2021 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

District Councillor’s Report

July/ August 2021

After the restrictions being lifted on 19th of July I hope everyone will continue to take care in public places.

Freedom by definition, does not infer doing what you want to do but rather, doing things responsibly and thinking of others and not of yourself.

This is my last official report until September after the August recess.

I am experimenting with a new format and I do not want to overload you with information however I feel that we need to be better informed. There are several important matters converging, namely;

1. Local Plan Review
2. White Paper on Planning
3. Future of organization of local government in Lincolnshire

Please read below on page

My  Council Diary:

17 Old Hall Mayflower Event all day as Chair of WLDC Tourism, Events Leisure

19 Hemswell PC @ 7:30pm

20 Corringham PC @ 7:30pm

22  CP&R  @ 6:30pm

22 Willoughton PC @ 7:30pm

26 Glentworth PC @7:30 pm

9 August Training Licensing on line 6pm

Advance

16  Nov  touring Hemswell Ward with Chief Executive of WLDC Mr Ian Knowles

Follow ups;

The Forge, Hemswell

“Planning permission was refused to demolish and replace the building on the 4th March 2021, as per the resolution of the Planning Committee and following the advice of officers.

The applicant does however have a period of 6 months from the decision, in which to lodge an appeal to the Secretary of State (via his Planning Inspectorate (PINS)). Consequently, the applicant has until the 4th September to lodge an appeal and challenge the Council’s decision.

The applicant has previously indicated that it is their intention to lodge an appeal. We have yet to receive any notification that an appeal has been lodged to date  – we tend to receive an email from PINS to notify us when they receive an appeal.  

Upon receipt of an appeal, PINS will determine whether it is valid, before issuing us with a formal commencement or “start date”. It is at that point we will notify the public.”

Whilst PINS aim to determine 80% of appeals within 14 weeks – the latest government figures suggest they are taking much longer https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appeals-average-timescales-for-arranging-inquiries-and-hearings

As you are likely to be aware, the Council has previously instructed a Conservation accredited Engineer to inspect the building. Following that, an Urgent Works Notice was issued on the applicant in February, after we had sought permission from the Secretary of State to do so. I’m pleased to say that the applicant was cooperative and undertook the urgent works that were required by the Notice.

In the meantime, I can advise that Officers continue to monitor the state of the building, and will continue to liaise with the applicant if further works are deemed necessary. We will also consider the use of further formal or enforcement action, where it is deemed to be necessary and in the public interest to do so.

The owner has 47 days from me writing 19/07 to lodge an appeal

It is unclear if the owner is to be instructed to fully reinstate this building as he found it last July before his first planning application

I am unsure of the amount of monitoring being undertaken.

Hawthorn Ave Glentworth  -

“I understand that the issue has arisen from damage caused to Anglian Water infrastructure during development.

Anglian Water, as the local Water and Sewerage Company, is responsible for the upkeep and provision of sewerage infrastructure under the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991. This is therefore a matter between AW and the developer and I understand that AW are directly liaising with the developer in this regard.”

 However, WLDC would not have any jurisdiction or powers to withhold their extant planning permission or otherwise halt development, whilst the two parties are liaising on these matters

All pipes are now connected and I believe the developer is preparing an application to AW to move the pipe to give him room to build. This may result in a fresh application?

Committee Update:

Prosperous meeting on   explored the following;

1. HM The Queen’s Jubilee
2. Future of WL Markets
3. Sustainability & Environmental Report.

CP&R Delivery & Progress Report

Covid has skewed to a great degree delivery & progress.

Covid The lockdown extension was because the Delta variant is increasing by 64%/wk with 9,000 new cases per day, mainly in the 20-29yr group followed by the 10-19yr group. Vaccination as are now open to people over 18. The double vaccination is 80% effective against the current Delta variant. You can find your NHS number online and please only attend if you are eligible – find out more information on eligibility.

Covid Data: Key headlines for the week are:

• 277 new cases, an increase of 74% on the previous week.
• The current infection rate stands at 258.2 per 100,000 which remains below the national infection rate of 328.9 per 100,000 though the gap is narrowing.
• The regional R value has increased to between 1.2 and 1.5 with a daily growth in infections of between 4% and 8%.
• Infections are highest and rising amongst the 11-24 year olds. Infections also continue to rise amongst 25-59 year olds, and the over 60s.
• There have been no new outbreaks in the District in the past week, though the five outbreaks reported last week are ongoing.
• Infections are rising the fastest in Wold View, Caistor and Yarborough, Dunholme and Welton, and Stow.
• As of 16/7, 88.3% of the District’s population have received a first dose of the vaccine, while 73.1% have received a second dose. This is higher than the national average.
• Whilst case rates are amongst the highest at any point of the pandemic, and expected to rise further into August, this is not translating into serious disease at this time. There have been no COVID related deaths in West Lindsey since 18th April and there are currently two COVID patients in hospital in Lincolnshire.

Grants to Market Traders:

Market traders across West Lindsey will be able to apply for a new grant as part of plans to boost markets across the district.

West Lindsey District Council has made the decision to allocate funding for market traders by utilising some of the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) awarded to the Council from Central Government. The ARG funding scheme was set up to support businesses severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions.

Gainsborough holds a general market twice a week on a Tuesday and a Saturday, plus a monthly Farmers’ and Craft Market. There are also regular markets in Market Rasen and Caistor.

The value of the grant will be based upon stall fees between June 2021 and December 2021 and a pro rata payment for a further three months (January 2022 to March 2022). This will effectively provide grants to the equivalent of nine months’ trading fees.

This approach aims to support those traders who have regularly attended Markets throughout the crisis, but also to encourage growth – especially at a time when residents may be looking for new ways to generate income.

In January 2022 there will be a simple application process for traders to claim their grant funding.

Comment

Since I was first elected the markets have raised concerns. There is a history to their decline in Gainsborough and to me we are not coming to terms with the problem, grants are not the sole answer.

Grants:

Are you thinking of applying for grants? Apply by Sept 1st or Dec 1st for awards of between £2,,000 and £100,000 to not for profit organisations in the vicinity of landfill sites under three themes - Rebuilding Biodiversity, woodland walk, gardens Recreation: Play areas, skate parks, museums, sports Community Buildings: Churches, Village halls

https://fcccommunitiesfoundation.org.uk/funds/fcccommunity-action-fund

 2. National Lottery £300-£10,000 or over £10k Apply to help communities through covid.

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding

 3. Persimmon Community Champions Match funds up to £1,000.

http://www.persimmonhomes.com/charity

 4. For Children and Families

tescocommunitygrants@groundwork.org.uk

 www.lincolnshire.coop/community/communitychampions

Local Plan

All planning applications in future will be measured against this new set of rules to see whether it gets permission or not. So your voice is vital. Our new Local Plan consultation has now gone live at https://centrallincs.inconsult.uk/CLLP.Draft.Local.Plan/consultationHome

 Background documents and maps are on the Central Lincolnshire web pages www.central-lincs.org.uk New housing is expected to be carbon neutral with renewable energy inbuilt and energy saving measures - great! However, if they cannot, there is an opportunity to buy in more onshore turbines, which seems like a green wash, a less good idea. Let me know if you would like to hear more and to respond. We have eight weeks to 24th August. Look out for the special Parish Council meeting

New housing is expected to be carbon neutral with renewable energy inbuilt and energy saving measures - great! However, if they cannot, there is an opportunity to buy in more onshore turbines, which seems like a green wash, a less good idea. Recent publicity focused on the creation of on shore 75 turbines covering the equivalent of 150 football pitches whereas we should encourage more off shore turbines.

Many of you will recall the fight we had both at Hemswell Cliff and Corringham over proposed wind turbines. Let me know if you would like to hear more and to respond. We have less than eight weeks to 24th August.

Highways:

A new map shows works already scheduled. Please keep reporting on www.fixmystreet.com  and use this for reporting flytipping etc Thank you for your support. It is clear we need to keep up the good work!

Recycling Centres:

 the  booking system will end on 1st of Sept which has proved so  restrictive and very expensive, booking system at recycling sites The booking system was implemented to keep staff and people separated, but it also inconvenienced people and cost £126,000 over 14 months. They collected considerably less than half the usual amount of waste;  24,558 tonnes,  instead of the usual 71,450 tonnes per year!  That’s 46,802 tonnes that either wasn’t produced, hopefully, or went somewhere else. Scunthorpe Recycling Centre resumed normal service all through the past 18 months!

Gainsborough Old Hall

is now open under the day to day management of English Heritage. It has been closed since November for a deep clean, refurbishment and redecoration. The Old Hall reopened on 3rd of July. The Friends of the Old Hall Association of which I am Chairman, were invited to the re-launch which was a great occasion but low key due to Covid. Almost all spaces within the Old Hall are accessible to the public. There is an excellent Café and Gift Shop which are open to the general public and visitors alike. Below is a picture of the opening which was attended by Chairman of WLDC, Cllr S England and Mrs England on a beautiful afternoon which included a tour and refreshments

I hope many of you will visit this late medieval manor house, saved by The Friends in 1949 and now in the good hands of English Heritage Along with our built heritage, listed and otherwise, the Old Hall is the jewel in the crown in WLD!

Some Highways facts:

 48 staff order 60-70,000 minor works every year. 1,651 reports are currently outstanding, 600-700/week, which is about as low as it has ever been. Regular inspections cover 31,450km road each year, as some of our 8,000km of roads are inspected more than annually. Planned works are listed here. Highways Planned Works Technical Services Partnership £7.5m pa, joint private and public sector body, with 26 Lincoln staff but access to other specialists - 62 big works last year. (John Monk) Capital Programme worth £10bn (Highways Asset management) is Paul Little with £35m (£28 planned works) £8m on surface dressing 300 miles of road

New housing is expected to be carbon neutral with renewable energy inbuilt and energy saving measures - great! However, if they cannot, there is an opportunity to buy in more onshore turbines, which seems like a green wash, a less good idea. Recent publicity focused on the creation of on shore 75 turbines covering the equivalent of 150 football pitches whereas we should encourage more off shore turbines. Many of you will recall the fight we had both at Hemswell Cliff and Corringham over proposed wind turbines. Let me know if you would like to hear more and to respond. We have less than eight weeks to 24th August.

Families gathered on the lawn outside of the Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough for the first live show since the Covid-19 lockdown.

It was all smiles for 150 theatre goers, who showed their support for live theatre last night, at Trinity Arts Centre’s premier outdoor show. Audiences unravelled their picnic blankets and unfolded their chairs as they settled in to watch two shows in one night.

Shooting Fish Theatre Company have been working with young people from Gainsborough on the productions as part of the Gainsborough Literacy Project, which aims to support young peoples’ skills development. 

Young people presented a short play called, A Slip of the Tongue in co-collaboration with The Old Nick Theatre and Museum. This was followed by a performance of No Picnic. Shooting Fish worked with Community Learning in Partnership (CLIP) over the last 6 months, developing a new script, supported by professional writer, Rob Johnston.

Copies of the Trinity Arts Centre new brochure was handed out to audiences which shows an exciting line up including ITV’s Benidorm star, comedian, Crissy Rock, live music, comedy and panto is returning this Christmas!

Make sure you grab your tickets for our line-up of events at the Trinity Arts Centre please visit our website or call 01427 67665

Trinity Arts Centre

Trinity Street
Gainsborough
DN21 2AL

Box Office: Call the box office on:01427 676655
Email: Email us:tac@west-lindsey.gov.uk

Protecting Our Heritage whether listed or not

Now is the time to act, as Heritage Lincolnshire is leading on a county-wide programme to ensure key heritage assets are accounted for and taken into consideration during the planning process.

Many of the county’s significant heritage assets are protected by national designation such as Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Registered Parks and Gardens or through being located within a Conservation Area.

But there are many assets including historic buildings, landscapes, archaeological remains and civic structures, which have a special local interest and shape the character of the area, which are not listed.

Working in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council and with support from all planning authorities in the County, Heritage Lincolnshire is developing a new framework that all authorities can adopt.

Communities and local groups across Lincolnshire will be able to get involved by identifying and nominating significant heritage assets in their locality. They will also be offered opportunities for training and volunteering and the identification of assets for inclusion on the local list.

These assets will then be added to a Local Heritage Lists, which will be held by the local authority as it will be used as a material consideration in the planning process.

The project has been possible thanks to funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). It covers all of the historic county of Lincolnshire including North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

The successful bid was written jointly by Liz Mayle Conservation Officer, West Lindsey District Council, Emilie Wales, Heritage Environment Officer, East Lindsey District Council, Matt Bentley, Conservation Project Manager, Heritage Lincolnshire, and Ian George, Historic Places Manager, Lincolnshire County Council.

Liz Mayle who instigated the project said she was thrilled the project had received the funding.

She said: “West Lindsey is a large district with many lovely heritage assets, but only a small proportion are recognised in the planning system through national statutory protection.

“We do not currently have a local list of heritage assets, although some of our conservation area appraisals and neighbourhood plans do identify locally important buildings, it is a requirement of our adopted Local Plan to have a local list. I am delighted that our joint county bid for government funding was successful, and that we can now begin to create a local list for West Lindsey.”

Cllr Paul-Howitt-Cowan member champion for Heritage and Tourism at West Lindsey District Council said: “There are so many great examples of unlisted buildings in West Lindsey from the Nat West Bank building in the Market Place in Gainsborough to the Village Hall at Holton Le Moor, The Old Fire Station at Caistor and The Syfer Spring in Caistor. I would encourage communities to think about local sites that are important and interesting to them.”

The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan has adopted a policy stating each area should have a list, as none of the LPAs signed up to CLLP have one at present.

Felix Mayle, Conservation Project Officer, Heritage Lincolnshire said: “ The project is an exciting opportunity to be a part of shaping the future of the historic environment in your area. Local Listing works best with community involvement and we are really interested to hear from local communities and groups about what they feel should be put forward for inclusion on Local Lists of Heritage Assets.”

The project will:

• Focus on preparing a first local list or on improving, extending or updating existing local lists for each local and unitary authority and their respective Historic Environment Records.
• Ensure local lists cover all types of non-designated heritage assets (buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes which have been identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of their heritage interest), but must include buildings.
• Will ensure that Local list information will be recorded and made publicly available in digital form, and will be added to the local Historic Environment Record (HER).
• Create a new one year post for an historic environment specialist to take the project forward with the local authorities.

For more information about the project please visit: Lincolnshire Local Listing Campaign - Heritage Lincolnshire- Opens in a new window, or email: felix.mayle@heritagelincolnshire.org / locallisting@heritagelincolnshire.org

Alternatively visit the project’s Social Media pages Heritage Lincolnshire (@lincslocallistingproject) • Instagram photos and videos- Opens in a new window / Lincolnshire Local Listing Campaign (@LincsLocalLists) / Twitter- Opens in a new window/ Lincolnshire Local Listing Campaign | Facebook- Opens in a new window

As many of you know, I had concerns for The Forge in Hemswell village, a legacy of the village’s industrial 17c heritage when a particular planning application was lodged a year ago.

The Picture shows what it looked like July 2020 and within 12 months it had significantly deteriorated due not to vandalism or falling down through age.

It was subject to 2 planning applications which were refused and the Secretary of State had to intervene to order the building to made safe from collapsing. Many in the village have had concerns for this building which has been appreciated and the best course is to order the owner to restore it and to incorporate into a fresh design. It may go to an Appeal .However, the chances of overturning the refusal, in the light of the evidence, is in my opinion doubtful. The controversial site remains unresolved at the moment and the fact that it remains unresolved after a year is scandalous and reveals a fundamental flaw in the process of protecting our heritage.

I harbor no regrets regarding the stand I took regarding The Forge. Heritage in all its diversity is worth fighting for .In this instance, with compromise and reasonableness it need not have come to this present impasse.

Purple Bins being Rolled out but not yet in WLD

After a successful 12 moth trial N Kesteven is rolling out prurple bins to collect on a monthly basis clean , dry paper and card to avoid contamination of such as experienced in the blue bins. Contaminated paper and card fails to command any commercial value. In the trial 135,000  tons was collected

All bins generate money and the purple bin has great potential in attracting a greater commercial uptake. Green bin – contents for composting, the blue recycling contents and the black – its contents go to the incinerator at N Hykeham,  which generates energy hearting over 15, 000 homes and industrial plants. The experiment for collection food waste is complex but watch this space.

Micro news

Religious Services

Congregational singing is permitted after the 19th of July and receiving communion on both kinds may resume.

Fly Tipping

In England 978,000 fly tipping incidents were  actioned in 2019/20 at a cost of £50 million. I believe WLDC spends c £50k per year on fly tipping alone.

Council submits ambitious £17 million ‘Levelling Up’ Funding Bid

Exciting plans to create a ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ have been submitted by West Lindsey District Council to the Government for a share of the Levelling Up Fund.

If successful, it is hoped that ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’ will have a ‘domino effect’ improving prosperity not only within the town but across the district.

Plans include improving;

• Whittons Gardens,
• a new park at the Baltic Mill,
• new cinema,
• refurbished bus station,

an extension to our heritage led regeneration, new homes in the town centre above shops,

and an improved Market Place as the centre piece of town where people can enjoy outdoor dining, visit our traditional twice weekly street market and meet with friends and family.

Competition for the funding will be challenging as the Council is just one of many local authorities bidding for a share of the £4.8 billion fund, announced by the Government earlier this year.

However, that hasn’t stopped the Council as it realises the cash aimed at funding projects such as high street regeneration and boosting cultural assets is an opportunity not to be missed.

The Council is asking for just over £10 million from the fund, the remaining funding needed will be brought in from the Council, external grants and private investors.

I personally support WLDC obtaining grants whenever possible. However, I do harbour reservations and a healthily suspicion of the term‘  Levelling up’. We should be throwing all our resources into developing Industry and Commerce, which represent the very engine room of the economy; they are our wealth creators ! To be very critical, I am opposed to vacuous slogans, such as this, which are in search of a policy. To my mind we should not be ‘ levelling up’ but being aspirational for the economy.

Forward thinking on falls.

Lincolnshire has adopted a Falls Response Unit for many residents, in particular older residents who fall and find themselves stranded and waiting for assistance.

It was part of a pilot in 2018 and now being rolled out. It has proved a game changer for many people reducing impact on hospital waiting and admissions, as less than 50% can return home by passing hospital admission once treated by LIVES Falls team. That is 500 patients who fall 81% fall at home aged between 65 or over, 40% are over 85 or over.

The service operates between 8am and 8pm 7 days a week and estimates 3, 000 patients per annum with an expected reduction of 1, 500 ambulance attendances. And cost savings are significant on the health budget and justify £273,000 being ring fenced to operate this invaluable service.

More MP’s on the cards

The Boundary Commission has reported, that on the basis of a proposed constituency  population c between 69, 724 & 77,062.The current number of parliamentary constituencies of 533, to be increased to 543. The recommendations are in consultation mode closing 2 of August. Gainsborough Constituency will remain, although several  current boundaries nationally will be redrawn which will prove controversial. If adopted, they should become effective at the next General Election. Interestingly, not all 533 MP’s can be accommodated in the House!

Remote Meetings

A legislation change we cannot continue remote council meetings at every level, hence the return to physical meetings. Interestingly, the first 659 councils surveyed, ie 80% of councils want to continue with remote or on line meetings. But what do residents think? Those who are not on broadband or have difficulties with reception are excluded, which challenges the accessibility and accountability   principles of holding physical meetings. Some cannot attend physical meetings due to poor or no public transport. However, public attendance is generally either minimal or non existent unless there is a controversial matter in the community, usually a planning application.

The LGA Local Government Association is researching into remote meetings to gather evidence to ascertain if there is mileage in remote meetings being continued and thereby changing the law.

I personally appreciate in person meetings however, I can see that from time to time remote meetings could be offered in certain circumstances, such as we have experienced with the pandemic.

I am for a choice position rather than being forced to hold all meetings remotely. If you have a viewpoint, please contact the LGA as resident focused research is vital.

Re organisation of local Government has unfortunately not gone away.

It is a controversial matter removing all district councils to either create one or three unitary authorities to deliver services.

Districts are more in touch with the people – on the whole it is district cllrs who attend to report to their respective parish/ councils/ meetings

GK Chesterton once wrote,

“ For anything to be real, it has to be local”

This thought was echoed in the 1970’s and  it made a deep impression on me.

I recall being a first year undergraduate and hearing a talk from E F Schumacher in 1969. He popularized his thoughts in a small book, ‘Small Is Beautiful: A Study of Economics As If People Mattered ‘is a collection of essays published in 1973 by German-born British economist E. F. Schumacher. The title "Small Is Beautiful" came from a principle espoused by Schumacher's teacher Leopold Kohr[ (1909–1994) 

If you are interested in pursuing more information regarding the move towards unitary in Lincolnshire an in depth look by Emeritus Professor Colin Copus, De Montfort University Leicester; visiting Professor Ghent University Belgium may be an enlightening starting point

It is 20 pages and readable! Google LGA  and navigate to The political and governance implications of unitary reorganisation | Local Government Association

It is interesting that Cllr G McNeile and myself are no longer in the Conservative group and were strong advocates against the reorganization of local government in Lincolnshire.We could appreciate the removal of the county council as it fails to be attuned to the communities in the county, which is not the case with the districts,

August Break

I hope you manage to enjoy a break and return refreshed and re charged in the autumn.

 Thank you again for all you do for your Communities

Regardless of the break, I am here if required.

PDJ Howitt--Cowan

District Cllr for the Hemswell Ward

July 2021