2024 Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Parish Council meeting 21st February 2024 at 7.15pm

held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre

Present: Cllrs M.Percival (Chair), L.Thomas, M.foster, V.Fleet, W.Gray.

Not Present: All present.

Clerk:    A. Everard

Members of Public present: Five (Four after public forum)

Public Forum

A resident raised the issue about the waterlogged dykes and drainage issues around the new developments – advice was given to log onto FixMyStreet with clear location and images.  Another resident asked if the Community Speed Watch had enough volunteers yet and it was explained training was planned for 4th March and more volunteers invited to come forward. A parishioner wanted to know if the tree planted by Gleesons was the replacement commemorative tree at the front of the Birkwood site and was advised by the Chair that it was and a sign was expected to be placed next to it and the Chair and Cllr Gray had both been present when it was planted. The resident felt it should have been placed on the verge where it had been placed before. The resident also asked if plant tubs could be placed near the village name signs and the Chair advised this was something that could be useful for entering the RHS Britain In Bloom competition. Cllr Foster advised that ELDC Community Grants could be used for this in 2024-25 if applied for.  

18/24. Apologies for absence with reason given 

None. All present.

19/24. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.

None

20/24. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 17th January 2024.

Cllr Foster proposed, Cllr Thomas seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt the minutes and the Chair signed them.

21/24. Matters arising from the minutes of 17th January 2024 and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.

The Clerk reported that minute 16/24 Openreach indicated they were near finishing their work in the village but willing to attend and awaiting CallConnect reply. Following up on the others.

22/24. Parish Council noted receipt of the following correspondence: LALC ENews (two-weekly); LALC Training Bulletin (monthly); LCC Town and Parish News and ELDC Town and Parish E-News (monthly); ELDC Messenger; ELDC media releases; purchase of 0.22 acres of land at the Cemetery; Beggars Lane to Main Street footpath condition; ELDC Community Leaders’ Forum minutes and invite 21st March; National Grid non-statutory consultation – Grimsby to Walpole Pylons proposal; Email - LCC Planning consultations will not be extended in future; ELDC South and East Lincs Crowd Fund; Marc Jones (Police and Crime Commissioner) Parish Council Engagement Session on Road Safety invitation; Lincolnshire Police Parish Council Engagement Session EL - Thursday 27th June 2024 invitation; ICCM Environment Agency charge proposals for water discharges; residents’ comments about trucks travelling to Hill Farm, Wood Enderby through Watery Lane and Fieldside West not Horncastle Road; LCC Highways invitation to take over maintenance of white leaner rails outside Anglian Water facility, Fen Lane; Lincs Digital sessions coming to Mareham le Fen Community Centre Tuesday 21st March 1.30pm; LCC email to request sites in the parish for potential electric charging points; Victoria Atkins Flood Forum 1st March 2024.

23/24. ELDC and LCC councillors invited to make verbal or written reports on local matters.

District Councillor Foster advised that ELDC would approve their budget in a couple of weeks. It was probable that S/114/01809/22 Gleeson’s development would be considered at the Planning Committee on 7th March and a resident, representative of the parish council and him would be each be given 3 minutes to speak.  He had been unable to get an update on S/114/00477/23 Memorial Lawn planning application but legal advice had been sought by the Planning Officer.

County Councillor Gray had submitted a written report and highlighted the following items How Are You (H.A.Y.) Lincolnshire website for community support and wellbeing; Call Connect trips are £2; National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade has proposed 130km pylons across East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland districts and may be visible from Mareham le Fen and public comments must be in by 13 March (links are available in the News on this council’s website); Louth Town Centre Transport Board is seeking responses to a consultation until 1st March; Footpath improvements along the A153 in Horncastle are taking place until end of March; also Measles cases are on the rise and anyone who is unvaccinated can get vaccinated.

24/24. 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 – to receive and respond to any updates.

Comments put forward by the parish council at previous meeting submitted to ELDC. Cllr Foster verbally updated on this in minute 23/24.

• S/114/00477/23 - MEMORIAL LAWN, MAIN STREET, MAREHAM LE FEN, PE22 7RL - Outline erection of 2no. dwellings - to receive and respond to any updates.

No update at this meeting.

25/24.  To consider and approve financial matters

a) To receive the revised NALC pay scales effective 1/4/2023 and approve their adoption.

Proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Percival unanimously RESOLVED to adopt effective from 1/4/23.

b) To approve expenditure on the payments schedule.

Proposed Cllr Thomas, seconded Cllr Foster and unanimously approved RESOLVED to pay.

c) To note the bank statement balances and bank reconciliation.

Bank statements unavailable so item deferred. Online access being set up.

26/24. Highways

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

Community Speed Watch training March 4th. More volunteers needed to make it effective. ELDC Community Grant to be sought to pay for more hi-vis jackets.

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

Cllr Gray reported that speed limit extensions along Fen Lane to the bend and also along Moor Lane have been considered by LCC and because they did not have a high enough risk criteria score the speed limits could not be extended. However, bend warning signs are being considered for Fen Lane by the Highways Officer. The Beggars Lane public footpath had been reported on FixMyStreet and Cllr Gray had been informed that due to current waterlogging on the land the footpath could not be reinstated yet but the LCC Countryside Team would monitor and as soon as the land begins to dry out, they will seek to enforce if the landowner does not reinstate. Also Cllr Gray advised that the LCC budget included 4 jetting teams to cover Lincolnshire from April 2024 to improve cleaning out drains following the recent excess water which has clogged many public drainage systems with debris.

c) To consider the request from LCC Highways to take on the maintenance of Fen Lane white leaner rails.

LCC Highways wrote to the parish council informing the parish council that they will not reinstate broken and missing rails and inviting parish council to consider taking on the current ones for maintenance.  After debate Cllr Percival proposed, Cllr Foster seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED Clerk to notify LCC Highways that the Parish Council will not take on maintenance of the wooden rails but will request the installation of verge markers to ensure vehicles know of the deep ditch as the rails deteriorate or removed.

27/24. To respond to consultations and invitations received in correspondence.

LCC Highways had written to parish councils inviting them to identify locations suitable for electric charging points. Parish council considered Mareham le Fen had a mix of housing – terraced, detached, cul de sacs, new housing estates as well as the Community Centre, Pecks and Shop/Post Office. Proposed Cllr Fleet, seconded Cllr Thomas and unanimously approved RESOLVED the Clerk to notify the Council’s interest in the scheme.

Cllr Percival expected to attend the next online Police Engagement Briefing on 24th June 2024. Clerk to notify.

The Clerk advised that the National Grid has not invited parish councils to comment on their Lincolnshire Pylons proposal so individual councillors and residents will need to consider this and submit their views.

Cllr Gray reported the Victoria Atkin Flood Forum on 1st March was already fully booked with a waiting list.  A resident present at the meeting advised that they had obtained a place and would report back.

28/24. To consider appointments to external bodies, groups and to receive reports.                                                          

Play Area Committee – Cllr Percival reported the Secretary/Chair had stepped down. Grant applications continue to be considered.

No report in respect of the Community Centre.

29/24. To meet and consider any applicants for co-option to the parish council following the Co-option Policy and Procedure. 

None. Notice is on the noticeboard and Facebook posting have been added.

30/24.  Training Bookings to be approved.

Cllr Percival indicated she could not attend the Chair’s Workshop on 4th June so place to be cancelled.

Cllrs Percival and Thomas attending the Emergency Planning Workshop on 16th April 2024. Lunches will be charged for £12.50 each.

31/24. To receive and approve updates on

a) the purchase of the 0.22acres of land to extend the cemetery and payment of fees and appointment of two councillors to sign the legal agreement.

Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas unanimously approved RESOLVED that under S.124 Local Government Act 1972 the Parish Council purchases from the Diocese of Lincoln the land identified in the Transfer Agreement for £2,000 and Cllr Percival and Cllr Thomas will sign the legal deed witnessed by the Clerk in accordance with Standing Order 23 (S.14(3) Local Government Act 1972) and the seller’s transaction fees plus VAT £2474.40 to be paid in accordance with the Heads of Terms agreement entered into in 2019 and the parish council’s legal fees will be £2,500 plus disbursements of £26.00.  The Clerk advised that he was seeking valuation of the cemetery and a plan for the Land Registry so the whole cemetery plot can be registered to establish full title.  The Land Registry fee will depend on the valuation.   

b) Installation of the defibrillator in Tumby Woodside.

The Clerk advised that the defibrillator was with the electrician and awaiting installation at a suitable date and time agreed with the householder to connect to their power supply. Once installed a guardianship agreement could be entered into with LIVES to register it to the Circuit and check it monthly and more frequently if used.  The parish council will remain responsible for cost of supplies.  Proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas and unanimously approved RESOLVED to enter into the LIVES Guardianship of the Community Public Access Defibrillators scheme for £200 plus VAT.

32/24. To approve biodiversity policy and implementation of some reduced grass-cut areas during 2024.

Following debate proposed Cllr Percival, seconded Cllr Thomas unanimously approved RESOLVED to set aside part of the Cemetery for no grass-cutting until late-August/September and the Clerk to arrange to mark this with explanatory signs and inform the grass-cutting contractor accordingly.  Other sites considered in Mareham le Fen for reduced grass-cutting were either not under the control of the parish council or if left uncut were likely to be cut by residents anyway.

The draft policy was debated and Cllr Foster proposed, Cllr Fleet seconded and unanimously approved RESOLVED to adopt the Biodiversity Policy.

33/24. To approve setting up of a litter-picking group for Mareham le Fen

Parish Council discussed obtaining an ELDC Community Grant to fund litter picking equipment for use in Mareham le Fen to encourage keeping the village tidy.  This would also support moving forward with joining the RHS Britain In Bloom Best Kept Village competition soon. The Clerk will approach District Councillors Knowles and Hall to see if they can support this grant application.

34/24. To consider grants, events and other approaches for 80th D-Day commemorations.

Deferred to the next meeting.

35/24. Date of the next meeting Wednesday 20th March 2024 and items to be added to the agenda.

80th D-Day Commemorations; RHS Britain In Bloom competition; Flower tubs; Litter-picking wombling group.

Meeting closed 8.41pm.