July 2025 Minutes (EOM)
41min
METHERINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Chairman of the Council Cllr Mark Worthington
John F Money Proper Officer; Tony Shaw RFO.
31a High Street, Metheringham, Lincoln LN4 3DZ
01526 323100 07775 692013
parishclerk@metheringham-pc.gov.uk
http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Metheringham/
Draft Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Metheringham Parish Council, which was held in the Parish Council Office, High Street, Metheringham, LN4 3DZ on Monday 7th |July 2025 at 6.30pm.
Members of Council: Chairman; Cllr Mark Worthington (MWo) Vice Chairman Cllr Keith Parker (KP); Cllr June Gwillym (JG); Cllr Asia O’Sullivan (AS); Cllr Shirley Peek (SP); Cllr Fran Pembery (FP); Cllr C Redpath (CR); Cllr Julie Green (JGr); Cllr Sarah Hunter Leith (SHL), Cllr Terry Child (TC); Cllr Rob Castle (RC); Cllr Roy Grummitt (RG) Cllr M Westerman MWe); John F Money Proper Officer (PO) and Tony Shaw (RFO).
In Attendance: Chairman Cllr Mark Worthington; Cllr Julie Green; Cllr Mrs J Gwillym; Cllr Sarah Hunter Leith; Cllr Asia O’Sullivan Cllr Mrs S Peek; Cllr Mrs C Redpath; Cllr Rob Castle Cllr Roy Grummitt; J F Money Proper Officer.
There was a public forum at 6.15pm prior to the meeting where members of the public, County and District Councillor’s, together with any other members of public bodies present made short statements of up to 3 minutes to the Members of the Parish Council for a period of 15 mins in total.
Signed: Mark Worthington
Mark Worthington Chairman of the Parish Council DELETE?
Metheringham Parish Council High Street Metheringham LN4 3DZ.
Public Forum: Cllr Kendrick spoke of the reorganisation of the County Council
Cllr JW Spoke on police
Draft Minutes.
The Meeting continued in formal session under Standing Orders.
(In extenuating circumstances the Chairman may move the meeting out of formal session to allow a member of the public to speak).
1.Chairmans opening remarks together with housekeeping issues: The Chairman read the usual housekeeping issues
a) Brief explanation of the content of the meeting: including the proposed development.
2. To note apologies for absence: Cllr Fran Pembery; Cllr Terry Child; Cllr Mike Westerman; Cllr Keith Parker. District Cllr Dave Parry;. All duly noted.
3. Members Declarations of Interests:
a. Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting in accordance with Metheringham Parish Councils Code of Conduct: None.
b. Dispensations: To consider and accept dispensation request received by the Proper Officer from relevant members in accordance with Metheringham Parish Councils Code of Conduct: None requested.
c. Members are reminded to review and revise their declaration of interest form held by NKDC where any change of circumstances have occurred: Noted.
4.To ratify the draft minutes (for accuracy purposes only) of the following; The previous EOM minutes of the 14th May 2025 had previously been ratified.
5. Events working group interim report: Cllr CR informed Members while things were going well a formal meeting had not been held since the report of the 28th May 2025. A reoccurring agenda item. Action PO.
6. Village Hall Car park repairs: the PO reported the LCC Highways Volunteers are soon going to remedy the defective surface in the VH carpark. (update, work to commence 24th July 2025) Noted. Action PO & RFO for materials payment.
7. Proposed re-opening of the Fen Road Public Toilets: The Chairman reported a volunteer had been sourced to open and close the toilets (Cllr RC’s mother). The PO to ask the office cleaning contractor to clean them prior to reopening the facility ASAP. Action PO.
8. Planning matters:
a) Application 25/0679/FUL Land To The Rear Of 90 Princes’ Street adjacent to the Old Windmill Metheringham Lincoln: During a lengthy debate the block plans, together with the elevations and street scene plans of the proposed development which were on the table were studied by the Members in some detail. Concerns were raised about the access to the site. The effect the development will have on the Old Windmill and number 90 Princes’ Street, both being Grade II listed buildings, or in the curtilage of such. The stone and net gabion retaining wall was thought not to be in keeping with this development. The street scene plan had no existing built form superimposed on it, subsequently Members were unable to assess the visual impact this development will have on the existing built form. The introduction of alien facing and roofing materials was thought to be unacceptable in this historic village setting. The Chairman of the Council wondered if the developer had considered bringing in the access to this development from Quarry Close; these and other concerns were noted by the proper officer and it was resolved that the officer make representation to the LPA relating to the grave concerns members have about the imposition of this incongruous development into such a sensitive area of the village. Action PO to make a full response by 10th July 2025, circulated to Members (and posted on the Website)
b) Application Reference: 25/0721/PMA Prior Approval Development Change of use of ground floor front room from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) (Newsagents) to be included in the main dwelling (Use Class C3) at 54 High Street Metheringham Lincoln
The prior approval change of use of 54 High Street was debated and the only concern members had was the increased vehicle parking that could occur if the residence were converted from planning use class C3 to C4 under permitted development rights into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) it was resolved the PO relay this concern to the LPA. Action PO to make a response to the LPA.
c) Update on Section 106 payments. PO reported an update will be presented at the July Full Council meeting. Action PO & RFO.
9. Financial matters:
a) Lloyds Bank: progress noted.
b) Unity Trust Bank: progress noted.
c) Annual AGAR Return: noted the Notice of Rights had been posted on the notice boards and Website. Noted.
10. The Chairman will ask Members to resolve to move the meeting into closed session with the public and press excluded as set out in the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 12a of the Local Government 1972 for this particular occasion.
11.To update Members on Code of Conduct issues arising: as no resolutions were made this closed session information has been allowed to be disclosed at the Chairmans discretion.
The Chairman of the Council took this opportunity to inform Members of the position this Council and its Members are in relating to actions that have been instituted by the Monitoring Officer Kim Robertson, together with: Assistant MO Marcella Heath. Lisa Tidy Democratic Services Officer; the Independent Person; the CEO of the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils Katrina Evans and last but not least the Mediator who has been appointed too. All of the above are totally committed to help this Council become a far more unified and cohesive unit moving forward. He said he believed some of that cohesive environment had been achieved already.
12. Date of the next meeting. Tuesday 29th July 2025 at 615pm.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.55pm, thanked Members and Officers for their attendance and wished all present a safe journey home.