April 2023 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 17th April 2023 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Rushby
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Sowerby
Councillor Trafford
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
LCC/NKDC Councillor Ian Carrington
Absent:
Councillor Dziadkiewicz
Councillor Hemlin
Councillor Cerrino
Councillor Pattle
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
NKDC Councillor Glenn Tinsley
Responsible Finance Officer - Nikki Briscoe
There was one member of the public present.
Public Participation
The member of public made a statement in relation to agenda item 19 (minute 238/M/22):
• Bowls Club management meeting has been held today
• The Club is grateful for the opportunity to meet with representatives of the council and the amendments subsequently made to the hire form has allayed their concerns
• The member of public was willing to input further on discussions regarding the fee increase if required
221/M/22 To receive apologies for absence, these having been submitted to the Clerk prior to the meeting
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dziadkiewicz, Hemlin, Pattle and Cerrino.
222/M/22 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations
Cllr Trafford declared an interest in agenda item 19 (minute 238/M/22), as a member of the Bowls Club.
223/M/22 To approve the draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 13th March 2023 and for the Chairman to sign them as the agreed minutes
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to approve the March minutes.
224/M/22 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only)
Update from County and District Councillor Ian Carrington:
Cllr Carrington gave a verbal update:
There are plans underway to make the Pitts Lane/Sheepwash/Washingborough Road junction safer. Highways have costed up a re-design to simplify the junction and hopefully eliminate the issues the current layout brings. There is no timescale for the works yet.
LCC are currently investigating proof of ownership of the layby and footpath in relation to the property on the High Street. If it is proven that the resident owns that stretch of footpath there is a safety issue and LCC could deem it a public right of way. Cllr Carrington is chasing however there is not likely to be a quick solution.
The revised Central Lincolnshire Local Plan review has now been signed off and is now in effect. Ambitious stipulations have been included in the Plan regarding biodiversity net gain and climate change. Guidance notes have also been created so that there can be no ambiguity of interpretation.
Cllr Carrington left the meeting at 7:25pm.
225/M/22 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the March council meeting
This was noted.
Financial matters:
226/M/22 To consider a proposal from the RFO on bank access permissions
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Sowerby and resolved to amend the bank access permissions for the Unity Trust account as suggested by the RFO, to ensure a proper segregation of duties.
227/M/22 To note overtime worked in February, and paid in March
This was noted.
228/M/22 To consider a grant application (for financial year 2023-24) from the Heighington Christmas Market Committee
It was proposed by Cllr Rushby, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to make a grant of £100 to the Heighington Christmas Market Committee, as per the budgeted amount. The power to make the grant comes under S.145 of the Local government Act 1972.
229/M/22 To review feedback from NKDC on the Jubilee Hall premises licence and agree actions
It was proposed by Cllr Sowerby, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved to apply for a minor variation to the premises licence to remove alcohol sales, leaving the entertainment part of the licence. Any events selling alcohol will need to be covered by a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) paid for by the hirer, as is the case now. Once the licence variation fee has been paid, there will be no ongoing annual fee for the premises licence.
230/M/22 To agree to move to a gov.uk domain and emails (for officers and councillors), as recommended in the Practitioner’s Guide (Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance)
This was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
231/M/22 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC
None received.
232/M/22 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
233/M/22 To consider planning application received from NKDC
a. 22/0977/FUL. Erection of 5no. detached two storey dwellings with associated garaging including formation of associated access road and junction with Fen Road and provision of footway connection. Land at Holmleigh, Fen Road, Heighington. Amended plans/additional information submitted relating to drainage, affordable provision, contamination, tree constraints, flood risk and ground investigation.
Council’s previous comments on this application stand.
234/M/22 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 22/11436/DISCON. Application to discharge conditions 3 (boundary treatments), 4 (arboricultural method statement), 6 (soft landscaping), 7 (external lighting), 8 (bird & bat boxes), 9 (Construction Method Statement), & 10 (hard & soft landscaping) attached to permission 21/032/FUL – Erection of three residential dwelling with associated access road and landscaping and including alterations to 45 Washingborough Road (Resubmission of 20/1654/FUL) – 45 Washingborough Road, Heighington, Lincoln, LN4 1QW. Approved.
b. 23/0131/HOUS. Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of single storey rear extension to dwelling house. 42 St Aubin’s Crescent, Heighington, Lincoln. Approved.
The NKDC planning decisions were noted.
235/M/22 To note a resident complaint about noise and smell from the fortnightly Curry Jacks van at the Jubilee Hall and agree action if required.
Council noted the complaint received and also feedback from Curry Jacks regarding the number of customers and positive comments they receive. It was proposed by Cllr Sockell, seconded by Cllr Rushby and resolved that the parish council would not take this any further, however the complainant is perfectly entitled to raise this with NKDC Environmental Health if they wish.
236/M/22 To note the latest litter pick information for January - March
The report was noted. The Clerk confirmed that NKDC had been contacted regarding the process for disposal of any nitrous oxide canisters found.
236/M/22 To receive the latest update regarding Chafer bugs on council land (standing agenda item)
Our contractor has infilled the damaged ground at Station Road and will be re-seeding where required. Fortunately, the bugs seem to be keeping away from those areas which have been rolled and cut short, such as the bowls green. The bugs are now also on the upper field at Potterhanworth Road.
237/M/22 To receive an update on the Zero Carbon Parishes project
Cllr Buckley-Jones shared an update. The next step is to buy and install the bike stands and the water buts. Cllr Buckley-Jones will arrange the bulbs and we’ll look to a community event later in the year for planting.
The next Repair Shed meeting will be held on 22 April. If the cost of the required insurance can be covered then the group can be self-funding, and grants will be explored for this.
Cllr Trafford left the room (8:00pm).
238/M/22 To agree the Heighington Bowls Club sporting hire fees and terms & conditions for 2023-24, following feedback from the Club.
Following discussion and taking into account feedback from the Bowls Club, Cllr Rushby proposed, Cllr Farrington seconded, and it was resolved that the increase should be staggered over two years, as per the Club’s proposal.
The member of public left at this point (8:15pm).
Cllr Trafford returned to the meeting.
239/M/22 CLOSED SESSION. To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 for the following staffing item 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.
240/M/22 To note feedback from staff appraisals and agree actions
Cllr George fed back on behalf of the Employment Committee. Cllr George proposed, Cllr Rushby seconded, and it was resolved to award discretionary increments to the RFO and General Assistant following successful appraisals.
The meeting closed at 8:17 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.
Agenda item 5 - Correspondence and meetings held since the March 2023 meeting