February 2024 Minutes of Meeting
BICKER PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 8th February 2024 in the Gedney Rooms, Bicker Village Hall.
PUBLIC FORUM
Presentation from Beacon Fen Energy. A small introduction to the Company. Details of the scheme at present with its key changes, the removal of the Beacon Fen South, land required was that to be used for the new reservoir. Looking at the cable route corridor and grid connection. Overhead lines have been ruled out. Bespoke access road from A17 to avoid village traffic. The road will be wide enough to take HGV’s passing. Panels up to 4.5 meters high, awaiting more assessment results where height can perhaps be reduced. Showing where the supply is plugged into Bicker substation. Also Heckington Fen to connect to Bicker. This does not double the workload, both groups will work together.
General plan showing buffing for residents including wild-flower area.
Community benefits like to use local employment and a community project fund.
Q & A - Cllr M Brookes, having attended the event at Bicker Village Hall. Will the work on the National Grid sub-station, will traffic will be using the hall road and not Cowbridge Road. In contact with Triton Knoll and are under the impression that the hall road will be allowed. National Grid have plans that may use Cowbridge Road but not Beacon Fen Energy. Whichever of the two, project Heckington Fen or Beacon Fen applies first will be the instigation of works by National Grid that will use Cowbridge Road.
Cllr Bateson – what is exit plan at end of life. Panels will be removed but cabling is likely to stay in place but made safe for agricultural use again.
Cllr Cantwell – what mitigation plans are in place around the site. Hedgerows already in place. Area set aside for wildflower meadow. Additional trees for areas of residents. Meeting with residents to see what additional screening they feel is required. Is the additional planting having provisions for additional vermin in area? Part of the lease is to deal with potential additional vermin.
Main concerns will be for National Grid works, previously they have been amenable with traffic and resident complaints.
What time scale for connection to sub-station? Initial works commencing 2027 with main site taking 2 to 3 years to complete.
Can any pots of money that is being made available directly to Bicker? Would ask for a community group to be put together for direct contact with Beacon Fen.
PC agreed this was not the best form of communication on Zoom, with information being on computer screens.
Present Cllr Kelly
Cllr Bateson,
Cllr Carrott,
Cllr Mountain
Cllr Pell
Borough Cllr Cantwell
County Cllr Brookes
Clerk Diane Fairweather
11/24 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES - were received and accepted from Borough Cllr Brown.
12/24 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2211
Cllr Carrott - Substation & allotments, Trustee of Charity
Cllr Mountain – Trustee of Charity
13/24 - NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 8TH JANUARY – Were signed as a true copy, to become minutes. Proposed Cllr Carrott seconded Cllr Pell.
14/24 - TO RECEIVE UPDATE FROM CLERK.
Meet with contractor on Saturday for various work. 3 signs for playing field and allotments, pump and put goal net up.
Awaiting confirmation of where speed indicator could go but wondering if it would be better to invest in a solar powered one. Approx £3,000, they require their own pole, being so heavy. No need to be taken down to be charged. Wigtoft are not now having the ones from Swineshead as they are investing in a solar powered one.
Lancaster, relations are still happy to proceed with the service in the normal way. Dave Stubley and I have redesigned the Order of Service for the 80th anniversary with pictures of the lost crew. Luke Smith is not able to take service so will speak with PCC to see if they have their new incumbent in yet, although Kirton vicar is available.
15/24 – TO DISCUSS CLERK VACANCY APPLICATIONS
Four received, not for discussion as part of the meeting. Agreed a separate meeting to be held to discuss the applications. Date to be agreed for interviews and interview panel.
Monday 19th 5.30pm
16/24 – TO RECEIVE FINANCE REPORT
Approve Council payments as per schedule Proposed Cllr Pell seconded Cllr Bateson.
Cllr Cantwell left the meeting.
17/24 – TO DISCUSS PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE LAST MONTH
B/24/0013 – demolition of existing offices and erection of larger two storey office building further down at the beginning of site. Will not be seen from the road as trees will act as barrier. No objections.
The Corner Cottage application for change of use has been withdrawn. Further work is ongoing. Dangerous entrance/exit where dropped kerb is. Highways have investigated this and have agreed area should be barriered off as dropped kerb is illegal. Report back to Highways as the issue is still present.
Cllr Brookes left the meeting.
18/24 – TO RECEIVE MEMBERS REPORTS –
Cllr Pell – Grants for Bicker Wind Farm available but not open to Parish Councils. Complaints of speed of tractors in village. Roads in Longhedge Drove is poor.
Resident leaving on mud on Monument Road has not reverted to using correct entrance to field or cleaning mud on road even after being asked. Clerk relying on conversation but a letter is obviously now required.
19/24 – TO RECEIVE CORRESPONDENCE -
Defibrillator offer £750 –
NAT GRID Pylons from Grimsby to Walpole. Consultations taking place.
Beacon Park – consultation ends 3rd March.
Consultations are now open regarding Streetlights – Parish Liaison meeting. Following letter from Old Leake. Many PCs like us have replaced lights and budgeted for it over the years as advised to do in 2016 when its commencement. BBC to lower their carbon footprint and their plan says all parishes to have all LED streetlights by 2024. Emissions from electricity of streetlights is not actually included in their local plan.
To achieve this, they are offering a loan for replacements to be made at a 4.45% interest rate to be repaid over 15 years. What advantage is that to the Parish Council? Only help electricity consumption. South Kesteven have spent a large amount of money on theirs and East Lindsey upgraded them all before passing on responsibilities to Parish Council. South Holland has not passed on street light costs to Parish Councils. Cllr Cantwell advised at the recent Parish Liaison meeting information was not forthcoming regarding this matter. Advised he would try and get additional information.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 14h March 2024