2025 Minutes

BISHOP NORTON & ATTERBY PARISH COUNCIL

Record of the Parish Council meeting held in the village hall on Monday 14th July 2025 at 7.30pm. 

PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr Townsend (Chair,) Cllr Suggit, Cllr Freeman, Cllr Dean, Cllr Guy, Cllr Thody and Jayne Moore (Clerk.)

Public Question Time: There were 2 members of the public in attendance. 

1. Apologies for absence: No apologies received.

2. Minutes of the last meeting: Minutes of the May meeting accepted as a true record. All agreed.

3. Matters arising: None that won’t be covered in the agenda.

4. County & District Councillor Reports: Cllr Bunney arrived at 7.50pm.

There are two main things, digestate issues and community grants. 

If you have a major project, they are having to be committed/ spent by 31st March. If you have a future project, please submit an expression of interest form so it sits in the system. 

Issues with policing, biggest danger is that the policing does not seem to be going to traffic, rural speed or rural crime. Lots of fraud and town crimes, that is taking more time, money and resources. They are very keen that a fraud workshop/ coffee morning be made available to the local parish, all agreed that was a good idea. 

Karen Flear – We used to have a PCSO at our lunches (every other month, 2nd Wednesday in the month.) Cllr Bunney said that he could possibly come and book that in. 

Cllr Suggit – A15, any update? 

Cllr Bunney - the Grantham influence may ensure the A15 becomes part of the whole picture. 

JS – The new Hemswell AD plant means you encounter more tractor and tankers, increases the traffic and likelihood of accidents. 

Cllr Bunney – May be worth bringing that up at the meeting with Biotech4.

5.Declarations of interest; to receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011: 

Cllr Townsend, Cllr Suggit and Cllr Freeman declared in interest in item 12.

Clerk declared interest in item 9b.

6.  Planning Applications: None received since last meeting.

7. Community Resilience:

a) Flooding: None.

b) Update on ammonia detectors: Cllr Suggit, tried to research and contacted Nephew who understandably have ammonia detectors at his work and was interested in whether they have any moderately priced ones and whether he could get any instructions on what to do if they reach any particular level. On the level side of things, even with a basic read for ammonia they have to alert the plant safety officer and instigate the plant safety plan. How does this work with ammonia may be present on plant, he said it is still there. 

In our parish, if it has reached this level, then feed it into the system that it is present, and we need to obtain external advice from LCC. 

Arco in Hull was approached for a potential supplier of ammonia detector and only produce one, which is about £500+ VAT. They then pointed to a different shop who didn’t have any, again 3rd recommendation didn’t have one. Amazon – from £180.00 to £240.00.

A councillor asked does it have a closeness metreage/ radius capacity? Can be held by a member of the council, and if someone reports it 

Would someone from the plant be able to advise on a suitable detector. Smell periodically from the pigs and AD plant. 

Sourcing a detector is still not a guarantee that the Council will action or do anything. 

A councillor mentioned that March time seems to be the worst time of year. Don’t see an issue with waiting until the meeting with Biotech at our September meeting before making a purchasing decision.

Cllr Bunney has been in contact with various people, we are quite agitated with chicken farms with large units going around. The issue being disposal of bi-product and ammonia. A small amount is manageable but large should not be accepted. The ammonia doesn’t not seem to be part of planning. I have spoken to Cllr Duguid who is quite happy to go and visit the plant and discuss with him and Biotech4. Bishop Norton and Atterby seem to be the most concerned. The suggestion could be made of the monitoring and assurance of that monitoring being done. There are other sources of funding you could apply for. 

It was decided that there wasn’t of immediate urgency. 

If environmental health comes out, we need assurance that a reading will be taken on board and relevance. 

There are community funding, small amount of money, project to possibly get more than one. Could put in an expression of interest to WLDC. 

The human impact of ammonia should be shared at the next meeting. 

We can advertise their attendance and inform parishioners. 

c) Feedback on resilience: None. 

8. Playing field improvements including report from parent group:  

Lucy attended. 

Cllr Townsend reported that Lucy, Amy, Ros and Jayne are on the sub-committee. 

Historically the PC had a Wicksteed quote for a revised quote. Quote for standard slide and swing and sourced with an additional provider, but nothing is comparing at the moment. All includes the swings, baby, additional pieces of additional with parent/ disability 

The next sub-committee meeting is booked for 28th July.

All quotes provided are within the budget, including benches as well. 

Cllr Townsend reported that she has been looking into the insurance and our current insurance policy, with our own needing addition such as child protection and safeguarding. 

Quotes include safety matting, installation, life long guarantee, safety barriers. Included 33% discount but with a carrier charge. 

Material was metal. Wood was looked into but the cost was far exceeding and long term treatment would ensure it is there and not needing replacement for a long time. Vandalism of wooden play equipment has occurred in local areas. 

Talking to other parents, at this moment in time other input has not been sourced. 

Thanks were given to the sub-committee. 

9. Finance update: (See RFO finance report): 

a) Clerk circulated the report beforehand. No comments made. 

b) Invoice raised for planter bases. Councillors approved this agreed the clerk can pay the invoice.

Ask Ian Moore Contracting if he can cut back the hedge. Margrave to be contacted prior just to inform. 

10. PCC Grant response: Response received from Brian. The PCC were grateful for the donation and accepted the conditions stated by the PC.

11. Defibrillator update: Defibrillator in Atterby installed. Colin is happy to look after it and Mr Townsend doing the monthly checks. Atterby parishioners pleased there is this facility. 

A few years ago a defibrillator training session was held in the village hall. 

Cllr Dugiud has sponsored us with £250 for Lives to give us update training. Cllr Townsend has emailed the West Lindsey email address, but no responses given. The lady at WLDC has not yet received the paperwork back from Cllr Duguid. 

September time seemed an appropriate time to conduct the training. Aimed at Atterby parishioners but Bishop Norton too, no capping on numbers. Weekend date to be suggested to allow working people to attend.

No invoice received as yet for the defibrillator.

12. Ditch clearance on Stonepit Lane: 

Cllr Suggit hasn’t spoken to Justin yet as he has not seen him. This is ongoing.

K Flear – The ditch, we clear our bit out. One thing needs to be noted, it is a stone bed so a digger will make it worse than it is now. The other thing is Neil has offered to do it free of charge but issue is where to get rid of the stuff/ debris. 

It was confirmed by a councillor that the cost was not going to be passed on the allotment holders and the PC would absorb the cost this year.

It was agreed that we should continue to pursue with Justin as a first instance as he would be able to get rid of the debris remaining. 

K Flear also reported that Anglian Water came the other day for a full day. Saw him with the manhole up across from their house. Had both manhole lids up on Well Street. The Anglian Water engineer was up and down all day. Neil suggested he looked from the cottage and only 1 septic tank for the 3 cottages is in place. He was putting dye in and managed to get into the septic tank which dye was put in too. The dye came out from the cottages. He was going to report back his findings. 

It was confirmed that earlier this year an email was sent them to WLDC about this and clearly nudged Anglian Water. This has been an issue for years, main drains were installed in 2010. 

13. Update on grass strip in front of playing field:

a) Ownership query: Clerk has been in touch with highways and spoke to Martin Snaith about potentially installing some kind of hard standing for parking in front of the playing field.

Clerk mentioned to Cllr Bunney about this. Clerk to email Cllr Bunney with details on. 

b) Signage update: Clerk received information around the signage from Martin Snaith and shared that the PC’s request for ‘children playing, slow down’ signs would be referred to ‘Signs and lines’ department. However, the suggestion was we source our own as this may take some time. 

14. Village flower boxes update: 

The planters have all now been installed. The PC shared how nice they are looking. 

Pingle Lane planter has been planted up already.

Cllr Townsend explained that the PC’s insurance policy states that the risk assessment needs to be taught to any volunteers including providing any hi-vis. Any volunteers can read and sign a waiver. All agreed to that arrangement. 

Atterby planter remains vacant and needs people to fill and look after it. Cllr Thody agreed to ask Atterby residents. It was suggested that we also advertise if anyone has any spare plants they could donate to the planters. Cllr Freeman offered to fill any gaps by purchasing plants if needed.

Hi-vis jackets should be made readily available upon request. PC already have some in the resilience box. Each planter to have a nominated person to be able to contact upon request. 

1. Silca and Sue Waite – Atterby Lane

2. Margerot Leek, Jane Dunn - Stonepit Lane

3. Teresa Guy – Glentham Road

4. Terri – Atterby Lane

5. Atterby – Vacant (Cllr Thody to help coordinate)

Clerk to build in strimming around the planters in the ground maintenance specification and inform the contractor. 

15. Removal of the 3G service: 

Cllr Freeman shared that 3G removal is happening in the village. He had looked throughout the day at his 3G/4G . 

3G is going away completely. 2G is staying in place until 2033, but this is a much slower service. It is a national thing but concern around whether we have good enough 4G in the village. 

Certain devices such life alerts run on 3G only. The gate for the gated community is based on 3G so will need to be looked at. 

Should something be put in the Triangle to warn the parishioners. Cllr Freeman to draw up a piece by 13th August.  

16. Correspondence: 

Cllr Guy confirmed that the filing cabinet was granted to be in the village hall back store cupboard.

Car parking at the village hall – The Village Hall committee are looking into the insurance so this is still ongoing. 

17. Items for next Meeting: Biotech4 visit, playing field project, defibrillator training, ditch clearance, flower box waivers, flood sign storage, village event, parish Councillor vacancy.

22. Date of next Meeting: Monday 1st September 2025 at 7.30pm.

Chairperson thanked all in attendance and meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Chairperson signed……………………………………….    Date: ……………………….