At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 15 January 2025 in Little Steeping Village Hall.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mr R. Currie; Mrs S. Wilford; Mrs C. Brewer; Mr A. Brewer and Mr S. Roachford.
Apologies were received from Miss H. Smithson Whitehead; Mr C. Moore; Mr R. Harman; LCC Cllr Mrs W. Bowkett and ELDC Cllr Mr C. Drury.
1. Minutes of the last Meeting
It was agreed that these be signed as a correct record of the proceedings.
2. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting
Mrs Wilford would like Cllr Bowkett to expand on what she means when she stated: "If the proposed matter of combining all the District Councils to one unit goes ahead it will mean more work for Parish Councils to do." It was agreed to ask Cllr Bowkett for more information.
3. County Councillor's Report
Cllr Bowkett sent her apologies and the following report:
"Lincolnshire county council are asking for your views on there recent decision to set the council tax for next year at 2.99 % increase. The consultation is now live and you can access it by searching budgetconsultation@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
The net budget for next year is £690 million, the settlement was £20million less than last year.
The consultation sets out 3 different figures, 2.99%, 3.99% and 4.99%. Government would like us to go for the highest figure but councillors feel that is to much for residents to find when things are tough already.
Last Monday 6th Jan, saw another storm hit us, 65mm of rain fell in a short period of time all over Lincolnshire. This caused many flooding events around the county, there has been over 100 homes reported with internal flooding, we are expecting the numbers to rise.
Great Steeping had flooding on the roads again and I got highways to close early afternoon.
I have a Steeping Steering meeting on Friday where the drainage board, EA, LCC and myself attending I will update you after the meeting.
£1million has been made available by east Lindsey for community project across the district this will be administered by Lincolnshire community foundation again.
A reminder that the sixth round of the household support fund finished March 2025 application forms are now live, households in financial hardship can apply for a voucher to help with food, clothes or other essentials. Contact hsf@lincoln.co.uk or phone 01529 572575."
The Parish Council will complete the consultation on the setting of the Council Tax and will submit a view that 2.99% should be the correct increase.
Mrs Wilford stated that the Steeping River breached at Wainfleet and Little Steeping. Mrs Wilford also stated that when the reeds were cleared, they were left on the side of the bank and were picked up when the river rose and floated back into the water. Mr Heane stated once again that the 2019 report stated that the River Steeping should be cleared out. This has not been done and these events will continue to happen until the river is completely cleaned out from end to end including the culverts.
It was agreed to ask Robert Caudwell, Chairman of the Steeping Steering Group, if the Great Steeping Parish Councillors could attend the meeting on Friday 17 January. The Councillors, who have extensive knowledge and experience of the flooding events in this village, feel that their attendance could provide the Group with some constructive information of what and why it is happening.
4. Correspondence
a) Email received from Sharon Atkinson regarding the co-option of a Parish Councillor for Irby in the Marsh.
b) Email received from Craig Leyland responding to a letter from the Parish Council regarding Kelsey Wood Country Park.
c) Email received from Dean Flowers responding to a letter from the Parish Council regarding obtaining a copy of his report on Kelsey Wood Country Park.
d) Email received from Dean Flowers responding to the letter that the Parish Council sent to Craig Leyland. A discussion took place regarding this matter and it was agreed to wait until the results of the report are known before the Parish Council takes any further action.
e) Email received from Marian Woolhouse giving an account of the monies received for adverts and paid out for the printing of the 5 Parishes Newsletter for 2024/25. Councillors agreed that the magazine was working well and that Ms Woolhouse should be thanked for all her hard work getting the magazine together.
f) Email received from Russell Currie, addressed to Cllr Bowkett, regarding the repeated flooding of Great Steeping. The email lists a serious of questions that the Councillor would like answered by the Environment Agency and Drainage Board.
g) Email received from Cllr Bowkett responding in part to the email from Russell Currie.
h) Email received from Cllr Richard Davies regarding the completion of a survey concerning Highways and Transport. It was agreed that the Clerk complete the survey on behalf of the Parish Council.
5. Plans
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Extensions and alterations to existing village hall to provide a community pantry, entrance, games/meeting room and w.c. and the installation of solar panels and entrance ramps. Erection of 1 no. shed for storage which is an amendment to that previously approved planning application ref. no. S/091/00472/12 at Irby and Bratoft Village Hall, Brambleberry Lane, Irby in the Marsh. It was agreed to support this application.
6. Highways
Notification of a temporary traffic restriction has been received for Little Steeping Level Crossing on 12 February 2025 from 08.00 to 16.00.
It was agreed to report the following matters:
Mrs Wilford stated that permissive footpath along the bank of the Steeping River, Ings Lane, Little Steeping is blocked with an old gate. It was agreed to ask the environment agency to remove the gate and replace with a stile.
7. Any Other Business
Mr Heane stated that the pipe that is blocked by Corner Farm, Halton Holegate needs cleaning out. When it rains hard, the road floods. The Chairman agreed to ask the owner of Corner Farm to unblock the pipe.
Mr Heane also stated that the blocked dykes along Brambleberry Lane and Pinfold Lane, Irby also need clearing out to avoid flooding that takes place in wet weather. It was agreed to ask the owners to clear the dykes out.
Mrs Wilford raised concerns from residents about 2 men driving a white pickup truck around Little Steeping with rifles sticking out of the back. Mrs Wiflord has confirmed that the men are legally culling deer.
Mrs Wilford has been asked for an update on the refurbishment of the Little Steeping telephone box, and stated that there were volunteers who could assist if required. Mr Heane stated that he would chase the matter up with the person doing the refurbishment.
8. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Little Steeping Village Hall Use of Room £24
Bolingbroke Deanery for the printing of the Feb/March Newsletter £140.