Minutes 2023

MIDDLE RASEN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council on 19/09/2023

Present:-

Cllr M Stamp (Chair), Cllr D Pattison (Vice Chair), Cllr P Dawson, Cllr J Padley, Cllr A Longmate, Cllr A Miller and Cllr P Sexton

Also Present:  Mrs A Harrison (Clerk)

Visitors:-  Cllr S Bunney (LCC & WLDC)

1.  Apologies for Absence – Cllr G Dennis and Cllr O’Connor

Resolved: That apologies be accepted from above members of the Council

2.   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the 2011 Localism Act:- 

3.  Notes of last meeting on 15th August 2023, to be approved as minutes:-

Resolved: Notes be signed as a true record.

4.   Chair and Council’s Comments:- 

• Cllr Pattison commented on the new bin fitted outside the post office is being used well and may require emptying twice weekly 
• Cllr Longmate requested that Highways be contacted to cut back the grass at the junction where Lincoln Road joins Gainsborough Road as visibility is affected when turning – Clerk to report to Highways
• Cllr Padley stated that the hedge belonging to the land next to Willoughby House hedge needs cutting back – Clerk to write to landowner
• Cllr Dawson brought to the attention of the Council that the wooden box covering the standpipe in the graveyard needs repairing – Clerk to contact Mr Robinson to arrange
• Cllr Stamp suggested that the Clerk write to H R Bourn again, on behalf of the Council, to request an inspection report on the structure of the buildings off Stockmoor Lane and also to make the buildings secure to prevent vagrants using the buildings.  Clerk also to inform the landowner that the hedges are encroaching on the footpaths/roads and need cutting back. 

5.   Reports from District and County Councillors:

WLDC Matters: 

• WLDC are currently consulting on the planned budget for 2023/2024. There is an online questionnaire that they would like individuals to complete – this includes questions on the Green Bin Service. https://online1.snapsurveys.com
• Last night WLDC agreed to increase the Fixed Penalty Fines to the Maximum amount allowed by The Government.

                Fly-tipping                                                       £1000

                Household waste duty of care offence             £600

                Littering or Graffiti                                            £500 

There were 1852 reported fly-tipping incidents in 21/22.  Estimated cost of clearance £147 381 although there may be some double counting as some is collected by regular kerb side collections.  Out of hours patrols and covert fly-tipping cameras have been introduced. In 2023/24 first quarter six fixed penalty fines have been issued.

• Police - Reorganisation of Lincolnshire Police will take place on October 1st 2023. The Neighbourhood Policing in Market Rasen will be reduced to a Sargent [shared with other areas] and a Police Officer.  There will no longer be any PCSOs based in Market Rasen.  In effect this reduction has already occurred as the two MR based PCSOs have taken early redundancy. In future there will be a team of 7 PCSOs based in Gainsborough – this is a reduction from the 20 strong team spread across the district.   When required PCSOs will be despatched to MR from Gainsborough – provided that they are not needed elsewhere. PC Wilson – the current MR Neighbourhood Officer is being transferred to SCAMPTON from next month.  She will be replaced by PC Rachel Harrison. Sgt. Jason Bennett and Inspector Mike Head will continue in their current roles.
• Public Order - The Middle Rasen based individual who is Sleeping Rough, and begging has been to court on several occasions recently for various offences including the theft of a purse from the Church.  Magistrates, despite requests from the police, keep letting him out on conditional bail.  
• Stockmoor Lane - The needles and cider cans have been cleared up.  The matter has been reported to The Police and West Lindsey – who have added it to their intelligence. 

LCC Matters:

• Footpath between Gainsborough Road and Gallamore Lane - This footpath has been reported to LCC as being overgrown etc. The footpath officer is aware and is currently allocating the work.
• LCC spent £1,196million on providing public services, including highway management, in 2022/2023 – approximately £1 555 per person. At the end of the year there was an unallocated sum of £8.7m which has been ringfenced for highways repairs and initiatives including work on the pavements!  LCC invested £197m in capital investment – major road schemes and schools. LCC and WLDC Finances are healthy with good levels of Medium-Term Reserves.   However, the prospect of future funding cuts by Central Government will present serious challenges if the councils are to deliver the essential level of services.

6.   Crime and Vandalism

• Clerk informed the Council that the Police Website latest statics showed 48 crimes in the West Rasen Area 
• Cllr Stamp Brought the issue of shoplifting, ASB, littering in the area – it was agreed that the Clerk write to Sir Edward Leigh and ask him to address the Home Secretary about fair funding policing for Lincolnshire.  Clerk also to write to the Police Chief Constable and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to discuss at their next meeting, the lack of a police presence in the area

7.   Clerks Report on Matters Outstanding:-

• Email received from parishioner regarding cutting back tree passed to Monitoring Officer at WLDC
• Bank signing rules have been updated
• P Sellers contacted to offer winter maintenance contract.  Cannot include gritting as he would not be available 24/7 and parish council would require liability insurance of up to 10 million pounds
• Comments passed to planning office for application 146972, land at Gallamore Lane for food Bar.  Parishioner’s comments regarding concerns of cars and delivery vehicles blocking the road noted
• Contacted highways to enquire when the hole in Church Street would be repaired – still in progress
• Requested information from highways regarding the hedge at the Post Office and why they are taking enforcement action – has been cut back
• Re-reported the streetlight on the footpath from Dovecote to Church Street to highways
• Mr Beer, who manages our web pages, can access statistics showing monthly activity on the Middle Rasen Parish Council Website which I will share at each meeting
• Reply received from CIL Officer on missing CIL payment from Lancaster Approach – They have looked through the regulations and guidance, and unfortunately there are no provisions for an appeal of this nature in respect of CIL

8.  Planning:- 

147294 – Land at Gallamore Lane, Market Rasen, LN8 3UB

Application for hedgerow removal notice – to remove 233m of hedgerow – no objections

147229 – Springfield Farm, South Lane, Middle Rasen, LN8 3LG

Planning application for construction of equestrian arena, horse walker and storage building – no objections

147267 – Land adjacent to Heath Court, Middle Rasen, LN8 3WH

Outline planning application to erect 10no dwellings – access to be considered and not reserved for subsequent applications – comments to be passed to planning for informtion on the drainage strategy as concerns this will affect flooding onto Church Street.  To also ask if there will be extra facilities in the area ie play area.

147089 – Huntersgarth, Caistor Road, Middle Rasen, LN8 3JE

Planning application for extension to domestic curtilage beyond that approved under class Q (to relocate original fence line) and erection of workshop/garage building – no comments

Planning Granted:-   None

Correspondence:-

LCC                 Town and Parish August Newsletter

                        Temporary Traffic Restriction North Street 11-13 Oct

LALC            E-news 18/08, 01/09 and 15/09

WLDC              Parish Newsletter

                        Notice of Meetings

                        Temporary Stop Notice for RAF Scampton

                        RAF Scampton Site Virtual Engagement Event 27/09/23 18:00 – 19:30

Anglian Water  Information Request regarding Capacity

Clerks and Councils Direct September Newsletter       

10.  Finance and Accounts for Payment

Income:-          JTNL Ltd (Masonry)                             £    25.00

                        Leaks Masonry                                    £    75.00

Expenditure:-   Green Grass Contracting                    £  150.00

Lincolnshire Landscapes                               £  625.00

A Harrison                                                     £  572.75

MRPCC (Water Bill Repayment)                  £    71.48

Resolved: All Invoices passed for payment on 19th September 2023

11.  Reports from meetings: none

12.  To Discuss and Resolve on Burial Regulations and Fees

Burial Fee Comparison Sheet and Regulations previously distributed to Council  

Proposed by Cllr Pattison and seconded by Cllr Dawson

Resolved:  That Regulations and Fees remain the same

13.  To Discuss and Resolve Water Payments for Graveyard Standpipe

Clerk presented information regarding payments and correspondence to the Council

Proposed by Cllr Stamp and seconded by Cllr Miller

Resolved:  That Clerk contact SES Water to request a correct bill and to reimburse MRPCC for previous payments made

14.  Items for next meeting

• Discuss purchasing bulbs for planting around the village

There being no other business the meeting closed at 8.57pm.