November 2023

Minutes of a meeting of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at the Pavilion on 7th November 2023 at 7pm  

Present: Councillors C Barr, C Broad, C Callan, S Manders, G Scott, R Stone and K Trought

In attendance: Clerk to Council, Mrs S Knowles and Deputy Clerk to Council, Mrs R Fraser

 Lincolnshire County Council Councillor Cawrey was present.

Three members of the public were present.

The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

Reports from Lincolnshire County Council Councillor Cawrey - A verbal report was given including information regarding a planned ward walk, the impact of local flooding and the Councillor Volunteer Scheme.

Reports from North Kesteven District Councillor Cawrey. A verbal report was given including information regarding the changes to postal/proxy voting and the Flourishing Scale Survey 2023.

Cllr Burley was not in attendance.

Questions from the public – a member of the public enquired about the PA system in the new hall, the condition of the surface of Red Hall Lane and information regarding the bowling green.

COUNCIL SESSION  

Code of conduct reminders

Nolan Principles

Members were reminded of the Nolan Principles which underpin the Council’s Code of Conduct - Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty & leadership.

Register of interests

The Chairman reminded members that they should submit to the Monitoring Officer at North Kesteven District Council any changes to the content of their Register of Member Interest forms. Interests should be declared in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

23153.         TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE – – It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Marden.

It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Moran.

23154.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT –  Cllr Callan declared an interest in matters relating to the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC).

b. TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER MEMBERS’ REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDING ORDERS – Nil

23155.         TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING – 16th October 2023 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 16th October 2023 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman.

23156.         FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE

a. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEETINGS –

Payments made between meetings, direct debits, CHAPS and payments made using delegated authority - Presented at report 23156a.

All reports can be downloaded from https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/47/meeting-reports-november-2023

b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS - It was RESOLVED: That the Kingsmead invoice would be deferred for approval at the end of the meeting.  

It was RESOLVED: That payment of accounts as presented at report 23156b be accepted and signed, excluding the payment to Kingsmead Design Ltd.   

All reports can be downloaded from https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/47/meeting-reports-november-202

It was RESOLVED: That funds from the Council’s easy access savings account be transferred to the current around if required to cover the next invoice from Clarke Group Construction. The total amount to be transferred to be not more than the received invoice.

c. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS - It was RESOLVED: That bank reconciliation 377 and 378 be accepted

and signed by Cllr Stone and bank reconciliation 379, 380 and 381 be accepted and signed by Cllr Scott. Bank balances were reported as Current account - £825,388; Savings account £80,000.

d. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE - The budget, income and expenditure was reviewed. The Clerk/RFO informed the council that the budget for the community library would be overspent due to the cost of electricity in the building.

e. TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A CIL REPORT - It was RESOLVED: That the CIL report for 2022-2023 be accepted.

23157.        TO RECEIVE THE CLERKS REPORT ON CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS – Items noted: Awards for All application successful and receipt of £10,000 grant towards the village hall project, changes to Co-operative Business Online Banking, The Bull car park repairs and LALC training opportunities.

23158.         TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT ON DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY - The following report was accepted:

• Payments made as reported at item 4a.
• Credit card statement.

23159.         PLANNING

a. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL –

23 1258 TPO Anglian Water Sewage Station – It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council has no comments or objections.  

23 1237 OUT 21 Sleaford Road - It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council objects to the planning application on the grounds that

• It would lead to a reduction in off street parking on Dorothy Avenue, in particular for the existing property (21 Sleaford Road) which will have no garage and driveway. This is contrary to the Bracebridge Heath Neighbourhood Plan (BBH NP) which states at policy 2 (4b) that ‘development proposals for new dwellings within the curtilage of an existing residential dwelling should ensure that adequate vehicle parking and safe access will be achieved for existing and future dwellings.’ This is reiterated in the BBH NP, Policy 3 (2 and 5) which states that adequate off-street parking should be provided and that ‘proposals likely to result in excessive unplanned on-street parking will not be supported’.
• The proposal amounts to overdevelopment of the site – The site is an insufficient size for the proposal. It leaves next to no space for a rear garden for 21 Sleaford Road and no off-street parking for the existing property.
• The proposal will lead to overlooking and loss of privacy for neighbours which is contrary to the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP) Policy 53 (8). The proposed property’s windows would overlook neighbouring gardens.
• Surface water flooding in the area already. Parish Council supports the comments made by Lincolnshire County Council highways in relation to this.b. 

b. TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLANNING DECISIONS –  a written report was received.

23160.         COMMITTEES

a. TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 2ND OCTOBER 2023 – draft notes of the meeting were received.

b. TO APPOINT AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER TO THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - It was RESOLVED: That Cllr Scott be appointed to the Personnel Committee.

23161.        TO CONSIDER REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL’S ACTION PLAN – It was agreed this item would be deferred and the action plan be reviewed following completion of the village hall project.

23162.         TO CONSIDER HIRE CHARGES AND TERMS FOR THE GRANTHAM ROAD ALLOTMENTS - It was RESOLVED: That the 2024 annual rental is increased to £25, 2025 to £27 and 2026 to £30 per year. This is to bring Bracebridge Heath Allotments in line with other local sites.  

23163.        BRACEBRIDGE HEATH VILLAGE HALL

a. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT - It was RESOLVED: To approve an extension of time for completion of the contract to 22nd December 2023, with the provision that work to the library, kitchen and toilets to be completed as a priority. 

b. TO NOTE AND ACCEPT DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY - It was RESOLVED: That Council accepts the decisions made by delegated authority.

The clerk consulted on the use of delegated authority to accept the quote for installation of a bespoke cupboard and bench seating in the foyer. It was agreed that the Clerk would accept the quote from Clarke Group Construction.

c. TO CONSIDER QUOTES FOR REPAIR OF ROOF TIMBERS AND GUTTERS ON THE EASTERN ELEVATION – It was RESOLVED: That the council suspend Financial Regulation 11.1h (to obtain three quotes for the work) for the reasons specified under Financial Regulation 11.1a IV ‘that the work to be executed constitutes an extension of an existing contract by the council’.

It was RESOLVED: That the Clerk be authorised to accept a quote for the repairs to the roof timbers and gutters on the eastern elevation to the value of £13000 exc VAT using delegated authority.

d. TO CONSIDER THE NAME, BRANDING AND SIGNAGE FOR THE BUILDING – After much consideration, it was RESOLVED: That the Village Hall be renamed The Heath: Village Hall and Library.

e. TO CONSIDER OPENING EVENT PLANS – Event opening plans were discussed. No decisions made.

23164. TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION TO COUNCIL VACANCIES -

20:33 - Council session was suspended to hear from Ms Emes

20:36 – Council session resumed

It was RESOLVED: That Ms Beverley Emes be co-opted to Bracebridge Heath Parish Council.

Ms Emes signed the declaration of acceptance of office and joined the council.

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.

23165.         It was RESOLVED: That the additional Kingsmead Design invoice dated 26.10.2023 be accepted, the clerk to communicate budgetary constraints as appropriate.

23166.         TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING – Items to be emailed to the Clerk.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:57

Signed___________________________Chairman                                                                                                        5th December 2023