed.
9. Drainage (25/095)
a) Updates from the Flood Meeting.
The drone pilot has requested a map of the area to be covered. The Clerk liaised with the Flood Risk Co-ordinator and confirmed the whole village is to be mapped with particular focus on the western section of the village. The Clerk to forward this information to the drone pilot.
GG commented the weeds have only been cut on one side of flood alleviation channel. JB to speak to IDB to request the whole area is cut.
Action: The Clerk to contact the drone pilot and JB to contact IDB
b) Removal of Silt from the Beck.
GG asked if we could contact the Environment Agency to see if we could have permission to de-silt the Beck. It would be at the cost to the parish, but after many requests the Environment Agency has failed to respond and take action. It was agreed to ask for permission.
Action: The Clerk to contact the Environment Agency.
10. Playing Field, Play Areas and Village General (25/096)
a) Inspection of Play Equipment.
The bench seats and tables, and the swing seats that were reported to be dirty and covered in lichen, have now been cleaned.
b) Bowls Club Lease.
AB has started to work on the inventory of the building.
c) Progress on the New Play Equipment Project.
The items of play equipment for the toddlers and junior areas have now been agreed. The four play equipment companies selected have been asked to produce designs and costings based on these choices. Once these designs are available, a public consultation will take place and from this a company will be selected, and the application for the fund raising can take place.
KG reported the first of the community-based fund raising is to take place on 21st June, a Table Top Sale, 15 tables have been booked so far. KG asked ML to ask at the next village hall meeting if the events for the play equipment fund raising could hire the hall at a reduced rate.
d) Cleaning of the Play Equipment
The contractor that cleaned the seats and tables has asked if the council would like to set up a contract to have these and other items of equipment cleaned on a regular basis. It was agreed that at this time we will just request cleaning when it is needed.
Action: The Clerk to notify the contractor.
e) Vegetation over hanging Footpaths.
It was agreed to identify any areas that need cutting back when the council carry out the village asset walk.
f) The ‘Keep Dogs on Leads ‘Signage
The Clerk provided a selection of dog signs and it was agreed to purchase from Bespoke Signs for £10.99 plus postage.
11. Allotments (25/097)
a) The Allotment Committee.
JB reported the social event to take place on Saturday, all are welcome.
12. Finance (25/098)
a) Bank Balances and Approval of Bank Reconciliation
The bank balances were reported as:
PC General Account £31,591.79
Allotment Account £ 7,537.93
Mary Gresswell Trust 5.58
b) Income.
Play Equipment Fund Raising - £56.00 (Table Top)
Allotment Rents - £759.20
Received and included on the bank balance.
The invoices for the Bowls Clubs and Pigeon Club have been sent out and the VAT for 2024-25 has been claimed for.
c) Approval of Payments.
It was proposed by GG, seconded by JB and resolved the following payments were made.
Salaries/Expenses 1,104.66
Lloyds bank charges 12.75
Green Cleen – Park benches/tables/swing seats 168.00
Greensleeves 71.00
MalcFirth 615.60
d) External Audit.
The Clerk confirmed the AGAR has been sent off to the external auditor, the notice of the Publics Rights has been displayed in the noticeboard and on the website, and, the Insurance premium had been paid.
13. Correspondence (25/099)
a) LALC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors.
b) NKDC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors
c) Abandoned car reported on Harrowby Close. This has been reported to the authorities.
d) An overgrown hedge was reported on Forget me knot way, this information has been forwarded to the land owner.
14. Dates of Future Meetings (25/100)
Parish Council Meetings for 2025 – Second Wednesday of the month – 9th Jul, 13th Aug, 10th Sep, 8th Oct, 12th Nov and 10th Dec
15. Any Business to Note for the Next Agenda (24/101)
Councillors to notify the Clerk during the next month if they have items to be included on the agenda.
The council then RESOLVED to move into the Closed Session.
There were no members of the public present to exclude.
16. Closed Session (25/102)
For confidential items in accordance with the Public Bodies Act 1960, if required.
a) The Bar in the Village Hall.
The results of the discussion - the Parish Council will confirm with the Charity Commission that there are no issues with an outside agency managing the bar area.
21.30hrs There being no further business the chairman declared the meeting closed.