Tuesday 2nd July 2024 - Minutes
Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 2nd July 2024 at 7.30 pm.
Present: Parish Cllrs J Stapleton, P Ireland and E Hill, Cllr C Collard (NKDC), one member of the public and Mrs D Scott (Clerk)
66/24 Welcome – In Cllr Poulton’s absence, Cllr Stapleton took the chair and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
67/24 Apologies for absence – Cllr S Poulton, Cllr A Key (LCC) and Cllr S Tarry (NKDC) 68/24 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none
69/24 Co-option – it was noted that no election had been called for so the Parish Council could co-opt someone to replace former Cllr Lennox. There had been no volunteers so far but Cllrs Ireland and Stapleton agreed to speak with three residents including the member of the public present at the meeting.
70/24 Notes of the previous meeting, the Annual Meeting on 7th May 2024 – approved and signed. The notes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 7th May were noted for approval by the next Annual Parish Meeting
71/24 Finance 2023-24
i. It was noted that PKF Littlejohn had accepted the submitted Exemption Certificate.
ii. Public Rights – it was noted that so far there had been no requests to inspect the accounts under Public Rights which was due to end on 12th July.
72/24 Finance 2024-25
i. Mrs Scott shared the financial statement noting receipts and payments made since the previous meeting had included £10 donation to Great Hale Parish Council, towards the cost of the Wreath for the D-Day commemoration. The bank balance, before the payments listed below, was £6,191.79. Mrs Scott explained that, of that, £2,136.36 was restricted to specific projects.
ii. Payments including Clerk £353.55 (May and June) including expenses (reimbursement of travel, stationery etc), HMRC £80.00 (mth 2 due 19/07/24). The Chapel invoice for the use of the premises for the seven meetings, July 2023 to May 2024 inclusive, had not yet been received but Mrs Scott’s authorisation to make the payment when the invoice was received remained in place.
73/24 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email. i. Updates from LALC, LCC, NKDC, including General Election material - noted ii. Lloyds Bank Statements – noted.
74/24 Policies for approval
i. Standing Orders – current policy based on NALC Model as revised April 2022 – re-adopted
ii. Financial Regulations – new NALC model April 2024 - Mrs Scott to review and bring to next meeting
iii. Equal Opportunities Policy – minor updates based on LALC suggestions - adopted
iv. Social Media Policy – no changes suggested – re-adopted
v. GDPR Policy – no changes suggested – re-adopted
vi. Scheme of Publication - no changes suggested – re-adopted
vii. Website Accessibility Statement – no changes suggested – re-adopted – Mrs Scott to investigate accessibility check
75/24 Policing Update
i. Engagement Event – noted.
76/24 Highways Matters
i. Update on meeting with RS and Cllr Key on 24th June – Cllrs Ireland and Hill reported on the meeting. It was noted that the lamppost on Main Road had been removed; RS had advised that the culvert works on Chapel Lane would start week commencing 8th July, Burton Road improvements would start the following week and the village section of Fen Road was scheduled for re-surfacing later in the year. Cllr Tarry was still chasing NKDC regarding the removal/disappearance of the Fen Road Lamppost and the impact on Council Tax due for Streetlighting, which would be recalculated wef 1st April 2025..
ii. Willow Grange – it was noted that the conifer trees/hedge were being removed in stages.
iii. Notifications of highways closures – notices of road closures in connection with the above works had been received and published on the website and Noticeboard. Little Hale Parish Council 2 Debbie Scott, Clerk to Little Hale Parish Council, 9 Forum Way, Sleaford NG34 7FF 07973 330765 littlehalepc@gmail.com https://little-hale.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
iv. Flooding – to receive update on removal of lamppost and reinstate culvert – works as above were noted. It was noted that the presence of newts had been suggested. The member of the public was invited to speak. He explained that newts tended to occupy wet areas, such as ponds, in March-September, and drier but damp places between October and February. LCC had suggested an ecological survey and this was being investigated. It seemed unlikely that the newts would be disturbed in the dyke (less wet than the ponds) during the summer. Mr Nickols had offered to carry out the work using a digger for the easily accessible sections but the rest would need to be hand-dug. Mr Nickols had also agreed to clear the dyke alongside Pump Lane and Cllr Ireland offered to cart the spoil away.
v. Parking – There had been no update from the member of the public on his approaches to the authorities.
77/24 Broadband – it was noted that the Quickline were currently canvassing for new customers and reports on how it was working were positive. It was noted that the Chapel Treasurer was currently drafting a community benefit application. Mrs Scott to re-forward the email with the electronic forms to him.
78/24 Planning Matters
i. Planning Application 23/1021/FUL Development of a photovoltaic solar array (49.995MW export capacity) with associated grid corridor works, access and ancillary development. Land South of Little Hale Drove Little Hale Fen – to note further information on PlanningOnline.
ii. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – ref Enforcement Notice issued by NKDC 19th January 2024, to take effect from 20th February, compliance with conditions within 13 months maximum – no further update
iii. 24/0408/HOUS and 24/0411/LBC - Repair and restoration to bake house outbuilding, Manor House 8 Fen Road NG34 9BD - noted approved by NKDC 23rd May 2024
iv. 24/0448/HOUS - Apply render to front elevation and replace UPVC closed porch with open oak porch. Maple House, Chapel Lane NG34 9BE – Cllrs agreed to support the application, Mrs Scott to submit the comment.
79/24 Planning Inspectorate
i. Viking Link – no update – remove from agenda
ii. Triton Knoll – no update – remove from agenda i
ii. Ecotricity, Heckington Fen - Solar Park – noted that this was now awaiting a decision by the Secretary of State
iv. Anglian Water Reservoirs Project – it was noted that this was now in its second phase of consultation, closing 25th July, including the proposed details of the site works and the associated infrastructure for the movement of water from the River Witham to the South Forty Foot, showing two options, a shorter link from Anton’s Gowt south to the South Forty Foot or a longer more complex route from Chapel Hill via the Kyme Eau to South Kyme then via Holland Dyke to the South Forty Foot. Consultation events around the area had been advertised. www.lincsreservoir.co.uk
v. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – no update – see www.beaconfenenergypark.co.uk
80/24 CIL Funded Projects
i. ‘Village Gates’ the idea was suggested again for the approaches from Great Hale and Helpringham – further discussion deferred.
81/24 Emergency Plan for Little Hale. Mrs Scott had added a list of emergency contacts to the website. Further suggestions were sought.
82/24 Defibrillator – Mrs Scott reported that she had contacted Shock Sleaford. They had raised concerns that the Main Road Defib was not listed on the Circuit, although CHT and EMAS had previously confirmed that it was registered on the system that EMAS used. It was noted that Mr Nickols had agreed in principle for an easily accessible site at Willow Farm to be used for a second defib. Mrs Scott to invite Shock Sleaford to attend the September meeting and ask CHT if they could help as before.
83/24 Pump Lane – It was noted that the grass had been cut, thanks to a volunteer. It was suggested that new hedge planting should be considered at the next meeting, using the project’s restricted funds. Little Hale Parish Council 3 Debbie Scott, Clerk to Little Hale Parish Council, 9 Forum Way, Sleaford NG34 7FF 07973 330765 littlehalepc@gmail.com https://little-hale.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
84/24 Bus Shelter Working Party - a date was set for 3rd August, at 8.30 am, for repainting the interior and assessing other work to be done, including possibly replacing the seating. Mrs Scott to draft the Risk Assessment.
85/24 King’s Portrait. Mr and Mrs Hill returned the portrait. It was noted that the Chapel had unfortunately been unable to find a suitable location for it in the building. It was suggested that Mrs Scott offer it to Parva House, or other appropriate location.
86/24 Parish Council Communications - Website – statistics were noted.
87/24 Matters for the next meeting – usual annual standing items, policies carried forward for agreement, Flooding, Solar Farm and Fen Road updates. At this point it was also noted that the D-Day Commemorations event had gone very well, thanks to Great Hale Parish Council for organising the event and it had been good to see Little Hale and the Burial Board also being so well represented.
88/24 The Dates of Meetings for 2024-25 – as agreed 3 rd September, 5th November, 7th January 2025, 4th March, all at 7.30 pm and 8th May at 7.45pm, after the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm
The meeting closed at 9.05 pm.
Agreed as a correct record and signed by Cllr Poulton at the meeting on 3rd September 2024