8th January 2025
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON 8TH JANUARY 2025 AT 7.00PM AT THIMBLEBY VILLAGE HALL.
Present
Councillors Cllr F.Martin (Chair), Cllrs P. Buckingham (Vice Chair), P.Bradwell, A.Doody.
Not Present: Cllr S. Wardman-Campbell
In attendance The Clerk, A. Everard.
Members of public present: Three
Public Participation period
A member of the Village Hall Committee gave a tour of the refurbished Village Hall and the Chair, on behalf of the parish council, thanked the Committee for the hard work involved in improving the facility. The Community Speedwatch Co-ordinator raised questions about the new passive speed signs, Soeed indicator Devices and if the data from them could be put onto the parish council website. The Chair said these items are already on the agenda for debate and thanked him for his questions.
01/25. Apologies for absence to be approved if appropriate.
Cllr S.Wardman-Campbell had sent apologies. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously approved.
02/25. Declarations of Interest and consideration of any requested dispensations
None.
03/25. To adopt the draft minutes from the Parish Council meeting held on 6th November 2024.
The Council asked for the issues raised by the member of the public about the precise time of the passive speed sign handover in minute 115/24 to be noted in these minutes. The draft 6th November 2024 minutes were proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to be adopted.
04/25. To consider any matters arising from the previous meetings 6th November 2024 not already on this agenda including Clerk’s Report and actions taken.
The Clerk advised that he had not progressed the Village Pump reinstatement valuation yet but public liability insurance is in place.
05/25. Correspondence Received
LALC E-News; LALC Training Bulletin; ELDC/LCC Town and Parish News; ELDC Social Media posts; Ossian Wind Farm Development.
The Council noted the documents a short discussion took place about the Ossian Wind farm Development implications for Lincolnshire. The Clerk advised about other correspondence received that was covered by later agenda items. The Clerk had received LCC budget 2025-26 consultation details today and would post on Facebook and the parish council website.
06/25. Planning – plans can be viewed on https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/applications
a) Application reference S/181/01013/23 and S/181/01014/23 Planning Permission - Change of use, conversion of, extension and alterations of existing barn which is a listed building to form a dwelling - VILLAGE FARM, MAIN ROAD, THIMBLEBY, HORNCASTLE, LN9 5RE
Thimbleby PC: Objection with comments.
ELDC Decision: Decision awaited.
b) Application reference S/181/00034/24 | Planning Permission - Erection of 13 no. detached dwelling and a public community open space, existing buildings on site to be demolished. | HALLGARTH FARM, MAIN ROAD, THIMBLEBY, HORNCASTLE, LN9 5RE
Thimbleby PC: Support with comments
ELDC Decision: Decision awaited
c) Application reference S/181/01672/24 | Planning Permission – Erection of 2no. dwellings | ELMLEA FARM, ELMHIRST ROAD, THIMBLEBY, HORNCASTLE, LN9 5LX
Thimbleby PC: No objection. Comment submitted.
ELDC Decision: Approved
The council noted the developments for Village Farm and Hallgarth Farm remained outstanding and wondered if there were any reasons for the delay in making decisions.
07/25. To receive written and verbal reports from ELDC & LCC Councillors
a) Cllr Bradwell (LCC) said that residents could use FixMyStreet to report highway/footpath issues but it was also possible to contact her if this was not possible.
b) Cllr Martin (ELDC) reminded councillors to fill in the ELDC parish council survey to inform the Scrutiny Committee looking at parish council support.
ELDC budget 25-26 was being planned after a Government financial settlement issued just before Christmas and consultation would commence soon.
08/25. To consider any highways, footpath and related issues.
a) To receive an update on the Council’s Community Speed Watch (CSW).
The Co-ordinator advised that there were no new volunteers. The passive speed signs needed to be replaced. The Clerk and him will liaise to get this issue sorted.
b) To receive updates and consider any relevant information about maintenance regarding the Thimbleby Speed Indicator Devices.
The third SID on Mill Lane was installed just after Christmas. Written risk assessment had been provided before installation work commenced. The CSW Co-ordinator will implement rotations as agreed at the last meeting and would liaise with the Clerk to sort out data reporting for future meetings.
c) To receive updates on the installation of the replacement noticeboard.
Lincolnshire County Council have stated that the Parish Council need a S.50 Highways Permit for a fee of £548 for Vere Bros to install it and it was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to pay the fee. Cllr Bradwell said that she would contact the Highways Officer to check that the fee really had to be paid.
d) To consider a resident’s concerns about refuse bins permanently on footpaths
e) To consider footpath issues from raised by some residents via a local Facebook group
f) To consider the ELDC Officer’s comments regarding the location of bins in Thimbleby and placing of unofficial bins in the parish.
All of these agenda items were considered together. There were concerns about a bin left in the bus shelter. No footpath refuse-bin blocking issue had been observed. Another litter/dog poo bin has been placed next to the bench when the bin was moved there by persons unknown while ELDC officers state it is not on the official pick-up route and there is no need established at that site for a bin. The original litter bin was moved to Mill Lane at Parish Council request because there was more need there as stated by ELDC Officers. A resident highlighted a situation with littering from passing cars on Mill Lane. Also another resident has approached Dyson Farms to cut the hedge along the field along the B1190 from the Vicarage to the Green Lane. It was requested if LCC could then sort out the footpath along there because it is too narrow and difficult to use. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED for the Clerk will report the bin in the bus shelter to ELDC if the bin is still there and District Cllr Martin will contact ELDC officers to establish exactly how many litter bins there are in Thimbleby parish and their locations and what can be on the official pick-up list and County Cllr Bradwell will contact LCC Highway Officers to see what work could be done to the footpath along the B1190 alongside the Dyson field and widen it as they undertake that work at this time of year.
09/25A) To consider amendments to the Co-option Policy and Procedure
The Clerk had drafted amendments to the policy and circulated to members because the current policy had some parts that did not work effectively such as grading applicants without a specification. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt the amended policy with the addition of ‘three clear days’ to the time required to circulate applications to councillors.
09/25B) To consider any written applications for co-option and motions to co-opt applicants and signing of Declarations of Acceptance of Office.
Two applicants were present and the Clerk confirmed they had self-declared they met statutory eligibility and no disqualification criteria applied. They introduced themselves and answered questions from councillors. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to co-opt Mr J. Lincoln and Mr C. Bachrati. The Clerk issued the Code of Conduct and Declaration of Interests forms to both new councillors. The Declarations of Acceptance of Office forms will be signed by the time of the next ordinary meeting.
10/25 Finance
a) To approve the payment of bills paid between meetings and bills to pay on the payment schedule.
Payee Amount Reason
Cloudnext £60.00 .gov.uk email domain
LALC £97.02 Subscription
Salary costs £236.84 Contractual employment costs
Elan City £3120.00 Speed Indicator Device
R&H Plant Ltd £460.80 Thimbleby Grass-cutting
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to make the payments listed.
b) To note the bank reconciliation and account balance.
Bank balance of £9546.56 as at 12th December 2024 less uncashed payments of £352.37.
c) To consider changes to the bank signatory mandate.
Deferred to the next meeting.
d) To consider any grants and donations for 2024/25 financial year.
Deferred to next meeting.
e) To consider draft budget and precept for 2025-26.
Deferred to the next meeting.
11/25. To approve any bookings for training and potential costs.
Deferred to the next meeting.
12/25. To consider items for the agenda for the next ordinary meeting of Thimbleby Parish Council – Wednesday 5th March 2025 7pm and any items to be proposed for the agenda.
The Clerk will organise an extraordinary meeting by the end of January to consider the draft budget, precept and other deferred items and to elect a new Chair of the Parish Council. Meeting ended 8.45pm