6 May 2025 - DRAFT Recreation & Environment Committee
Ruskington Parish Council
Minutes of a meeting of the Recreation & Environment Committee held on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 6.30pm at Ruskington Parish office, 7-9 High Street North, Ruskington, NG34 9DY.
Present: Cllr G Cox, Cllr S Cotter, Cllr M Trolley,
Also in attendance: Andrew Doughty (Environment Caretaker), Kathryn Locke (Clerk to Council),
Apologies - Non received.
Absent – Cllr Tomlinson
No members of the public or press were present.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 6.34 pm.
1. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
Cllr Tomlinson was not present at the meeting and no apologies had been received.
2. Receive declarations of interest and consider applications for dispensations in relation to DPIs.
No declarations were made at this time.
3. To receive an update on the budget and expenditure for environmental projects and maintenance.
The information was not available. The Environment Caretaker reported that he had met with the RFO to discuss the budget for the development of the community garden. £1,617.05 of CIL money remained and some of this would be used for the creation of raised and accessible beds for growing vegetables and cut flowers. These would be for the use and maintenance of the public.
Action: The Committee asked that the Admin Assistant raise awareness of the raised vegetable and flowers beds to gather expressions of interest.
3.1. To receive an update on the budget and expenditure for recreation projects and maintenance.
The information was not available.
4. To receive the Clerk’s Report (for information only).
This has been circulated prior to the meeting and the Clerk answered questions.
5. To receive information on a visit to Ruskington by the LCC Flood Team and their appointed flood contractors to investigate flood events in the village.
A meeting with the LCC Flood Team had been arranged for Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 10am at the Parish Office. The Environment Caretaker, Cllr Cotter, and Cllr Cox would be in attendance. Following the meeting it was expected that LCC would visit the areas of the village that had been impacted by flooding.
6. To consider the revised CCTV policy for recommending to Council, to ensure this meets with GDPR legislation regarding the releasing and sharing of CCTV footage/images.
The policy, CCTV and GDPR information had been circulated prior to the meeting.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the revised CCTV policy to Council. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Cotter and approved unanimously.
7. To receive the Environment Caretaker’s Report (for information only).
This was not available at the meeting.
8. To review and revise the allotment policy for recommending to Council in accordance with allotment legislation, following allotment training and membership to the National Allotment Society (NAS) if available.
A revised policy had been commenced but required re-writing to ensure it complied with allotment legislation. The NAS would check policies and agreements, if required, as part of Council’s membership.
Action: The allotment policy to be rewritten in line with the allotment agreement.
8.1. To review and revise the allotment agreement in accordance with allotment legislation and the revised allotment policy for recommending to Council, if available.
A revised allotment agreement had been commenced but required re-writing to ensure it complied with allotment legislation.
Action: The allotment agreement to be rewritten using the NAS model document as a reference.
9. To consider the management plan for Horseshoe Hollow as revised by the Environment Caretaker.
The Information had previously circulated, and the Environment Caretaker gave an overview. The original document had been written four years previously by Cllr Cotter and had been updated by the Environment Caretaker in view of the development of the Hollow and changes to its management, such as changes to grass cutting. Cllr Cotter had a couple of further amendments for the management plan.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the revised management plan, once the amendments suggested by Cllr Cotter had been made. Proposed by Cllr Cox, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
9.1. To consider the designation of Horseshoe Hollow as a local nature reserve, as proposed by the Environment Caretaker.
Information had previously been circulated. The Environment Caretaker gave an overview of the process and answered questions. Nothing would change from a public perspective, but it would increase options for funding and the ability for Council to create its own bylaws for Horseshoe Hollow. At a future date, Green Flag status could be applied for.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Council that Horseshoe Hollow be considered for re-designation as a local nature reserve. Proposed by Cllr Cotter, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously.
10. To consider a proposal from the Environment Caretaker regarding an ash tree dieback action plan for the ash trees owned by Ruskington Parish Council.
Information had previously been circulated and the Environment Caretaker answered questions. Once the trees were catalogued, the process would not be time consuming.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Council that an ash dieback action plan be conducted by the Environment Caretaker on trees owned and maintained by the Parish Council. Any ash dieback noted on trees on grass verges would be reported to LCC. Proposed by Cllr Cotter, sounded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
11. To consider the following planning application with a focus on any environmental impact:
Planning application reference PL/0016/25
Development: for proposed erection and operation of biogas plant (biogas generated on site upgraded to biomethane, with a range of by-products for export) including connection to the national gas transmission system, associated highway modifications (including new road link to Moy Park facility from the a153), proposed landscaping and associated development (including pipeline connections)
Location: Land to the west of Moy Park facility and the south of the a153, Anwick
Grid reference: 510848 350225
The application and biodiversity net gain (BNG) documents had been reviewed in depth and were discussed at the meeting from an environmental point of view. No concerns were raised. Comments included: The biogas plant was to be built on agricultural land which contained little biodiversity; the BNG report showed that hedges were to be planted that would increase biodiversity, although the committee thought it would be better if the area for the BNG was increased; the location of the plant and height of the chimney meant the plant would not be seen or smelt; biogas was environmentally friendly and enabled the chicken waste to be turned into gas for heating properties and would prevent the waste being spread on fields and contaminating the rivers; the process and product was less toxic than chemically produced fertilizers; the gas pipe would run beneath agricultural land and head towards Haverholme; the amount of vehicles had been reduced to three per hour, a turning circle was proposed and traffic access would be via Moy Park.
Action: The Committee would recommend to Council that the biogas plant would have limited impact on Ruskington village; the biogas plant would be environmentally friendly, but to ask if the area for the BNG could be increased. [Post meeting note: The Clerk has arranged with LCC for an extension to the return of the comments from 8/5/2025 to 14/5/2025, so the application could be discussed by Council at its meeting on 13/5/2025.]
12. To receive an update from the pavilion project working party on the pavilion project and planning application, consider any recommendations, and the draft public consultation document, and agree the next steps.
The architect had submitted the small site assessment and revised proposed block plan for the pavilion and overflow carparking to the NKDC planning officer. The outcome of the application was not yet known. There was no update from the pavilion project working party.
12.1. To review, and amend as required, a draft letter for sending to potential financial donors for the pavilion project for recommending to Council.
The Committee agreed that the letter was unsuitable. No amendments were suggested.
13. To receive an update on the requirement to install new water tanks and the supply of hot water to the showers. (The tank does not comply with current regulations and the hot water only trickles from the showers/ taps, possibly due to limescale build up.) – Cllr Tomlinson.
Cllr Tomlinson and the Buildings’ Caretaker had met at the changing rooms to discuss the issues. Cllr Tomlinson had made a video call to a contractor to seek their advice, but no information from this was available at the meeting.
14. To receive an update on the S106 contribution for the Flaxwell Fields development.
On 25 Aril 2025, NKDC had advised that due to added interest the Section 106 contribution had risen from £189711.30 in December 2024 to £191,235.46 in April 2025. NKDC advised that an activity court would probably be approved, but not a trim trail unless further information was submitted. The Clerk had sent more detailed information concerning a trim trail and had also asked about the possibility of a 5G surface for the MUGA. Confirmation on the use of the land owned by NKDC at Hillside was also requested. A response was awaited.
14.1. To consider eligible projects for the Section 106 Public Open Space (POS) claim following the development of housing on land East of Lincoln Road and North of Springfield Road (Flaxwell Fields).
These, once approved by Council, to be sent to NKDC for initial review and feedback.
Action. The Committee members to suggest ideas for Council to consider and NKDC to review.
15. To confirm the date of the next scheduled committee meeting as Tuesday 2 September 2025 at 6.30pm.
Action: The date and time were agreed. A committee meeting could be held before this, if required.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.54pm.