Meeting Minutes August 2024
WITHERN WITH STAIN & TOTHILL PARISH COUNCIL
https://withernstaingov.uk
Parish Clerk: Email: parishclerk@withernstaingov.uk
Sarah Kennett (parish clerk at withern stain gov dot uk)
20th August 2024 MINUTES
Attendees: Cllr Simon Acklam, Cllr Alan Jenkinson, Cllr Jackie Harvey-Brown, Cllr Fred Donner
Others: Cllr Noi Sear, Cllr Travis Hesketh, Sarah Kennett (clerk) 4 members of the public
Members of the Public question: Who places speed vans in the village? Cllr Acklam responded: Because there have been no severe accidents in Withern, the van will not be visiting. Cllr Sear said that she has a meeting with the Road safety partnership and is coming to the village in November. We need to review if we can get additional support for speeding in the village. Cllr Sear will email the clerk once the meeting is set up. The member of the public is thinking of writing to the police commissioner. The figures they are using are incorrect as they have said that the speed in the village is only 3%. The head of the speed watch has challenged this, and it is much higher. The clerk has asked to review the SID that seems not working in the village to see if it needs to be charged.
56. Apologies for absence – none received
57. To approve the minutes of the previous meeting – 16th July 2024 – RESOLVED as approved by all
58. Correspondance – Resignation of Cllr Gillian Henderson-Blair – Clerk to send a letter to thank her for her work in the village.
59. Update from those minutes (if any available)
a. GDF—Cllr Acklam said that David Fanning is the new Chairman. NWS has said that they will distribute more information.
b. NG upgrade – Parish Council Scoping Document – to be sent to the Secretary of State on National Infrastructure planning applications
(Details are at the end of the Agenda.) Cllr Acklam will draft a letter to be sent on September 2nd, 2024.
60. Updates from EDLC and LCC (see August Briefing from Cllr Sear) representatives
a. ELDC – Travis Hesketh
b. Meeting with Lincoln University History Department, studying NIREX in Fulbeck. There were lots of protests, and this stopped the nuclear waste disposal in the area. Travis is talking to them about doing a historical review at the village hall. No response to survey or NWS. The community partnership published a plan, the Community Vision Plan, which states several visions that are very wordy and unrealistic. Travis asked for an economic impact assessment, but nothing has been forthcoming. In the last two weeks, over 600 tourists have been interviewed. Results to be published.
c. Enjoyed the Flower and Vegetable Show.
d. Village Hall put in to put benches out the front of the Village Hall
e. Power station planning application – Theddlethorpe flexible generation
f. LCC – Cllr Sear – August Briefing sent via email.
g. The footpaths are on the Agenda. She is looking to arrange a meeting with the school and several interested parties about the pavements and the crossing outside the school.
61. Planning applications -
a. Reference S/064/01147/24 - EASTERN GREEN LINK 3 AND 4, FIRSBY ROAD, GREAT STEEPING Consultation from PINS on an EIA scoping opinion on Eastern Green Link 3 and 4. – Cllr Acklam will write a letter to include into the scoping document.
62. Update from Cllr Sear on Pavements in the Village – See notes from the update from Cllr Sear
63. Update from Cllr Sear on the crossing outside the school – See notes from the updates from Cllr Sear
64. Litter pick October – a reminder of 12th October is the date for the litter pick
65. Financial:
a. To approve/pay the following and produce cheques for signature:
i. Clerk Salary - August & September £128.40 & £103.60
ii. ICO Direct Debit £35.00
iii. Maintenance contract £433.50
iv. HMRC None this month
RESOLVED: All should be paid Proposed Cllr Alan Jenkinson and seconded Cllr Fred Donner
b. Assets Register – Approved by all and signed.
66. Speed watch update
67. New Clerk to the Parish Council – Sarah Kennett is Leaving, and Vicky Kendall is taking over the clerk role.
a. Approval of employment contract – RESOLVED approved by all
b. Adding Vicky to the Bank Account – RESOLVED approved by all
68. Any other matters for inclusion in the next agenda
a. Skip for the Village
b. Red Lion update – comments have been made online
69. Dates of next meetings:
a. 12th November 2024
b. 17th December 2025
c. 4th February 2025
d. 18th March 2025
e. 29th April 2025
f. 27th May 2025 – Annual Parish Council Meeting
Meeting Closed 19.38
Parish Council Scoping Document details:
FOR PARISH COUNCILS – From the No Pylons Facebook Group
A SCOPING OPINION should include:
Potential impacts on the landscape:
Consider your local landscape and that of the wider area; Lincolnshire is predominantly flat; what steps can be made to mitigate the visual impact of Pylons/substations? Have all other options appropriately been assessed (offshore integrated grid or underground)
Potential impacts on natural environments:
How will your local environment be impacted during construction and the lifespan of the infrastructure? Wildlife specific to your area, watercourses, hedgerows.
Potential impacts on residents:
Disruption to daily activities during the construction period (light pollution, dust, road closures), potential health impacts of living nearby, devaluation of property, will there be a heightened risk of flooding after groundworks? Microshocks are documented occurrences of what steps will be taken to prevent these from happening.
Potential impacts on businesses:
Farming/tourism – loss of prime agricultural land, disruption to holidaymakers during construction and reduced appeal of the region once constructed. What steps will be taken to ensure that harvests can continue during construction?
Potential impacts on existing infrastructure:
Many large, heavy vehicles will be on narrow country lanes during construction. What steps will be taken to mitigate the disruption to rural transport links and damage to the already crumbling county roads? There is a potential for narrow lanes to subside under the weight of heavy traffic, possibly contaminating watercourses and causing flood risk.
Potential safety risks:
What measures will I take during construction and beyond to mitigate the risks to the workforce and residents, given that many areas are rural and emergency response times are slow?
Essentially, each Parish Council should consider the worst-case scenario during construction and beyond for the Grimsby to Walpole and question the steps taken to prevent, protect and mitigate. The County Councils will have expert teams writing their Scoping Opinions, which will be the main ones considered; however, as local feet on the ground, the parish Councils have unique knowledge of their areas and may well come up with issues that the larger councils may overlook, so think how the proposal will impact your Parish and list your points for the scoping opinion. This document has no such thing as a wrong question/issue.
The Secretary of State office is not expecting expertly written documents with technical terms from Parish Councils; your job is to give them a whole lot of issues to consider, as once the Secretary of State publishes the formal Scoping document, it is fixed and no other queries can be added to it.
More details can be found here:
https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/application-process/frequently-asked-questions/scoping-process-faq/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEnNINleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfX44MDIgxDbKoNSUTQCit0a-cKwbWyUNwnUaXXuLL3lbOC_MJ8b74MFIw_aem_BBFg1MKg5ZXWYMlSENa11A#:~:text=Regulation%2010%20%281%29%20of%20the%20Infrastructure%20Planning%20%28Environmental,be%20provided%20in%20the%20Environmental%20Statement%20%28the%20ES%29