2021 September Annual Parish Meeting DRAFT MINUTES STILL TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of Fiskerton’s Annual Parish Meeting held on Monday 27 September 2021 at Fiskerton Village Hall.
(Note: all reports provided for this meeting are available to view on FPC’s website).
Present: Cllr C Darcel, and 24 residents.
Also in attendance: C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr A Welburn
Meeting started at 7pm.
1. Welcome from the Chairman of Fiskerton Parish Council:
All were welcomed; with it being noted that this was the first Annual Parish Meeting since April 2019. Due to the clerk’s absence, meeting papers were not available for the meeting, but all available reports will be published on the Parish Council website.
2. Apologies: Clerk (ill).
3. Declarations of interest: None
4. Minutes of the last parish meeting held on 15 April 2019:
Not available tonight, but will be included on the FPC website.
5. Chairman’s report on the activities of the Parish Council:
The Chairman gave his report.Cllr Walker responded to clarify various statements made by the Chairman within his report concerning: Langleys Solicitor’s report on the Village Hall and the signing of a lease document; risk assessments when the play area was reopened post-Covid lockdown; proposed village signs; graphics for both FPC’s letterhead and for proposed road signs; the artwork for both of which had been created by school children.Cllr Brereton then spoke regarding an alleged sports day on Holmfield Open Space.
A motion to accept the Chairman’s report was not supported as the report was considered to be too long and with too many discrepancies.Therefore, no resolution was made to accept it.It was then proposed by Cllr Wall, and seconded by Cllr Brereton, that the report was not accepted.There were no objections to this proposal.
6. Clerk’s financial report:
Cllr Brereton read out the financial report.
7. Report from Village Hall Roof Repair Committee:
Cllr Walker presented a report.
8. Report from Holmfield Open Space Consultation Committee:
Cllr Walker provided a report on progress to date regarding FPC becoming owners of the two open spaces on Holmfield. It was noted that this Committee has recently been established; and Cllr Walker summarised its aims of surveying residents about the open spaces; and seeking their ideas for the future to aid FPC in its planning for such time as when FPC has ownership of the land.
9. To receive ideas from residents for parish council work in 2022/23 (to feed into budget setting)
The following points were made by residents:
Consider ideas to raise money to help the village do what it wants to do.
VH Committee needs more members to allow it to expand on what it does.
Would like to see the grass cutting regime maintained throughout the village. Add into the contract the stretch of grass from Primetake towards Reepham up to the footpath.
Five Mile Bridge – hard to access for disabled residents. (Note: this is already being pursued, the difficulty is in establishing who owns it)
Who keeps grass on river bank cut? (Note: the Environmental Agency does).
10. To receive a report and statement of accounts from the trustees of Fiskerton Village Hall:
Cllr Wall and Cllr Walker both reported.
Cllr Wall also read out the Community Hub report.
11. To receive the Police report – Lincolnshire Police: No report available.
12. To receive the audited statement of accounts in respect of Hodgson’s Charity:
Report given by Cllr Wall.
13. To receive a report on Fiskerton Primary School:
Cllr Darcel read out a report from the school.
14. To receive a Neighbourhood Plan report – leader of the NP Group:
Cllr Darcel gave an update; including on the paddock.
15. To receive a report on Fiskerton’s History & Archaeology Group:
No report available due to lack of activity during Covid; but it is hoped that the Group will be back and active once the pandemic eases.
16. To receive a report from Neighbourhood Watch:
No report had been received.
17. Comments from your District Councillors:
D/Cllr Darcel – he noted that he had mentioned within the Chairman’s report above about granting the Village Hall Committee money.
D/Cllr Welburn – monthly reports are submitted to the Parish Council; and an annual report had been provided in May 2021. D/Cllr Welburn then gave an overview on WLDC finances; including to note that in recent years Government funding has significantly decreased whilst service demands have increased. The Covid pandemic has increased this challenging scenario. WLDC’s auditors have a high level of confidence; and an independent watchdog has given WLDC a clean bill of health.
She further reported that:
Grants are available to support local communities.
The running of Gainsborough Old Hall has been taken on by English Heritage.
There is a new Waste Transfer site at Caenby Corner
A new cultural strategy is in place.
D/Cllr Hill – nothing further to add.
18. Comments from your County Councillor:
C/Cllr Fleetwood noted:
The Lincoln Eastern Bypass has now opened; giving Fiskerton a much better connection over the River Witham.
The road into Short Ferry has been improved up to about the halfway point. Finances are being sought to be spent on the other end of this road.
He has put onto Facebook about PC Coaches’ recently extended service, on Mondays to Fridays on school days, which will benefit villagers.
19. Any questions from the public:
Points and questions were raised as follows:
Cllr Brereton gave a brief update on the recent ROSPA inspection report on the play area: noting that the only real issue is the boundary wall.
Will Council consider setting up a routine cleaning regime of the play area; and bus shelters?
Bird excrement can land on the play equipment; especially from birds in the trees. The trees also cause shade and moss growth; and could be removed to remove issue; with the option to replace with something more suitable for the location.
A lot of work goes into looking after our village, which isn’t always realised.
The village desperately needs a shop and a sports field.
Meeting ended at 9.21pm
Mrs Michelle Vail, Parish Clerk, 01/05/2022