2024 Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Parish Council meeting 17th January 2024 at 7.15pm

held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre

Present: Cllrs M.Percival (Chair), L. Thomas, M. Foster. 

Not Present: Cllrs V.Fleet, W.Gray.

Clerk:    A. Everard

Members of Public present: Five

Public Forum

• Question raised if Neighbourhood Watch was still active in village.  The Chair advised this is something that the parish council will consider at a future meeting. Gleesons have taken down the fences now rubbish building up and inaccessible to residents to clear.  They removed grids that would have stopped rubbish gathering in the ditches. Water is sitting on the Sheraton site – this was raised as an issue when plans were proposed. Residents and Gleesons were reminded that they had riparian rights and duties to maintain all watercourses. Legal advice may be required.  District Councillor Foster noted the enforcement team were aware of the issues raised.

1/24. Apologies for absence with reason given 

Apologies were noted from Cllrs Fleet and Gray. 

2/24. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.

None

3/24. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 18th October and 15th November 2023.

Cllr Foster proposed, Cllr Thomas seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED to adopt the 18th October 2023 as minutes.  The Chair signed them.

Cllr Percival proposed, Cllr Thomas seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED to adopt the 15th November 2023 as minutes. The Chair signed them.

4/24. Matters arising from the minutes of 18th October 2023 and 15th November 2023 and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.

None.

5/24. To receive and note correspondence from LALC ENews (two-weekly); LALC Training Bulletin (monthly); LCC and ELDC Newsletters; ELDC media releases; Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Consultation closing 29th January; Lincolnshire County Council Budget 2024-25 Consultation; Speed Limit review Moorside; D-Day 80th – 6th June 2024 events.  Noted. Gleesons had put forward a draft media release following the tree-planting ceremony at Birkwood that took place on 27th November.  Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas and RESOLVED to delegate to the Clerk to respond to thank them for replacing the tree and their hospitality.  

6/24. ELDC and LCC councillors invited to make verbal or written reports on local matters.

Written report issued by LCC and ELDC. Cllr Foster, despite chasing, had no update on outstanding planning applications at Memorial Lawn and East of Sheraton. The Chair asked that it is noted to raise with Cllr Gray if the Fen Lane 30MPH zone can be extended to the bend just past the Anglian Water site.

7/24. 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 27no. dwellings and construction of a vehicular access

As resolved in minute 199/23 the Clerk is to submit further objection echoing the objections of residents particularly flooding, poor drainage and that the proposed estate is not in keeping with the village.  The application will go to ELDC Planning Committee in due course.  The Chair is happy to represent the parish council’s views at that meeting.

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) – ELDC approved with conditions.

S/114/02141/23 - G AND J PECK LIMITED, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN, BOSTON, PE22 7QW - Consent to Display 3no. non-illuminated flagpole banners – ELDC approved with conditions.

8/24.  To consider and approve financial matters

1. To approve expenditure on the payments schedule.

Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas unanimously approved RESOLVED to pay those listed.

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

Current account £8,441.60, Deposit account £24,040.22 as at 9th January 2024 were noted.

3. To approve the budget for 2024-25 financial year.

A draft expenditure budget of £20,390 was considered noting the inflationary increases and particularly the costs that would be incurred on the purchase of the cemetery extension (legal fees, fencing and planning permission and construction work). Council noted that over the past three years the deficit has been funded through holding down precept and taking from reserves but this is not sustainable in light of capital costs due to be incurred and General Reserves were now at minimum levels. Potential options (defibrillator, Speed Indicator Device) considered in the draft budget were not added to the 2024-25 budget.

Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas and unanimously approved RESOLVED to approve the Expenditure Budget of £20,390 and Income Budget of £4,744 for 2024-25 financial year.  

4. To approve the precept for 2024-25.

Cllr Percival proposed, Cllr Thomas seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED £15,646 precept to be requested from East Lindsey District Council for 2024-25 financial year. Councillors noted that this would appear on Council Tax bills as a 25.45% increase.  In cash terms the Council Tax Band D dwelling amount was estimated to be £45.62 per household an increase of £9.27 a year or £0.77 a month (£30.41 for Band A dwellings, a cash increase of £6.18 a year or £0.52 a month.)  

9/24. Highways

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

Training delayed until 7th February 2024 6pm.  A Community Grant of up to £200 would be sought from District Councillors.

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

Council noted the issues raised by the public forum. 

10/24.  To consider implications from recent flooding and proposals to prepare a Community Emergency Plan.

Councillors noted Emergency Planning training available for 16th April at Fire Service HQ, Lincoln.  This topic would then be explored at the Annual Parish Meeting.  

11/24. To consider and approve memorials for erection in the cemetery.

None

12/24. To consider appointments to external bodies, groups and to receive reports.                                                          

No updates from the Play Area Committee or Community Centre since the last meeting.

13/24 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 by the Clerk.

14/24.  Training Bookings to be approved.

Clerk to book Councillors Percival and Thomas for Chair’s Workshop and Community Emergency Planning events when available.

15/24a). To receive update on the purchase of the 0.22acres of land to extend the cemetery and next steps.

Council debated and Cllr Percival proposed, Cllr Thomas seconded and it was unanimously approved RESOLVED to continue the purchase of the land when the Transfer Agreement is prepared.

15/24b) To receive update on installation of the defibrillator in Tumby Woodside.

The Clerk advised that the defibrillator was collected and handed to the electrician to install in December and awaiting update on installation date.

16/24 To consider and approve proposed date for Annual Parish Meeting and speakers (occurs every year  between 1st March and 1st June).

Speakers from Openreach, Emergency Planning Team, Wellbeing Lincs, Call Connect and Biodiversity expert would be welcome. Clerk to issue invites.  Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas unanimously approved date of Annual Parish Meeting is 22nd May 2024 7pm and Community Centre to be booked.

17/24. Date of the next meeting Wednesday 21st February 2024 and items to be added to the agenda.

Biodiversity, Litter-picking, D-Day 80th Commemoration events.

The meeting ended 8.43pm.