March
Present
Cllr Brooman (Chairman), Cllr McLaughlin (Vice-Chairman), Cllrs Dugmore, Goode, Morrow, Sismey-Durrant
In attendance
County Cllr C Vernon; 9 members of the public
Apologies
Cllrs Hayward and Lee; District Cllr P Robins
During the Public Forum residents gave their views and asked questions with regard to application S25/0193 for 26 affordable homes on Holywell Road - agenda item 9A
1.Declarations of interest
None
2.Co-option of a Councillor
Mrs Diane Morrow was co-opted to the Parish Council following a unanimous vote
3.Signing of Declaration of Acceptance of Office form
Cllr Morrow signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office form
4.Approve minutes 19 February 2025
The record of the meeting held on 19 February 2025 was approved as minutes and signed by the chairman. Proposed by Cllr Goode, seconded by Cllr Sismey-Durrant, all in favour.
5.Matters arising
All matters arising were agenda items.
6.County Council matters
County Cllr C Vernon said that LCC were in pre-election period. A meeting had taken place at Marston with local residents and Highways regarding safety on the A1; 11 crossover sections will be closed eventually; another meeting to discuss the A1 will take place in Great Ponton. A meeting will take place at LCC on 21 March regarding local government reorganisation.
7.District Council matters
Deferred
8.Planning issues - verbal report from the Planning Working Group.
Cllr McLaughlin said that the Planning Working Group had no comments on application S25/0629. Application S25/0359 - the usual recommendations concerning construction vehicles, noise and working hours should be sent back. Application S25/0193 was discussed at length; the Parish Council had arranged a public meeting at the Community Shop on 10 March with the developer and residents. Cllr McLaughlin read out a draft response which was discussed and added to.
9.Planning. A) S25/0193 - Mr Sim Mann. Development of 26 No. Affordable Homes with Access, Car Parking, Landscaping, Public Open Space and Associated Works. Land West of, Holywell Road, Castle Bytham. The following comments will be sent back: Layout. We are concerned how the maintenance of the public open space continue in the future and whose responsibility shall it be.We believe that wheelie bin storage should be accommodated within the proposal.Is there a possibility for adding community benefit by improving the play area on the adjacent land and regenerate that play park, and continue with future maintenance liability?The PC welcomes the pavement extension, generous visibility splay and relocation of the sewage pumping station away from the village gateway street scene.
Materials/Elevations.The PC request to spread more of the blond brick throughout the development as well as at the village gateway gable ends.Can the design incorporate a balanced chimney design? We would like to request a street scene elevation with a comparative height with no. 27 Bytham Heights, as the current proposal does not contain that information to get a balanced elevation view.
Landscaping.The PC is pleased with the amount of green space and new trees in the proposed development.Is it possible to reduce plots 6 and 7 to have smaller gardens to allow a larger buffer zone to No.21 Bytham Heights? We are concerned about the proximity of the development to no.21 Bytham Heights and the impact on this property.
Roads. Are there pavements either side of the spine road? Foul water easement – who will maintain the grass that will grow between the fences on the easement? Pumping station,substation heat pumps – has the noise been taken into account for the receptor, no. 24 Station Road, and nearby occupiers. Sensible positioning and screening is required for the heat pumps.Has the applicant considered applying for the 30mph limit to be moved towards Holywell, to allow traffic to slow down, before they get to the new site entrance? We have data from our SID to evidence that traffic is still exceeding the speed limit by the time they get to the site entrance. A traffic management plan should be put in place and attention paid to parking of construction vehicles which should not be a nuisance to nearby properties; mud on the road should be cleared promptly.
BNG. Net loss of biodiversity at this location, according to the report, which is corrected by off site BNG offsetting. Our strong preference is that the site itself demonstrates 10pc BNG and at worst the offsetting is within the local area no more than outside of the village. Our preference is that BNG measures are done excluding gardens
Transport.The bus service is not as comprehensive as stated in the application, as it is an ‘on demand’ service, rather than a scheduled service.
Density - a lot of parishioners raised concerns about density. Is the density the lowest that is feasible or can it be lowered to be closer to that of surrounding development, closer to local area density
Weight of the need survey- shared with officers.The plans put a lot of focus on the local needs survey, we hope that for transparency, this report is shared with the officers for integrity.
General
The PC would like to ensure that the houses are built to a standard above general building standards to allow for the houses to be cheaper to run and the occupants have a better quality of life, than the existing social housing within the village. A well managed social portfolio is required at this location.
B)S25/0269 - Landsdowne Restoration. Variation to Condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission reference S24/1664 (Conversion and extension of agricultural buildings to form a single dwelling: (Modifications to approved scheme). Holywell Farm, Holywell Road, Clipsham, Lincolndhire LE15 7SQ. The Councillors had no comments on this application. C) S25/0359 - Mr Guy Westmoreland. First floor extension to rear building. 11 Glen Road, Castle Bytham. The following comments will be sent back: the parish council requests that any approved construction is carried out with respect to the neighbouring properties with regards to working hours, noise and dust, as well as requests that any construction related vehicles are parked on site or at a place that does not cause a nuisance to passing traffic.
- SKDC has granted planning permission to application S25/0021, Old Quarry House, Morkery Lane.
- The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the Appeal for Land on Morkery Lane - App Ref: APP/E2530/W/3351456
10.Risk assessment
The risk assessment was updated.
11.Mowing contracts
One contractor was unable to renew his contract; a new contractor for the cemetery, graveyard, upper and lower greens was being sought; Cllr Brooman will send the schedule of works to Cllr McLaughlin and the clerk. Cllr Sismey-Durrant suggested sending an article to Glenside News explaining the situation.
The 2025 contract for the playing field with BDG Mowing was renewed with no increase in cost.
12.Amenities Working Group report
Cllr Hayward has been seeking quotes for various village projects: the play castle surround at the playing field, rubber mat tiles under the swings also at the playing field, village sign on the lower green, pond railings.
Cllr Morrow joined the Amenities Working Group; Cllr Brooman transferred from the Planning Working Group to the Amenities Working Group.
13.Approval £600 cost of Memorial bench at the crossroads
It was proposed by Cllr Brooman, seconded by Cllr Dugmore, all in favour to allocate up to £600 for a Memorial Bench and anchoring at the crossroads; the Memorial Bench will be in memory of village postman Garry Preston.
14.LCC - consultation on the draft public rights of way improvement plan
Deferred until the May meeting
15.Burial Committee matters
None
16.Correspondence
SKDC - Notice of election
SKDC - weekly planning lists
SKDC - CCTV move and upgrade to 160- camera network
Rural bulletins
LALC e-news
LALC survey - pay, recruitment and retention working group
SKDC - Pinfold Lane Conservatio Area
SKDC- parish and town councils flood defence
Bythams Community Shop - AGM minutes and annual accounts
17.Accounts
Cllr Brooman had prepared an update on the accounts and said that the Parish Council was in a good position financially.
The following payments were approved:
- JRB Enterprise, dog waste bags £76.98
- Bythams Community Shop, refreshments at PC meeting in shop on 10 March £59.64
- M Brooman, reimbursement defibrillator pads £78.80
- HMRC, clerk’s PAYE £298.86
- M Cooke, salary 26 weeks £1195.43
18.Councillors’ verbal reports
Cllr Morrow asked how to respond to residents’ questions whenever approached in the village. Cllr McLaughlin said that urgent matters could be reported via the Councillors’ WhatsApp group and non urgent matters relayed to the Parish Council at the next meeting.
Cllr Sismey-Durrant said that a faulty footpath gate by New Inn had been repaired.
Cllr Dugmore enquired about funding on offer for VE Day celebrations - an article will be sent to Glenside News
Cllr McLaughlin said that planned electrical works on Holywell Road/Bytham Heights had been complteted 5 hours ahead of schedule
Cllr Brooman said that the village pond was leaking under the pavement. County Cllr C Vernon will report it to Highways. The Riparian owners will be made aware and the problem reported on FixMyStreet.
Holding Page