December 2019 Minutes
A meeting of the Parish Council was held on Monday 9th December 2019, in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington and commenced at 19.30.
Public Participation
There were two members of the public present.
Present: Councillor Buckley-Jones (Chairman)
Councillor Briscoe
Councillor Chantler
Councillor Rushby
Councillor Cann
Councillor Spencer
Councillor Sockell
Councillor Dziadkiewicz
Councillor George
County Councillor Oxby
District Councillor Tinsley
District Councillor Carrington
Co-Clerk (Finance): J. James
Co-Clerk (Operations) E. Salter
Admin Assistant B. Inman
143/M/19 Chairman’s welcome.
The Chairman welcomed those present and thanked them for coming.
144/M/19 To receive Apologies for Absence, Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensations.
Apologies for Absence:
Apologies were received from District Councillor Goodwin.
Councillor Sargent submitted a letter of resignation with immediate effect.
Declarations of Interest: There were no Declarations of Interest.
Requests for Dispensations: There were no Requests for Dispensations.
145/M/19 To approve notes as minutes from the meeting of the Parish Council on 11th November 2019.
The notes having been distributed before the meeting were taken as read and it was resolved to approve them as minutes.
Planning Matters
Tree works received from NKDC.
There were no Tree work applications received.
Tree works decision notices received from NKDC.
146/M/19 19/1959/TCA Hall Barn, 33 Back Lane, Heighington LN4 1RH. T1 Lime-reduce lateral spread by 1-2m over garden and crown lift to 5m. T2 Lime-reduce lateral spread by 2-3m over garden and crown lift to 5m. T3 Lime-reduce height of regeneration growth stems to approx. 15m, crown lift to 5m. T4 Lime-reduce height by up to 4m, crown lift to 5m to boundary side. North Kesteven District Council has notified the Parish Council that at a Tree Protection Order is not required.
Planning applications received from NKDC.There were no Planning Applications received from NKDC.
Planning decision notices received from NKDC.There were no Decision Notices received from NKDC.
147/M/19 Clerk’s Report (for information only).
• To note the email received from District Councillor Tinsley regarding the proposal to impose a 40mph speed limit on the southerly portion of Church Hill, Washingborough.
• To note letter received from Andrew & Co Solicitors that they have merged with Chattertons Solicitors.
• To note email received from the Tree Officer regarding the dead cedar tree at 4 Washingborough Road, which has now been removed.
148/M/19 Correspondence (Read file for Members’ perusal).
• Litter picker’s reports for November.
• Environmental Warden’s reports for November.
• Police Crime Reports September - October.
Financial Matters:
149/M/19 To approve the monthly accounts for November 2019. The monthly statements were signed by Councillor Rushby. It was resolved to approve the monthly accounts for November 2019.
150/M/19 To discuss recent flooding issues and further action to be taken.
Inundation of the Anglian Water sewer, November 2019
After a period of extremely wet weather in September and October further heavy rain starting on 7th November caused localised flooding in Heighington. The Parish Council has sent a questionnaire to affected households to obtain an accurate picture of what has happened and we hope to collate the responses during January. In the meantime, as before (2002, 2007 and 2012), it is already clear that inundation of the sewer was a key problem. This is a key concern given ongoing development within the village and we hope to explore the apparent lack of capacity of the sewer with the key bodies involved in due course. In the meantime, we have also been reminded about an ongoing issue with the treatment of drainage for replacement properties, where a property is demolished and replaced with a new build. We note that such properties have been allowed to continue to discharge surface water into the sewer despite our objection to this. We ask our Chairman to write to our District Councillors to remind them of this issue and to seek their support to resolve it.
151/M/19 To receive an update from Councillor Cann and Councillor George regarding the current email system of the Parish Council. Councillor Cann agreed to call in the office on the 10th December 2019 to look at the system and report his findings at the next full Council meeting on the 27th January 2019.
152/M/19 To review the following policies.
• Subject Access Request Procedure (SAR)
• Consent Form
• Records Retention Policy
• Data Protection Policy
• Data Breach Policy
• General Privacy Notice – minor amendment
• Privacy Notice – minor amendment
• Information and Communication Technology Policy – minor amendments.
Members noted that the policies required only minor amendments and approved these policies.
153/M/19 To receive a report from Councillor Sockell regarding the Pike and Eure Educational Foundation meeting.
The Pike and Eure Educational Foundation have received approximately £120,000.00 into the trust fund from the sale of the old village hall, Washingborough. Currently grants are awarded to young people between 16-25 as a one off award of up to £350.00 depending on needs. The trust is considering expanding who they award grants to within the villages and were asking for suggestions.
154/M/19 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only). County Councillor Ron Oxby:
December County Report 2019 Elections have now been the main topic for most people and during this time with purdah in place, the council is carrying on with normal duties, with no proposals being announced.
The excessive rain we have been experiencing has caused problems in many areas. Lincolnshire although having one of the lowest rainfalls in the country has not been exempt, with rivers and drains bursting their banks, leading to scenes not seen for many years. People that have had both flood water and in some cases, sewage entering their homes will have months of cleaning up to contend with. Farmland will also suffer for up to three years as these issues drown the earthworms, vital to fertility of the soil.
The Eastern bypass has suffered as well, with Hawthorn Road completion date delayed by a week or so, fortunately the footbridge had been installed before the worst if the rain had affected its installation.
The C113 Heighington to Canwick Road was due to open just before Christmas, this will hopefully be opened towards the end of January, but this will delay the start of the final roundabout on the B1190 at Washingborough by a few weeks, providing the flood water can be pumped away.
Finally, the now famous Potterhanworth railway bridge has had its drainage problems sorted out, with a final CCTV camera inspection of the drainage pipe work due to take place next year.
District Councillor Carrington:
District Council Report December 2019 Cllr Ian Carrington
• Flooding. LCC is the Lead Local Flood Authority but NKDC continues to play an active part. Senior NK Staff in daily contact with all relevant parties and have been active in ensuring that Anglian Water has helped with clean up. There will be a full review of events in which NK will play an active part and seek to ensure lessons are learned lessons are learned. Important that lessons are both for urban areas AND for agricultural land - all merits protection.
• Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP). Annual provision for rough sleepers triggered by sustained cold weather. If triggered NK’s Housing Team works with partner agencies to ensure anyone who is homeless has food and accommodation. NK has dedicated staff operating year round to find accommodation for those who need it, but SWEP provisions are designed to make sure emergency measures are also in place. Parish Councils can refer individuals of whom they are aware and should contact the Housing Team.
• NKDC was a finalist in two categories of national housing awards and awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in one. The award underlines NK’s commitment to council and affordable housing as part of overall housing provision to make residents’ lives better.
• Church Hill Washingborough speed limit. Cllr Carrington and Cllr Tinsley have commented on LCC’s consultation agreeing with the proposed extension of 30MPH zone but also asking for the anomalous 60MPH zone to be reduced to 40MPH to match the adjoining speed limit in Heighington
• NKDC Household Survey is currently out for consultation with a closing date of end January. All residents, parish councillors and parish councils are invited to take part to help NK learn what its priorities should be in the coming year.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 20.27 hours.
Signed: