2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MEETING OF INGOLDSBY PARISH COUNCIL 

Draft Minutes of the Ingoldsby Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 6 December 2023 at 8pm in the Village Hall, Main Street, Ingoldsby

Public Forum:  No parishioners present. 

1)   WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIR (23/066)
The Chair, Councillor Eldred, welcomed members to the meeting.  

The Chair expressed her thanks on behalf of the Parish Council to Francis Gilbert for his assistance with the displayed poppies which were kindly donated to the Parish Council.  Councillor Leigh laid the wreath at the Church Remembrance Service.  

The First Aid sessions were well attended and many thanks for Councillor Nelson for arranging the sessions.  The Parish Council will start tests of the VETS phoneline in January 2024.  

The Chair expressed thanks to everyone for taking part in the advent display, with special thanks to Stacie Eldred for organising the event once again.

The Chair reported that the budget 2024/25 has now been agreed but there is additional funding available in the form of S137 grants.  Applications available from the Clerk.  

The Chair reported that the Autumn newsletter has been circulated to the village.    
The Autumn litter pick was successful, the next will take place in the Spring of 2024.  

2)   PRESENT (23/067)
Councillor Eldred, Chair
Councillor Kenyon, Vice-Chair
Councillor Leigh
Councillor Lenton

3)   APOLOGIES (23/068)
Councillor Nelson sent her apologies. The reason for her absence was noted and accepted. 

4)   DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS (23/069)
No reports of pecuniary interests of applications for dispensations in relation to the agenda.  Councillor Eldred reported her interests in relation to the Village Hall Committee.  
 
5)   SIGNING OF THE MINUTES (23/070)
Members resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council meeting held on
Wednesday 22 November 2023 as a true and accurate record of that meeting.  The minutes
were duly signed and dated.
 
6)   GENERAL MATTERS (23/071)
a)   County & District Council

Councillor Trotter passed on her apologies due to a prior engagement but submitted the following report (edited for brevity).

Greater Lincolnshire Devolution
On Friday 1 December 2023, the County Council approved the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal and so this will now move to an 8-week public consultation stage. 

Grantham Christmas Fayre and Lights Switch-on
The event was highly successful and well-attended. 

Policing Matters
The Police and Crime Commissioner is carrying out a policing survey which can be completed online Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (lincolnshire-pcc.gov.uk). 

I am a member on the Police & Crime Panel and the Chief Constable Chris Haward will be retiring soon and as a member of the Police & Crime Panel, I will be involved in the recruitment process. 

Housing Repairs Issues 
I am actively involved with Housing issues on my Ward, and if any tenants are struggling to get issues resolved with the Council, please contact me either by phone 07500 705508 or email me on sarah.trotter@southkesteven.gov.uk 

Solar Farms Application - Mallard Pass Solar, Stamford Farm 
The 6-month examination period for the Mallard Pass Solar Farm closed on 16 November 2023. There were some changes to the scheme and draft development consent order during the examination period, including a higher biodiversity net gain (65% habitat units and 36% for hedgerow units) and a now proposed 60-year time limited consent period. However, SKDC maintained its position that whilst the proposed development would make a positive contribution to reducing carbon emissions during its operational life, there would undoubtably be adverse impacts that need to be balanced against the benefits of the scheme. The main concerns of the Council were loss of agricultural land, the impact on the landscape and visual amenity of the area, the impacts on Public Rights of Way and the subsequent negative impacts on the visitor economy. The Examining Authority now has three months to write a report and recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), as to whether the application should be granted or not. As such, a decision is expected in mid-May 2024. 

If there are any local issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I would like to wish all Councillors and residents a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and thank you for all your support.                    

b)   PCC and PFA Annual Budget & Section 137
Item to be deferred to the next meeting of the Parish Council. 

c)   Local Government Pay Awards, 2023-24 
Councillor Kenyon reported that the local government pay awards have been published.  The Clerk will now sit at SCP 23, £32,076 per annum, £16.67 per hour.  This will be back dated to April 2023.  

d)   Lenton Parish Meeting 
Members discussed a future amalgamation with Lenton Parish Meeting further to some instability within the parish. 

Councillor Leigh proposed that Ingoldsby Parish Council do not merge with Lenton Parish Meeting, the proposal was seconded by Councillor Lenton, Councillor Leigh suggested an amendment to her proposal to confirm that the matter would not again be considered until after the next ordinary Parish Council elections. The Parish Council unanimously agreed the amended proposal. 

e)   Email from parishioner dated 9 October 2023 in relation to speeding, HGV transit through the village and planning enforcement
The Parish Council discussed at length the issue of speeding and the HGV’s transiting the village.
Action:  Clerk to liaise with the Area Highways Department and Councillor Sarah Trotter.  The Chair will liaise with the school.  Clerk to obtain quotes for additional 30mph bin stickers (150).

7)   HIGHWAYS (23/072)
Members of the public are encouraged to report any new faults at
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/faultreporting or email cschighways@lincolnshire.gov.uk or 
contact customer services by telephone on 01522 782070.

Members discussed the state of the roads locally. 

8)   PLANNING (23/073)
a)   New Planning Matters
Members noted that no new planning matters had been received. 
        
b)   Members noted the decisions pending or received.  This item will be removed from future notes as it has no impact on the parish. 

c)   Planning Enforcement
Matthew Johnstone, Planning Enforcement Officer has revisited the Old Rectory further to a number of complaints and will be providing a report to the Parish Council soon.

9)   FINANCE (23/074)    
a)   Members noted the current bank balances as of 1 December 2023

b)   No income received between 16 November 2023 and 1 December 2023

c)   Members noted the expenditure to be paid in line with the approved list of Regular payments between 16 November 2023 and 1 December 2023, or for approval

d)   Members noted the record of reserves dated 16 November 2023.    

e)   Members resolved to approve the monthly income and expenditure accounts for December 2023. 

10)   CORRESPONDENCE (23/075)
Members noted the following correspondence:
a)   Email Julie Edwards, Electoral Services Manager dated 17 October 2023, Review of Polling District & Polling Places, Formal Consultation (Deadline, 27 October 2023)
b)   Email from LALC dated 8 November 2023, Schools Admissions Policy Consultations 2025/26
c)   Email from NSK Policing Priority Setting Feedback Form – Due 4 December 2023

11)    DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING (23/076)
Wednesday 31 January 2024 at 8pm in the  Village Hall, Main Street, Ingoldsby

The Chair closed the meeting at 20.40 p.m.