Minutes - Environment committee - 19 July 2021
Minutes of a meeting of the Environment committee held at the Bracebridge Heath Community Library on 19th July 2021 at 19:00
Present: Cllrs Broad, Manders, Smith (19:05), Trought, Walker
In attendance: Mr Pete Tuckerman – Deputy Clerk to Council.
No members of public were present.
1. To consider apologies and accept valid reasons for absence – No apologies received.
2. To receive members’ declarations of disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any agenda item – Nil
3. To confirm the minutes of the Environment committee held on 20th April 2021 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 20th April 2021 be approved and signed as a true copy by the chairman.
4. To consider planning applications –
21 0624 HOUS – 61 London Road – No objection was raised.
21 0836 HOUS – 32 Lagonda Close – No objection was raised.
21 0889 DISCON – 6 Red Hall Lane – No objection was raised.
20 0057 OUT – Land off Sleaford Road – The Parish Council Objected for the following reasons.
The previous objections to 20/0057/OUT Land off Sleaford Road, dated 16 March 2021 still stood.
The area to the west of the Sleaford Road is not in the SEQ but will come under Neighbourhood plan which is against three storey houses.
Housing – Council object to the blanket covering of 3 and 4 storey housing as this is against the design code. Three and four storey buildings will be detrimental to the appearance and overwhelm the listed building and diminish its historical significance (for example, listed manor house, farm buildings wall and gates)
Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS) - The areas covered massive with no evidence of how large or deep these SuDs will be, or the infiltration rate as no investigations have taken place. Infiltration rates are not consistent over this area. There is no note on how these SuDs will be maintained.
SUDs decrease the amount of useable recreational space and cannot be put near children’s play areas due to the
available space for recreation, which is already less that the population requires within our parish.
Area CA7 is already prone to flooding after heavy rain. A large area will therefore need to be SuD. If flooding not to regularly occur, measurements need to be done regarding size of SuD.
Green Areas - By the time the SuDS and children play areas, plus cycleways and footpaths and tree planting have crossed or been put on these green areas there will be very little space for older children/teenagers to gather or play.
Play Areas - The size of the Local Area for Play (LAP) and Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAPS) have not been determined or what they will contain, nor how they will be managed.
There are no NEAP facilities planned. Therefore, play areas limited to the under 8-year-olds.
Noise and Visual Screening – There is no evidence provided on the monitoring of the noise levels and more information needs to be provided on the width and height of the screening. It was also noted that Visual and Noise screening is very narrow and is relying on the bypass banking and physical distance to lessen the noise. This is deemed to be inadequate.
5. To receive a report on planning decisions – The report was accepted.
6. To consider tree planting locations in the village including correspondence from the Bracebridge Heath Events Groups – It was agreed that the Deputy Clerk would seek permission from the appropriate landowners to plant trees on Bentley Drive and Sycamore Grove. The Bracebridge Heath Events Group would be invited to plant trees on the land between Homestead and the Hospital Cottages. It was agreed that Cllr Broad would contact the Events Group with regards to the potential purchase of a bench to be fixed in this area.
7. To consider applications for the protection of trees through Tree Preservation Orders. – It was RESOLVED: That Tree Preservation Orders would be submitted at the earliest opportunity to protect the site at Cross O’ Cliff Court.
8. To consider purchase of cemetery signage – It was RESOLVED: That the Deputy Clerk would arrange for installation of the signs, already
agree to be purchased. It was agreed that the Amenities committee would be requested to leave areas of the cemetery to grow wild and that grass cutting be ceased in some areas to facilitate this. The Events Group would be contacted to ask if they wish to help with seeding this area.
9. To consider the iron railings on London Road and Sleaford Road – It was noted that removal of the iron railings along London Road and
Sleaford Road was restricted by the S106 agreement in place for the land. Given the details of the Section 106 agreement, it would not
be advisable to make any plans for the removal of the iron railings until further information has been found regarding the Public Open
Space Land Works Scheme or specifics of the planning permission for the St John’s Hospital site.
10. To consider traffic calming measures for Red Hall Farm Lane. – It was RESOLVED: That two signs be purchased and erected along Red Hall Farm Lane, the Deputy Clerk to facilitate this.
11. To consider arrangements for Remembrance Day 2021 – It was RESOLVED: That the planning for Remembrance Day will continue with Cllr Smith leading the event safety. Training dates for volunteers carrying out the control of entry and egress to planned road closures, will be scheduled for the 6th and 7th of November 2021
12. To consider provision of a village Christmas tree for 2021 – It was RESOLVED: That Council purchase a Christmas tree from Doddington Hall and hire equipment as required to install it using powers provided under section 137 Local Government Act 1972.
13. To review the Environment Committees’ action plan – Action plan reviewed. No concerns raised.
14. Items for the agenda of the next committee meeting – Tree planting locations, Traffic Calming Measures, Tree Preservation Orders, Remembrance Day arrangements.
Items of a confidential nature to be debated in the absence of the press and public. Under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings)
Act 1960 (due to the confidential nature of business).
It was RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following items on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information.
15. To consider quotes for supply and planting of trees on the Recreation Ground – It was RESOLVED: That the quote from B and B Tree Specialists to supply and plant two lime trees on the Recreation Ground be accepted.
16. To consider further action to report damage at 3 Sleaford Road. – It was RESOLVED: That a formal letter of complaint be sent to Lincolnshire Police regarding the damage to 3 Sleaford Road.
There being no further business the chairman closed the meeting at 20:36
Signed_______________________________Chairman 16th August 2021