December 2020 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting of North Somercotes Parish Council held by Zoom video on Monday 21 December 2020 at 7pm
There were no members of the public present. District Councillor Paul Rickett was in attendance for part of the meeting.
Public Session
a. Any Policing Update – no additional information.
b. District & County Cllr McNally/District Cllr Paul Rickett
i. Cllr McNally updated on the County Council information on Adult Social Care, and the COVID19 update.
ii. District Councillor Rickett updated on the COVID19 position, work to house the homeless, and the large amount of scams/phishing emails that are going round. He will circulate the Market Town action plan to the Clerk for circulation.
c. Any items raised by members of the public or comments on the agenda
i. Removal of building, Change of use/height of land, felling of trees, infill pond – Warren Paddock (Lakeside) – following a number of enquiries/complaints to the parish council these have been referred directly to ELDC Enforcement and the Tree Preservation Officer.
ii. Request for extra Dog Pooh bin on Conisholme Rd – explanation provided to person making enquiry, that ELDC will not provide or empty any additional bins, only relocate existing ones.
iii. Planning Application N/132/02196/20 – The Clerk noted that the applicant was unable to attend the meeting owing to work commitments but that she was able to answer any queries regarding the planning application for Warren Studio in the public session, and she would leave the meeting when the application was considered by councillors.
The Chairman closed the public session at 7.15pm and commenced the meeting.
Monthly Meeting
21/12/20-1
a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brookes (Chairman), Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr Joy Cousins, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Daniel McNally (also District and County Councillor), Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr David Wallis, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Parish Clerk – Sheila Pearce. In attendance – District Cllr Paul Rickett.
b. Apologies for Absence – Cllr Shaun Smalley.
21/12/20-2 To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest on any item on the agenda in accordance with the Localism Act and the Council’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders
The Clerk noted that she had a personal interest in the planning application for Warren Studio agenda item 8aiii and would leave the meeting at that point.
7.17pm Cllr McNally noted an interest in planning matters as the Chair of the District Planning Committee, so would remain in the meeting but not take part in any voting on the matters under consideration.
21/12/20-3 Minutes of meeting held on Monday 23 November 2020– it was RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes; the Chair duly signed them and will deliver them to the Clerk for filing.
21/12/20-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – the Clerk updated on the following for information only:
a. Public Toilets – the one toilet has now been kitted out with sanitiser and notices, and the member of staff will monitor if any additional time is taken for the increased cleaning regime now being done. The Clerk was congratulated on the success of acquiring £10k from the National Lottery Grant funding towards refurbishment of the toilets, and it was noted other sources of funding are being sought.
b. Cemetery Chapel – roofing/gutters – one estimate has just been received and Carre Heritage are trying to attend in January to quote for the work also.
c. Community Trees/Orchard – no further details received.
d. Community Land Trust – see item 8
e. Seal Season current situation – see item 5e.
f. Council website – see item 9d.
g. Grass Cutting Tender exercise – paperwork prepared and circulated to councillors for comment as agreed, then issued to interested parties. Agreed with Chairman no requirement to advertise in local papers as c.8 potential suppliers identified from social media invitation to tender, and previous applicants h. amendment to standing orders – outstanding - Clerk to draft change to amend wording in respect of leaving the meeting when matters of pecuniary/personal interest are under discussion.
21/12/20-5 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley - the Axe & Cleaver virtual quiz night had 18 teams and raised £185 for the playing Fields from donations. The second Covid Grant funding has been received.
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman also commented on the number of scams/fake emails that are going around, and referred to the use of the Neighbourhood App along with Facebook, and Twitter by the police. The Area Policing Policy Panel is due to be held in January.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report.
d. Village Hall Committee – no report.
e. DTE Wildlife Group/Seal Season – Cllr Newman/Clerk – Cllr Newman noted that 20/21 Seal Season is officially closed, although there had still been a steady stream of people trying to view the seals; Lincs Wildlife Trust staff had been on site to turn people back.
21/12/20-6 To consider Planning applications received, Resolve the way forward on these/other Planning matters
a. Enforcement Cases – any issues raised by members of the public passed on to Enforcement
i. potential/alleged removal of trees without TPO approval/change of use and levels of Land – A9 Lakeside – a number of queries/issues had been raised with the parish council and these have been referred to ELDC Planning Enforcement and the ELDC Tree Preservation Officer.
ii. Caravan allegedly being used for permanent accommodation – Donna Nook – this has also been passed to ELDC Enforcement.
b. Planning Applications for approval:
i. N/132/02091/20 - Change of use, conversion of, alterations to existing farm buildings to provide a cafe to be used in connection with existing butchers shop. BUILDINGS AT HOLMES FARM, HOLMES LANE. Following discussion it was unanimously RESOLVED to support the proposals, as a logical use of the existing buildings.
ii. N/132/02174/20 – For information only - Determination of whether or not prior approval is required as to a) transport and highways impacts of the development, b) the noise impacts of the development, c) Contamination risks on the site, d) flooding risks on the site, e) whether the location or siting of the building makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable for the building to change from agricultural use to a use falling within Class C3 (dwelling houses) SUMMERFIELD, BANK END. Councillors noted the request for determination as to whether planning permission is required, or whether the proposed changes are covered under permitted development.
The Clerk entered the waiting room at 7.35 owing to a personal interest (as joint applicant) of the following application.
iii. N/132/02196/20 - Erection of a detached house and detached single garage with double car port and garden buildings on site of an existing art room/store which is to be demolished. WARREN STUDIO, WARREN ROAD. Following discussion, it was unanimously RESOLVED to support this application.
The Clerk was readmitted to the meeting.
21/12/20-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting – to discuss/resolve the way forward on relevant Highways issues
a. Any additional items to report – Lamp no. 26 on Warren Rd, to be checked again and reported as required.
b. update on lights on Churchill Rd – one of the lights (70) is still off. Clerk to check and report as required.
c. request to be made to the Environment Agency for a full schedule of works with dates for Marsh Lane/Pyes Hall, so that this can be monitored and followed up if progress does not take place again this year.
21/12/20-8 Community Land Trust – following discussion it was RESOLVED to confirm that the CLT should be established as a Community Benefit Society, which had been agreed in January 2020, and that it would not have charitable status. Clerk to liaise with Martin Field to get the Draft Articles of Association etc drawn up for the Chairman and the Clerk to go over on this basis.
21/12/20-9 Finance and Expenses
a. the bank reconciliation for December 2020 was checked by the Chairman
b. it was Resolved to approve the schedule of Payments of £3,633.18 and Receipts of £1,162.64 for December 2020.
c. Grant Application - the Clerk’s successful application to National Lottery funding for £10,000 towards the cost of the Public Toilets refurbishment, as noted in the Clerk’s report at item 4 above, was noted.
d. to deal with any urgent/other Financial matters
i. Parish Council Website - The Clerk outlined the position with regard to the free consultancy that had been provided to help transfer the information from the old website and establish the new one. LALC had suggested that a donation under S137 could be made to LALC who would then donate the funds from each council to either Guide Dogs for the Blind, or the RAF Benevolent Society, as per the preference of the individual who had helped all the councils with their websites. The Clerk noted that this support was also still ongoing and following discussion it was unanimously RESOLVED to donate £100 to LALC.
Cllr Rickett departed the meeting at 7.53pm
21/12/20-10 Budget Discussion – the Clerk’s proposals for the 2021/22 budget setting as laid out in the narrative and draft spreadsheets previously circulated were discussed. It was noted that the meeting for January had been set for the 18th to enable discussion on the budget to be finalised in time to meet with the ELDC deadline. The Clerk will query the tax base, as this has been reduced by one to 556, when it might be expected that it should have remained static, if not increased.
21/12/20-11 General Correspondence for December, Website Updates and Communication – items have been circulated.
21/12/20-12 Agenda Items for meeting to be held on 18 January 2021 /future meetings
a. Chapel Field – future maintenance/use of retained land
b. Public Toilets
c. Fire Resistant Cabinets
d. Parish Council Website - update
e. 21/22 Budget setting
f. Community Land Trust Set up
g. Communications Strategy
h. Local Plan Review
I. Cemetery – GOR feature, and other outstanding issues
j. Standing Orders – amendment to clarify procedure for leaving the room/remaining when items of pecuniary/non-pecuniary interest on the agenda
21/12/20-13 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED to move into closed session by reason of the confidential matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public/press in the meeting at this point.
a. Tender exercise - the Clerk outlined the progress on sending out the tenders for cemetery grounds maintenance, village verge and parish paths grass cutting, and two councillors were proposed to be present, via zoom meeting, when the Clerk opens and lists the tender responses. The Clerk will arrange the meeting accordingly and send the details to the two councillors. A decision will then be made at the meeting on the 18th before finalising the budget required for the precept request.
b. Chapel Cleaning – the Clerk updated on the staffing situation and discussion took place on possible future arrangements, which the Clerk will follow up.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.03pm