2022 Parish Council minutes of meetings

Draft Minutes of Mareham le Fen Parish Council meeting  2022 16th November 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: 13

Public Forum

Issues raised included Gleesons Homes planning application for Phase 2 thirty more homes.  ELDC Local plan has 113 residential dwellings allocated for the village. New development is deemed as ‘windfall’ development (Policy SP3). Residents expressed concerns that ELDC Planning Officers do not visit the site before making the decision. The proposed dwellings are urban in style not in keeping with the picturesque rural nature of the village. Residents also expressed concern that further premium agricultural land is being lost to housing. Attendees reported that Gleesons had only informed a few neighbours about the new planning application and the rest of the village is unaware.  Neighbours to the building site expressed worry and concern about the loss of privacy and constant disruption the construction was causing their lives particularly as houses were being proposed to overlook bungalows. It was questioned if Gleesons were offering suitable compensation and restitution for the disruption (s.106 and other investment). 

The meeting started at 7.45pm after an extended public forum leaving 11 members of the public. 

The Chair welcomed all present and noted that this was the 23rd meeting held in 2022 and as no meeting was taking place in December 2022 she wished all a very happy Christmas and New Year.

201/22. Apologies for absence with reason given

Cllr D.Hill had sent apologies due to work commitments.

202/22 Declaration of interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations

None.

203/22. To remind Councillors to review their Register of Interests and update with any changes in accordance with the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

The Clerk reminded all Councillors that it was their responsibility to keep their Declaration of Pecuniary and other interests up to date for them and their partner and always within 28 days of the change to comply with the law and Code of Conduct.

204/22. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 19th October 2022.

Deferred to next meeting to allow more time for circulation. Displayed on the council’s website.

205/22. Any matters arising from the minutes of 19th October 2022  and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.

The Clerk had purchased online the moles granules and brought them to the meeting. Cllr Bourn undertook to spread them in the cemetery and assess effectiveness.

206/22. To receive draft minutes from the 2nd November 2022 Playing Field Committee and to approve any recommendations that are brought forward to full Council including creation of working parties and planned expenditure.

Deferred to the next meeting. Published on the council’s website.

207/22 To receive and note correspondence from Lincolnshire Police, ICCM (UK Commission for Bereavement, etc), Email from resident regarding a defibrillator in Tumby Woodside, LALC ENews, Report from Victoria Atkins MP Winter Summit, LCC and ELDC Newsletters, Civility & Respect Pledge.

Noted. The Chair signed the Civility & Respect Pledge certificate.

208/22. ELDC and LCC councillors invited to make verbal or written reports on local matters.

ELDC Cllr Foster reminded everyone present to put in their comments and objections on planning matters – they matter as it may lead to a planning application being called in to be considered by the Planning Committee instead of just by a Planning Officer under delegated powers or helpful if an appeal occurs. 

Cllr Foster also outlined ‘Pride in East Lindsey’ teams to tackle ‘grot spots’ in parishes via the Clerk; anyone without a purple-lidded bin to report to ELDC immediately; his community grant of £250 has helped fund the Mareham le Fen Soup Group first held 14th November offering a soup and a roll. He answered questions about a Neighbourhood Plan which can be very time-consuming and difficult to achieve and S.106 funding for parish council projects.

209/22. 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/114/01741/22 - 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 – for comment and updates.

No update.  ELDC decision awaited.

• S/114/01809/22 - LAND EAST OF SHERATON, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN - Planning Permission - Erection of 30no. dwellings and construction of a vehicular access – NEW for comment by 1/12/2022.  Proposed by Cllr Bourn, seconded by Cllr Deane and unanimously RESOLVED to oppose the development. Comments to be submitted by the Clerk based on issues raised in Public Forum after checking with Chair and councillors.

210/22. To approve delegation to the Clerk to submit comments in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair after seeking views from councillors on any planning matters to meet planning consultation deadlines that arise between ordinary meetings that do not require an extraordinary meeting. (Section 101 Local Government Act 1972).

Proposed Cllr Chilvers, seconded Cllr Deane unanimously approved RESOLVED delegate collation and submission of comments to the Clerk in respect of Planning between meetings as specified in the motion.

211/22. To receive updates and approve any action to be taken on,

211/22a) Grass-cutting contracts – at the end of the season and no further cuts required.

211/22b) Community Asset nominations – to consider and approve Community Asset nominations to be continued with grounds for nomination in respect of                                                                               i) The Old Village Hall,  and     ii) The Memorial Lawn.

Proposed Cllr Deane, seconded Cllr Chilvers and unanimously approved RESOLVED not to seek nomination as a Community Asset for the Old Village Hall as it has been sold with planning permission for development.

Proposed Cllr Bourn, seconded Cllr Chilvers and majority approved RESOLVED that the nomination of the Memorial Lawn as an Asset of Community Value to continue on the following grounds; memorial garden could be developed for the older generation; recent events have highlighted that the land is the only open recreational area in the village; the community need to be able to use it as they wish; there are many past memories in that area for previous generations as it was used for games, events, tennis, bowls, croquet and can continue again.

212/22. To consider and approve the implementation of .gov.uk emails for the council (LALC ENews 31/10/2022).        

Proposed Cllr Deane, seconded Cllr Chilvers approved unanimously RESOLVED to contract Cloudnext to provide .gov.uk email system for the parish council, officers and councillors for £110 for 2 years for the domain and £49.99 for emails each year.

213/22. To approve a Pensions Statement Policy.

Proposed Cllr Deane, seconded Cllr Bourn approved unanimously RESOLVED to offer NEST pension scheme for employees and contributions paid by Direct Debit and administered in accordance with the Pensions Statement Policy.

214/22. To note elections for May 2023 and expected timetable and arrangements and costs.

The Clerk reminded Councillors of the timetable and to note potential election costs for reserves. Parish and District Council elections taking place May 2023.  Electors will need photo ID for the May 2023 voting in person elections or a free form for authentication via the Government for those without photo ID expected to be available from January 2023.

215/22.  To consider and approve financial matters

a) To approve expenditure on the payments schedule

Proposed Cllr Bourn, seconded Cllr Chilvers approved unanimously RESOLVED to pay the payments listed on the payment schedule.

b) To receive and approve the 2022-23 NJC pay scales for implementation from 1/4/2022.

Proposed Cllr Bourn, seconded Cllr Chilvers and unanimously approved RESOLVED to implement revised pay scales from 1/4/2022.

c) To receive the accounts for 2022-23 and bank reconciliation

Deferred to next meeting.

d) To consider the budget for 2023-24.

Councillors suggest rent review, review hedge cutting, and noted potential hall rental costs and higher costs for grass-cutting and cemetery project costs. Budget and precept to be approved in January 2023.

216/22. Highways

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

Cllrs felt that they did not need a separate meeting to invite volunteers if it can appear in a newsletter and start at 7pm next meeting.

b) To consider updates to LCC Highways road closure, faults and issues list and other highway matters.

Cllr Bourn said he reported via FixMyStreet bin at Clay Pits, pothole on Moorside near Watery Lane, LCC Highways wanted to set up a Teams session to update the Council, poor surface of road surface just outside Gleesons’ Development.

217/22. To approve next steps for a defibrillator in Tumby Woodside.

Generous donation of a defibrillator in Tumby Woodside now need to find a suitable location, insurance, electricity source and necessary structure to affix. Cllr Foster and Cllr Gray will look into it, along with donor, local resident and the Clerk.

218/22. To consider appointments to external bodies, groups and to receive reports.

Chair attended last Play Group committee on 7th November and planning application almost ready. New volunteers and a new Chair sought.

219/22. To meet and consider any applicants for co-option to the parish council following the Co-option Policy and Procedure. 

Luke Thomas had applied in writing and demonstrated eligibility with satisfying eligibility and no disqualification criteria. Proposed Cllr Bourn, seconded Cllr Deane and unanimously approved RESOLVED to co-opt Luke Thomas with immediate effect.

220/22.  Training Bookings to be approved.  

New Councillor training 29th November

221/22. Date of the next meeting 18th January 2023 and items to be added to the agenda.

Coronation, rent review.

Meeting ended 21.12.