At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 21February 2024 in Irby & Bratoft Village Hall.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mrs S. Wilford; Mr C. Moore; Miss H. Smithson Whitehead; Mrs L. Mitchell; Mr R. Harman; Mr S. Roachford and LCC Cllr Mrs W. Bowkett
Apologies were received from Mr G. Holmes; Mrs C. Brewer; Mr P. Gilbert and ELDC Cllr Sid Dennis.
1. Co-option of Firsby Parish Councillor
It was agreed unanimously to co-opt Mr Sean Roachford as a Firsby Parish Councillor.
2. Minutes of the last Meeting
It was agreed that these be signed as a correct record of the proceedings.
3. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting
Mrs Wilford stated that following a meeting with the Little Steeping Village Hall management committee they were in support of the Parish Council applying to register the title of the hall and the two pieces of land. Mrs Wilford stated that she now has all the evidence gathered, but some amendments will have to be made whereby money received from rent should go to the Village Hall and not to the school which no longer exists.
Miss Smithson Whitehead gave positive feedback from attending the devolution event, which changed her view to being in favour of having a Mayor. Cllr Bowkett stated that if we did not sign up to having a Mayor then we would not be eligible to get any funding.
Miss Smithson Whitehead addressed the Council regarding the proposed National Grid route from Grimsby to Walpole and urged all Councillors to sign the petition against the proposed route and to send in their individual views on the matter. The Parish Council strongly object to having 50 meter high pylons crossing our villages, taking up valuable farming land, and will write to National Grid with our objections stating that it would be cheaper and better to go offshore. Mrs Wilford stated that she had spoken to Matt Warman MP at a recent consultation meeting and he is in favour of offshore too.
4. County Councillor's Report
Cllr Bowkett gave report to the Parish Council:
" The devolution hosting events giving residents a chance to go along and discuss devolution and any concerns they have, have been well attended, the consultations received findings are that most support, the consultation has now been completed .
LCC are calling on the government to provide support and plug the gaps left from continued funding cuts. We need an extra 40 million a year to clear the roads maintenance backlog, it is asking for the 25% that was cut from the Lincolnshires roads budget to be given back as a start.
LCC expect to spend £650 million on providing services this coming year, £305 million for adult care, £114 million for children's services, £49 million for highways and £25 million for Lincolnshire fire and rescue. This last year the council manages to save £9 million by reducing bureaucracy and streamline operations through technology.
However it faces a £61 million in additional cost pressures from rising prices and increased demand for services particularly in Adult care, child protection and school transport.
As a result at present we are looking to raise the council tax by 4.99% which is the authorities authority's share of the council tax which equates to an extra £1.44 per week for a band d property.
Government have announced the proposal to ban disposable vapes this is very much welcomed, this will hopefully stop the many children found to be vaping.
National Grid are currently consulting on the plans to put massive pylons from Grimsby to Walpole, they will go through our area and would appeal for everyone to fill in the consultation. The pylons are the size of a 6 storey flat. There have been local presentations and you can fill in the consultation and hopefully raise your objections at https:/www.nationalgrid.com/the-great-grid-upgrade.
LCC are objecting to the plans and hope the parish council will support us and the residents by objecting to, the nearest pylon will be going through Thorpe which is very close through to Eastville and out towards the Witham.
A flood resilience meeting took place on the 9th February at Batemans, Mary Donahue from Somerset attended with her flood house. Agencies were there to answer residents questions a long with Matt Warman. It was well attended and I hope residents took home useful information, flooding is not only rivers it is also surface and drainage which I know has caused issues with residents."
Cllr Bowkett stated that a resilience plan for Great Steeping is being looked at. Cllr Bowkett also stated that the flooding on the roads at Great Steeping is also being looked at to see if anything can be done to remedy this from happening. Mrs Mitchell asked Cllr Bowkett to provide bollards and flood signs in readiness for future flooding events. Cllr Bowkett stated that if these were provided someone would have to take responsibility for storing them.
Miss Smithson Whitehead asked Cllr Bowkett what was happening with Cowcroft Drain and the fact that the water is very high. Cllr Bowkett stated that the water is held up at Wainfleet and then pumped out. Miss Smithson Whitehead stated that there is a blockage near the Lymn which needs clearing out so that the water flows and does not back up.
5. Correspondence
a) Email received from Sharon Atkinson, Elections Officer confirming that the Parish Council can co-opt a new Councillor to represent FIrsby.
b) Email received from Mrs Wilford confirming that Little Steeping Village Hall have confirmed that the Parish Council can register the Village Hall and two parcels of land.
c) Email received from Head of Planning, LCC setting out the changes made to the Government Planning Guarantee.
d) Email received from Nigel Roylance requesting a grant towards the cost of churchyard maintenance for Bratoft Church. It was agreed to pay a grant of £250.
e) Email received from Alan England requesting a grant towards the cost of churchyard maintenance for Great Steeping Old Church. It was agreed to pay a grant of £250.
f) Email received from Mrs Wilford requesting a refund of £49.20 being the costs relating to documents obtained from the National Archives. It was agreed to refund the sum requested.
6. Plans
Application No S/064/02264/23 by Ladywath Ltd for Planning Permission - Erection of 3 no. dwellings, change of use, conversion of and alteration to existing agricultural building to form 1 no. dwelling, including the demolition of existing agricultural building at Poplar Farm, Great Steeping, Monksthorpe. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/064/02495/23 by Mr W Grant for Planning Permission - Extensions and alterations to existing dwelling to provide additional living accommodation at Poplar Farm, Great Steeping, Monksthorpe. It was agreed to support this application.
Application No S/051/02035/23 by Mrs A Smalley for Planning Permission - Erection of a manège and construction of new vehicular access at Bycroft House, Fendyke Road, Firsby. It was agreed to support this application.
Mrs Wilford declared an interest in this application. Application No S/104/02298/23 by Dyson Farming Ltd for Planning Permission - Excavation of land to form a commercial fishing pond and bunds, construction of internal access road and car park, with associated landscaping at Land East of Home Farm, Ings Lane, Little Steeping. The Parish Council support the above application but would like the following aspects of the commercial side to be taken into consideration/addressed if the officer is mindful to approve the application.
1. Ings Lane (unclassified) is in a very poor state of repair. The turning off is badly broken up near the access to the site which is shared with one of the four dwelling houses (Home Farm Barns) that are presently let as holiday accommodation and are also in the applicants ownership.
2. There is no indication as to how the enterprise will be regulated especially regarding a site manager and the opening times.
3. No toilet facilities are shown on the plan.
4. No means of lighting is shown on the plan.
5. No means of aerating of the pond/ lake is shown on the plan.
We see the pond, bunding and landscaping as a positive as it will enhance the area and attract wildlife.
FGPC Additional comments.
1. We would like to see the whole site fenced and gated.
Reason: To prevent unauthorised access.
2. The new hedge to the west ( screening) to be planted before works commence.
Reason: To prevent users looking into the neighbouring properties.
3. Bollards to be placed between the access road and the grass paddock.
Reason: To prevent this area becoming an over-spill car park directly opposite domestic dwellings. The cars would create noise and their lights would shine directly into the front windows of properties especially at dawn and dusk.
Application No S/051/00114/24 by Bicker Fen Solar Limited for Section 73 application to vary condition no. 2 (approved plans) as previously imposed on planning permission reference S/051/00772/17 for the installation of a 15.47 MW Solar array to a maximum height of 2.4m which is to include transformers, substation, battery storage system (9.6MW capacity), security fencing and gate to a maximum height of 2.1m, landscaping and other associated infrastructure at Land at Manor Farm, Wainfleet Road, Irby in the Marsh. Irby in the Marsh Parish Councillors support the application with the following comments: It has been noticed that no tree or bush planting has been undertaken which would shield the development, which was a required element of the original plan. This should be dealt with as the development is nearing completion. Residents have subsequently approached the Council regarding the height of the CCTV poles. There appears to be no explanation as to why they need to be 4 meters high. Concerns have been raised about potential over looking problems if they are positioned wrongly or are insufficiently screened.
Firsby Parish Councillors object to the erection of 54x4m high CCTV poles.
Not only are they in breach of the original planning permission ie 2.1m and 2.4m height restriction, they are almost double the height of the 2.1m shielding currently approved.
The shielding required for the current site would be useless in attempting to shield the proposed poles at 4m now or in the future.
The 4m poles will not be in keeping with the local area and would be an obtrusive height for the open countryside.
Neighbouring Lincoln Farm solar array have alternative security available that successfully operates within the original planning restrictions. This should be the option of choice for the applicant.
We do not object to the fence line being changed.
Refusal of Planning Permission has been received for the siting of a static caravan to be used for permanent residential use (works already started) at Bridgewood, Fendyke Road, Firsby.
Refusal of Planning Permission has been received for the Erection of 3 no. dwellings, change of use, conversion of and alteration to existing agricultural building to form 1 no. dwelling, including the demolition of existing agricultural building at Poplar Farm, Great Steeping, Monksthorpe.
6. Highways
Notification has been received of a temporary traffic restriction Little Steeping Level Crossing on 7/3/24 between 08.00 to 16.00.
Information has been requested when the footpaths to Great Steeping and Halton Holegate are going to be fixed.
It was agreed to report the following matters to Highways:
Summergates Lane, Bratoft the road is rising in the middle and causes cars to bottom out.
Ings Lane, Bratoft cars are bottoming out.
Brambleberry Lane, Bratoft on the corner by Bratoft Church Room there are very large potholes that need repairing.
Ings Lane, Little Steeping one pothole has been repaired and others have been left.
B1195 Great Steeping, from Bartons Lane to Great Steeping School, some potholes have been repaired and other nearby one were left which need repairing.
7. Any Other Business
Mrs Wilford addressed the Council regarding settlement scores. Little Steeping had been downgraded from small village to a Hamlet following the loss of the Village shop. Mrs Wilford contested this matter stating that the shop was lost because of conditions imposed by the planning department on the sale of the property. Following this objection the threshold was reduced by 1 and Little Steeping is once again classified as a village.
Mr Harman stated that the dykes need clearing out that run from the corner of Brambleberry Lane/Pinfold Lane all the way down to the B1195 Wainfleet Road, Irby. In wet weather water runs down the road. The owners to be contacted.
8. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Irby & Bratoft Village Hall for use of room £24
Churchyard Maintenance for Great Steeping Old Church £250
Churchyard Maintenance for Bratoft Church £250
LALC Subscription £291.16
Mrs Wilford refund of National Archive fees £49.20.