January 2023 Minutes
BICKER PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 12th January 2023 in the Gedney Rooms, Bicker Village Hall.
Present Cllr Kelly
Cllr Bateson
Cllr Carrott
Cllr Gill
Cllr Mountain
Cllr Pell
Borough Cllr Cooper
County Councillor Brookes
POLICE REPORT
Email from PCSO Williams for any updates as November is last on website. Bicker quiet at present.
1/23 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES – none.
2/23 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2211
Cllrs Carrott and Mountain – Bicker United Charity,
Cllrs Bateson and Mountain regarding planning application B/22/0519.
3/23 - NOTES OF LAST MEETING – Were signed as a true copy, to become minutes. Proposed Cllr Pell seconded Cllr Bateson.
4/23 - TO RECEIVE UPDATE FROM CLERK.
Lincs Pest surveyed moles in playing field, are to give quotation for best action
Barrell – grant application submitted for replacement as repair is expensive
January sales new net £100 so placed order as agreed in October.
Website now up to date, apart from Cllrs Mountain and Gill Declaration of Interest
Drury Lane, following contactors, had been clear in some form but the grassed areas were very untidy.
5/23 – TO RECEIVE ALLOTMENT UPDATE
Cllr Pell advised the problems with the roadway had been discussed with our tenant and the contractors and were to be corrected this week. PC agreed out tenant should not in fact be in communication with the contractors as this had been handed to PC’s landlord now. Clerk to write to tenant to this effect.
Mr & Mrs Websters have been speaking with the school regarding using part of their allotment for the children. PC agreed as school had done the necessary risk assessments and children would be accompanied at all times they had no problem with this.
6/23 – TO RECEIVE FINANCE REPORT
a) To Discuss/Approve Precept for 2023-2024. Following on from discussions of the budget provided to the councillors it was proposed Cllr Bateson, seconded Cllr Carrott that the precept remain the same as the previous year. Clerk to approach local arborist to discuss again a plan of action over the coming years for trees in the village.
b) Approve Council payments as per schedule Prop Cllr Carrott seconded Cllr Mountain
7/23 – TO DISCUSS PLANNING
B/22/0519 – 9 houses on paddock behind Morley House. Council have concerns for the following reasons and feel the application should be declined.
• Another parcel of arable land taken from the village. Building on an area of open countryside views there will be light deprivation for the adjoining properties and taking another green space from this tree lined historic area on the border of the conservation area on the site of a Grade II listed building and not, we believe, in keeping with the overall character of the village.
• A previous application rejected purely for the environmental impact on this countryside. The plan of the site, Phase I, is not a closed cul-de-sac and there is concern that if this application is approved then a further application, presumably Phase II, will be submitted for more of the land owned by the applicant, unfairly if this were the case, eluding the need for Section 106 contributions. The applicant already having had approved conversion of outbuildings on the main site for living accommodation.
• Entrance and egress to the development has poor visibility being adjacent to an existing roadside domestic property on a slight bend in what can only be described as a narrow highway, which is used by school and service buses and almost opposite a significant site with employee vehicles.
• There is a development already for 49 dwellings in the centre of the village and this site bodes the question is further affordable housing required within the village taking into consideration that the numbers being built are already in excess of the suggested figure within the Local adopted plan.
• If the affordable ratio for Boston Borough reflect the national trend should these not be built in areas where facilities are more in keeping with first time buyers. The facts on the statement are scathing on the truth. The school is a private, with pupils traversing in from outside of the village. The nearest primary school is three miles away and the transport to this is either by parents or a purpose bus service.
• The facilities include a public house which does not open daily. A small village shop with a Post office and a playing field with random pieces of equipment. There is a bus service which does not run sociable hours, merely works orientated. The last bus leaving the two nearest towns before 6pm.
8/23 – TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS –
Cllr Bateson – flooding again on School Lane which has previously been reported to Highways with no success of remedial action. Clerk to report again.
Cllr Gill – had requested Boston Borough Council for street cleaner due to the state of roads. They had attended had not completed work very satisfactorily. Request again.
Cllr Pell – salt bin has arrived and been placed inconveniently for the notice board. Clerk aware and will attend to.
Cllr Brookes – Cowbridge patching on Longhedge/Ing Drove scheduled. Advised of Social Value Highways Volunteering Days, available for small D.I.Y jobs, painting benches etc.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 9th March 2023
Meeting closed at 20.35p.m.