At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 16 April 2025 in Little Steeping Village Hall.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Currie; Mrs S. Wilford; Miss H. Smithson Whitehead; Mr S. Roachford; Mr R. Heane; Mr R. Harman; Mr P. Cavanagh and 2 members of the public.
Apologies were received from LCC Cllr Mrs W. Bowkett.
Jessica Dixon from Quickline Communications addressed the Council regarding the company who are bringing broadband to rural, hard to reach areas. Ms Dixon provided maps of Irby & Bratoft which showed, although not very clearly, where poles and ducting are going. Ms Dixon stated that there are 2 stages to the project. The first stage will connect Irby and Bratoft to the broadband system by February 2026 at the latest. The second stage will start to connect Firsby, Great & Little Steeping from July 2025 to March 2027. Openreach's ducting will be used where available. Poles and ducting will be used to fill any areas that do not have Openreach. Any works that are to be carried out are first passed by Lincolnshire County Council. Ms Dixon also stated that areas of disruption will be shown on an app called one.network, enter the name of the village and it will show any planned works.
Pete Siddon updated the Parish Council regarding Kelsey Wood Country Park. Mr Siddon said that he was going to be prosecuted by ELDC and evicted by the site owner at the end of April. Mr Siddon supplied a copy of the Kelsey Wood Country Park Rules he was given, which clearly states all the relevant rules of occupation which each lodge owner must comply with, but not all occupiers are complying. Mr Siddon feels that he is being unfairly treated. He has been paying Council Tax whilst living on the site, whereas others living on the site are not.
Mrs Wilford stated that she had been in contact with Dean Flowers who confirmed that although ELDC intended to prosecute the Siddons, they had not started any proceedings. Mrs Wilford suggested that the District Councillor be asked to write to Dean Flowers and ask for a letter of dispensation to be issued to Mr Siddon until the lodge is finished and put on the market for sale. It was agreed that this should be done.
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
Miss Smithson Whitehead provided the downloaded data from the speed camera which was positioned in Firsby. The camera is now in Irby.
Mrs Wilford stated that huge lorries are using Ings Lane, Little Steeping. This is for scoping. A 25m drill is being used to test the soil. This is linked up with Eastern 3 & 4. The Ossian project also have a large corridor.
3. District Councillor's Report
It was agreed to ask Cllr Drury to write to Dean Flowers to ask for a letter of dispensation to be issued to Mr & Mrs Siddon until such time as ELDC decide whether to prosecute or not.
4. Correspondence
a) Email received from Cavan Collins regarding the next round of the GRASSroots Grants that are available. All applications to be received by 13 June 2025.
b) Email received from PKF Littlejohn regarding the completion dates for the internal and external audit of the Parish Council's accounts.
c) Email received from Sheilagh Wilford regarding an update from the EA about the permissive footpath on the river bank in Little Steeping. The matter has not been resolved. Mrs Wilford has requested a plan of the river bank from Little Steeping to Wainfleet. This should show permissive footpaths that cross the EA's land, which link up with the definitive paths, to form part of the Three Market Towns walk.
5. Plans
Application No S/051/00352/25 by Mr P Gilbert for Planning Permission Erection of 2 no. calf sheds at The Shambles, Wainfleet Road, Firsby. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/051/00320/25 for Planning Permission - Erection of workshop, food store and food preparation shed at Barn View, Wainfleet Road, Firsby. It was agreed to support this application.
Notification has been received of an Appeal under Section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - for Planning Permission - change of use of land to provide 8 no. glamping pitches, excavation of land to form a wildlife pond and an embankment and internal access road at Woodlands, Summergates Lane Bratoft. Any further objections to be received by 1 May.
6. Highways
Notification has been received of a temporary traffic restriction on Burgh Lane, Irby in the Marsh (Between Ings Lane & a point 600m Southwest) for ducting for telecoms. The period of restriction is from 6 May to 9 May 2025. Diversions will be in place.
Notification has been received of a temporary traffic restriction on Mill Lane (Gunby Lane junction to Wainfleet Road), Irby in the Marsh for a carriageway reconstruction. The period of restriction is from 8 May to 3 June 2025. Diversions will be in place.
It was agreed to report the following matters to Highways:
At the top of Sandy Lane, Great Steeping off the B1195 near to the noticeboard there is a large pothole that needs repairing.
At the bottom of Sandy Lane, turning left on to Airfield Road, going towards Spilsby, there is a large pothole that needs repairing.
The railway bridge on Fendyke Road, Firsby has lorries that exceed the weight limit crossing over the bridge. Photographs can be provided.
7. Any Other Business
Mrs Wilford enquired whether any interest had been received regarding the vacancy for a Parish Councillor in Little Steeping. The clerk confirmed that she had not received any requests for information regarding that position.
8. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Little Steeping Village Hall for Use of Room £24.