2024 Parish Council Meetings

Notes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 7th May 2024 at 7.42 pm.

Present: Parish Cllrs S Poulton, P Ireland, A Lennox, J Stapleton and E Hill, NKDC Cllr S Tarry, two members of the public and Mrs D Scott (Clerk)

43/24 Welcome – Cllr Lennox welcomed everyone to the meeting and announced her resignation as a Councillor, handing a note to the Clerk.

The Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman. It was proposed that Cllr Poulton be elected Chairman, this was agreed unanimously.

It was proposed that Cllr Stapleton be re-elected Vice-Chairman, this was agreed unanimously.

44/24 Apologies for absence – Cllr A Key (LCC) and Cllr C Collard (NKDC)

45/24 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

46/24 Code of Conduct – it was agreed that the Code of Conduct be re-adopted.

47/24 General Power of Competence – Mrs Scott explained that this meant the PC could use the additional power if needed. Eligibility was re-declared and the power re-adopted.

48/24 Notes of the previous meeting, 5th March 2024 – approved and signed.

49/24 Finance 2023-24

1. Internal Auditor’s Report – Mrs Gascoyne had reported that the accounts and governance were in good order.
2. Exemption Certificate 2023-24, for submission to the External Auditor – With an income of £3,672 and gross expenditure of £2,959, both being under the £25,000 threshold, the Exemption Certificate was approved and signed for submission.
3. Statement of Governance for the year ending 31st March 2024 – approved and signed.
4. Statement of Parish Council Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2024 – approved and signed.
5. The statement of variations and bank reconciliation were noted.
6. Mrs Scott to submit the Exemption Certificate to the Auditors and publish the set of statements and the Notice of Public Rights as required.

50/24 Finance 2024-25

1. Mrs Scott shared the financial statement noting receipts and payments made since 1st April including the Precept (£2,800) and a further CIL payment (£139.56) received from NKDC. The bank balance, before the payments listed below was £7,026.03. Mrs Scott explained that, of that, £2,136.36 was restricted to specific projects.
2. Payments including Mrs Gascoyne £50.00 (Internal Audit), Clerk £323.18 (March and April) including expenses (reimbursement of travel, stationery etc), HMRC £74.40.00 (mth 2 due 19/06/24), the Burial Board £100 (contribution to grass cutting) and the Zurich insurance premium £276.66 falling due for payment before the 1st June.  Mrs Scott had contacted the Chapel Treasurer for an invoice for the use of the premises for the seven meetings, July 2023 to May 2024 inclusive, and was authorised to make the payment when the invoice was received.
3. Bank signatories – Mrs Scott reported that Lloyds had confirmed the changes as requested.

51/24 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.

1. Updates from LALC, LCC, NKDC.
2. King’s Portrait – Mrs Scott had brought the portrait to the meeting. Chapel representatives kindly confirmed that they were looking for a suitable position in the Chapel to hang the portrait.
3. Great Hale Parish Council – Mrs Scott explained that the Great Hale Councillors had agreed to hold a wreath-laying event at the War Memorial in the Cemetery to commemorate the D-Day 80th Anniversary on 6th June, inviting the Burial Board and Little Hale Parish Council. She added that the Burial Board had agreed to donate up to £20 towards the cost of a shared wreath. It was agreed that a similar donation be made by Little Hale Parish Council and Cllr Ireland, and possibly others, would attend on the day. Mrs Scott to confirm to arrangements with the Great Hale Clerk.
4. Lloyds Bank Statements – noted.

52/24 Policing Update

1. PCC Election – it was noted that Marc Jones had been re-elected at the election the previous week.

53/24 Highways Matters

1. Willow Grange – update on NKDC negotiations re breach of planning conditions re hedge obstructing highway – it was noted that the hedge was being removed piece by piece and visibility was improving.
2. Flooding – Cllr Key had confirmed that the work on the lamppost/culvert had been scheduled but the date was as yet unknown, Cllr Tarry offered to chase. The existing structure had not been recently tested by the weather. Cllr Ireland advised that maintenance work would be best carried out over the next two months or so; he had contacted the Normanton House Trustees about access for a digger and would chase up a reply. It was noted that there had been no recent update from LCC’s Investigating team. Mrs Scott was asked to chase.

It was noted that once the lamppost and light on Main Road were removed, the parish would be short of two streetlights, including the one recently removed on Fen Road beyond the Council Houses. He asked whether the Parish charges (on the Council Tax bills) would be reduced accordingly. Cllr Tarry agreed to investigate.

3. Parking – the meeting adjourned to allow a Member of the Public to speak. He raised the issue of the problems at the junction of Fen Road and Chapel Lane, pointing out the unfair distribution of HGV movements as drivers ignored the voluntary one-way system. He felt that the surface of Fen Road was deteriorating as a consequence and the situation had worsened since the building work at 14 Fen Road had started and more vehicles were parking on-street at that point. He had spent some time contacting Planning, Highways and the Police with no success, although parking on a corner was clearly against the Highway Code. He summarised his concerns as lack of respect for the HGV one-way signage, request for double-yellow lines to prevent on-street parking around the Fen Road/Chapel Lane junction and inconsiderate parking at the bottom of Chapel Lane, and felt a request for a reduction in rates for properties in that area would be justified. He asked that the Parish Council submit a representation to the relevant authorities. He had already contacted Cllr Key.

Cllr Poulton recommended that the Member of the Public went back to the Police with his concerns and followed it up with representations to the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Member of the Public also raised concerns about the authorities’ responses to the flooding issues. Cllr Ireland reminded the meeting about the extensive work that Cllr Key and LCC officers had put into finding solutions to the flooding. He asked that any communications with LCC recognised the hard work and support already in place and the riparian responsibilities of local property owners.

The meeting resumed at 8.30 pm.

4. Lincolnshire Moves – LCC Highways survey – it was noted that the deadline had been extended to 17th May.

54/24 Broadband – it was noted that the Quickline website did now show the service to be available in the village and company representatives had been canvassing door-to-door for more customers. It was noted that the Chapel members were completing the papers to apply for a community Broadband installation. Cllr Poulton thanked Cllr Ireland for his perseverance over many years to bring the project to fruition.

55/24 Planning Matters

1. Planning Application 23/1021/FUL Development of a photovoltaic solar array (49.995MW export capacity) with associated grid corridor works, access improvements and ancillary development. Land South of Little Hale Drove Little Hale Fen – Cllr Tarry repeated her explanation about Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and added that NKDC planning officers were still discussing matters with the developers. She asked whether anyone from the Parish Council would be willing to attend and speak at a Planning Meeting if the application was ‘called in’ for a Committee decision. Cllrs were willing to attend and speak. It was noted that the issue of the land quality had not yet been resolved although it was pointed out that the Natural England website clearly showed it as Grade 2.
2. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – it was noted that there were no changes to report yet.
3. 24/0408/HOUS and 24/0411/LBC - Repair and restoration to bake house outbuilding, Manor House 8 Fen Road NG34 9BD – it was noted that an informal comment of support had been submitted by the Clerk on 26th April 2024. Councillors confirmed their support.

56/24 Planning Inspectorate

1. Viking Link – no update
2. Triton Knoll – no update
3. Ecotricity, Heckington Fen - Solar Park – it was noted that this had been called in for review.
4. Anglian Water Reservoirs Project – Cllr Tarry pointed out that a second period of consultation would be held from 30th May to 25th July. She recommended signing up to the AW newsletters on the project.
5. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – no update.

57/24 CIL Funded Projects

1. Bus Shelter improvements. It had been previously agreed that a working party should tidy up the Bus Shelter and its surroundings but it was not clear whether any costs would be involved.
2. Phone Box refurbishments. Cllr Poulton agreed to check whether there had been any lasting damage from the flooding and report back to the next meeting.
3. Bench – it was agreed that, once Pump Lane ownership had been resolved, this would be a good use of CIL funding.

58/24 Emergency Plan for Little Hale. Mrs Scott had shared local examples. It was agreed that a simple list of emergency contact details be published on the website and notice board. Mrs Scott to draft a suitable document.

59/24 Defibrillator – It was noted that the training planned for March had not taken place. Cllr Poulton agreed to share other dates with Councillors.

It was suggested that an additional defib, for the Fen, could be useful. Mrs Scott to contact Shock Sleaford with a possibility of part-funding from CIL funds.

60/24 Pump Lane – Cllr Poulton offered a surplus Flymo mower.

61/24 Bus Shelter Working Party/ Litter pick – this had taken place on Sunday 7th April, and had been well attended. Photos had been shared on the village Facebook page and the website.

62/24 Parish Council Communications

1. Website – statistics were noted.

63/24 Event for 2024 – it was agreed that this be removed from the agenda.

64/24 Matters for the next meeting – usual annual standing items, policies for agreement, Flooding, Solar Farm and Fen Road updates

65/24 The Dates of Meetings for 2024-25 – these were agreed as 2nd July, 3rd September, 5th November, 7th January 2025, 4th March and 8th May at 7.45pm, with Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm                                                              

The meeting closed at 8.55 pm.

Agreed as a correct record and signed by Cllr Stapleton at the meeting on 2nd July 2024