2019-20 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard’s Leap Parish Council

Minutes of the ordinary meeting of Cranwell, Brauncewell & Byard's Leap Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall, Old School Lane, Cranwell, on Monday 2 September 2019.

28 members of the public were in attendance.

At 7:00 pm the Chairman welcomed everybody to the meeting and in the absence of Mr Mark Heaton, Senior Project Manager at Lincolnshire County Council and Cty Cllr Mark Storer, she invited Wing Commander Mann to address the meeting.

Before Wg Cdr Mann spoke about the B1429 he briefly highlighted legislation on the flying of drones with restricted areas, these mainly being 2.5km from the centre of a runway and 5km from either end of a runway. He left a number of leaflets for residents to take away with them

In preparation for the meeting, he had been sent a list of queries and concerns the Clerk had received from a number of residents, from all parts of the parish. He went through the list and answered them from both an RAF perspective and a personal one.

1. What reason had the RAF given for the proposal? Security, speeding, road being used as a rat run between A15 and A17?

The RAF’s main reason was security and safeguarding. With the relocation of Basic Recruit Training from RAF Halton to RAF College Cranwell, there would be a significant rise in the number of under 18’s. Following a recent security review, there was an increase in concern over ‘lone wolf’ terrorists and this on one measure being considered.

The recent traffic survey carried out along the B1429 and at junctions with the A15 and A17, was at the request of the RAF. This was two-fold, one to ascertain how many vehicles use the road, giving an indication of how many road users might be affected and secondly, to determine what if any increase there was in HGV using the B1429 to as a rat run to bypass the weigh bridge was evident.

Wg Cdr Mann wanted to emphasise that the closure of the B1429, was one of a number of proposals which were all being investigated and no decision had yet been made. Such decisions could not be made until the analysis was available.

2. If security, will the whole camp be fenced off and if fenced off, could an underpass between the two camps be created, similar to RAF Halton, thus allowing for the road to stay open.

A substantial fence is one on the other options being considered, along with underpass.

3. Exactly where do they propose siting the checkpoints, Guardroom side, or Cherry Tree Crescent side of the zebra crossing?

It was expected that should the proposal be approved, the checkpoint, with vehicle control measure would be around the current Guardroom area as well as a large turning circle.

4. What consideration has been given to the impact of the proposal on the following:-
   • Emergency services - no impact on emergency services, they will be granted immediate access
   • School buses – no impact to school buses
   • Local call connect bus (only means of public transport for most people) – No access.
   • People bringing their children to school from the A17 direction as opposed to Cranwell Village – No access
   • Teachers accessing the school – No access
   • Access to Kidzone for parents etc. – passes could be issued as required
   • Refuse Collectors, Postmen, tradesmen and delivery drivers – in line with current procedures.
5. Impact on civilians living within the base as over the years the RAF have allowed their properties within the base surrounds to be sold to non RAF Personnel, and the building of Cherry Tree Crescent. They have also sold another parcel of land, the other side of the school, where more private housing will be built in the next couple of years. No impact as all properties will be outside the wire.

6. Would the RAF pay out on compensation claims, which would surely flood in, from civilians whose lives would permanently be disrupted by being made to ”turn left” every time they left their driveways even if they wished to travel to Ancaster (Doctor’s surgery), Grantham, Newark etc., and for the fact their homes would instantly be de valued? This was given as a personal point of view in as much as with the projected increase in personnel from around 2,500, to approximately 5,000 personnel, property values would more likely increase. The potential 2,500 increase in personnel did not mean there would be a similar increase in vehicles using the local roads. Many of these would be trainees, with little opportunity to leave camp and with many of the new families being ‘on camp’ there should be no significant increase in vehicle numbers.  
7. If you don’t want civilians living on the base are you going to buy out at market value and compensate every Family for removing them from their homes so that you can restore the homes within the base to RAF personnel only? The RAF have no plans to buy anybody’s homes. There were approximately 130 Service houses available on camp, along with a number around the Costcutter area, currently leased to a civilian company. As these agreements came to an end, these properties would return to MOD control.
8. Access to the A17 via the junction at Rauceby Lane will only add pressure to what is already a dangerous junction. It is very difficult to turn right onto the main road at the best of times. Those people wishing to access The High Dyke would more than likely shoot across the junction and access it via the lane into Rauceby which is only a single track road. The Rauceby villagers would not welcome the extra traffic. This is why RAF and LCC have been in discussion.  Wg Cdr Mann had driven Mark Heaton around all the roads  to show him how difficult access to the A17 and A15 are and suggested these junctions would be in need of improvements should the proposal go ahead. Wg Cdr Mann reiterated that decisions could not be made until the analysis was available.
9. LCC had intimated that the RAF would ‘fund’ the improvements. Wg Cdr Mann could not confirm who would be paying for what.
10. He was unable to comment on remarks made by Dr Caroline Johnson MP, at her recent MP surgery. She wasn’t aware of the proposal and had stated she would write to the Secretary of State for Defence for answers to a series of questions.

There being no further question, the Chairman thanked Wg Cdr Mann for his time. Wg Cdr Mann 25 members of the public left the meeting at 8:15 pm.

Public speaking: There were no questions from the remining members of the public. Cty Cllr Storer: Again absent and no written report submitted.

D/Cllr Clarke and D/Cllr Clegg: Over 7,500 homes in North Kesteven, Boston and South Holland will take part in a separate paper and cardboard collection trial this Autumn.

The year-long trial, run by the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, aims to boost the quality and amount of paper recycled. The new purple bins will be used for items including brochures, cardboard boxes and packaging (no polystyrene or bubble wrap), newspapers and magazines, junk mail and envelopes (with the plastic window in), catalogues, and paper. All residents should have received a letter explaining the new collection.

D/Cllr Clarke and D/Cllr Clegg left the meeting at 8:25 pm.

The Chairman declared the meeting open at 8:25 pm.

3.Notes of the ordinary meeting of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall on Monday 12 August 2019 to be approved as Minutes.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the notes of the ordinary meeting of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall on Monday 12 August 2019 as Minutes.

Proposed by Cllr Riley, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously. The Chairman signed the Minutes.

4.Financial Matters.

a.Receive a report on payments made between meetings.

Clerk salary, HMRC(PAYE/NI) and expenses               EB-0484/5/6          £  730.48

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments made since the last meeting. Proposed by Cllr Tyler, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously.

b.Approve the payment of invoices etc. as listed on the Payments to be Authorised sheet.

Matsons Electrical (Inv 470)                                  EB-0487        £ 132.00

Anglian Water(Acct**470- Playing Field)               DD                £   47.00

Anglian Water(Acct**5216-Old School)                 DD                £   24.50

BT Business Broadband                                        DD                £   65.04

                                                                              Total               £ 615.34

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the payments listed above. Proposed by Cllr Riley, seconded by Cllr Harper and approved unanimously.

c.Approve the bank reconciliation from the previous month.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation for August 2019. Proposed by Cllr Tyler, seconded by Cllr Harper and approved unanimously.

d.Consider the purchase of one, or two pairs of tennis net retaining rods. Action: The Council RESOLVED to purchase two set of tennis net retaining rods. Proposed by Cllr Harper, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously.

5.Planning Applications.

a.19/1203/TPO - T6 / T9 / T10 Wild Cherry – fell near 1 Cherry Tree Crescent, Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8GS. Comments required by 13 September 2019.

6.Receive reports from the Clerk in relation to Council matters.

It had been reported to the Clerk that during the torrential rain 27 August 2019, the Village Hall roof leaked, with water cascading down the interior south east portion of the wall adjacent to the fire door. The Village Hall Committee Chairman has asked that a roof assessment be carried out as soon as possible. It may just be a blocked drain or something more serious.

The Royal British Legion had advised the Clerk of significant changes to the Poppy Wreath ordering process for Remembrance Sunday. The Clerk would order one in accordance with the new procedure, using the historical amount of a £50.00 donation when ordering.

The new litter bin had been ordered, requesting at least 24 hours notice before delivery to enable the Clerk to be available to accept it. It would be stored in the portacabin prior to fitment.

Whilst Digby Services had confirmed the material to be used, the Clerk was still awaiting confirmation that the gap between the vertical lower bars was a standard spacing of 119mm between centres, in line with Building Regulations for anti-trap measures.

7.Receive reports from Councillor’s relating to responsibilities and outstanding tasks.

No resolutions may be passed under this item but requests for matters to be placed on the next agenda can be made.

Cllr Morris requested that any items for the October newsletter be forwarded to her as soon as possible.

Now that the Old School Romper Room back after the holidays Cllr Riley and Cllr Tyler were requested to introduce themselves to the Old School via Lyn Shaw, for dates of their meetings.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9:20 pm.