2022 Parish Council minutes of meetings

Draft Minutes of Mareham le Fen Parish Council meeting 19th October 2022 at 7.15pm

held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre

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

Not Present: Cllrs D. Hill

Clerk:    A. Everard

Members of Public present: 29

Public Forum

Issues raised included clearing the ditch behind Rexholme, Main Street (riparian ownership duties may apply); ELDC requested to visit to clear the blocked footpath and the machinery and mess created by Gleesons Homes; break-ins are occurring on the Gleesons construction site and nearby farm; Anglian Water had shut off water without notice to all residents resulting from the construction site work; residents reported the noise and disturbance as toxic and Moorside has been used as a racetrack by some drivers during the Main Street road closure; and a further phase of the Birchwood development is expected shortly even though we are going into a national recession so they will not sell. The Chair advised that she was liaising with residents and Highways Officers regularly.  Other residents raised the public consultation taking place over the potential sale of Memorial Lawn on Sunday 23rd October 2022 10am-4pm and the lack of consultation with those away from the area that day. The Chair advised that this needed to be raised with the Trustees directly and then the Charity Commission if still concerned – the Parish Council did not have a role in the decision. 

The meeting started at 7.48pm after an extended public forum leaving 14 members of the public. 

The Chair welcomed all present and

186/22.Apologies for absence with reason given

Cllr D.Hill had sent apologies and these were noted. Cllr S.Millen had resigned in the last week.

187/22. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.

None declared.

188/22. To discuss and consider the effects of the ongoing closure of A155 Main Road through Mareham le Fen village.

Lincolnshire Highways report noted.  Anglian Water work was delayed by a week but road opening may be a week earlier than originally planned.  Due to all of the disturbance the residents have suffered could Gleesons offer something in return such as paying for all the Community Speedwatch equipment including Speed Indicator Devices (estimated at £7,500), replace the two commemorative trees lost, a bench for Moorside and maybe a contribution towards the Play Group to assist with the equipment purchase.

189/22. To note the announcement by the trustees of Mareham le Fen Village Hall & Memorial Lawn Charity No. 1087875 to hold a public meeting on Sunday 23rd October 2022 and ballot regarding the potential sale of Memorial Lawn.

Parish Council noted the consultation and ballot.

190/22. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 27th July 2022, 17th August 2022 and 28th September 2022.

Each set of minutes were proposed and seconded individually and approved RESOLVED to adopt the minutes of 27th July 2022, 17th August 2022 and 28th September 2022.  The Chair signed each set of minutes.

191/22. To consider any matters arising from the minutes of 17th August 2022 and 28th September 2022  and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.

None

192/22. To receive draft minutes from the 27th September 2022 Cemetery Committee and to approve any recommendations that are brought forward to full Council including creation of working parties.

Former Cllr Millen had circulated some suggested fencing ideas for the cemetery extension. Cllr Deane suggested purchasing granules to reduce moles in the cemetery, Cllr Bourn proposed, Cllr Chilvers seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED for the Clerk to purchase mole deterrent granules online using debit card for £11.99. 

193/22a). 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/114/01741/22 - 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

No Comment made

ELDC Decision - awaited

193/22b) To consider and approve options for S.106 funding applications.

The Clerk to approach ELDC to ascertain process to obtain these funds.

The Clerk to approach ELDC to find out more about Neighbourhood Planning and if appropriate for Mareham le Fen.

194/22. To receive updates and approve any action to be taken on,

a) Grass-cutting contracts – cllrs wondered if another cut at the end of Fen Lane was possible. Clerk to find out.  Cllr Bourn asked if God’s Acre could be cut – the Clerk will inform the grass-cutter it could be cut.

b) Playing Pitch field – to approve the next steps including Terms of Reference and organising meetings of the Playing Field Committee following the offer of a lease.

Playing Field Committee proposed and seconded RESOLVED that the committee should meet on 2nd November 2022 at 7.15pm with a public forum and Terms of Reference to be agreed at the meeting.

c) Community Asset nominations – Clerk had only received an update on the Playing Field which was being considered.  Awaiting update on the other two nominations.

195/22.  To consider and approve financial matters

a) To approve expenditure on the payments schedule

b) To approve transfer of £5,000 to the current account from deposit account.

Proposed Cllr Chilvers, Seconded Cllr Deane and approved unanimously RESOLVED to transfer £5,000 to the current account from the deposit account.

c) To approve the appointment of internal auditor for 2022/23 financial year.

Proposed Cllr Bourn, seconded Cllr Chilvers unanimously approved RESOLVED to appoint LALC internal audit panel for £210 for 2022-23 to conduct the internal audit.

d) To receive and note the external auditor’s certificate and report.

The Clerk reported that the asset register had been updated for 2021-22 but the previous year should have been updated to be on a like-for-like comparative basis.

196/22. To note items of correspondence for information and decide on items for future action –LALC E-News, Police newsletter reports, Town and parish council news, Anglian Water Reservoirs Project, ELDC – rollout of purple-lidded bins and new paper, cardboard and glass collection service, members of the public correspondence.  Council noted these items.

197/22. Highways

a) To receive updates, consider and approve spending, training preparation and volunteer co-ordination for Community Speedwatch.

Cllr Deane and the Clerk had attended CSW Co-ordinators training. The Chair asked the Clerk to get another date for her to attend.  It was hoped to get an in-person training session set up for volunteers once the parish council had enough co-ordinators in place and the equipment purchased.

b) To consider any updates to LCC Highways faults and issues list from the village walkabout.

No issues were raised.

198/22. To consider appointments to external bodies, groups and to receive reports.

The Play Group Committee next meeting will be 7/11/2022.

198/22. To meet and consider any applicants for co-option to the parish council following the Co-option Policy and Procedure.  The Council may resolve to go into a private confidential session in accordance with the Policy and Procedure if necessary.

There were none to consider. Four seats available.

199/22.  Training Bookings to be approved.

The Clerk was looking at booking for Civility and Respect training for councillors and the Clerk approved at the previous meeting.  Potential booking dates agreed.

200/22. Date of the next meeting 16th November 2022 and items to be added to the agenda.

No new items were proposed.

Meeting ended 9.02pm