November 2023 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 13th November 2023 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catlow
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Rushby
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Sowerby
Councillor Watkinson
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
Responsible Finance Officer - Nikki Briscoe
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
NKDC & LCC Councillor Ian Carrington
Absent:
Councillor Trafford
There were 4 members of the public present.
Public participation
A member of the public asked to speak about a flood report they had produced following Storm Babet. This was based on publicly available data. Key points were:
- The rainfall was unprecedented
- This type of event is far more regular than once in 100 years
- Groundwater levels took 10 days to respond to the impact of the storm
- There is a high likelihood of further groundwater flooding over the winter
- The catchment area for Heighington and Branston becks is huge
- Any significant housing development at Branston will impact Heighington and attenuation must be considered as part of any planning applications
- Plea to NKDC to listen to locals and to Heighington Parish Council comments when determining further planning applications – these comments (based on local knowledge) have been disregarded on previous applications
The chair thanked the member of public for their comments.
One member of the public left the meeting (7:07pm).
135/M/23 To receive apologies for absence, these having been submitted to the Clerk prior to the meeting
Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Trafford.
136/M/23 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations
There were none.
137/M/23 To approve the draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 9th October 2023 and for members of the Employment Committee to approve the draft notes of the Employment Committee meeting held on Monday 9th October 2023 and for these to be signed as the agreed minutes
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to approve the Parish Council minutes. It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to approve the Employment Committee minutes. The minutes were duly signed.
138/M/23 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only)
Cllr Carrington confirmed he would have a flooding update in a later agenda item (minute 148/M/23).
Summary of the NKDC update:
- NKDC has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving carbon net zero by 2030
- An election has been called for the Billinghay Rural Ward
- Phase one of Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park is now complete (15 units)
- Flourishing Scale consultation
139/M/23 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the October council meeting
This was noted.
Financial matters:
140/M/23 To approve the monthly accounts for October, including List of Payments, List of receipts, Net Position and Bank Reconciliation
The RFO confirmed that the October bank reconciliation had been approved by Cllr Catlow prior to the meeting.
The bank balances as shared with council for October 2023 were: Unity Trust current account - £104,565.79, Co-op current account - £30,015.24, PSDF (Public Sector Deposit Fund account) - £48,000.
It was proposed by Cllr Rushby, seconded by Cllr Craig and resolved to approve the monthly accounts for October.
141/M/23 To note overtime worked in September and paid in October
The overtime report was noted.
142/M/23 To agree a new contract with our current printer/copier supplier (Ricoh), as the current contract is coming to an end
It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Watkinson and resolved to agree a 5-year contract for a new machine, which has the same rental cost but slightly cheaper printing cost per sheet.
143/M/23 To note agreement pf the 2023-24 NJC pay award, which is to be backdated to 1st April 2023
This was noted.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
144/M/23 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC
a. 23/1276/TCA. T1 Plum – removal. T2 – Maple – reduce height, 3m crown lift. 65 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1JS
There were no comments – leave this to NKDC tree officer.
145/M/23 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
146/M/23 To note the planning applications received from NKDC and considered offline as comments were required before the next scheduled meeting.
a. 23/0929/HOUS. Erection of (retrospective) summer house and erection of a canopy. (Receipt of amended details). 48 Park Lane, Heighington, LN4 1RF
No comments.
b. 23/1036/HOUS. Erection of a 1.5 storey rear extension and alterations and new front boundary wall with driveway gates. 17 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1RG.
Comments submitted:
1. We have presumed that this application (23/1036/HOUS) now overrides the previously approved application 22/0408/HOUS.
2. We note that the submitted plans, Design and Heritage Statement and Flood Risk Assessment are the same for both applications.
3. The following are areas of concern:
a. Drainage: The Flood Risk Assessment is inadequate in that it only states that the existing floor level will be used for the new build and that the future residents can move to the upper floor in times of flooding. There is no obvious indication of how this site will be drained. Will the drains and sewer be connected into the existing systems? A soakaway at this property is inappropriate due to its position and issues that the centre of the village has with groundwater flooding and on occasions (notable October 2023) surface water flooding. The plans do not state what material any hard landscaping will be constructed from or if it will enable water to percolate through rather than run off.
b. There are no indications how this new build will conform to the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, in particular:
Policy S6 – Design Principles for Efficient Buildings. (These include orientation of buildings, form of buildings, fabric of buildings, heat supply and generation of renewable energy).
Policy S7 – Reducing Energy Consumption
Policy S20 – Resilience and Adaptable Design (to make these buildings fit for the future and the changes in the climate)
The applications and comments were noted.
147/M/23 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 23/1058/HOUS. Proposed side and rear flat roof extension. 81 Washingborough Road, Heighington. Application approved.
Noted.
148/M/23 To receive an update on the recent flooding and agree remedial actions
The chair permitted residents and Cllr Carrington to contribute to this agenda item.
The following comments were made:
- Heighington Parish Council need the opportunity to comment on planning applications at Branston as Heighington is impacted due to the geology and drainage systems
- NKDC doesn’t control what flood risk assessments are made with planning applications but can assess whether the flood risk assessment is suitable or not
- Previous recommendations about raising the school floors following the last flooding in 2007 were not listened to
- Comments from locals about past and ongoing flooding are not being listened to
- The core issue is groundwater flooding
- With climate change, the weather is likely to get more extreme and what we’ve recently experienced is likely to become the norm
- Sandbags fall under the responsibility of LCC – a request was made to see if more sandbags could be made available to the parish council for distribution when required
- There will be a full LCC enquiry under the Flood Water Management Act on 27th November
- Call for evidence - request for parishioners to report (retrospective) actual flooding in their premises or near misses on FixMyStreet (stating the date, location, What3Words if possible) so that LCC has this information
- It was noted how the community really pulled together during the flooding
Three members of the public left at this point (8:00pm).
149/M/23 To receive the annual tree inspection report and agree action required
It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved to receive the report and commission a tree surgeon to action the moderate and high tree works identified.
150/M/23 To consider items which can be funded from the CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) monies
We currently have £2274.29 in CIL funds. It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to purchase a triple-bench with back and a wheelchair-accessible picnic table (costing £340 and £475 ex-VAT respectively, from NBB Outdoors) for Station Road. Both items are black and made out of recycled plastic (25-year life).
151/M/23 To report back on the Slow Ways initiative (as per minute 127/M/23, from October’s meeting)
Slow Ways is an initiative to create a national network of walking routes connecting villages, towns and cities. Cllr George has signed up to receive further information and will report back to council as appropriate.
152/M/23 To report back on engagement with Branston Community Academy
Cllr Watkinson fed back from a meeting with Branston Community Academy:
- The Academy have community ambassadors and would like to get involved with the council
- They have photography students who may be able to help produce a village leaflet
- Members of the sixth form are able to help out with the Festive Tea
- Duke of Edinburgh Awards students would like to help with the tree and bulb planting
- Students may be able to help to maintain the beck
- They would be interested in an art project in the railway underpass if we can get permission
Cllr Watkinson also has a meeting coming up with the work experience co-ordinator at Lincoln College.
153/M/23 To receive an update on the Zero Carbon Parishes project, including:
a. Plans for the tree and bulb planting
The trees have arrived, but they came without protectors, which we’ll need to purchase. Cllr Sowerby will pass details onto the office for ordering. This will come out of the zero carbon budget. The tree and bulb planting will take place at Station Road at 10:00am on 25th November.
b. Arrangements for installation of the cycle racks and water butts purchased out of this grant
The water butt at Station Road is up but pending removal of the drain cover to fit the new downpipe. The other water butts are to be installed. Cllr Buckley-Jones has the locations for the cycle racks, and we’ll need to look for a contractor to install these.
154/M/23 To receive the latest update regarding Chafer bugs on council land (standing agenda item)
It was confirmed that the Nematodes had been applied to the bowling green as agreed. There was no further update.
155/M/23 CLOSED SESSION. To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 for the following items on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Rushby and resolved to move into closed session.
The three district councillors left the meeting.
156/M/23 To consider the first draft budget for 2024-25 (due to be approved at December’s meeting)
The RFO ran through the first draft 2024-25 budget and explained the assumptions this was based on. Further information on the draft Band D figures should be known for December’s meeting, when the budget is to be approved (subject to final confirmation of the Band D figures in time for January’s meeting).
There were no comments on the draft budget at this point.
157/M/23 To consider quotes for extending the Parish Office
The Clerk declared an interest.
It was proposed by Cllr Sockell, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to go with the quote from JKBS Ltd and for this to be funded from the allocation under the Station Road redevelopment reserves.
158/M/23 To consider quotes for pipe lagging at the Jubilee Hall (zero carbon parishes)
It was resolved to defer this item to December’s meeting, for the previous quote to be updated and for additional quotes to be obtained.
159/M/23 To consider quotes for thermal blinds at Station Road (zero carbon parishes)
Cllr Sockell proposed, Cllr Buckley-Jones seconded, and it was resolved to approve the quote from Dobbs Blind Makers Limited for £550 plus VAT and for this to come out of the zero-carbon budget.
The meeting closed at 8:57 pm.
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of Council proceedings until they are approved and signed at the next meeting.
Correspondence and meetings since the October meeting