2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Welbourn Parish Council

MINUTES OF WELBOURN ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 8 MAY 2024 IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m.

PRESENT 

Not Present

1. Election of Chair 

1.1 Cllr Spedding proposed Cllr Cross as Chair for 2024-25. This was seconded by Cllr Short. (Cllr Cross was absent due to sickness but had confirmed to the Parish Clerk that he was happy to stand as Chair if elected). 

1.2 Resolved unanimously: That Cllr Cross be elected as Chair of Welbourn Parish Council for 2024-25.

2. Election of Vice Chair. 

2.1 Cllr Spedding proposed Cllr. Short. This was seconded by Cllr. Crosby. 

2.2 Resolved unanimously: That Cllr. Short be elected as Vice Chair of Welbourn Parish Council for 2024-25. 

3. Welcome – Cllr. Short welcomed all attending. 

4. Acceptance of reasons for absence

4.1 Cllrs Cross, and Beaty sent their apologies. These were accepted. 

5. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda – Cllr. Spedding declared an interest in respect of Planning Application 24/0415/FUL (Item 12).

6. Appointment of Portfolio holders for the following areas of responsibility: 

7. Notes of the meeting held on 10 April 2024 were approved as minutes. Proposed by Cllr. Spedding and seconded by Cllr. Crosby. 

7.1 Resolved: That these be accepted as minutes. 

8. Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding from 10 April 2024 Minutes:

8.1 A flag to commemorate the D-Day 80 commemoration has been purchased for £19.99 plus package and posting. 

8.2 Lincolnshire County Council has arranged for three additional SLOW signs and 40mph roundels to be placed on the A607 in response to the Parish Council’s request.

8.3 Anglian Water have provided confirmation that there is adequate capacity at Leadenham sewage works to cope with planned housing development contained in the Welbourn Neighbourhood Development Plan 2025-2030 as well as the ongoing residential development in Leadenham. 

8.4 Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has confirmed receipt of the flood mitigation plans drawn up by the Welbourn Floods Working Group (WFWG). The LCC is working through the proposals and hopes to meet with the WFWG in a few months’ time. 

8.5 There has been a delay in trimming the hedge outside the Forge due to the contractor being sick. 

8.6 An official portrait of King Charles III has arrived and needs to be on display in the village hall. 

8.7 North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) has confirmed that the Parish Council can proceed to co-opt a new Parish Councillor without the need for an election. 

Action: Parish Clerk to arrange advertising the Parish Councillor vacancy. 

9. Public Forum – No comments made. 

10. County and District Councillors updates 

10.1 The May newsletters from Cllrs Overton and Hagues have been distributed to the Parish Councillors. These are published on the Parish Council website. 

10.2 Cllr Hagues had nothing further to add to the information contained in her newsletter. 

10.3 County Councillor Marianne Overton explained that there is a continuing campaign opposing the Lincolnshire Devo Deal and urged written representations be made to the local MP. There is also a campaign opposing the construction the substation serving the proposed Springwell and Fosse Green Solar Farms led by Thorpe on the Hill Parish Council. 

10.4 Resolved: a) The Parish Council encourages residents to oppose the Lincolnshire Devo Deal by writing to their M.P.; b) The Parish Council arrange a survey of residents to gauge views on the proposed solar farms; c) The Parish Council will send a representative to upcoming local cluster group meetings. 

(Cllrs Overton and Hagues left the meeting at this point.)

11. Current and future maintenance responsibilities

11.1 A partial quotation has been received to repaint The Millenium art pieces at the churchyard, the Forge, the telephone green, Belltree Green and the playing field. Further quotations are required. 

11.2 Action Point: Parish Clerk to arrange outstanding quotes. 

11.3 The hedge / shrubs at the rear of the Beck / Pond will need trimming after the nesting season. 

11.4 The 55% of the treads on the wooden bridge over the moat at Castle Hill are affected by wet rot. The handrails and supporting substructure appear sound. 

11.5 Resolved: Parish Clerk to obtain the requisite quotes to replace with new treads for consideration by the Parish Council. 

12. Planning Matters to consider and discuss:

(N.B. Cllr Spedding reclused himself from meeting during discussions concerning Item 12.)

12.1 Notification of Receipt of Planning Application

Planning Application Reference: 24/0415/FUL: Proposal: Erection of single storey side extension at the Post Office 5 Beck Street Welbourn. 

12.2 The Council carefully considered the plans and comments available on the NKDC planning portal. 

12.3 Resolved: The Council has the following concerns: 

•   The size of the proposed development bearing in mind the limited land available. 
•   The proximity of the proposed development to the neighbouring land. 
•   The proposed design incorporating a flat roof fails to comply with Policy H1 of the Welbourn Neighbourhood Development Plan 2015 - 2030.

13. Notifications of Planning Decisions: None

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

14.1 Accounts value (1 May 2024):

(N.B. The above bank account values were crossed checked to the bank statements by Cllr. Huntsman.)

14.2 Bank reconciled:    £0 discrepancy.

14.3 Payments made since last meeting 10 April 2024

14.4 Payment received since last meeting 10 April 2024

14.5 Expected payments before next meeting: 12 June 2024

14.6 Resolved: That the Parish Council notes Items 14.1 – 14.5 and approves these items. 

15. To ask the Parish Council to reconsider the erection of a mobile telephone mast to improve mobile phone signal strength. 

15.1 This item was withdrawn as Cllr Cross was absent and unable to deliver the report. 

16. To consider a proposal from a villager to improve the temporary drainage arrangements adjacent to the stone wall to the Manor Care Home. 

16.1 The Parish Council was asked to consider the condition of the stone boundary wall to the Manor Care Home and to consider a proposal for volunteers to construct a temporary swale running parallel to this boundary wall on The Green.

16.2 Resolved: a) That the Parish Clerk write to the owners of Manor Care Home with a request that the condition of the stone boundary wall be assessed from a health and safety point of view; b) That the construction of a proposed swale by volunteers be postponed until such time as an LCC engineer and representative from the Floods Team at LCC make a site visit to assess what can be done to mitigate possible flood damage. 

17. Portfolio Holders Update

17.1 Cllr Bighi is seeking volunteers to complete sundry finishing works to the Welbourn Play Park upgrade on Sunday 19 May 2024. He recommended that the Parish Council consider refurbishing the tennis court. 

17.2 Action Point:  Cllr Bighi to investigate upgrading options to the tennis court with estimated costs and funding proposals and present findings to the Parish Council.

18. Agenda items for next meeting: Solar Farms; Mobile telephone signal strength.. 

Meeting Closed 8.55 pm. 
Next meeting:
Wednesday 12 June 2

Copies to: Parish Councillors, County & District Councillors, Parish Council Web Site.

Future Parish Council Meetings in 2024: 
All meetings to commence at 7.30 pm