2023 Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Parish Council meeting 15th November 2023 at 7.15pm

held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre

Present: Cllrs L. Thomas (in the Chair), V.Fleet, W.Gray.

Not Present: Cllrs M.Percival, M.Foster.

Clerk:    A. Everard

Members of Public present: Three

Public Forum

• Flooding was an issue for the village in Storm Babet in October.  Issues raised concerned lack of ditch clearing and riparian duties; run-off from more housing sites and improving the beck.  S.19 flood investigation reports should be undertaken by Lincolnshire County Council for each property flooded or large pools of water gather.

194/23. Apologies for absence with reason given 

Cllr M.Percival apologised for her absence due to other commitments and Cllr Foster was unable to attend for personal reasons with a good reason.  It was proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Fleet and unanimously RESOLVED to accept the apologies from Cllr Percival and Cllr Foster.

195/23. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.

None

196/23. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 18th October 2023.

Deferred to the next meeting.

197/23. Matters arising from the minutes of 18th October 2023 and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.

The Clerk advised that Openreach would undertake as much work as they could on the limited grant they could get from current sign-ups – more households would need to indicate their commitment for full roll-out.

197/23. To receive and note correspondence from m LALC ENews (two-weekly), LALC Training Bulletin (monthly), LCC and ELDC Newsletters, ELDC media releases, Gleeson’s Homes invite to commemorative tree replacement planting – 27th November, Lincolnshire Police Engagement Briefing 5th December 2023, Lloyds Bank ceasing paper bank statements, East Lindsey Local Plan – services and local facilities review, ELDC -Subregion Strategy consultation, ELDC Polling Places review. Noted.

198/23. ELDC and LCC councillors invited to make verbal or written reports on local matters.

Written report issued by LCC and ELDC. Cllr Gray indicated that 216 properties had been flooded in ELDC area and more becoming known. Grants details on the ELDC website including £5,000 grant to help affected properties prevent damage from flooding in future. No-one in Mareham had to be placed in temporary housing. Cllr Gray had visited Moorside where some properties had been affected.

199/23. 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/114/01809/22 - LAND EAST OF SHERATON, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN - Planning Permission - Erection of 30no. dwellings and construction of a vehicular access

Plans amended to 27 properties and slightly further back from road.  It was proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Fleet unanimously RESOLVED to delegate to the Clerk to submit comments once councillors had considered the revised plans.

S/114/00477/23 - MEMORIAL LAWN, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN, PE22 7RL - Outline erection of 2no. dwellings 

No update.

S/114/01789/23 - MAREHAM LE FEN VILLAGE HALL, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN, PE22 7RW - Reserved Matters application relating to the erection of a bungalow, existing building on site to be demolished. (outline planning permission ref no. S/114/01098/22 outline erection of a bungalow, granted 2nd August 2022)

No update. ELDC decision awaited.

S/114/01837/23 – BIRKWOOD HALL, BIRKWOOD LANE, MAREHAM LE FEN, BOSTON, PE22 7RY – Planning Permission – Erection of 1no. field shelter for cattle – NEW

Awaiting ELDC decision – approved with conditions.

200/23.  To consider and approve financial matters

1. To approve expenditure on the payments schedule.

2. To note the bank statement balances and bank reconciliation.

Current account £6617.33, Deposit account £23,988.07 as at 1st November 2023.

3. To consider initial budget proposals for 2024-25 financial year.

Clerk advised that In Bloom would be free first year.  Grants may be needed for local community groups to get started supporting gardening.

201/23. Highways

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

Training due to be held in first week of December and will be publicised once confirmed.

b) To consider updates to LCC Highways faults and issues list, Fix My Street and other highway matters.

The Council noted the issued logged on FixMyStreet regarding the recent floods.

202/23  To consider implications from recent flooding and proposals to prepare a Community Emergency Plan.

Parish Council will consider if they can store some sandbags for future use and see if Lincolnshire County Council can provide more support to encourage property occupiers to undertake their riparian duties.  A Community Emergency Plan development will be developed during 2024. A public meeting may be necessary.  It was proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Fleet and unanimously approved RESOLVED to set up a Community Emergency Plan in 2024.

203/23. To consider and approve memorials for erection in the cemetery.

None

204/23 To consider appointments to external bodies, groups and to receive reports.                                                          

Councillors reported that the Play Group committee continue to pursue funding options but not applied for anything.  The Clerk offered to attend if it would assist.

The Community Centre has a new Chair and Treasurer and members of the committee are looking at new options to improve working arrangements to increase revenue and obtain grants to invest in the building.

205/23 To consider and approve the steps to be taken to recruit candidates for co-option to the parish council and to consider any co-options.

None. Facebook postings will be undertaken.

206/23.  Training Bookings to be approved.

Clerk to book councillors for Chair’s Workshop.

207/23a). To receive update on the purchase of the 0.22acres of land to extend the cemetery and next steps.

No update for this m.eeting

208/23b) To receive update on installation of the defibrillator in Tumby Woodside.

The frame is being installed by residents to hold the defibrillator. 

209/23 To consider and approve proposed dates for parish council meetings for 2024/25 to book the

Community Centre 17/1/24, 21/2/24, 20/3/24, 17/4/24, 15/5/24, 19/6/24, 17/7/24, 21/8/24, 18/9/24,

16/10/24, 20/11/24, 15/1/25.

Proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Fleet unanimously approved RESOLVED to book the Community Centre for these dates.

193/23. Date of the next meeting Wednesday 17th January 2024 and items to be added to the agenda.

Budget, precept.

The meeting ended 9.31pm.