2018 Meetings - Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of Nocton Parish Council held in the Village Hall, 
Main Street, Nocton on Tuesday, 11 September 2018 at 7.00 pm

PRESENT: Cllr Ian Goldsworthy (Chair), Cllr Elisabeth Murray (Vice Chair), Cllr N. Faulkner, Cllr Graham Jones, Cllr Michael Kaye, Cllr M. Williams
Also present: Ruth Keillar (Clerk).

Twelve members of the Public. CCllr R Oxby arrived after close of business, he delivered a brief report and to engaged in further discussion regarding the straw issue. See minute 244c.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
No questions had been received at this time.

234 APOLOGIES AND REASON FOR ABSENCE
Apologies had been received from Cllr Jane Kania, LCCllr Ron Oxby, DCllr Kendrick and DCllr Money – reasons accepted. 

235 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA
None received.

236 MINUTES 
It was proposed by Cllr G. Jones, seconded by Cllr M. Kaye and it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on 14 August 2018 were taken as read and signed as correct. 

237 REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES
a) Local Police – No representatives were in attendance. The police report had been received; no reported crimes from 14th August – 11 September 2018. 
b) Village Hall Management Committee - Nothing to report.
c) District Councillors – None present 
d) County Councillor – None present. CCllr Oxby had submitted his report by email, which is posted onto the website.

238 PARISH CLERK
The Parish Council noted the Clerk’s report, which had been circulated previously. 
Report Item discussed:
Village Keeper’s Report – It was reported by Cllr G. Jones that the mower is in need of repair. It was proposed by Cllr G. Jones, seconded by Cllr N. Faulkner and it was RESOLVED to authorise repairs up to the amount of £100 and for the invoice to be submitted to the Clerk for payment.

239 NOCTON VILLAGE HALL – PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT
i. The following updates on the proposed development were noted:
a. the proposed further tree survey works have been postponed to 27 September, by Simons, due to the requirement for the NKDC Tree Officer to be present during the works.
b. The previous Simon’s Group contact, Darren Wallace, has left the company. The confirmed new contact is Ian Walton.
c. The Maher Millard Construction Ltd contact, Stewart Maher, has left the company. The new contact is Ashley Cawdron (Director).
ii. There were no any updates regarding grants, bids and funding applications. It was agreed that Cllr M. Williams would check the current position regarding the application for the Armed Forces Grant.
iii. The PC Solicitor had responded to only 3 of the 7 issues submitted on28 April 2018 and the further request submitted on 26 July. It was agreed to write to the PC Solicitors to express disappointment that so little had been addressed since the original request for advice, etc was made on 28 April 2018.
iv. The Chair said that he had been attempting to contact Simons’ Chief Executive to arrange the long-promised meeting between representatives of the PC and Simons to clarify a number of issues relating to the contract.  Although there had been no response so far from the company, he would continue with his efforts.

240 PUBLIC WORKS LOAN
a)  It was noted that the result of the Precept Survey produced a clear majority of those making their views known in favour of increasing the precept to facilitate the loan repayments. The results, draft minutes of the meeting of 14 August, and a request for the formal approval for a period of two months to assist with proposed start time of January 2019 had been submitted to the Parish Borrowing, PWLD administrator on 6 September 2018. An acknowledged was received.
b) No further action is required at this stage.

241 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Cllr E. Murray reported that a proposal had been received from Ann Skippers, a Planning Consultant, which would:
a) Respond to the request for advice on how best to amend the NP in the light of previous discussions
b) Understand the issues of concern to the Parish Council including consideration of some examples of the types of planning application causing concern
c) Review the NP to see how it can better relate to the Local Plan
d) Prepare options for the Parish Council to consider in relation to revising Policies 1 and 2 of the NP and any other new policies or work, including potentially, a policy that deals with development outside the settlement boundaries
e) Advise the Parish Council on the process for reviewing the NP
f) Liaise with North Kesteven District Council as needed.

It was proposed by Cllr M. Kaye, seconded by Cllr G. Jones and it was RESOLVED that subject to similar approval from Potterhanworth Parish Council, to accept the proposal from Ann Skippers and to submit a grant bid to cover the costs of the work entailed, which will be compiled by Cllr I. Goldsworthy.

It was agreed that Potterhanworth Clerk would be advised of the decision and informed that the works will be covered by a grant.

242 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND ISSUES
a) The Parish Council considered the following applications:
i. 18/1157/TCA - The Pines, Barff Road, Potterhanworth
ii. 18/1015/FUL – Former tennis court behind Village Hall. Comments by 16 September. It was proposed by Cllr M. Kaye, seconded by Cllr M. Williams and it was RESOLVED to submit a comment referring to the original application, where reservations were clearly expressed relating to Neighbourhood Plan Policy 2 requiring “safe and suitable vehicular access between the site and the adopted highway”. 
iii. 18/1111/LBC - 18 Old Four Row Main Street Nocton - Removal of later infill masonry from living room fireplace and insertion of lintel to support original stonework and reinstate size of original fireplace. Comments by 21 September. It was agreed to support this application as a genuine attempt to return a listed building to its original design parameters. The work proposed will undo some sub-standard remodelling done in an era when there was little protection for heritage and history. 
iv. 18/1180/TPO - 10 Nocton Park Road, Nocton. Comments by 20 September. No comment.
v. 18/1189/TPO – 24 Nocton Park Road. Comments by 20 September. No comment.
vi. 18/1248/TPO - Laurel House, 29 The Park, Potterhanworth. Comments by 2 October. No comment.
vii. 18/1197/TCA – Trees on green application. Comments by 21 September. No comment.

b) The Parish Council noted the following decisions received.
i. 18/0728/FUL - Land South off Branston Causeway Bardney – Refused
ii. 18/1049/PNDEM - British Sugar PLC Bardney Sugar Factory Station Road – prior approval not required.
iii. 18/0974/HOUS - Gingerbread House The Green Potterhanworth – Approved

c) It was noted that a quote of £150 had been received from a local arboriculturalist for works to trim back an overhanging tree on the Village Green and a submission to obtain the necessary permissions from the NKDC Tree Officer (minute 230 – 14 August).  It was agreed to await the result of the application before considering the matter further.

d) To note that tree works relating to application 16/0872/TPO have not been 
       carried out.   As this tree is not owned by the Parish Council the matter 
       has been forwarded to the NKDC Tree Officer.

243 200 CLUB
An application has been made to the 200 Club, by Nocton Village Hall Management Committee, for £300 for the construction of 4 notice boards to publicise village events. It was proposed by Cllr M. Williams, seconded by Cllr G. Jones and it was RESOLVED to approve the application. The conditions of the approval are that funds will be released as and when the NVHMC submit a request for repayment of the costs involved, as the works are to be completed in stages.

244 PROGRESS REPORTS OF PARISH COUNCILLORS
a) Cllr M. Kaye reported the situation regarding Plot 72a Steamer Park Road is nearing an end.
b) Cllr N. Faulkner reported that hedges and trees which overhang the highway along the roadside in parts of the village are causing a nuisance and adding to the problem of straw throughout the village. The situation was particularly acute along Potterhanworth Road by the Natural Burial Ground and it was agreed that the Clerk write to the owner of the site on which the hedges/trees are situated with a request that they be trimmed, etc as appropriate.
c) Further to the above, Cllr G. Jones reported straw on the roads is increasingly problematic with no agency willing to accept responsibility for resolving the matter. It was agreed that overhanging vegetation exacerbates the problem. It was proposed by Cllr G. Jones, seconded by Cllr M. Williams and it was RESOLVED to set up a meeting, to include: NKDC, the straw companies, Highways, neighbouring PCs. It was agreed to copy in CCllr Oxby and DCllr Money. CCllr R Oxby arrived at the meeting after close of business and volunteered to arrange this on behalf of the PC.
d) It was agreed to include an article in the next issue of Nocton News, reminding residents that it is their responsibility to trim back overhanging vegetation which can obstruct footpaths and engage with the straw lorries.
It was also agreed to contact Anglian Water, drawing its attention to the potential for the straw to block drains.
e) Cllr I. Goldsworthy reported that a resident had kindly offered to refresh the planter with new plants and bulbs at the entrance to the village in Wellhead Lane and to repaint the all three planters with wood preservative. The offer was gratefully accepted and the PC offered its thanks to the resident concerned. 

245 NOCTON PARISH COUNCIL – DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS
It was noted that the next meeting of the Parish Council will be on 9 October at 7pm.

246 Public Question Session
A resident reported that the street-light at the corner of Potterhanworth Road is not working.
Street-light number 2, opposite the beck, appears to have an unsecured electric cable in contact with the beck.

The Parish Clerk agreed to contact Western Power to ask that the necessary repairs, etc be carried out.

There being no further business the Chair closed the meeting at 8.08pm

Acting Chair….Cllr M Kaye

Date…………..9 October 2018