3 June 2024 - DRAFT Estate Management & Planning Committee
Ruskington Parish Council
Minutes of an Estate Management and Planning Committee meeting held on Tuesday 3 June 2025 at the Parish Office at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllr M Trolley (Chairman of Committee), Cllr O Ditch, Cllr S Hislop, Cllr D Conway (arrived at 6.45pm).
Also in attendance: Kathryn Locke (Clerk to Council)
Apologies: All Committee members were present.
Members of the Public: Cllr B Harrison (observing the meeting out of interest) and a representative from Chestnuts Retirement Home regarding agenda item 12, were present.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 6.32pm and welcomed the delegates and members of public. The representative from Chestnuts Retirement Home, following invitation, presented an overview of a current planning application to extend the Chestnuts Retirement Home into a neighbouring property (2 Holme Lane). Council had previously expressed concerns to NKDC Planning about potential parking issues due to the location of the Home surrounded by narrow streets, the current limited parking available, the inability to extend the parking provision, and known parking issues on Station Road. The representative explained that the Chestnuts Retirement Home had been open for 42 years and 50% of its staff lived locally and were encouraged to walk or cycle to work. There were seven, off road, parking spaces and there had never been a requirement for more parking spaces than this, even when events had been held. There would be no increase to the current two deliveries per week from Tesco and the local GP would still only make a routine visit every Tuesday. Access for ambulances had never been a problem and was not expected to be an issue. There would be no aesthetic changes to the exterior of 2 Holme Lane except the garage door would be filled in. The representative answered questions from the Committee and possible suggestions for additional parking were discussed – such as at a nearby property belonging to a relative of a staff member (with their permission) and the lawn area at the rear of the Retirement Home. The Chairman thanked the representative, and the representative left the meeting.
1. To elect a Chairman for the Committee for the ensuing civic year.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to elect Cllr Trolley as the Chairman of the committee for the ensuing civil year. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Hislop an approved unanimously.
2. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
All members were present.
3. 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.
Cllr Hislop declared an interest in agenda item 10c. (Work related).
4. To elect a Vice-chairman for the ensuing civic year.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to elect Cllr Conway as the Vice-chairman of the committee for the ensuing civic year. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved unanimously.
5. To approve the notes of the committee meeting held on Tuesday 5 March 2025 as accurate Minutes.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to approve the notes of the meeting as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Ditch and approved unanimously.
The Chairman signed the Minutes.
6. To receive the Clerk’s report – for information only.
This had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Clerk advised that the renovation of the lychgate, due to commence on 2 June 2025, had not yet started as the contractor was waiting for the oak to be delivered.
7. To receive an update on the planning application for the pavilion and its proposed extended car parking.
The outcome of the planning application was awaited from NKDC. The ecologist had made a condition regarding the requirement for a 30-year biodiversity management plan to be made, due to the proposed additional car parking.
7.1. To agree the next steps for the pavilion renovation and its funding.
Action: The Committee agreed to wait for the outcome of the planning permission to be known before deciding the next steps, but considered that it would be useful for a contractor to give a “ball park” figure for the work required.
8. To receive the quotes for the hot water tank for the changing rooms. (Current tank does not comply with regulations) for recommending to Council, if available.
The Clerk advised that Councillor Tomlinson and the Buildings’ Caretaker had met at the changing rooms with a contractor, as agreed by Council, to provide an overview of all the works required. The contractor did not arrive, therefore Cllr Tomlinson made a video call with the contractor to discuss the issues and show the current system. No information from the contractor or Cllr Tomlinson was available at the meeting. The Clerk also advised that the RFO had sent the export details for the solar panels to Corona.
Action: A heating engineer to be asked to meet with the Clerk, Cllr Trolley and Cllr Conway at the changing rooms to discuss the issues and all the work required so that new quotes can be obtained for recommending to Council. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.
9. To consider the reports and proposed new location for the interment of cremated remains in Sleaford Road cemetery. (Previously circulated.)
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Council that the best option to maximize the spaces for the interment of ashes along the central path (option 2) be approved and to create a defined ashes interment area on the New South Border. With an average of 18 internments of cremated remains per annum, this would extend the life of the cemetery for nine years (up to an including the year 2034.) The use of flat and tilted memorial tablets only to be installed in these areas to allow access to surrounding graves and ashes plots. To recommend that the interment of cremated remains for non-residents no longer be permitted into new plots. For residents who had recently moved into a nursing home, this would be considered on an individual basis. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved unanimously.
10. To consider planning applications received from NKDC since the last Council meeting.
a. Planning Application Reference: 25/0498/VARCON
Proposal: Application to vary condition 18 (approved plans to plot 111 including garage) attached to planning permission 20/0391/FUL - Residential development of 190 no. dwellings (comprising 152 no. open market dwellings and 38 no. affordable housing dwellings) with associated open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage infrastructure (Central Lincolnshire Local Plan residential site allocations CL957 and CL4710) - Plot 111 changed from Bungalow Type P to Bungalow Type T
Location: Land To The East Of Lincoln Road (B1188) And North Of Springfield Road, Ruskington.
Action: The Committee had no objections to this application to vary condition 18.
b. Planning Application Reference: 25/0477/FUL
Proposal: Siting of an InPost Parcel Locker (retrospective)
Location: Red Lion 107 High Street North Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire
Action: The Committee had no objections to this retrospective application.
c. Planning Application Reference: 25/0529/FUL
Proposal: Change of use to dog exercise paddock, siting of a storage container for use
as a welfare and storage facility and creation of parking area and upgraded access
Location: Land Off Sleaford Road Ruskington Sleaford NG34 9BL
Action: The Committee had no objections to this application subject to the responses from NKDC’s Economic Development Services.
10.1. To receive notification of planning applications approved by NKDC.
a. Application Reference: 24/1158/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of single and two storey front extension, single storey side extension
forming a new porch, conversion and extension of existing stable block to form Annex
ancillary to the existing house. (Amended Description)
Location: 1 Manor Street Ruskington Sleaford
b. Application Reference: 25/0300/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of porch
Location: 46 Hillside Estate Ruskington Sleaford (Notice of approval received on 19/5/2025)
c. Application Reference: 25/0125/VARCON
Proposal: Application to vary conditions 2 (approved plans) and 13 (occupation for holiday
purposes only) of planning permission 19/1378/FUL - Change of Use of land at Priory Lakes
for creation of Holiday Park including stationing of 35 lodges and one unit for office
/reception.
Location: Priory Lakes Priory Road Ruskington (Notice of approval received on 21/5/2025)
d. Application Reference: 24/1369/FUL
Proposal: Erection of 8 starter units
Location: Land Adjacent To Industrial Estate Fen Road Ruskington (Notice of approval received on 23/5/2025)
At this point in the meeting, the Chairman asked the Committee to consider that agenda item 11 (To consider correspondence from Anwick Parish Council dated 20 May 2025 and agree a response for recommending to Council at its meeting on 10 June 2025) be moved into closed session at the end of the meeting.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to move agenda item 11 into closed session at the end of the meeting. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
11. To consider correspondence from the Chestnuts Retirement Home, Ruskington dated 24/5/2025.
The correspondence had previously been circulated. The Committee noted that an amendment to the planning application had been received and was an item on the agenda for the Council meeting on 10 June 2025. The planning application and its parking had been discussed with a representative of the Chestnuts Retirement Home during the public session above. The Committee were supportive of the planning application and felt their questions had been answered in full.
12. To confirm the date and time of the next scheduled committee meeting as Wednesday 3 September 2025, at 6.30pm. (Project and budget setting for FY 2026-2027).
Action: A new date of Tuesday 16 September 2025 at 6.30pm was agreed.
At this point in the meeting the Chairman asked the Committee to resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss agenda item 11.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to move into closed session to discuss the agenda item. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.41pm. Cllr Harrison (as a member of the public, left the meeting.) The meeting re-convened at 7.41pm.
13. To consider correspondence from Anwick Parish Council dated 20 May 2025 and agree a response for recommending to Council at its meeting on 10 June 2025. (Item 11 on the agenda.)
The correspondence had previously been circulated to Council and the Committee, and the Clerk had responded to Anwick Parish Council asking for evidence of the minutes whereby Ruskington Parish Council’s responses to the proposed biogas planning application had been discussed and its letter had been approved by Council. The Clerk had been unable to find this information published on Anwick Parish Council’s website.
The Committee interpreted the comments as a blatant misrepresentation of RPC’s considered submission to the Biodigester proposal. Further, the letter appeared confrontational in tone and unprofessional.
Action: The Clerk to obtain advice from LALC on how to respond to the correspondence.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.05pm.