November 2024 Minutes
Halton Holegate with Halton Fenside Parish Council
Minutes of the full Council meeting held at Halton Holegate Methodist Chapel on Thursday 14th November 2024 commencing at 7pm. These are notes of the meeting until approved as a true record.
Present:
Cllrs D Sisson (Chair), C Holmes (Vice-Chair), S Andrew, C Edwards, T Robson and J Vickers; District Councillor T Taylor and County Councillor W Bowkett.
Clerk - J Sargent.
There were no members of the public in attendance.
Lincolnshire County Councillor W Bowkett
County Councillor W Bowkett provided a written report, circulated with Councillors prior to the meeting.
East Lindsey District Councillor T Taylor
District Councillor T Taylor provided information via email circulated with Councillors prior to the meeting.
Cllr Taylor reported that the Crime and Policing survey was currently underway, noted that local urgent care treatment centres are reviewed annually and are underused. Cllr Taylor also reported that a nuclear waste disposal facility could potentially be sited in the district.
With no further matters, it was resolved unanimously to go into formal session.
40. Chairman’s Welcome.
The Chairman confirmed the Council was quorate, welcomed all present, and thanked Councillors for their attendance.
41. Apologies.
It was resolved unanimously to accept apologies from Cllr Clare.
42. Declarations of Interest.
Cllr Robson declared an interest in agenda item 7a.
43. To confirm the minutes of the Council meeting held on Thursday 19th September 2024.
With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the minutes from July as a true and accurate record.
44. Finances:
a. To approve the list of accounts submitted for consideration for September.
With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the list of accounts submitted for consideration. The Accounts Report included as an attachment to these minutes.
b. To receive an updated Bank Reconciliation for September.
The Clerk provided a bank reconciliation, to keep Councillors up to date on the Council’s financial status, for information purposes only. The Bank Reconciliation Report included as an attachment to these minutes.
c. To approve the list of accounts submitted for consideration for October.
With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the list of accounts submitted for consideration. The Accounts Report included as an attachment to these minutes.
d. To receive an updated Bank Reconciliation for October.
The Clerk provided a bank reconciliation, to keep Councillors up to date on the Council’s financial status, for information purposes only. The Bank Reconciliation Report included as an attachment to these minutes.
e. To receive a Budget Review for the Second Quarter of the Financial Year.
The Clerk provided a budget review for the second quarter of the financial year, to keep Councillors up to date on the Council’s financial status, for information purposes only. £2,072.53 has been spent through to the end of the second quarter. A copy of the Budget Review included as an attachment to these minutes. No questions were put to Clerk regarding the review.
f. To receive a draft budget and possible precept request for 2025/26, and to review predicted outturn 2024/25.
The Clerk provided a draft budget for review and potential precept request for 2025-26. Cllr Sisson mentioned inflation is predicted to be around 2.5-3%, which is reflected in the draft budget. Other items noted in the draft budget included an increase in insurance, which had increased 15%, salaries and a new charge from Lloyds Bank for banking services. The total expenditure for the draft budget is forecast as £4,976.00 and therefore a precept request of £4,975.00 would be required. This would be an increase of 4.8% and £1.36 for a band D property per year.
Cllr Sisson mentioned that there were adequate reserves in the event of an emergency, similar to the expenses incurred in the aftermath of storm Babet.
Cllr Robson queried whether the website costs would need to be the same and whether all banks incur charges. Cllr Sisson advised that the way LALC invoice for website maintenance had changed to 3-hour blocks and recommended continuing with this option. The Clerk to research whether other banks impose charges and report back. With approval from the Council, the Clerk to write to Lloyds about the new charges.
It was resolved unanimously to approve the draft budget and precept request for 2025-26.
45. To receive reports from:
a. The Chair
Cllr Sisson circulated a written report prior to the meeting via email.
b. The Clerk
No updates reported by the Clerk.
46. To receive notification of any planning permissions, refusals, withdrawals, or amendments.
a. To receive and agree response to Planning Application S/072/01445/24 - Change of use of existing agricultural land to form an extension to existing domestic curtilage at Hawthorne House, Northorpe Road, Halton Holegate
With no comments, it was resolved unanimously to support the application.
b. To receive an update on the proposed Halton Road Housing Development.
Cllr Sisson mentioned receiving an email of a drainage strategy submitted to the flood risk authorities but was unable to comment on the strategy yet. There were no further updates available.
Councillors expressed concern that planning for the health care centre was to be separated from the housing development, in contrast to the initial plans, which stipulated that the health care centre was to be built first.
Cllr Sisson mentioned that the current hold up was overhead cables that had to be moved underground and expressed concerns over the planning process. Cllr Sisson asked the Clerk to write to ELDC and Spilsby Town Council to set up a meeting to share concerns and receive an update on the proposals. Cllr Sisson requested District Councillor T Taylor to find out and update the Parish Council as to who was overseeing the planning process for this application as a point of contact for the Parish Council.
c. The National Grid Pylon proposals, Grimsby to Walpole.
d. The National Grid Eastern Green Link proposals
Cllr Sisson advised no update had been received. The Clerk mentioned that updates from Victoria Atkins MP will be made available on her website.
47. To receive an update on highways, footpaths, and road closures.
a. To consider the problems with parking on Station Road.
Cllr Sisson advised the consultation ends on 28th November and the next process is that recommendations will be sent for approval.
Cllr Holmes requested that a meeting with the Primary School takes place. County Councillor Bowkett advised this will take place after the consultation period.
b. Issues to be reported or already reported to fix my street.
Cllr Sisson covered issues within his report. The Countryside Access team have maintained the path alongside the Methodist Chapel and mentioned receiving an email confirming this maintenance had taken place.
Cllr Sisson mentioned that the salt bins had been refilled around the parish but one had been removed as the road was on the main gritting route.
Cllr Edwards mentioned that a few footpaths had been ploughed. Cllr Vickers offered to speak with the farmers and see that the paths are reinstated.
48. Village Flood Investigation.
a. To receive a Flood Report Update.
Cllr Sisson thanked Cllr Edwards for arranging the sand to be delivered to the parish. Cllr Edwards advised that the sand has been used.
b. To receive an update on Lincolnshire County Council’s Section 19 Report
Cllr Sisson reported previously meeting with the Environment agency who advised some non-return valves would be installed on big outfalls to stop the water coming back; however, this has not happened and will follow up. Water levels in the East Fen Catchwater system have been lowered, meaning more storage is available.
Cllr Sisson and Cllr Edwards are due to meet with LCC’s floods team regarding a feasibility study into potential improvements to drainage systems in the area with a view to implementing solutions. Cllr Sisson also reported that the highways drainage systems will be cleared which he welcomed but stated that in his opinion it wasn’t a contributing factor during the floods of October 2023.
49. To consider a response to Government consultations on virtual meetings and proxy voting.
Cllr Sisson advised that Councillors were entitled to respond individually and wanted to respond as a Council. Cllr Sisson mentioned the difficulties of hybrid meetings in the Methodist Chapel due to the lack of internet access, and the meeting would have to be hosted elsewhere. Councillors spoke against the idea of hybrid meetings and spoke in favour of face-to-face meetings. It was resolved unanimously to oppose hybrid meetings.
Councillors mostly spoke against proxy voting. Cllr Vickers suggested that there should be checks in place to ensure that if there are votes by proxy they are done so in accordance with the absentees wishes. It was resolved by majority to object to proxy voting.
50. To review progress with production of Emergency Plan
Cllr Edwards and Cllr Robson volunteered to attend a training session at the emergency centre on 28th November. Cllr Sisson recommended holding a working party meeting with Steve Eason Harris from the Lincolnshire resilience forum to help update the emergency plan. Cllr Sisson planned to send possible dates of 9th, 23rd or 30th January for the meeting for Steve Eason Harris to consider. Cllr Bowkett advised that the training is very useful and will develop an emergency plan for the parish.
51. To consider agenda items for the next meeting
• Sexual Harassment Policy.
• Emergency Plan.
52. To confirm the date of the next meeting as Thursday 16th January 2025.
The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Thursday 16th January 2025.
53. To resolve to exclude the public and the media to discuss confidential matters in accordance with The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.
It was resolved unanimously to exclude members of the Public and Media to allow the Parish Council to discuss confidential matters.
Cllrs Bowkett and Taylor, and the Clerk left the Meeting.
54. To consider confidential staffing matters - To receive report from Staffing and Resources Committee covering Clerk’s Appraisal meeting including approval of any recommendations. (separate confidential paper to be tabled at meeting).
Cllr Holmes reported that the Appraisal Committee had met with the Clerk on 28th October 2024. The format was as in previous years and a target had been set for 2024/2025. Salary and hours of work had been reviewed. The Appraisal Report was adopted, and the Chair thanked the Committee for completing the annual appraisal process.
With no further comments, Cllr Sisson closed the meeting at 8:35pm.
Signed…………………………………………………………………………………
Chair of the Council - Cllr D Sisson
Signed………………………………………………………………………………..
Clerk to the Council and RFO - Jack Sargent
16th January 2025