2025 Minutes

 

20.97 Public Forum:

No issues raised by the public. Clerk reported that a resident had contacted the Parish Council regarding the tree works being carried out on the row of poplars to the south of Hill Rise Coleby. The clerk reported this to the tree officer who attended the site and established that the trees were being reduced in height due to failure of some of the trees. 

 

20.98 Declarations of Interest: Councillor Hall Item 6i) Cllr Long declared Interest as shareholder in the Tempest Pub Company in relation to parking.

 

20.99 Present and Apologies: Councillor Robert Hall (Chair) Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Harriet Earnshaw, Councillor Andrew Long, Councillor Quent Stott, County Councillor Ian Carrington, District Councillor Lance Pennell and Sue Makinson-Sanders (Clerk) 

Apologies from Councillor Alan Vivian (Vice Chair- on holiday) Councillor Jens Pedersen (bad back), District Councillor Matthew Cooper and District Councillor Leigh Sanders

 

21.00 Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 2nd July 2025: Councillor Theresa Brewer proposed and Councillor Harriet Earnshaw seconded. Councillors approved the Minutes

 

21.01 District and County Councillor Reports: This item (8) was brought forward on the agenda with Councillors approval. 

District Councillor Lance Pennell reported:

The deputy chief executive of NKDC is leaving for a job as finance director dealing with governmental changes His role is covered until a replacement is found. 

The Planning Inspectorate has accepted the application from Fosse green Energy and consultation will take place over the autumn although timescales are not known.

The Parish Council should be aware of the Planning Inspectorate Appeal that was allowed for a project connecting a solar farm to Bicker Fen substation despite it being proposed on best and most versatile land. The Planning Committee went against the Planning Officer’s recommendations and rejected the application, but this was allowed on appeal.  

 

County Councillor Ian Carrington reported:

Picking up on Cllr Pennell’s report on best and Most Versatile land he referred to a planning application in Wales where objections were raised on the basis that the land was a very highly valued landscape but Renewable Energy is being given so much weight in the planning applications and the drift of decisions is in favour of renewable. On solar applications it would appear that renewable energy outweighs everything. This is not necessarily the same with BESS applications. The Parish Council should be aware of decisions, but this does not mean everything is a foregone conclusion and each application should be dealt with on its merits.

During the summer recess the county council has been carrying out top dressing on local roads.

Local government reorganisation is ongoing with the new administration at the county council recycling the views of the old administration. Anyone can comment on the proposals to NKDC and to LCC. Decisions are anticipated in the spring.

Flooding continues to be a concern especially on low-lying land such as below Coleby.

North Hykeham relief Road will go ahead following hard campaigning by Lincolnshire County Council. A Bat scheme at a cost of £4m is being proposed and it is felt that this cost, albeit large is insignificant in the whole scheme of the cost of the project (£200m) and the road is needed. Lincolnshire County Council have spent £7m in progressing the works so that the road can move forward and it is still on track to be delivered by end of 2028.

Having a question for Councillor Carrington, Cllr Earnshaw raised the issue of parking in the village particularly given the increase in cars visiting the pub, which is now very successful having recently won Best Pub Garden in Lincolnshire because of the view. She enquired about the possibility of making more parking spaces. Councillors agreed they did not wish to see parking restrictions imposed. Could the matting on the green be extended or a layby created on the verge on Hill Rise. It was agreed that there was no easy solution and significant cost could be incurred. The pub could put up a sign requesting visitors to park in chevron fashion on the northern side of the Tempest Green to get a few more cars in. Cllr Carrington to meet with the clerk and councillors to have a walk around the village. Highways are very concerned about safety issues, particularly around schools,  but yellow lines merely displace the problem elsewhere. Item 4c) was discussed at this point in connection with road safety. Blind Lane is being used by lorries and buses and damage has been caused to a resident’s wall, not for the first time. Weight restriction except for access may be appropriate. Cllr Carrington will look at this when walking the village with Councillors. 

 

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

 

a) Neighbourhood Plan Update: Steve Kemp has now produced a questionnaire but has indicated some amendments are required. Questionnaire to be sent out electronically and on the website with a note to say if anyone wants a paper copy then this will be provided. Cllr Earnshaw was unsure if the amendments proposed covered what had been agreed in relation to housing. Councillor Long felt that the new wording was better than originally drafted. Steve Kemp to be asked to clarify. It may be that when NKDC reviewed proposed revision that it recommended the wording given improves the plan. Leaflet drop to be carried out with details for responding to questionnaire.

 

b) Parish Council Email: the email needs updating as reported earlier. Clerk to check with LALC re best advice for all Councillors on email addresses and whether they would recommend the free email service that has been offered by Parish Online. Cllr Pedersen to assist clerk in resolving issues.

 

c) Restriction for HGV vehicles Blind Lane:  Weight restriction except for access may be appropriate. Cllr Carrington will look at this when walking the village with Councillors. 

 

d) Temporary Road Restriction Hill Rise Coleby: Surface dressing and patching to be carried out 22/09/25 – 31/03/26.Councillor Carrington to provide a map for clarification.

e) Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Lincoln and Witham Recovery Area: Cllr Earnshaw attend the Whisby event. Residents can comment on the consultation online as per the email send out. Councillors agreed that there was much the Parish Council can add to this. 

f) Registration of Councillors on LALC portal: Councillors approved being added to the portal and most already have been. Clerk to check that all councillors are registered.

g) Website review: Councillors approved a web site review. Would it be possible for the web maintenance to include some analytics on hits on the site?

h) Fosse Green Energy Solar Park: Planning Inspectorate have accepted the application but there are a number of amendments and matters that require attention including provision of further information so registration and public comments cannot be processed until this is completed.

i) Local Government Pay award 2025-2026: A Local government pay award of 3.2% backdated to April 1st 2025 has been made. 

j) Litter Picking Grant renewal: Clerk to request renewal of grant.

 

21.03 Finance Report:

 

a) Payments to be made:

Item	Payee	Amount	Vat	Total
Coleby Village Hall Hire 2nd September Meeting	Coleby Village Hall Committee	28.00	0.00	£28.00
Clerk’s Salary Sept 2025	S Makinson-Sanders	289.90	0.00	£289.90
Clerk’s Salary Oct 2025	S Makinson-Sanders	tbc
HMRC PAYE Sept 2025	HMRC	59.80	0.00	£59.80
HMRC PAYE Oct 2025	HMRC	tbc	0.00
Grasscutting Aug 2025	Bdg mowing contractors	380.00	76.00	£456.00
Grasscutting Sept 2025	Bdg mowing contractors	380.00	76.00	£456.00
Anglian Water (Wave) Sept 2025	Anglian Water	9.00	0.00	£9.00
Anglian Water (Wave) Oct 2025	Anglian Water	9.00	0.00	£9.00
Autela payroll Services	Autela	70.00	14.00	£84.00
Planning Consultants Fees re Response to BESS application	Knights	2500.00	500.00	£3000.00
Influence - Balance of fees for Land Impact Assessment	Influence	1165.21	231.24	£1387.45
Litter Picking July and Aug 2025	D West (Macy)	60.00	00.00	£60.00

 

b) Payments Received:

Donation to Parish Council Funds: £5000.00

Donation to Parish Council Funds: £5000.00

William Kent Memorials Headstone Eileen Knowles: £20.00

c)         Payments due:

VAT reclaim Jan to 31 Aug 2025 £2661.08

 

d)           Balance held at Co-Operative Bank as at 31.08.25 £17452.78

     

Payments approved………………………………………………………………………  2nd September 2025

 

21.04 Planning:

a) Planning Application The East Wing Coleby Hall erection of greenhouse – amended plans re material. Awaiting decision 

b) Tree Works Application 12A Dovecote Lane- approved

c) Tree Works 12 Dovecote Lane- approved

d) Tree Works 1 High Street – approved

e) Tree Works All Saints Church Coleby – approved

f) Tree Works 4 Rectory Road - approved

i) Planning Application Battery Energy Storage System Hill Rise Coleby: Applicant is preparing a submission of additional information relating to  ecology and archaeology which was absent from the original submission and this is likely to be accompanied by further/revised information which responds to the consultation feedback received from statutory and other technical consultees, along with the objections received from the Parish Council and members of the public. This is likely to be submitted within the next couple of months (October) following which a further period of consultation will be undertaken. The earliest realistic dates for this to come before the Planning Committee at NKDC is January/February 2026.

 

21.05 Police Reports:

a) Police: There is to be a Police Briefing on teams. Cllr Pedersen would like to attend. Clerk to send reminder to Councillors.

b) Neighbourhood Watch: usual scam warnings. Nothing further to report.

 

21.06 Cemeteries:

a) Lowfields Cemetery: Councillors considered a request for a bench in the cemetery. Clerk to ask where it is proposed to place this before approval is given. Cemetery fees to be reviewed at next meeting.

b) Far Lane Cemetery: Burial of Glyn Norma Pheonix took place into reserved plot. 

 

21.07 Reports from Village Organisations:

a) All Saints Church: There is now a food bank box in the porch for local food bank. Harvest festival and Supper at All Saints Church 5th October at 4.30pm. Tickets £12.00 adults and £6.00 per child. Coleby church has been used a film location for a donation to church funds.

b) Village Hall:  Next meeting is 2nd October. Ange, a new member, has joined the committee representing Friends of Coleby School (FOCS). A thank you event has been organised at the tempest for all those who have helped with fundraising events for the Village Hall. Coleby Carousal on the 4th October, tickets from Andrew Long or Quent Stott. Fireworks will be on the 1st November (Saturday). An application has been made for £60,000 grant funding.

c) Coleby School:  Nothing to report.

 

21.08 Correspondence: None

 

 

Meeting closed 9.00pm

 

Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 4th November 2025 at 7.30pm