February 2011 Archives

To celebrate the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton, MACLA would like to organise some events to recognise this royal occasion.

The wedding is on Friday 29 April 2011 and we would like to have some ideas on how you and your family would like to celebrate this day.

Some of the suggestions so far are:

In the morning
A large screen in the village hall where villagers can join together to watch the ceremony. Perhaps a Wedding Hat competition and / or Cake Competition. A glass of bubbly would not go amiss either!!

In the afternoon
A street party for the children - we have already got some information about closing Fen Lane - from High Street to Lime Tree Avenue. The thinking around this is that there is the village hall if the weather takes a turn for the worst. There are also public conveniences on the street and also in the village hall, which is very useful. We would also be able to use the village hall kitchen for food preparations.

In the evening
An evening of informal entertainment in the village hall.
We hope to give you more information via the MACLA website and if you or your organisation or club would like to get involved please can you contact me at:

www.maclaroyalwedding@hotmail.com

We have been given a limited amount of money from MACLA which has come from the advertisements in the village magazine. We would like to spend some of this on bunting for the village hall and down Fen Lane.

We might even have a raffle where any monies raised could go towards children's mementoes for next year's Diamond Jubilee.

Sally Wilson on behalf of MACLA

from Dot Howes

Metheringham Amateur Dramatics hold their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday March 30th at Blankney Old School at 7.30p.m.. Auditions are currently taking place for some one act plays to be performed in May and in a new venture the group are hoping to stage the Willy Russell play 'Our Day Out' on Friday and Saturday 8 and 9 July and Friday and Saturday 15 and 16 July at Metheringham Village Hall.

This production is specifically for the younger members of the community. If you are in Year 6 to Year 10 inclusive and are interested in hearing more about this play, auditioning for a part, or helping with the production, please contact

Gaynor Little on 01526 320559 or gaynorlittle@aol.com

Metheringham Over 60s hold their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 2nd March 2011 at 7.00p.m. in the village hall. They will be holding their spring Coffee Morning on Saturday 5th March from 10.00a.m. also in the village hall.

There will be a Coffee Morning in Metheringham Methodist Church on Saturday 19th March between and 9.30 and 11.30 a.m. to raise funds for St Barnabas' Hospice.

Minutes of the Metheringham Sots Hole and Tanvats Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 25th January 2011 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

Published at the Request of the Metheringham Parish Council Clerk

Concerned about your Parish Council and what's happening in your Village? Interested in standing as a Parish Councillor?

Do you want your voice to be heard? Want to get your teeth into real issues? Then why not consider joining your Parish Council

Parish Council Elections take place every year four years, and are being held on 5 May 2011. If you are interested in standing, then you will need to obtain a nomination paper from the Electoral Services Department of North Kesteven or look on the Council website which is www.n-kesteven.gov.uk under Council and Democracy page or email electoral_services@n-kesteven.gov.uk.

All nomination papers must be submitted before NOON on 4 April 2011

The Council is holding two training events on 14 and 15 March for both prospective District and Parish Councillor candidates. Anyone interested is welcome to attend and receive information about what is involved when becoming a Councillor. The dates are as follows:

• Monday 14 March at North Kesteven Council Offices, Kesteven Street, Sleaford
• Tuesday 15 March at Terry O'Toole Theatre, Moore Lane, North Hykeham.

Both events commence at 6.00pm and will last about an hour.

The training sessions will help get you started by looking at the roles of Councillors, rules, Code of Conduct, duties and responsibilities once elected and information about Parish Council work.

Councillors are elected for a four year term and depending on the size of the Parish, can represent the entire Parish area or a just a Ward of the Parish. For further information about becoming a Parish Councillor, please contact Electoral Services on 01529 414155 or Cliff Robinson on 01529 308345.

Dear Councillors

You are summoned to a meeting of Metheringham Parish Council which will be held in the Methodist Church - School Room, Fen Road on Tuesday 22nd February 2011 at 7.30pm. Prior to the official start of the meeting a public forum of not more than 15 minutes will be held if required. The public may address the council between 7.15pm and 7.30pm on current matters, or issues which may become future agenda items and your attendance is also requested during this period. A Police Report will be given at this time.

Signed: Ms S N Wetherall AILCM
Clerk to Metheringham Parish Council
17th February 2011

AGENDA - 22nd February 2011

1. To resolve to accept Apologies for Absence and reasons given

2. Members Declarations of Interests: Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting in accordance with the 2000 Local Government Act.

3. Reports from representatives on outside bodies:
a) To receive a report from the County Councillor.
b) To receive a report from the District Councillor.
c) To receive reports from Council representatives on other outside bodies.
d) To receive a report from the Parish Dog Warden

4. Notes of the last Full Council Meeting held on Tuesday 25th January 2011, to be approved and signed as the minutes.

5. Clerks report on matters outstanding (previously circulated)

6. Financial matters:
a) To consider a request from the Lincolnshire Playing Fields Association for a donation towards their activities.
b) Annual Report 2010/2011 - To agree that the Annual Report will have a similar format to previous years and to approve a provisional budget of £600.00 for printing.
c) To consider making a donation of £500.00 towards an event/street party being organized by MACLA to celebrate the Royal Wedding on 29th April 2011.
d) To consider accounts for payment.
e) To receive a report from the RFO on the PC finances, Income and Expenditure.

7. Correspondence:
a) To note general correspondence (publications and letters are available for viewing).

8. To receive reports from Working Groups:
a) Allotments
b) Children's Playgrounds and Playing Fields
c) Consultation and Questionnaires
d) Fayre and Feast
e) Forward Planning
f) Highways, Footpaths & Car Parks
g) Risk Assessment
h) Street Lighting
i) War Memorial and Spring

9. Recreation field & related issues: To receive a progress report.

10. Allotment Land: To receive an update following further site meeting.

11. Date, time and venue of next meeting: Tuesday 29th March 2011 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

12. Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 Exclusion of the Press and the Public: To resolve that in accordance with Section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and by reason of the confidential nature of the remainder of the business, the Press and the Public be excluded from the Meeting.
13. Code of Conduct: To receive an update on outstanding matters.

Published at the Request of the Metheringham PC Clerk

Plans to set up the UK's largest dairy farm were withdrawn today (16 February 2011), announced the applicants Nocton Dairies Ltd in the following statement:

We are writing today to North Kesteven District Council to formally withdraw our application for planning permission to build a 3,770 cow dairy farm at Nocton Heath, Lincolnshire, reference 10/1397/FUL. The sole reason for this decision is the response of the Environment Agency, which has maintained its objection to the proposal.

The Environment Agency's grounds are lack of information about risks posed to the aquifer underlying the site and uncertainty about the extent of the benefits associated with the change in land use. This precautionary stance and requests for new information reflect unfamiliarity with agriculture in general and the design of the modern dairy farm in particular. Despite our best efforts to address these concerns, including an additional investment of £4 million in engineering the management of the waste to unprecedented standards, lack of relevant research has made it impossible to provide the reassurances required by the Environment Agency that livestock farming is an appropriate use of land at this site.

We believe the Environment Agency has not acted under any pressure in reaching this decision and that no undue influence from other individuals or organisations has been brought to bear; any claims to this effect would be both disingenuous and self-serving.

We would like to emphasise the following points:

• The challenge has been laid down to the farming industry to produce more with less. We need leadership to help us do this and proactive advice from regulatory experts - only a practical, informed and 'can-do' approach will move this whole agenda forward


• The industry needs to stand up to those who would twist the facts about animal welfare, and highlight lack of investment as the issue, not scale or type of system. If our industry does not tell the public the facts and open its doors to show how we are great at farming in many different ways, then misinformed single interest pressure groups will fill the void with untruths to the eventual detriment of all


• The fundamental concept we have been proposing is a sound one: expand dairying toward the east to re-integrate livestock and arable farming, make better use of resources, proactively manage welfare, gain economies of scale, and look to support a long term reduction in water pollution. We challenge other farmers to pick up the baton and see where these concepts can take them.

In conclusion, we would like to thank those in the dairy industry who have voiced support over the past few weeks - you know who you are - and the many local people who have approached us to express their backing. We would especially like to thank our neighbour Robert Howard, and Ralph and Mary Timms of Nocton who had the open mindedness to fully research the project and the courage to change their position and express their views openly in the face of overwhelming criticism.

Our other two applications for a pipeline and reservoir remain active. Our farm at Nocton is a tremendous site with much potential for the future, so we won't be selling it, but will now be taking some time to consider our options. Watch this space!

-ends-

Date: 16 February 2011
For further information about the proposal, go to www.noctondairies.co.uk or contact Amy Jackson on 07917 773756 or 01993 880360, amy@oxtale.co.uk.

Minutes of the Meeting of Nocton Parish Council held on Tuesday the 11th January 2011 in the Village Hall

Present: Councillor E. Storr (Chair)
Councillor P. Askew
Councillor I. Goldsworthy
Councillor D. Rumbelow
Councillor K. Tyler
Councillor M. Williams

Councillor P. Rose District Councillor
Mrs. Green Parish Clerk

Mr.Duckworth PCSO
Mrs Hill Dog Warden

6 Members of the public were in attendance

Apologies for Absence: Parish Councillor D. Wilson, District Councillor W. Chambers and County Councillor M. Overton

(1) Declaration of Prejudicial Interest in Accordance with the Ethical Code of Conduct: Councillors I. Goldsworthy and M. Williams declared a personal interest in the Nocton Dairy item.

(2) Police: PCSO Flannigan informed Councillors that there had been no crime reported since the last meeting.

(3) Public Questions:

Residents of Grange Lane complained about their property being flooded in wet weather by run-off water from the fields and at the very muddy and flooded state of the road following the movement of silage. Photographs taken yesterday were provided to Councillors. A letter would be sent to Mr Robert Howard enclosing the photographs with a copy to Lincolnshire County Council Highways Department.

Articulated lorries are again using Nocton to get to Bardney. There had been an agreement with British Sugar that only a limited number should do so and could this be looked into again?

The Clerk had written to the NKDC Tree Officer protesting at his decision to allow the felling of the willow tree, but to no avail.

(4) Litter: Mr. Sidney said that there is a build up of litter outside the village boundary.

(5) Dog Warden: Mrs Hill said that she had walked round the village and introduced herself to dog walkers. She took posters to put up. She will e-mail her monthly reports to Councillors.

(6) Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th December 2010 were proposed as correct by Councillor Askew, seconded by Councillor Rumbelow and signed by the Chair.

(7) Matters Arising:

135/10 (see 115/10): Councillor Goldsworthy was told by the nursery that it was effectively too late to purchase a suitable Christmas Tree, but he will take early action in 2011.
136/10 (see 116/10): Play area - The Clerk had not yet drafted a letter to the school governors explaining that the nature of the play area will only be as previously requested.
137/10 (see 1117/10): Village Hall settlement - no progress.
138/10 (see 118/10): No progress on contacting Boddingtons regarding information and prices for surfacing work on The Green. Councillor Williams would contact the company concerned.
139/10 (see 120/10): All village organisations to be invited to a special meeting on 23rd March 2011 (subject to the availability of the Hall) to discuss the preparation of a Parish Plan.
140/10 (see 120/10): No-one had yet been contacted regarding the placing of the "cluster" seat or repairing the "coronation" seat. BJB, Paul Scrafton and Malcolm Fulup had been suggested in this regard.
141/10 (see 123/10): The Clerk had not yet found the Equal Opportunity Policy for Councillor Goldsworthy.
142/10 (see 124/10): .Councillor Williams had worked jointly with Councillor Goldsworthy to respond to the Lincolnshire Core Strategy document.
143/10 (see 125/10) The Clerk had yet to write regarding the tree which is obscuring the street light by the "coronation" seat.
144/10 (see 134/10a) the Clerk has asked LCC for a grit bin halfway along Wellhead Lane and one for The Green.

(10) Equal Opportunities (146/10): Nothing to discuss.

(9) Village Hall (145/10): No Committee meeting this month due to Christmas and New Year holidays. The next meeting, the AGM, is on 3 February 2011. The Coffee Morning is tomorrow.

(11) Nocton Hall (147/10): LEDA Properties had taken over responsibility for the security fencing from 7th January 2011. The options appraisal has begun and will take approximately four months..

(12) Letters (148/10):

(a) NKDC Press Release by LCC.
(b) Lincolnshire Police posters.
(c) NKDC: Clerk's training 1st or 2nd March and Councillors training 14th or 15th March 2011.
(d) NKDC: Identifying vulnerable areas.
(e) NKDC: Poster regarding Concessionary Bus Passes.
(f) Lincolnshire Police - PC Brown is on secondment to Lincoln for four months; PC Wayne Wilkinson will stand in for him.
(g) NKDC: Four information posters.
(h) NKDC: Cluster Agenda/Minutes for 19th January 2011 plus Cluster News.
(i) Royal British Legion "Great Poppy Party Weekend".
(j) NKDC: What's On.

(13) Planning (149/10)

(a) NKDC: Application 10/1397/FUL proposed Nocton Dairy.
(b) NKDC: Decision on Trees N155/01 behind 16 Parklands Avenue.
(c) NKDC: Application and confirmation of TPO N737 The Avenue.
(d) NKDC: Reply regarding the decision on Trees at The Rose Garden, The Avenue Ref: 218582.
(e) NKDC: Application 10/1397/FUL Nocton Dairies Ltd 3770 cow unit.
(f) Bill Goodhand: 10/1397/FUL Nocton Dairies Ltd.
(g) NKDC: Application 10/1522/FUL Nocton Dairies Ltd. Effluent Transfer Pipe.

(14) Nocton Dairies (150/10): A Public Meeting has been arranged for Wednesday, 19th January 2011. A draft agenda had been drawn up. Councillor Rumbelow proposed that Councillor Goldsworthy chair the meeting. Councillor Goldsworthy declined as the Parish Council already had a capable Vice-chair. As both Councillors Goldsworthy and Wilson were connected with opposition groups, it was thought a neutral chairperson would be preferable - if one could be found.

Almost 2000 comments received by NKDC to date. 1300 people had signed a "round robin". 66,000 people had signed a petition opposing the plans.

Councilor Rose explained the planning committee procedure. The applicant would be allowed six minutes to speak. Nocton and Dunston Parish Councils would be allowed three minutes each to speak. One objector from each Parish Council would be allowed three minutes.

The Planning Committee will have an open vote on this application.

(15) Finance (151/10):

(a) Lloyd's statements (15) £11,638.08 (16) £112.77 plus new cheque book.
(b) E-ON invoice for power £158.79 (cheque signed).
(c) Mr.Sidney paid for litter picking December £40 (cheque signed).
(d) NKDC query invoice payment for by-elections. New cheque signed £107.74.
(e) Clerk's salary for December £168.72; expenses £3.24 = £171.96 (cheque signed).
(f) NKDC: Fee for emptying dog waste bins £90 per bin annually. Invoice for £360 (cheque signed)

(16) Precept (152/10: NKDC Precept discussed. Agreed a 5% increase.

(17) Any Other Business (153/10):

(a) The Head of Planning and Economic Development at NKDC is Jane Wells.
(b) It was with regret that the Chair, due to the pressure of work, felt that she was unable to give the attention to parish matters she felt the position deserved and so would be resigning from the Parish Council with immediate effect following this meeting. Councillor Goldsworthy proposed a Vote of Thanks to her and all Councillors agreed that she had been a credit both to her role as Chair and to the Council and would be greatly missed.

(18) Date of Next Meeting:

The next meeting confirmed as Tuesday, 1st February 2011 at 7pm in the Village Hall.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.45 pm.

PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL START OF THE MEETING A PUBLIC FORUM OF 15 MINUTES WILL BE HELD IF REQUIRED. THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL BETWEEN 7.15PM AND 7.30PM.

Ms S N Wetherall
Clerk to Metheringham Parish Council
3rd February 2011

Minutes of the Scopwick Parish Council Meeting held at 7.00pm on Tuesday 30 November 2010 at the Village Hall, Scopwick.

Minutes of the Scopwick Parish Council Extraordinary Meeting held at 7.00pm on Monday 20 December 2010 at the Village Hall, Scopwick.