Report Gedney PC 8 December 2009
Call Connect
At present, there is no suggestion that either the majority funding from Lincolnshire County Council Highways or the additional funding from South Holland District Council is under threat from impending funding cuts. However, as a cut of 20% is being looked for, some cutbacks cannot be ruled out.
Junction signs at the junction of Raven’s Bank and Jiggles Gate
Replacement signs were requested, LCC Highways advise that there never were junction signs at this point, despite the fact that there are junction sign at several other junctions along Raven’s Bank. The request will now be dealt with as a request for new signs to improve road safety at this junction. Vehicles, particularly a night or in poor visibility, over shoot the junction when travelling on Raven’s Bank and then are forced to either detour or make an inconvenient three point turn with the dyke to one side.
Obscured road sign at the junction of Old Fen Dyke and Green Lane
For some time a tree has been growing in front of the finger post to Gedney Hill. LCC Highways have inspected and have requested the owner to cut back the tree.
Voluntary Car Scheme
The position remains the same as previously reported. LCC Highways are seeking a coordinator to make possible a car scheme in the parish..
Sea Defences
The maintenance of secondary sea defences might be improved if a code of practice was available to landowners having secondary sea defences on their land. However, enquiries of the NFU indicate that they do not publish such a guide.
Pumping stations along the line of the sea banks are not normally independently protected from inundation should a sea bank breach and a loss of pumping capacity with resulting river flooding is possible.
The Shoreline Management Plan circulated by the Environment Agency is still under consideration at SHDC. I asked the Lead Officer, Mr S Williams whether he had received the parish council’s comments on the SMP. His reply caused me some concern:
“With regard to your fourth bullet point, I have not seen any letters or papers from local residents but if something was received, I guess initially we would pursue it through the SMP.” This surprises me because I was under the impression that Gedney Parish Council had written to SHDC setting out its very serious concerns about the content of the EA’s Shoreline Management Plan which currently being consulted upon. Could you please let me have a copy of the letter or email so that I can track it down and make sure that it is carefully considered.”
It would be helpful if the Parish Clerk would let me have a copy of the letter written to SHDC with regard to the SMP. I can then ensure that it is properly considered.
The District Council will debate its response to the consultation at the end of December or early in the New Year.
It appears that there has been some movement on the question of a commitment to maintain sea defences. The EA indicate an acceptance that sea defences along the Wash should be maintained until 2025. Thereafter, the extent to which the sea defences will be maintained, or planned retreat was used as an alternative will depend on the effects of global warming at that stage.
At the recent Wash Wide Conference delegates were advised that mud bank sea defences lose their effectiveness increasingly quickly as the sea level beyond them rises, but it was confirmed that in the Wash at present, the salt marshes in front of the sea banks are accreting increasing the protection to the sea banks and therefore the land behind them. However, it is anticipated that this may change and that at an unspecified date in the future the salt marshes may start to be washed away.
Secondary sea defences were not specifically mentioned at the conference. However, I believe that the need to incorporate these in the sea defences for the Wash has been raised with EA by the flood defence committee.
Natural England, who promote planned retreat as a viable alternative to sea defences set out their ideas in a new document available from their web site entitled “No charge? Valuing the natural environment.” Comments can be made to Clearly, there is an urgent need for farming community and others to make an assessment of the effectiveness of the ‘planned retreat’ proposals and their implications and make their views known to all concerned including the Opposition.
The LALC County Committee is now seized of the problem, and it is suggested that the views expressed by the parish council with regard to the SMP and the Natural England Document should also be made available to the LALC Secretariat.
The House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published its analysis and comments on the draft Flood and Water Management Bill and this is also available on the ‘net. Although the bill as presented is truncated, the report gives useful background and much food for thought.
Internal Drainage Boards and Councils are studying the implications prior to lobbying Parliament either through ADA or through the LGA. It remains to be seen whether the bill will reach the statute book.
SHDC Community Engagement Strategy
A copy of the draft Community Engagement Strategy is attached.
This document, drafted by the Assistant Chief Executive will when approved form the basis of the future relationship between the District Council and Parishes in South Holland. .
The overall aim of the strategy is to improve the ability of local people to influence decisions and policies which affect them. It sets out in some detail the current position.
It suggests:
· Closer and consistent consultation with Parishes during the annual review of the Council’s Policy and Budgetary Framework which starts each October, and the development of Participatory Budgeting which means engaging residents and community groups to discuss spending priorities for a defined public budget in their local area.
· Community Planning using Parish Plans, Neighbourhood Panels and the new Local Development Framework process, which goes beyond consultation on individual planning applications and involves local people in the delivery of pleasant , thriving places where people want to live and work.
· Tenant Involvement
· Extended surveys of opinion, perception and satisfaction
A formal system of engagement with parish councils in cluster groups as has been developed with success in North Kesteven is not mentioned. However, the Parish Council may decide to raise this concept of a more formal arrangement with the ACX.
As councilors will know, there has developed in the Long Sutton area a successful informal “cluster” of parishes chaired by Cllr Webb and Cllr Brewis., but this does not have a formal role in either the presentation of a collective view of behalf of the constituent parishes or as a channel through which parishes can be briefed on policy developments at County or District.
Empty Houses
The owner of the house at 7 Dawsmere Bank is known, but has left his residential address. SHDC are attempting to trace him with a view to discussing with him the future use of his property. This I understand must be done before the District Council takes a decision to exercise its powers with regard to empty houses.
Mill, Mill House and Outbuildings at Gedney Dyke
The District Council has power under a number of statutes to serve notices requiring the owner to undertake urgent works to preserve and protect a listed building. If these notices are ignored the Council can take the owner to court seeking a fine for non-compliance.
However, in some cases, as an alternative to compliance, the legislation allows the owner to demolish or hand the cost of repairs to the District Council. The Council’s conservation budget does not allow for this much greater cost of restoration and if such a budget was called for it would mean a substantial rise in the level of Council Tax.
Therefore the Council normally seeks to take action under s 215 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990. This was used with success in the case of the derelict house in Holbeach. It may also be able to use the newer Empty Houses legislation.
The Conservation Officer advises that the condition of the Mill House is such that almost any works, even those designed to make the house wind-tight and watertight would precipitate further collapse. However, discussions with the owner are ongoing with the aim of finding a solution.
Road Name Change – Dawsmere Road
At its last meeting the Parish Council will have received a report from Cllr Sones on the results of a meeting with myself and Phil Adams, SHDC Building Control.
It appears that there are no parish or SHDC records which record how the stretch of road from Red House Corner to Sot Hole Bank came to be known as Dawsmere Road, nor is there any record of an application to alter the name.
In the absence of any documentary evidence with regard to the correct name, SHDC Building Control will not recommend to the SHDC Council a change of name unless a request in writing is received, supported by the majority of all resident which would be affected.
If the Parish Council resolves to seek a change, a letter needs to be sent to SHDC, supported by correspondence from local residents
SGM/November 30, 2009
SOUTH HOLLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL
(DRAFT) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGY
Contents
Our Commitment ………………………………………….…………………….. p3
Introduction (local and national context and why we engage)……….…. p4
Objectives ………………………………………………………………………… p5
Key principles ……………………………………………………………………. p5
What outcomes will this achieve? …………………………………………….p6
How will we achieve these outcomes? ……………………………………… p7
Giving Harder-to-Reach Groups a Stronger Voice …………………………p7
The Role of Elected Councillors …………………………………………….…p8
How we will engage
1. The Policy and Budget Framework (including spending plans) ...........p9
2. Towns, villages and rural engagement .…………………………..……….p10
3. Tenant responsibility .………………….…………………………….……….p11
4. Informing and consulting ………………………….………………………...p11
Implementing the strategy ……………………………………………….……..p13
How will this strategy be monitored and reviewed? …………………….…p13
Appendices
1. Outcomes and measures
2. Community Engagement Action Plan (draft to follow)
Supporting documents
Consultation guidelines (2008)
Tenant Involvement Strategy (consultation version) (2008)
‘Getting Involved’ housing leaflet (2005)
Statement of Community Involvement (2006)
Communications Strategy (2008
Our Commitment
We will consistently and systematically put local needs and priorities at the heart of
what we do and how we plan our services. We must demonstrate that we engage,
listen and respond effectively with communities of place and communities of interest,
increasing the number of people who are actively engaged in constructive two-way
dialogue with us on the things that affect their lives; and feel able to influence the end result because of this.
We recognise that the way the council leads on and supports engagement is vital in
delivering this in a fair and equitable way. This is not just about effective democratic
local government. It is also about making sure that local people feel able to influence
decisions and policies that affect them and have every reasonable opportunity to do
so.
We are committed to:
Making existing engagement more effective, in particular the way we link with
local forums such as neighbourhood panels and community groups
Developing and supporting more creative ways of engaging, using a
combination of electronic and face-to-face channels
Being more active in encouraging people to get involved
Making it possible for those who want to participate (but do not find it easy) to
do so
Putting elected councillors at the heart of community planning, as champions
and catalysts for local action
Demonstrating that we listen and respond; and,
Working with our partners to co-ordinate engagement activity
This strategy document replaces our current consultation strategy and brings
together the council’s consultation guidelines, tenant and other engagement
processes, communications strategy and our Adopted Planning Statement of
Community Involvement. It recognises the new duty placed upon the council to
inform, consult and involve. The purpose is to develop a robust framework for
engagement, including engaging with harder-to-reach groups.
Our strategy is to integrate a range of standing information, consultation and
participation techniques with tailored engagement in a co-ordinated and
creative way to meet the needs and concerns of our communities.
Cllr Gary Porter, Leader of the Council
Terry Huggins, Chief Executive
Introduction
South Holland is a rural district of 85,000 residents in which Spalding is the main
population centre with approximately 23,000 residents. There are clusters of
population in smaller towns and villages and the remaining population is rural and
dispersed.
The social make-up of the area has changed considerably in recent years with the
arrival of significant numbers of retired older people and migrant workers who have
come here for employment, bringing with them different expectations. This adds to
the challenge of involving dispersed, working rural communities in shaping what
happens where they live, so community engagement is a key concern.
Elected councillors play a central role, making decisions as democratically elected
leaders and also empowering individuals and community groups. We consult and
engage in South Holland so that residents can shape:
Services: ensuring that residents have an input to decisions so that the
services we provide better meet their needs
Priorities: involving residents on decisions relating to key programmes
and spending plans
Plans for the future: providing opportunities to participate in developing a thriving,
working rural community
Although this has helped us to improve the services we provide, we know that
roughly one third of local people sampled do not feel they are able to influence
decisions affecting their local area1. We also know that unless effort is made to
reach out to ‘harder-to-reach’ groups, engagement can fail to reflect the views of all
parts of the community.
The national context for this is that despite the quality of local government services
increasing significantly, voter turn-out continues to fall along with confidence in
politicians and satisfaction with public services. The aim is to reverse this trend and
in the process harness community talents. The way to do this, according to
Government, is to give citizens and communities more power to set their own
priorities, have more say in their lives and influence local decisions and services. In
order to deliver this Government has produced a range of measures including the
new duty to involve and ambitions that we should be using participatory budgeting
techniques by 2012.
This strategy seeks to address these issues through deepening and extending