2023 Parish Council Meetings

Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 7th November 2023 at 7.30 pm.

Present: Cllrs A Lennox, P Ireland, J Stapleton, Mrs D Scott (Clerk) and three Members of the Public.

Prior to the meeting, the members of the public expressed their concerns about the arrival of vehicles including a residential ‘caravan’ on the land adjacent to Glebe Farm, Little Hale Fen. They explained that noise and thefts of water and electricity had already occurred, and residents were very concerned about the possibility of anti-social behaviour, further crime, etc, especially if the numbers increased.

It was noted that NKDC Planning Enforcement Team had already been involved but the members of the public asked whether the Parish Council could help with any further action.

It was noted that the Council could discuss the matter under agenda item 11.

91/23 Welcome – Cllr Lennox welcomed everyone to the meeting.

92/23 Apologies for absence – Cllrs E Hill and S Poulton, Cllrs S Tarry and S Ogden (NKDC) and Cllr A Key (LCC).

93/23 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – Cllr Stapleton’s application for dispensation to discuss and vote on a payment to Oakwood Joinery was approved by the Clerk, in order that the Council be quorate for that matter.

94/23 Notes of the previous meetings, 5th September 2023 and 17th October 2023 – approved and signed.

95/23 Finance 2023-24

1. Mrs Scott shared the financial statement noting receipts and payments made since the last meeting.
2. Payments including Clerk £178.08 (October and November) including expenses (reimbursement of travel, stationery etc), HMRC £39.40 (mth 8 due 19/12/23), Oakwood Joinery £576.00, including VAT (cost of materials for the new noticeboards as previously agreed) were agreed.
3. Bank signatories – in the absence of Cllr Hill, it was agreed to defer this matter.
4. To consider cost of living pay increase for the Clerk – Mrs Scott explained that the NJC had recently agreed an increase of £1925 pa (pro rata for P/T staff) backdated to 1st April 2023 which equated to around £1 per hour on her pay scale. The increase was agreed in principle, subject to the budget discussions.
5. Mrs Scott reported that the VAT claim had been submitted for November 2022 to October 2023 inclusive and a payment from HMRC of £73.39 should be received in the next few days.
6. Mrs Scott reported that the first Annual CIF report had been submitted to NKDC for 2022-23 (deadline 31st December 2023). In terms of expenditure this had been a nil return.

96/23 Finance 2024-25. Mrs Scott shared details of the projected expenditure to 31st March 2024 and a draft budget for 2024-25 for discussion and agreement at the January meeting.

97/23 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.

1. Updates from LALC, LCC, NKDC.
2. NKDC Parish Litter Picking Grant offer – noted.
3. NKDC Conservation Officer – Local List Of Non-Designated Heritage Assets – it was agreed that Mrs Scott contact Mr Bentley to arrange a meeting.
4. Mid-Lincs CAB – request for funding – declined.
5. NKDC – enquiry re streetlighting maintained by the Parish Council – noted none within the Parish.
6. Heckington Area Voluntary Car Service AGM on Wednesday 22 November 2023 – Mrs Scott to reply apologising no-one was able to attend.
7. Better Housing, Better Health – Mrs Scott to add to website and request a poster for the Noticeboard.
8. NKDC, via Cllr Tarry, re the Flourishing Scale survey – all to respond as individuals.
9. Lloyds Bank Statements – checked and noted.

98/23 Policing Update

1. NSK Policing Priority Setting Feedback Form – deadline 4 Dec 2023 – Mrs Scott to respond, citing hare coursing, police visibility and concerns re travellers.
2. Police & Crime Commissioner Parish Council Engagement Session Online 7th December – Councillors to check diaries and book a place if available.

99/23 Highways Matters

1. Request from LCC Highways for information – it was noted that initial surveys responses had been submitted.
2. Willow Grange – the previous meeting had requested a letter be sent to the owners asking for the overhanging hedge to be cut back. Mrs Scott reported, that on further investigation it had been found that the removal and replacement had been a planning condition, so, with the agreement of Councillors, Mrs Scott had contacted NKDC. As a result the Planning Enforcement Team had become involved and served various notices on the owner, negotiating actions to resolve the issue of the hedge and the accesses to the site. The Enforcement Officer would be monitoring the activity.
3. Storm Babet October 2023. Mrs Scott thanked Cllr Stapleton for sharing the photographs of the flooding. It was noted that flooding had never been so extensive even before the work to resolve the blocked culvert.  Councillors felt that the Culvert running west to east under properties to join the village dyke was also blocked, along with the recently diverted culvert avoiding the streetlight’s foundations, the corners of which could easily cause a build-up blockages of twigs, etc. Additionally the issues on the Helpringham Road, with the overflowing Beck, had exacerbated problems for residents and drivers trying to access the villages.

It was noted that maintenance of the village dyke and the west-east culverted section was the responsibility of the riparian owners.

Mrs Scott agreed to forward the photographs to Cllrs Tarry, Ogden and Key, and Mr Smith of LCC Highways, requesting a review of the diverted culvert, and representations to the EA regarding deforestation of the Helpringham Eau.

It was noted that at the time of the flooding, a Highways operative had arrived to close the road but had not done so. Residents were concerned that some vehicles, travelling at speed, had caused unnecessary wash affecting nearby properties.  

90/23 Broadband

1. Take-up – It was noted that those residents who were connected were pleased with the service. Some delays in connection were being experienced.
2. Quickline Community Fund – potential Chapel connection - Cllrs Lennox and Hill to pursue.

91/23 Planning Matters

1. Planning application - 23/0678/HOUS - Rock Barn 10A Fen Road – approved by NKDC 20th September - noted.
2. Planning Application 23/0781/FUL Walmley House 25 Fen Road – approved by NKDC 20th September – noted.
3. Planning Application 23/0972/VARCON 14 Fen Road Little Hale – approved by NKDC 18th October – noted.
4. Planning Application 23/0932/FUL Land Adjacent To 2 Fen Road Conversion and extension of existing outbuilding to form 2 holiday lets – decision awaited - noted.
5. 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 – objection submitted 23rd October – noted.
6. Central Lincs Local Plan – Local List Validation Consultations see https://www.central-lincs.org.uk/consultations - noted, no response.
7. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – as discussed in the public forum, it was agreed that Mrs Scott contact NKDC Planning and Planning Enforcement Teams to express the Council’s concerns and objections to the current situation.

92/23 Planning Inspectorate

1. Viking Link – it was understood that the practical works were now complete.
2. Triton Knoll – none
3. Ecotricity, Heckington Fen - Solar Park – no update.
4. Anglian Water Reservoirs Project – no update.
5. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – it was understood that an alternative access was now being proposed, to avoid construction traffic going through villages. No further update had been received from the Asgarby and Howell Clerk.

93/23 CIL Funded Projects

1. Noticeboards – Cllr Stapleton reported that the noticeboards were now in place. Councillors thanked him for his work in creating and installing the new boards. He confirmed that maintenance would be needed probably at five-year intervals. It was agreed that the Bus Shelter itself and its surrounding area was due for a tidy-up (vegetation, interior painting, etc) and it was suggested that a working party attend to this in the Spring. Mrs Scott to follow up SmartWater treatment for the leadwork.
2. Other ideas – it was noted that around £800 in CIL funding remained. A request for ideas would be included in the next newsletter and on the website.

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 Phone Box and Community Defibrillator

Reporting – ongoing, thanks again to the volunteer group.

Plaque - as agreed Cllr Poulton would fit this as soon as possible.

Defib and First Aid Training – A member of the public had suggested asking EMAS for their free training. Cllr Poulton had agreed that this would be a good starting point. It was agreed that the Parish Council would be willing to pay the venue costs, either the Chapel or Parva House. Mrs Scott to contact the member of the public.

96/23 Pump Lane

It was noted that Mrs Rooke had completed grass cuts and some additional planting.

97/23 Parish Council Communications

1. Website – statistics were noted. Mrs Scott to add BHBH information and request for ideas for CIL funding.
2. Newsletter – as above to promote the EMAS First Aid/Defib Training and ideas for CIL funding.

98/23 Matters for the next meeting – Budget 2024-25, Bank Signatories and change of mandate, standing items, bus shelter working party.

99/23 The Dates of Meetings for 2023-24 – as agreed 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 9.00 pm.

Agreed as a correct record and signed by Cllr Lennox at the meeting on 9th January 2024