MINUTES OF THE WOODHALL SPA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 17TH JANUARY AT 7.30 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER STANHOPE AVENUE
PRESENT
Councillors: D Clarke (Chairman), M Williams, J Frost, T Clapton, R Sanderson, A Wilson,
I Clarke and A Hunter
IN ATTENDANCE
A Bushell (Parish Clerk), ELD Cllr C Leyland and 3 members of the public
9961 Chairman’s remarks
The Chairman made no remarks.
9962 Apologies for absence with reason given
Apologies were received and reasons given were accepted from Cllr Sisley and Cllr S Williams. Cllr Phelan was absent.
ELD Cllr Gorst had also sent apologies.
9963 Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011
There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared in matters on the agenda, which had not already been declared to the Monitoring Officer at ELDC.
9964 REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS FOR A DISPENSATION ON ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
Cllrs J Frost and R Sanderson had submitted requests for a dispensation to allow them to approve the budget and set the precept because they lived within the parish, and were not present at the January 2016 when the other councillors had been granted a dispensation.
It was unanimously RESOLVED to grant them with a dispensation up to May 2019 to allow them to set the precept.
There were no further requests for a dispensation.
It was RESOLVED to alter the order of the agenda and deal with item 10 next.
9965 TO CONSIDER AND RESPOND TO PLANNING APPLICATION S/215/02445/16 – LAND OFF TOWER DRIVE AND HORNCASTLE ROAD
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to support the application to build 9 bungalows with the following observations which the Parish Council would like to see conditions placed on the planning permission, if approved, to address them:
- There was no drainage information contained in the application, and there should be a drainage plan that met the requirements of the drainage authority before a decision was made on the application.
- There was concern that HGVs delivering building materials to the 3 plots on Horncastle Road would need to reverse out onto Horncastle Road after delivering supplies because there appeared to be no turning space to exit forwards.
- This was the second proposed development off Horncastle Road in the last couple of months. There would be a cumulative impact of traffic joining Horncastle Road.
- The new homes would be accessed via Tower Place which was a private road and not Tower Drive as stated in the application. There was concern that construction traffic would have to access the site through a private unadopted road.
The Parish Council noted that this was the second small development by the applicant and was concerned that Seagate Homes were planning to build many more homes in this location, but were applying piecemeal to avoid having to financially contribute to the infrastructure of the village. It was suggested that the Parish Council should write to Seagate Homes and ask for a contribution to the village infrastructure because new homes would have an impact on the village.
ELD Cllr Leyland and the members of the public left the meeting at this stage.
9966 Notes of the meeting HELD ON 13TH DECEMBER to be approved as the minutes
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED by 7 votes and 1 abstention to approve the notes as being a true record of the meeting. The Chairman signed the notes.
9967 Reports from Clerk and Councillors on matters outstanding and actions arising from the minutes
The following matters were reported:
- Fairtrade Village Status (9915): The Chairman had spoken with Jo Evison who informed him that the person that had suggested the idea and done a lot of the work when the original application was submitted no longer lived in the village, and as far as she was concerned there was no impetus to apply again. As per the decision made by the Parish Council at the December meeting this matter would be dropped.
- Ornamental Village Sign Repair (9921): The gentleman who was repairing the sign had been out of the country so had been unable to collect the sign. He was due to pick it up next week and it was hoped that it would be repaired and back in place by spring.
9968 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
a. Personnel Committee meeting held on 3rd January
The notes were received. There were no questions.
b. Finance Committee meeting held on 5th January
The notes were received. There were no questions.
c. Planning Committee meeting held on 10th January
The notes were received. There were no questions.
It was RESOLVED to deal with agenda item 8. (Reports from District & County Councillors) when ELD Cllr Leyland returned to the meeting.
9969 TO APPROVE THE LETTER TO BE SENT TO ELDC REGARDING THE CONCERNS OVER PLANNED GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE AS A RESULT OF THE EMERGING LOCAL PLAN
The Chairman encouraged members to agree upon the contents of the letter at this meeting so that it could be sent to ELDC as soon as possible as the matter had been going on for a few months.
Members had been sent a draft letter with suggested alterations made by councillors to consider prior to the meeting.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the latest amended version of the letter and send it to both the Planning Portfolio Holder and Planning Committee Chairman at ELDC, and cc it to the two ELDC Ward Councillors.
9970 TO CONFIRM THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANISE THE REMEMBRANCE PARADE AND TO CONSIDER CONTACTING LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE SUPPORT FOR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY PARADES
The Chairman ran through the plan that had been suggested at the meeting with members of the Woodhall Spa branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).
It was felt that if the Parish Council didn’t organise the Remembrance Parade then it wouldn’t happen, but members were reminded that there hadn’t been any funds put in the 2017/18 draft budget for the Remembrance Parade and some funds would be needed in case the Parish Council had to purchase signs, barriers, etc… to block the roads.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to:-
a) Continue to organise the Remembrance Parade
b) Write to Lincolnshire Police and express disappointment at the lack of support for Remembrance Parades and ask if it could supply a reduced amount of Officers to assist with this year’s parade.
c) Write to the Woodhall Spa branch of the RBL to ask if they could offer a financial contribution towards the additional expenses involved in ensuring that the Remembrance Parade took place safely
d) Ask community organisations if they could offer any members or equipment to assist the road closure on Remembrance Sunday
e) Ask the event planning team at Lincolnshire Police to look over the plan
ELD Cllr Leyland returned to the meeting.
9971 REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS
ELD Cllr Leyland was made aware of the contents of the letter which the Parish Council had agreed to send to ELDC regarding concerns over planned growth of the village, and he informed the meeting that he would be happy to ensure that the Parish Council received a full response. He gave credit to the Parish Council for doing an excellent job at responding to planning applications.
9972 TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND SET THE PRECEPT FOR 2017/18
The Parish Council considered the budget drafted by the Finance Committee and the recommendations made by the Committee at its meeting on 5th January, and the Chairman and the Clerk answered questions on the proposed budget.
Members felt that it would be sensible to increase the precept even more than the amount proposed by the Finance Committee to bring the general reserves back up to the recommended level.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to approve a balanced budget of £88,478.15 for 2017/18 and set the precept at £69,622 which was a 20% increase to tax payers. £2,600 would be put into general reserves, the grants and donations budget would be set at £5,000, and £1,000 would be put in the Remembrance Parade budget. It was pointed out that Woodhall Spa had one of the lowest precepts in the area for the size of the village.
9973 TO DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF A BLOCKED DRAIN UNDER THE ENTRANCE ROAD AT JUBILEE PARK
The Chairman explained the history of this matter and the work that had been carried out by Ajet Drain Services on 23rd December.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to write to the Cricket Club and explain the outcome of the investigations carried out by Ajet Drain Services and ask them to contact Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa as it appeared that the damage to the drainage pipes was being caused by hedges and tree roots in Jubilee Park. The Cricket Club would be told that the Parish Council paid for the initial work by Ajet Service as a gesture of goodwill, but was not prepared to pay for any further work.
9974 REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS
No reports were given.
9975 TO SET THE DATE FOR THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
The date for the Annual Parish Meeting was set as Thursday 9th May to be held in St Peter’s Hall. The arrangements and format of the meeting would be confirmed nearer the time.
9976 TO AGREE THE CONTENTS OF THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
The following items were suggested for the next issue which would be printed in the March issue of the Woodhall Wapentake magazine.
· Thank you to volunteers who helped put up and take down the Christmas Lights, and express disappointed that the number of volunteers had decreased
· Precept amount and explanation for the increase
· Advertise grants fund for 2017/18 year
· PC Surgery on 4th March
· NDP update
· Parish Council vacancy
· Encourage residents to report potholes to Lincolnshire County Council
· Encourage residents to trim back hedges that are encroaching onto pavements
· Advertise that the Parish Council had litter picking equipment for residents to borrow if they wished to do a litter pick.
Councillors were asked to write and send any articles to the Clerk by 30th January.
9977 TO NOMINATE A NEW BANK SIGNATORY
Members were reminded that the Parish Council usually had 4 councillors who could sign cheques and approve payments. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED that Cllr Marcus Williams would replace Graham Keegan as a bank signatory.
9978 CORrespondence received since the last meeting
The Council noted the following items of correspondence which had been received since the last meeting.
Sender / Details / OutcomeLincolnshire County Council Highways / Street Lighting Transformation Project Update. / E-mailed to councillors.
Lincolnshire County Council Highways / Letter regarding grass verge cutting / Sent out with agenda e-mail.
The Nomad Trust / Thank you for donating the collection from the Christmas Carol Service to them / Displayed at PC office
Roughton resident / Letter questioning the legality of the road marking at the Victoria Avenue / Tattershall Road junction. Also photos showing the issues with exiting the junction safely. / Scanned and e-mailed to councillors.
ELDC Communications and Campaigns Officer / Notification that Keep Britain tidy is launching its biggest ever litter campaign, to take place from 3rd – 5th March / Information sent to councillors with the agenda
Victoria Avenue/Tattershall Road yellow lines: The Clerk was asked to forward the letter to Highways and support the resident’s concerns that it was very difficult to see and exit safely at this junction.
9979 TO CONSIDER AND RESPOND TO THE ELDC 2017/18 BUDGET CONSULTATION
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED that the Parish Council should respond to the consultation. Responses were agreed to the questions on the consultation form.
Cllr M Williams left the meeting at 8.45pm and did not return.
Cllr I Clarke left the room at 8.45pm to take a phone call.
9980 TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR WORKSHOP SESSIONS FOR THE EAST LINDSEY AREA FORUMS
Members felt that the suggested session on Commenting on Planning Applications would be very beneficial, and would ask if this session could also include responses from other Statutory Consultees, such as Highways, Anglian Water, Education, NHS England, Environment Agency, etc… and the need to ask them directed questions to avoid ‘No comment’ responses.
Cllr I Clarke returned to the meeting at 8.47pm.
9981 TO CONSIDER NOMINATING A PROJECT FOR THE NATIONAL CITIZEN SERVICE FOR 2017
Members couldn’t think of a project to submit, but it was suggested to pass the information to the Coronation Hall Trustees who may have a project to put forward.
9982 items for the next agenda
- Report from CCTV Working Group
- Payments for approval
- To decide who will attend the East Lindsey Area Forum
A question was asked about the plans that the Cricket Club had for the trees at the edge of the pitch.
9983 Dates and times of next meetings
- Wednesday 25th January – meeting with Witham Trading and Mason Surveyors
- Tuesday 7th February at 2.00pm – Planning Committee meeting