2021 Rauceby PC Minutes of Meetings

Rauceby Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday, 17 November 2021 at 7.35 pm at The Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

Present:     Cllr M Ireland (in the Chair), Cllr G Enstone, Cllr R Enstone, Cllr S Enstone, Cllr J Malloch, Cllr M Froggatt, Cllr S Waite, Cllr S Waring (NKDC) and the Clerk, Mr I Grady. 

Public speaking time:  No members of the public were present.

1.   Apologies for Absence: Apologies were received from Cllr B Balderston and Cllr K Colehouse.

2.   To Receive any Declarations of Interest: None

3.   To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: None

4.   To approve as a correct record, the notes of the meeting held on 22 September 2021:

Unanimously approved. The Chairman signed the minutes. 

5.   Rauceby Gigabit Project: 

Cllr S. Enstone reported on the current status of the Rauceby Gigabit project.

• Some progress has been made. The final offer from Openreach has been submitted to DCMS for both the Rauceby and Ermine Street schemes. Each has a relatively small shortfall of offer value versus available grant (£21k and £13k respectively). It is believed that the Rauceby shortfall can be made up from the inclusions of several occupied properties that were unoccupied at the time of the first survey some years ago. Any surplus offer value from the Rauceby scheme cannot be used for the Ermine Street scheme.
• The next steps of the programme were described. 

• - Openreach are to set up a portal for householders to recommit their pledges; 
• - DCMS to email to each householder confirming their application for a government grant (with a follow-up mechanism for those who do not confirm); 
• - installation of fibre cables; 
• - householders to order their FTTP upgrade within 10 days of the network going live; 
• - completion with speed checks.
• - If at this stage there any householders that have not upgraded in accordance with their commitment, the village is liable for any shortfall in funds.

• There will be a public meeting held on 4 December between 11h00 and 14h30 at Rauceby village hall for members of the public to discuss the progress and next steps with the Parish Council. 
• Rauceby Parish Council agreed by unanimous vote to commence the next step with Openreach without delay.
• A website has been kindly set up by Mr J Dent to keep residents informed of the progress of the gigabit programme: www.raucebygigabit.org.uk.

6.   Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters:

• NKDC: Cllr Waring queried how the new purple lidded waste paper and cardboard collection bins were being received in the community. There was general acceptance of the bins but there have been several instances of non-collections that were unexplained; making the reason for rejection obscure to the residents. Some residents objected to the binmen rooting through the bins to decide whether the contents qualified for collection. Cllr Waring will take these comments back to the relevant department.
• LCC:   Nothing to report. 
• Police: Nothing to report

7.   Planning Applications:

New Applications (this may include applications received since the agenda was circulated): 

i)   21/1647/FUL | Erection of agricultural storage building with ancillary diesel tank and storage container (retrospective) | Boiling Wells Farm, Grantham Road, Greylees, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8QX. No Objections by Rauceby Parish Council.
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting:

ii)   21/0871/FUL | Erection of 2 no. poultry units totalling 78,000 bird capacity (meat production) and 3 no. feed silos with associated hardstanding. | Boiling Wells Farm Grantham Road, Greylees, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. (An error by the Applicant regarding bird capacity – 78,000, not 39,000 – has been rectified, and taken into account by the Planning Sub-Committee) No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. Approved by NKDC.

iii)   21/1288/TCA | T1 Cedar - fell | 4 St Peters Close, North Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8RA. No Objections by Planning Sub-Committee of Rauceby Parish Council. TPO not served.

8.   New Business: Notified to the Clerk prior to the meeting.

i)   Meetings for Next Year: The programme of Parish Council Meetings for 2022 was agreed as per the following table. The dates are the third Wednesday of every second month:

ii)   Resignation of Cllr Colehouse: It was noted that Cllr Colehouse submitted his resignation with effect from the end of the January meeting. Cllr Ireland requested that we examine the procedure for co-option at our next meeting.

iii)   Local Transport Plan: Cllr Ireland has carried out the consultation on behalf of the Council.

iv)   Damage to Bus Shelter Near Pub: A resident phoned to report damage to the bus shelter. On investigation, Cllr Ireland explained that the damage had been done by E-Fuels, an oil supply operator, who acknowledged the accident. A quotation for repair has been requested. Cllr Ireland also reported that, in general, the condition of the shelter is not good and will need some remedial repairs to be carried out at some stage. 

v)   Rauceby Open (Gigabit) Meeting 4 December: Covered in item 5 above.

9.   Update on Outstanding Matters: 

i)   20 year plan for Rauceby Estate: A meeting was held between Mr Spurrier (trustee of Gillian Hoare Settlement), Rural Solutions Co. (contractors employed to devise the plan), Cllrs M. Ireland, S, G and R Enstone and M Froggatt to discuss a possible strategy where it may affect the village. Several ideas were suggested and will be examined further by the trustees:

• Financial help for Gigabit project  (if required).
• Car park facilities for school and stepping out walks.
• Woodland plan for Southgate Spinneys (cull overhanging trees, create woodland walk). If feasible this would need to be discussed with residents.
• Provide a new burial site for the church as there is no land available at the church. (This was felt to be a church matter and will be raised separately with the church management by the Parish Council.)
• Long term plans for Hall Farm.
• Introducing a shop to the village.
• Supply land for a children’s playground.
• Install a cycle path between Rauceby and Sleaford.

New housing, which would require a new planning application.

None of this is finalised, feasibility studies have to be carried out and new items may be added. No action by Rauceby Parish Council is required at this stage.

ii)   Traffic/Transport strategy for Sleaford: Cllr S Enstone said there has been no further feedback on this matter.

iii)   Riparian Survey: The Lincolnshire Flood Risk and Water Management Partnership in collaboration with North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council, are aware of our interest in this project. There have been no further developments to report. 

iv)   Remembrance Day RBL: A wreath was purchased and laid on Remembrance Day. Item complete.

v)   Position of Post Box: Nothing more to report. 

vi)   Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon: A meeting was held between representatives of the Parish Council (Cllr M. Ireland), the Women’s Institute (S. Clark and S. Horton) and Rauceby Junior School (J. Waites). It was agreed that there is an appetite for celebrations and that planning should commence. The following points were noted:

• Jubilee weekend extends from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June.
• Beacon lighting on Thursday evening or Big Jubilee Lunch on the Sunday discussed.
• Weekend is the final few days of the school half term.
• Rauceby School have offered the use of the playing field and toilet facilities.
• Picnic lunch on the Sunday was agreed to be the initial best option.
• Suggestion of village games, quiz and music to be considered.
• Agreed to approach others in the village to join a Jubilee Organising Group including school PTFA and Village Playgroup.

Aim to meet again with additional members, pre-Christmas.

vii)   Traffic calming measures: Cllr Malloch reported that an order had been placed for the supply and installation of the village entry gates. There has been a transport shortage related delay in the delivery of the gates.

A further issue has arisen when it was noticed by a Councillor that the road network around Cranwell had been newly resurfaced in some areas with red tarmac decorated with a “SLOW” notice. This option for traffic calming had been preferred by Rauceby Parish Council some time ago but had been refused by the Highways Dept as it was a method no longer used in Lincolnshire. Cllr Ireland said he would write a strong letter of objection to our associated Lincolnshire CC councillor Cllr R Wright.

Action: Cllr M Ireland to contact Cllr R Wright.

viii)   Website maintenance: We have contracted with Mr P Langford of LALC to carry out web site maintenance and upkeep. 

Action: I Grady to specify requirements of maintenance and upkeep.

10.   Financial Matters:

i)   Financial report (November 2021) – for approval and signing

Report approved and signed off by Chairman
Current account  - £16,966.73, 22/10/2021

ii)   This month’s expenditures were approved and cheques signed

LALC – Web Management Fee £108.00.
I Grady – Clerk fees £244.56 and expenses £21.98.
Village Hall – Fee for meeting hall rental £16.00
HMRC – PAYE, Clerk £91.80

iii)   Mr J Earl notified us that his fee for cutting grass in the village was to increase to £32 per visit (from £28) with effect from 1 January 2022. It was unanimously agreed to continue with Mr Earl’s services.

11.   Items of Urgency 

It was reported that when the road closure takes place along High Dyke between the Church Lane and Caythorpe turn offs, beginning 26 November due to the Anglian Water pipe being laid through the road, there will be an additional traffic load through Church Lane.

12.   Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 at the Rauceby Village Hall.  

There being no other business the meeting closed at 20h35.