2025 Minutes

 

There were no issues raised in the Public Forum by members of the public attending. Councillor Earnshaw referred to her sustainability drive. She has spoken to some residents who are keen to have allotments, and it is thought they have found a suitable piece of land that the owner is prepared to allow to be used for this purpose. The people concerned will organise and run this so nothing to do with the Parish Council.

 

20.64 Declarations of Interest: None

 

20.65 Present and Apologies: Councillor Alan Vivian (Vice Chair), Councillor Andrew Long, Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Jens Pedersen, Councillor Quent Stott, Councillor Harriet Earnshaw, County Councillor Ian Carrington, District Councillor Lance Pennell, District Councillor Matthew Cooper and Sue Makinson-Sanders (Clerk)

Apologies from Councillor Robert Hall and District Councillor Leigh Sanders

 

20.66 Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 4th March 2025: Councillor Jens Pedersen proposed and Councillor Theresa Brewer seconded. Councillors approved the Minutes

 

20.67 Approval of Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting held on 7th April 2025: Councillor Jens Pedersen proposed and Councillor Alan Vivian seconded. Councillors approved the Minutes

 

20.68 Clerks Reports:  Agenda sent to all on mailing list and posted on website and noticeboard

 

20.69 Parish Council Audit:

a) i) Approval of Certificate of Exemption: Councillor Alan Vivian proposed and Councillor Quent Stott seconded. Councillors approved Certificate of Exemption

ii) Approval of Annual Governance Statement: Councillor Alan Vivian proposed and Councillor Andrew Long seconded. Councillors approved the Annual Governance Statement

iii) Approval of Accounting Statements: Councillors unanimously approved the Annual Governance Statement

b) Neighbourhood Plan Update: Final preparation is in hand for the Regulation 14 consultation with residents and this should be with the Parish Council by the 19th May. This will be followed by formal submission of the revised Neighbourhood Plan to NKDC for approval. Clerk is dealing with the grant report 

c) Planning Applications confirmation of Councillors commenting outside of regular meetings: Councillors unanimously approved the commenting on planning applications outside of formal meetings due to the council only meeting bi-monthly and responses requiring completion in the interim

d) Approval of Revised Standing Orders: Councillors approved the Revised Model Standing Orders for the council based on the model supplied by NALC with Paragraph 13 e to read “A decision as to whether to grant a dispensation shall be made by a meeting of the Council and that decision is final”.

e) Conifer in Far Lane Cemetery: A resident has raised concerns about the conifer close to the eastern wall of the cemetery and is concerned this may be damaging the wall. Clerk to obtain a quote from Marcus Hopton to reduce the height or alternatively remove it.

f) Annual Village Clean Up Day: Councillors approved the organising of a Village Clean up Day and agreed the 7th June

g) Wreath Laying VE Day 8th May 2025: The wreath obtained from RBL cost £27.50 but Councillors approved a payment of £50 to RBL to include a donation. Hazel Curtis to be approached to conduct a short service at the War Memorial on the 8th May 2025 to coincide with the National 2 minute silence and for the wreath to be laid.

 

20.70 Finance Report:

 

a) Payments to be made:

 

Item	Payee	Amount	Vat	Total
Coleby Village Hall Hire 7th April 2025	Coleby Village Hall Committee	£28.00	0.00	£28.00
Coleby Village Hall Hire 6th May 2025	Coleby Village Hall Committee	£28.00	0.00	£28.00
Payroll Services	Autela Payroll Services Ltd	£78.80	£15.76	£95.46
Website Maintenance	LALC	£90.00	£18.00	£108.00
Renewal of Garden Waste Bins for Cemeteries x 2 @ £45.00 each	S Makinson-Sanders	£90.00	£00.00	£90.00
Annual Insurance	Zurich	£415.07	£0.00	£415.07
Clerk’s Salary May 2025	S Makinson-Sanders	£289.90	0.00	£289.90
Clerk’s Salary June 2025	S Makinson-Sanders	tbc	0.00
HMRC PAYE May 2025	HMRC	£59.80	0.00	£59.80
HMRC PAYE June 2025	HMRC	tbc	0.00
Grasscutting April 2025	Bdg mowing contractors	£380.00 less o/payt £9.00	£76.00	£447.00
Grasscutting May 2025	Bdg mowing contractors	£380.00	£76.00	£465.00
Stationary/Ink/Postage	S Makinson-Sanders	£58.51		£58.51
Wreath	Royal British legion	£50.00	0.00	£50.00
Audit Fee	Andrea Smith	£36.00	0.00	£36.00

 

b) Payments Received:

01.04.25 Precept £13099.00

23.04.25 Grasscutting Grant  £   1148.75                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

c)         Payments due:

 VAT Reclaim £1465.28

 

 

d)           Balance held at Co-Operative Bank as at 06.05.25 £22565.41

     

Payments approved……………………………………………………………………………  6th May 2025

 

20.71 Planning:

a) The Bell Inn Far Lane Coleby- Pending decision on appeal against Enforcement Notice- awaiting decision. Site Inspection by Planning Inspector scheduled 1st May 2025

b)  Tree Works The Lodge Grantham Road - approved

c) Tree Works Application The Lodge Grantham Road TPO – TPO works approved.

d) Planning Application Erection of 1.9m wall and sliding driveway gates 9 &10 Avenue Villas Grantham Road (part retrospective)- approved.

e) Planning Application construct a detached garage/gymnasium, outdoor pool and greenhouse 

Manor Farm, heath Road -pending

f) Tree Works Cottage by the Green Hill Rise – pending

g) Tree Works 12 Dovecote Lane – approved

h) Nat Power UK BESS Scoping Application 25/0240/EIASCO

i) Tree Works Application 10 Dovecote Lane - pending 

 

20.72 Police Reports:

a) Police: none

b) Neighbourhood Watch: usual scam warnings but otherwise nothing

 

20.73 County & District Councillor Reports:

County Councillor Ian Carrington was congratulated on his re-election and he reported that he was pleased to be back. 7 out of 10 did not vote but he is here to work for all residents whether they voted or not. There is a new administration at the County Council with Reform holding a large majority on the Council and being in overall control. It is not yet known what impact this is going to have on the Council’s services. There are grave concerns as to how things are going to be especially as there was no formal manifesto. Reform are for cutting costs and budgets. Against solar/wind/battery storage although Solar is decided by the Secretary of State being NSIPS whereas the BESS is to be decided by the District Council. He has no up to date information on the North Hykeham Relief Road project although the Council are continuing to spend pending the Government’s decision on funding. There is concern that many of the Reform councillors on the County Council have not held council office before and that they need to rely on the experience of the current council employees rather than cutting their jobs. 

District Councillor Matthew Cooper reported that there is to be ceremony on the 23rd June at which Veterans will be celebrated and be presented with Veterans Badges. The Clerk has the link for the next police survey for priority setting in their work and also a link for jobs at NKDC. There are a number of apprenticeships on offer.

District Councillor Lance Pennell reported that the Bi-Election at Bracebridge Heath had been held by the Conservative candidate. The Chief Executives meeting with Clerks had been very successful and Kath Marriott is now up and running as the Council’s Chief Executive Officer.  Local Government reorganisation continues and there should be some sort of proposal should be presented to the Government for a decision by November on how the County is to be governed. This will be some form of Unitary Councils in conjunctions with District Councils.  He has no news on the BESS planning matter at this stage. There are initial hearings on the Springwell Solar Park in Lincoln this week. 

 

20.74 Cemeteries:

a) Lowfields Cemetery: Councillors approved a Memorial design for Jason Ellis Briggs

b) Far Lane Cemetery: Tree works see Minute 20.69 e above.

 

20.75 Reports from Village Organisations:

a) All Saints Church: Reverend Kathryn Windslow has now been authorised to officiate in the Parish. Kathryn was the vicar of Graffoe parish some years ago and has now retired and returned to live in the Parish. She will take some services. The Quinquennial report has been instructed and the church architect has been to inspect prior to submission of his report. Peggy Knight will be in the church on the 14th may at 7,30pm. Tickets available from Beth Devonald.

b) Village Hall:  AGM was held on the 11th March and there is a strong committee. Paul heaver is retiring as Treasurer at the end of May and so a new treasurer is required. Autumn Carousal Event on the 4th October. Tickets available.

c) Coleby School:  Report received and read out to the meeting. 

 

20.76 Correspondence: None

 

20.77 Nat Power UK Battery Energy Storage System:  The Public Consultation period has now ended. The pre-planning Scoping Application and Decision can be viewed  on the Planning Portal on NKDC’s planning website, Application No: 25/0240/EIASCO. This shows that the number of containers has increased from 1000 as indicated at the Public Consultation to between 1300 and 1600, an increase by half as many containers. It also indicates that some of the infrastructure will be 10m high. The visual impact needs to be considered as does the impact of lighting, the height of the perimeter fencing and cctv cameras around the site. Once a Planning application is received leaflets to be prepared and residents’ meetings. Councillor Hall has expressed concern as to the impact of any consultation fees on the parish council budget. The scale of costs can be assessed once the application is received and any donations to the costs can be sought. Councillor Long had had an informal meeting with Nick Feltman Planning Officer at NKDC and had been impressed with the amount of research that had been conducted. The Planning Officer did not share any specific view on the proposal but the District Council are hiring external assistance  on this  and the solar developments as they only have one opportunity to deal with the applications and want to provide a quality response.

 

20.78 Any other matters: Councillor Earnshaw wanted to express thanks to Georgie and Jason at the Tempest for their efforts on bank Holiday Monday for the VE Day celebrations. They had done a brilliant job.

 

Meeting closed 8.40pm

 

Date of Next Meeting 1st July 2025 7.30pm