Minutes of May 2021 meeting
NORTH SCARLE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a meeting held on 12 May 2021 at 7.30pm in
North Scarle Village Hall
The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting at 7.30pm.
8 parishioners attended.
PRESENT
Cllr D Jennings - Chairman Cllr S Walsh – Vice-Chairwoman
Cllr K Coram Cllr D Russell
Cllr A Walsh Mrs H Broderick (Clerk)
Open session:
No comments
349 APOLOGIES
None.
350 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN
Cllr Russell proposed Cllr Jennings as Chairman and Cllr S Walsh as Vice-Chairwoman. This was resolved.
351 TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
352 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10 MARCH 2021
It was resolved to adopt the Minutes as a true record. It was proposed and resolved that these would be signed by the Chairman during closed session for time management reasons only.
353 PLANNING having already been circulated to Cllrs.
Determinations for information only:
20/1030/FUL – Weddles Farm, Hives Lane – demolition of two storey outbuilding and erection of single storey outbuilding to form agricultural store – approved subject to conditions.
20/1800/RESM – Land to rear of 27-37 South Scarle Lane – reserved matters application – appearance, landscaping, access, layout, scale etc) – approved subject to conditions.
21/0196/HOUS – Holly Tree Farm, Eagle Road – proposed single storey rear and side extension – approved.
21/0243/HOUS – Oak Tree Cottage, Spalford Road – proposed single storey rear extension – approved subject to conditions.
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Responses had been collated by email and forwarded to NKDC in line with our Covid-19 Policy, regarding the following applications:
21/0371/HOUS – 10 High Street – demolition of existing timber porch to rear annex building and flat roofed rear porch to dwelling and erection of two storey rear extension and internal alterations to existing dwelling. 5 no objections, 1 abstained. No objection registered.
21/0243/HOUS – Oak Tree Cottage, Spalford Road – proposed single storey rear extension. All in favour. No objection registered (subsequently approved by NKDC)
21/0054/HOUS – Long Haul, 3 Chapel Lane – conversion of detached double garage to habitable accommodation. 5 no objections, 1 abstained. No objection registered.
354 WHITE HART PUBLIC HOUSE – PROPOSED PLANNING
A parishioner spoke to inform the PC that they understood the access to the site was no longer as outlined in the documents provided.
The Chairman proposed that, considering this, the application could not be discussed, and this was resolved.
355 FINANCES
A schedule of payments made between 1 March 2021 and 30 April 2021 was circulated to the Parish Councillors. There were no queries. It was proposed and resolved that invoices paid via BACS should be signed and countersigned during closed session for time management reasons only.
Individual payments made in the period which exceeded £100:
For Amount £
Various maintenance items (total) 311.83
Heritage Room electricity bill 313.64
Total wages in the period 1260.00
356 NKDC REPORT
NKDC Cllr Peter Overton reported (as attached). He then left the meeting.
357 SEWERAGE WORKING PARTY
Cllr Susan Walsh reported that there had been no change since the previous meeting. She highlighted some points from her previous report. Awaiting Severn Trent regarding a date for a meeting. Mike Jervis said ST can’t refuse connection to new builds. Nothing has been heard re adding ST as a consultee to NKDC planning applications. It was resolved that this should be chased.
358 DMMO APPLICATION RE FOOTPATH
The Chairman thanked parishioners for engaging with the PC following the notice in North Scarle Matters. Parishioner reported that he has yet to submit his application due to the amount of paperwork involved. There was some discussion regarding Clog Bridge Lane and it was resolved that the Clerk should contact Land Registry, LCC and Chennells Farm to try to establish ownership.
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359 HIGHWAYS – POOR ROAD SURFACES
The Chairman noted that there are many reports on Fix My Street but no scheduled work according to LCC website. LCC Cllr Thompson reported that the contract to repair the roads hasn’t been agreed yet but LCC recognise that highways and litter need addressing.
360 DEBRIS LEFT ON CHAPEL LANE
It was proposed and resolved that this should be reported to NKDC. Cllr A Walsh to provide the clerk with photos.
361 MIRRORS ON JUNCTIONS
A parishioner had confronted the Chairman about adding mirrors to junctions at Eagle Road/Chapel Lane and Hives Lane/Girton Lane. The decision on mirrors is not up to the PC. The Chairman read out reasons for LCC’s policy on not allowing mirrors at junctions:
- Reflect Light and interfere with a driver's vision.
- Reduce the ability to judge an oncoming vehicle's speed.
- Create an unreasonable dependence on the mirror.
- If dirty, distort or restrict the view.
- Be an easy target for vandals.
It was proposed that PC contact LCC to find out what alternative measures are available to improve safety at these junctions and this was resolved.
362 ACCOUNTS AND AGAR FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021
These had been forwarded to Councillors ahead of the meeting. There were no queries, and it was resolved to agree the figures and sign the AGAR.
363 LCC REPORT
LCC Cllr Thompson reported as per the attached.
364 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was resolved to agree the date of the next meeting 14 July 2021 at 7.30pm.
365 CLOSED SESSION
It was resolved to move into closed session.
366 CLERK’S CONTRACT
It was resolved to approve the Clerk’s contract as forwarded to Councillors.
367 CEMETERY CAR PARK
The Clerk presented tenders for work in the cemetery car park. It was proposed and resolved that the tender from Fearnplant Ltd in the sum of £7,400+VAT be accepted subject to the Clerk contacting NKDC to check building regulation requirements.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.16pm
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Item 356 NKDC REPORT
Annual Report: The work of myself and colleagues at NKDC to March 2021
The Council has 42 elected members, of which 21 are Independents (14 Lincolnshire Independents) and 21 are “NK Administration”, elected as Conservatives. A by-election in Bassingham District on 6th May will bring the number up to the 43 full compliment. According to the website, we have no Labour and no Liberal Democrats. We are in “no overall control”, meaning that power is shared and no one party has all the answers!
Lincolnshire Independents and Independents have worked together in the NK Independent Group and maintain their right to speak and vote independently. Since the elections in the past two years we have a new intake of bright and effective councillors bringing considerable experience and skills. Our members have worked hard to create a responsive Council, answering to what local people need and want.
Tackling Covid
We initiated and supported covid neighbourly groups to provide shielding residents with food and medicines. We actively engaged in and supported the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum and Public Health bringing support to our villages throughout the past year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Our members created a think tank and produced a policy paper on recovery from covid for our communities, economy and environment, leading policy in NKDC.
We supported local businesses impacted by Covid restrictions with £28m in Government grants and made sure our local businesses were aware of the discretionary grants in order to apply.
Officers and members made more than 15,000 calls made to most vulnerable residents throughout the year making sure they have access to what they need.
We supported community groups to access a £40,000 fund in partnership with the Lincolnshire Community Foundation to support local Covid-19 response and recovery initiatives.
As a member of the Whisby Natural World Steering Committee I have supported the access improvements and enhancement of the facilities.
Bringing fundamental changes to our Council’s direction
I took a major role in helping the Lincolnshire Independents lead the change in Council policy to include the Environment and nature as a key priority and tackling climate change with a sound working strategy. The plan is now approved and progressed working to achieve carbon neutrality for the Council by 2030.
I wrote the Tree Strategy on behalf of the Independent group, which includes provision to maintain trees and increase tree cover. Trees to be in the right places and maintained appropriately in partnership with other landowners and trusts.
I was engaged in a review of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, seeking to ensure that house-building is the right kind in the right place for local people, as low energy as possible and matched by facilities, services and jobs, whilst keeping a healthy environment and diverse natural world. These rules set the basis for the Council’s response to all planning applications.
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Making Council resources work well for you
Our members supported a 10-year capital programme of £230m in investments in housing, infrastructure, economic growth potential and resources whilst scrutinising the council’s capability to deliver. Our District part of Council tax is relatively low at £174.90 for a Band D property.
Supporting our Communities
Our members supported our communities in the Community Champion Awards, honouring the best in community endeavour, and organised local recognition.
The waste service staff at NKDC maintain an efficient service, emptying 3.7m bins per annum. The recycling rates have dropped in recent years and need substantial improvement, which I am campaigning on. We are seeking to reduce the use of plastic and create a circular economy where all waste becomes a raw material and reused. I am also pushing for more attention to reducing waste at the local source so the provider (for example your local take-away) takes more responsibility for its packaging.
I have supported a trial of paper and card separation across 1,700 NK properties to enhance the value of our recycled paper and card, so purple-lidded bins will now be across North Kesteven this September.
The Council’s Stepping Out Walks supported increased access to the countryside, with usage increasing 25% to 251,330 users in 2020/21
Conclusion
In conclusion, the work of the Council is good, and elected members are pivotal in driving good performance. The Council tax is relatively low, with good housing and reliable services. All Councillors are important, but a vibrant Independent group, determined to serve their communities has brought a new sense of excitement and action. We will want to maintain that enthusiasm and drive into a better future.
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Item 363 LCC REPORT
The last year has been a very different and difficult one for us all, but Officers and staff working for the County Council have adapted to the challenges and essential services have been maintained with additional community support provided where needs have been identified.
The council year in April 2020 began with changes in Highways management arrangements and contracts. Although the effects of these have been delayed by the pandemic, they are beginning to work through and local managers are keen to understand local issues and work with communities. Perhaps not in the way we would have hoped by having face to face meetings, but hopefully these will be possible in the not too distant future. A major achievement was the completion of the Lincoln Eastern By-Pass. Agreement to move forward on the final phase with the North Hykeham relief road project is also very welcome.
County Public Health has been very much involved with measures to protect residents. Covid19 measures have been a priority with regular advice and updates from the Director and colleagues in initiating these and more recently in support of the NHS vaccination programme. Where appropriate, however, Health Scrutiny has continued to hold the NHS in Lincolnshire to account.
Other initiatives over the last year have seen environmental issues given priority with the development and publication of LCC Green Master Plan and measures put in place by the council to review activities and to reduce the carbon footprint including the installation of PV solar cells on the roof of County Offices. A new fleet of 33 Skania Fire Appliances has been commissioned and is now being rolled out to provide the most fuel efficient and state of the art in the country.
I hope this report gives you an indication of how the County Council has continued working over the last year. There have been serious effects on ways in which this has been carried out, but opportunities have arisen to reflect and adapt to more forward more effectively.
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