3 July 2025 - Extra-Ordinary Meeting Minutes UNADOPTED
UNADOPTED Minutes of the Hemswell Parish Council Extra-Oordinary Meeting held Thursday 3rd July 2025, 6.45 pm at the Hemswell and Harpswell Village Hall, Hemswell.
Present: Parish Councillors: Cllr. J. Roberts (Chair), Cllr. P. Sutherland, Cllr. G. Jago, Cllr. A. Horsfield. Member(s) of the Public (MoP): 10. In attendance: County Cllr. C. Reeve, District Cllr. P. Howitt-Cowan. Clerk: E. Raymond.
The Chair welcomed the public to the meeting and invited the County and District Councillors to introduce themselves.
Public Forum
i. A resident provided the background for concerns regarding Planning Application WL/2025/00581, 12A Weldon Road, Hemswell, explaining that in February 2025, a small group of residents were invited by Illuminate Care Group to attend an ‘Open Morning’ at the property to hear the company’s plans for the dwelling. Six Hemswell residents attended and were advised that the dwelling would become a specialist day-care facility for children with special needs, starting at 09:30 am each day, catering for up to four pupils with two cars on site per day.
ii. A resident added that the property was advertised for sale by Foot Forward Property Investments (https://www.footforwardproperties.co.uk/investment-properties/available-investment-properties/care-property-675000/), with images of the Weldon Road property on the website describing it as a ‘Fully Managed Children’s Care Property with 20+Years of Guaranteed Income’. The website promotes it as an investment opportunity, freehold, cash purchase for a ‘residential care home’. A resident spoke with the company and was assured that all appropriate planning/building control certificates were in place. Residents told the meeting they believe the property has since been sold and the picture removed from the website.
iii. Residents raised concerns over the impact a ‘residential care’ property would have on the secluded site, including increased vehicle access via a shared driveway, access for deliveries, waste collection, emergency services, facilities for staff and support workers, noise and lack of amenities within the village such as public transport, shops, public space as may be needed by such a facility.
iv. Residents felt that the planning application submitted to WLDC for the erection of a garden room, fences and doors was made to appear as a ‘householder’ application to be considered as a delegated matter, when it may be an established business preparing a for a ‘change of use’ that would significantly impact the village and particularly the residents of Weldon Road.
v. The County Cllr. stressed that Lincolnshire County Council has not been informed of the intention to use the dwelling for residential care, despite residents being told by the investment company that it was ‘supported by the county council’. The County Cllr. reiterated that only WLDC could permit a ‘change of use’ application, as that is not a function of LCC.
The Chair stressed to residents who had brought this matter to the attention of the PC that no members of the PC were invited to the Open morning, nor has the PC ever been contacted by any of the companies associated with this development.
The Chair summarised the public discussion, including input from the County and District Councillors and elements from the planning application form, concluding that the application may not meet the criteria as a ‘householder application’ in light of the feedback and comments provided by the public. Furthermore, the conflicting information provided by Foot Forward and Illuminate Care Group raises questions over ownership and future development for the property; therefore, it should not be decided as a householder application or by delegation but should appear as a full planning submission for consideration by WLDC planning committee.
The Chair thanked the public for their contributions and convened the Parish Council meeting at 7.15 pm.
AGENDA
18-7-25/26 WELCOME & REMARKS
19-7-25/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Apologies were received from Cllr. R. James and accepted by the PC. All other members present.
20-7-25/26 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND DISPENSATION REQUESTS – None received.
21-7-25/26 NOTES - To consider and resolve to approve Minutes of the Annual PC Meeting held Monday, 19th May 2025, and to sign as agreed minutes. RESOLVED that Minutes of the Annual PC Meeting 19 May 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
22-7-25/26. BUSINESS MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION
To consider and discuss the report regarding the creation of an authority-owned email account as per Assertion 10, the SAAP Practitioner’s Guide 2025. Following the issue of a report explaining the move toward an authority-owned email account, the clerk distributed details of the newly purchased domain to members – hemswellparishcouncil.org.uk. RESOLVED that members should implement the account details provided by the clerk and set up their accounts as soon as possible. ACTION: PC members.
23-7-25/26 Planning Application WL/2025/00581, 12A Weldon Road, Hemswell.
To consider the PC response for submission to WLDC before the 14 July 2025 deadline. The Chair sought the views of members regarding the discussion of the planning application, and all members expressed their concerns regarding the submission as a ‘household application’ and the ‘incremental creep’ of planning that this property has been granted, leading to the change of use that will significantly impact the village.
RESOLVED to submit a response to WLDC stating the PC’s objection to the application, informed by the discussions at the meeting and information in the public domain. ACTION: Chair and Clerk to draft a response for approval by members for submission before the deadline.
24/7/-25/26 Confirmed date of next meeting as Monday 21 July 2025 at 7.00 pm in the Hemswell and Harpswell Village Hall.
Meeting Closed 7:32 pm
UNADOPTED