2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF COLEBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING held at The Village Hall on Tuesday 3rd September 2024 at 7.30pm

20.07 Declarations of Interest: Cllr B Earnshaw Item 6g) 

20.08 Present:  Councillor Barry Earnshaw Councillor (Chairman), Alan Vivian, Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Robert Hall, Councillor Andrew Long, Councillor Quent Stott, District Councillor Lance Pennell, County Councillor Ian Carrington and Sue Makinson-Sanders Clerk.

Apologies:  Councillor Jens Pedersen (Illness) and District Councillor Matthew Cooper (another meeting)

20.09 Public Forum:  

A resident raised concerns about the internet connectivity within the village. Fibre has been laid to some, if not all, of the village. Could the Parish Council put any pressure on BT /Openreach to connect full fibre to everyone. David O’Connor advised that there is fibre to the village and it us up to each individual household to contact their provider/Openreach and get fibre brought to their property. An advisory note to be sent out on the mailing list with the help of Barry Devonald/Mandy Glover.

20.10 Approval of Minutes:  Minutes of Meeting held on the 2nd July 2024. Councillor Hall  proposed and Councillor Vivian seconded approval of the minutes. Councillors approved the minutes.

20.11 Clerk’s Reports: For Discussion Decision and Noting

a) Neighbourhood Plan Revision Update: Apologies from David O’Connor for being away a lot and for the failure of technology. David had hoped to do a slide presentation. Locality have approved the Design Code and the grant has been signed off and received. All councillors’ comments have been incorporated in the final version save for Councillor Brewer’s comment about the naming of the Tempest Green. The status quo remains on that.

AECON have agreed that any minor amendments to the Design Code following consultation can be made without further charges. Three villages including Sleaford have a Design Code so far. It  will probably be a legal requirement that all District Councils have a Design Code. Issue as to what extent the District Council’s design Code would impact on Coleby’s Design Code. County Councillor Carrington indicated that he thought the new government would want to proceed with Design Codes but doubted that there would be anything so specific as to conflict with Coleby’s Design Code.

The Neighbourhood Plan revision will include redrafting of the first three policies 1-3. Policies 4-6 will not be modified but supporting documentation will be updated. NKDC have kindly considered this informally and indicated that in their opinion a referendum won’t be required.  The External Examiner makes the final decision on this. The redraft states what the existing policy is, what has changed and why and to which policy they are relevant in the Local Plan. These will be circulated to Councillors so that decisions can be made at the next parish council meeting.  

The timetable for the revised Coleby Parish Neighbourhood Plan should still be on track given that some leeway was built into the timeframe. There is a six-month formal process of consultation. NKDC have requested the redrafted plan as early as possible and before the consultation process as they have capacity issues. Councillors approved the sending of the redraft to NKDC for early feedback.

b) Navenby Substation and Solar developments:  Councillor Earnshaw reported that the Fosse Green Energy Action group had sent letters to the Secretary of State and all politicians in the area including MPs. In light of the approval given for three large solar parks consideration being given to mitigation as to location, impact on environment and compensation should the local solar parks and substation be approved. Councillor Hall commented that there was a lot of disinformation and that the Parish Council should consider this objectively. Councillor Earnshaw was not representing the Parish Council on this and pointed out that there was a lot of objections from local residents. A pause and plan approach is what the action group was seeking. Councillor Stott enquired as to the timeline for this. County Councillor Carrington indicated that the County Council is against onshore wind and are not too happy about solar farms either. There is a formal pre application Councillor briefing coming up in the next fortnight but cannot say more at this stage. There is no planning application in on the substation but confirmed his advice of a year ago to consider what mitigation could be achieved. The new government has made it clear that grid connection and transmission systems are too slow and there are likely to be changes to the National Planning Policy Framework relating to these.

c) NKDC Survey on Climate: now closed.

d) Parking on Tempest Green: The no parking signs have made a difference. There is some displacement of vehicles to other parts of the village. There is always going to be an issue as the village doesn’t have facilities for parking. Some echelon parking has been taking place on the northern edge of Tempest green.

e) Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Greater Lincolnshire Survey: this has been sent out on the mailing list so should cover all local landowners

f) Renewal of membership Historic Towns and Village Forum: Councillors approved renewal of membership at a cost of £15.00

20.12 Miscellaneous and Finance Reports:

a) Agenda sent to all on email list and posted on website and noticeboard

b)  Street Light Blind Lane: The District Council are still trying to resolve legal issues.

c) Defibrillator Replacement: Quote from ABC Training for £1100.00 + Vat with extras and from Intermedical (UK) Ltd for £765.00m +Vat for same defibrillator. Councillors approved purchase from Intermedical (UK) Ltd.

d) School Ofsted Report and parking: no progress as school has been closed for the summer. Clerk to arrange meeting.

e) Footpath 784 update: This has now been resolved. Path reinstated to correct position, County Council considering installing gates instead of existing stiles.

f) RAF Report and church lighting: No report

g) Litter Picking: Cooper Smith has not presented any invoices and does not wish to continue. Clerk to send out for replacement litter picker
 
20.13   Coleby Parish Council 

Finance Report

a)   Revised Financial Plan – 2024/2025 Costs and Income: Councillor Earnshaw thanked Councillor B updated figures. Councillors will need to consider these when looking at setting next year’s precept. 

b)   Payments to be made:

b) Payments received: Coleby Parish Neighbourhood Plan Grant £3754.00

c) Payments due: None

d) Balance held at Co-Operative Bank as at 1st September 2024 £15292.79

20.14 Planning:

a) The Bell Inn Far Lane Coleby- Pending decision on appeal against Enforcement Notice

b) Tree Works Millfield Rectory Road – approved. No TPO required.

c) Tree Works 21 Blind Lane Coleby – approved. No TPO required.

d) Tree Works 1 Church Lane Coleby – approved. No TPO required.

e) Planning Application single storey extension 13 High Street- approved

f) Coleby School – awaiting planning application for work to wall

g) Tree Works Application 11 High Street Coleby – TPO not required

h) Tree Works Application 3 Dovecote Lane Coleby- pending decision

i) Tree Works Application Pantiles Rectory Road Coleby – pending decision
 
a) Police: Nothing to report.

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

20.15 County & District Councillor Reports:  

County Councillor Ian Carrington reported on the road works carried out by the Lincolnshire County Council, 20000 potholes repaired over the summer, 8000 in July alone. 246 roads top dressed and 29 footpaths rebuilt and 7 major highway drainage schemes. Please report any problems road wise on fix my street.  There is enormous concern about the Hykeham relief road it is neither unplanned nor unfunded. Lincolnshire County Council will be doing whatever necessary to get the government to go ahead on this. It has a huge environmental and economic impact on the area and on Coleby and surrounding villages. 

Devolution for Greater Lincolnshire was a done deal if election had been called later but is now not certain. There is a drive to get investment into Lincolnshire. Devolution would have meant £2.2m to NKDC. 

There will be planning reforms, some are known others not. There is to be revision of the National Planning Policy Framework. There are concerns on 3 issues

1.   It is quantity rather than quality and industrial capacity to build more than 200,000 a year is lacking.  

2.   Weakening of local involvement is undemocratic

3.   New government is encouraging mayoral route £2.2 million was for Sleaford Enterprise Park which would have huge economic impact locally with new job opportunities.

District Councillor Lance Pennell reported on the progress for recruiting a new CEO and Deputy CEO for North Kesteven District Council. Posts expected to be ratified by District Council on 11th October. Nominatio0n for NKDC Community Champions due by 16th September with a presentation on 27th November. 

20.16 Cemeteries:

a) Lowfields Cemetery: Marcus Hopton to cut hedges and deal with car park weeds this month. Councillors approved the wording on a memorial for Ann Pilsworth “In loving memory of Ann Pilsworth 14-6.1948 -4.1.2024”.

b) Far Lane Cemetery:  Cemetery Gates have been refurbished to a good standard of workmanship.

20.17 Reports from village organisations:

a) All Saints Church: Very successful Summer Garden Party. Thanks to Andrew and Jean Long for hosting. Successful August car boot sale in aid of church funds. Harvest festival and supper 6th October tickets available from Sue Makinson-Sanders and Beth Devonald. No vicar.

b) Village Hall:  Good attendance at recent VHC meeting with good representation from the village. Successful car boot sales for the church and school. Harvest party 14th September tickets still available from Alan Vivian and Rachel.  Event has been scaled down to reduce cost. Food still available.

c) Coleby School: No report.

20.18 Correspondence: Issue with parking on A607 at entrance to Hall Farm Cottages. County Council are now investigating and officers dealing with what could be a very dangerous situation,

Meeting closed 8.55pm

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 5th November 2024 7.30pm

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