At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 21 July 2021 in Irby & Bratoft Village Hall.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mr G. Holmes; Mrs S. Wilford; Mr C. Moore; Miss H. Smithson-Whitehead and Mrs L. Mitchell.
Apologies were received from Mr P. Gilbert; ELDC Cllr S. Dennis and PCSO Jayne Richardson.
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 stated that a laptop had now been purchased, she also stated that an application had been made to the Firsby Group Charitable Trust to enable the purchase of the outstanding items required for the Speed Awareness Scheme. It was confirmed that the Funds had been received from the Trust Fund and Miss Smithson Whitehead was asked to proceed with the purchases.
Following a question from Miss Smithson Whitehead regarding a noticeboard for Irby Parish Council, the Chairman stated that it was agreed that a joint noticeboard for the Village Hall and the Parish Council will be sought. A committee member from the Village Hall will be sourcing 3 quotes for the joint board.
Mrs Mitchell stated that the noticeboard for Firsby Village has now been received and will be erected in due course.
Information regarding the joining of a Neighbourhood app called Nextdoor has been found. It is not a safe and regulated site as personal information can be accessed by any user. It was suggested it could be used for listing events or details of trades people. It would be an individual choice whether to join.
3. Police Matters
PCSO Jayne Richardson would be asked if she was aware of an incident on Main Road, Little Steeping where a woman and 2 children in a car were hit by an old 2003/4 Blue Hyundai Car.
4. County Councillor's Report
Cllr Bowkett was not present at the meeting. But the following matters were discussed:
Cllr Moore stated that details of how many potholes had been repaired were regularly given at meetings but not any more. It was agreed to ask Cllr Bowkett why this has stopped.
Cllr Heane stated that that seems to be no communication between Highways and the contractors when it comes to repairing potholes as more often than not they do not have the proper repair material to do the job correctly.
Cllr Heane also stated that where the Lady Wath Beck meets the Steeping River at the back of Steeping Church, the reeds are completely grown in. He stated that reeds do not grow in water, they grow in mud. If the mud is removed the reeds would not be there. Cllr Heane once again reiterated that the reeds and silt need to be cleared from the entire River for any impact to be made. Photographs of the reeds would be taken and sent to Cllr Bowkett.
Following on from this discussion, it was agreed to write to Matt Warman MP sharing the Parish Council's concerns about the state or the River Steeping. It was also agreed to ask the MP if he could obtain information about the cost that was spent on the recent flooding, including the use of the Chinook helicopters.
5. District Councillor's Report
Cllr Dennis sent his apologies and stated that he is still awaiting a reply to his request for information re costings. He still has £800 in grant money available (£300 of which has been asked for by the Chairman). It was suggested that some monies could be requested to purchase some more bulbs for the 5 Parishes.
Cllr Wilford asked for clarification about the LMDB meeting exert that Cllr Dennis emailed to the Parish Council. The Board had applied for funding on behalf of the EA but they were unsuccessful.
Could the Council please be told who they applied to, what the amount was and what reasons were given for the bid being unsuccessful?
Cllr Wilford also stated that the water level near Mill bridge is very low and in some places the reeds and the silt are blocking even that flow. Given that the there is currently no dredging work being carried out why has the water level been allowed to drop below the 1.5 meters that was recommended?
6. Correspondence
a) Email received from Assistant Chief Constable Chris Davison regarding enhancing of their provision of Neighbourhood Policing.
b) Email received Patricia Lowe of the Skegness Rotary Club confirming that a defibrillator has been fitted to Irby & Bratoft Village Hall. Email thanking the Rotary Club has been sent.
c) Email received from ELDC regarding an application for additional areas of inclusion for the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014. No application is required.
d) Email from PKF Littlejohn confirming receipt of a notification of exempt status for the 2021 accounts and that no external review of the accounts will take place.
e) Email received from Ian Calvert requesting photographs of Irby Filling Station when it was in use. It was agreed to direct him to the Spilsby Library which should have area statistics and photographs.
7. Plans
Application No S/051/001386/21 by Mrs T Webb for Planning Permission - Change of use and conversions of the existing outbuilding to provide a self contained annexe at Firsby Manor, Fendyke Road, Firsby. It was agreed to support this application in principle as long as all the necessary conditions are met.
Approval of Section 73 application on conditions 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.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Planning Permission - Erection of a calf shed at Barn View, Wainfleet Road, Firsby.
8. Highways
Notification has been received of a Temporary Traffic Restriction on Sandy Lane, Great Steeping between 2 August and 4 August 2021.
Notification has been received of maintenance repairs that will be made to Cow Croft Culvert, Ings Lane, Bratoft. Works to begin on 31 August for 4 weeks.
It was agreed to report the following matters:
A bag of rubbish has been dumped before North Road/Brambleberry Lane.
The hedge belonging to Pete Butler is overgrown and covering a bend warning sign on the B1195. It was agreed to contact the owner to arrange for it to be cut back.
9. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Irby & Bratoft Village Hall for use of room £20
Miss Smithson Whitehead reimbursement for cost of laptop £199.99
Miss Smithson Whitehead to purchase speed awareness equipment £576.08