Neighbourhood Plan Sets Out Aspirations for the Future of Nettleham

Residents in Nettleham have officially submitted its Neighbourhood Plan to West Lindsey District Council.

The much anticipated plan which has taken three years to create sets out the future housing requirements as well as identifying sites suitable for development.

It’s the first in West Lindsey to consider environmental impact and to allocate sites accordingly. Environmental specialists who live and work within the community were also consulted.

John Evans, chair of the Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee thanked the committee for working hard on the plan and said it felt fantastic to hand it the district council. He said:

“The overall theme of the plan makes sure any new developments fit with the character of Nettleham. People in the village are very passionate about the place they live and we’ve been very impressed with the response.”

The committee has included policies about open space, design, affordable housing and infrastructure.

Key recommendations include:

• That a green wedge of land between the village and Lincoln remains,
• Development is of a sustainable nature 
• A number of small developments are in place in order to gradually integrate newcomers

West Lindsey will now look at the plan before sending it on to an independent inspector to be examined. Once the plan is adopted it will form part of the planning consideration for the village when determining future planning applications.

Now it’s time for residents to have their say on the plan.

West Lindsey District Cllr Giles McNeill, who represents Nettleham praised those that people that have dedicated their time to the plan. He added:

“Now is the time for residents, particularly those who don’t necessarily live in Nettleham, perhaps in neighbouring parishes, to have their say.”

There are currently nine neighbourhood plans underway in West Lindsey. The district council is encouraging other communities to get involved in the process.

Neighbourhood plan champion at the district council, Cllr Steve England said:

“Neighbourhood Plans are extremely important and it’s great to see West Lindsey support them.

“There’s been ideas shared with the Welton Neighbourhood plan alongside this work and this collaboration has made sure of its success. It’s also had the support of the Department for Communities and Local Government which is ideal in progressing plans forward.”

The Nettleham Neighbourhood Plan will be available for public comment from Friday 5th June until Friday 17th July 2015. If people wish make comments on the proposed plan, then they can by visiting www.west-lindsey.gov.uk and searching for Neighbourhood Plans.  Alternatively, they can email luke.brown@west-lindsey.gov.uk for a copy of the document and response form.

Nettleham Parish Council To Object to County Council Library Proposals

Last night Nettleham Parish Council decided to join with other parish, town and district councils across Lincolnshire in objecting to proposals brought forward by Lincolnshire County Council.

Lincolnshire County Council, like other local authorities across England, are dealing with a difficult financial settlement from central government. Substantial reductions, savings or new revenue stream need to be found to balance the authority's budget.

Among the ways to achieve this is a cut of 31% to the Library Service budget, which will require a reconfiguration of the service away from a local authority model to a model with greater community engagement, through the use of volunteers running libraries in rural areas. Nettleham is one library that the county council would like to see run by volunteers.

Nettleham Parish Council held an Extraordinary Meeting at Nettleham Village Hall, Brookfield Avenue to consider the county council's proposals. Cllr. Terry Williams, the Chairman opened the meeting and explained how the meeting would be conducted. He introduced his fellow councillors, the council's officers and welcome 35 members of the public. The Chairman outlined the county council's proposals before welcoming Mr. Gary Porter, from the Library Service, and Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway, Conservative (Nettleham & Saxilby Division) to answer questions from the public.

Questions were asked about the process that political leaders would be taking, the county council's need to make spending reductions, difficulties at pilots with regard to volunteer access to computerised library management systems, the effect on reading groups and disabled access to alternative mobile library provision.

Following the question and answer session, Mr. Porter left the meeting. Residents were then given the opportunity to make their views on the proposals, all universally against the proposed changes.

Cllr. Mrs. Brockway made a statement, she outlined that she had been working hard to dissuade her colleagues at the county council from pursuing this policy and was not prepared to support it. She stated she was really please with the quality and thoughtfulness of the comments made by local residents and that it gave her encouragement.

Finally the members of the Parish Council would debate and discuss the matter. Each Parish Councillor spoke. Cllr. Malcolm Leaning - who is also a district councillor - Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward), harked back to his use and the arrangements of the bookcase at the Church Institute in the village.

Cllr. Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward), also a district councillor, spoke in favour of objecting to the county council's proposals. He said:

"There are plenty of arguments about the specific proposal for Nettleham and the proposals more generally. I would like to offer another option for those campaigning against these proposals to pursue. The County Council is run by a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Independents and the largest group is the Conservatives.

"The Liberal Democrats' manifesto from march makes no mention of the Library Service. However the Conservative Manifesto said this: 

"We will encourage more people to play their part in stronger communitites by encouraging volunteering and neighbourliness as well as a greater use of public buildings such as schools and libraries where approriate.  

"We Promise to... Continue a countywide library network with better access and opening hours. 

"I was Jackie's Agent in the recent local elections and Agent for nine other county candidates across the district, eight of the ten were elected. I have to say I am ashamed that so little regard is being paid to the promises made so recently."

Cllr. McNeill also stated that, following debate at the district council on the preceding Monday evening, he had joined the working party at West Lindsey District Council that would be submitting the district council's response to the proposals.

Cllr. Joseph Siddall described the 'consultation  document' as 'an insult to the word'. Whilst Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton, the Deputy Chairman of the Parish Council, wanted the county council to 'react positively to the public out cry and reconsider their position', however, she said she was 'a bit disappointed with the turnout tonight'.

Finally Cllr. Williams, address the meeting as a member of the Council, not in his capacity as Chairman, describing the proposal saying that the '31% reduction is wholly unreasonable' and that he hoped that as the provision of libraries was a statutory requirement that a case might be brought against the county council to the high court on the grounds that the decision was 'irrational', citing the use of the word in the case of the Police and Crime Commissioner's Suspension of the Chief Constable.

The Parish Council resolved to object in the strongest possible terms to the proposals for Nettleham Library and, without prejudice, would form a working party to put forward an expression of interest in a community led library bid for Nettleham; although it was made clear that this was a fall back position.

Parish Council Summary of Appointments

Nettleham Parish Council, at it's Annual Parish Council meeting, on Wednesday evening, made a string of both internal and external appointments. First off was the re-election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Cllr. Terry Williams and Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton respectively.

The council undertook a new system of electing councillors to the various committees and outside bodies.

In previous years there had usually not been sufficient interest from members of the council and so positions were filled without a contest. Last year however, after a somewhat difficult set of exchanges, the committees were eventually decided. It was therefore agreed that for the current year as ballot would be held to determine committee memberships.

The members of Nettleham Parish Council's Committees for 2010/11, as elected at the meeting, are:

Property Committee

• Cllr. John Downs
• Cllr. Alf Frith
• Cllr. John Hill
• Cllr. Giles McNeill
• Cllr. Mike Spencer

Planning Committee

• Cllr. John Downes
• Cllr. John Evans
• Cllr. John Hill
• Cllr. Giles McNeill
• Cllr. Mike Spencer

Field Path Committee

• Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton
• Cllr. Mrs. Susan Harland

Parish Plan Action Committee

• Cllr. John Evans
• Cllr. Joe Siddall

Mulsanne Park Users Committee

• Cllr. John Downs
• Cllr. Mrs. Susan Harland
• Cllr. Giles McNeill

Nettleham Parish Council also made a number of appointments to outside bodies for 2010/11, as elected at the meeting, they are:

Village Hall Committee

• Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton
• Cllr. Giles McNeill
• Cllr. Joe Siddall

Nettleham Infant School Board of Governors

• Cllr. Giles McNeill

Nettleham Twinning Association

• Cllr. Mrs. Susan Harland

Flood Wardens

• Mrs. Frances Buckle
• Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton

Skate Park Steering Group

• Cllr. Joe Siddall
• Cllr. Alan Bonney
• Cllr. Mrs. Susan Harland

New Nettleham Parish Council Elected

The following twelve persons have been elected as Parish Councillors for Nettleham Parish Council, to fill twelve vacancies:

 

1. Cllr. Allan Bonney, Re-elected.
2. Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton (Vice-Chairman of the Council), Re-elected.
3. Cllr. John Downs (Chairman of the Property Committee), Re-elected.
4. Cllr. John Evans (Chairman of the Parish Plan Steering Committee), Re-elected.
5. Mr. Alf Frith, Returning after a one year absence.
6. Cllr. Mrs. Susan Harland, Re-Elected.
7. Cllr. John Hill (Chairman of the Planning Committee), Re-elected.
8. Cllr. Malcolm Leaning, Re-elected.
9. Cllr. Giles McNeill (Chairman of the Mulsanne Park Users Committee), Re-elected.
10. Mr. Joe Siddall, NEW
11. Cllr. Michael Spencer, Re-elected.
12. Cllr. Terry Williams (Chairman of the Council), Re-elected.

The following persons will retire from the Parish Council:

• Cllr. Mrs. Valerie Darbyshire, after five years of service.
• Cllr. Mrs. Stephanie Rouse, after one year of service.