2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF COLEBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Held at The Village Hall on Tuesday 5th November 2024 at 7.30pm

20.19 Declarations of Interest: None 

20.20 Present:  Councillor Alan Vivian (vice Chairman), Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Robert Hall, Councillor Jens Pedersen, Councillor Quent Stott, District Councillor Lance Pennell, District Councillor Matthew Cooper, County Councillor Ian Carrington and Sue Makinson-Sanders Clerk.
Apologies:  Councillor Andrew Long (away) and District Councillor Leigh Sanders (another meeting)

20.21 Public Forum:  A resident queried the position regarding the dead trees on Blind Lane Green, which now have been marked with yellow circles. The clerk confirmed that Highways had been requested to fell the dead trees and will follow this up. A third tree has also been marked. Clerk to enquire about this tree. 
Concerns voiced about the fly tipping problem. Clerk to contact Environmental Waste services to see about cameras any possible means of deterring fly tipping in the parish. 
The Christmas trees were virtually invisible against the residents’ decorations last year. Clerk to investigate cost of large tree on Coronation Crescent and means of securing it in position.
 
20.22 Approval of Minutes:  Minutes of Meeting held on the 3 September 2024. Councillor Stott proposed and Councillor Brewer seconded approval of the minutes. Councillors approved the minutes.

20.23 Clerk’s Reports: For Discussion Decision and Noting

a) Appointment of Chairman: Thanks were expressed to retiring Chairman and Councillor, Barry Earnshaw who has stepped down from the Parish Council. Councillor Robert Hall offered his services as Chairman and Councillors approved his appointment unanimously with Councillor Brewer offering to assist with the administrative side of the role, which offer was accepted by Councillors.

b) Parish Councillor Vacancy and Co-option of Councillor: No one has come forward in response to the Notice of Vacancy. Clerk to follow up on this.

c) Neighbourhood Plan Revision Update: David O’Connor updated the council indicating that he had tried to withdraw from the role over 2 years ago but would see this task through with the limited time resources available to him. The whole of the Coleby Neighbourhood Plan has been redrafted to incorporate changes agreed. Steve at Open Plan Limited preparing revised mapping. All key documents namely Redrafted Plan, Design Code and List of Modifications to be sent to NKDC in next week for informal consideration, a process which will take NKDC about 4 weeks. NKDC will assess whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment is required to realign the plan with the new Central Lincolnshire Local Plan. There shouldn’t be any significant change. The timetable agreed is behind, but it is still expected to get the Regulation 14 Consultation, which includes notifying all residents, parish businesses and landowners done and the final submission to NKDC before the end of the current administrative year. All documents will be sent to councillors via the clerk so that there is a clear audit trail.

d) Budget and precept Setting: The next meeting in January will be when this will take place. No figures yet from NKDC on which to base consideration of the new precept requirement.

e) Grant Application for Litter Picking: Councillors approved an application for a grant.

f) Fosse Green Energy, Navenby Substation and Other Solar developments: The consultation is ongoing with an opportunity to see what revisions have been made to the Fosse Green Energy proposal at The Venue, Navenby on Friday 8th November between 13.30 and 17.30pm. Councillor Brewer reported that she, Councillor Earnshaw and Councillor Hall had attended a Teams Meeting about then proposed sub station at Navenby presented by National grid. It was explained where the sub station would be located and that there would be nothing higher than 15m. It was stated that the substation was not just because of the Fosse Green Energy Solar Park and Springwell Solar Park proposals but other applications were in the pipeline. Councillor Hall had established that there are 7 companies on the team register in the area. There are to be 4 new pylons with the removal of 2 existing pylons. The Parish Council is a consultee. Councillors to agree a response.

20.24 Miscellaneous and Finance Reports:

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

b)   Defibrillator Replacement: The new defibrillator is now installed and is much easier to use than the old one it replaced.

c) RAF Report and church lighting: No report from RAF. Ongoing sage with the lights on the tower.

d) Litter Picking: Only applicants have all been under 16 which is a problem for insurance purposes. Clerk to continue to try and find a suitable person

e)  Viking Way Footpath Gates: All stiles between the Tempest and Church Lane are being replaced with gates and there is a possibility that the kissing gates at the ends of Church Lane and Far Lane will also be replaced.

f) Street Lamp Blind Lane: NKDC still trying to resolve legal issues.

20.25 Finance Report

a)    Payments to be made:

b)    

c)    Payments received: 

£930.00 Donation to Parish Council Funds
£930.00 Donation to Parish Council Funds
£40.00 Memorial Christine Beeby

c) Payments due: £20.00 Memorial Mr and Mrs Butler

d) Balance held at Co-Operative Bank as at 31st October 2024 £13104.76
Payments approved..Date 05.11.2024

20.26 County & District Councillor Reports: 
Councillor Carrington reported following concerns about the amount of heavy traffic using the Cliff villages roads as short cuts that all the County Council, has approved that all contracts for transport of waste etc would include a provision that the vehicles should use A roads only thus hopefully stopping them using the villages roads. The Council is still awaiting confirmation on the funding from Central Government for the North Hykeham relief road. The County Council is continuing its preparations for the road but await confirmation of the funding. This road is of important economic and environmental significance. In answer to a point raised by a resident Councillor Carrington confirmed that the planned building will be a real problem for us all as the current infrastructure will not cope if the road is not built.
Councillor Carrington advised that he and Councillor Pennell had just attended a planning meeting where an application for a National Infrastructure solar park near Caenby Corner was recommended for refusal on the basis that whilst there is a need for clean green energy this was on good agricultural land and food is more important. He is worried that the government and the Secretary of State are not listening to local views. The Secretary of State is minded to grant approval to applications and whilst the Parish Council should hope for victory they should also plan for defeat. The Officer Report is available as is the written ministerial statement (which carries great weight) given in response to Dr Caroline Johnson’s opposition to solar parks. The Parish Council should make use of these documents in any comments it submits. 
The County Council has carried out 135,000 road works jobs, filled 40,000 potholes this summer. Any road issues should be reported on Fix My Street.
The County Council Flooding enquiry continues.
Councillor Cooper advised bin collections may change over the Christmas period. The only change for Coleby residents is that the bin collection for the 24 December will now take place a day early on the 23 December. Councillor Cooper warned about ongoing scams especially a winter heating subsidy scam and a fake universal credit scam.
Councillor Pennell reported Kath Marriott has been appointed as CEO of NKDC and will take up her post in the New Year. Electoral Registration is taking place so residents are being asked to register or notify any changes for their addresses. There is also a change regarding postal votes. These used to be unlimited in time but now expire after 3 years so are due for renewal, Councillor Pennell asked the Parish Council to encourage all residents to register to vote/complete postal voting forms. There are county council elections next year and a mayoral election. 

20.27 Planning:
a) The Bell Inn Far Lane Coleby- Pending decision on appeal against Enforcement Notice
b) Coleby School – awaiting planning application for work to wall
c) Tree Works Application 11 High Street Coleby – approved
d) Tree Works Application 3 Dovecote Lane Coleby- approved
e) Tree Works Application Pantiles Rectory Road Coleby – approved
f) Tree Works 12 Blind Lane- pending 

20.28 
a)    Police: Nothing to report.

b)    Neighbourhood Watch: Scam warnings still coming in and the latest is from Lincolnshire Police about cold callers visiting properties offering to clean rooves etc. The Police have 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. 

20.29 Cemeteries:
  a) Lowfields Cemetery: Hedges and car park weeds work done.  Councillors approved memorials for Christine Beeby and David and Monique Butler

 b) Far Lane Cemetery:  Councillor Stott mentioned that the gate catch is broken and had hoped that this would have been fixed by the gate refurbisher. The clerk will try and find someone to replace it, as the contractor who refurbished the gates has sadly died since. A family member of people buried in the cemetery has asked whether it would be possible to remove the conifer tree which has outgrown its location and has offered to make a contribution towards the cost. Councillors approved removal. Clerk to make application for planning permission. Clerk to follow up investigations into ownership of wall.

20.30 Reports from village organisations:

a) All Saints Church: Very successful Harvest festival and supper. Thanks to all who made it a successful event. VCC approved the commission of the next 5 yearly quinquennial report. Coleby Carols will be on the 19th November and Midnight Mass on the 24th December at 11.00pm. Still no vicar.

b) Village Hall:  
Harvest party was a success and broke even.  A very successful Fireworks event was held raising £1791.82 for village hall funds. Average from car boots is £1500-£1600 per event. Prior to covid this had been £2000 but there are fewer people coming than pre-covid. There is a regular football team using the field. Next event is a Christmas Fair on the 30 November. The Village Hall is giving the school £500 and the church £1000 from the proceed so the car boot sales. This may increase depending on the final fund-raising figures for the financial year.

c) Coleby School: No report. There is a new headmaster, who is going to give reports to the Parish  Council. Clerk to contact the school to arrange for the headmaster to attend a Parish Council Meeting. Still serious issues with parking at school start and finish times from a safety point of view.  Parish Council would consider some funding for a reward scheme as an incentive to use the playing field and park and stride. 

20.31 Correspondence: Request for donations. Councillors agreed that a donation is included in our payment for the wreath for the Act of Remembrance and so not further donation at this time. If Citizens Advice ibn Lincoln contact the council, Councillors will then consider a donation request.

Meeting closed 8.40pm

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 7th January 2025 7.30pm

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