NPSG October 2023 Minutes
Grasby, Searby cum Owmby Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
Meeting Number: 8 Date: 25th October 2023
Location: Village Hall, Grasby Time: 19:00
Attendees:
Chris Mead (Chairman)
Janet Brown (Treasurer)
Nick Harrison
Tim Phipps
Rob Bennett
Julie Turnbull
Mike Downing
Cllr Peter Morris
Cllr Tom Smith
Steve Riley (Secretary)
Apologies: Bethany Johnson
Agenda:
1. Actions from last meeting
2. Progress since last meeting
3. Survey results and analysis
4. Community engagement
5. Sustainability - Clive Wilson (Bigby Parish Council)
6. Any other business
7. Actions arising and next meeting
Major Points of Discussion
1. Actions from last meeting
1.4 Chris to circulate current land use map available from the Parish Council. Ongoing. Chris to arrange a meeting to hand over details so Steve can progress.
Action: CM / SR 1.4
4.4 Ideas to increase survey participation amongst the younger community. Completed. We are to run a short story and picture competition for different age groups towards the end of January 2024.
4.6 The criteria for analysing the survey responses will be developed after the initial responses have been received. Completed. Chris presented the criteria and the analysis of the responses received (see Attachment A).
5.5 Chris to speak to Nev Brown to see how best to engage with Caistor (and other parishes) to gain some pointers and share experience on the Neighbourhood Planning exercise. Ongoing.
Action: CM 5.5
5.6 Steve to liaise with the Village Hall committee to arrange a ‘post-it’ meeting at the hall. Now thought likely to be December or January. Date to be decided once the survey analysis has been completed. On hold.
Action: SR 5.6
6.3 The Terms of Reference for the NP steering group has been updated. Janet will seek approval from the Grasby Parish Council and likewise Tim from the Searby cum Owmby Parish committee. Ongoing.
Action: JB / TP 6.3
7.1 The funding application to support the Neighbourhood Plan needs to be submitted. Ongoing. See agenda item 2.
Action: JB / CM 7.1
7.2 Rob will identify the ‘rights of way’ and listed buildings in both parishes. Completed. See Attachment B.
7.3 Jullie and Bethany will identify views in the parishes to be considered for protection from development in the neighbourhood plan. Ongoing. Julie has taken pictures of views in the Grasby parish which she will share in digital format. The same needs to be done in Searby cum Owmby.
Action: JT / BJ 7.3
7.4 Steve will gather information on the history of the parishes. Ongoing. Dick Pike produced a short history of Grasby (see Attachment C). Steve to contact David Lyle to progress the same for Searby cum Owmby.
Action: SR 7.4
7.5 Mike to gather information on the flora and fauna in the parishes such populations, rarity and locations. Completed. Roy Harvey does not believe any rare or special plants or animals live within the two parishes. Hence, a general review of the wildlife and plants to be found in the parishes will be made in the NP.
7.6 We should publish a link to the monthly minutes of the steering group on the Grasby and the Searby Facebook pages Nick and Tim will speak to the relevant site administrators. Ongoing.
Action: NH / TP 7.6
7.7 The government targets for new builds in the parishes were 10 for Grasby and 2 in Searby cum Owmby. Completed. Peter confirmed there are now no targets for new housing in the parishes resulting from a recent change in government policy. Peter will share a link with the group providing more information on this change.
Action: PM 8.1
2. Progress since last meeting
2.1 To complete the funding application to support the Neighbourhood we need quotes from potential consultants to produce:
• A Housing Needs Assessment for both parishes
• A Design Guide
Chris will progress.
Action: CM 8.2
2.2 The lead time for the processing funding applications after submission is about one month.
2.3 Should we be successful in gaining funding support all monies need to be spent before the end of the financial year (March 31st, 2024). Any money not spent by this date will must be returned.
2.4 It is not yet known if any new government funding will be made available for the next financial year.
2.5 It is believed that Grasby Parish Council last produced a Housing Needs Assessment around 2008. Rob will search out the document and share with the group.
Action: RB 8.3
3. Survey results and analysis
3.1 Chris has produced an Excel spreadsheet containing an analysis of all the information provided by residents in the 82 initial surveys received by the group. The information in the spreadsheet can be presented by individual parish or both (see Attachment A)
3.2 The group were requested to review the analysis to identify additional questions to clarify resident responses and/or resolve ambiguities in the initial overall findings. Note: It is anticipated that a follow-up survey will be conducted with parish residents in the new year.
Action: All 8.4
3.3 Chris will share the analysis with Nev Brown.
4. Community engagement
4.1 From a general discussion on community engagement and preparations for a public ‘post-it’ meeting the following points were agreed:
• Prizes for the short story/picture youth competition will be decided later. All ideas welcome from the group.
• To publicise the competition, we should contact the school, scouts, cubs and beavers early in the new year.
• A leaflet announcing the competition will be needed. Mike, Nick and Steve to produce a draft for review by the group before the end of the year.
Action: MD / NH / SR 8.5
• Peter to provide information on any Tree Preservation Orders and Character Assessments currently in place in the parishes.
Action: PM 8.6
• Tom will provide information to Julie on the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service (LWCS) who produce and distribute public information on activities in the county.
Action: TS 8.7
• Julie to devise a series of walks in the parishes that could be publicised by the LWCS.
Action: JT 8.8
• There is a government website which provides authoritative geographic information about the natural environment covering rural, urban, coastal and marine locations across Great Britain. Link -> Magic Maps
• The initial survey identified four landowners in the parishes that could be approached to discuss housing or business development.
5. Sustainability - Clive Wilson (Bigby Parish Council)
5.1 Chris welcomed Clive Wilson to the group to conduct a short presentation on the work undertaken in Bigby to identify options to achieve a net zero carbon footprint in the parish. A zero-waste initiative was conducted focusing on providing locally sourced energy to heat homes and reduce the impact of transportation.
5.2 Clive presented a strategic pathway, produced with the help of the ARUP Group, on various options to generate local energy. The results were very encouraging with the potential of providing significant amounts of solar power (approx.78 MWAC) by utilising the land at the parish’s disused quarry. This is enough to power around 60,000 homes and provide an annual income in the region of £150 million if sold on the wholesale energy market at today’s prices.
5.3 Substantial users of electricity in the area, including neighbouring towns, villages and local businesses such as the garden centre, airport and potato store, were approached to gage interest in taking energy from the potential development.
5.4 Regrettably, the initiative hit a major obstacle when approaching Northern Power who are unable to provide sufficient capacity on the grid to support the potential amount of energy generated.
5.5 Smaller projects to support the 700kW used by the 100 homes in Bigby are now being considered.
5.6 The opportunity for our parishes to work in collaboration with the Bigby parish on mutually beneficial initiatives such as energy sustainability, community wellbeing, place and general group activities is always open. Debbie Cowling, chair of the Bigby parish council, is the first point of contact.
5.7 It was noted that Bigby parish currently does not have a Neighbourhood Plan.
5.8 Clive mentioned a website that can estimate the size of the carbon footprint in Grasby and Searby cum Owmby. He will endeavour to send a link to the group.
Action: CW 8.9
6. Any other business
None.
7. Actions arising and next meeting
7.1 The actions of this meeting were agreed by all those involved.
7.2 The next proposed steering group meeting is to be held at 19:00 on Wednesday 29th November at the Village Hall.
Note: There will be no steering group meeting in December. The first meeting in 2024 is proposed for Wednesday 10th January.
