3 September 2024 - Estate Management & Planning Committee
Ruskington Parish Council
Minutes of an Estate Management and Planning Committee meeting held on Tuesday 3 September 2024 at the Parish Office at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllr M Trolley (Chairman of Committee), Cllr D Conway, Cllr O Ditch, Cllr L Tomlinson
Also in attendance: Kathryn Locke (Clerk to Council)
Members of the Public: Cllr G Cox was in attendance as the Chairman of the Recreation and Environment Committee. Although invited to take part in the discussion on the pavilion, Cllr Cox did not vote on this or any other matter on the agenda.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 6.30pm.
1. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
No apologies had been received.
2. To receive declarations of interest and consider applications for dispensations in relation to DPIs. Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests is to be in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
None were declared at this time.
Cllr Tomlinson arrived at the meeting at 6.32pm.
3. To approve the notes of the committee meeting held on 14 August 2024 as accurate Minutes.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to approve the notes of the meeting as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved with three votes for and one abstention (had not been present at the meeting).
4. To consider the views of the Recreation and Environment Committee on the renovation of the pavilion.
Cllr Cox was invited to take part in this discussion as Chairman and representative of the Recreation and Environment Committee. The pavilion plans were available, and these were discussed in detail to ensure they were accessible and met with the requirements of the public consultation and the sports teams who used the facility.
4.1. To revise the plans, as required, to ensure that that the renovation of the pavilion will include disabled facilities, external access storage for the Council, and a community café.
Action: The opening direction of a door need required altering, otherwise it was agreed that no further amendments were required.
4.2. To consider the quotes received for creating architectural plans for the pavilion and agree the architect for recommending to Council.
Three quotes had been received and one was expected by 5 September 2024.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED that Council consider the quotes at its ordinary meeting on 10 September 2024, once all the four quotes had been received. The Committee agreed to recommend to Council expenditure of no more than £1,250.00 for the drawing of technical plans and would recommend Quote 2 if no further quote were available for consideration. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
4.3. To agree the next steps in the renovation of the pavilion.
Action: For Council to agree the architectural firm to draw the interior plans at the ordinary meeting on 10 September 2024.
5. To receive an update on the renovation of the parish office.
No progress had been made by the contractor since the meeting on 14 August 2024. The floor coverings were due to be laid week from 16 September 2024, and in preparation, the Buildings’ Caretaker had repaired the rear stairs as required. Once the carpet was laid, the caretakers would fit the kitchen.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED that the Clerk would contact the renovation contractor ask that the work be completed by 30 September 2024.
5.1. To consider the quote for the EPC assessment and certification for the parish office property.
No quote was not available at the meeting.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to use the current EPC certificate as this was rated B and did not expire until January 2030. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.
5.2. To consider the advice from a letting agent to charge a rent with a fixed increase (for example, 5-10% every 12/18 months (to be negotiated) to cover the costs of rising utilities bills.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Council that a fixed increase, as advised by the letting agent, be negotiated with the tenant to cover the costs of rising utility bills. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Ditch and approved unanimously.
5.3. To consider the next steps in the letting of the offices at the rear of the parish office.
Action: The next steps would be considered when the renovation work was completed.
6. To receive an update on the renovation of the lychgate and its funding application.
The Clerk advised that pre-application advice had been sought from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, an itemised quote had been obtained and sent as requested, letters of support for the renovation of the lychgate was being obtained from parishioners, village groups and places of worship, and other information was being collated.
7. To receive information from the ICCM regarding death certificate reforms / legislation from 9 September 2024.
Information had been circulated prior to the meeting; the Clerk advised that the only difference to the Parish Council would be the receipt of new cremation forms from funeral directors.
7.1. Review the cemetery fees for FY 2025-2026.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Council that the cemetery fees be increased at the rate of inflation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, and the length of the Exclusive Rights of Burial grant be increased from 20 years to 50 years. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously.
7.2. To review the cemetery rules and regulations for FY 2025-2026.
The rules and regulations for the cemetery and ashes scattering area had been circulated prior to the meeting. The list of regulations had been changed to commence with what was permitted.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED that, following a couple of amendments, the cemetery rules and regulations be recommended to Council. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
8. To consider the planning applications received since the last Council meeting on 9 July 2024.
Applications had been circulated prior to the meeting and were viewed online during the meeting.
a. Planning Application Reference: 24/0726/HOUS
Proposal: Proposed roof alterations, including raising of the roof heigh, to facilitate additional first floor habitable accommodation, creation of front verandah, demolition of car port and raising of the ground floor finished floor levels.
Location: 50 Manor Street Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9ER
Advice had been received from NK Planning that the white painted sandbag wall was not included in the planning application, and although this increased the risk of flooding to neighbouring properties, this could not be considered when responding to the application.
Action: The Committee had no objections to the application.
b. Planning Application Reference: 24/0842/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of shed (retrospective).
Location: 4 Station Road Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9DA
Action: The Committee had no objections to this application.
c. Planning Application Reference: 24/0912/FUL
Proposal: Erection of 186 dwellings with associated infrastructure, open space and
landscaping
Location: Land North Of Cornwall Way & Northfield Road Ruskington Sleaford
This was considered at length. Paper copies of the plans had been obtained from NKDC Planning and were available at the meeting.
Action: The Committee had the following comments –
- The proposed development does not integrate with the surrounding development.
- There was a lack of suitable road access to the development, for example, Cornwall Way was a residential area with cars parked on the road and was already used as a “rat run” by motorists.
- There was limited visibility for motorists when exiting Springfield Road onto Lincoln Road/B1188. Could access via the Flaxwell Fields development be made available?
- Parking on the development appeared limited - a four-bedroom house could generate four cars, and therefore there would be parking on pavements and at road junctions.
- The development could create 300+ extra cars using the roads in the village, which would negatively impact on the movement of traffic and parking in and around the village.
- Although the plans made mention of the need for nursey school provision, other services such as an NHS dentist were required.
- The Committee asked if NK Planning considered each application on an individual basis or in relation to all the other developments being planned and built so an overview of what infrastructure was required was made clear.
d. Application Reference: 24/0588/OUT Notification of Receipt of Amended Plans/ Additional Information
Proposal: Outline application for the erection of one dwelling with access and layout
for consideration.
Location: 33 Queensway Ruskington Sleaford
Action: The Committee objected to the amended plans for the following reasons:
- It would increase the flood risk to neighbouring properties on Manor Street, such as no 50 Manor Street, which were already known to flood.
- Access to the site from Queensway remained narrow and restricted due to existing buildings.
e. Planning Application Reference: 24/0957/FUL
Proposal: Erection of dwelling, garage and associated landscaping on proposed new plot
Location: Woodlands 6 Fen Road Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire
Action: The Committee had no objections to this application.
9. To agree a date for the next committee meeting.
To be confirmed.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.50pm.