2024 Meetings

NORTH SCARLE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a meeting held on 17 January 2024 at 7.30pm in North Scarle Village Hall

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting at 7.30pm.

PRESENT

Cllr D Jennings

Cllr S Walsh

Cllr K Coram

Cllr A Walsh

Cllr K Ward

Mrs H Broderick (Clerk)

25 parishioners attended.

Open Session:

Parishioner had brought a letter dated 12 October 2004 from Newark IDB regarding reinstatement of dyke under Church Lane. Thought it might be useful in relation to flooding.

Parishioner asked what the policy is for litter picking.  Chairman explained we employ a litter picker but he can only pick in the 30mph zone due to health and safety and insurance.  If anybody wants to volunteer they can borrow our equipment.

663        APOLOGIES

Received from Cllr Pullen.

664        CO-OPTION OF A NEW PARISH COUNCILLOR

We have one vacancy and two applicants.  A closed vote took place and William Tucker was co-opted on to the Council.  This was resolved, paperwork was completed and Cllr Tucker joined the meeting.

665        TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.

666        MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 18 NOVEMBER 2023

It was resolved to adopt the Minutes as a true record and they were signed by the Chairman.

667        OPENREACH BROADBAND SCHEME

Wendy Sycamore from Openreach explained the Government voucher scheme in place to bring fibreoptic broadband to North Scarle and the surrounding area.  They currently have 69% of the required amount of people signed up to the scheme which runs until the end of February.  She explained the scheme and took questions. Visitor from South Clifton said it is the best opportunity we have to improve this infrastructure.  Anybody interested in should visit Connect My Community (openreach.com). Wendy left the meeting.

668        FLOODING

The Chairman provided a reminder of events.

Parish Council’s letter of 9th Jun 2022 to NKDC has been forwarded to Dr David Hickman Chief Executive for Water Management Consortium.

The Chairman had received a letter from the Environment Agency (EA) which was very disappointing.  It is felt that EA has not stuck to their annual maintenance regime and the only work done since the flooding has been cosmetic.  Any de-silting has been on by TVIDB not the EA.  Chairman had spoken to Ash Reeves and told him the information in the letter was incorrect.  AR said work should be done February/March.  They want to use their own equipment but it isn’t up to the job.

The Chairman invited Cllr S Walsh to read out her report on the recent Working Party meeting.  Her report is at the end of the Minutesw and she thanked Mike Jervis for his help with its preparation.

Comments:

Please report highways problems on FixMyStreet, not on Facebook.

Flood water is entering the sewerage system.

Ditches are blocked causing water to flood in the “wrong” areas and consequently flood water is flowing to other parts.

Parishioner suggested going to the Press to publicise the problems.  Another parishioner said that he had already been in touch with Look North.

EA gangs have been but only seem to have cut grass on the bank side.

Parishioner commented on the effect the sluice gates have on the village.  Gates were open during storm Babet but dyke flooded due to amount of water and narrowness of dyke.

Parishioner suggested sending a solicitor’s letter to the EA.  Chairman commented that the PC can only ask and persuade, not make orders to agencies.  It was felt that a committee was needed first to come up with a constructive course of action. 

Cllr Walsh proposed the PC should send a solicitors letter and this was resolved.

Chairman suggested parishioners write to the MP again separately to let her know that EA haven’t done any work.  Parishioners felt this wouldn’t make any difference but LCC Cllr Briggs suggested this was a good idea.

Parishioner thanked the PC for their hard work.  He supported a constructive meeting with the EA

Parishioner concerned that houses being built with Witham St Hughs will affect water heading to North Scarle.

LCC Councillor Briggs attended Emergency Flooding Scrutiny Committee. Ash Reeves (EA) had given a report and had told Cllr Briggs the EA had a contractor to work in the Dyke.  Chairman was subsequently told there was no contractor organised.  He will raise the issue of Nobles’ effect on the Dyke.

Parishioner reported that 4 years ago the EA was supposedly putting together a scheme to sort out Mill Dam Dyke (reinforcement/maintenance).

Parishioner commented on piling – said School Lane is piled all the way to Girton.

Parishioners suggested parishioners make up their own “committee” to take action and be able to send a representative to future PC meetings.

Cllr S Walsh asked LCC Cllr Briggs is LCC have any powers to help.  He will look into this.

Chairman suggested meeting with Natalie Widowson (EA operations manager), MP, drainage board and other interested parties when a date can be arranged.

Emergency Plan (to eventually cover more than just flooding) was discussed at a meeting in May 2023 but only 1 parishioner attended and there were no volunteers then.  We now have a volunteer to take a Plan forward and Cllr Tucker will assist.  Clerk will forward information to the volunteer.

PC has a supply of sandbags and (thanks to Si Richardson) a supply of sand.  It was suggested that a group of volunteers should get together to move the sand from the pub car park.  A location for those filled sandbags will have to be found.

1 parishioner remained.

669        PLANNING having already been circulated to Cllrs, were read aloud:

Decision Notices - for information only

23/1095/FUL – 51 South Scarle Lane. Application approved.

23/0675/FUL – Land between 29 and Oak Tree Cottage Swinderby Road. Application approved.

Applications - comments submitted to NKDC after collation of email responses due to timescale and in accordance with Standing Orders

23/1326/TCA – Fell ash and horse chestnut. 51 High Street.  There were no objections. 3 in favour, 1 abstained, 2 no reply.

23/1395/TCA – Clear overgrown mixed species, including small fruit trees smothered by brambles to put back to grass.  There were no objections.  4 in favour, 1 objection, 1 no reply.

Applications – resolutions required

23/1457/FUL – Land at Home Farm, South Scarle Lane.  Erection of an equestrian machinery store.  There was some concern that the premises will be used as a business but it was resolved that there were no objections – all in favour.

23/1446/FUL – 3 Eagle Road – change of use from outbuildings and beauty salon to form one new dwelling and demolition of stable block.  After discussion it was resolved to object due to concerns about added pressure on the sewerage system – 5 objections, 1 in favour.

670        FINANCES

A schedule of payments made between 1 November 2023 and 31 December 2023 was circulated to the Parish Councillors ahead of the meeting.  Invoices paid were signed and countersigned. There were no queries.

Individual payments made in the period which exceeded £100:

671        PRECEPT FOR 2024/25

Clerk had circulated draft figures to Councillors ahead of the meeting.  The figures were discussed and it was agreed to increase the S.137 figure by £500.  It was resolved to apply for a precept of £13,699.23.

672        HERITAGE ROOM

NKDC had carried out a Legionella Risk Assessment in July 2022 which had been sent to an incorrect address.  The report was received by the Clerk after Christmas.  It had not been possible for the Council to look at the report in detail.  Cllr Tucker volunteered to look through the report and report back to the Councillors at the next meeting and this was resolved.

673        PO BOX ADDRESS

We have had a PO Box address since 2020 and have made several complaints about the service received, each time our contract has been extended by a short period.  Following our most recent complaint, resulting in a 2 month extension, the Chairman proposed that we should try to escalate our complaint to the Ombudsman and this was resolved.  The Clerk will look into who complaints should be addressed to.

674        PARISH COUNCIL LAND MAINTENANCE

New post needs to be purchased and put in at the cemetery pedestrian gate as well as some old slabs where it is muddy.

Jubilee Garden on Chapel Lane needs tidying up.

Inside of church and cemetery hedges need cutting.

Hedge to rear of cremation plot area needs cutting.

The Chairman proposed the handyman should be asked to carry out this work and this was resolved.

675        D-DAY CELEBRATIONS IN JUNE

There was no update except that there is unlikely to be an event at the Village Hall due to a lack of support.

676        COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

They had been in touch to ask if they could put up a sign at the Cemetery as we have a WW1 grave (family headstone) in the name of A Wells.  This was discussed and it was resolved to agree to the installation of a standard sized sign.

677        DOG FOULING

NKDC had informed us their Environment Protection team can conduct some patrols, engage with the public (dog walkers) and ask if they are aware of any irresponsible dog owners to gather intelligence.  This was discussed and it was resolved to request these patrols, initially on the High Street, School Lane and the footpaths which exit from the cemetery.  Clerk to also find out if they provide poo bags and dispensers.

678        REQUEST TO PLANT A TREE

Flying Hire had contacted the PC asking if we have a location to plant a tree in connection with their sustainability programme. Clerk had asked which species the tree would be but hadn’t received any information. The Chairman also queried who would be responsible for the tree once planted.  Clerk to ask the company for this information before a decision can be reached.

679        LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT

Cllr Briggs had left the meeting – no report.

680        NKDC REPORT

NKDC Cllrs had been unable to attend – no report.

681        DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was resolved to agree the date of the next meeting as 13 March 2024 at 7.30pm.  Cllr Ward will be unable to attend and gave her apologies.

682        CLOSED SESSION

It was resolved to move into closed session.

683        AGRICULTURAL LAND LEASE

Clerk presented a spreadsheet detailing the 5 tenders that had been received.  After discussion the Chairman proposed to award the tender to Mr Priestley and this was resolved.  Clerk to send details to the Solicitor so that the contract is in place for a start date of 1 April 2024.

684        CEMETERY MAINTENANCE

The Clerk provided tenders for grass cutting in the cemetery.  These were discussed and compared with costs of purchase of a new mower and the related expenses.  It was proposed by the Chairman to accept the tender from Lyne Grounds Maintenance in the sum of £155+VAT per cut and this was resolved.

685        STAFF MATTERS

The budget for the handyman was discussed.  It was proposed by the Chairman that the budget should be 4 hours per month for litter picking, 4 hours per fortnight for church grass and maximum rolling amount of £100 per month general and this was resolved.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 10.31pm.

Item 668 Flooding

Cllr Walsh’s Working Party Report

A North Scarle Sewerage Working Party meeting was held with Severn Trent on Thursday 11 January 2024 at North Scarle Village Hall at 18.30

Present at Meeting:

All Members of the working Party

Severn Trent - Mr Ian Smith, (his first attendance at the Working Party meetings), Mr Karl Wilson

Lincolnshire County Council – Mr Ryan Davies - Section 19 Lincolnshire Resilience Forum. (The North Scarle Working Party were not aware that ST had invited Ryan Davies)

The meeting started at 18.30 and finished at 20.30

Whilst an agenda was tabled this was not followed as many points had crossed boundaries and ST in particular covered many points in response.

Sue W opened the meeting and gave a thanks to Karl Wilson for all the efforts that he had put in to try and improve the situation in North Scarle and thanked him for all his efforts above his normal duties. Sue W outlined that there was a lot of pressure from residents to report back that progress was being made, particularly as tankers have been on site for 4 months.

As Ian S of ST was new to the meeting, he introduced himself and gave his background of being with ST for 32 years. Ian Smith’s team is responsible for the sewerage pipes, the Waste Water Recycling team are responsible for the pumping station, but both teams work closely together. ST now have a Network Operability Specialist Team (NOST) which aims to bring all teams, within ST, to work together rather than independently to resolve issues. 

Nobles were a big point in the discussions. One of the issues is that Nobles have a licence for a certain volume to be pumped into the sewer system and despite a flow meter being installed two years ago, ST have yet to obtain and release any data from this flow meter. Following the insistence from the working party to obtain evidence of discharge volume from Nobles, ST have agreed to install an alternative flow meter which should allow instant access to data.

ST are adamant that Nobles are adhering to their licence. The working party want evidence to confirm that Nobles are not a direct source of the problem. The issue of Nobles pumping into a sewage system that was already full is another matter and appears to be contrary to ST statement that they do not allow any property to knowingly be affected by emissions of sewage. The effect on property of the sewage emissions was outlined and the lengths that some people had to go to protect their property was discussed. The alternatives, for Nobles foul water, were tabled in the agenda but not discussed, but will be considered and a response given.

Furthermore, despite ST stating that as far as they believed Nobles only put foul water into the system, when questioned they were unclear as to the mixture of foul and factory process water. Although only small quantities this time, there was some factory waste in the sewage and a photograph taken during Storm Babet was tabled to show this.

A copy of the licence was requested and ST confirmed that they do have to accept the water emitted by Nobles but not surface water.

ST outlined at length that the system was a foul only sewer and the problems that were being caused were by surface water entering the system and also properties putting surface water into a foul system.

Historical investigations by ST were referred to and whilst these had been resolved ST referred to lateral migration of surface water into the system where for example pipes had settled and parting of joints had occurred.

Reference was made by the working party to the weakness of ST saying it was a foul sewer only. Anglian Water and Severn Trent both took payment for properties putting surface water into the system and therefore they should be aware of how many properties and where they are taking payment. ST confirmed they would investigate this.

ST then confirmed they would be prepared to carry out connectivity tests at all properties in North Scarle to see how many properties are putting surface (roof water) into the system. This would be done at all properties and Nobles. No timescale was given    

There was a general discussion about planning and ST reaffirmed that they are not able to object to planning for houses because the system has no capacity.

ST then referred to one incident during Storm Henk where a resident complained of a blockage in the system and sewage water was entering the property. ST attended and cleared the blockage and this caused flood water to enter the system and the whole system was overloaded and required three tankers full time to keep the system operational. The planning issues of building houses in flood plains was briefly discussed.

RD then outlined at some length the role of the Flood Resilience Forum. LCC does not deal with housing planning applications, these are dealt with by Districts. LCC are a statutory consultee for 10 or more houses. LCC are however responsible for setting up the Resilience Forum

Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) across England and Wales have a statutory duty to carry out an investigation into flood events when they occur in their area. This duty is set out in Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 – and hence such flood investigations are referred to as Section 19 investigations.

RD set out the guidelines for carrying out investigations where flood water has entered property (not garages outbuildings). The investigation is carried out by LCC but, with the volume of work, this is also carried out by consultants.

The role of LCC is to bring together relevant parties to discuss reasons for problems and try and work towards solutions and often pooling resources, including finances, to achieve those solutions (Common Working Programme.) There is a long list of potential contributors to discussions. LCC Resilience Forum have no powers to force anyone to take action. Cost is obviously a big issue and cost benefit is also a high consideration in finding solutions. Ryan Davies then outlined that some 800 properties have been flooded in Lincolnshire and investigations have been started on 220 properties from Storm Babet, there may be some duplication of investigations arising from Storm Henk but there is a very ambitious target of having all these investigations complete by Q2 end. RD outlined that the report is a summary of the event rather than details of the remedial works. The survey includes a meeting with the landowners and a review of the site. 

Ian S then outlined that ST were part of the Section19 process and it was clear that they were keen to engage with interested parties but intimated that there was no short-term solution

Comments were made by all members of the Working party that this was not acceptable and it was highlighted that the residents would not accept this position. Long term use of tankers was not acceptable. It was made abundantly clear by the working party that this problem was not confined to Babet and Henk and went back many years. ST needed to have some short-term solutions to resolve the problems.

The pump station and interaction with Eagle was discussed at length and ST informed us that they are planning to cleanse the sewer line between North Scarle and Eagle, as it was known it was causing pumping issues. It was confirmed the pump flow at Eagle did not constrain volumes pumped by North Scarle.

There was a long discussion about new schemes being judged on cost benefit and related to number of complaints. In response to concerns of residents, ST re-stated that it was vital residents rang and recorded problems. The record was private and not in the public domain and not released in planning enquiries. In addition, ST also have an operational risk management system which lists properties that ST know to be at risk of flooding whether reported or not. Any mitigation removes the properties from this register.

All projects going forward are prioritised and subject to cost benefit analysis and the programme is being put forward for 2025-2030. Sue W asked if North Scarle was included but there was no definite response from Ian S. 

Ian S confirmed that he would get a response on many of the items raised in time for the Parish Council on 17 January 2024 and consider the items not fully discussed.

Sue W thanked Ian S, Karl W and Ryan D for attending the meeting and the open discussions. The meeting closed at 20.30.