2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Welbourn Parish Council Meeting 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY 12 April 2023 IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m. 

PRESENT 

Not Present

1. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

2. Acceptance of reasons for absence 

2.1 Apologies were received from Cllr Kevin Dowling, who had a prior engagement and Cllr Stephen Short who was on holiday. These apologies were accepted. 

3. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda: No interests were declared. 

4. Notes of the last meeting held on 7 March 2023.  

4.1 These were proposed by Cllr Rod Storer and seconded by Cllr Robert Cross. 

4.2 Resolved: To accept the notes as minutes. The Chair signed the notes as minutes. 

5. Matters Arising (Parish Clerk’s Report)

5.1 NKDC have issued a notice of the 7 Parish Council candidates successfully nominated. There will be no contested election.  

5.2 FCC has confirmed that they have received the grant funding application for the proposed play equipment upgrade to Welbourn playing fields within the deadline.

5.3 An article has been published in the Three Villages Magazine requesting volunteers for the proposed Community Speedwatch Scheme. Three volunteers have come forward so far. 

5.4 The grass cutting contract was awarded to the lowest quote. However, this contractor withdrew so the contract has been awarded to the other contractor who quoted. This contractor has more than adequate public liability cover. This first cut was carried out on 3 April. 

5.6 The Parish Clerk has been added as a signatory on the HSBC accounts.

5.7 The parking notices in the vicinity of The Nookin have been removed. 

5.8 The bench to mark the coronation of King Charles the 3rd has been ordered and delivered today and is being stored in the Parish Clerk’s office. It will need to be assembled. 

5.9 The SPID is with Bracebridge Heath Parish Council. Arrangements will be made to collect this. 

5.10 Email has been received from a Welbourn resident enquiring about the smell of gas coming from Leadenham tip. 

5.11 The letter sent to the consultation on the proposed Springwell Solar Farm has been acknowledged. 

Resolved: That this information be noted and that the Parish Clerk write to Lincolnshire Council asking for comments regarding the smell from Leadenham tip. 

6. Public Forum - No comments received. 

7. County and District Councillors update

7.1 Councillor Lucille Hagues referred to her April newsletter which has been forwarded to Parish Councillors. She made special reference to a biodiversity green space which has been created in Heckington and would serve as a template for other villages.

7.2 She advised that there will be no District Council election in Welbourn as she and Councillor Marion Overton have been elected unopposed in the Brant Broughton and Navenby Ward. 
(Cllr Hagues left the meeting at 20.18. Cllr Overton arrived at 21.00 approx).

7.3 Cllr Marianne Overton confirmed that the Chief Constable for Lincolnshire has reduced the number of PCSOs covering North Kesteven from 10 to 2. Those 2 PCSOs will cover Sleaford town only. Welbourn will be patrolled by PC’s in future. 

7.4 Councillor Overton expressed concern about the financial pressures on the Police and the National Health Service. She also expressed concern about a Government proposal to convert RAF Scampton into a centre for asylum seekers. She has recently met with Government Ministers to express those concerns. 

7.5 The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan has been approved following amendments made by Government Inspectors. 

8. Current and Future maintenance responsibilities

8.1 An update from the Villages Plant Group was noted.
 
8.2 Repair to steps at Castle Hill is completed but the repairs to the steps at Dycote Lane are still ongoing. 

8.3 Regarding the Beck or pond by the village hall, it was noted that there appears to be a partial blockage in a pipe that runs under Beck Street. 
 
8.4 Resolved: A working party of comprising Cllrs Cross, Bighi and Beaty will arrange unblock the pipe. 

8.5 Regarding other maters it was resolved that the Parish Clerk : -

•   Ask the contractor carrying out the pollarding of the willows at Castle Hill to delay the work until Autumn now that the growing season has started. 
•   Request an estimate for the repair of the gate to the allotments. 
•   Ask The Lincolnshire County Council Highways to paint the traffic barrier to the brook at the junction of Hall Lane and A607. 

9. Planning Applications: 

The following applications were discussed: 

9.1   23/0333/LBC Proposal: Proposed single storey rear (infill) extension and alterations to annex 

Location: The Old House 1 The Green Welbourn Lincoln 

9.2   23/0313/HOUS Proposal: Proposed single storey rear (infill) extension and alterations to annex 

Location: The Old House 1 The Green Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire

9.3   23/0209/HOUS Proposal: Erection of single storey extension to existing bungalow and erection of detached garage 

Location: The Lodge Main Road Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire

9.4 Resolved: That the Council support these 3 applications.  

9.5 The following application was received from NKDC on the date of the meeting and was not on the agenda - 23/0386/FUL Proposal: Proposed erection of 3 no. dwellings and associated works.

Location: Church View 4 The Nookin Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire

9.6 Resolved; That the decision be deferred due to late notification and a site meeting be arranged prior to any decision being made.  

9.7. Notification of Planning Decisions: -

The NKDC has been informed that the Council has no comments to make on the following TCAs: Pollarding of Willows at Castle Hill; 20 The Green; & 4 The Nookin. 

11. Finance Report (From Responsible Finance Officer):- To review bank balances, invoices paid since last meeting since, and items to be paid before next meeting: -

11.1 Accounts value (3rd April):

11.2 Bank reconciled:    £0 discrepancy. The bank balances were checked and countersigned by Cllr Huntsman. 

11.3 Payments made since last meeting 7 March 2023

N.B The spend against budget figures will be available at the Annual Parish Council meeting on 17 May 2023. 

11.4 Payment received since last meeting 7 March 2023

11.5 Expected payments before next meeting: 17 May 2023

11.6 Investments 

Melton Building Society Account (Reserves): Balance £8972.81

The Council discussed a request from the Responsible Finance Officer to place a notice to withdraw £8000 from this account. It will be necessary to top up the HSBC reserves account if the FCC grant funding application to upgrade the play equipment is successful. 

11.7 Resolved: The responsible account holder(s) to place a notice to withdraw £8000 on the Melton Building Society account as soon as possible. 

12. HSBC Bank - Primary User 

12.1 The Parish Clerk is now a signatory on the HSBC accounts. However, the Bank requires a primary user to be appointed. As Cllr Storer will no longer be standing after 4 May 2023 a new primary user needs to be appointed. 

12.2 Resolved: That arrangements be made to appoint the Parish Clerk (Jim Fieldhouse) as the primary user on the HSBC accounts. 

13. Portfolio Holders Update:

Cllr Cross noted that this meeting would be the last meeting for Cllrs Dixon, Dowling and Storer. He thanked them for their services over the years and presented each of them with a thank card and a small gift from private donations made by the Council.  

14. Agenda Items for Next Meeting: - None suggested. 

Next meeting Wednesday 17 May 2023. 

Meeting closed at 9.22 pm. 

Copies to: All Parish Councillors; County & District Councillors. 
Parish Council Web Site. 
Future Parish Council Meetings: 

Portfolio Holders 2022 - 23 

Cllr Robert Cross portfolio is Byways/Highways, the Forge and Cliff Cluster group representative. 
Cllr Rod Storer has Drainage and is a member of the finance committee. 
Cllr Stephen Short has Planning, is Village Hall representative and on the HR committee. 
Cllr Katie Stark has communications, HR committee and relief Cliff Cluster representative. 
Cllr Jake Beaty has Allotments and Cliff Cluster representative The Forge.  
Cllr Kevin Dowling has Castle Hill. 
Cllr Harriet Huntsman is a member of the finance committee. 
Cllr Chris Dixon is a Village Hall representative. 
Cllr Michael Bighi – Schools Liaison