April 2023 Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Fiskerton Parish Council, held on Thursday 20th April 2023 at 7.00pm in Fiskerton Village Hall.
Present: Cllrs A Walker, C Hill, J McGeachie, K Brereton, D/Cllr A Welburn, Mrs M Vail (Clerk). Seven members of the public also in attendance.
Absent: Cllr P Whitt
Meeting started at 7.06pm.
095/23 Open session: suspend standing orders for 15 minutes for residents to speak:
One resident thanked the Parish Council for nominating himself as a Trustee of the Hodgson Trust Charity; before confirming that a nominated person does not have to be a Parish Councillor. He then gave an overview of the Trust’s accounts; which will be available for the next meeting once they have been audited. Cllr A Walker advised that the Parish Council has requested a copy of the Trust’s constitution.
The same resident then advised that the ground which the allotments occupy is owned by the Hodgson Trust; and is rented to the Parish Council. The Trust has been advised that it should increase the rental charges to the Parish Council to order to ‘do right’ by the Charity. Historically, the current grazing field had been allotments; but was grassed over as allotments on that land had not been in demand at that time. However, if the Parish Council decides to reintroduce more allotments, then it can do so.
Cllr A Walker then explained that the allotment rents to tenants would not be raised this year as the rent review, which had been due in December with the Hodgson Trust, had not taken place. The allotment site has been allowed to self-run for many years; but the Parish Council plans to actively manage them in the future. A Parish Council has a duty to provide allotments if requested to do so, and if it is able to do so.
There then followed comments and discussion between members of the public and Councillors. There is a waiting list for plots; and many of those present requested a return of the grazing land to allotment plots. A recent Facebook post had caused some upset and distress; and a request was made to contact the Clerk in the first instance, or attend a Parish Council meeting to raise such matters in future. The following possible actions were then suggested:
In the short-term: Cllr A Walker to meet current users; waiting list to be reviewed; and if required, to advertise locally to gauge interest. Longer-term: to create and deliver a plan to develop plots; and hold a suggested two meetings a year with plot holders.
One resident suggested an Association to run the site.
096/23 Apologies for absence: Cllr C Darcel
097/23 Declaration of interests: Cllr C Hill in respect of item 11 as she sits on WLDC’s Planning Committee.
098/23 Approve notes of meeting of 16th February 2023 as a true record:
Item deferred from previous meeting as Cllr C Darcel had thought a decision had not been recorded in the draft minutes. A subsequent check by the Clerk had found no missing information, therefore RESOLVED to accept the draft minutes as a true record. Action: Clerk.
099/23 Approve notes of meeting of 16th March 2023 as a true record:
RESOLVED to accept the draft minutes as a true record. Action: Clerk.
100/23 To receive observations of the District and County Councillors:
D/Cllr A Welburn – the April 2023 report had been circulated. As D/Cllr A Welburn is stepping down from the Cherry Willingham Ward at the May 2023 elections, she was thanked for her years of help, support and advice.
D/Cllr C Hill – As this is her last meeting as a District Councillor; she was also thanked.
101/23 Chairman’s report:
Coronation Bookmarks: these have arrived and a decision is required regarding how to distribute them. Following consideration, RESOLVED, if allowed, to use the Fiskerton News delivery team otherwise Councillors will deliver to each household themselves. Action: Cllr A Walker to liaise with Fiskerton News editor.
Cllr C Darcel had advised of a complaint which he had received concerning parking on the road outside the village hall on 17th April 2023. The VHMC are aware and are addressing the issue; and Cllr C Darcel has been asked to forward the complaint onto the VHMC.
Tree work is scheduled to take place in the play area on 29th April 2023. RESOLVED to use monies from the Village Hall Maintenance Reserve to pay for this work.
A Freedom of Information request has been received. RESOLVED that the clerk ask the requestor if they will be amenable to receiving a response after the May meeting, which will allow for the Parish Council to formally approve the information package to be issued. Action: Clerk
At this point in the meeting, it was RESOLVED to bring forward items 13 and 23:
Item 13: Email from tenant ref. grazing land
Item 23: Allotments - proposed site visit with plot holders; Hodgson Trust request for rent review
Noted that the above two items had been discussed within the Public Session at the start of the meeting; and that there was nothing further to add.
102/23 FINANCE
a. To note the following payments/receipts schedule for March 2023: Noted.
PAYMENTS
* Clerk, salary, March, £461.73
* PAYE, March, £52.40
* Pension, March, £152.33
* Clerk, paper, £19.00
* Sage, payroll & accounts package, March, £19.00 + £3.80 VAT = £22.80
* Virgin media call package, March, £9.45 + £1.88 VAT = £11.33
* Virgin Media, phone handset, March, £7.00
* Smith of Derby, village clock maintenance, £702.00 + £140.40 = £842.40
* Dropbox, upgrade to 2TB storage space, £79.90 + £15.98 = £95.88
* TSO Host, domain fee, £7.95 + £1.59 = £9.54
* Insignia, Coronation bookmarks, £670.00 + £134.00 VAT = £804.00
* Fiskerton village hall, Coronation event grant, £500.00
TOTAL = £2680.76 + £297.65 = £2978.41
RECEIPTS
* Interest, March, £59.68
* EDF, £124.05
TOTAL = £183.73
b. To resolve to approve payment of the following accounts for April 2023:
RESOLVED to approve payment of the accounts listed below. Action: Clerk
* Clerk, salary, April, £461.73
* PAYE, April, £52.40
* Pension, April, £159.95
* Sage, payroll & accounts package, April, £19.00 + £3.80 VAT = £22.80
* Virgin media call package, April, £9.45 + £1.88 VAT = £11.33
* Virgin Media, phone handset, April, £7.00
* Village Hall hire, Jan and Feb meetings, £48.00
* Glendale, grass cutting, £249.79 + £49.96 VAT = £299.75
TOTAL = £1007.32 + £55.64 = £1062.96
c. Review asset register:
Following review, it was RESOLVED:
o To write off two printers which were disposed of during repair work to the village hall roof
o Add in the Holmfield Open Spaces land
o To dispose of a filing cabinet donated in 2022
o Add in two defibrillators
Action: Clerk to update asset register.
Assets are currently depreciated by 15% per annum. After consideration, RESOLVED to adopt a straight-line depreciation model, and backdate the asset register to 2017-18. Action: Clerk
d. Review financial risk assessment:
RESOLVED to accept the reviewed financial risk assessment.
PLANNING: to consider and agree actions as required:
104/23 Neighbourhood Plan: No update available.
105/23 CLLP – Inspection Report, any update on approaches to Welton residents' group, and Cllr Owen Bierley:
No responses have been received. The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan was formally adopted by the Joint Strategic Planning Committee on 13 April 2023. It replaces the first Central Lincolnshire Local Plan adopted in 2017. This means that 122 homes to the north of Ferry Road are now locked into the Plan.
Following a query about possible planning gain, noted that the Parish Council has contacted the Church Commissioners via Savills, but the former has not been forthcoming.
106/23 146444: Planning application for construction of boiler room and utility feed cupboard: LOCATION: Old Hall Chapel Road Fiskerton Lincoln LN3 4HD:
Cllr C Hill abstained from taking part in or voting on this item. RESOLVED with one abstention (CH) that there are no objections. Action: Clerk
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:
107/23 Letter from VHMC - increase in hourly hire rate by £2 an hour, to £14 per hour from May 1st 2023 – approve sign and return of revised hire agreement form:
RESOLVED to approve signing and return of the revised hire agreement form. Action: Clerk
At 8.09pm, D/Cllr A Welburn left the meeting.
108/23 Email from tenant ref. grazing land:
Item mentioned under Open Session at the start of the meeting.
NEW ITEMS: to consider and agree actions as required:
109/23 Suggestions for use of Woodlands Trust Reserves monies:
Some money is being held in a Woodlands Trust Reserve budget pot; kindly donated several years ago by a previous councillor. Initial suggestions for its use are to purchase a village bench, or to donate the money towards a potential project as suggested by the Witham Valley Access Group, to improve the Nelson Road – river footpath. The options will be discussed with the donator. Item to be discussed at a later meeting.
110/23 Annual Parish Meeting banners – approve quote for 3 date labels of £25.13 + VAT:
RESOLVED to approve purchase of three banner date labels. Action: Clerk
111/23 Approve reviewed Standing Orders:
RESOLVED, with an amendment to increase the number of councillors who can request a special motion, to be increased from 2 to 3, to approve the reviewed Standing Orders.
Action: Clerk
112/23 Approve reviewed Financial Regulations:
Cllr A Walker noted several improvements that can be made to FPC’s controls. RESOLVED to approve the reviewed Financial Regulations; with the improvements to be introduced in the 2023/24 financial year. Action: Cllr A Walker, Clerk
UPDATE REPORTS: to consider and agree actions as required:
113/23 Draft constitution documents for Village Hall: car park agreement, play area agreement, and Village Hall Management Committee constitution – any update from Charity Commissioners:
No update available. Cllr A Walker expects to circulate all relevant information and documents to new Councillors before the May 2023 Council meeting.
114/23 Cleaning bus shelter roofs:
Two quotes to clean the whole of each bus shelter have been received of £150.00 for an initial clean of four bus shelters, and £100.00 per quarter for a quarterly clean. RESOLVED to approve this expenditure, and to transfer monies from the ‘planter maintenance’ budget head into the ‘bus shelters’ budget head so as to cover the costs for the current financial year. This to be reviewed when the next budget is agreed. Action: Cllr A Walker to provide Clerk with contractor’s details. Action: Clerk
115/23 WVAG – meeting on 3rd April 2023:
No update is available. Noted that two Fiskerton residents attended the meeting.
116/23 Village Gateway Project,:
The next stage of this project is for speed indicator devices (SIDs) and white gates. IGAS have awarded a £1000.00 grant towards SIDs, to be used within 12 months. FPC would like three fixed solar powered signs plus one mobile unit to be moved around locations. Cllr K Brereton is researching SIDs.
The new village entry road signs have very recently been installed by LCC; and have received many positive comments in a very short timeframe.
Ten planter locations have already been verbally approved by LCC. Cllr A Walker has the LCC form to request approval for new street furniture. Action: Cllr A Walker, Cllr K Brereton
117/23 Paddock – any response from WLDC:
No response from WLDC is available. Cllr A Walker provided a brief update on the background to FPC’s efforts to obtain the Paddock for the village. As an ‘exclusion zone’ is required for a sports field, this suggests that football or cricket pitches are not an option. It was suggested that WLDC be asked what the Paddock can be used for. Action: Cllr A Walker.
Five residents left the meeting at 8.50pm.
118/23 Allotments - proposed site visit with plot holders; Hodgson Trust request for rent review: Item discussed under Open Session at the start of the meeting.
119/23 Action log – to consider any other items which have an update:
Many actions have been completed. Of those still in progress, the following updates were provided:
Play Area Tree Work on 29th April 2023 – noted that the contractor is professionally qualified; insured and is providing Risk Assessments and Method Statements. Action: Cllr A Walker will arrange for appropriate advisory signage.
Missing dog foul bin Ferry Road Side of Five Mile Bridge – noted that, as WLDC’s operative had had difficulties in manoeuvring his van, WLDC had relocated the bin.
Bus stop sign, Fiskerton Road – the resident whose garden the sign is in, has been approached.
Noted that the planter close to Five Mile House should be planted up by FPC, and nearby residents will water the plants.
MEETINGS:
120/23 Matters for inclusion on next agenda:
Potholes on road into Cherry Willingham.
Fix My Street details require circulation – to be put onto Action Log.
121/23 Date of next meetings:
Annual Meeting of the Parish Council, Monday 15th May 2023, Scout Hut, 7pm
Annual Parish Meeting, Thursday 25th May 2023, 7pm, Village Hall
Meeting ended at 9.14pm.
Mrs Michelle Vail, Clerk/RFO to Fiskerton Parish Council Dated 03.05.23