March 2024 Minutes
Parish Council minutes for Thursday 14 March 2024
7pm Village Hall
Parish Council attendees: Angela Arden (Chair) , Peter Hill (Vice Chair), Sarah Howard, Anna Seigneury, Carole Mawer
Guests: ELDC Councillor Travis Hesketh
Four members of the public attended.
Public contribution: Two residents raised their concerns about the number of vehicles that regularly park on the pavements in Little Carlton, instead of using driveways. This hinders visibility for drivers and makes life difficult for pedestrians with and without dogs. It was agreed that rather than wait to have this as an agenda item in the May meeting, AA would mention these concerns in the next edition of the Earburn.
Sarah had had a member of the public ask about the future of the Vicarage Road woodland . To be addressed in agenda item 9.
1. Apologies: Parish Councillors Clive Reetham and Nick Pike. LCC Councillor Dan McNally
2. Approve the draft Parish Council minutes from 11 January and 22 February 2023: proposed PH, seconded CM. All in favour. Signed by Chair.
3. New Councillor Co-options: one vacancy. Still no interest.
4. Clerk/RFO: Clerk had been unable to attend the training meeting in February. Bank forms still outstanding for change of personnel. NP is chasing.
5. Finance report and declaration of spend greater than £100 NP: Barclays account balances are higher than usual, due to reduced spending last season on grass cutting also no clerk’s wages (paid for from WT grant). No payments made since last meeting.
6. LCC and ELDC Councillors- an opportunity for input in addition to the agenda items: TH spoke about the pylons and nuclear waste facility, which will be covered in items7. He is selling daffodils with proceeds going to Mablethorpe Food Bank.
7. NWS Theddlethorpe: feedback from February and March monthly meetings TH raised concerns about the surveys completed by NWS. He has completed his own questionnaire and will contact the CEO to ask for a meeting. PC in support of this – AA to liaise with TH. Concern also that the Community Partnership meetings were not open to the public.
8. National Grid: AA informed the PC that her response on behalf of Councillors to ask for further consideration be given to siting the proposed electricity cables off shore rather than overground had been sent off. The PC website would continue to publicise the issue and be updated accordingly.
9. Parish Woodland: AS reported the following:
• GC Vicarage Road woodland – the hedge planting spirals from the will be removed this year where required as soon as feasible The blackthorn has inevitably grown back stronger. A discussion followed about the future of this area given that Wind Turbine money had been spent on this area to tidy it with the view to make it a nature trail by a previous Councillor. Current Councillors felt this would not be possible without hours of volunteering (always difficult) for the numbers of people that would use it, as it is close to the road.
• LC Village Green – Thank you to the residents at The Willows next to the green who have agreed to cut back their overhanging willow tree. The dead top section on a rowan tree has been removed as advised. Spring bulbs are growing well although the area has been very waterlogging due to the heavy rain. Tudor, the contractor, has been contacted, and should come to mow soon. PH proposed that we remain with Tudor this year, to be reviewed in Autumn. Seconded CM. All in favour.
• St Edith’s – SH put out a message on FB to ask for volunteers. Work on bushes has been delayed due to the weather. Villagers are happy for new water butts to be sourced rather than a tap to be installed at this moment in time.
• Footpath – Tree mostly cleared. As reported in item 5, spending was less than last year. Footpath next to CR’s field is maintained by his groundsman at no cost to the PC.
10. Planning: PH – no new applications. Planning permission granted by ELDC for Wyggeston House, with conditions. Result can be viewed online.
11. Great Carlton War Memorial: PH reported that this has now been repositioned onto the new concrete base. Leakes to complete work on the lettering – payment to be made when the job is completed. PH proposed that the old base be removed. Seconded AA. All in favour. Action: PH to speak to CR.
12. Policies and procedures: consideration of the update to these documents. Seen by Councillors prior to the meeting. Proposed AA, seconded PH. All in favour, In addition it was agreed to formally adopt the ELDC Code of Conduct, which we already follow. Action: AA to update the website accordingly.
13. Highways: flooding and pavements:
LCC Councillor reported to AA that Little Carlton pavements are on the list to be resurfaced in 2024 by the County Council after the flooding last May.
The flooded drain between the crossroads and car park in Great Carlton has been addressed. It appears that the old drain cover is causing the problem.
PH reported back on his attendance at a post flooding meeting in Horncastle organised by our MP – nothing of relevance to us, focus was on the October flooding in and around Horncastle.
14. LALC communications and training: Councillors encouraged to attend.
15. Parish meeting: This will be held on Friday 12 April at 6pm in the Village Hall. It is for residents and the Chair, but any Councillors may attend as members of the public as it is not a Parish Council meeting. Action: AA to publicise in Earburn and on the website.
16. The Hall: AA reported that at an ELDC meeting on 5 March, a formal request was made for entry to the building. We have heard nothing back from ELDC and minutes from the meeting were not yet published. Action: AA to contact Jo Parker prior to the next PC meeting.
17. Next meeting; 9 May 2024 7pm Village Hall
Meeting closed 8.20pm
Minutes by Mike Mawer, Clerk