2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of the Meeting of Heckington Parish Council held in the Council Chambers, St Andrews Street, Heckington on Monday 25th March 2019 commencing at 1900hrs 

Attendance: 

Chairman -  Cllr Mrs J Palmer 

Councillors – Mr T Atkinson, Mr D Couzens, Mr R Doughty, Mr A Garlick, Mr R Higgs, Mr M Jones, Mr R Kemmett, Mr T Pyrah, Mr M West, Mr R Woods

County Councillor – Mr B Young

District Councillors – Mr S Ogden, Mrs S Tarry

Minute Taker – Clerk, Ms J Hudson

Police Representative – None present

Press Representative – Mr A Hubbert (from 7.05pm)

Members of the Public – 3  

1.  Chairman’s Welcome and Opening Remarks

i.  The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

ii.  She reported that the social media appeal for volunteers to help keep the village magazine going, had been excellent and that the first new edition was scheduled for May this year and that it is likely to be a bi-monthly publication.   

2.  To receive apologies for absence

None received 

3.  To receive any declarations of  interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011

i.  Cllr Mr R Higgs declared an interest in item 12-1 b and e.

4.  To consider any written requests for dispensations received at or before the start of the meeting.

None received.

5.  Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 25th February 2019 to be approved as Minutes and signed.

proposed by Cllr Mr R Higgs, seconded by Cllr Mr R Doughty

Votes results – 10 x for, 1 x abstentions (Cllr Mr M West who was not present) 

6.  Public Speaking Time – 15 minutes allocated in total.  Members of the public are each allowed 3 minutes to make representations

i.  A resident highlighted a typing error on the minutes of 25th February whereby a letter ‘T’ was omitted !  All present agreed to the change.

7.  To consider financial Matters

a.  To approve payments as listed separately

Proposed by Cllr Mr M Jones, seconded by Cllr Mr R Higgs

Vote results – unanimous

Resolved – to approve payments as listed above

b.  to formally record approval of purchase of equipment for use by Community Speed Watch team (as per listed items emailed to Councillors).  Participation of the scheme had previously been ratified by Full Council.  For the purpose of formal minutes, previous Councillor approval for the above purchases (given by email), was ratified unanimously at this meeting (Now marked above with a ‘*’.)  

8.  To receive a report from the Police

PCSO not present and no reported information

9.  To receive a report from the County and District Councillors 

C/Cllr Mr B Young reported the following – 

i.  That in respect of the tree on Windmill Drive issue, Highways had received a quote from their contractor to both pollard and fell the tree.  Due to the scale of the quote, the Clerk was requested to obtain further quotes from the HPC arborist for the same works for comparison.  The chairman suggested that perhaps HPC could instruct the works and that Highways refund HPC the cost.  C/Cllr Mr B Young will investigate this possibility further.

ii.  He reported that HPC previous request for yellow lines in specific locations were being progressed.

iii.  He confirmed that the street lighting policy previously notified and discussed, had still not been passed as policy.

The District Councillors reported the following –

i.  It was confirmed that the planning application as raised by the resident at the last full meeting, was still in the initial informal stage and a formal application had not yet been submitted.

ii.  D/Cllr Mr S Ogden requested to be kept up to date with the Windmill Drive tree situation by the Clerk.

iii.  He said he wasn’t pleased with the changes limiting the powers of dog wardens. 

iv.  He confirmed that other Parishes were successfully utilising the Community Speedwatch programme.

C/Cllr Mr B Young and D/Cllrs Mr S Ogden and Mrs S Tarry left the meeting at 7.15pm

10.  To receive a report from the Clerk 

i.  She reported that the NKDC planning application that was emailed to Councillors that morning should have been a notification of decision, not a consultee letter, therefore no comments were required.

ii.  She confirmed that a letter of thanks had been sent to a resident who has been regularly tending the East Heckington War Memorial.  Heckington Parish Council would seek this year to donate a poppy wreath for both Memorials this year (Swineshead had arranged this in the past)

iii.  She reported that works for the new play park area were due to commence in Spring – date to be confirmed.

iv.  She reported that an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate was scheduled to visit the trees on Millers Way, in relation to the appeal submitted by HPC.

v.  She confirmed that the Speed Watch sites had been risk assessed and approved and that the equipment was still to be delivered.

vi.  She confirmed that the Caretaker had started to cut the grassed areas which fall under the Parish Agreement with LCC.

11.  Receive reports from Councillor’s relating to their affiliation to local organisations.

i.  Cllr Mr R Woods, as the nominated Councillor, reported that he had carried out the review of the accounts and contract for the Playing Field and that all is in order.

ii.  The Chairman thanked Cllrs Mr R Woods and Mr A Garlick for their help with painting the Village Hall kitchen and said that a volunteer cleaning team would be sought soon.

iii.  Cllr Mr R Higgs reported on behalf of the Heckington Community Swimming Pool, that the major renovation works were complete and that the automatic dosing system was about to be done.  Additional remedial work to the floor had been discovered and repaired when the pool was relined.  Talks with the diocese were continuing relating to a new entrance to be made via Howell Road.

12.  Planning Matters

(1)  Applications to be ratified 

a.  19/ 0065/HOUS – Replacement door, cap chimney, replace lead covering on bay window, resurface yard, repaint garage door and remove and replace 2/3 rows of tiles on ‘catslide’ – Cobblers Cottage, 6 Cowgate, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

b.  19/0257/HOUS – Erection of replacement garage – 22 Kyme Road, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9RS (Cllr Mr R Higgs declared an interest – applicant known to him)

c.  19/0216/FUL - Change of use from grass field to car park (retrospective) – Abbey Parks Farm Shop, Boston road, East Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

d.  19/0351/TCA – T1 Holly – fell; T2 yew – trim back 1.5m clearance from house – 103 High Street, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9QU

e.  19/0350/HOUS – Change driveway material from gravel to block paving and extend adjacent to garage.  Extend patio area and replace porch door – 4 Cowgate, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9RL – (Cllr Mr R Higgs declared an interest as a direct neighbour)

f.  19/0383/TPO – Willow 4541 (TPO T1) – Reduce the height by 2.5m and laterally reduce crown spread by up to 2.5m; Willow 4542 (TPO T2) – Reduce the height by 2.5m and laterally reduce crown spread by up to 2.5m; Remove dead wood (exempt item described for information only) – 77 Sleaford Road, Heckington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9QP

(2)  Applications approved 

a.  18/1308/VARCON – Application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) to allow for new house type O to substitute plots 70,71,76,77,80,86,92 & 93 (addition of sun room on previously approved house type.  Single garage added to plot 96.  House variation K1 to substitute plot 6 (conservatory added).  House variation C3 to substitute plot 39 & 40 (Reduce in size from previous house type) attached to planning permission 17/1776/FUL – Erection of 107 no. dwellings with associated open space and storm water attenuation basin – Land North of Boston Road, Heckington.

b.  19/023/FUL – Erection of garden room – 77 Sleaford Road, Heckington, Sleaford

(3)   Applications rejected

a.  None received

(4)  Applications withdrawn

a.  None received

13.   To discuss OPERATION LONDON BRIDGE – national planning of the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth the Second, including local arrangements

The Clerk reported that an email response from NKDC suggested that they were still working on plans.  It was suggested that 2 loose leaf books were purchased in the meantime to act as Books of Condolence, and that an area on the village green could be used for the laying of flowers if necessary.  Cllr Mr R Higgs suggested that the Village Hall could be renamed at the time.

Proposed by Cllr Mr R Higgs, seconded by Cllr Mr M Jones

Vote results – 10 x for, 1 x abstention (Cllr Mr T Pyrah)

Resolved – to purchase 2 x suitable loose leaf books to act as Books of condolence 

14.  To discuss and agree date for Heckington Parish Meeting – 23rd May 2019? 

The date suggested was approved.  Cllr Mr R Doughty gave apologies in advance.

15.  To update on Best Kept Village 2019

The Clerk confirmed that last year’s co-ordinator was unable to lead the project this year and so other volunteers were invited to come forward.

16.  To update on the Heckington100 Memorial tree planting and decide upon plaque wording.

The Chairman confirmed that the children of St Andrew’s CE School, Heckington were to take part and that the planting was scheduled for Friday 29th March 2019 at 1030.  A formal ‘unveiling’ would take place once the plaque and plinth are in place.  

Proposed by Cllr Mr T Pyrah, seconded by Cllr Mr R Higgs

Vote results - unanimous

Resolved – to word the plaque as follows ‘This memorial arboretum was planted by the people of Heckington to commemorate the centenary of the armistice, 11th November 2018.  The impact of the Great War is still felt in Heckington to this day, 100 years on.’ 

17.  To receive general correspondence

a.  Notification from NKDC that nominations are being received for their Community Champion Awards 2019 – previously emailed to Councillors

b.  Email from Rural Services Network re development of Rural Strategy – previously emailed to Councillors

c.  Leaflet information from Community Lincs – information only

16.  To remind of date of the next full Parish Council meeting as Monday 29th April 2019. 

Date confirmed

17.  To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960

Item not required

Meeting concluded at 7.38pm