Minutes 12th December 2023
NOCTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DRAFT MINUTES
Tuesday 12 December 2023 at 7.00pm
MEMBERSHIP:
Attendance:
Chair: Councillor Andy Hone
Councillors: Paul Browne, Martin Duff, Dick Marshall,
Temporary Clerk:John Money, Responsible Financial Office Gordon Roe & Cllr D Parry (DC)
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Nocton 200 Club draw was made: no’s 129, 197, 135 and 116.were drawn.
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Public forum (15 minutes) 9 members of the public present. No public comments made.
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County and District Councillors' reports: Cllr D Parry gave a short district council report where he outlined the importance of parishes having an Emergency Plan in place. A question relating to the flying of the Red Arrows flying over the parish was resolved by a resident.
Agenda Items:
1. Apologies for Absence: To receive any apologies for absence in accordance with Local
Gov. Act 1972, were received from Cllr G McDonnell (work), Cllr R Robinson (sickness),
Cllr N Peplow (work) and Cllr I Carrington CC.
2. Declarations of Interest: To receive declarations of interest under Parish Councils
Code of Conduct, the Localism Act 2011. None declared.
3. Minutes: To approve as a correct record the notes of the Full Council Meeting held on 14th
November 2023. Resolved and authorised the Chair to sign the draft minutes
4. Chair’s Report: Mention was made of Christmas Trees, an application the delist the Old
Nocton Hall would be discussed as a planning agenda item, the ever continuing saga with
AG Properties is nearing completion, thanks was recorded to the WI for the artwork display
and that more art and history would be forthcoming was mentioned
5. Hub Manager’s Report: Long term customers satisfaction and positive feedback is
welcome and plumbing works were being carried out
6. Parish Clerk’s Report: the Temporary Parish Clerk reported the difficulty he was having
with the parish councils email platform using some IT devices. Now he was using a different
laptop some of the issues have been resolved. the Clerk also said he thought that some of the
Policies contained within the Nocton and Potterhanworth Neighbourhood Plan (NPLP)
now conflict with the revised CLLP 2023 edition and will require reviewing in the fullness of
time. He also said he had been in contact with NKDC Partnerships division with respect of
procuring grant aid to improve the disabled access arrangements at the Hub. They will
require a detailed Schedule of Works which he said he would be happy to prepare once the
details of the works had been agreed. After a short discussion it was agreed the Clerk look
into another email platform that operated .gov.uk as the district council use Action: the Clerk.
7. Acting RFO's report. To receive a report from the acting RFO of the Council including the
latest budget forecast: the Acting RFO reported as follows:expenditure over budgeted income for the parish council £5575; expenditure over budgeted income for the Hub approximately £2600 making a combined negative impact of £8000 for the financial year; the reasons for this was: extra street lighting costs: tree works; AG properties legal costs; purchase of a lawnmower and strimmer.
Although these costs are not desirable it is better than the previous forecast of a £10,000 deficit - this reduction has been achieved through cost reductions and additional income.
The end of year reserve will be approximately £8000; the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC) advise that 50% of the precept sum should be held in reserve - this figure for Nocton Parish Council should be approximately £14,000. Options of whether to recover this deficit in one, two or three years will be made available for debate.
The Acting RFO together with the incumbent RFO will produce year to date figures early in the new year and from them produce some forecast options for our meeting in January so the Parish Council may resolve what the 2024/25 precept request will be. The RFO is able to submit a precept request to North Kesteven District Council prior to the end date of the 26th of January 2024. Action: the ARFO & RFO.
8. To agree expenditure of £262.50 (£350 minus a 25% discount) for materials required to redecorate the hub (paint and brushes / rollers etc...) was briefly debated and resolved to purchase and store in a warm area until used by hopefully volunteer labour
9. To agree proposed changes to policies and procedures that have been reviewed by councillors to date: the Chair opened the debate saying he had reviewed the Standing Orders Document and it was agreed the other policies allocated to Members would be discussed at the January meeting.
10. To agree an application for support from Nocton Cricket Club using funds from the Nocton 200 club: as yet an application had not been received,
11. Planning Matters:- Ref. No: 23/1067/HOUS 3 Potterhanworth Road Extension was debated and it was resolved to support the application as revised and resubmitted.
An application to delist the Old Nocton Hall has been submitted to Historic England by Ben Wills MRICS on behalf of Leda Properties and the parish council has been asked to comment.
The Clerk outlined the options available; after a prolonged debate.it was universally agreed it was not in the benefit of the community for the hall to be delisted and thus separated in planning terms from the old RAF Hospital site, it was also noted the proposal conflicted with the LPLC. It was resolved that the Clerk prepare an objection noting where the proposal conflicted with parish, local and national plan policies and circulate to Members prior to submitting it to Historic England. Action: the Chair/Clerk. The addendum at the foot of these minutes shows the response submitted.
12. Financial Matters:
(a) To note the current bank balances; Noted.
(b) To ratify payments for the month of Nov. 2023 and to approve the list of upcoming payments: it was resolved the Chair signed the approval paper.
(c) To agree that the hub electricity contract should be placed with the most cost efficient provider on the day of negotiation. (A paper was circulated to demonstrate potential costs) after a short debate this was resolved as drafted. Action: the ARFO/RFO.
13. Date of Next Meeting: It was confirmed the next meeting of the Council will take place
on 9th January 2023.
Public forum: The Nocton Hall delisting application was discussed by the members of the public and it was universally agreed the council had made the correct decision relating to the agreed response. The past precept 45% increase quoted earlier by a Member was disputed by a member of the public - see addendum below
The Chair thanked all for their attendance and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
14. The Chair moved and it was resolved that the meeting be continued in private session
where the press and members of the public are asked to leave; ( Under the requirements of the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 and as further described in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972);
A legal matter was discussed along with a confidential IT issue.after a debate it was resolved the parish council would support both issues raised. Action: the Chair/Clerk
Addendum: It has now been confirmed the maximum amount the precept has been raised in one year was by 17%.
Addendum: reference item 11 above
Dear Mr Mee
With regard to your reference number 1488329 Nocton Hall Main Road Nocton Lincolnshire Removal from the List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Interest The delisting of the Old Hall at Nocton. At their Full Council meeting held on the 12th of December 2023 Nocton Parish Council: Members resolved the following:
The Old Hall building should not be determined as a single entity, but in its entirety with the old RAF Hospital site, which of course were the grounds to the hall prior to WW2.
In 2011 an options appraisal was carried out by Mary Anderson a local heritage architect 1, while those findings may now be out of date. Members believe that a review of the options appraisal or a similar route would be preferable addressing all aspects of the site. If delisting were part of an overall development proposal for the entire site it would be a different matter.
Members agreed the Old Hall and the redundant RAF Hospital site was - and still is an intrinsic part of the village developed footprint and its community. The proposed de-listing is not part of a master plan for the site where community benefit could be assessed, but nothing more than a fait accompli, A proposal to develop the whole site which addressed a development plan taken from a revised options appraisal would be most welcome
Members further resolved that in there opinion the application did not accord with the policies contained within the following documents: The Nocton & Potterhanworth Neighbourhood Plan (NPNP)2; The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP)3; The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF paragraphs 196, 197, 200 & 201)4; The Planning Policy Guidance relating to the Historic Environmental (PPG paragraph 014) 5; listed in the Appendix below.
Therefore Nocton Parish Council oppose the application to delist the Old Hall Nocton as submitted.