At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 20 November 2024 in Bratoft Church Room.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mr S. Roachford; Mr R. Harman; Mr R. Currie; Miss H. Smithson Whitehead; Mr A. Brewer; Mrs C. Brewer and two members of the public.
Apologies were received from Mr C. Moore; Mrs S. Wilford and LCC Cllr Mrs W. Bowkett.
Mr Siddon addressed the Council regarding Kelsey Wood Country Park. He stated that he has an appointment to discuss the matter with Richard Tice MP, but he was concerned that there had been a breach of the Data Protection Act as he is named in various emails sent from ELDC. He once again reiterated that although there is an annual legal requirement for people who use this site to provide evidence of a residential address by means of a Council Tax bill, this does not appear to be happening. This information should be contained in an occupancy register held on site. Currently there is no register at this site, although the present owner states that the register is on his laptop. Mr Siddon also asked if the Parish Council could ask the following question: "Why was Mr & Mrs Siddon not offered a lawful development certificate on his lodge when lodges 3, 4 & 5 were." This certificate would have allowed his lodge to be sold as a residential lodge. It was agreed that the Parish Council would ask this question on his behalf.
Mr Eason-Harris addressed the Council regarding the implementation of a Community Resilience Plan, this would enable the Parish Council to have a central contact to access emergency services in the event of a crisis such as flooding, fire or when evacuation is needed. Its all about initiating the processes whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive. This service would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 365 days per year. Details would be given for an out of hours service to contact when a crisis arises. Mr Eason-Harris stated that a core group of 3-4 people would be required and training sessions would be given, all free of charge. After training and setting up of the plan, the Parish Council would have access to real time responses in an emergency. It would provide survival kits etc., that would be located at named hubs. The Community Resilience Plan should be kept as simple as possible. Mr Eason Harris invited the group, once chosen, to attend the training centre in Lincoln.
1. Minutes of the last Meeting
It was therefore 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 stated that she had been speaking to representatives from Quickline regarding their proposed fibre broadband service. They stated that they may not be able to use the current infrastructure to run the cables and this would mean that poles would have to be erected. Miss Smithson Whitehead has asked for a plan where the poles would be located. At present this request has not been responded to.
Mr Heane stated that since the last meeting the Lady Wath Beck has been cleaned out down the Steeping River, but the River itself has not been done because a long reach piece of equipment was required to clean the rest out. Mr Heane also stated that he understands that the people clearing the Beck are told not to take too much out as there is a stone bed that allows the river to be aerated. Therefore reeds are left in the bottom, causing a kink in the river and the bank to erode.
Mr Heane stated that the dredging of the River and Beck goes someway to stop the over topping and flooding that has been occurring. He also stated that if the Lady Wath Beck had been completely cleared out then it may not have over topped. But, if it had been cleared out and it still over topped then there is obviously a problem somewhere else which would need to be looked at.
It was agreed to request that the current ongoing maintenance plan of the Lady Wath Beck/River Steeping be looked at, with the view to ensuring that the complete dredging of these areas are carried out.
3. Police Matters
It was agreed to report a vehicle that has be abandoned with flat tyres on the junction of Station Road/Beldings Close, Firsby.
4. County Councillor's Report
Cllr Bowkett sent her apologies and the following report:
"Burgh Road, Thorpe has got a collapse on it which has closed it for a short period, if you are travelling that way please find an alternative route, people are trying to drive through.
Major works which will cause disruption if you are visiting Skegness from November Park Av between Scarborough Av and Castleton Boulevard, will have a closure on it until Friday 7th March. The footpaths have come to the end of there life and will be reconstructed causing the road to be closed.
Steve Easton Harris is inviting parish councils to Lincoln for a resilience training evening well worth the visit and will help in your community plan that is urgently needed.
LCC plan to plant 750,000 trees over the next 10 years, which accounts for 1 per every resident in Lincolnshire. This will make the county a greener better place. Trees will only be planted in areas that are suitable, seeing trees in towns and streets certainly make people feel better. A second round of free trees should be available in the spring.
A family in Lincolnshire have lost everything in a suspected e scooter fire, the fire service are reminding residents not to charge anything inside the house, this includes disability scooters. If the battery explodes or overheats this can be the result.
The river steeping de weeding and cleaning is beginning in the next few weeks, the long reach will go in next to the Lady Wath / Steeping which should clear the overgrowth that has stopped the flow, continuing down to Thorpe. The weed boats should be through both channels.
The 52 million pound funding to help local drainage boards with urgent work, that Victoria Atkin MP had agreed before the change of government, has finally been released by this government. This is really good news for our area Lindsey Marsh had works ready to go which will certainly help with drainage. Going forward government have also announced that the EA are to work with drainage boards to work up bids for funding to get works done and alleviate flooding issues. The steering group are meeting in January to discuss our area.
I wish you all a happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy new year and thank you for your support through out the year."
5. Correspondence
a) Letter received from Gordon Holmes tendering his resignation from the Parish Council due to ill health. It was agreed to send a letter of thank you for the years of service Mr Holmes has given to the Parish Council.
b) Email received from S Janney on behalf of his parents regarding early morning noise near their property on Eastfield Road, Firsby. It was agreed to write a letter in response.
c) Email received from Judy Chapman regarding the under use of Polling Stations in Irby & Bratoft. Councillors feel that the present arrangements for polling stations should stand.
d) Email received from Rebecca James of South & East Lincolnshire Council Partnership regarding a Town & Parish Council survey. It was agreed to send to Councillors to complete.
e) Email received from Derrick Glassford regarding the shoddy repair of the road on the B1195 Irby. It was agreed to contact Highways about the contents of the letter which the Parish Council totally agree with.
f) Letter received from Lloyds Bank regarding the changing of the Parish Council's bank account to a community account which will now incur fees for its usage. It was agreed to look into whether a better account could be sought with another bank.
g) Verbal request from Mrs Brewer who stated that a resident from Firsby had asked when the post-box will be returned and reported the damage to the notice board on Station Road. Mrs Brewer stated that she had been in contact with the post office regarding the Post-box who stated that the damaged box was taken down and left for collection but was then stolen. A new one has been ordered but there is a shortage and will be replaced in due course. A replacement notice board is in the process of being dealt with.
6. Plans
Application No S/091/01397/24 by Ms J Chapman for Planning Permission - 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.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - erection of a calf shed at Barn View, Wainfleet Road, Firsby.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Erection of a detached garage with the construction of vehicular access at Resman, Fendyke Road, Firsby.
7. Highways
It was agreed to inform Highways of the contents of Derrick Glassford's comments.
8. Any Other Business
Miss Smithson Whitehead stated that she would like to buy back the laptop that was purchased to record the information from the speed monitor. Councillors agreed that Miss Smithson Whitehead could purchase the laptop, the money will be paid back into the Parish Council's account.
9. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Bratoft PCC Use of Room £20
Bolingbroke Deanery, printing of Dec/Jan Newsletter £120.