2025 Minutes

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Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 19:30hrs, Monday, 31 March 2025, at The Hub, 48 Knight Street, Pinchbeck, PE11 3RU

Present:    Cllr Emma Beavis, Cllr Andy Chamberlain (from 19:34hrs), Cllr Geoff Garner, Cllr Sam Jeffery, Cllr Terry Moore, Cllr Peter Ruysen, Cllr Ann Savage (Chair), Cllr John Smith, Cllr Phil Tweddell, Cllr Oliver Wood, Mr Robert Smith (clerk), Mrs Nicola Jowett (Administration Assistant), District & County Cllr Sneath, two members of the public.

Absent:     Cllr James Avery, Cllr Audrey Gregory.

Unless otherwise stated, actions to be undertaken by the clerk.

25.032.Apologies for non-attendance were received from Cllr Avery and Cllr Gregory.

25.033.There were no declarations of disclosable interests, nor requests for dispensation.

25.034.It was resolved to declare a vacancy on the Parish Council arising from Cllr Dean Roizer’s failure to attend without prior approval, any meeting of the Parish Council within the last six months, in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972. There were now three councillor vacancies.

25.035.Representations from members of the public

01.A resident raised concerns about the condition and removal of flood defences on Glenside North and its potential impact. The matter was to be considered later in the meeting.

19:40hrs: two members of the public left the meeting.

25.036.It was resolved to approve the minutes of the meetings held 27 January 2025 and 17 February 2025.

25.037.The Chair had no matters to report.

25.038.Clerk’s report / matters arising not on the agenda.

01.Planning comments had been submitted to the District Council (SHDC), as resolved.

02.Notices of Election for Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) & the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Mayoral elections to be held on Thursday 1 May 2025, had been published.

03.An application had been submitted to the Football Federation for a PlayZone, as previously resolved.

04.Insurers had agreed the claim for the bus shelter damaged in December’s storm.

05.Thanks to Annie Wakeford for checking and cleaning the defibrillators. The records had been updated on The Circuit. The heating of the cabinet at St Mary’s Church Hall needed checking.

06.New signs at Rotten Row Playing Field had been vandalised. Quotes for replacement and refixing were to be obtained.

07.Community Speed Watch equipment had been loaned to Donnington Parish Council as resolved.

08.Work on the Emergency Community Plan, headed by Cllr Savage, was to be organised.

25.039.Financial matters.

01.It was resolved to approve the January and February bank reconciliations (see appendix 1).

02.It was resolved to approve February and March 2025 payments (see appendix 2).

03.Receipt of the Internal Auditors intermediate report and its recommendations were noted and approved.

04.It was resolved for the Administration Assistant to have online access to the Parish Council’s bank accounts with authority to view accounts and to submit payments for authorisation.

25.040.Correspondence.

01.It was resolved to send a letter supporting concerns about Glenside flood defences to the Environment Agency.

02.During Easter, Callconnect would not be operating. The booking office would be closed on Good Friday 18 April and Easter Monday 21 April. A normal Saturday service would operate 19 April.

03.Information from Lincolnshire Against Needless Destruction (LAND) and its umbrella campaign against electricity pylons in Lincolnshire was noted.

04.It was resolved to put forward Speeding and Anti-Social Behaviour as quarter priorities for the Neighbourhood Policing Team, when the Council was next consulted

05.The dog poo bag dispensers needed refilling. Cllr Smith would arrange the transfer of bags from storage and moved to the Hub.

06.Given recent changes in waste legislation, it was resolved that the Parish Council implement changes in recycling in accordance with District Council collection requirements.

07.Information received from LCC on the re-procurement of Library Services and suitably aligned Community Hub leases was noted.

08.The LCC Grant Agreement for the Community Hub model had been extended to 31 March 2026. The grant form was to be returned this week.

09.Statistics on users of the library were noted, with an encouraging increase in the number of new members and active users on the previous year.

10.Cllr Moore had liaised with the Royal British Legion about this year’s planned VE and VJ Day celebrations. Organised by Cllr Avery, a Parish Council event was planned for 9 May 2025. A collaboration with Spalding District Council was being explored.

11.Lincolnshire County Council information on its Rights of Way Improvement Plan was to be published on the Parish Council’s website.

25.041.Planning applications

01.H14-0275-25: Manor Lodge, Herdgate Lane, PE11 3UP. It was resolved to make no objection.

02.H14-0246-25: 8 Spalding Road, PE11 3UD. It was resolved to support the proposal.

03.H14-0241-25: E M Coles Farms Ltd, PE11 3NL. It was resolved to support the proposal.

04.H14-0242-25: Crowtree Farm, Old Hall Lane, PE11 4AJ. It was resolved to support the proposal.

05.H14-0219-25: Whitebeams, 1 Money Bridge Lane, PE11 3QB. It was resolved to support the proposal.

06.H14-0176-25: 1 Oldham Drive, PE11 3XZ. It was resolved to make no objection.

07.H14-0164-25: Adjacent to The Old Gatehouse, 117 Wardentree Lane, PE11 3UF. It was resolved to make no objection.

08.H14-0138-25: Land off Crossgate Lane, PE11 3XW. It was resolved to make no objection.

09.H14-0132-25: Land off Enterprise Way, Benner Road Industrial Estate, PE11 3YR. It was resolved to make no objection.

10.H14-0088-25: 47 Church Street, PE11 3UB. It was resolved to support the proposal.

11.H14-1095-24: Westfalia Fruit Ltd, PE11 3UG. It was resolved to support the proposal as it aided employment in an industrial area.

12.H14-0993-24: 1 Cherry Holt Lane, PE11 3RJ. It was resolved to make no objection.

13.H14-0707-24: Land to rear of Shetland Cottage, Mill Green Road, PE11 3PY. It was resolved to make no objection.

14.H14-0709-24: Land to rear of Shetland Cottage (South Plot) Mill Green Road, PE11 3PY. It was resolved to make no objection.

15.H14-0049-24 - Glen Farrow Limited, PE11 3DQ. It was resolved to make no objection.

25.042.The Council noted the following South Holland planning decisions.

01.H14-0131-25: Pyewipe Farm, North Drove, Pode Hole, PE11 3JF. Agricultural Store. Approved

02.H14-0128-25: Morrisons Petrol Pumps, PE11 3UG. Hours of operation conditions. Approved.

03.H14-0107-25: The Old Farmhouse, Black Hole Drove, PE11 3QL. Change of use agricultural to equestrian. Retrospective. Approved.

04.H14-0041-25: Northcote, Mill Green Road, PE11 3PU. Garden room. Approved.

05.H14-1052-24: 131 Spalding Road, PE11 3UE. Modification of Condition. Approved.

06.H14-1042-24: 8 Church Street PE11 3UA. Rear extension. Approved.

07.H14-1030-24: Wardentree Lodge, Wardentree Lane, PE11 3UF. Canopy. Approved

08.H14-0948-24: Wardentree Park, PE11 3UG.  Bus Depot condition modification.  Approved

09.H14-0704-24: Lilac House, Herring Lane, PE11 3ST. Extension, annexe & garage. Approved.

10.H14-0648-24: Land at Spalding Road. S106 modification on affordable housing. Approved.

25.043.Highways matters.

01.During the LCC consultation on proposed speed limit reductions in Pinchbeck, Cllr Jeffery highlighted a recent fatality on Northgate. The Parish Council resolved to support the LCC's speed limit reduction proposals for Glenside, Six House Bank, and Surfleet Road. Additionally, the Council would like to see an extension of the proposed 30mph limit on Northgate to the DP Packaging site.

02.At the Chairman’s meeting held with LCC Highways Officer, 18 February 2025, Highways had taken away the points put forward and had agreed to meet again in April 2025 to review.

25.044.It was resolved to approve new cemetery prices for 2025/2026. It was further resolved that a formula for discounting non-parishioner prices for ex-residents of the Parish be introduced, as proposed by the clerk.

25.045.Next Parish Council meeting: 19:30hrs 28 April 2025.

20:34hrs: District & County Cllr Sneath left the meeting.

25.046.It was resolved to move into closed session on the grounds of confidentiality in accordance with   the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.1(2).

25.047.Parish Council land.

01.Matters relating to the negotiation of the licence & lease of The Glebe Field were resolved appropriately.

02.Matters relating to requests from PUFC for permission to undertake works were resolved appropriately.

03.Valuations of the Glebe Field by Longstaff & Co were expected to take place w/c 7 April 2025.

04.It was noted that Sutton Bridge Parish Council had agreed to share legal costs on a solicitor’s review of PlayZone contract documentation (subject to receipt of Football Foundation offers).

05.The clerk reported on matters relating to the boundary issues at Starlode Drove. It was resolved to delegate to the clerk in consultation with the Chairman.

06.The clerk reported on matters relating to Farm Business Tenancies (FBTs), including that all invoices and payments were up to date and that a review of the Council’s FBTs was being undertaken by Longstaff & Co.

Cllr Tweddell declared an interest in the following agenda item and left the room for the duration of the discussion.

07.Garden allotments

i.It was noted that three Garden Allotment tenants had recently paid their rents for the year (2024-25). The remaining tenant had quit their allotment, and a vacancy now existed.

ii.It was resolved to advertise the vacancy for 14 days on the website after which the tenant would be selected by the drawing of Lots.

iii.It was resolved to keep Garden Allotment prices unchanged for the forthcoming year.

iv.It was resolved to adopt and implement the NALC Template Garden Allotment Agreement.

Cllr Tweddell returned to the meeting.

25.048.Quotes for works.

01.It was resolved to approve the purchase and installation benches at Six House Lane car park and Blue Gowt Lane Cemetery @ £585 each, excluding VAT & installation. Cllr Smith would ask Burmor Construction to undertake the provision of hardstanding and the installation of the benches, as part of its commitment to community engagement in the Parish.

02.It was resolved to ratify approval of test drone photography of the Garden Remembrance section of Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery @ £175. This area took up ~1/10 of the whole cemetery. It was resolved approve costs for photographing the rest of the cemetery, plus the costs of digital image production.

03.The clerk was exploring additional options for consideration by the Council relating to integrating drone imaging with improved cemetery software.

04.It was resolved to defer a decision on the quote for a replacement inverter for solar panels at the Leaveslake Drove clubhouse.

05.Highways Grass Cutting

i.It was resolved to sign the LCC Highways Grass Cutting Agreement for 2025/26.

ii.Following receipt of quotes, it was resolved to delegate the awarding of works to undertake Highways verge grass cutting to the clerk, in consultation with the Chairman.

06.It was resolved to approve the purchase of a new notice board at Six House Bank Car Park from Willow Tree Bespoke Joinery Ltd @ £1,125.

07.It was resolved to appoint a contractor for 12 months mole control at the Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery and Rotten Row Playing Field @ £1,200 which includes monthly inspections and four mole clearance.

08.Play Equipment

i.It was resolved to approve the repair of the XS spinner @ £871.80 excl. VAT.

ii.It was resolved to approve the repair of the playground area gate and fencing at The Glebe Field @ £1,241.90 excl. VAT.

09.It was resolved to approve the hire of a 6 CBM skip @ £235.

10.It was resolved to proceed with the purchase and installation of a baby changing table in the Hub’s disabled toilets @ £108.29 excluding installation & VAT.

11.It was requested that quotes were obtained for the following items for consideration at the next meeting:

i.Signage to discourage rubbish and fly tipping at Blue Gowt Cemetery and Field.

ii.Additional dog poo signs.

12.A councillor raised the possibility of installing a bin made from recycled tyres, with a bin-bag insert, on Blue Gowt Lane. The councillor offered to ensure the bin was regularly emptied. The Clerk advised that, as the proposed location was not owned by the Parish Council, it could not authorise or support the installation of such a bin. Additionally, the Clerk noted that, even if well intentioned, installing an unauthorised bin could be considered fly-tipping.

25.049.Staffing & Administration.

01.It was resolved to implement pay increases for non-administrative staff, effective from 1 April 2025, as set out in the Parish Council’s budget for 2025-26.

02.It was resolved to implement pay increases for the Council’s administrative staff, in accordance with the Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2025/26, once determined by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services.

The chairman closed the meeting at 21:27 hrs.