5th September 2023 - Minutes
Little Hale Parish Council
Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 5th September 2023 at 7.30 pm.
Present: Cllrs A Lennox, P Ireland, J Stapleton, E Hill and S Poulton (from 8.15 pm), Cllr S Tarry (NKDC), Mrs D Scott (Clerk).
81/23 Welcome – Cllr Lennox welcomed everyone to the meeting. 82/23 Apologies for absence – Cllr S Ogden (NKDC) and Cllr A Key (LCC). Cllr Poulton had also apologised that he would be late arriving.
83/23 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – None
84/23 Notes of the previous meeting, 4 th July 2023 – approved and signed.
85/23 Annual Finance 2022-23 Mrs Scott reported that the Auditors had accepted the Exemption Form and the period for the exercise of Public Rights had passed with no enquiries.
86/23 Finance 2023-24
i. Mrs Scott shared the financial statement noting receipts and payments made since the last meeting.
ii. Payments including Clerk £170.28 (August and September) including expenses (reimbursement of travel, stationery etc), HMRC £39.40 (mth 6 due 19/10/23), Community Heartbeat Trust £66.34 (replacement Defib pads) and NKDC £64.00 (uncontested election fees) were agreed.
87/23 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email. i. Updates from LALC, LCC, NKDC. ii. NKDC – Community Engagement Events. iii. Lloyds Bank Statements – checked and noted.
88/23 Policing Update – More than usual police activity had been noted, possibly connected with ASB reports in Heckington.
89/23 Highways Matters
i. Fen – resurfacing work had been carried out as planned, much improved.
ii. Overgrown hedge at junction of Burton Lane – a complaint had been received. Mrs Scott was asked to write to the occupiers.
iii. LCC Highways Survey – Cllr Ireland had started work on carrying out the survey and Cllr Lennox agreed to help complete the work.
90/23 Broadband – it was noted that the date for the Zoom call with Quickline and the Chapel had not yet been arranged. Cllrs Lennox and Hill to pursue.
91/23 Planning Matters
i. Planning application – 23/0587/OUT – land adjacent to 21 Chapel Lane – approved - noted.
ii. Planning application - 23/0678/HOUS - Rock Barn 10A Fen Road – noted ‘no objection’ submitted 6th July – NKDC decision awaited.
iii. Planning Application - 23/0761/HOUS 35 Fen Road – approved - noted.
iv. Planning Application 23/0781/FUL Walmley House 25 Fen Road – to note informal comment ‘no objection’ submitted 29th August - NKDC decision awaited.
v. A further Planning Application had been received that day - 23/0932/FUL Land Adjacent To 2 Fen Road Conversion and extension of existing outbuilding to form 2 holiday lets. Councillors agreed to consider making any informal comments after the meeting. (Cllr Tarry left the meeting)
92/23 Planning Inspectorate
i. Viking Link – none
ii. Triton Knoll – none
iii. Ecotricity, Heckington Fen - Solar Park – details of the Archaeology Event 13th September had been shared.
iv. Anglian Water Reservoirs Project – no update
v. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – it was noted that the Beacon Fen South site had now been removed from the proposal.
93/23 CIL Funded Projects
i. Noticeboards – Cllr Stapleton advised that work would soon be underway.
ii. Speed Warning devices – Councillors were not convinced that this would be a good use of the funds. Little Hale Parish Council
iii. Benches – it was noted that other organisations had installed new benches, e.g., the Chapel, and, until Pump Lane could be opened up, it was though there was little need for another.
94/23 Little Hale to Helpringham Footpath – Cllr Lennox reported on her conversations with Helpringham Parish Council and would follow up with Highways and Cllr Key.
95/23 Litter Picking – Cllr Poulton was thanked for collecting the kits from North Hykeham and Cllr Ireland for the storage. It was agreed that kits should be made available for individuals to use, to be advertised in the newsletter, as well as being used during the organised litter pick.
96/23 Phone Box and Community Defibrillator Reporting – ongoing, thanks again to the volunteer group. Replacement pads – Thanks to Mrs Rooke for organising. Plaque - as agreed Cllr Poulton would fit this as soon as possible. Defib and First Aid Training – Parva House had confirmed availability for 18th September and 25th September. Details to be shared in the newsletter, by word of mouth and the website.
97/23 Pump Lane It was noted that the apple tree was fruiting and the grass had been cut. Hedge trimming would be the next task, Cllr Poulton and Cllr Lennox to approach potential volunteers.
98/23 Parish Council Communications
i. Website – statistics were noted.
ii. Newsletter – as above to promote the First Aid/Defib training.
89/23 Matters for the next meeting – Bank Signatories and change of mandate, standing items.
90/23 The Dates of Meetings for 2023-24 – as agreed 7th November, 9th January 2024, 5th March, all at 7.30 pm, 7th May at 7.45pm, with Annual Parish meeting at 7.30pm The meeting closed at 8.40 pm
Agreed as a correct record and signed by Cllr Lennox at the meeting on 7th November 2023