July
Present
Cllr Brooman (Chairman), Cllr McLaughlin (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Goode, Hayward, Lee
In attendance
County Cllr C Vernon, one member of the public
Apologies
Cllr Dugmore, District Cllr P Robins
During the Public Forum a resident raised concerns regarding construction activity at the top of The Old Quarry, Station Road.
1.Declarations of interest
None
2.Approve minutes 19 June 2024
The record of the meeting held on 19 June 2024 McLaughlin was approved as minutes and signed by the Chairman; proposed by Cllr McLaughlin, seconded by Cllr Hayward, all in favour.
3.Matters arising
All matters arising were on the agenda.
4.County Council matters
County Cllr C Vernon said that Alicia Kearns had been elected as MP for Rutland and Stamford and would be advocating improvements to the A1. The Mallard Solar Pass had been approved by the Secretary of State; there will be a meeting at Colsterworth in September to discuss traffic impact during construction for the area. LCC officers will hold a meeting regarding the parking issues in the High Street.
5.District Council matters
District Cllr P Robins had sent a report:
Some weeks ago, there was a murder on the Wellhead Park in Bourne. Five people have been arrested in connection with the crime. The police have released details on their website: Five arrested as murder investigation launched in Bourne | Lincolnshire Police (lincs.police.uk).
Another crime was committed at SKDC’s Customer Service Centre at St Peter’s Hill on 16 July. A member of staff was punched by a member of the public who was seeking Housing Advice. Consequently, security will be increased at the Customer Service Centre which is due to be transferred to the Ground Floor of the Picture House offices in October.
Grantham Market Place is due to be completed in mid-August. It would be well worth a visit to Grantham to see the changes that have been made.
In other news, there is still money available in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. If the Parish Council know of organisations or projects which might be suitable they should please contact Cllr Robins or the Economic Development team led by Nick Hibberd. The Fund has already supported projects across the District including solar panels, community buildings, business improvements and arts projects.
A meeting took place at Grimsthorpe Castle between LCC and Anglian Water to discuss the reasons for the delay to the water pipeline being built from North Lincolnshire down to Essex. It is the largest water infrastructure project in Europe and is the reason why we see large blue pipes all over the place. Unfortunately, the project has been delayed due to the familiar reasons of Covid, war in Ukraine and inflation. The issue of Ukraine was a particular problem because much of the steel pipework was apparently being sourced from Mariupol.
The project has been re-sequenced which will mean the blue pipes in the South of the District will not be put underground for many months yet.
As the project is due to finish, another is due to begin. A new reservoir is proposed just North of the A52. The site is slightly outside South Kesteven but the pipework to take the water to a treatment works in Peterborough is likely to wend its way across our District and will affect many householders and landowners. A public consultation process is open until 9th August and details can be found on the following website: www.lincsreservoir.co.uk
The Mallard Pass Solar scheme has been approved by the Secretary of State Ed Milliband. Alicia is far from happy as you can imagine and will be looking into all avenues to challenge the decision, with a possibility of a judicial review. If you would like to subscribe to the action group the link is as follows: https://www.mallardpassactiongroup.com/
Congratulations to Alicia Kearns who is the elected MP for Rutland and Stamford. Anyone in need of help or support with a serious issue is welcome to reach out to her as she will be more than happy to help.
6.Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group
Cllr McLaughlin presented the report: the Planning Working Group had no comments on application S23/097. Application S24/0905 made a small change to the first S24/0905 application - the barn was moved by 60 yards; the original objections from the Parish Council still applied. S24/1053 - the new proposal for a two storey garage and office using the same materials as the previous application had the same footprint; it was 1.5m taller but because of its location would not make much difference; the Planning Working Group had no comments on this application.
7.Planning. A) S24/0975 - Mr and Mrs Hollingsworth. Submission of details reserved by condition 3 (SB1) of planning permission S24/0258; Kennels, Stonehaven, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Parish Council had no comments on this application. B) S24/0905 – Mr Anthony Eudall. Remove and replace timber framed building for use as a dwelling; Land East of Park Farm Access Road, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. Castle Bytham Parish Council object to this application on the following grounds:1) the permitted development S24/0853 has not been approved and should not be approved. There is no permitted development for C3 use under class Q(a) because the provision has failed/not been met, the application approved in January 2024 sought to take the unit out of agricultural use, which if this happened, class Q cannot be claimed. 2) There is a specific condition stating that the building shall not be occupied as a dwelling – therefore how can the C3 use be established? The building was never erected, the original use was never established & there is a condition restricting use for a dwelling house;and 3) Fundamentally SKDC have already stated that this is not a sustainable location for a dwelling. C) S24/1053 - Mr and Mrs Jamie Sopp. Proposed erection of detached garage and home office; Caravan At Owls Lodge, Morkery Lane, Castle Bytham. The Parish Council had no comments on this application.
Appeal APP/E2530/W/24/3339847 regarding application S23/1942, Land at Holywell Road, Castle Bytham was allowed and planning permission granted for a single dwelling.
District Councillor P Robins will be contacted with regard to application S19/2142 for 13 dwellings at the top of The Old Quarry and recent construction activity at the site.
8.Amenities Working Group report – cemetery works
A resident reported that a vase placed on a grave had been chipped during cemetery ground strimming; Cllr Hayward will speak with the contractor. The Christmas tree holding tube at the Upper Green needs to be made wider - its diameter needs to be 6in and its depth 1 ft; the Parish Council will ask District Cllr P Robins whether planning permission is required for the work. Mr Ralph Harris will have the tree obscuring the Church Lane street light trimmed.
9.Purchase baubles for Upper Green Christmas tree
The Councillors unanimously agreed to purchase two dozen large Christmas tree baubles for the Upper Green Christmas tree at a cost of £2 per bauble. The baubles will be stored in the playing field container.
10.Recruitment to the Parish Council
There were currently three vacancies. Cllr McLaughlin said that one resident had expressed an interest in becoming Councillor. A one page advert will be placed in Glenside News. The Councillors discussed holding a social event to which all village groups would be invited.
11.LALC Summer Conference
Apologies will be sent from the Parish Council; no Councillors will be able to attend the LALC Summer Conference on 24 July.
12.Burial Committee matters
None.
13.Correspondence
Rural Services Network reports
SKDC weekly planning
SKDC - notification South Kesteven Development Scheme update
Resident - upper green mowing frequency
Lincolnshire Police - NSK Parish Council Engagement Session recording
LCC - Town and Parish Council newsletter
SKDC- GIS mapping layers
LCC Flood Resilience - S19 report status
14.Accounts
Cllr Brooman said that the only unbudgeted payment had been a water bill - Anglian Water had made two unsuccessful attempts at locating the meter to carry out the disconnection. Two annual donation requests were expected.
The following payment was approved:
MCS Ground Care - £900.00
15.Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr McLaughlin will check whether highways spray was safe for animals - the spray should wash away after being used at dog fouling areas on the pavements.