SKPC Meeting Notes October 2022
SOUTH KELSEY & MOORTOWN PARISH COUNCIL
Email: southkelseyparishcouncil@outlook.com
Draft Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held in the Village Hall on 3 October 2022 at 7pm
Watermill Leisure Park presentation:
Simon Clarke and Ben Caplan introduced themselves and talked about their background within the Holiday Park Industry as General Managers. They set up their Holiday Park consultancy company in December 2020 and bought the Watermill Leisure Park for redevelopment. Messrs Clarke and Caplan talked through how they have been developing the site. They are looking to phase out touring caravans and install static caravans only. They have cut touring caravans from 47 - 15, helping to re- home people living in these caravans in the process.
They have rebuilt a watermill and they have a lake in construction. They are in the process of a new application for a recreational swimming lake, with plans to open this up to the local community to use, including DRAFT schools, at certain times of the day/week. When asked Messrs Clarke and Caplan confirmed caravan owners have been consulted about sharing this facility and no objections from caravan owners have been made so far. When asked, they confirmed that there would be no motorised sports on the lake. The lake is to be a natural pool, self-filtering with no chemicals.
Messrs Clarke and Caplan also talked about an application for residential park homes for the over 55s. This will be for 7 homes with full-time occupancy. They confirmed this would have a gated entrance separate from the main holiday park. Concerns were raised about affordability. Messrs Clarke and Caplan confirmed it would be over 55s wanting to downsize, with the benefits of living on a managed site with holiday park facilities and would be affordable with a price bracket circa £150-225K.
Questions were asked about the number of units on Watermill Leisure Park. Messrs Clarke and Caplan confirmed there are currently 90 owned caravans with another 96 approved. After questioning, they confirmed the public had a right of way through the park to the woodland. When asked about other facilities, they confirmed there is a small bar on site open for residents open from midday to 9pm. Customers are mixed with spread attendance from weekend and mid-week use. When asked about tree landscaping they confirmed that they have been using native plants and when extracting trees they have been replanting. They have not planned further than the 186 units, however said there may be scope to apply for further units to take the total to 250 in around 4 years time.
Public forum for parishioners to ask questions:
Oil Drilling: A member of the public raised concerns about an application for exploration at North Kelsey Moor by the fracking company Egdon. She explained how this extraction was inappropriate for the area as the extract would minuscule compared to the disruption it would cause to the local community, with pollution, plant machinery, large vehicles and loss of habitat. Historically, all Parish Councils in the area had objected to this exploration and the application was turned down by Lincolnshire County Council. Egdon are now taking action to appeal this decision.
The member of the public then confirmed that SOS North Kelsey Climate Action Group (that she is a part of) would be campaigning against the appeal and are looking to raise funds for expert and legal advice. The hearing for appeal is expected to be some time after Christmas. She requested support from the Council by putting information about the campaign on the village noticeboards. The Council unanimously agreed to approve this support.
Update from County and District Councillors:
LCC: Cllr Smith stated that the walk about on 28 September was helpful and confirmed the walkabout with Joe Phillips (Local Highways Manager at DRAFT Lincolnshire County Council) to discuss the flooding and drainage issues around the village on 10 October. Cllr Coleman-Scott will liaise with a resident about getting access to garden affected. ACTION JCS
Cllr Smith will also ask Joe Phillips for an update on the resurfacing of Station Road. TW asked about road work signs being taken away as signs have been left in the village. It was also brought to the attention of the meeting that a new name plate was required for Brigg Road after it had been damaged. This needs to be checked with District Council.
Cllr Smith reported the road closure at Brady Wharf has affected one child getting to school, with County not letting the school bus go around due to costing. Provisions need to be made for this pupil, Cllr Smith will be looking into this further.
Formal Parish Council Meeting commenced; Standing Orders invoked:
22/87 To receive apologies and reasons for absence:
Councillor Lisa Pearce and District Councillor Peter Morris
22/88 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 - being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items, not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests:
None noted
22/89 To approve draft minutes of Meeting held on 5 September 2022:
These were accepted as a true record and duly signed.
22/90 Clerk’s Report on Matters Outstanding and Correspondence:
Registration with HMRC is in progress.
Correspondence had been received from:
- Simon Clarke, Watermill Leisure Park (Coast and Country Leisure) to discuss some of our future plans for watermill leisure park;
- Lincolnshire County Council notice re temporary traffic restriction at Waddingham/Brandy Wharf/South Kelsey;
- HMRC - re Employer Reference Numbers and PAYE registration;
- Cllr Tom Smith - re walkabout with Joe Phillips (Local Highways Manager at Lincolnshire County Council) to discuss flooding and drainage DRAFT - Cllr Tom Smith forwarded correspondence from LCC, Environment and Economy, Highway Asset Management re Road closure at Brigg Road, North Kelsey for major Carriageway Resurfacing Scheme.
- Rachel Gordon, West Lindsey District Council, planning application 145541
- Royal British Legion Industries Remembrance regarding ordering remembrance items. The Councillors have started a collection to order lamp post signs. ACTION JCS
- Letter PCC on Policing from Gary Broke, West Lindsey Community Policing Inspection.
22/91 Finance and Accounts for Payment:
JCS presented invoices for from AJ Williams for grass cutting and grounds person (£159.60 and £180.84), South Kelsey Village Hall for the hire of the hall (£32) and the Clerks wages and expenses. All of which were agreed for paying. ACTION: JCS
22/92 Planning:
145146 - Application for 26-space touring caravan park on Station Road, Moortown (60 metres east of Skipworth Arms - permission not previously sought.). More details were sought regarding water and waste, no comments came back. Concerns were previously raised regarding the bridge. Upon inspection it was deemed substantial. No objections.
145541 application to vary 12 of planning permission 137785 granted on 17 July 2018 re: increase number of static caravans at Watermill Farm, Station Road, Morton LN7 6HZ. The council raised concerns that there are a lot of holiday homes in the area and with the long term residency allowed for up to 11 months of the year this could cause a significant strain on local facilities, in particular to Drs’ surgeries. Cllr Smith advised that an objection on this basis would back up from Drs’ practises to confirm they could not cope with the influx. The council would struggle to make an objections of this kind. Therefore it was decided there are no objections at this time, but that a close eye should be kept on future applications for Watermill Farm.
22/93 Planters and village boundaries:
AW confirmed that the planters are in the process of being made and stated that village boundaries may cause some issues. Cllr Smith said permission to work at the side of the road could be sought with a permission form and should be straight forward. The council agreed to ask Joe Phillips on 10 October and CM said that he would assist with the paperwork. ACTIONAW/CM DRAFT AW confirmed that he had 400 daffodils ready for planting for Kelsey in Bloom 2023.
22/94 Community Speed Watch:
A member of the local community in attendance kindly offered to donate funds to cover the cost of radar equipment. No objections were made to accept this offer.
Concerns were raised about the volunteers needed to take part in the speed check. With it most likely falling on the same people it could end up being unfair. Issues around their safety were also raised. As well as questions around insurance. JCS confirmed that she would need to check cover for volunteers with the insurers. ACTION JCS
A discussion ensued about smart signs and TW proposed that the council needs to price up different interactive speed signs and speed reducing gates. Research was also needed to see if there are any grants available. ACTION TW
22/95 Precept:
JCS presented a summary of income and expenditure for financial year 2021/22 showing that the council overspent by around £4,000. This meant that at the start of the 2022/23 financial year the Council had a deficit of £250. Projections for the financial year 2023/24 shows an expenditure of around £12,000. To achieve this figure a precept increase of 67% was required (equating to a £17-£30 increase, depending on Council tax band, per household per year). This would cover basic council costs and does not allow for any contingency. Contingency would need to built up over future years. JCS proposed a precept increase of 67%. The proposal was seconded by CM and approved by all council members. JCS to submit the relevant application paperwork for precept increase. ACTION JCS.
It was noted that the council are still paying Anglian Water for pipes that have been capped. JCS to pass relevant paperwork to GA to investigate. ACTION JCS/GA.
It was further noted to review the allotment rent at year end. Precept Budget Sheet and Notes are filed with these minutes for reference (see end of minutes below).
22/96 Update on Neighbourhood Plan:
Meeting confirmed for 5 October at 6.30pm at the South Kelsey Village Hall.
22/97 Social Media:
The meeting discussed the council having a dedicated Facebook page to post updates and information. CA confirmed that he had set up a community page on Facebook and that this should be converted to the dedicated Parish Council Facebook page. CA to add GA as administrator to make an any changes required. ACTION CA/GA
It was noted that there is an old South Kelsey and Moortown Parish Council Facebook page, that has been left unused and dormant. JCS has been investigating getting this page removed.
22/98 Police Surgery:
Deferred to next meeting
22/99 Items for the next agenda:
- Planter/flower boxes - permission jupdate
- Community Speed Watch - costing update
- Neighbour Plan Meeting - feedback
- Police Surgery
Parish Council moved to closed session at 21.15 to discuss exempt information.
Date and Time of Next Meeting to be held at the Village Hall, South Kelsey on Monday, 7 November 2022 at 7pm
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PRECEPT NOTES
A budget sheet has been prepared showing the income and expenditure for last year, the current year & the predicted/required amounts for next year.
Last Year - April 2021-March 2022
The total expenditure for the previous year by the outgoing Parish Council was £11,876.02 against an income of £7,285.00. This was an overspend of £4,591.02 which emptied the parish councils reserve funds & leaving a deficit of -£249.03.
Precept increase was set at 6.3% taking no account of the current bank balance or expenditure requirements
Current Year - April 2022-March 2023
Starting with a balance of -£249.03 and a precept income of £7,267.00 several cut backs have had to be made.
This has been done by Councillors & volunteers undertaking some of the Clerks duties to keep wages to a minimum and by only maintaining the minimum insurances & memberships and only carrying out the contracted maintenance for the parish.
Next Year - April 2023-March 2024
The method for setting a precept is to calculate the required expenditure, reduce that amount by any other income & the deficit is the required precept.
The minimum expenditure for next year to maintain the parish is £10,000, as next year is an election year (every 4 years) this includes a possible £2,600 charge from WLDC should there be more nominations than seats and a full election goes ahead.
On top of this amount under Section 137 of the Local Goverment Act 1972 the council can elect to spend upto £8.82 per electorate on improving the parish (£4189.50 for South Kelsey). It is proposed to restrict this amount to £2,000 for the following year to keep the precept rise to a minimum while still allowing some improvments within the Parish & the development of a Neigbourhood Plan to go ahead.
This makes the required expenditure for 2023-2024 £12,039 a precept increase of 67% which although sounds only high equates to an average of £20 extra per household per year.
This increase is necessary as previous years increases have not been sufficient to cover expenditure and the council has been left with no reserves to phase increase.
The council recognises in addition to this that they should carry a contingency fund of a minimum of 3 months precept. We currently do not have this but have taken the decision to risk manage this for the following year in order to keep the precept rise to a minimum. This contingency fund can then be built up in the following years.
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