September 2023 Minutes

MINUTES OF COLEBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING held at The Village Hall on Tuesday 5th September 2023 7.30pm

19.36 Public Forum:  No matters raised.

19.37 Declarations of Interest:  None

19.38 Present:  Councillor Barry Earnshaw (Chairman) Councillor Alan Vivian (Vice Chairman),  Councillor Robert Hall, Cllr Theresa Brewer, Sue Makinson-Sanders Clerk, County Councillor Ian Carrington, and District Councillor Matthew Cooper.

Apologies:  Councillor Andrew Long (away on business) Councillor Georgia Sargent (new baby) District Councillor Lance Pennell, District Councillor Leigh Sanders

19.39. Approval of Minutes:  Minutes of Meeting held on the 4th July 2023 proposed  by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Vivian. Councillors approved the Minutes.

19.40 Clerk’s Reports:

Cllr Earnshaw sought and obtained approval to bring forward items b) c) and m) on the agenda now renumbered a), b) and c) in these minutes

a) Neighbourhood Plan Revision following Adoption of Revised Central Lincolnshire Local Plan: David O’Connor provided Councillors with a summary of the areas of the Coleby Neighbourhood Plan that should be considered for revision to ensure the Neighbourhood Plan aligns with the revised  Central Lincolnshire Local Plan as adopted in April 2023.The Coleby Neighbourhood Plan has been tested and has proven robust.  Coleby remains a level 6 small village. David O’Connor advised the plan should be reviewed to ensure alignment with new policies in the Local Plan, should be updated statistically in line with the 2021 census, and a decision made as to whether or not changes should be made in relation to the footprint for development. The process for the review was outlined. Reference was made to the request for support for a Staffordshire Neighbourhood Plan.  Resources may be available to assist with the review. Cllr Carrington stated that the Coleby Neighbourhood Plan was an excellent plan and that the Parish Council were ahead of the curve in looking to review. He advised the plan should be kept up to date. David O’Connor will look at revision, centrally available funds and public engagement  to  report back by February 2024.

Councillors approved a proposal to proceed to review and thanked David O’Connor for his offer to assist.

Councillors approved appointment of the original consultants to draft amendments to the Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillors approved   not to support the Staffordshire Neighbourhood Plan campaign.

b) Budget, Grant Funding and projects: Cllr Earnshaw produced budget figures. The cost of living is impacting expenditure. Discussion took place regarding the request to fund the Village Hall grass cutting. Clerk to ascertain when the contract for grass cutting ends for the Village Hall. Councillors were concerned that the Parish Council’s reserves were reducing annually with an increase in precept unlikely to cover additional cost of Village Hall grass cutting. 

Councillors approved deferral of this matter to the next meeting.

c) Fosse Green Energy Solar Park: Cllr Earnshaw updated the meeting on the current position. Meeting to be held on 12th September with 10 Parish Councils involved. Discussion took place as to impact on the village from infrastructure and what benefits there may be to local communities. Process of consultation at this stage. 

d)  Agenda sent to all on email list and posted on website and notice board

e) Litter Picking: Dean West has now resigned. Three applications. Councillors approved interviews for 2 village applicants.

f) Cllr Volunteer Schemes 2023/2024: Request made for volunteers to renovate the bus shelter on the A607. County Councillor Ian Carrington will follow this up to see if offer still open.

g) Wellhead Repairs: MK Green quoted £1325.00 plus vat (which is reclaimable) of £265.00. Councillors approved a hold on this expenditure pending budget discussions at the next meeting.

h) Signage re parking on grass on greens: Quote awaited from Lincoln signs. Permission to erect signs required from LCC. Concerns expressed regarding dangerous parking. 

i) Offer of Restoration of Cemetery Gates:  Ongoing. Councillors approved replacement bench for Far Lane Cemetery in style of those on Tempest Green

j) The Bell: NKDC Environmental Officer referred to Lincolnshire Fire for fire risk assessment .

l) RAF Report: In Councillor Sargent’s absence the clerk reported that the lights on the church tower are now working. Exercises in operation over next few weeks at RAF Waddington.

m) Asbestos:  Cllr Brewer reported that all but one bag of waste had been removed from 12A Coronation Crescent. The property has not yet been signed off as completed as one outstanding issue. Property has now been renumbered 14 Coronation Crescent.

n) Highways Survey: Cllr Earnshaw agreed to complete this online survey. Cllr Brewer and the clerk to complete the drainage survey

o) Street Light Blind Lane: Councillors approved the purchase of a lantern for a new street lamp on Blind Lane. 

p) Zoom Renewal: Councillors approved not to renew as no longer using.

q) Trees Dovecote Lane: Request for cutting back of sycamores refused due to lack of funds. Cllr Carrington will follow up on this. 

19.41 Planning:

a) Tree Works West Hall Coleby Reduce 2 x plum, walnut and maple, fell conifers – approved.

b) Tree Works 3 Dovecote Lane – T1 Elder - Reduce height and spread by 1-2m; T2 Sweet Chestnut -Reduce height and spread by 1-2m; T3 Mixed Shrub - Trim face, reduce height by 1.5m and tidy; T4 Silver Birch - Reduce spread by 1.2m; T5 Laurel - Trim side and reduce height by 1.5m; T6 Nordman Fir - Fell and clear – approved.

c) Tree Works Cottage by the Green fell Holly, Apple and Mulberry – approved.

d) Planning Application 9 & 10 Avenue Villas Grantham Road -Construction of two storey rear and side extension, conversion of roof space into living accommodation, construction of new basement beneath the proposed rear extension, construction of a lean to rood and porches to front elevation, and construction of new garden wall to front aspect of the site – Refused.

e) Planning Application 8 Hill Rise Coleby Single storey side extension and alterations to dwelling including associated external works – approved.

f) Planning Application West Hall Coleby Hall Hall Drive Raising of roof to existing garage to allow formation of first floor office space along with insertion of window and roof lights. Installation of roof light in north-west roof of dwelling and erection of new retaining wall in rear garden to form level lawn area. (Revised description) – approved.

g) Planning Application 16 Far Lane- Installation of solar panels to the front roof slope of property- approved.

h) Planning Application 16 Church Lane- Erection of single and two storey extensions together with relocation of existing vehicular access and boundary wall – pending decision

19.30 Police Reports: 

a) Police: Nothing to report. 

b) Neighbourhood Watch: Usual warnings about scams both telephone and email.

19.42. County & District Councillor Reports:  none

19.43Cemeteries:

  a) Lowfields Cemetery:  Cemetery is tidy. Cllr Earnshaw thanked Dean West for tidying on the morning of the funeral.

 b) Far Lane Cemetery:  Nothing to report.    

19.44 Financial Matters:

a)  Payments to be made:

i.  Clerks Salary £  (Sept/Oct  2023)

ii. Anglian Water Lowfields Cemetery (Sept/Oct 2023 ) @ £4.00pm Total £8.00

iii. Coleby Village Hall Meeting Hire £20.00

iv. bdg mowing contractors grass cutting Sept/Oct 2023@  £380.00pm Total £760.00

v.  Cllr B Earnshaw Reimburse Hedge Trimming Lowfields Cemetery £480.00

vi. NKDC Uncontested Election Expenses £71.70

vii. D West – tidying at Lowfields Cemetery £37.50

viii. CPRE Membership Renewal – replacement cheque £36.00

c) Payments received : Burial Fee Monique Butler £75.00

d) Payments due:  none

Balance held at Co-Operative Bank as at 31/08/23 £14963.17

Councillors unanimously approved the payments.

19.45 Reports from village organisations:

a) All Saints Church: Harvest Festival and Supper October. Still no vicar.

b) Village Hall:  Not the Coleby Ball 16th September 2023 tickets £25.00. Car Boot in September was better but still not back to pre-covid levels.

c) Coleby School: School not yet back from summer holidays so no report.

19.46 Correspondence:  None

Meeting closed 9.40pm

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 7th November 2023 at 7.30pm

Sue Makinson-Sanders
Tel: 01522 810509
email: colebyparishclerk@googlemail.com