November 21 - Minutes of Ordinary Meeting
HEMSWELL PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of an ordinary meeting held by Hemswell Parish Council on Monday 15th November
at 7.30 pm at Hemswell & Harpswell Village Hall.
Present:
Cllr. B. Mander (BM)(Chair); Cllr. J. Roberts (JR) (Vice-Chair); Cllr. C. Black (CB); Cllr. M. Foster (MF); Cllr. P. Watkinson (PW).
District Cllr. P. Howitt-Cowan (PHC),
1. Apologies.
Cllr C. Black, Cllr P Watkinson (required to leave by 20:45), PCSO McFaul.
2. Adjournment for Cllr reports and members of the public. 19:35
a. County Councillor Report
County Counsellor Clio Perraton-Williams submitted a written report (see County Councillor's Brief October web page) which was distributed to the councillors prior to the meeting. No requests for clarification were received.
b. District Councillor report
District Councillor PHC submitted a written report (see District Councillor Report November 21 web page) which was circulated to the council prior to the meeting. No requests for clarification were received.
c. PCSO Report
None received.
Meeting reconvened 19:42
3. Declaration of Interests.
None declared.
4. Approval of Minutes from previous meeting.
It was unanimously resolved to approve the presented draft minutes as an accurate account of the council's ordinary meeting held on 20th September 2021.
5. Actions from Previous Meetings.
a. Overhanging trees / overgrown hedges - Dawnhill lane, Bunkers Hill.
Remedial work has been completed by the land owner.
b. Speeding traffic and increased volume of traffic through village.
The chairman advised that he will meet a representative of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Patnership to conduct a site survey of the village on the 18th November 21 with a view to identify suitable speed indicator devices and locations for siting the device.
Action: Chairman to forward a summary of the site meeting including any recommendations and conclusions to the councillors for review.
c. Middle Street bus shelter – maintenance.
The council reviewed a quotation from Mr C Pennington Ground Maintenace (15th Nov 21) for the repair of the bus shelter.
It was unanimously resolved to accept the quotation from Mr C Pennington Ground Maintenance.
d. Street furniture.
Ongoing action - no additional information provided.
6. Planning Matters.
a. Cottam & West Burton Solar Power Projects.
The clerk advised the council of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) to deliver 2 solar farms across land in West Lindsey and Bassetlaw, connecting into the National Grid at West Burton and Cottam. The proposal includes the development of solar panels, built infrastructure, buried infrastructure and security features across both West Lindsey and Bassetlaw. The proposed mega watt capacity of these solar farms are understood to be 600 mega watts for the solar farm to be known as West Burton and 480 mega watts for the solar farm to be known as Cottam.
As NSIPs they bypass normal local planning requirements. NSIPs include proposals for power plants, large renewable energy projects, new airports and airport extensions, and major road projects. These projects are managed by the Planning Inspectorate.
This means that West Lindsey District Council and Bassetlaw District Council are NOT the decision-making body for these applications. However, as a ‘host’ authority they have a defined role to play which includes agreeing a Statement of Community Consultation, revising the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report, developing a Local Impact Report and agreeing a Statement of Common Ground prior to the examination. Their officer teams are working to establish a resourcing framework and draft a decision making and delegation process.
The proposals are centred around agricultural land close to the following locations; Bransby, Broxholm, Ingleby, Brampton, Bellwood, Fillingham, Willingham, Stow, Cammeringham, Corringham, Blyton, which is why we felt it appropriate to ensure all district councillors are invited to the briefing. Further sites are proposed within Bassetlaw.
b. Gate Burton’s Energy Park.
The clerk advised the council of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) to deliver a new solar and energy storage park on land near Gate Burton, Lincolnshire. Gate Burton Energy Park is anticipated to have a generation capacity of 500 megawatts (MW). This is equivalent to providing enough clean energy to power over 160,000 homes and avoid more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. The amount of electricity Gate Burton Energy Park could generate means that it is regarded as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). Information on the project can be found on the project website at www.gateburtonenergypark.co.uk.
c. Hemswell Cliff Food Enterprise Zone.
The clerk advised that Savills are working with John Downes (Global Berry) who is looking to progress a scheme on the Food Enterprise Zone in Hemswell Cliff. They are approaching local parish councils to provide presentations on the project.
Action: Clerk to organise liase with Savills to organise a presentation
7. Finance
a. Financial status review.
The clerk provided the council's financial position for review. No remedial actions were identified.
b. FY 22/23 provisional precept planning.
The clerk (Responsible Financial Officer (RFO)) had distributed a budget proposal for the FY 22-23 precept prior to the meeting for review. The proposal was discussed and questions answered by the RFO.
It was unanimously agreed to accept the proposal of £6,800.00 as an estimate for the FY22-23 precept.
Action: Clerk to forward estimate to WLDC prior to the deadline of the 26th November 21.
c. Cheques to authorise.
i. Grass Cutting September & October £ 300.00
d. Payments Received.
i. Savings account interest Aug / Sept £ 0.28
e. Purchase Orders Received.
No purchase orders had been received in the period.
8. Requests for funding
a. Citizens Advice
The clerk presented an application for funding from Citizens Advice Lindsey to the council. The council discussed the application and its relevance to the parishioners of Hemswell.
It was unanimously resolved to make a single donation of £ 30.00.
Action: Clerk to raise a cheque and obtain necessary authorisations.
9. Reports
a. Village Hall.
The Village Hall Committee provided the following report
The Village Hall has held several charity coffee afternoons, for MacMillan and Wear it Pink Breast Cancer Charity raising around £300 for charity. We had Bags to School Clothing collection, raising £139.50 for the Village Hall. There is a fundraising event planned for the evening of 28th November, where people can purchase ladies fashion clothing at discounted rates. Other events include a monthly Craft Evening held on the first Tuesday of each month.
Bookings wise, the Village hall is currently reliant upon Transformations (Medium) and Tots on Tour for regular bookings. With Transformations bookings reducing slightly due to struggling numbers to hold all events apparently due to wariness with the ongoing issues of Covid.
Cash in the bank with including payments is around £21k. This will continue to be invested in the fabric of the building over the forthcoming year including upgrading the heating to save on energy costs into the future, also benefitting the hall with more effective heating. Repointing and addressing damp issues and subsequent decoration.
b. Neighbourhood Plan.
BM advised that the Neighbourhood plan and supporting documents had been submitted to WLDC. The documents will now be reviewed by WLDC and comments made prior to submission for external review.
10. Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations – Beacon.
The clerk had prior to the meeting distributed communications received from the Pageant Master regarding the opportunity to purchase a beacon to celebrate the Queen's platinum jubilee. The council reviewed the information.
It was unanimously agreed that the council would not purchase a beacon.
PW vacated the meeting 20:45
11. Parish Communication.
The issue of the lack of a parish newsletter was raised by BM and discussed by the council. BM advised that he was unable to commit the required time in his role as acting clerk to this task. The council agreed the newsletter was a valuable communication tool, however due to resource constraints, it production would remain on hold until a new clerk is in position.
12. Burial Authority Activities.
a. Request for placement of remembrance bench.
The clerk advised that a request to replace a memorial bench in the cemetery had been received. The council reviewed the current seating and possible locations for a further bench. It was decided that there was no suitable site for an additional bench as significant groundwork would be required for any identified sites.
Action: Clerk to advise the requestor that it would be not possible to locate an additional memorial bench in the cemetery.
13. Date of next meeting - 17th January 2022.
14. Meeting Closed 21:00 hrs
signed: B C Mander 18th November 2021