2023 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

LEVERTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LEVERTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD IN LEVERTON VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 20 MARCH 2023

Present:

Cllr D Durrant – Chairman
Cllrs: Mrs F Osborne, Mr N White, Mrs J Self-Shutts, Mr D Horwat, Mr N Chandler

Also Present:    Cllr Peter Bedford, Boston Borough Council

Mrs C Anderton – Clerk of the Council

Public Forum

There was 1 member of the public in attendance to raise his concerns regarding the planning application PL/0013/23 relating to VW Breakers. Members of the Council stated that the resident needed to add his comments to the Lincolnshire County Council Planning Portal.

23/21   Apologies

There were no apologies received.

23/22 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 

There were no declarations received.

23/23   Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting

It was RESOLVED that the notes of the meeting held 20 February 2023 be approved as a correct record of the meeting and be signed by the Chairman.

23/24   Reports from Lincolnshire County Council/Boston Borough Council

Cllr P Bedford gave a verbal report on behalf of Boston Borough Council.

23/25    Issues relating to the Playing Fields, Potholes and the Environment of the Parish

Playing Fields

Cllr Horwat confirmed that the repairs to the play equipment had been completed by Komplan. 

Cllr Horwat also stated that a further Victoria plum tree was being planted in the orchard.

Potholes

The Chairman stated that the route of the upcoming Boston marathon was foreseen to be slightly better in terms of potholes than other areas in the parish and that the surface along Ings Lane had deteriorated substantially.

Environment 

The clerk confirmed that she had received a communication from Malc Firth in respect of the increase in the cost of the upkeep on the layby. Members of the Council accepted the increase and stated that they were happy for him to 
continue to carry on with the upkeep.  

The clerk had forwarded details of a planning application that had been received after the agenda had been published. The details were as follows:

LCC REFERENCE:  PL/0013/23
FOR CHANGE OF USE FROM USE CLASS B1/HAULAGE DEPOT TO END OF LIFE VEHICLES (ELV) DISMANTLING FACILITY
LOCATION:  V.W. BREAKERS UK LTD, THE OLD SMITHY, HIGHGATE, LEVERTON

Members of the council discussed the application at length and RESOLVED unanimously to object to the application on the following points: 

•   Reason for Refusal 1: The proposed development is contrary to Policy 1 of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan and has failed to demonstrate full compliance with Policy W7 of the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

o   The applicant asserts that “…the proposed will provide significant additional economic and community benefits by providing employment opportunities (community and economic benefit) and cost saving (economic benefit) for the current enterprise and community

o   Leverton Parish Council asserts that the only beneficiary from this application is the applicant. The community at large will not benefit economically nor benefit from any cost savings, or significant employment opportunities. In terms of the rural landscape, the local community are currently subjected to an unsightly industrial complex.
 
•   Reason for Refusal 2: The closest residential property to the development immediately abuts the proposal site….The development therefore has the potential to have an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenity of the residents of this property and so is contrary to Policy 2 of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan and Policy DM3 and full compliance with Policy W7 of the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

o   The applicant asserts that the property is being purchased by the applicant.

o   Leverton Parish Council asserts that not only is the property still under separate ownership but that significantly more surrounding properties have been impacted by the changes made at the property since the applicant took up ownership and these should be considered under “Tenet 6. Impact upon neighbouring land uses by reason of noise, odour, disturbance or visual intrusion”. A statement from one such resident was taken into consideration as part of the Boston Borough Council rejection and outlines issues with noise, disturbance and visual intrusion.
 
•   Reason for Refusal 3: The existing corrugated steel fencing and use of storage containers and trailers as a form of boundary treatment around the site is not appropriate as they have an unacceptable visual impact and are incongruous with the rural character and charm of the local area.

o   The applicant asserts that “Reason for Refusal 3 is an entire irrelevance” and that “The applicant… has already tidied and reconfigured the site including having painted much of as exists a dark green colour so as to assimilate it into the wider landscape”.

o   Leverton Parish Council asserts that the colour of corrugated steel fencing and extensive use of shipping containers does not and cannot make them appropriate in a rural setting, nor congruous with the rural character and charm of the area.
o   Leverton Parish Council further dispute that the extensive use of shipping containers is covered by existing planning permission.

23/26  Refurbishment of the Church Hall

The clerk confirmed that there was nothing further to report at the present time.

23/27   Village Gateway Signs

The village gateways had been installed, the members of the Council stated that they were very happy with the result and hoped that this project would decrease the speeding and accidents through the village.

23/28   Finance

It was RESOLVED to accept the payments as per the payment sheet 03/2023, details below:

23/29 Matters for discussion only or to be added to the next agenda.

There were no matters.

23/30   Date and Time of the next Parish Council Meeting

The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on Monday 17 April 2023 beginning at 7.00pm, at The Church Hall, Main Road A52, Leverton. There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman thanked those in attendance and declared the meeting closed at 7.50pm.