2025 Minutes

 

Present: Cllr D Durrant – Chairman

Cllrs: Mrs J Self-Shutts , Mrs F Osborne, Mr N White, Mr D Horwat, 

 

                                      

Also Present:    Mrs C Anderton – Clerk of the Council 

Cllr P Skinner, Lincolnshire County Council

 

Public Forum

There were no members of the public present. 

 

25/20  Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllr D Broughton and during the meeting from Cllr P Bedford.

 

25/21 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011

There were no declarations of interest given.

 

25/22  To receive and approve the notes of the Council meetings held on Monday 17 March 2025 

It was RESOLVED that the notes of the meeting held 17 March  2025 be approved as a record of the meeting and be signed by the Chairman.

 

25/23 Reports from Lincolnshire County Council/Boston Borough Council

Cllr P Skinner gave a verbal report regarding Lincolnshire County Council updates.

Cllr D Broughton provided a written report which was read to members by the Chairman.

 

25/24  Issues relating to the Playing Fields, Potholes and the Environment of the Parish

Playing Fields

Cllr Horwat stated that he had received a quote for 9 bags of bark chippings for the play area at £30 per bag and £10 delivery. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to order the chippings at the earliest convenience. Cllr Horwat also stated that weedkiller would be needed as it was running low, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED for the clerk to obtain the weedkiller.

Cllr Horwat also confirmed that Roger Wright had chain harrowed the field.

Cllr White asked if a decision had been made to site the marathon container on the playing field, the clerk confirmed that it had only been discussed and nothing had been resolved to date. Cllr White stated that he was not happy with the suggestion as the playing field was for the children of the village to play, it had been dedicated to Jane Moore as a memorial park and was not designed to be used as a storage field. The issue of who would be responsible for insurance for the additional container was also raised, members discussed these points and suggested the marathon committee approach the Leverton Leisure Centre to see if it could be sited on their land.  

 

Potholes

The Chairman stated that several potholes had been addressed in the parish but there were still a significant amount remaining and the surface along Highgate was still deteriorating. 

 

 

Environment 

Cllr Osborne stated that the containers at VW Breakers had still not been removed in accordance with the planning decision and it was also reported that there was livestock being kept at the premises however the Parish Council had not received any notification of change of use to support this activity. Members of the council asked if Cllr Skinner could investigate this.

The clerk asked if it was possible to obtain legal guidance as to the Parish Council’s standing in relation to their position with Leverton Leisure Centre, members of the council requested the clerk obtain a quotation for this. 

 

25/25  Clerks Report - National Planning Policy Framework update

The clerk attended a presentation regarding the new NPPF introduced by the Government in September 2024 and presented the following bullet points around this as follows:

 

National Planning Policy Framework Changes - update

• Current government targets 1.5million new houses

• Have reversed many of the previous administrations decisions and stated that most of the incoming changes of which many have been implemented immediately, were detailed in their manifesto.

• Revised calculation for housing need 

• Increased annual targets from 300,000 to 370,000

• Urban uplift - cities which previously had 10% added to their quota automatically have had these removed and this additional amount has been redistributed throughout all county’s targets

• These targets have now been implemented as mandatory

• The requirement of an ongoing Five-Year Housing Land Supply Local Plan has been reinstated 

• Expectations are for developers to move away from ¾ bed houses in favour of 1/2 bedroom properties

• There is a strong focus and support for affordable housing with the main route as general housing and the affordable route being social housing

• The government wishes for Town and Parish Councils to become proactive in obtaining land for building/development with the potential to  introduce  Compulsory Purchase Orders

• The Government intend to build an additional 32 new towns which equate to 1 town in each county 

• A task force has been commissioned to suggest the siting of these new towns with focus on expansion of existing small towns and villages especially those with train stations.

• Unachieved targets will be added back to the total distribution. Eg:  If Sheffield doesn’t meet its target the shortfall will be distributed across the other local authorities

• Increased allocation of employment sites with the creation of growth corridors 

• Tightening of rules around hot food take aways being opened close to school

• Many of the restrictions on Wind and Solar onshore developments have been removed 

• Developments to be more nature friendly

• Favouring Brownfield sites for these developments

• The Government is committed to Neighbourhood Planning, but generally quiet on this at the present time but they are intending to introduce enhanced protections in special circumstances – more on this to come with the next round of Neighbourhood Planning funding likely in July 25

• Updating on building materials to be used

• Emphasis on well-designed mixed housing

• Removed the terms ‘beauty’ and beautiful’ from the codes

• The previous government wanted all Local Authorities to have their own Design Codes but decided these would be too generic, so this has been removed from the code

• Increase in planning fees

• Failure to produce a Local Plan may incur sanctions

• Clamping down on Local Authorities that don’t deal with planning applications in a timely manner

• Mayors who have not previously had any input into the planning process will be given new powers to determine areas for development

• Government have extended the duty to protect AONB to Town and Parish Councils

• There will be a bigger role for Government in Planning in respect of major applications such as National Strategic Infrastructure applications which will be harder to object to  

• Crown Land Development – Turbo charging applications of national interest such as Hospitals/Prisons which the Government will deal directly with

• No changes in the planning consultation process except for hospitals and prisons where there will be no consultation process

• Big drive for Solar Farms and the infrastructure to carry electricity around the country

• Community Nuclear Energy Schemes – Sector for communities to benefit financially

 

25/26 Adoption of the New Model Standing Orders and Financial Regulations

Members of the Council agreed to review the policies and defer a decision until the next meeting.

 

25/27   Finance

a. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to authorise signing of the AGAR 2024/25 (Exemption Certificate)

b. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to authorise signing of the AGAR 2024/25 (Annual Governance Statement)

c. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to authorise signing of the AGAR 2024/25 (Accounting Statements

 

It was proposed and RESOLVED to accept the payments as per the payment sheet 04/2025 details below:

28/04/2025	Malc Firth	150.67	Lay-by grass cutting
28/04/2025	Viking	138.58	Office stationary
28/04/2025	Leverton Poors Land Trust	43.75	Playing field rent
28/04/2025	Staff Costs	663.73	Staff costs
28/04/2025	D Horwat	26.98	Mower Fuel
28/04/2025	D Horwat	300.00	Donation for groundskeeping

 

25/28 Matters for discussion only or to be added to the next agenda.

There were no additional matters.

 

25/29 Date of the next Parish Council Meeting

Date of the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 19 May 2025 following the annual Parish meeting. There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman thanked those in attendance and declared the meeting closed.