Minutes of the meeting held 1st August 2023 (draft until approved)
WELTON LE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING
HELD 1st August 2023
Present; Cllrs Williams, Hardcastle, Cladingbowl, Faulkner-Smith, Crome, Holiday and Tong.
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
Cllr S. Eyre (ELDC)
15 Members of the public
During the public session there were no issues raised, Cllr Holiday thanked the volunteers who had done some hedging work.
28 APOLOGIES
There were none
29 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Holiday declared an interest in agenda item 8 – planning Beck Lane.
Cllr Hardcastle declared an interest in agenda item 8 – planning Misty Meadows.
30 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 13TH JUNE 2023
It was resolved that the Chairman sign those minutes as a correct record of that meeting.
31 UPDATES
Minute 17 (b) Additional cheque signatories – Cllrs Williams and Hardcastle to sign documents and Cllr Williams agreed to take to existing signatories no longer on the Council for them to counter sign form for additional signatories and removal of ex councillors.
Minute 19 – Grass cutting – contract states “land opposite Village Hall/ Footpath 227 & F/path 375”. To be agenda item for next meeting.
Minute 24 – Battery for speed sign – Dorman experiencing issues at present and will get back as soon as they are able.
Exemption for Burning certificate – Clerk to investigate.
32 PLANNING
It was resolved to bring this item forward on the agenda.
Application 1216/23 - Erection of house – Beck Lane
Cllr Holiday left the room during the discussion of this item.
Clerk advised members of comments lodged on ELDC web site, 7 letters of objection.
Cllr Tong proposed that the Parish Council objected on the grounds that the design would potentially harm the character and existing street scene of Beck Lane contrary to SP4 (2), would conflict with the character of the AONB, would affect the nearby area of locally important wildlife habitat contrary to SP25. This was seconded by Cllr Crome and it was therefore resolved to object on those grounds.
Cllr Holiday returned to the meeting.
Application 1327/23 – 18 static mobile homes – Misty Meadows.
Cllr Hardcastle left the room during the discussion of this item.
Clerk advised members of comments lodged on ELDC website – 19 letters of objection.
Cllr Holiday proposed that the Parish Council object on the grounds that Welton le Marsh is not defined as a large or medium village and therefore the proposal is contrary to Strategic Policy 15 & 19 which identify that such developments shall be supported where the site is within close proximity to a town, large or medium village. In addition it is felt the proposal is contrary to SP 15(1) as it will cause unacceptable harm to the landscape, biodiversity or heritage asset and is out of scale and intensity compatible with its surroundings. Parts of the village are within the AONB and it was felt this site, adjacent to the protected AONB should be offered protection under SP23. Members also raised concerns regarding the existing bases not being lifted but merely covered over with grass, and it was felt that this action, together with the proposed site layout, indicates potential for future expansion. The Parish Council also supported the objection by local residents which included lack of infrastructure, impact on existing flora and fauna, increase in noise and light pollution and increase in traffic. It was agreed that the site should be returned to its original approved density.
This was seconded by Cllr Williams and it was resolved that the Council strongly object on those grounds.
33 FINANCIAL
It was resolved that the following accounts be paid:
Clerks salary & PAYE (July) £153.91
ELDC Election costs £ 48.50
LALC Cllr Training (Cllr Williams) £ 30.00
34 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME
Cllr Williams had looked into this – there are two possible versions –
Group application (1 co-ordinator and members of the parish apply to join that group)
Affiliate (organisation such as Parish Council applies and residents automatically members)
It was agreed to look at joining through the Affiliated route.
35 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Following the meeting of the public held 25th July where Cllr Davie of Orby PC spoke about the benefits of a Neighbourhood Plan, the Council was considering whether to develop a flyer to send to all residents to gauge their opinions on whether to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan, whether to do a stand alone plan or join with neighbouring parishes, and whether any resident wished to form part of a Steering Group.
A member of the public then offered to form a separate Steering Group of residents who had approached him to explore options in the first instance. Cllr Tong proposed that the Council take up the offer and this was seconded. It was therefore resolved that the Parish Council itself did not form a Steering Group but the member of the public formed the Group and would report back to the Council once options had been explored.
36 ALLOTMENTS
a) Appointment of Allotment Officer and remit. The remit was agreed that the Allotments Officer would take active role in management of the allotments, collecting rents, deal with waiting lists and allocation of vacant plots, carrying out Risk Assessments and Inspections and attend Allotment Holders meetings. It was agreed that this be a dual role between Cllrs Hardcastle and Faulkner-smith working with Cllr Holiday.
b) The Clerk advised that there were currently 7 vacancies and she had received one application for an allotment. This was passed to the Allotment Officer(s) via Cllr Holiday.
It was also agreed wording on the notice board be Welton le Marsh Parish Council Allotments
37 ANY OTHER MATTERS
Correspondence:
Clerk had circulated Cllr Davie’s Highway job list for the week.
Update on no HGVs on Mill Lane – this was added to LCC list of sites, but LCC currently working on a review of policy and assessments were being held until such policy was updated.
Pension letter – Clerk to re-declare no pensions provided.
Cllr Tong had received an email from ELDC regarding an initiative to give grants to help communities. It was suggested that the Parish Council apply to receive funding to then give to local groups to help provide community benefits such as luncheon club, warm spaces etc.
It was resolved that Cllr Tong applied on behalf of the Parish Council as to leave for the next agenda would mean missing the deadline.
Cllr Holiday had looked at LCC’s map of drains in the parishes and wished to do a survey to update the map. Member of the public volunteered to assist as he had some historical information.
Outer Dowsing – it was agreed to nominate Cllrs Cladingbowl and Holiday to attend a Community Liaison Meeting.
Additional item for next agenda:
Personnel policies
Grounds contract
38 NEXT MEETING
This was agreed as 5th September 2023.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8:10pm