2025 Parish Council Meetings

Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 1st July 2025 at 7.40 pm.

Present: Parish Cllrs J Stapleton, P Ireland, E Hill and S Jenkins, and Cllr D East -LCC-, Cllrs S Tarry and C Collard -NKDC- and Mrs D Scott -Clerk-.

Prior to the meeting Cllr Jenkins read out an update from LCC Highways that had been shared by Cllr East in respect of the damage caused to the road surface by the tractor fire the previous week. The road was currently subject to an emergency TTRO -Temporary Traffic Regulation Order- closing the section to avoid damage to vehicles. It was unfortunate that it coincided with other nearby road closures, e.g., between Burton Pedwardine and the A17, and the hot weather which affected the laying of new tarmac. The plan was to start repair work the following weekend, and re-open the road on Monday 7th July. In the meantime, residents were advised to comply with the signage.

63/25 Welcome – In Cllr Poulton’s absence, Cllr Jenkins welcomed everyone to the meeting.

64/25 Apologies for absence – Cllr S Poulton

65/25 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

66/25 Notes of the Annual Meeting, on 6th May 2025 – approved and signed.  The notes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on the same evening were noted for approval at the next APM.

67/25 Finance 2024-25

Mrs Scott confirmed that the Exemption Certificate had been submitted to PKF Littlejohn, who had acknowledged receipt. The Public Rights period was underway with, so far, no enquiries.

68/25 Finance 2025-26

1. Mrs Scott had shared the updated financial statements noting payments made since the last meeting, including LALC subscription £89.36 paid 2nd June 2025
2. Payments including Clerk £415.88 -May and June, including expenses. -reimbursement of travel, stationery etc), -HMRC £101.00 -mth 3 due 19/7/25-, were approved. In addition, reimbursement for Cllr Stapleton for parts for the mower -£73.41, inc VAT- as previously agreed would also be made.
3. Banking – It was noted that online banking had now been set up and the payments scheduled for this meeting had been prepared for online authorisation by other signatories. It was also agreed that an Instant Access Savings Account be opened with Lloyds and the funds be moved into it, with a small working balance retained in the current account.
4. Cybersecurity – Mrs Scott explained that she had attended a webinar on the subject and it had now been clarified that it was not statutorily required, just recommended as good practice, that Parish Councils and individual Parish Councillors use .gov.uk email addresses. Cllr East kindly offered to check with LCC whether there was any plan to extend the LCC Parish Councils’ website offer to include .gov.uk email addresses.

69/25 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.

1. Newsletters from LALC, LCC, NKDC, EA - noted
2. Updates from Cllrs Tarry and Collard – Local Government Re-organisation – all Lincolnshire councils had submitted proposals, the final decision to be made by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government -MHCLG-; Beacon Fen – proposals moving forward with the Planning Inspectorate; VJ Day – NKDC grants available; Food Waste Collections 2026 – Cllr Collard recommended visiting the NKDC display at Heckington Show.
3. Updates from Cllr East – National Grid proposals for pylons from Grimsby to Walpole; LCC’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Waste Partnership; Consequences of the Tractor Fire, Cllr East would be chasing Highways Team, Mrs Scott to add Highway’s reply on the PC website.
4. NKDC – Mrs Scott would be attending the Town and Parish Council Forum 10th July
5. NKDC – Licensing Act Policy  Consultation closing 30th July - noted
6. NKDC - Pleasure Boat and Boatman Licensing Policy Consultation closing 30th July - noted
7. Parva House – It was noted that the Guiding Association had decided to sell the property. Great Hale Village Hall had offered to host the King’s Portrait. It was agreed that Mrs Scott make the necessary arrangements.
8. Lloyds Bank Statements - noted.

70/25 Policing Update – It was noted that, following Mrs Scott’s correspondence with the Neighbourhood Police Team after the last meeting, officers had attended the following week and carried out speed checks in the village. It was understood that at least one driver had been cautioned and it had been a useful exercise in raising awareness.

71/25 Highways Matters

1. Flooding – the new arrangements had still not been tested. Cllr Collard had sent a link to the LCC Section 19 reports but these did not seem to be very helpful, as it was not clear whether any local residents had been consulted. Cllr East explained that LCC’s Environment Committee had taken over responsibilities for Flooding issues, meaning that issues around the County would be raised more frequently. He asked Councillors and residents to send him photographs of recent flooding. He reminded all to submit requests and questions to FixMyStreet for fixing, including the comment about a surface water drain on Main Road on the western edge of the village.
2. Speeding – as above. Mrs Scott reported that she had attempted the Community Speedwatch membership application but it was asking for details of the lamppost numbers for erecting the signs, to apply for permission. It was suggested that permission was already in place, as used previously by the Cluster SID.  Mrs Scott to submit application on that basis.

72/25 Streetlights - Fen Road - Cllr Tarry had chased and been told that the installation was scheduled. She kindly offered to check again for a date.

73/25 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 – appeal submitted to the Planning Inspectorate May 2025 and NKDC’s response June 2025 - noted
2. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – ref Enforcement Notice issued by NKDC 19th January, to take effect from 20th February 2024, compliance with conditions within 13 months maximum – Noted that NKDC was pursuing legal processes for the offence and direct action, and procurement processes to remove the items from the land, both of which could take some time.
3. Planning Application 25/0172/FUL Conversion and extension of existing outbuilding to form a single storey self-build dwelling Land Adjacent To 2 Fen Road – approved by NKDC 11th June 2025 – noted.
4. Planning Application 25/0527/VARCON Variation of approved plans, Rock Barn 10A Fen NG34 9BD – noted decision awaited.

74/25 Planning Inspectorate

1. Anglian Water – proposed Reservoir – Cllr East reported on the recent consultation he had attended.
2. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – Development Consent application submitted in May 2025 https://www.beaconfenenergypark.co.uk/the-project/

 https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010151 - noted. Cllr Collard explained that NKDC would be considering the applicant’s Local Impact Report. Other concerns about the cabling route at Carter Plot had been voiced.

3.  Pathfinder Clean Energy -PACE- solar farm and battery energy storage system -BESS- “Gauntlet Solar Farm & BESS” on land at Swineshead PE20 3PQ – see https://www.gauntletsolarfarm.co.uk/ -Boston Borough- – noted.
4. Ossian Transmission – see https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN0210006 - noted
5. National Grid – Great Grid Update see https://www.nationalgrid.com/the-great-grid-upgrade - Little Hale being within the ‘secondary consultation zone’ for Eastern Green Link 3 and 4 projects linking Anderby Creek landfall with Walpole - noted

75/25 CIL Funded Projects

1. The CIL report for 2024-25 as submitted to NKDC had been shared before the meeting.
2. Gateway signs – In Cllr Poulton’s absence, this was deferred. Cllr Ireland had been given an estimated cost of installation of the gates at two locations, to be noted with estimated costs of the gates themselves.

76/25 Defibrillator – Training – In Cllr Poulton’s absence, this was deferred.

77/25 Pump Lane

Grass Cutting – Cllr Stapleton was thanked for his efforts

Dyke clearance – a working party was set for Sunday 13 July at 10.00 am, Cllr Jenkins to advertise on Facebook for helpers. It was noted that this would be an important piece in the resolution of flooding issues.

78/25 Bus Shelter Working Party – deferred to next meeting because of tree-work required.

79/25 VE Day Event – it was noted that the event had been highly successful. Most items had been donated or costs covered by donations.

80/25 Parish Council Communications - Website – statistics noted

81/25 Matters for the next meeting – usual annual standing items, Policies for approval, including the new IT Policy

82/25 The Dates of Meetings for 2025-26, as agreed 2nd September, 4th November, 6th January 2026, 3rd March, 5th May at 7.45 pm, with Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30 pm                                                

The meeting closed at 8.50 pm.