Haxey Parish Council - Minutes

Minutes from the meeting held on Wednesday 19th December 2007 in the Hood Room of the Haxey Memorial Hall.

Present: Cllrs. Allcock, Boor, Carlile, Cooke, Eckhardt, Foreman, Hailstone, Knowles, W. Lindley, Maw, Smedley and Whitehead.

Chairman: Cllr. Allcock presided.

364.To receive apologies for absence. Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Booth, C. Lindley and Moyle.

365.To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 27th November 2007. The minutes had been circulated. Cllr. Smedley stated that in Minute 355 he had stated that he would like to be part of both Working Parties. The minutes were confirmed a correct record by Cllrs. Maw and Smedley.

366. To receive the decisions made by North Lincolnshire Council and to consider the following planning applications:

An Appeal Decision has been made regarding the following planning application:
2006/1035 – to continue to use the land in connection with the breeding of dogs and to erect two kennel blocks at The Willows, 9 Nethergate, Westwoodside – The appeal has been dismissed and the enforcement notice upheld with a variation. The variation being that the Planning Inspectorate finds 2 months an unreasonably short period of time to look for alternative premises and that 12 months would be too long. Therefore, it is the view of the Inspector that 6 months would be a more appropriate and reasonable period to assist the appellant to look for somewhere else. Therefore, subject to this variation the Inspector has dismissed the appeal, upheld the enforcement notice and refused to grant planning permission.

The following planning application has been refused planning permission:
2007/1478 – Outline planning to erect a detached house and garage for farm/rare breed manager incorporating farm office WC and shower at Shepherds Place, Akeferry Road, Westwoodside. The following planning application has been granted planning permission:
2007/1638 – to erect a two-storey extension at 14 Hopgarth, Haxey.

The following planning applications were received from NLC and discussed by Haxey Parish Council:
2007/0419 – Mr. Peter Miller, Lakeside Meadows, Epworth Road, Haxey – permission to construct two lakes and 4 log cabins for commercial fishing and retain a static caravan, car parking area and a chemical disposal unit – Do Not Support. The proposal is located directly adjacent to Rush Furlong Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Trust Nature Reserve. The proposal has the potential to cause damage to Rush Furlong SSSI and adjacent grasslands through the number of visitors. Additionally, no Flood Risk Assessment has been submitted with the application and there are concerns that the proposed lakes/pond will cause flooding to the site. Furthermore, it is stated in the applications that the foul drainage for the site will be by discharge into a septic tank, however, it does not state what the size of the tank will be and the Parish Council are concerned this may overflow into the nearby dyke and in particular Rush Furlong SSSI.
2007/1864 – Mr. Paul Friskney, Mill House Farm, Brackenhill Road, East Lound – Application for certificate of lawfulness for the existing residential use as a dwelling – Support Approval.
2007/1926 – Mr. Andrew Hughes, 25 The Rowans, Westwoodside – permission to erect a single storey rear extension – Support Approval.
2007/1955 – Mr. P. Morris, Star Carr Farm, Greenholme Bank, Westwoodside – Approval of reserved matters subsequent to outline planning permission 2005/0206 granted 05.04.2005 for the erection of a dwelling in connection with agriculture (Resubmission of 2007/1322) – Support Approval.
2007/1985 – Miss. Lesley Ogg, Shepherds Place, Akeferry Road, Westwoodside – permission to retain mobile home in connection with equine centre – NLC have agreed that an administration error has occurred and that the proposal should state a rare breeds visitors centre. Support Approval. It is to be asked that if permission is granted, before the 3 years comes to an end, the Parish Council is provided with details of the finances in order to show that this is a viable business.
2007/1988 – Mr. T. Sabin, The Cottage, 16 Commonside, Westwoodside – permission for alterations and extension to ground floor of existing house to provide living accommodation – Support Approval. Before Planning Application 2007/2020 was considered, Cllr. Allcock declared a Personal Interest. An acting Chairman was appointed to deal with this application. A proposal was made by Cllr. Carlile for Cllr. Maw to act as Chairman, this was seconded by Cllr. Eckhardt and all were in favour.
2007/2020 – N E Pilkington Ltd, Redundant agricultural buildings at Bridge Farm, Station Road, Graizelound – permission to change the use of redundant agricultural buildings to mixed use/commercial development – Support Approval.

Cllr. Allcock took his place again as Chairman and presided for the rest of the meeting.

367. To receive Clerk’s Report – an update on decisions taken at previous meetings and to consider further action.
A letter has been received from Belle Vue Property Ltd regarding the Parish Council’s comments on NLC’s Housing and Employment Land Allocations Development Plan. The company are requesting that the Parish Council reconsiders its decision on the area of land to the North of Haxey C of E Primary School, site ref 23-1. Cllr. Allcock stated that when the areas were discussed, the maps were not specific and it was highlighted as a large piece of land that would be developed. The comments have now been submitted and the consultation period has now ended. A letter will be sent to Belle Vue Properties Ltd stating that the Parish Council can not reconsider their comments and it is for NLC to further consider any more detailed application and decide on further consultation.
A letter of thanks has been received from the Axholme Camera Club for the £750 grant that was given by the Parish Council. The grant will make it possible to purchase a new laptop able to take the latest digital imaging software and will encourage members to improve their photographic skills.
The next meeting of the Camera Club is to be held on Wednesday 2nd January, starting at 7.30pm and members of the Parish Council have been invited to attend.
A letter has been received from R. Wallace and Son regarding the cleaning of the Cross of Piety. Unfortunately, some structural damage has been found at the top area of the monument and Mr. Wallace feels that cleaning it without this being repaired would not be advisable.
Mr. Wallace no longer undertakes stonemasonry work of this nature where repair and renovation are required and would recommend that a stone specialist is contacted in order to advise the Parish Council further. The Clerk is to contact Mr. Wallace to ask if he is able to provide the Parish Council with contact details. The next Isle of Axholme Police Authority Neighbourhood Panel Meeting is to be held on Monday 21st January at Crowle Community Hall. A Police Surgery will be held at 6pm before the Public Meeting starts at 7pm. Posters have been received and will be displayed in the notice boards in the Parish. Cllrs. Carlile, Eckhardt and Maw are hoping to attend.

368. To review the way the Parish Council deals with the planning applications received from North Lincolnshire Council.
There is concern regarding the number of extra meetings which are being held in order to discuss planning applications. During the period of January to December 2007, there have been 7 extra meetings which have all been called in order to discuss planning applications and so that comments can be submitted to NLC within the allotted period of time. Additionally, there have been a total of 87 planning applications discussed by Haxey Parish Council, including those discussed at this meeting.
Mike Welton, Head of Planning at NLC, has previously stated that Haxey Parish Council receives more planning applications than most other Town or Parish Council in the District but was unable to offer an extended period for consultation.
Cllr. Allcock stated that although NLC have a period of 8 weeks from receiving the planning application to making a final decision, there have been occasions where the Parish Council has asked the Case Officer for a few extra days for comments to be made because of the date on which the Parish Council meeting is held and this has usually been agreed.
Cllr. Allcock stated there were two options. To go back to Mike Welton and ask for extra time or for the Parish Council to have a Committee with executive powers but this would still mean an extra meeting would be held. Cllr. Whitehead stated that he was against a Committee having executive powers and that Councillors can attend a meeting if they want to. A proposal was made by Cllr. Boor for the Parish Council to contact Mike Welton at NLC. This was seconded by Cllr. Maw and all were in favour.

369. To receive an update on the Parish Council’s Website and Directory.
Cllr. Allcock stated that the website was running well. The agendas and the minutes of meetings had been put on as well as a Christmas calendar of events prepared by Cllr. Carlile. This calendar has also been put up on the notice boards and in some of the local shops.
A question has also been put on which asks Parishioners whether or not they agree to support low cost starter homes for first time buyers in Haxey Parish and visitors can either click yes or no. Between the period of 10th-16th December 23 people had visited the Council’s website and there had been a total of 50 visits.
So that information can be added to the website, Cllr. Allcock stated that a PDF software programme would need to be purchased to allow Word to be converted into the correct language. This will be added to the agenda of the next meeting when prices have been obtained.
The Directory has been printed and the Clerk has collected these from the Reprographics Department at NLC. A request was made for volunteers to help deliver these throughout the Parish before Christmas if possible. The Clerk and Cllrs. Allcock, Boor, Cooke, Carlile, Eckhardt, Foreman, Maw, Smedley and Whitehead stated they would help to deliver. The Clerk is to also ask Cllrs. Booth, C. Lindley and Moyle if they would be able to help.

370. To receive an update on the second edition of the Parish Council’s Newsletter and to be notified of the cost for printing.
Due to the time scale for the second edition of the newsletter to be delivered, these have been printed and collected by the Clerk from the Reprographics Department at NLC. The cost for the printing of 2000 copies of a 12 page A5 booklet is £322.50p. A proposal was made by Cllr. Eckhardt to accept this which was seconded by Cllr. Maw and all were in favour. The Newsletters will be delivered with the Directories.

371. To receive an update on the Affordable Housing Development.
It was stated that apart from one, all of the properties have now been occupied. Cllr. Allcock added that between NLC and SYHA it is hoped something will be done with regard to the state of Thinholme Lane. Cllr. Cooke also advised that Ian Cawsey MP was to visit the area on Thursday 20th December with regard to the state of the road. With regard to the drain which flows in the open on the east side of Thinholme Lane, Cllr. Maw has spoken with one of the farmers who owns a field alongside the drain and has been told that after the Christmas period they are planning on digging out the drain.

372. To discuss the refurbishment of the Butter Cross on Haxey Lane – Deferred Item.
This item is to be deferred to the meeting at the end of January.

373. To determine the amount to be obtained from North Lincolnshire Council for the Precept for the 2008/09 financial year.
Details had been submitted to the Councillors. A proposal was made by Cllr. Maw to obtain £30,000 for the 2008/09 financial year. This was seconded by Cllr. Boor and all were in favour.

374. To receive an update regarding the addition of the Ropewalk onto the Definitive Map.
Cllr. Allcock advised the meeting that information has been received, but due to other commitments nothing more has been done. This matter is to be deferred to the meeting at the end of January.

375. To receive a report following the inquiry into the proposed diversion of Public Footpath 74, Epworth and Haxey.
Cllr. Moyle was not able to attend the meeting due to illness. Cllr. Allcock stated that there was a lot of discussion for and against the diversion and that the inquiry has been adjourned until 8th January 2008. It is hoped this will be attended by Cllr. Moyle. This item is to be deferred until the meeting at the end of January.

376. To notify the Clerk of items to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
Items to be included on the agenda for the meeting on Wednesday 19th December include:

To determine what question will be put on the Parish Council’s website for Parishioners to answer,
To receive a report from the Police Meeting,
To receive an update regarding the addition of the ‘Ropewalk’ to the Definitive Map,
To be notified of the quotes received for the refurbishment of the Butter Cross on Haxey Lane and to determine which will be accepted,
To receive a report from the inquiry concerning the diversion of Public Footpath 74, Epworth and Haxey,
To discuss details regarding the 2008 Over 70’s Party,
To be notified of the cost of the PDF Software,
To be informed of the necessity to go out to tender for contracts regarding the grass cutting of the Churchyard and Greenhill.

377. To consider the following accounts and any received after the agenda has been sent out and before the next meeting:
Mrs. N. J. Atkinson £616.02p 101338
Haxey Memorial Hall £55.00p 101339