June 2025 DRAFT Minutes
Welbourn Parish Council
MINUTES OF WELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE 2025
IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT
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Parish Councillors Steve Spedding Louise Troy Katie Stark Michael Bighi |
Mark Crosby Steve Ralph Harriet Huntsman Stephen Short
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District Cllr Marianne Overton MBE District Councillor Lucille Hagues |
Mr Jim Fieldhouse – Parish Clerk Mr Daniel Bancroft – Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) |
Not Present
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Robert Cross (Chair) |
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1. Chairman’s welcome
2. Acceptance of reasons for absence
2.1 Apologies were received from Cllr. Cross (holiday). These apologies were accepted.
3. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda – Re. Item 9.1, Cllr. Stark is related to an employee of the applicant and agreed to recluse herself from this item.
Re Item 15, Cllr. Short’s driveway is opposite the location under discussion.
4. Notes of meeting held on 14 May 2025 to be approved as minutes. Proposed by Cllr Stark and seconded by Cllr Spedding.
4.1 Resolved: That these be accepted as minutes of the meeting.
5. Parish Clerk’s Report
5.1 Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) Highways have issued a Temporary Traffic Restriction affecting High Street; Castle Hill; Moat Lane and Mill Lane from 16 – 25 June 2025. This is to carry out drainage and kerbing work.
5.2 Following an enquiry, the Parish Clerk has confirmed that the land at The Green (near Dycote Lane) belongs to Welbourn Parish Council. This land was dedicated as a public right of way as pursuant under Section 33 of the Highways Act 1959 on 6 May 1980 by a developer.
5.3 Following resolution 8.9 made at the May 2025 meeting, the Parish Council agreed a statement in relation to the planning applications for the Battery Energy Storage Systems at Navenby and Coleby. ( See Appendix 1).
5.4 The one-month consultation period for the introduction of The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy commenced on 1 June 2025.
6. Public Forum – No residents were present.
7. County and District Councillors update
7.1 Cllr. Hagues had nothing further to add to her newsletter. (Cllr. Hagues left the meeting at 20.00 and her newsletter is available to view on the Parish Council website).
7.2 (Cllr. Overton arrived 8.55 pm and her newsletter is available to view on the Parish Council website). Cllr. Overton highlighted the following issues:-
• LCC is now run by Reform UK following their local election win last month.
• The new administration has abolished the LCC Flood Committee.
• The Local Government Reorganisation plans are proceeding as planned despite the Reform UK victory in the local county council and mayoral elections.
• She will be attending the Lincolnshire Show next week.
8. Current and future maintenance responsibilities
8.1 The railings around Castle Hill / Beck Street (Bell Tree Green) are leaning inwards towards the moat.
8.2 Action Point: Parish Clerk to report to LCC Highways.
9. Planning Matters to consider and discuss:
9.1 Planning Application Reference: 25/0421/FUL
Proposal: Erection of a General Purpose Warehouse
Location: Fen Bay Services Ltd North End Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire
Resolved: The Parish Council supports the premise of the application but would prefer a traffic impact assessment be carried out due to the access and location of the proposed development.
9.2 Application reference: 25/0594/TPO
Description of works: T1 - Sycamore - Reduce the 4 lowest limbs on the
north-west side by 3/4 metres.
Location: Sycamore Lodge, 7 Castle Hill, Welbourn, Lincoln,
Resolved: The Parish Council supports this application. 9.3 Planning Application Reference: 25/0601/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of rear single storey extension
Location: 1 Poplar Court Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 0FB Resolved: The Parish Council supports this application.
10. Notifications of Planning Decisions:
10.1 Application Reference: 24/1499/FUL
Proposal: Siting of InPost Parcel Locker (retrospective)
Location: Post Office 5 Beck Street Welbourn
Approved by NK Planning 10.2 Application Reference: 24/0415/FUL
Proposal: Erection of single storey side extension
Location: Post Office 5 Beck Street Welbourn Approved by NK Planning.
10.3 Application Reference: 25/0336/HOUS
Proposal: Proposed single storey rear extension
Location: Stables Hall Lane Welbourn
Approved by NK Planning.
10.4 Resolved: Noted.
11. Finance Report: - From the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO): - To review bank balances, invoices paid since last meeting, items to be paid before next meeting, and AGAR documentation: -
11.1 Accounts value (4 June 2025):
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HSBC Client A/c 611: £4,262.12 (Forge et al) HSBC A/c 772: £32,711.27 (For Precept) |
HSBC Bmm A/c 638: £ 15,409.43 (Reserves) HSBC Business C/A 677: £1,168.60 Bank Total: £53,551.42 |
11.2 Bank reconciled: £0 discrepancy.
(N.B. The bank statements were crossed checked and signed off by Cllr. Huntsman.)
11.3 Payments made since 14 May 2025
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11.4 Income received since last meeting (14 May 2025):
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11.5 Expected payments before the next meeting (9 July 2025):
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11.6 AGAR Documents: - To review and acknowledge the following reports:
• Internal Audit Report 2024-25
• Annual Governance Statement 2024-25
• Accounting Statement 2024-25
11.7 Resolved: That the Internal Audit Report and Annual Governance Statement 2024-25 be noted and approved.
11.8 Resolved: That the Accounting Statement 2024-25 be noted and approved.
11.9 With reference to Item 8.1 in the May 2025 minutes, the RFO has researched
costings for the provision of generic email accounts ending in .gov.uk. This is being offered by Cloud Next for £100 per annum.
Action Point: RFO to take the appropriate action to ensure compliance with the Smaller Authorities Practice Guide for the minimal cost by pursuing this further.
12. To review an ecologist’s pre-survey report on the condition of The Beck (village pond) and agree next steps.
12.1 The Parish Clerk reminded the Council that concern regarding the maintenance of the village pond ( The Beck) had been discussed on several occasions in the past. In July 2024 it had been proposed to include expenses associated with the restoration of the pond in the North Kesteven Rural England Prosperity Fund application. However, this idea had the be dropped as the Environment Agency insisted on a comprehensive wildlife survey prior to any restoration taking place. A quote from a Nottinghamshire based ecologist has now been obtained.
12.2 Resolved: The Council is minded to accept the quotation but will defer the decision until the July 2025 meeting pending further clarification on various points from the ecologist.
13. To note the decision of the Reform UK Leader of Lincolnshire County Council to abolish the Flood Committee and to agree the Parish Council’s response to this.
13.1 The Council considered the comments received by the resident and the BBC report.
13.2 Action Point: The Parish Clerk to seek confirmation from LCC Highways that the works programme for 2025 -26 remains unaffected.
14. To review the following policies: Safeguarding; Sickness and Absence and Volunteer Policy.
14.1 Resolved: That these policies are to remain in force without amendment and will be reviewed in 3 years’ time.
15. To consider a request from a resident suggesting that a bus shelter be provided near the old BT telephone box on The Green.
15.1 The Council considered the resident’s comments.
15.2 Resolved: Before consideration is given to this suggestion, the Council will :
1. Investigate whether there is any historical legal hindrance to this proposal.
2. Investigate possible funding available for such a project as this has not been budgeted for.
3. Ask LCC to check the safety of the lower limbs of the large chestnut tree.
16. To consider the options for the provision of visual display equipment in the village hall following resolution 16.1 of the May 2025 meeting.
16.1 The Council considered various options and costings provided by Cllr. Ralph.
16.2 Resolved: That a 100 inch TV, with dongle be fixed to a suitable bracket in the Meeting Room subject to receiving approval from the Village Hall and Playing Field Committee and subject to purchasing the cheapest options available.
17. Portfolio Holders Updates.
17.1 With regard to Item 15.2 of the May 2025 meeting, Cllr. Bighi confirmed that contractors are to commence the outstanding work to the tennis court on 12 June 2025.
17.2 With regard to Item 17.2 of the May 2025 meeting, Cllr. Short confirmed that the solution suggested by Wellers Law Group to resolve the technicality had been accepted by the Village Hall and Playing Field Committee’s insurer. This involves the drawing up a Management Agreement incorporating a licence. The fees for drafting the Management Agreement would be £850 - £950 plus VAT.
17.3 Action Point: The Parish Clerk to inform the Wellers Law Group solicitor to proceed on this basis.
17.4 Councillors noted that the roof of The Stables at the Manor Care Home has partially collapsed.
17.5 Action Point: As this is a Listed Building, Parish Clerk to report this to North Kesteven Planning.
18. Agenda items for the next meeting; Introduction of a Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.
Signed ………………………………………………. Date…………………………….
Chair
(Meeting closed at 9.15 pm.)
Next meeting
Wednesday 9 July 2025
Copies to: Parish Councillors, County & District Councillors, Parish Council Web Site
Future Parish Council Meetings in 2025: All meetings to commence at 7.30 pm
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9 July 10 September |
8 October 12 November |
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Councillor |
Portfolio 1 |
Portfolio 2 (& 3) |
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Robert Cross |
Byways/Highways |
Cliff Cluster Group Rep & The Forge |
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Stephen Short |
Planning & Finance Cttee |
Human Resources Cttee (& VH Rep) |
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Harriet Huntsman |
Finance Cttee |
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Katie Stark |
Human Resources Cttee |
Communications (& Planning) |
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Steve Ralph |
Drainage |
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Michael Bighi |
Schools Liaison |
Nature and Environment |
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Steve Spedding |
Castle Hill |
Community Safety & Resilience |
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Mark Crosby |
Allotments |
Village Hall Rep |
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Louise Troy |
Health & Welfare |
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Appendix 1
• Location:
o The applicant has not considered any alternative sites, despite The National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1 to EN-5 revisions) which explicitly supports the reuse of brownfield land for energy storage, renewables, and transmission upgrades. Indeed, this BESS could be located anywhere in the UK where it could connect to the National grid.
o It is separate and has no connection to any energy generation. It is not renewable energy.
o The Clean Power 2030 Initiative emphasises strategic site selection for energy infrastructure, with key conditions and criteria used for selecting site locations highlighting
Proximity to existing grid infrastructure,
Brownfield land — previously developed and now disused — is explicitly preferred for clean energy infrastructure due to faster permitting and community acceptance. Source: The Planner (and others)
o There are numerous existing and preferable locations with proximity to existing grid infrastructure e.g. a) mothballed and below operating capacity, power generation sites; b) disused and down-scaled MOD sites; c) disused coal power sites e.g. Ratcliffe-on-Soar; d) the Lincolnshire Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plant in North Hykeham, and many more.
• Need:
o Based on the Applicant’s own figures on “Need” (Environmental Statement Ch 2.3.3), UK needs between 20GW and 43GW by 2050, and that these levels “have been a primary consideration in the need for the Proposed Development”. There is a current Project Pipeline of over 1,600 active battery storage projects in the UK with a combined capacity of 5GW already operational and 127GW in preparation, that is a total of 132GW. Source: Renewables UK. This is equivalent to 330% of the Applicant’s highest estimate of the UK’s need for 2050.
o There is NO NEED for this BESS, it is superfluous to both National and Local Requirements should be refused.
• Planning Basis:
o The proposed BESS is an energy storage system for the National Grid using all types of generated electricity – it is not a renewable energy resource. The pre-eminence of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP) applies and is the yardstick for evaluating this proposal which does not justify any exceptions to it.
o Welbourn Parish Council is concerned about the cumulative effects of these BESS and Solar Farm planning applications.