2022 Parish Council minutes of meetings

Minutes of Parish Council meeting 28th September 2022 at 7.15pm

held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre

Present: Cllrs M. Percival (Chair), S. Millen, P. Chilvers, K. Deane, P. Bourn

Not Present: Cllr D. Hill

Clerk:    A. Everard

Members of Public present: 12

Public Forum

The following main issues were raised during an extended 30-minute period of public participation;

• Signs to encourage caution for horses (10mph, 2 metre distance, etc)
• Concerns about the number of new houses being built in the parish causing noise and disruption for a prolonged period.
• Concerns about 13-week Main Street closure while Gleesons Homes’ contractors install drainage and utilities to new housing development.
• Demands to sort out poor driver behaviour ignoring road closure and diversion signs, temporary lower speed limits on Fieldside, Watery Lane, Moorside, Fen Lane, and Birkwood Lane and disappointment about number of vehicles passing through village in spite of Main Street closure.
• Concern that damage to ditches, verges and property during the road closure is occurring.
• Effect on local business trade from reduced passing traffic is high.
• Road closure not needed in evenings and weekends

LCC Highways Officers and a Gleesons representative gave the following responses

• Options including traffic lights, partial closure, one-way systems considered but deemed unsuitable.
• Road and verge damage is being monitored for repair and restoration.
• Local PCSO is operational in the area to keep an eye on driver behaviour and monitor temporary 30mph zone.
• Work is ahead of schedule, and may reduce the road closure period.
• Undertakings given to do all the site work required within the closure period to reduce the need for any further disruption in the future by Western Power, BT Openreach and Anglian Water.
• The first new homes should be built by Christmas 2022 and the rest over 25-30months on site.
• Stronger barriers will be placed either end of the road closure area.

The Chair thanked all present for their contributions and opened the parish council meeting at 7.48pm with a minute’s silence to show respect to the Late Queen Elizabeth II and indicated that a Book Of Condolence had been provided in the Church during the period of national mourning and it was available at this meeting for anyone who wished to add further entries.

169/22. Apologies for absence with reason given

Cllr Hill due to family commitments

170/22. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.

None declared.

171/22. To discuss and consider the effects of the ongoing closure of A155 Main Road through Mareham le Fen village

Councillors expressed sympathy with the residents affected by the Main Street closure and witnessed 30-40 vehicles an hour passing through Moorside, and speeding was a problem through the single-track roads.  County Councillor Gray noted the concerns and was working with LCC Highways Officers present to tackle the issues. Gleeson Homes’ representative was prepared to consider some requests from the parish council to improve amenities in view of the length of disruption the road closure was taking.

172/22. To receive an update on Highways issues identified during the recent walkabout in August 2022 and to consider any motions that arise from those proposed actions.

LCC Highways Officer and County Councillor Gray had circulated a list of issues identified and how progress was being prioritised to address the issues identified. The Highways Officers thanked parish councillors and the Clerk for their time given to identify the problems and to provide feedback on local issues.  Work was taking place.  Parish Council noted the report and updates and agreed it had been a useful exercise and would monitor progress updates regularly.  Members of the public encouraged to log highways issues onto Fix My Street for the fastest response.

173/22. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 27th July 2022 and 17th August 2022.

Due to some technical printer issues this item was deferred to the next meeting.

174/22. To consider any matters arising from the minutes of 17th August 2022 not already on this agenda.

This item was deferred until the draft minutes were available.

175/22. To receive draft minutes from the 27th September 2022 Cemetery Committee and to approve any recommendations that are brought forward to full Council.

As the meeting occurred the evening before draft minutes were not available yet deferred to next meeting.

176/22. To consider and comment with material considerations on any local planning matters as a statutory consultee and to note decisions made by East Lindsey District Council

• S/114/02220/21 - LAND ADJACENT CROESO, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN – ELDC 19/8/2022 approved with conditions.
• S/114/01392/22 - LAND ADJACENT THE COTTAGE, BEGGARS LANE, MAREHAM LE FEN - Planning Permission - Erection of a bungalow with integral garage. – ELDC 22/9/2022 refused.  The Clerk was asked to look at the issue of the filled in ditches.
• S/114/01741/22 - LAND ADJACENT CROESO, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN - Section 73 application in relation to condition no. 1 (approved plans) previously imposed on planning permission ref. no. S/114/02220/21 for the erection of 30no. dwellings – NEW – for comment

Councillors had not been able to identify any changes so no comments made.

177/22. To consider and approve adoption of the Civility & Respect Pledge and approve any training required, Equality Policy, Dignity at Work Policy.

Documents circulated before the meeting. Cllr Millen proposed, Cllr Bourn seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED to adopt the Civility & Respect Pledge, Equality Policy and Dignity at Work Policy.  Cllr Millen proposed, Cllr Deane seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED to order the following training courses – Resilience & Emotional Intelligence - Cllr Deane, Cllr Percival, and the Clerk; Leadership in Challenging Situations – Cllr Percival; Civility & Respect – Cllr Deane and Cllr Percival.  Cllr Bourn proposed, Cllr Deane seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED for the Clerk to book the training and authorised payment of the £180 (plus VAT) fees.

178/22. To receive updates and approve any action to be taken on,

a) Grass-cutting contracts – update only.

IDverde Ltd had only undertaken one cut in August. Invoices received for payment.  

b) Playing Pitch field – update only

Savilles have offered a draft rental lease and this will need to be considered by the Playing Field Committee.

c) Community Asset nominations – update only

No update.  District Cllr Foster indicated he would follow up with ELDC.

179/22.  To consider and approve financial matters

a) To receive and approve the bank reconciliation

Cllr Deane reviewed the cheque book against the bank statements.  Bank deposit account balance of £28,796.50 and current account balance of £5,607.27 were noted.

b) To receive and approve the budget analysis for 2022-23

Deferred to November meeting.

c) To approve expenditure on the payments schedule

180/22. To note items of correspondence for information and decide on items for future action – Accession Council Proclamation of the new King, LALC E-News, Police newsletter reports, Town and parish council news, Anglian Water Reservoirs Project, Victoria Atkin MP – Winter Warmth Summit, ELDC – rollout of purple-lidded bins and new paper, cardboard and glass collection service. Councillors may wish to approve sending a letter of condolence to Buckingham Palace on behalf of the parish and note the Book of Condolence.

The Accession Proclamation had been displayed on the council’s noticeboard. District Councillor Foster advised that there may be a slight delay in delivery of purple-lidded bins so residents may still put out the grey bin with cardboard and paper until delivery completed. Anglian Water Reservoir Project noted.

Cllr Bourn proposed, Cllr Deane seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED that a letter of condolence be sent to Buckingham Palace.

181/22. To receive updates, consider and approve spending and training preparation for Community Speedwatch (CSW).

The Clerk reported that the application for CSW had been submitted and £50 application fee debited to the bank account.  To purchase equipment for volunteers to use including speedgun, hivis, signs and clicker a budget needed to be approved of up to £500. Proposed Cllr Deane, seconded Cllr Chilvers and unanimously approved RESOLVED that a budget of £500 is approved for the Clerk to purchase CSW equipment for use by volunteers.

182/22. To consider appointments to external bodies, groups and to receive reports.

No change to previous report.  The Clerk will make enquiries about S.106 monies. District Cllr Foster noted and would provide some information.

183/22. To meet and consider any applicants for co-option to the parish council following the Co-option Policy and Procedure. 

No candidates to consider.

184/22.  Training Bookings to be approved.

LALC Data Protection course for the Chair and both Cllr Deane and the Chair wanted to be registered for the ICCM Cemetery Management course when available.

185/22. Date of the next meeting 19th October 2022 and items to be added to the agenda.

Noted.

9.01pm the Chair thanked members, county and district councillors, LCC Highways Officers, Gleesons representatives and residents for attending the meeting and their participation and closed the meeting.