March 2022 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting of North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 28th March 2022 in St Mary’s Church Hall, Keeling St
There were no member of the public present. District Cllr Rickett had given his apologies. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman was Chairing the meeting and thanked everyone for attending and opened the public session at 7.00pm.
Public Session
a. Reports/observations from District and County Councillors
Cllr Rickett had given his apologies owing to illness. Cllr McNally referred to the Fire Service recruitment activity including the ability to book a taster training day for potential recruits. He also noted the ability to return old NHS equipment such as ankle boots and crutches, and the Easter event that will be taking place at Lincoln Castle. There would be free activity days at Grimoldby for 4-16 year olds.
b. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or Issues raised for consideration for future agenda
Remarks had been made on why Willerton Rd and Evison Way had been resurfaced when major roads had not. The Clerk will put a note in the communication magazine again reminding people of the importance of logging any complaints about roadways and potholes etc on Fix My Street. Evison Way and Willerton Road had in any case been programmed to be done since 2019, and it is a major undertaking to do repairs to main trunk roads which have significant logistical requirements in terms of health and safety practices, diversions for HGV, etc compared to small cul-de-sacs.
The Chairman of the meeting closed the public session and opened the meeting.
Monthly Meeting
28/3/22-1 a. Present: Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr John Kennedy (from 8.50pm), Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Danny McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Lynda Plater, Cllr Shaun Smalley, Cllr David Wallis, Cllr Paul Walmsley
b. Apologies for Absence – It was RESOLVED to accept the reason for absence of Cllr Brooks (Chairman).
28/3/22-2 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
Cllr McNally declared a non-pecuniary interest in Planning Application matters at agenda item 6, and Cllr Walmsley also declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6a.
28/3/22-3 Minutes of the 21st February 2022 Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt the notes as accurate minutes of the meeting and they were signed by the Chairman of the meeting.
28/3/22-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only:
a. S106 Conisholme Rd – see 6a below
b. English Coastal Path/PROW FP28 – ECP consultation outcome still awaited
c. Cemetery – see 13 below
d. Theddlethorpe GDF – consultation dates now advertised
e. Out of control dogs – pending
f. Dog Fouling – reminder notice put in Communication Magazine and asked for volunteers to enforce the ELDC Public Space Protection Order which covers all public and private land in the district, although ELDC does not have any training for such persons at present
g. St Mary’s Redundant section – wall issues pending
h. Chapel Fields retained land – Clerk to prepare options paper
i. Clerk’s Appraisal – pending
j. Zero Carbon Parishes Project – further information awaited
k. Community Orchard – volunteer/pricing for work to strim around the trees in hand
l. Planters – new volunteers have kindly taken over the upkeep of some of the planters, which is very welcome and much appreciated m. Donations – the Tennis table for the Youth Club has been ordered and delivery is awaited, and the fertiliser spreader for the Bowls Club is on back order as out of stock at present.
28/3/22-5 Annual Parish Meeting 6th April 2022 starting at 6.30pm – the main Agenda items were confirmed, including – consultation on extension of the Cemetery/purchase of additional land for future burials and any impact on the precept, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, Appointed Persons to monitor the ELDC East Lindsey Public Space Protection Order.
28/3/22-6 To consider Applications received/RESOLVE the way forward on these/other Planning matters
a. Enforcement Issues/Actions – i. S106 Conisholme Rd - The Clerk noted the update provided from ELDC and that a satisfactory outcome had still not been achieved to date, but the S106 is a Contractual matter, not a planning matter, so failure to deliver the scheme as per the agreed Contract, unless a Deed of variation is agreed, would be a breach of contract and enforceable at Law.
b. Planning applications for approval:
i. N/132/00373/22 non-material amendment to that previously approved under planning permission ref number N/132/1916/20. - LAND OFF, SOUTH ROAD – Councillors RESOLVED to support this non-material amendment, but a comment needs to be made to ensure that the remarks on plan re potential for footpath – see LCC highways planning condition re footpath connection – do not change the planning condition with regard to their having to be a footpath constructed from the development to join up with the footpath on south Rd near the Axe and Cleaver.
ii. N/132/00356/22 - Rear extension to existing dwelling to provide a garden room with balcony over, existing conservatory to be demolished. DURHAM HOUSE, BANK END. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to support this application.
iii. N/132/00291/22 - Change of use of land to form an extension to the domestic curtilage, erection of a house, stable block, garage block and excavation of land to form a wildlife pond, existing dwelling to be demolished.
WESTFIELD FARM, CONISHOLME ROAD. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to support this application.
iv. N/132/00393/22 | Planning Permission - Extension and alterations to existing dwelling and outbuilding to provide additional living accommodation. PEGASUS COTTAGE, KEELING STREET. Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to support this application.
v. N/132/00493/22 - Erection of 1no. detached dwelling with attached garage. LAND ADJACENT DAMAR, PLOT 6, TULIP WAY, CONISHOLME ROAD. It was noted that the S106 on the current development has yet to be delivered, and in any case this is a separate application which cannot seek to rely on any community benefit associated with the previous planning application that the S106 applies to. Cllrs noted that the proposal would present an inappropriate and unwelcome ‘blocking in’ and as such make the rest of the site look overdeveloped in this rural edge of settlement location. In addition, it was against the Local Plan Coastal Strategy. The Clerk was asked to make these comments on the application as no formal Resolution was made on the application.
c. To note Planning Applications Approved/Rejected
i. N/132/00103/22 - Erection of a house and detached single garage and construction of a vehicular access. Existing dwelling and garage on site to be demolished. SANDY NOOK, WILLERTON ROAD has been approved.
ii. N/132/02643/21 - Erection of 1no. house and 1no. pair of semi-detached houses, provision of 6no. parking spaces on site of existing commercial garage buildings which are to be demolished and alterations to existing vehicular and pedestrian access. GREENARDS GARAGE LTD, KEELING STREET, has been approved.
iii. N/132/02399/21 Outline development for 2 dwellings (layout and means of access to be considered). ALBION HOUSE, KEELING STREET, NORTH SOMERCOTES – has been refused.
28/3/22-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting – to discuss/RESOLVE the way forward on relevant Highways issues
a. verbal update on problem log:
i. Parking at Axe and Cleaver Crossroads – impact on visibility – on hold pending evidence
ii. Pedestrian Footway marking/give way to oncoming traffic sign (from Keeling St) on Churchill Rd – to be examined
iii. standing water alongside Oasis Lakes – this will require major sewer works so will need to be programmed in.
iv. school sign lighting – should have been resolved, Cllr McNally will check again.
v. street lighting on Warren Rd – should have been resolved but seems to be recurrent
b. Consultation on 40mph limit proposals for Conisholme Rd – it was noted that this complies with the Highways policy document and although there was a preference for part of the length proposed to be 30mph, councillors will look at this later, once the 40mph restriction has been implemented as proposed. It was therefore RESOLVED to support the proposal as it stands.
c. Dog Fouling – ELDC East Lindsey Public Space Protection Order – a note has been put in Communication ro remind everyone that the PSPO covers all private and public land in East Lindsey, unless private landowners request otherwise. A request for anyone interested in volunteering to enforce the PSPO in North Somercotes has also been put in the magazine, and this could be on a volunteer or employed basis, subject to arranging the necessary budget. At present ELDC are not offering any training for such a role but would look at this again when the PSPO is renewed in 2023.
28/3/22-8 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – No specific activities are planned to mark the Queen’s platinum Jubilee by the PFA owing to insufficient volunteers coming forward. Two trees came down in the recent storms and the youth club is back using the Pavilion again.
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman - Deputy Chief Constable Jason Harwin will be retiring in May. The subject of out of control and dangerous dogs has been raised with the neighbourhood inspector. There is a survey on the NextDoor App to complete to elicit what people think the next quarter’s policing priorities should be in this area.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
28/3/22-9 Finance – to consider and RESOLVE the way forward on the following:
a. the bank reconciliation for March 2022 was received and checked and signed by the Chairman of the meeting.
b. it was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of Payments of 2,635.32 and Receipts of £707 for March 2022. The Clerk noted that there may be other invoices to be paid or receipts to come in before the end of the month, and these would be updated in the year-end figures for the month as part of preparing for annual audit for 21/22.
c. following discussion it was RESOLVED to use the Council’s General Power of Competence to donate £1,000 to the Ukraine Refugee Crisis.
d. The Clerk noted requests received for donations for LIVES, and Lincoln & Lindsey Blind Society – these would be carried forward to the May Annual Meeting.
20/11/21-10 Annual Insurance Renewal – following discussion it was RESOLVED to proceed with the proposed increased premium for the Annual Renewal for a term of 3 years. Prior to the expiry the Clerk will examine if they still offer the best value for money, taking into account any claims handling experience.
28/3/22-11 General Correspondence for March 22, Website Updates and Communication – these were noted.
28/3/22-12 Next Meeting – 25th April 2022 at 7pm in THE VILLAGE HALL Keeling St – items for the agenda include External Audit, land purchase for Cemetery extension, any items arising from the Parish Meeting, Annual Council Meeting Agenda for 23rd May 2022
28/3/22-13 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED that the Council should move into closed session by reason of the confidential property and personnel matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public/press present at this point.
a. Cemetery to discuss and RESOLVE the way forward on the various Cemetery issues:
i. The Clerk’s provided an update on the acquisition of additional land for the cemetery noting that one valuation had been received and one was still awaited. The Clerk referred to some of the issues encountered when trying to resolve matters regarding whether there were some spaces still available in the older areas of the Cemetery, which especially those marked as ‘lost’ but with no reason given in the ledgers which she had brought along, and noted that the Cemetery Report she was preparing should be available for the next meeting.
ii. the Chairman has been checking the financial implications on the precept for the potential likely amount for the Public Works Loan that would be required to purchase the additional land, and undertake work to drainage, fencing, paths etc. These figures will be used to inform the public consultation at the Annual Parish Meeting on 6th April 2022 and can then be adjusted once valuations and other costings are known.
b. Clerks Appraisal and Annual Pay Award – the Chairman had circulated an email regarding the actions necessary to implement the annual uplift to the Clerk’s pay and the backdating of the pay award in line with the national salary scales and Clerk’s terms and conditions. It was RESOLVED to implement this as per the Chairman’s recommendation.
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer