October 2023 Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 2nd October 2023 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall
Present: Councillor N Turner (Chairman)
Councillor G Cooke (Vice Chairman)
Councillor M Barnatt
Councillor A Broom
Councillor J Cope
Councillor L Mountain
County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)
Apologies Councillor N Dady
In attendance: Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk)
Public Forum
The Public Forum Opened at 7.00pm
There was 1 member of the public present.
The member of the public stated that he was pleased to see that work has begun at the railway crossing.
He further wished to pose a question to include the County Councillor. He said that he had challenged the County Council that the diversion from the Little Hale Road closure was potentially illegal as the diversion went through Burton Pedwardine, which is a C class road.
He wished to thank Cllr Cope for his work in cutting the grass at the front of the Village Hall.
Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.03 pm
Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.03 pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (23/104)
The Chairman welcomed everyone. He said that he had met with the Clerk regarding the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders but that there was little else to report. All other matters were included in the Agenda.
2. Apologies (23/105)
Council accepted apologies from Cllr Dady.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 11th September 2023 (23/106)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 11th September 2023 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4 Clerk’s Report (23/107)
a. Met with Contractor at Church Wall with Cllrs Cooke and Mountain & Churchwarden
b. Met with Chair & updated Financial Regulations and Standing Orders
c. Email to CC Key re Leas Road
d. Email to Highways Manager re resurfacing of Little Hale Road
e. Email to Grass Cutter re September / October cut
f. Emails re Planning sent. DC Tarry copied in
g. Social media survey as to what additional facilities they might like
h. Email to NKDC Heritage fund re Church Wall
i. Meeting regarding boreholes at Orchard Green
j. Spoken to 2nd Contractor re Church Wall for quote
k. Started Heritage Grant application for Church Wall
5. To receive declarations of interests (23/108)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 8
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (23/109)
CC Key updated Council on Leas Road – He noticed that the road markings had eroded. He has asked Highways that the markings should be updated at Leas Road so that the Give Way is made clear.
The Chairman asked for a further meeting with the Highways manager to look at Leas Road /Grove Street and the junction in particular. CC Key stated that there was little point in a meeting at the moment but he would continue to push for a footpath.
At a full Council meeting CC Key said that he had voted for any remaining money to be given to roads and paths in the area rather than other projects.
The Chairman asked CC Key about the work done on Little Hale Road and the lack of notice given to residents. The Chairman continued to state that traffic was diverted onto a lower case road. CC Key asked that we address this with Highways and to copy him into any correspondence. He asked that this should be done constructively.
7 Planning Applications (23/110)
(7.1) Planning Application Reference:
Notification: Application 23/0870/FUL Land Adjacent To The Gables Great Hale Sleaford Lincolnshire
This application requests 8 new dwellings. After the last meeting the Clerk informed the District Councillors of Councillors’ concerns.
Cllr Broom spoke to the Planning Officer and said that his main concern was traffic, especially heavy vehicles. He said that the planning states that construction vehicles should enter and leave the village through Leas Road and on to the A17 along Carter Plot Road. Cllr Broom said that during the last phase of construction, vehicles came through Church Street and the village. He asked that the route of the traffic should be enforced so that vehicles avoid the village centre.
Discussion continued to state that flooding occurs regularly on the land and should be considered in the planning, alongside the disposal of foul drainage. Concerns were raised regarding resulting increased traffic flow along Leas Road, as it is only one vehicle width. At its Northern end there is no footpath and there are existing safety concerns with the junction of Grove Street due to lack of visibility. Any resulting traffic will only add to the likelihood of an accident.
Action: Clerk to email Alan Oliver (Planning Officer – NKDC) and to copy in DC Tarry. If the planning should go ahead then CIL money should be to make improvements to the roads and providing a footpath.
Application by Ecotricity (Heck Fen Solar) Limited for an Order Granting Development Consent for the Heckington Fen Solar Park
Planning Act 2008 – Section 89 and The Infrastructure Planning (Examination Procedure) Rules 2010 – Rules 8, 9,13 and 16
This is outside of Great Hale Parish Council’s remit.
8 Finance matters
(8.1) To approve the September 2023 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (23/111)
Council approved the September 2023 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.
(8.2) To approve accounts for payment (23/112)
It was unanimously resolved to approve the accounts for payment.
(9) Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Speed Sign update – pole and solar (23/113)
Cllr Cooke updated us with progress on the pole. Cllr Cooke contacted Graeme Butler who said that he would be on site in the next week to site the pole. He said that the solar panels had gone up by £200 - £300 but would wait for the pole to be sited before discussing at a further Parish Council meeting before ordering
(9.2) Leas Road (23/114)
This matter was discussed previously in Item 6 and 7.1
(9.3) Highways – further issues (23/115)
There have been temporary traffic lights situated on Little Hale Road and Church Street to allow for the installation of a dropped curb to a resident. No notice was given to residents or anyone in Great Hale.
There are currently no road markings at Magna Crescent after the resurfacing. These need to be replaced.
Action: Clerk to contact Highways to request that we are informed of road works in the village.
10 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
10.1 To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (23/117)
Cllr Cope had undertaken the inspections and said that everything was good and tidy. The grass had been cut at the end of September.
He continued to state that a working party would be meeting on Wednesday 4th October to mend the fence and tidy the garden area.
Action: Next month’s inspections: Cllr Cope
Action : Clerk to contact the Contractor to start the works that he quoted for
11 Other matters
(11.1) Financial regulations / Standing Orders (23/118)
The Clerk and Chair met last week and updated the Great Hale Financial Regulations and Standing Orders. They now meet the most recent NALC Guidelines. Both documents have been emailed to Councillors. Not enough time has been given to Councillors to read through them and make comments so this shall be added to November’s Agenda
Action: To move to this to November’s Agenda. All Councillors to read and make any comments to the Clerk.
(11.2) Oddfellows Hall (23/119)
The Clerk had emailed the Council Tax department regarding the status of Oddfellows Hall. The reply she received said that no Council Tax was currently being received for a building with that name. To clarify, the Clerk has replied asking for the status of 8 Grove Street, the address of Oddfellows Hall. The Clerk is waiting for a reply.
Action: To email DC Tarry
(11.3) Queen Elizabeth Garden (23/120)
A Working party of Councillors has been planned for Wednesday 4th October to extend the fence line at Orchard Park and to clear and spray the garden area. Once this has been done, the Contractor can begin their works.
Action: Clerk to contact Contractor to ask that work can commence. To obtain quotes for different trees – silver birch, rowans, white beam. Clerk to investigate funding for / or free trees.
(11.4) Church Wall Update (23/121)
Cllrs Cooke and Mountain, the Clerk and Churchwarden met with a Contractor regarding repair and renovation of the Church Wall. The Contractor examined the wall and took many photographs. He said he would be providing a quote based on each linear metre. The Clerk called another Contractor, who said that he would come and look at the wall, and would be able to provide a quote.
Action: Clerk to follow up on the second quote.
(11.5) Bore holes in Orchard Close (23/122)
Cllrs Turner and Cooke with the Clerk met 3 representatives of the National Flood Forum at Orchard Green Park. They were looking to see if there was any possible damage to old boreholes and whether further investigation was necessary. They agreed that there was no additional surface water and any boreholes are not leaking. No further action was considered necessary.
(11.6) Quickline Grant Funding (23/123)
The Clerk asked the Parishioners of Great Hale, through Social Media, what additional resources or facilities they would like if some money were to become available through grant funding. The answers varied from trees and landscaping of the cleared area (Queen Elizabeth Garden) to new and updated park facilities to a Youth centre / club. Also, a swimming pool! Outdoor exercise equipment was discussed.
Action: To ask the LALC forum regarding outdoor exercise equipment for risk assessments / liability.
12 Future agenda items (23/127)
(12.1) Financial regulations / Standing Orders
(12.2)
(12.3)
(12.4)
(12.5)
(12.6)
13 Date and place of next meeting (23/128)
Monday 6th November 2023 @ 7pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 8.02 pm