2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Great Hale Parish Council

Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on

Monday, 5th February 2024 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall

Present:                 Councillor N Turner (Chairman)

                              Councillor G Cooke MBE (Vice-Chairman)

                              Councillor A Broom

                              Councillor J Cope

                              Councillor N Dady

                              Councillor L Mountain

                              District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)

                              County Councillor A Key (Lincolnshire County Council)

Apologies              Councillor M Barnatt

In attendance:        Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk)

The Public Open forum began with a presentation by Beacon Fen Energy.  They recapped on previous presentation and explained the changes to the plans.  They stated that the plans have changed considerably with the South site plans being scrapped. The cable route has been refined and reduced to between 15 and 30 metres in width, and will be all underground as overhead cables have been ruled out. There is the introduction of a proposed bespoke access road linking the A17 from Kirkby la Thorpe and Asgarby, to Heckington Road between Howell and Ewerby Thorpe.

We had 1 member of the member of the public present who asked what grade of farming land Beacon Fen Energy would be building on.  The answer was that it was Grade 3.

CC Key was not able to comment on the plans as he has a relative with land in the area.

Solar panels have 43 year lifespan and the land is considered entirely reversible to be used for agricultural purposes.

Cllr Cope asked if they would be able to gain access directly to the site from the A17.  They confirmed with the new access road they would be able to.

Cllr Cooke asked about the Community Benefit fund and how much would be put into that fund.  The answer was not a finite sum but would be available for relevant groups bringing community groups together. He said that the sum would be significant and meaningful.  The Government plan to make it a standard figure for companies to

Cllr Mountain asked why they had not linked up with Heckington Fen plan to connect the cabling to Bicker Fen sub-station.  They are looking at the most direct route, working where possible with Heckington Fen and working as ecologically sensitively as possible.

Cllr Cope asked if the plans were approved, whether they would be planning to extend the site.  The answer was that there are no plans to extend.

Cllr Turner asked about footpaths and where they are exactly.  They are looking to extend and join existing footpaths.  Bicker Fen energy are asking for suggestions from local people rather than stating in advance.

Member of the public asked if grants would be available for buildings such as the Village Hall. 

CC Key asked about any boundary for villages applying for grants.  The answer was that there would not be any boundaries. 

Public Forum

The Public Forum Opened at 7.26pm

There was 1 member of the public present.

He said that a patch of newly seeded ground off Orchard Close has not been done correctly and a considerable amount of weeds are growing through with the grass.

Cllr Cooke said that he would do a Fix my Street

Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.28 pm

Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.28 pm

Official Business of the Council

1. Chairman’s Welcome (23/194) 

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. Apologies (23/195)

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Barnatt.

3        Previous meeting held on Monday 8th January 2024 (23/196)

It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 8th January 2024 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.

4        Clerk’s Report (23/197)

1. VAT return money received into the bank
2. Precept request submitted
3. Lottery funding processed and received for Climbing Wall
4. Emails to Cllr Key re Passing Places
5. Email to Highways re flooding
6. Email to Church Wall contractor
7. Contact with Churchwarden re Spring churchyard tidy
8. Email to Black Sluice
9. Website updates and links
10. Communication with grass cutter

5.       To receive declarations of interests (23/198)

Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 8

6.       To receive reports from County and District councillors (23/199)

DC Tarry announced that DC Ogden has resigned due to ill health, which will trigger a by-election.  Most Councillors had received their copy of the NewsNK.  Cllr Tarry discussed a NK initiative about fly tipping and registered waste disposal licences.

She continued to discuss flood areas around the Gables.  The planning application is yet undetermined and has had a 2 week extension to the application.  Cllr Tarry will continue to investigate Emergency planning in the next month.

Cllr Cooke asked about flooding areas and showed Cllr Tarry a map of flood areas. 

CC Key said that he had spoken with the Highways manager regarding Passing Places and signs on Carter Plot Road.  The Highways manager said that the passing places are not official and do not meet the criteria to be called an actual Passing Place.  The Highways manager said that he would suggest putting signs at both ends of the road ‘with single track road with passing places’.  Cllr Cooke asked about passing places for heavy traffic if plans for the new bungalows go ahead.

Cllr Turner said that there had been another Planning Application at Abbey Parks Farm for an extension to the car park and erection of an ice cream parlour.  CC Key said that his work to have a reduced speed limit has come to fruition and the speed limit will be reduced.

Action:  Councillors to lodge their own comments on the planning site

Member of the Public left at 7.49pm

7        Planning Applications (23/200)

(7.1)   Planning Application Reference:

          No planning applications and resolutions received. One had been received after the Agenda.

8        Finance matters

(8.1)   To approve the January 2024 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (23/201)

Council approved the January 2024 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.

(8.2)   To approve accounts for payment (23/202)

It was unanimously resolved to approve the accounts for payment.

(9)      Highway matters for discussion and resolution

(9.1)   Leas Road (23/203)

          Cllrs Turner, Cope and Broom will meet with the Highways manager on Tuesday 27th February at 12.00 at Hale Magna Village Hall.

(9.2)   Highways – further issues (23/204)

          Cllr Broom had been approached by a Parishioner regarding speed along Orchard Close.  Statistics from the Speed sign were discussed.  The speed sign is effective and cars are visibly reducing their speed when they see the sign.  There are some high speeds being registered.  These will be given to the Police to see if there is anything they can do.

          Action:  Clerk to contact Community Police regarding speeding.

10      Orchard Green for discussion and resolution

10.1    To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (23/205)

          Cllr Barnatt had completed this month’s inspections.  All was good, with a small amount of litter.  Cllr Barnatt was not present so Cllr Broom updated Councillors regarding the new grass.  It was agreed that Orchard Park should have a cut, including the new grass area. 

Action:  Next month’s inspections: Cllr Barnatt

11      Other matters

(11.1) Flood risk in Great Hale  (23/206)

          There should be no change in terms of insurance. The flooding map does not show the majority of Great Hale as being under risk.

(11.2)  Date for Church tidy up (23/207)

          This will be discussed again next month when Cllr Barnatt is back.

(11.3) Church wall (23/208)

          The Clerk has received an email from the Church Wall contractor stating that he would be looking to start work on the wall in May.

(11.4) Trees (23/209)

          It has been some time since a tree survey has been done in the village.  The Clerk has been in touch with a tree inspector, who now needs a map of the trees to survey.

          Trees for Orchard Park were discussed.  It was decided that Acer would be a good choice.

          Action:  To order 2 Acer trees and ask for them to be installed.

(11.5) Meeting Dates (23/210)

Meeting dates for the coming year were discussed and agreed:

4th March 2024

8th April 2024

13th May 2024

3rd June 2024

1st July 2024

2nd Sept 2024

7th Oct 2024

4th Nov 2024

2nd Dec2024

6th Jan 2025

3rd Feb 2025

3rd March 2025

Action:  Clerk to put these onto Parish Council website

(11.6) D Day Celebrations (23/211)

Celebrations are being held around the Country.  There were discussions on what Great Hale could do.

Action:  Clerk to ask Clerks what their villages are doing. Discuss with Church.

(11.7) Grass cutting (23/212)

Cllrs Broom and Cooke, with the Clerk met with the grass cutter on Sunday morning.  It was a productive walk around the village clarifying areas to be cut.  More cuts are needed in the village during the faster growing months to keep the village looking tidy.

Action:  To ask the grass cutter to cut Orchard Park as soon as he can.  To then cut the main areas every 3 weeks but to be flexible depending on growing rates.

(11.8) Climbing Wall (23/213)

Lottery Funding for the Climbing Wall has been granted.  The installation should take place on 4th March.  The invoice, when received, has a 7 day payment window.  Once the installation has been inspected and approved by Councillors, and the invoice received, it was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed that the Clerk should pay the invoice within the 7 day terms.

(11.9) Village newsletter (23/214)

The Village newsletter has a new editor and will become a scaled down version of what it is now. The Parish Contribution should be half of an A5 and any ideas should be with the Chair as soon as possible.

12      Future agenda items (23/215)

(12.1) Clerk’s appraisal after March’s meeting

(12.2) Reserves

14      Date and place of next meeting (23/216)

Monday 4th March 2023 @ 7pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.

The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the meeting at 8.47pm