Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 19th January 2022 in Lindsey Village Hall, Church Road, Lindsey which commenced at 7.30pm.
- Present
- The Chair, Mr. Arthey, Parish Cllrs. R Corcoran, M Hainsworth, B Howe, R Howe, J Moore, and A Sturgeon. In attendance was Mrs V Waples, Clerk.
Opening: The Chair opened the meeting and thanked all for attending. The statement on reporting at meetings of the parish council was taken as read.
Apologies of Absence
- There were no applicable apologies of absence.
- The meeting was made aware that County Cllr. Finch and District Cllr. Jamieson had submitted his apologies.
Declarations of Interest
- There were no declarations of pecuniary or local non-pecuniary interests for the agenda under discussion. There were no declarations of gifts of hospitality received exceeding £25.
- There were no requests for dispensations for the agenda under discussion.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
- To approve the minutes of the following Parish Council Meetings:
- 10th November 2021 - the meeting agreed that the circulated minutes were a true and accurate record of the meeting that took place and agreed for the Chair to sign the minutes, aif.
- 8th December 2021 - the meeting agreed that the circulated minutes were a true and accurate record of the meeting that took place and agreed for the Chair to sign the minutes, aif.
Public Forum
(maximum 10 minutes)
- To note the report from the County Councillor – the meeting noted the written report previously circulated – a copy of which can be found at Appendix A.
- To note the report from the District Councillor – the meeting noted the written report previously circulated – a copy of which can be found at Appendix A. Comments were made over the second item on the agenda – “Cabinet overturns Audit Committee recommendation”.
- To receive comments from the public on the agenda as published – none submitted prior to the meeting.
- To receive comments from or questions from the public on matters relating to Lindsey –
- From those present – there were none
- As submitted by email / letter – none had been submitted via the Clerk.
Parish Matters
To receive updates on items raised at previous meetings:
- Climate Awareness / climate emergency and the next steps forward – sounds like oil and gas boilers are going to be banned sooner than expected. Alternatives will need to be investigated at an earlier stage. Three phase power is needed for air source heat power and electric vehicle charging. In some circumstances, three phase power is available in Lindsey Tye. Need to ascertain the costs for all to connect to move forward. Is there a way to collectively achieve this access for the residents of Lindsey. It is noted that there is to be an article in the next newsletter containing details of how a resident has carried out conversion of an existing boiler into a biomass boiler. Noted that there is a new generation of air source pumps coming out over the next few years which are to be more efficient in terms of running costs and heating sources. An article should be placed into the next newsletter regarding the implications of the legislation that has been brought forward that will impact the use of devises that use gas, oil, biomass etc.
- BMSDC - Tree, hedge and wildflower planting for Parishes – Cllr Moore advised the meeting that the owner of the land to the north of Lindsey Tye had plans for the planting hedges that would extend beyond the area being discussed. It was however noted that these plans would be under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme which would be offering generous capital grants for hedge planting which were more generous than that being offered by BMSDC. Whilst there were plans afoot for the planting to the north of Lindsey, for now nothing will be done this winter but at the right time, some or all of the scheme will be planted through the countryside scheme.
- To receive an update from County Cllr. Finch on how SCC Highways Department might be able to address the issue of encroachment of the highway in terms of vegetation and hedgerow – Council noted the comments from County Cllr. Finch in response to a request from the Clerk for assistance from SCC Highways in dealing with significant problems with encroachment onto the highways with regards to non-maintained verges, hedgerows and inappropriate items placed on the highway verge to deter “run-off” from passing vehicles:
- Place on the Highways Reporting tool where there are areas of concern. I can see none recorded on the system at the moment.
- You will be aware that cutting of hedges is the responsibility of the hedge owner
- You will also be aware that in the nesting season cutting is restricted unless there are specific safety issues that urgently need addressing.
- You will note within my report that the here is more funding planned for this coming year 2022 / 2023 (+£1M) to address overgrown / encroaching verges on lanes and footways.
Statutory Business
- To consider and adopt an Internet Banking Policy – Paper entitled Internet Banking Policy – Council agreed that the policy be adopted, and the procedures therein be followed, aif.
Correspondence
- BMSDC – Local Plan Examination – Council’s letter to Inspectors (18 November 201); Inspectors post hearing letter 9 (December 2021) & BMSDC Response (10 December 2021).
- Police and Crime Commissioner – Precept Survey: The Police and Crime Commissioner proposes precept investment to improve 101 call answering – survey deadline 27 January 2022 @ 9.00am - all noted the consultation and agreement was forthcoming that Councillors should respond as individuals as opposed as submitting a formal response from the Council, aif.
- Cllr. J Finch – invitation to attend a public meeting on 18th February 2022 on the National Grid Consultation on the Bramford – Twinstead Cable Re-enforcement which runs from 25th January to 21st March 2022 – Council noted the invitation to attend the meeting.
- Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons – to note confirmation has been received on the Council’s registration with the Queen’s Pageant master for the lighting of a beacon on 2nd June – Council noted such registration.
- To note all relevant correspondence received since the last meeting has been circulated via email – it was noted that all correspondence received since 10th November 2021 which was of relevance to the Parish Council had been circulated by email.
Clerk’s Financial Report
- To consider schedule of receipts received since the last meeting and expenditure incurred since the last meeting – Paper A - monies received since the last meeting were noted - (Appendix B refers) aif.
- To consider and approve the verified items awaiting authorization as per the schedule submitted – Paper B - all agreed that subject to formal verification by the two authorised signatories, Council approved to accept the schedule of invoices awaiting payment - (Appendix B refers).
- To consider the Council's financial position to date – Paper C – the meeting noted the carried forward balance of £4,671.53 once the agreed schedule of invoices awaiting payment had been taken into account. It was noted that Cllrs. Corcoran and R Howe, as authorised signatories, had reviewed the bank reconciliation and signed the papers confirming that there was a full audit trail. (Appendix B refers). Council noted that within the balance quoted, there was the sum of £2,015.37 held as a Restricted CIL Reserve.
- To consider and approve donations to be made under the General Power of Competence (previously the LGA 1972 s137 has been used) – Paper D – all agreed that donations should be made to the following charities in accordance with the Council’s Grant Awarding Policy: East Anglian Air Ambulance - £50 and Macmillan Cancer Support - £50, aif.
- To consider and approve the Budget for 2022-2023 – Paper with nil increase and Paper with 1.5% increase – Council agreed, following receipt of the finalised tax base, a budget in the sum of £4,702 that would be funded by the Precept in the sum of £4,949 which would result in a further £247 being added to the Council’s Reserves.
- To consider and approve the Precept to be set for the year 2022 – 2023 – all agreed that the Precept would be set at £4,949 which would be a nil increase to a Band D property which would remain at £52.56 (as per that set for the year 2020-2021), aif. The meeting agreed that the Chair and Clerk should sign the Precept Upon Charging Authority Form which would be submitted to BMSDC by the due date of 31st January 2022.
Clerk’s Report
The following matters were brought to the Council’s attention: there were none reported.
Planning Matters
- To consider the following planning applications:
- DC/21/06461 - Application for Listed Building Consent - Construction of plinth wall encapsulating insulation (following demolition of existing plinth wall) Barn on Land to the East Of, Rose Green Road – all agreed that the Council had no negative comments to make on the submitted application, aif.
- To note the following planning applications determined by the local planning authority:
- DC/21/06121 – Planning Permission - Erection of 4 bay cart lodge with attached workshop/storage; Erection of boundary wall and landscaping @ Old Rectory, The Tye.
- DC/21/05699 – Planning Permission - Erection of part two storey and single storey rear extensions, construction of pool and conversion of and extension to garage for use as pool house, games room and outdoor dining area with external flue and air source heat pump, extension of boundary walls and installation of new gates @ Old Rectory, The Tye.
Parish Councillors’ Reports
To receive reports on village issues from Councillors present -
- Upgrading signage within the parish – all agreed that this should be discussed further at the next meeting.
- Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – all agreed that events should be co-ordinated with the lighting of the Beacon on 2nd June 2022 and that this would be discussed in further detail at the next meeting.
- Consideration of installing a Commemorative Unknown Tommy Statue – all agreed that this should be discussed further at the next meeting.
Date of Next Meeting
- Parish Council Meeting 9th March 2022 commencing at 7.30pm, in Lindsey Village Hall.
- Date of Meetings for the remainder of 2022: 11th May; 13th July; 14th September and 9th November.
There being no other business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.51pm.
Appendix A – County and District Councillor Reports
County Councillor James Finch report to Council:
- The Extra COVID-19 support in Suffolk is beginning to show good results with infections rates in the county and locally starting to reduce. This is a summary of the further precautions concerning the Omicron variant given by the prime Minister on 12th December and 3rd January 2022:
- All international arrivals to take a Day 2 PCR test & self-isolate until they receive a negative test
- Face coverings to be made compulsory in shops and public transport and strongly advised in Secondary schools.
- COVID Booster is now being offered with the aim of getting everyone over 12 YEARS vaccinated. Appointments will be issued by GP or ring 119 for an appointment in a Pharmacy, library or other regional centre.
- NB - to get your invite by text, make sure that the mobile number with your GP is up to date.
- The most recent announcements are that all secondary school pupils are being asked to wear masks in the classroom all the time.
- In addition, there are groups of key workers who are asked to do a Rapid Flow Tests DAILY
- Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement – The Statutory Consultation - This statutory consultation will run now for eight weeks. It is expected to take place between 25th January 2022 and 21st March 2022. All responses to the consultation must be received before 23:59 on the closing date. Postal responses will be accepted up to five working days after this date. National Grid will be consulting on and seek views and feedback on the following elements of the project including the:
- proposed route of the new 400kV electricity line
- extent of undergrounding and overgrounding of the new 400kV electricity line
- location and form of cable sealing end compounds
- removal of the existing 132kV overhead electricity line
- location and form of a new Grid Supply Point Substation at Butlers Wood
- construction methodology
- likely environmental effects arising from the project
- potential environmental mitigation identified to reduce likely significant effects
- preliminary locations for biodiversity net gain and/or wider environmental gains.
- Children’s and Adult Care Services at the heart of Suffolk County Council’s new budget plans for 1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023.
- More money to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- Extra resources for adults in need of care
- Additional funds to prevent flooding and fix footpaths
- £1.1m increase for the family services budget, specifically to address recommendations made by the recent independent SEND review
- £1m additional funding for Suffolk Highways over the next four years, for example to fund road signs and responsible verge cutting
- £10m to specifically deliver an increasing number of drainage schemes (over the next three years)
- £10m to improve footpath quality and access (over the next three years)
- Band D property: £27.60 per week (80 pence per week increase from 2021-22)
- Band B property: £21.47 per week (62 pence per week increase from 2021-22)
- Virtual Fostering and Adoption Sessions for the Stour Valley - A Foster Carer Recruitment Event is held the 1st Wednesday of every month, and an Adoption Event is on the 1st Thursday all 7:00pm in your home. To book a place please email Claire.Gwatkin@suffolk.gov.uk.
District Councillor Leigh Jamieson report to Council:
- Joint Local Plan - Concerns were raised by the inspector during the examination hearings, particularly in relation to the settlement hierarchy, spatial distribution of housing and the housing site selection process (in essence policies SP03, SP04 and the LS01 and the LA housing allocation policies). The inspector was also unhappy with the open space designations (policy LP30) and housing for gypsies, travellers and travelling show-people (policy LP09). To ensure that the inspection process can continue the council have agreed to scrap SP04, LP09, LP30 and the LS01 and LA housing allocation policies and retain the settlement boundaries in the current (as opposed to proposed) policies map. The council will then review site allocations in all the settlement tiers to ensure an up-to-date, robust settlement hierarchy is provided including a spatial distribution for any housing allocations that will provide flexibility and ensure that the plan period housing requirement can be met. The council will also need to provide robustly justified open space designations and a relevant development management policy, along with an up-to-date assessment of need for accommodation for Gypsies Travellers and Travelling show-people. As a full review of these policies will take some time to complete, the JLP will be split into two parts with the remaining policies in Part 1 of the JLP continuing through the examination process. This will allow the council to have a new local plan in place at the earliest opportunity. The initial ask is for the council to identify an upper and lower figure for housing need within the district.
- Cabinet overturns Audit committee recommendation - The leading councillors on Babergh and Mid Suffolk Council's joint cabinet have, in a private meeting, overturned a unanimous recommendation by their joint audit committee to look at divesting investments that contribute to carbon emissions. Members of their joint audit committee voted unanimously back in May last year for a recommendation that cabinet "pushes its fund managers to filter investments", removing those that do not meet environmental, social and governance standards, and consider withdrawing funds from managers that don't tackle these standards. When cabinet members were privately briefed about the recommendation by officers, they insisted on changing the recommendation to one that asks the cabinet to simply "monitor" the funds as standards "develop" and consider changing investments at an undefined "appropriate time".
- Warmer Homes - Babergh has received funding from the Government’s Sustainable Warmth Competition after a successful bid by district councils in Suffolk. The funding is designed to support improvements to low income, low energy efficiency rated homes and will allow the council to install measures include solar panels, air source heat pumps, as well as a variety of home insulation.
- Neighbourhood Plan pilot - Babergh will be part of a pilot scheme to allow residents an easier way to shape and influence development in their area. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced that Babergh will be chosen as part of a pilot scheme to boost participation in neighbourhood planning. The councils will now receive an award of £45,000 in Government funding to go towards a new post, designed to encourage even more people in the districts to engage with the planning system.
- Leisure Centres renewable energy drive - Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are halfway through installing £2.8m worth of green energy measures at their leisure centres – providing the centres with renewable energy and slashing CO2 emissions. Works have completed this week to install a mixture of both solar PV panels and an air source heat pump, at the councils’ leisure centres and depot in Wenham, in line with their climate change ambitions.
- Christmas Holiday schemes - During the Christmas holidays Babergh and partners worked with a range of partners to deliver the varied programme of activities to help families through the festive period as part of the Government’s holiday activities and food programme. Abbeycroft Leisure and Explore Outdoor offered outdoor cooking masterclasses to families in need during the school break in several locations across the districts. There were also sessions for budding magicians and circus performers, free swims, and lunch at a number of council leisure centres, football fun factories, arts and crafts sessions, sports days and even recording studio slots on offer for youngsters.
Appendix B – Financial Report
Items received since the last meeting:
| Income | Description | Nett | VAT | Gross | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05.11.21 | Barclays for errors in processing mandate | 50.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | BACS |
| Total Income £50.00 | |||||
Items Paid out since the last meeting:
| Income | Description | Nett | VAT | Gross | Ref | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditure £NIL | ||||||
Items to be Authorized for Payment:
| Expenditure | Description | Nett | VAT | Gross | Ref | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.01.22 | Clerk’s Salary & Expenses | 585.07 | 0.00 | 585.07 | BACS | LGA 1972 s111 & s112 |
| HMRC – PAYE 3rd Qtr. | 79.40 | 0.00 | 79.40 | BACS | Income and Corp Taxes | |
| Total Expenditure £664.47 | ||||||
Financial Report
| Date | £ |
|---|---|
| Opening Balance 10.11.21 | 5286.00 |
| Add Income Received December – January | 50.00 |
| Less Expenditure Incurred December – January | 0.00 |
| Less Expenditure from verified list 19.01.22 | 664.47 |
| Closing Balance 19.01.22 | 4671.53 |
Bank Reconciliation
| Community Account Statement at 11.01.22 | 5336.00 |
|---|---|
| Less uncleared payments * At 19.01.22 | 664.47 |
| Plus unaccredited income At 19.01.22 | 0.00 |
| Reconciled Total ** At 19.01.22 | 4671.53 |
*
BACS 585.07
79.40
**
Within this balance is the restricted CIL reserve of £2,015.37