2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of A meeting of Cowbit Parish Council, held on Monday the 15th of July 2024 commencing at 7:30pm in Cowbit Village Hall, Barrier Bank, Cowbit.  

Present:      Trevor Tyrrell (Chair), Eric Fragale (Vice Chair), Janet Barnes and Chris Elliot 

Cllr Richard Davies (Highways)

Cllr A Woolf, Cllr A Casson and Cllr T Sneath

James Francis (Meridian Action Group)

6 members of the public

Clerk Mrs A Harrison

23.   Chairman’s welcome and Public Forum to include a discussion regarding the Meridian proposal of a 750W solar installation between Crowland and Gedney, with substation and overhead pylons.

The Chair introduced James Francis of the Meridian Action Group and invited him to address the residents.  James advised all present;

Ed Miliband MP has passed 3 major proposals in 6 days of being in office.

Contact Sir John Hayes MP and contact Meridian directly.

Contact as many people as you can in the community to make them aware of what is being proposed.

The Chair added that the Cowbit roads proposed to be used to transport the panels, etc, were listed as the A16, Stonegate, Barrier Bank and Back Gate.

The panels would stand over 10 feet high and will be piled into the ground.

Pylons, (described as lattice towers), are audible from 3.5 miles away there is a considerable amount of humming noise from them.

Traffic and infrastructure is an issue.

Only the villages that the panels are sited in will benefit from the proposal.

11 offshore wind turbines will produce as much electricity as this entire 2,500 acres of solar panels.

The panels will be purchased and transported from China which will create a huge carbon footprint.

Cllr Woolf encouraged everyone to join the Meridian Action Group (MAG) Facebook page, as we need to join forces and there is a lot of information being shared on there.

Coincides with the National Grid Upgrade.

Don’t wait until the diggers come!

1.8 million solar panels will need to be replaced every 15 years.

It will also affect the weather with heat radiated from the panels causing more rain.

A gentleman raised the issue regarding the commissioners drain, The Sidings.

Fencing will need to be painted both sides.

Drainage Board will require access and maybe require a gate.

The Chair stated that he had spoken to a representative of the IDB who would take the issues on board.

Issue of land ownership with concerns of fly-tipping.

The Chair advised that this was something that could not be dealt with until/unless it happened.

Grass verges cut right down to the bottom of the bank.

The Chair stated that it is now EA policy to keep the grass mown short to prevent flooding.

The bank must be strong to hold the water.

Gentleman asked about the village gateways.

EF responded to say that the gentleman who is going to erect them has been busy working on other jobs around the village and will get them up before the next meeting.

Lady raised an issue about her car being vandalised, broken into, set on fire outside 1 Parkin Road.  

Police told her to put her car on her drive, but she doesn’t have a drop kerb so it has broken the springs on her car.

Cllr Davies stated that he would get a dropped kerb put in for her.

JB asked Cllr Davies to look at the whole of Parkin Road, as not everyone has a dropped kerb and if vehicles are parked in the road, the refuse lorries cannot get through.

24.   To receive and approve apologies for absence.

Apologies were approved from Daniel Sandhu, James Stamp and Peter Simpson.

25.   To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations.

There were none

26.   Minutes of the AGM to be approved and signed as a correct record.

Proposed: EF
Seconded: JB

The Minutes were approved and signed by the Chair.

27.   Matters arising from the Minutes, (not covered on this agenda).

Regarding the new locks for the Pavilion, a key is required for the school.

The Chair confirmed that he has one to pass on.

28.   To receive and review the Cowbit Village action plan.

A copy of the plan was circulated prior to the meeting.

Actions are progressing.

29.   Police matters and to receive the online Police report.

a.   To receive a verbal report from JS following the Parish Council engagement session held on the 2nd of July.

Due to the absence of JS, there was no verbal report.

However, an email with link to the online meeting was circulated to all members prior to the meeting.

A copy of the online Police crime report for April was also circulated prior to the meeting, with the following statistics: -

6 Crimes reported in Cowbit

New River Drove (on the far side of the river between Brownlow’s Drove and Tollbar Drove)
1 x Violence and Sexual Offence 

On or near Willow Court
1 Violence and Sexual Offence

On or near Meadow Walk
1 x Antisocial Behaviour

On or near Croft Close
2 x Antisocial Behaviour
1 x Public Order

30.   Highways matters and to receive the CSW report.

The Chair welcomed Cllr Davies to the meeting and reiterated that speeding was still an issue through the village and asked whether the 30mph speed limit could be continued from the end of Parkin Road to the other end of the village.

Cllr Davies outlined his portfolio which contains speeding, potholes, busses and grass cutting and explained that current national criteria is based on accident rates, property development density and the average speed of vehicles.  National guidelines have changed slightly, but the Police will object to any requests for speed reductions, as inappropriate.

Cllr Davies advised the PC to keep in touch with the local County Councillor.

CE stated that the entire village is 30mph apart from 300 meters of Barrier Bank which is 40mph.

Data from the CSW is vital.

The Chair advised that the Archer Survey was carried out when there was a lot of agricultural vehicle movements which skewed the figures.

Cllr Davies advised that if there is a speeding vehicle regularly coming through at a specific time, notify the Police and they will send someone out.

Speed vans have to operate within designated locations.

Action: Email a request to Richard Davies to put a Police speed van outside the village hall.

Hedge overhanging the road quite considerably on the corner of Backgate and Stonegate.  Spoke to the gentleman but he only trimmed a small amount off the ends so it has now been escalated through Cllr Pepper and Fix My Street.

Cllr Davies suggested that if he is made aware of the addresses then notices can be sent out.

The Chair read out an email which was received just before the meeting, regarding agricultural vehicles accessing the A16 via Mill Drove and the lay-by on the Cowbit side of the road.

The landowner will have a word with his operatives to ask them not to use this.

Community Speed Watch

A copy of the CSW report had been circulated prior to the meeting, which listed the following: -

23rd of May on Barrier Bank by the Village Hall - 30mph zone
12 vehicles checked & recorded 2 for exceeding the 30mph limit.
1 x 39mph, 1 x 42mph

7th of June on Barrier Bank by Ashtree Drive - 40mph zone 
35 vehicles checked & 3 recorded to report to Lincoln. 
1 x 50mph, 2 x 54mph
One of the above failed to slow down for a local horse & actually increased their speed into the 30mph zone.

14th of June on Barrier Bank by the school at 16:30 - 30mph zone
10 vehicles checked & 4 recorded to report to Lincoln.
2 x 38mph, 1 x 44mph, 1 x 45mph

21st June on Barrier Bank by Ashtree Drive – 40mph zone
35 vehicles checked & 5 recorded to report to Lincoln
1 x 48mph, 1 x 50mph, 2 x 53mph, 1 x 69 mph and continued to accelerate the same into the nearby 30mph zone. 

28th of June on Barrier Bank by the Village Hall - 30mph zone
18 vehicles checked & 5 recorded to report to Lincoln.
1 x 37mph, 1 x 38mph, 1 x 39mph, 1 x 44mph, 1 x 45mph

The Chair thanked the group for doing a great job.

31.   Financial matters: -

a.   To receive the financial report and approve outstanding payments

An additional invoice was received today, for the broadband in the village hall, at £67.02 and the Clerk asked that this be included with the list.

Proposed: CE
Seconded: EF

It was resolved to approve the payments listed, with the addition as noted above.

b.   To receive the bank reconciliation.

Bank reconciliations for May and June were received and signed by the Chair.

c.   To receive the Summary/budget report.
The Summary report was received.

32.   Planning matters.

A new application was received and circulated to members prior to the meeting.

H01-0569-24   Change of use of steel portal framed building to residential dwelling at 104 Barrier Bank

A discussion ensued and the PC resolved that they approved of this application.

Croft House on Stonegate, application for a children’s home has been refused on Highway Safety.

33.   Playing Field Usage.

a.   Football

Cowbit Village football club is using the field at no cost at the moment.

A meeting needs to be arranged between them and the Parish Council to negotiate fees.

Action: TT will contact Daniel, Darren and Kyle.

b.   New play equipment

This is being dealt with by Darren, Chair of the VH Committee.

34.   General correspondence for inspection at the meeting not included in the agenda.

Response from Penny Anderson Community Resuscitation and Training Officer regarding CPR training.

Action: Clerk to chase.

35.   Items to be included on the agenda for the next meeting. 

Village Action Plan
School Matters CE
Village Hall Matters

36.   To confirm the date of the next meeting, provisionally set as 16th September 2024. 

The above date was confirmed.

Meeting ended at 20:55