2025 Minutes

Bardney Group Parish Council

Minutes of an extra-ordinary meeting of Bardney Group Parish Council held in the Village Hall, Silver Street, Bardney on Tuesday 04 February 2025.

Present:  Chair Cllr Keith Laughton

Councillors:  Cllr Robin Darby, Cllr Ian Fleetwood, Cllr Ruth Lane, Cllr Barry Newlove, Cllr John Papworth, Cllr Barry Percival and Cllr Stephen White.

Also present:  Eddie Findlay (Clerk/RFO) to the Parish Council

10 members of the public were in attendance.

At 7:00 pm the Chair welcomed everybody.  Rather than the usual restrictive 10 minutes and to allow sufficient time for members of the public to speak in relation to minute ref: 177-24/25, WL/2025/00026, he proposed to suspended Standing Orders (Chapter 3.f.).  Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Fleetwood and approved unanimously.

MOP 1 – expressed concern about the height of the water table in the proposed area.  He was aware that recent test holes had shown a high water level.  What and where was the expected water displacement if the field was replaced by hard standing as the surround ditches and dykes are all full this time of year.

Similarly, how do the sewerage companies plan to cope with the additional waste produced.

MOP 2 – the current situation at the Dr surgery was far from ideal and it was a concern that the further influx of residents could overwhelm the current provision.

Cllr Newlove responded that Bardney only had a satellite surgery due to the current residency level and the new development might move Bardeny ‘up’ to have a permanent provision with a full time Dr.

MOP 1 – also queried whether the current capacity at the school would be expanded to cover the projected numbers of school age children.

MOP 3 – asked why, as they were led to believe that the two current Bardney developments already in progress had been stalled due to poor house sales, why would this new development sell, in the current housing climate.

MOP 4 – expressed concern that if houses were built and not sold, they might be handed over to ACIS, who would ‘parachute’ in less desirable people, has had been their mode of operation in recent years.  Cllr Laughton confirmed that the required 20% (11 dwelling) were being considered as ‘affordable’, the rest would be sold commercially.

Cllr Fleetwood, with his District Council ‘hat’ on gave a precis on the history of the West Lindsey Local Plan which then fed into the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP).  This parcel of land was put forward to the CLLP and was included in the 2023 adoption.  He also covered the possibility of Developer contributions (s.106) which can be requested to help local amenities such as Health Care, Education, Sewerage and Highways.  With regard to Highways, it is ‘expected’ that roads within developments will be constructed to a standard set by the local Highways Authority.

He did suggest that the development consider a pedestrian walkway through the area allows access from Jubilee Gardens to the Co-Op, or similar.

Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Fleetwood and approved unanimously to re-instate Standing Orders and to open the meeting.

A number of the members of the public left the meeting.

At 7:35 pm, the Chair declared the meeting open.

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174-24/25.  Apologies for Absence.
To receive and accept apologies, where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting, in accordance with LGA 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
Cllr Cook and Cllr O’Sullivan were unable to attend and their reasons were made know to the Council.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to approve the reasons for absence from Cllr Cook and Cllr O’Sullivan.
Proposed by Cllr Percival, seconded by Cllr Fleetwood and approved unanimously.

Absences were noted for Cllr Frank Bates, Cllr Kirstie Clarke, Cllr Mary Corbould, Cllr Brian Lintin and Cllr Liz McTernan.

175-24/25.  Declarations of Interest.
To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
Cllr Fleetwood declared an interest in minute ref: 177-24/25.a. page 66-2024/2025 due to his position as a District Councillor and being on the West Lindsey Planning Committee.

176-24/25.  Notes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 21 January 2025 to be approved as Minutes.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to defer the approval of the notes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 21 January 2025 as Minutes due to an additional explanation being requested with regard to minute ref: 161-24/25.a.
Proposed by Cllr Laughton, seconded by Cllr Lane and approved unanimously.

177-24/25.  Planning Matters.

a.  WL/2025/00026 – Outline Planning Application for the erection of up to 54no. dwellings with all matters reserved on land to the North of Abbey Road and Wragby Road.

Cllr Lane queried if it was possible to get an ongoing commitment from a developer to maintain an area, such as a play area, rather than just a one-off payment.  Cllr Fleetwood highlighted that certain contributions were usually requested from developers under Section 106 agreements.  These were usually toward, health and education provisions, roads to a particular standard and recreation facilities, such as green spaces and play area.  In most cases these were all one-off payments, not an ongoing commitment, unless the developer set up a specific site management group.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED submit comments highlighting the concerns raised by the members of the public in relation to rainwater drainage, including the ditches and dykes capacity, poor sewerage infrastructure, school capacity, local Dr surgery capacity and transport links to larger towns and cities for work etc.
Proposed by Cllr Lane, seconded by Cllr Darby and approved unanimously.

178-24/25.  To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the public bodies (admission to meetings) act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to the following matters:

a.  Clerk contract matters – TOIL and consider a cap, as per Minute ref: 143-24/25.a. page 52-2024/2025 P&R.

b.  Clerk contract matters – confirm leave entitlement, including Bank Holidays, for the Clerk, year ending 31-Mar-2025.

c.  Clerk and Handyman leave for coming year, as per Minute ref: 143-24/25.b. page 52-2024/2025 P&R.

d.  Staffing issue as per draft Minute ref: 173-24/25.a. and b.

Action:  The Council RESOLVED to go into Closed Session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972.
Proposed by Cllr Fleetwood, seconded by Cllr Papworth and approved unanimously.

This part of the meeting closed 7:55 pm.

The meeting continued in the absence of press and public at 7:55 pm.

The Clerk left the meeting at 7:55 pm.

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Confidential Minutes

a.  Clerk contract matters – TOIL and consider a cap, as per draft Minute ref: 143-24/25.a. page 52-2024/2025 P&R.
The Chair of P&R offered to write up a suitable TOIL Policy, looking at a possible 25% cap, to be taken within one month, ideally to be in place before the new Clerk starts.

b.  Clerk contract matters – confirm leave entitlement, including Bank Holidays, for the Clerk, year ending 31-Mar-2025.
Leave entitlement to be in place before the new Clerk starts.

c.  Clerk and Handyman leave for coming year, as per Minute ref: 143-24/25.b. page 52-2024/2025 P&R.
Item not discussed.

d.  Staffing issue as per draft Minute ref: 173-24/25.a. and b.
The Clerk had submitted a letter of resignation and rather invoke the one month notice period had offered to remain in post and was willing to assist in the transition whilst Council advertise and recruit a new Clerk/RFO, and if time allowed, prior to him finding alternative employment, he would be willing to help train the new Clerk to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.
It was suggested by Cllr Lane that a temporary contract would be required as the current contact stated a notice period of one month.

* Post meeting note – The Chair had contact LALC and they, having sought HR advice from Chris Moses stated, “If both parties are in mutual agreement to amend the Notice clause of this employment contract to change it from 1 to 3 months, there isn't a problem.”

Action:  The Council RESOLVED to retain Mr Findlay until 31-Mar-2025, if this was agreeable and to advertise the vacancy through LALC, with the possibility of having a locum Clerk, whilst also contacting the previous applicant.
Proposed by Cllr White, seconded by Cllr Darby and approved by a vote of 4 for, 3 against and 1 abstention.

* Post meeting note – The Clerk had reiterated that he offered to remain in post to assist in the transition whilst Council advertised and recruited a new Clerk/RFO but agreed with the request from Cllr White, to remain in post until 31-Mar-2025.

A secondary proposal was submitted with regard to the advert and role going forward.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to advertise the vacancy through LALC, maintaining the current 20 hours, but a lower rate.
Proposed by Cllr Lane, seconded by Cllr Percival and approved unanimously.

The meeting closed at 8:25 pm.

Signature:  Original Signed

Printed Name:  Cllr John Papworth

Date:  18 March 2025

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