April 2024 Minutes Annual Town Meeting
Minutes of the Annual Town Meeting of Market Deeping
held on Tuesday 30 April 2024
at 7.00 pm at the Green School, Church Street, Market Deeping
Present: Cllr D Shelton, Deputy Mayor
Cllr Dr P Byrd Cllr N Neilson
Cllr Ms J Reed
Cllr Miss X Collins Cllr Mrs J Sked
Cllr D Hughes
Cllr Mrs D Jones Cllr Mrs P Steel
Approximately 50 people were in attendance.
Representatives from the following voluntary sector organisations were also in attendance with displays/or providing an update on their work in the community: -
• Lincolnshire County Council Waste Officer
• Deepings Age Concern
• Deepings Neighbourhood Plan Group
• Deepings Men’s Group
• The Friends of Deeping Library
• Deepings Leisure Centre Group
• Deepings Lions Group
• Deepings Rotary Club
• Deepings Youth Group
• Citizen Advice Bureau
• Oddfellows
• Deeping Men’s Shed
• Patients Participation Group
1. Welcome and Introductions
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Shelton welcomed the residents and the voluntary sector organisations to the meeting and thanked all those for their continued hard work in the community.
The Deputy Mayor explained that the Town Council has a legal requirement to ensure a meeting is held for the residents each year, so the meeting is a town meeting rather than a council meeting. The Deputy Mayor informed that the Town Council is made up of 13 councillors, currently there are 12 councillors and one vacancy.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2023
The Deputy Mayor asked the residents if they had read the minutes and that they accepted them as a true record of the meeting held on 11 May 2023. It was unanimously agreed that the minutes were a true record of the meeting dated 11 May 2023. The Deputy Mayor duly signed the minutes.
3. Briefing by Cllr Shelton, Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Planning and Highways Committee
The purpose of the Planning and Highways Committee is to manage concerns that are related to items specified in the Town Council’s planning and highways terms of reference. Our role is to scrutinise SKDC’s planning applications and to consider resident’s applications and objections, encouraging their attendance where relevant to our committee meetings. We also monitor and progress issues relating to approved planning applications.
We monitor and progress highways concerns with Lincolnshire County Council and would encourage residents to report highways issues to LCC via FixMyStreet, this is an online reporting facility.
We monitor Section 106 funds relevant to facilities in our interest area.
The Committee is currently involved in the formal consultation of SKDC’s Local Plan Review with a particular interest in the proposed site allocations in the Deepings.
As reported last year the transfer of land adjacent to Charter Avenue under a Section 106 agreement is ongoing.
Finally, communication between the existing owners and tenants with regards to the supermarket application in the town centre is ongoing.
4. Briefing by Cllr Miss Collins, Chair of the Town Hall & Cemetery Committee, Market Deeping Town Council
Cllr Miss Collins thanked everyone for attending.
Cemetery
The Town Council, as a Burial Authority, manages the cemetery for burials, interment of ashes and scatterings. There is also a Sanctum available which can be leased for a period of time for interment of ashes. The cemetery also has a memorial rose garden where families are able to purchase a rose for a loved one.
The cemetery is maintained by the cemetery keeper and park keepers to ensure that it is kept in good order to create a quiet, peaceful and respectful place of reflection and therefore I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued hard work and commitment throughout the year.
Town Hall
The Town Hall has been used for a number of occasions throughout the year. It will require some maintenance work in the near future but still remains a fine building within the centre.
5. Briefing by Cllr Miss Collins on behalf Cllr Bob Broughton, Chair of Amenities and Open Spaces Committee, Market Deeping Town Council
The Amenities and Open Spaces Committee have moved forward with enhancing and updating John Eve Field and I am delighted to report the following: -
• The existing children’s play area has been expanded by extending out the existing hooped fencing
• In the above area new pieces of play equipment have been installed which are Flyer Train and Carriage, Toddler Fun Trail (with Bridge), Wheelchair Accessible Roundabout and mini basket swing
The new pieces of equipment have been placed to allow plenty of ‘play space’ so that children can run freely, and this new area joins up to the existing area, to create one large secure children’s play area.
Over the past year we have experienced deterioration of the ground works underneath some of our existing play equipment. Known as Eco bubble which had been in situ for some considerable time and had reached the point of extensive damage, so much so that at times we had to remove some play equipment so we could repair the surfaces underneath.
Working with specialists and seeking feedback from other organisations that had a similar problem, we were keen to find an alternative ground material for use in our play areas. In a number of areas, we have replaced Eco-bubble with green carpet, which is less expensive to install and has a longer warranty period, and we are hopeful that we have found a good alternative to the previous eco-bubble.
Our BMX track received ground maintenance work, in order to ensure the track is up to standard.
During the winter months our park keepers removed some of our play equipment for refurbishment and have since been reinstalled. The hoop fencing has also been repaired where needed and cleaned down.
In addition to the above the following was also completed: -
• A selection of trees was received from the Woodland Trust and have been planted.
• Mapping and numbering of all equipment located in the John Eve Field for easy referencing
• Planting of Pyracantha’s, re-shaping hedging and general maintenance of all areas, John Eve and Glebe Fields, Rectory Paddock, Welland Gardens and Riverside Park.
We were delighted to have been a runner up in South Kesteven District Council Urban Award, in recognition for the work we do to make our open spaces appealing and maintained for use and enjoyment of our residents, which also includes areas that support wildlife.
6. Presentation by Lincolnshire County Council Waste Officer
An officer from Lincolnshire County Council outlined the process for waste and recycling at home. The first purple bin collection was due to take place in February and this is for clean, dry and loose paper and cardboard. A leaflet was provided to residents outlining what can and can’t go in the bin.
The silver bin is for recycling items and these are sorted by the materials recycling plant. This bin is for glass bottle and jars, metal cans/tins, aerosols, plastic bottles, cartons, plastic tubs and trays, bottle lids and tops.
The black bin is for general waste non-recyclable items. No batteries, disposable vapes, electrical items, hot ashes or hazardous waste e.g. gas cylinder and asbestos is permitted.
The officer reported that an advisory tag will be placed on bins should items be placed in the wrong bin.
7. Presentation by Market Deeping Army Cadets
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Army Cadets were unable to attend.
8. Presentation by Deepings Rotary Club
The Deepings Rotary Club invited people to visit their stand and representatives would be happy to answer any questions.
9. Presentation by Citizens Advice Bureau (Foodbank)
A representative attended and informed that they are feeding approximately 16 people every day in the Deepings. A lot of the food is kindly donated by Tesco’s. A collection box is located in the Co-op, Church, doctor’s surgery and schools. Volunteers are always welcome.
10. Presentation by The Deepings Neighbourhood Plan Group
The Deeping Neighbourhood Plan Group consists of councillors from Market Deeping Town Council and Deeping St James Parish Council in conjunction with specialist advisors from the local community. The Plan is written by members of the community who know and love the area. The neighbourhood planning process ensures we get the most appropriate types of development in the right places. The plan also promotes the development of local projects that provide social, economic and environmental improvement. The DNP considers and responds to consultations including SKDC’s district local plan which considers sites that could be used for housing developments.
11. Presentation by Deeping Men in Sheds
A representative informed that the group are based in Swine’s Meadow Garden Centre and runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10.00am to 2.00pm. It is a great way to socialise with the community over a cuppa. Various work is carried out for example refurbishment of noticeboards and repairing garden seats. Any tool donations are welcome. There is a fee to attend.
12. Open Forum and Questions
No questions were received prior to the meeting and the following discussion took place.
Question: Are there any plans for Deeping St James Parish Council and Market Deeping Town Council to merge?
Response: It was considered in 2019 but did not take place, there is currently no plans. If in the future it is considered there is a process that has to be followed.
Question: Will the devolution impact the Town Council?
Response: It is the north of the county that will be affected and will have little effect to the Town Council
Question: Church Street path is in a poor state any indication if this is going to be repaired?
Response: This has been raised with Lincolnshire County Council.
Question: Does the Town Council have any plans to resolve the flooding in the area?
Response: The Council are currently revising the formal Emergency Plan. The Environment Agency and Drainage Board are responsible for the clearing of rivers and dykes.
Question: Is there a planning application for housing near the scout hut?
Response: Yes
The Deputy Mayor thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.40pm