2023-24 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Baumber Parish Council - Draft Minutes of  Ordinary Meeting.

Parish Clerk – Melvin Grosvenor  01507 578657.

Minutes of Baumber Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday 20 March 2024 commencing 7.30pm at Baumber Village Hall.

Those present: Chairman J Fable, Cllr M Jones, Cllr M Harrison Cllr C Smith, Cllr M Baverstock,  Cllr Dr G Wilbourn. Cllr P Bradwell (LCC)  & Cllr R Yarsley (ELDC) - for part of the meeting.

Clerk: Mr M Grosvenor. 

0324/62 Apologies for absence.

Apologies Cllr T Cuttell & Cllr W Gray.

0324/63 Public Participation.

a) Resident of Silver St Baumber - B1225 raised significant concerns regarding speeding traffic causing noise and threats to resident's safety, whilst walking and accessing their properties on the narrow footpath, which is only wide enough for one person.

This narrow footpath is in a poor condition and is caked in mud and debris from the spray of water and muck from fast moving traffic, which has built up over a long period and exacerbated by the repeated flooding of part of Silver St.  The spray is also splattering over the walls, front doors and windows  of those properties with no front gardens and directly adjacent to the road surface, significantly impacting on the residential amenity of these Baumber residents. 

b) Presentations by concerned Hatton residents and Cllr R Yarsley in respect of Agenda Item 0324/69 Planning.

1. Update: S/079/01078/22 LAND ADJACENT SOTBY WOOD HATTON.

0324/64 Declaration of Interest.

No Declarations or dispensations noted.

0324/65 Minutes of Previous Meeting.

Minutes Ordinary meeting held on 17 January 2024 approved and signed as a true record.

0324/66 Clerks report on matters outstanding:

Update ref: 0124/53. Speeding and RTA's concerns raised by Silver St residents, Update: Clerk emailed concerns on 10 July 2023 to LRSP, Highways & Lincolnshire Police & Cllr Bradwell who liaised with Horncastle Neighbourhood Police for increased speed monitoring on Silver Street. LRSP undertook traffic survey 27 July to 2 August 23. Survey Outcome: 'Analysis of the speed data showed that the average speed of vehicles was 39.6 mph in a 60 mph limit. The speed data showed evidence that some vehicles were exceeding the speed limit at a speed that would make the drivers liable to action or prosecution by the Police'. Clerk provided details of survey for consideration. Clerk then raised ongoing concerns as survey indicates speed limit is set to high and although a small percentage of vehicles were exceeding the 60mph limit this demonstrates a complete disregard for the safety of other road users and residents along the narrow stretch of Silver Street after passing through blind bends. This concern was raised by Clerk at the Police & Crime Commissioners online Parish Council's liaison meeting 5 December 2023. Clerk has responded to email from Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Policing & included invitation to attend 17 January 2024 meeting in addition to Cllr Bradwell's invitation. 

Ref 0124/54 Update. Email from Lincs Police 16 Jan 24, advising of non attendance and reiterating traffic survey outcome with no further proposed action. Cllr M Baverstock highlighted publication of LCC Planning and Regulation Committee Meeting held 8 Jan 2024, which approved speed limit reduction from 50mph to 40mph between Coningsby & Dogdyke, despite no recorded accidents over the last 5 years. The reduction was supported by a traffic survey identifying the road as a 'borderline case', as the average speed was 46mph. Members presented Cllr Bradwell with this significant & relevant information. Resolved:  that representation is made on behalf of BPC and Silver St residents to LCC; that there is a strong case for a speed limit reduction on Silver St from 60mph to 40mph, given average Silver St survey speed was 39.9mph considerably lower than 46mph survey speed  in a 50mph limit, which was reduced and approved at 40mph.

Report & Update from Cllr P Bradwell - no progress reported which is concerning in the light of the concerns raised during the Public Participation - (a. above) Clerk to continue to liaise with Highways & to request road sweeping by ELDC & liaise with Cllr W Gray.

Clerk provided details of proposed 'Welcome to Baumber Please drive carefully' signs. Members considered proposed costs & locations. Members resolved that Silver St would be given priority for any additional signage. Members further Resolved  to defer further consideration in the next financial year 2024/25, which will include  welcome grant funding support from Cllr Gray.

Update: Cllr Gray Councillor Grant funding support of £850has been received to purchase new speed reduction signs for Silver St. Requirement  to liaise with Cllr Bradwell & Highways to finalise installation locations, then submit application for permit to install.

 Update: Clerk has received 10 replacement Check your speed signs. Clerk & Cllr M Jones to arrange installation.  (Note: The white Baumber entry gateways are extremely dirty and in need of cleaning). Members agreed working party should be arranged. Update: RTA has damaged a village Gateway (which has been temporarily repaired) & lit 30mph sign on entrance to Baumber from Horncastle. Clerk has chased outstanding works. Clerk has reported storm damaged sign on Silver St.

January 2024 Storm has felled further Leylandi trees on A158 & caused road site footpath to be impassable. Clerk has reported damage. All of the remaining  trees need either felling or topping.  

Update ref: 1022/50  - B1225/A158 junction permanent street lights switch off - LCC Highways confirmed existing A158 redundant lights (29-43) to be removed, but  in order to disconnect the electrical supply to these street lights it would also necessitate the switching off and removal of the street lights at the A158/B1225 Junction which are on the same cable system. Cllr's W Gray & P Bradwell, Mere Balk Lane residents & Clerk raised concerns, that switching off lights at junction could increase risks of RTA's and requested improved reflective warning signs and traffic calming measures. Highways to provide proposed improvements prior to any switch off for consideration. Awaiting further information. Members Resolved Clerk to seek an update as concerns raised that street lighting should continue on this junction.

0324/67 Financial Statement at 20/03/2024.

0324/68 Financial Statement cont/..

a) Invoice due approved.

b)  Acknowledgement and thanks to Cllr W Gray for funding support for new Silver Street traffic calming signage.

c) Consideration of Glendale Grass Cutting Tender 2024. Proposed increase of 10% considered and approved.  Clerk provided update on LCC Highways transitional funding for 2024/25 which will adequately offset increase in cost.

0324/69 Planning.

1. Update ref: 0323/72 - S/079/01078/22 LAND ADJACENT SOTBY WOODS HATTON. Planning Permission - Installation of a temporary ground mounted 49.9MW solar farm with associated infrastructure, construction of vehicular accesses, CCTV cameras on 4m high poles a 15m high communications tower and security fencing to a maximum height of 2.2m. 

Update: Following the letter received from the office of Secretary of State dated 28 September 2023 - on 27 October 2023 ELDC granted Full Planning Permission. 

Update:  The Development Consent has been quashed following a Judicial Review (JR) on the grounds that the 'Consent  Decision was unlawful, as it failed to have sufficient regards to the material considerations in relation to the policy of the development of solar farms on Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land'. The JR challenge against ELDC Consent was initiated and funded by the Hatton resident's group. The application is now subject to further consultation and consideration, in respect of the applicants Site Search Document reference 5546097.

Members Consideration of the applicant's recent submission. Members unanimously Resolved:  to continue to object to the proposal and were not persuaded that the applicant's recent site search submission has in this case adequately justified the use of BMV land. Concerns were also raised regarding the proposed one way construction traffic management system, which will direct all of the traffic movement including HGV's through Gt Sturton onto the Caistor High road (B1225) through Silver Street and on to the A158 through Baumber. Especially given the ongoing concerns regarding adverse traffic impacts on Silver St residents. 

2. Update ref: 20/21/05 Manor Farm Lincoln Road Baumber - Alleged 5 Contraventions of Development Consent. - Case update still awaited from ELDC Development Control. 
  
0324/70 Update ref: 0124/57 Un - adopted historical footpath West Lane - St Swithin's -     kissing gate & access to Footpath 92 Adoption application in progress. Residents     providing further witness statements to be included in the submission. Clerk proceeding.

Further comment received from Andrew Roberts. Clerk has written and chased resident re further information. In hand.

0324/71 Update ref: 0124/50 & 0124/58 Co-Option of new Members: Cllr M Baverstock 

Cllr T Cuttell both attended New Cllr Training Course (online) on 6 February 2024. New Cllr G Wilbourn DPI Form submitted to ELDC & LALC New Cllr Training Course (online) booked for 19 March 2024. Cllr Wilbourn confirmed his attendance on the training course.
       
0324/72 Correspondence. None of note.

0324/73 Minor Items. Cllr M Baverstock raise a proposal for BPC to contribute towards the purchase of indoor bowling  equipment in support of the village hall. Members regretfully unable to support request. 

0324/74 Date of Next Meeting/s: 22 May 2024 Annual Parish Council & Ordinary Meeting. Ordinary Meeting 17 July 2024. All meetings commence at 7.30pm at Baumber Village Hall. Annual Baumber Community Meeting Wednesday 11 September 2024.

Meeting closed at 8.45pm.