At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held remotely at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 21 April 2021.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mr R. Harman; Mr C. Moore; Mrs S. Wilford; Miss H. Smithson Whitehead; Mrs L. Mitchell; Mr Paul Gilbert; LCC Cllr W. Bowkett and ELDC Cllr S. Dennis.
Apologies were received from Mr G. Holmes and PCSO Jayne Richardson.
One minute's silence was held to mark the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
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 gave an update on the broadband issue. The broadband regulations have changed, there is a question as to who the legal entity would be. Miss Smithson Whitehead suggested that maybe LCC would take on that role. Cllr Bowkett said they would not, she also stated that the launch of the new scheme has been delayed because of the upcoming County Council elections.
Miss Smithson Whitehead also informed the Council the speed monitoring equipment has been installed and currently sited on the B1195 in Irby. A request was made for a laptop to connect to the monitor's bluetooth device so that speeds can be checked. Mr Dennis said he may be able to source an old device. The speed gun still needs to be purchased. Miss Smithson Whitehead stated that more volunteers were required to use the speed gun once purchased.
Mrs Mitchell informed the Council that quotes for the noticeboard in Firsby have now been received. Minster Windows quoted £540 (this does not include a stand) and noticeboards.com quoted £550 which includes a stand.
Mr Heane stated that some repairs to Bartons Lane had been carried out, but there was still a lot of work required to complete the job properly.
3. County Councillor's Report
Councillor Bowkett had emailed the following report:
"The latest on, what’s happening in the public sector in Lincolnshire.
It with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. As the husband and loyal consort of our longest serving monarch, he has provided immense support and presided over numerous public engagements.
We've been very fortunate to host him several times over many decades, showing support for our communities, enabling him to see our county. His well recognised 'Duke of Edinburgh' scheme also runs in the county, which has and still does makes a huge difference in enhancing the lives of many of our young people.
Gradual re-opening of LCC heritage attractions
I'm so pleased that the easing of coronavirus restrictions means that some of our heritage sites can gradually re-open. Pre-booked, timed and capacity limited tickets are on sale for the re-opening of Lincoln Castle's outdoor Medieval Wall Walk from today.
The castle grounds remain open seven days a week from 10am-5pm along with the takeaway café.
Advance bookings can now be made for Lincolnshire Archives on St Rumbold Street in Lincoln which are set to re-open on 13 April. The archives contain a valuable record of life in the county which is used for all kinds of local history research. Opening days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am-2pm, with pre-booking essential.
Following the confirmation that indoor heritage attractions will be able to re-open at Step 3 of the Government's Roadmap no sooner than 17 May, our Cultural Services colleagues are currently working hard behind the scenes on re-opening plans.
Bigger, bolder plans for Culture in Lincolnshire
Libriaries:
From today, 14 core libraries across the county will be open for residents to browse books, pick up reserved items and use computers to access essential digital public services. More details are available on our website.
How good are our services – Carer's, Wellbeing & Quality?
Lincolnshire County Council funds a wide range of support that promote carer's wellbeing, quality of life and ability to continue the caring role. LCC would like to hear from you so that they can ensure future services meet your needs as a carer.
The survey will take about 5 to 10 minutes to complete and will ask you which services you have accessed and how helpful you found the support. If you are a carer and have not accessed support you can still give us your views on how carers can best be supported.
Please click here to complete the survey. The closing date is the 23rd April 2021.
Any questions about the survey please email Sandra.kelley@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Professor Jonathan Van Tam:
Professor Jonathan Van Tam (JVT) (A Lincolnshire Man, born, bred and lives.) visited the mass vaccination site in Boston on 19 March. He took part in a Question and Answer session with community leaders and member of the public – a video of the event is available on YouTube - https://youtu.be/ElPqT-PEnl8
Help to address overweight:
Being obese or overweight increases a person’s risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19. The government has announced £100m of new funding to support children, adults and families achieve and maintain a healthy weight. £70m will be invested in weight management services – made available through the NHS and councils. The remaining £30m will fund initiatives to help people maintain a healthy weight including access to a free NHS 12-week weight loss plan app and continuation of the Better Health marketing campaign to motivate people to make healthier choices - www.nhs.uk/better-health/
Our Public Health team is exploring ‘tackling obesity’ being one of the key Covid recovery priorities for Lincolnshire as we start to move through the roadmap for easing restrictions.
In the meantime there are plenty of ways to get active and healthy at www.oneyoulincolnshire.org.uk/ or there are details of activities throughout the county through Connect to Support here or contact the Office: 01522 705162.
Louth and Skegness hospitals – plus NHS 111:
Overnight urgent care services which were temporarily paused due to the demands of the coronavirus pandemic will reopen at Louth and Skegness hospitals from Thursday 1 April.
During the temporary overnight closure, it’s been very positive to see the way people have adapted to using NHS 111 to get appropriate help and advice for any urgent medical condition. Using NHS 111 offers significant benefits for our patients including the convenience of bookable appointments at the Louth and Skegness Urgent Treatment Centres as well as video or telephone consultations with a clinician.
NHS 111 is available 24/7 and all calls from a landline or mobile are free of charge. The NHS 111 service is also available online at 111.NHS.uk or use the NHS 111 app.
NHS 111 offers a wide range of services and medical help and advice including:
- bookable appointments at the Louth and Skegness Urgent Treatment Centres
- arranging a prescription for collection at a local pharmacy
- providing a telephone or video consultation with a local experienced clinician
- signposting to other services including emergency dentists, late opening pharmacies for medical advice and community nurses
- arranging home visits where appropriate
- general medical help and support.
Patients can walk into the Louth or Skegness Urgent Treatment Centres but will be assessed and, depending on their condition, will either be given an appointment to return later in the day or asked to wait to be seen.
Urgent treatment centres can treat a range of conditions which are not critical or life threatening. These include:
- sprains and strains; suspected broken limbs; minor head injuries; cuts and grazes
- skin infection and rashes; bites and stings; minor eye problems; coughs and colds
- feverish illness in adults and children; abdominal pain; vomiting and diarrhoea
- minor scalds and burns; emergency contraception.
In an emergency situation, patients should always dial 999.
Covid update – universal testing offer:
A universal testing offer for the Lateral Flow Devices (LFD) will be available from collection sites and as a direct to home service from Friday, 9 April. Anyone will be able to access asymptomatic testing for secondary aged pupils and above through the most appropriate channel and pick up self-test kits if they request one.
This will help manage the risk of increased transmission associated with the next stage of the roadmap. It will:
- simplify the offer by removing explicit eligibility criteria – anyone in England who is not subject to specific testing policies (such as the borders testing, care home PCR testing) will be able to access a test at site, collect self-test kits to take home or order a test kit direct to their home.
- target enduring transmission of Covid, by focussing on areas with high transmission rates. The aim is to drive up testing where prevalence of the virus remains high and vaccine uptake is lower.
Providing easier access to self-testing means significantly more people can access regular twice-weekly testing and aims to find infectious cases and help mitigate the risk as the country moves from lockdown.
A confirmatory PCR, for home testing, will remain the eligibility gateway for the Test and Trace Support Payment (TTSP) for self-reported positive test results. For more details on home testing: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests .
Community Testing will continue to play a significant part in this effort. We now have the freedom to start to widen eligibility for self-test in line with local priorities. Which means in addition to any local priorities, anyone can pick up self-test kits if they request one.
In addition, follow-up tests are now encouraged for all positive LFD test results irrespective of the situation under which the test was taken. Previously there was no requirement for a follow-up PCR test following an assisted positive LFD test result (assisted test is where the person takes the test under supervision and the result is reported by a trained operator).
This will reduce the number of people self-isolating unnecessarily because of false positives from LFD tests in areas of low population prevalence of Covid.
NHS Test and Trace are strengthening communications to emphasise the importance of reporting and acting on results from home tests. This will focus on instilling a habit of testing and reporting.
The NHS will become the primary online channel for communicating testing information to the general public. The NHS website coronavirus hub will be extended with new, clearer guidance on the options available and where to find tests. Additionally, NHS Test and Trace will focus communication efforts on regions of high prevalence, under-represented groups, and disproportionately impacted groups, where enduring transmission is highest.
We will of course be promoting this for our residents and updating our website, together with the LRF, districts and other partners, as we get more updates from the government website - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus."
Cllr Bowkett also stated that lateral flow tests are now available at chemists, they come in a box of 7 and that the vaccination programme was going well.
The dredging of the relief channel of River Steeping will be starting up gain soon and that rock basing is presently being carried out near Batemans Brewery.
The issue of potholes was discussed. Cllr Bowkett stated that the workforce carrying out the job were not very happy, this resulted in several contractors leaving. A private contractor is now being used to try to deal with the matters.
Miss Smithson Whitehead asked whether voles were being removed from the river banks. Cllr Bowkett stated that Natural England will not allow the removal of voles, a 14 day period must be allowed for the voles to move independently.
4. District Councillor's Report
Councillor Dennis stated that regarding the River Steeping he has requested a full resume of what they are doing, who is carrying out the work, what the costs are and whether there is any funding. To date he has not had any response. Cllr Bowkett stated that he elections are delaying matters and the report will be done after the elections have taken place. Cllr Dennis also stated that the £24m funding that has been granted will benefit all the coast line.
5. Correspondence
1. Email received from Henry Wright giving notice of his resignation as Parish Councillor for Great Steeping with immediate effect. Email sent thanking Henry for all the work his has done over the time he served on the Council.
2.. Email received from Mrs England giving an update on the matters taking place in Steapas Close. It was agreed to acknowledge receipt of the email and ask for the Parish Council to be kept up to date with the situation.
3. Miss Smithson Whitehead asked whether the 5 Parishes Newsletter could be emailed to individuals. The Chairman stated that this would not be possible and, in any event, following the resignation of Mr Wright there was no one to prepare a magazine.
4. Mrs Mitchell asked the Council whether a certificate of appreciation to say thank you could be given to individuals who carry out rubbish collecting and other matters voluntarily for the benefit of the communities. The Council agreed that this would be a good idea.
6. Plans
Application No S/020/00220/21 By Mr M & Mrs Reeve for Planning Permission - Change of use of land for the siting of 60no. static caravans, excavation of land to form a lake and construction of internal access roads at Virley House Tourer Park, Virley House, High Lane, Croft. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/020/00220/21 By Mr M & Mrs Reeve for Planning Permission - Change of use of land for the siting of 40no. static caravans, excavation of land to form a lake and construction of internal access roads, change of 4 existing touring pitches to static pitches and provision of one additional static pitch on existing caravan site at Virley House Tourer Park, Virley House, High Lane, Croft. It was agreed to support this application.
Amended Application No S/039/02280/20 by Mr T Taylor for Section 73 application in relation to condition no. 9 (occupancy) as imposed on planning permission reference no. S/039/00575/19 which was for change of use of land for the siting of 4no. static caravans in connection with existing holiday and fishing business, regrading of land, and demolition of existing agricultural shed to provide for construction of a vehicular access road at Land at Church Farm Holiday Cottages, Croft Lane, Croft. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/064/00286/21 By Mr & Mrs J Grant for Planning Permission - Extension and alterations to the existing dwelling to provide a family room and lobby with a first floor bedroom over (work started) at Ashleigh, Firsby Road, Great Steeping. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/184/00326/21 by Seaside Leisure Parks for Section 73 application in relation to condition no. 5 (occupancy condition) previously imposed on planning permission S/184/01284/17 for Application to vary Condition No. 2 (Flood Risk Assessment) and Condition No.5 (seasonal occupancy) and imposed on planning permission Ref. No. S/184/2334/15 at Willow Lake Caravan Park, Lymn Bank, Thorpe St Peter. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/184/00325/21 by Seaside Leisure Parks for Section 73 application in relation to condition no. 9 (occupancy condition) previously imposed on planning permission S/184/02234/10 for Application to vary Condition No. 9 (seasonal occupancy) as imposed on planning permission Ref. No. S/184/0029/10 at Willow Lake Caravan Park, Lymn Bank, Thorpe St Peter. It was agreed to support this application.
Amended Application No S/039/00005/21 by Mr T Taylor for Planning Permission - Extension of Church Farm Holiday Park to create the second phase which includes the change of use of land for the siting of 12 no. caravans, excavation of land to form a water feature pond, embankments and the creation of internal vehicular access roads at Land at Church Farm Holiday Park, Croft Lane, Croft. It was agreed to support this application.
Amended Application No S/020/00220/21 By Mr M & Mrs Reeve for Planning Permission - Change of use of land for the siting of 40no. static caravans, excavation of land to form a lake and construction of internal access roads, change of 4 existing touring pitches to static pitches and provision of one additional static pitch on existing caravan site at Virley House Tourer Park, Virley House, High Lane, Croft. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/064/00554/21 by Mr & Mrs Grant for Planning Permission - Extension and alterations to the existing dwelling to provide a porch and enlarged kitchen, dining room and lounge on the site of part of the existing dwelling to be demolished at Ten Acres, Monksthorpe Lane, Great Steeping. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/020/00526/21 By Ms M Johnson for Planning Permission - Change of use, conversion of and alterations to the existing agricultural building to provide 1no. dwelling and construction of a vehicular access at Rookery Farm, Pinfold Lane, Bratoft. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/064/00315/21 By Mr B Pickering for Section 73 application in relation to condition no. 2 (approved plans) and condition no. 5 (layout of lodges) as imposed on planning permission reference no. S/064/00848/17 which was for change of use of land to use for the siting of 26no. static lodge caravans with sheds, excavation of a lake, and provision of internal access roads at Kelsy Wood Country Park, Great Steeping Road, Monksthorpe. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/020/02290/20 by Ms M Johnson for Planning Permission - Erection of a detached house and construction of a vehicular access at Rookery Farm, Pinfold Lane, Bratoft. This application was withdrawn.
Approval of Section 73 Application on conditions in relation to condition no. 9 (occupancy) as imposed on planning permission reference no. S/039/00575/19 which was for change of use of land for the siting of 4no. static caravans in connection with existing holiday and fishing business, regrading of land, and demolition of existing agricultural shed to provide for construction of a vehicular access road at Land at Church Farm Holiday Cottages, Croft Lane, Croft.
Approval of Section 73 Application on conditions in relation to condition no. 9 (occupancy condition) previously imposed on planning permission S/184/02234/10 for Application to vary Condition No. 9 (seasonal occupancy) as imposed on planning permission Ref. No. S/184/0029/10 at Willow Lake Caravan Park, Lymn Bank, Thorpe St Peter.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Extension to existing dwelling to provide a porch at 3 Station Road, Little Steeping.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Extension of Church Farm Holiday Park to create the second phase which includes the change of use of land for the siting of 12 no. caravans, excavation of land to form a water feature pond, embankments, siting of bollard lighting and the creation of internal vehicular access roads at Land at Church Farm Holiday Park, Croft Lane, Croft.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Extension and alterations to the existing dwelling to provide a family room and lobby with a first floor bedroom over (work started) at Ashleigh, Firsby Road, Great Steeping.
7. Highways
Notification has been received for a temporary traffic restriction on Little Steeping Level Crossing (Near Old Station House) from 08:00 to 16:00 on 11 May 2021.
Mill Lane, Little Steeping has now been gritted, but there is an excess of grit on the road making it difficult to drive on. Cllr Bowkett stated that the roads will be swept in due course.
Mr Heane stated that Church Lane, Great Steeping is also in a terrible state of repair and said that serious decisions ought to be made by the Council about giving up the maintenance of these roads because of the costs involved.
Mr Heane also stated that some potholes on the Aerodrome Road had been dealt with. He had spoken to the contractors carrying out the works and was told that until a note appears on their system, no other potholes will be dealt with even though they are near to or worse than the ones being worked on.
8. Defibrillator for Irby & Bratoft Village Hall
The Skegness Rotary Club have offered to supply and fit a defibrillator to Irby & Bratoft Village Hall. The total cost is £1500. The Rotary Club would like a donation towards the costs. The Irby & Bratoft Village Hall Committee have donated £250 and paid this sum into the Parish Council's bank account. Mr Heane proposed and Mrs Mitchell seconded and all agreed that the Parish Council donate £250. Therefore a cheque for £500 will be drawn and paid to the Skegness Rotary Club.
9. Accounts
Payments made in March 2021:
LALC Subscription £268.97
Clerk's 3 month salary £500
Payments to be made April 2021:
Bratoft PCC for Churchyard Maintenance £250
Skegness Rotary Club for Defibrillator for Irby & Bratoft Village Hall £500.
Signed………………………………………
Chairman