November 2021
Minutes of the Meeting of Blyton Parish Council held on
Monday 29th November 2021 at 7.30pm
Present: Councillor R. Dent (Chairman), Councillor A.Codd, Councillor C. Daubney, Councillor J Daubney, Councillor R. Turnbull, Councillor C. Quirke
Also Present Helen Pitman (Clerk).
1. Apologies and reasons given: Cllrs L.Clarke & B. Rollett.
2. To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to receive any applications for Dispensation. Members may make any declarations at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting:None.
3. Co-option of councillor: No response from potential candidate.
4. To approve minutes of the last meeting held 25th October 2021: The minutes were signed as a true record.
5. Clerk's report on matters outstanding: The clerk informed council that:.
EON- After much discussion this has now been sorted. The clerk has taken a new meter reading of all three numbers and a revised bill has been sent for £746.87. No meter readings had been done since 2019, even when Npower passed the account onto EON. A £30 credit has been added to the account for bad service. Going forward the clerk will read the meter at least every quarter. The Parish Room has been put on a waiting list for a new type of smart meter which it is hoped can be fitted next year.
All allotment fees have been received. Items remaining on one of the unused allotments to be removed.
6. Planning:
Cottam & West Burton Solar Project: copies of public consultation materials on proposed new solar projects are on display in the Parish Room.
Planning application for over 50s accommodation at Blyton Ponds: The application has been refused by West Lindsey Planning Committee on the grounds that insufficient consultation had taken place with the local community prior to the submission of the application. Further communication has been received from the agent informing council that his client is working on a fresh submission and is in the process of undertaking a consultation exercise and has asked for council to make any comments.
Council stands by the comments made previously about the increase to flooding risk:
“Blyton Parish Council is not against the application per se but it has grave concerns about the potential of the development to exacerbate flooding in the village. Surface water flooding is already a big problem in Blyton with houses and businesses on the High Street and houses on Station Road having to be pumped out on a number of occasions over the past few years. In fact houses on Station Road in the proximity of the application site have been flooded earlier this year.
Surface water from Station Road drains into the Wash Dyke which runs close by this development and already floods the village higher up on the High Street. The potential of development of this site into permanent residences could pose further problems, for example the addition of hard standing for vehicles and impermeable garden surfaces.
Should the Planning Committee decide to approve this application, Blyton Parish Council requests that conditions be used to eliminate further risk.”
There is also concern about the potential loss of public amenity as the ponds are open to non residents at the moment and the potential impact this may have on local business.
7. Correspondence: None.
8. Financial Matters:
Resolved to pay: H. Pitman (salary/expenses) £1075.24; HMRC £2.40, £3.40x2; Glendale £111.24; Blyton Memorial Hall £10; Axholme Pest Control £171.60; Lincoln Diocesan Trust £75. To be paid by internet banking. Proposed, Cllr C. Daubney. Seconded, Cllr J. Daubney.
Cllr Quirke to be added to the bank mandate for internet banking.
9. Report from Outside Bodies: No West Lindsey councillors present.
10. To resolve on grant request from Blyton Evergreens. £800 to be paid in April 2022. Proposed Cllr Quirke. Seconded, Cllr Dent. Resolved.
11. To consider grant request from Citizens Advice Bureau: Resolved £500. Proposed, Cllr Dent. Seconded, Cllr Quirke.
12. To discuss improvements to the Parish Room: The clerk informed council that there is less than 5p difference between the night and day rate for electricity and in her opinion the heaters are not efficient, heating the building every day when it is only used a maximum of four times a week for four hours. She suggested upgrading to smart, self programming heaters using part of the WLDC Covid grant awarded in 2020. Councillors agreed this a good idea and advice and quotes will be sought.
The request from a resident regarding lack of disabled access into the Post Office was looked upon favourably by council and the clerk will contact a builder to discuss moving the main door to the side of the building.
13. To resolve on grass cutting tenders for 2022: Tenders had been sought and council resolved to award as in previous years ie cemetery and playing field to Glendale and all other to Helping Hands.
Council agreed to enter into the Highway Verge Parish Agreement scheme with LCC for a further year.
14. To discuss request from Parishioner for a Road Traffic Order at The Old Grain Store: Council agreed that it is a problem as the road narrows at this point and parked cars restrict access and egress. Council therefore supports the request and the clerk will contact LCC.
15. To resolve on this month's Facebook posts: Blyton Ponds and grant applications.
16. Items of information to be noted and if necessary dealt with at the next meeting:
The village sign on Kirton Road is damaged. Clerk to ask Mr Troop if he can fix. If not it may need replacing.
Overnight parking in layby outside school is causing grid lock at school time. Clerk to contact police and school.
Only one pothole has been repaired on Church Lane.
With all business concluded the meeting closed at 8.52pm.