Minutes, 7 September 2023
NOTES of the Marston Parish Council meeting held at Hougham and Marston Village Hall
on Thursday 7th September2023 at 7.30 pm
Present: Cllr P. Cartwright (in the Chair), Cllrs R. Duckett, K. O’Sullivan, C Stephens, and S. Vickers together with Cllr A Maughan. There were four members of the public present for the report from Gavin Vaughan of National Grid.
Chair welcomed all present. Gavin Vaughan then explained the timescale for the changeover of the electricity sub-station from Main Street to Kerrs Crescent. The work currently taking place at the village hall is to install a new supply there as the new sub-station won’t be able to reach that far.
- 19.9.23 – the area for the new sub-station in Kerrs Crescent will be concreted.
- 28.9.23 – switch gear arrives.
- 2.10.23 – cabling starts from old to new sub-station and will take about 2 weeks. 4-way traffic lights will be vehicle activated. Residents, whose driveways may be blocked for about a day, will be spoken to first.
- 16.10.23 – jointing starts.
- 19.10.23 – Generator in Kerrs Crescent will run electricity supply until new connections are finished – hopefully only one day.
- The final week will be reinstatement of all areas. Shrubs will then go in – public said they would like input as to which shrubs are planted. PC will maintain shrubs once planted.
Cllr Maughan then gave his report. Children's services have had an Ofsted inspection and received an outstanding rating. He then advised that devolution is being sought by Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire Councils. This would be effective from the south of the Humber to the south of the Wash (so north to south of the entire county). These three Councils are putting forward a devolution bid. It would give them more powers, more money from central Government and they would have a directly elected mayor. There is a lot of work to be done but the aim is to have it all in place by March 2025. He personally is concerned about “weighting”.
23/24-35: Apologies – Cllr S Brown and Watson and Dist Cllr P Wood.
23/24-36: Declarations of Pecuniary Interest – there were none.
23/24-37: Minutes of the last meeting – the Minutes of the meeting held on 5th July were read and approved, and it was resolved that the Chairman sign them.
23/24-38: School Safety Zone and Highways – The drainage works are complete. Cllr Maughan will check that there are no further works required pertinent to the flooding issues. He will also chase our concerns over the disability dropped kerb outside the new housing development on Main Street which we feel is too steep. Laurel hedging on Barkston Road belongs to property owner and is not on Highways land. The dog waste bins near benches should be moved slightly further away from the benches as they have a strong stench (especially in the heat) and thus people won’t sit on the benches. Cllr Duckett to look into this. Edges of the roads have broken away on Cliff Lane and Green Lane – this has been reported on Fix My Street. These matters are being investigated by Highways (through FMS) and we will defer any further action until we see what works Highways carry out. Cllr Maughan will look at the latest lab assessment.
23/24-39: Planning:
S23/0476 – Change of use for 14 touring pitches at Wagtail Country Park – withdrawn.
S23/0801 – details approved re solar farm S21/1018.
S23/0850 – change of use from agricultural to garden at Greystones – approved.
S23/0931 – increase access width to track on Sand Lane – approved.
S23/1263 – conversion of barns east of Barkston Road – pending consideration.
S23/1286 – application for certificate of lawfulness for use of land at Wagtail Fisheries as
caravan site without any limitations – approved.
S23/1423 – one lodge and a double garage at Wagtail Country park – no objections.
S23/1507 – hydrogen production at Harlaxton Engineering – pending consideration. We
offered no objections but Chair will check situation with regard to water.
Corn Drier Appeal –dismissed.
Lightsource will be putting in another application for a solar farm but it is likely to be smaller than the original area put forward. Representative requested a meeting with the PC.
23/24-40: Community Cleaner – lots of work going on at the moment. He has said that he has to have insurance to take his new mower on the highway and this cost is £330. Clerk to see if the PC insurers can insure it and at what cost. Chair to ask what contribution he is seeking from the PC.
23/24-41: Amenity Area – a working party will attend to cut back and get rid of the Himalayan Balsam on Sunday 17th September at 10 am. Clerk to advise Cllr S Brown.
23/24-42: Village Green – quote received to replace all posts and caps and to re-thread existing chain link - £680 plus VAT. Resolved to accept.
23/24-43: Finance:It was resolved to sign the bank reconciliations at 30.6.23, 31.7.23 and 31.8.23.
Community Benefit Offer from Lightsource to be deferred until a new planning application is submitted.It was resolved to continue with Together and to pay the subscription of £60.
23/24-44: Matters for discussion: Clerk handed in her notice. Discussion took place as to how best to recruit her replacement.
23/24-45: Date of next meeting: 2nd November 2023.
Meeting closed at 8.50 pm.