Minutes of the Council Meeting Held in Lindsey Village Hall

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th November 2024 in Lindsey Village Hall, Church Road, Lindsey which commenced at 7.30pm.

In attendance: Cllrs. C Arthey (in Chair), M Hainsworth, B Howe, R Howe, J Moore and A Sturgeon, Mrs V Waples, Parish Clerk, and District Cllr. L Jamieson (in part).

1. Opening and Welcome

The Chair, Cllr. Arthey, opened the meeting and thanked all for attending. The statement on reporting at meetings of the parish council was taken as read.

2. Apologies of Absence

To receive apologies of absence – verified apologies of absence were received from Cllr. R Corcoran.
Council consented to accept the apology so submitted, aif.
Apologies of absence were noted from County Cllr. J Finch.

3. Declaration of Members Interest

To receive declarations of registrable, other and non-registerable interests as detailed in Appendix B of the LGA Model Code of Conduct Model Code of Conduct 2020 – there were no declarations of interests.
There were no declarations of gifts of hospitality received exceeding £50.
There were no requests for dispensations for the agenda under discussion.

4. Minutes of Previous Meetings

To approve the minutes of the following Council Meeting: 16th October 2024 - the meeting agreed that the circulated minutes, were a true and accurate record of the meeting that took place, and agreement was forthcoming for the Chair to sign the minutes, aif.

5. Public Forum

(maximum 10 minutes)

To receive a report from County Councillor James Finch – Cllr. Finch’s written report was taken as read: a copy of the written report submitted can be seen at Appendix A. There were no questions / issues raised by Councillors for onward submission.
To receive a report from District Councillor Leigh Jamieson – Cllr. Jamieson was invited to submit his report in which he commented or drew the meeting’s attention to the following: a copy of the written report submitted can be seen at Appendix B
- Union Hill Speed Limit
- Corks Lane properties – potentially there could be a loss overall. An independent inquiry could be established to seek to review of procedures etc.
- Kingfisher – unbudgeted works to the roof.
- CIL funds distributed.
- Community Energy Meeting.
Questions / issued raised by Councillors: Car parking charges would be introduced in January 2025.
To receive comments from the public on the agenda as published – there were no members of the public present.
To receive comments from the public as submitted – there were no matters raised.

6. Parish Matters

Climate Awareness / climate emergency –
- to receive an update / information on climate related issue coming forth – Cllr. Moore confirmed that he had attended the event facilitated by Community Energy South which was found to be informative and covered community energy programmes around south and east of UK. Specific to Lindsey, the Community Energy Survey carried out at Lindsey was shared with all those who had attended. Communities within the Stour Valley were being canvassed to form a cluster to look at local issues. Team Bildeston made a presentation including the survey as carried in Lindsey. Lot of initiatives being carried out in community programmes in other counties. Cllr. Moore stated that he had made the point that there might be a disconnect with the results between parishioners being asked about what they feel about renewable power (in general) to the response given when the questions were drilled down to their individual parish. There was a need to make it clear as to the aims and objective of such project on a local matter.
- to receive a summary of the results of the Community Energy Survey conducted September 2024 and to discuss the way forward – nothing more to add to the survey other than that which was mentioned at the previous meeting. The aims moving forward should be consideration of small sized scheme that would be a suitable size for Lindsey and perhaps the immediate surrounding area and that this should be set-up and owned by the community under a Community Interest Company. If this was to be taken further, it was suggested that the council might want to call a meeting of the village to discuss a proposal that might fit the community of Lindsey, although all were in agreement that further information was needed prior to discussing and placing matters with the community forum. Cllr. Sturgeon agreed to review how feasibility studies into potential sites for renewables could be funded and to report back at the next meeting.

7. Statutory Matters

Government consultation: allowing councils to use virtual attendance at council meetings – council to consider whether it wishes to provide a response to this consultation – council resolved that, in the event of exceptional circumstances, the ability to use virtual attendance at council meetings should be supported.

8. Planning Matters

To consider the following planning applications: none submitted prior to serving of agenda to view please follow this link https://www.babergh.gov.uk/planning/application-search-and-comment/
To note the following planning applications determined by the local planning authority:
- DC/24/03994 – refusal of permission for application under S73 for the Removal or Variation of a Condition following grant of DC/21/02911 dated 22/07/2022. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) – Change of use and conversion of barn to dwelling. Creation of new vehicular access. - To vary Condition 2 (Approved Plans and Documents) as per revised drawings @ Church Farm Meadow, Church Road
- DC/24/00970 – withdrawal of application made under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – variation of condition 2 (approved plans and documents) of planning permission DC/19/01412 – conversion of barn to 1 no. dwelling and the erection of a two bay cartlodge (re-submission of DC/19/00229) @ barn on the land to the east of Rose Green Road.
- DC/24/04474 – discharge of conditions for DC/24/01686 – Condition 3 (Biodiversity Enhancement Measures), Condition 4 (Ecological Appraisal Recommendations) and Condition 5 (Precautionary Working Method Statement for Great Crested Newts) @ Cob Cottage, Rose Green Road.

9. Financial Matters

To consider schedule of receipts received and payments made since the last meeting – Paper A – all confirmed receipt of Paper A (details can be seen at Appendix C) noting that no receipts nor payments had gone through the account since the last meeting.
To consider and approve the verified items awaiting authorization as per the schedule submitted – Paper B - all confirmed receipt of Paper B (details can be seen at Appendix C) - having reviewed the paper submitted, all approved the payments awaiting authorisation for settlement via online transfer, aif.
To consider the Council's financial position to date – Paper C – Council noted the reconciled position of £12,635.62 once the accounts awaiting payment had been settled, aif. Cllrs. Hainsworth and Howe confirmed that they had verified the position against the bank statements and cashbook. (Details can be found at Appendix C).
To discuss churchyard maintenance and whether the parish council should provide further financial assistance – it was agreed to defer this matter until the next meeting once pertinent information had been received.
Council to ratify the implementation of the local government services pay agreement 2024 for the Clerk (sole employee of the council) backdated to 1st April 2024 (Confidential paper) – following receipt of the confidential paper, the meeting agreed to ratify the implementation of the local government services pay agreement for the Clerk backdated to 1st April 2024, aif. Budget implication was noted as nil.
Council to approve the incremental increase to the Clerk SCP of one point taking the Clerk’s SCP to SCP18 effective 1st November 2024 (Confidential paper) – following receipt of the confidential paper, the meeting agreed to the incremental increase of one spinal column point taking the Clerk’s SCP to 18 with effect from 1st November 2024, aif. It was noted that this would be accommodated within the budget for 2024-2025 as set in January 2024.
To receive and discuss the 1st Draft of the Budget for the year commencing 1st April 2025 – Paper D – the meeting reviewed the budgetary papers as submitted and were minded to approve the indicative budget in the sum of £6,527 subject to the confirmed tax base due at the end of December 2024, aif. Further consideration and formal approval would be given at the scheduled meeting in January 2025.

10. Correspondence

BMSDC – Town and Parish Updates – all confirmed that the monthly updates were emailed to Councillors for their perusal.
SALC – all confirmed that the weekly news bulletins were emailed to Councillors for their perusal. Councillors to contact the Clerk if there are any items of interest / training courses they wish to attend.

11. Clerk’s Report

To receive an update on the improvements to the two triangles near the Rose Pub – nothing to report although a start date was awaited.
To discuss further remedial works to the village sign including its re-siting – it was noted that the sign was expected to be moved into its new position on Sunday 24th November.

12. Parish Councillors’ Reports

The following reports on village issues were received from Councillors present:

It was confirmed that the beacon was lit on Remembrance Sunday and thanks were offered to those who were involved in the organising of the event.

13. Date of Next Meeting

All meetings will take place in the Village Hall, Church Road, Lindsey.

To note the dates of meetings for 2025 until March 2026 – all confirmed receipt of the list of dates noting that the next meeting was scheduled for 15th January 2025.

14. Close of Meeting

There being no other business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.29pm.

Appendix A – County Councillor James Finch Report

Suffolk County Council (SCC) set on major investment to further protect Suffolk from flooding as it calls on Government to ‘step up’ -

SCC set to agree £1.5 million to deliver first phase of works identified in initial flood investigation reports
SCC calls on Government to recognise ongoing impact of Storm Babet and fund £20 million of further prevention work urgently needed
Extensive work already completed since Storm Babet including more than 111,000 drains cleared and significant road repairs Suffolk County Council has today announced its intention to invest another £1.5 million to carry out important flooding prevention work.

The commitment comes as initial flood investigation reports have identified that a further £20 million is needed to complete the work – a figure that the county council can’t afford. The council has therefore written to the Flooding Minister, Emma Hardy MP, and demanded the government step up and plug the funding gap.

Have your say on the Suffolk County Council Budget – 2025-26 Suffolk County Council is seeking feedback from residents, businesses and community organisations as it prepares its budget for the next financial year. The council has launched an online consultation to explain its current financial position and give Suffolk residents an opportunity to share their views on proposed Council Tax changes and spending priorities. The consultation offers an opportunity to understand how the council manages its finances, the cost-saving measures already in place, and how the council might generate more money to support essential services. The council can increase its budget in two main ways: by receiving more funding from the government or by increasing Council Tax. The consultation asks residents for feedback on which council services they have used recently, whether they support increasing Council Tax contributions, and which areas they would like to see prioritised in the council’s budget-setting process. Responses to the consultation will be considered alongside feedback from businesses, public sector partners and elected members, as well as advice from council officers, as it prepares next year’s budget. The consultation opens today, Friday 1st November, and closes on Monday 16th December 2024. To participate, visit www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2025_26_budget

Suffolk residents encouraged to share views on new Local Transport Plan - Suffolk's communities helped shape a new draft of the Suffolk Local Transport Plan by sharing their views back in February of this year and the county council is now seeking feedback on the final proposed document. The plan which details activity between 2025-2040 sets out a long-term vision for transport in Suffolk and covers themes such as decarbonisation of transport, strengthening the local economy, promoting health, wellbeing and social inclusion, and creating better-connected places that encourage a range of transport choices. Alongside this county-wide plan, the county council has produced fifteen ‘Area Transport Plans’ and a ‘Suffolk Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan’ which are the funded implementation plans for the wider Suffolk Local Transport Plan. These plans outline how the Local Transport Plan’s vision and objectives will be delivered in key locations across the county. After engaging with Suffolk’s residents earlier this year about their travel habits, I am delighted to be able present to them an updated Suffolk Local Transport Plan for the next 15 years. The plan presents the county council’s vision for transport in Suffolk, highlighting the challenges and opportunities we have and the measures available to respond to them – this is why it’s important we consider the views of all before we formally adopt our fourth document and its associated plans. We value the views of the local community and interested parties, so please share your thoughts, even if you only wish to comment on a small part of the plans. The consultation is available via www.suffolk.gov.uk/LTP and the consultation will close on Monday 25th November 2024. The Local Transport Plan and its associated plans will then be presented to Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet in 2025.

Government’s new housing targets must put infrastructure first - Suffolk County Council (SCC) has raised concerns in its response to the government’s proposed reforms for planning policies for England. In particular, it expresses fears about the lack of clarity around infrastructure, such as schools, transport, waste and community facilities when new housing developments are approved. Last month, the government closed its consultation on plans to change the National Planning Policy Framework and other parts of the planning system. The proposals include a significant increase in the number of new homes to be built across Suffolk – the government’s own figures suggest that East Suffolk alone would see an 87% increase in the number new homes, compared those currently planned. SCC is already very active in securing developer contributions and delivering infrastructure. It secures Section 106 contributions as well as funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy from district councils - but this is to maintain a baseline level of service rather than make a positive overall improvement to infrastructure. In its response to government, the council said that the simple question of “who pays” for the infrastructure needs to be answered when permissions are being granted. Local planning authorities should not be allowed to assume that other authorities and agencies will make up any difference.

Council to offer interest-free loans to make homes more energy efficient - Suffolk County Council will offer interest-free loans to help make residents’ homes warmer, safer and cheaper to run. Energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, solar panels, batteries, glazing, or heat pumps will all be possible with loans of up to £15,000 to be repaid over a maximum of 7 years at 0% interest. The £3 million project will be open to homeowners across Suffolk from November, but you can register your interest now at Lendology. Making homes more energy-efficient helps retain their heat and use less energy, meaning homeowners can save on their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions. A warm home also has a positive impact on health and well-being. For more information and to register your interest in an interestfree loan, visit Lendology's website.

Fostering can mean everything to those involved – new film - That is the message of a powerful new fostering film from over 100 councils. ‘Everything’ was launched on 17th October 2024. It is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet, with participants from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Suffolk. Virtual Fostering and Adoption Sessions for the Stour Valley Fostering is a flexible role with options for short term care from a weekend a month to longer term opportunities, all providing life-changing support for local children. Suffolk will continue with Foster Carer Recruitment Event on the 1st Wednesday of every month, and an Adoption Event is on the 1st Thursday all 7:00pm in the home of the applicant. Watch the new film here: https://youtu.be/8fl6EdKHUDg Visit: www.fosterandadopt.suffolk.gov.uk to find out how you can foster and adopt.

Appendix B – District Councillor Leigh Jamieson Report

Union Hill speed limit change - The speed limit change is still ongoing. A formal advertisement of the proposed speed limit change to 40mph on Union Hill began on Friday 4 October and lasted for three weeks. Following that, a review of any feedback received is being carried out before drafting of a Traffic Regulation Order Decision Report. This report will then be submitted for approval at the end of the month. All being well the work will then be handed over to the contractor, who will have 14 weeks within which to deliver works onsite.

Corks Lane properties up for sale - The first eleven homes have been completed on the Corks Lane council offices site, with at least one apartment already sold. The site is up for sale following a sympathetic conversion of the buildings to preserve and enhance the original structures, ensuring the character and features are retained. The development will eventually see the original buildings transformed into forty-nine new high-quality homes, a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and one cottage, which are ideally located close to shops, schools, and the town’s amenities.

Kingfisher Leisure centre Pool re-opens - Following closure of the pool in August for repair of the glass roof, further investigations revealed other additional problems that require more complex repair. The Council is now examining a number of long-term options for the entire glass section of roof, which has around 170 bespoke panels. Interim work is now set to be completed, ready for the pool to reopen on 11 December. This work has allowed the glass roof to be sealed, and an additional platform is being installed just beneath it so that the pool is safe to re-open. All other facilities at Kingfisher, including the gym, have remained open as usual.

Further CIL funding for communities - Following October’s window for Community Infrastructure Levy applications twenty-four of Babergh’s town and parishes are due to receive a portion of £281K. This round of neighbourhood CIL is in addition to the £15 million CIL funding which has been allocated in both districts since 2018.

Councils call for action over council housing budget black hole - Following a report backed by more than one hundred Councils across the country highlighting the national council housing crisis, Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s green leaders have signed a joint statement urging the Government to help turn things round. The statement urged the government to invest in urgently needed new council homes, addressing the unsustainable debt previously allocated to councils and creating a Green and Decent Homes Programme.

Students given opportunity to debate climate issues - Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils' Schools are hosting a Green Skills Summit, which will take place on 15th November. It will see just over 90 year 8 and 9 students from across ten schools in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, take part in a COP-style event. The students will represent sixteen nations debating real-world climate change challenges and emulating real-life negotiations. The aim is to engage young people from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds about climate change and its effects. The hope is to open up opportunities for local action and sustainable career choices for the next generation, following on from this year's Green Careers Week.

Appendix C – Financial Report

Items received since the last meeting:

Income Description	Nett	VAT	Gross	Ref
Total Income	£NIL

Items Paid out since the last meeting:

Income Description	Nett	VAT	Gross	Ref
Total Expenditure	£NIL

Items Authorized for Payment:

Expenditure Description	Nett	VAT	Gross	Ref
Clerk’s Salary & Expenses	291.96	0.00	291.96	BACS
Total Expenditure	£291.96

Financial Report

Date	£
Opening Balance 16.10.24	12927.58
Add Income Received October	0.00
Less Expenditure Incurred October	0.00
Less Verified Expenditure 13.11.24	291.96
Closing Balance 13.11.24	12635.62

Bank Reconciliation

Community Account	Statement at 07.11.24	12927.58
Less uncleared payments At 13.11.24	291.96
Plus unaccredited income At 13.11.24	0.00
Reconciled Total At 13.11.24	12635.62

Within the balance above are the following reserves:

(Restricted) CIL reserve - £7,185.18
Earmarked Stone setts - £1,500.00
Earmarked General reserve - £1,000.00
Election reserve - £836.59
Current year reserve - £2,113.85