2022 Annual Parish Meeting

Ref: HPC 10330

HORSINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING 11th MAY 2022

Appendix A: Chairman’s Report

In common with all aspects of life, Covid 19 disrupted the parish council’s meetings at the start of this period, but by September last year, authority to hold meetings by ZOOM had ceased and it was again possible to hold meetings in public in the Village Hall. We are indebted to the Hall’s volunteers for making that possible.

Throughout our work, we have been conscious of the increasing pressures on households and businesses of costs and succeeded in reducing our parish precept as a percentage of the total bill as 3.3% on the Council Tax calculation (that’s the money which pays for the parish council, collected as part of the bill for council tax, the police and adult social care). The parish councillors are unpaid volunteers –and it is our hope not to have to increase the precept for the next financial year.

Road speeds of traffic through the village have caused much debate. A survey was carried out at this council’s request by the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to establish the amount of traffic and whether any was exceeding the speed limit,  and if so, whether measures needed to be taken to deal with that. The survey, which had to be taken against nationally established criteria, showed there are insufficient vehicles exceeding the limits to warrant further restrictions. This council did however agree to buy signs reminding motorists of the 30 mph limit. In addition, this council is raising with the Road Safety Partnership the suggestion that the approaches to the 30 mph limit should be preceded by a 40 mph zone. The council carried out a survey about speeding and I think we will have the conclusions in the ordinary meeting, which follows.

Similarly, the council has continued to draw attention to the need for potholes in the village and blocked surface water drains to be repaired – sometimes with success, sometimes without. We continue to urge LCC to make repairs, including to footpaths and we are aware of the need for a footpath beside Moor Lane to keep pedestrians safe.

Planning matters continue to concern many  and also, this council. We cannot make planning decisions but we can – and do – offer an opinion on planning applications  to the planning  authority, East Lindsey District Council. We continue to express concerns at the lack of  enforcement action against the site in Moor Lane for which permission to erect and use a pavilion and a second container has been refused and an appeal rejected. There will be an update from the clerk in the ordinary meeting.

The application to develop a camping and caravan park at Rose Cottage Farm, very much divided opinion in the village. This council voted, on the chairman’s casting vote, in favour of the application providing the concerns of the Environment Agency and ELDC’s Planning Dept. were satisfactorily dealt with. The application has now been withdrawn. We supported an appeal against refusal of planning permission to develop a property at Side Farm but the appeal was dismissed.

Work continues to develop the village Emergency Response Plan and its value was shown when a sink hole appeared in Main Street; it enabled the police and utilities to be alerted and put in place road traffic safety measures and make an emergency repair. Cllr. Rod Howard who is leading the project will update on progress during the ordinary meeting.

To improve communications we have installed a new notice board near the memorial bench and I would like to express the council’s gratitude to John Leslie for generously making it at cost. We have also distributed a newsletter twice this year to every household to give an update on what the council is doing. A FB page has been established and the website has been overhauled and improved, though there is still some work to do. I’m grateful to the Clerk with support from LALC who has made this possible.

The parish council is pleased to be supporting the Village Hall Committee in their organisation of a tea on the afternoon of Friday 3rd June to mark the Platinum Jubilee of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. If you haven’t booked, please do so – it’s free if you live here – and give Cllr. Hill or me your names if you’d like to attend.

The council was particularly saddened to learn of the death of a former council chairman and true champion of this village and its people: Charles Hill. We placed on record our sympathies for Charles’ family and friends  and our gratitude for all that he had done for Horsington. We’re thinking of how we might commemorate his generosity, friendship and support for all things Horsington – we very much welcome ideas and suggestions.

By definition this can only be the briefest of summaries of some of the matters we have dealt with – and I apologise for not being able to mention them all – but I would like to place on record my thanks for the continuing hard work and sound advice from our Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer, Melvin Grosvenor; similarly the many positive, thoughtful contributions of my fellow councillors and all their hard work and in particular, Co. Cllr Patricia Bradwell and our ELDC representative, Cllr William Gray. Without the practical support and assistance of all of these people and that of the residents of Horsington, the village would  have a less effective voice.

CHRIS BATES
Chairman, Horsington Parish Council

May 2022.