January 2024 Minutes
Minutes of the Dunston Parish Council Meeting - Monday 8th Jan 2024
Present: Cllrs Russ McLuckie, Paul Duncan, Brian Lamyman, Steve Rankin, Linda Phillipson, Rachel Pellew. LDC Cllr Kendrick, NKDC Cllr Parry, Clerk to the council Tom Barbour and approximately 60 members of the public.
Mr. Ed Greaves gave a presentation to the room about the proposal to build a further 17 houses on the site on Fen Lane during which he tried to reassure the audience that the drainage from the site could not contribute to future flooding events caused by Dunston Beck. A Q&A session followed with major concerns being raised by members of the audience.
Cllr Parry assured the room that the planning application would be considered very carefully especially in light of the flooding events of the last 3 months.
Cllr Kendrick reaffirmed that LCC retain the lead role on flooding in the county.
Mr Roger Hall suggested that the PC consider releasing some of its contingency funds in light of the flooding in the village.
Council Session
24001 Apologies for absence: Cllrs Armstrong and Treece.
24002 Receive members’ declarations of disposable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests in relation to any agenda item.
Action: No Changes
24003 The minutes of the previous meeting on 13th Nov were agreed as a true record.
24004 The village emergency plan is nearing completion.
Action: SR EPC
24005 The chairman reported that the digestor planned for Blankney Fen was to be reduced in size from 16 tanks to 4 and at a reduced height. The Task & Finish group within Blankney PC will continue in place.
24006 Mr Patrick Packwood has accepted a post to assist in maintaining the village assets.
24007 It was resolved to accept the generous offer of mains electricity for the lights on the Xmas tree for 2024.
24008 It was decided not to make any comments on the planning application 23/1403/FUL
24009 It was resolved unanimously that the Parish Council would submit a formal objection to the proposal to build any more houses on the Fen Lane site (planning application 23/1462/OUT) until such time as Anglian Water had successfully solved the sewage problem currently blighting the lives of so many of the street’s residents. It was further resolved to object also on the basis that the proposal falls so far outside the current Dunston Neighborhood Plan.
Action: RM
24010 It was agreed to hold a village event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings on 6th June 2024.
24011 It was resolved to contact Highways again about siting the post so that the speed sensor and display can be mounted as soon as practicable.
Action: PD
24012 The upgrade of the access from Meadow Road to the playing field had been agreed and it was decided to lay a pedestrian hardcore track.
24013 It was agreed to reimburse Cllr Duncan £72.95 for his expenditure replacing unserviceable lights and batteries for the village Xmas tree.
Action: TB
24014 There are further repairs required to a fence gate on the playing field and to the zip-wire.
Action: All/PP
24015 After discussion the PC will consider the future of the fenced section of the playing field.
Action: All
24016 The provision of bases for the picnic tables is still ongoing.
Action: KG
24017 The village hall roof had been repaired but a further ingress of rainwater had been reported. It was agreed to contact DP Wilkinson to request a further visit.
Action: SR
24018 The proposal to purchase a concrete outdoor table tennis table for the playing field was agreed in principle and costs to be provided for the next meeting.
Action: TB
24019 Salaries since the last meeting, land registry fees and email support invoices were agreed for payment.
Action: TB
24020 The Precept for year 24/25 was agreed with no increase in the sum sought from each household.
24021 Expenditures and account holdings will be displayed in a spreadsheet for future meetings.
Action: TB
Next Meeting: Mon 12h February 2024 at 1900. Dunston Village Hall.