September 2023 Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Fiskerton Parish Council held on Monday 25th September 2023 at 7:00pm in Fiskerton Village Hall
Present: Cllrs A Walker, C Darcel, C Hill, J McGeachie, L Matthews, K Brereton, Mrs Michelle Vail (Clerk), D/Cllr M Palmer, D/Cllr T Bridgwood. There were three members of the public in attendance.
Meeting started at 7.01pm.
224/23 Open Session:
One member of the public raised concerns around Highways, parking, and noise from a resident of a nearby property. He was advised that, although FPC cannot legally enforce matters, it will do what it is able to do in these matters. A FPC email address can be used by residents to log into Fix My Street which enables FPC to receive updates and track progress.
Actions:
o D/Cllr T Bridgwood to circulate a Witham Valley Access Project paper detailing who is responsible for the maintenance of different paths.
o Clerk to provide resident with WLDC contact details re. noise.
o Cllr K Brereton to follow up on parking at the Old Hall and issues with a fire hydrant.
225/23 Apologies for absence: Cllr P Whitt
226/23 Declarations of interest: None.
227/23 Approve draft minutes of meeting held on 20th July 2023 as a true record:
RESOLVED with one abstention (Cllr C Darcel) that these are a true record, and they were duly signed.
228/23 To receive observations of the District and County Councillors, including:
D/Cllr T Bridgwood: A Full Stop notice has been issued on RAF Scampton but work here has carried on despite this.
Energy Efficiency grants are available.
D/Cllr M Palmer: WLDC is running a competition for schools to name WLDC s six energy efficient waste collection lorries. WLDC has an ongoing commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions.
D/Cllr C Darcel: Noted his disappointment that there is not an agenda item to further discuss a Freedom of Information reply which had been sent to a resident in May 2023. In his opinion, the reply had not been adequate, therefore he would be taking this matter further. The Chairman advised that the resident s questions had all been answered.
229/23 Chairman s report:
Cllr A Walker: he is due to undertake Neighbourhood Plan training via LALC. Cllr K Brereton offered to also attend.
A suggestion was made to incorporate a Good Neighbours section within the regular FPC submission to Fiskerton News.
He would like FPC to consider using Facebook to transmit information to residents. Lead councillors and a Media Policy would be required. D/Cllr M Palmer noted that WLDC s Communications Officers could circulate information to Clerks for dissemination.
ALLOTMENTS:
230/23 Report from Allotment Inspectors, and to consider the following:
a. Update on production of draft risk assessment report:
Work is progressing. Item deferred.
b. Update on untended plot:
The plot has been given some initial attention by the plot holder to suppress weeds but is not being cultivated. Action: Cllr A Walker to offer support.
c. Update on those on waiting list still wanting a plot:
Seven people have confirmed their interest in taking on a plot, with a further two people uncertain . Noted that, legally, a parish council must provide allotments if enough people request them and if it has the means to make allotments available.
d. Agree next steps to extend allotment provision:
Next steps are to talk with the tenant of the grazing land, and to begin to plan for establishing new plots. Noted that there is a trend for no dig plots, so any preferences for this should be established before land is initially ploughed/rotavated.
FINANCE
231/23 ACCOUNTS
a. Resolve to receive the circulated schedule of payments/receipts made for July and August 2023: RESOLVED to receive.
b. To approve any known non-regular accounts for payment for September 2023: No non-regular accounts for paying.
Noted that, due to FPC receiving grants towards repairs of the village hall roof which took income above 50,000, the external auditor s invoice was for a higher-than-expected amount.
c. Confirm verification and signing of bank reconciliation and bank statements for April June 2023 (Quarter 1):
Item deferred. Action: Cllrs A Walker, J McGeachie and the Clerk are to meet to finalise the process, then the verification and signing requirement can begin.
d. Receive external audit report and resolve on any matters raised:
The accounts for 2022-23 have passed the external audit without issue. The external auditor had passed comment that FPC does not hold sufficient funds in unallocated reserves to cover one year of business, therefore reallocation of reserves money will be considered at the October meeting. Action: Clerk.
PLANNING: to consider and agree actions as required:
232/23 Neighbourhood Plan update, receive policies, liaison with school:
Cllr A Walker and Cllr K Brereton are to attend LALC training on 26th September 2023. It is planned that draft policies (additional to those already in the NP) be brought to the October meeting, before being presented to the public in November. Contact will be made with a Church Commissioners agent to involve him in respect of any potential options for negotiation.
233/23 Village questionnaire consider draft questionnaire:
Item in progress, with the expectation that draft questions can be presented to the October or November meeting for approval. A resident with relevant experience has offered assistance.
234/23 Ratify any time sensitive response submitted to CLLP public consultation: Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), (now referred to as the Planning Obligations SPD):
No response had been submitted.
235/23 147173: two storey side extension with internal alteration: Barlings Farm, Moor Lane. RESOLVED no objections. Action: Clerk
236/23 146940: construction of a new pond: Seven |Acre Farm, Ferry Road. RESOLVED no objections. Action: Clerk
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: to consider and agree actions as required:
237/23 WLDC News Release -Temporary Stop Notice RAF Scampton. Noted. A Full Stop notice has subsequently been issued, although work has continued on site.
238/23 WLDC Parish Newsletter: Noted.
239/23 LCC request for help ref. roads and drainage (deadline to respond 15/10/23): Councillors to individually provide LCC with feedback.
NEW ITEMS: to consider and agree actions as required:
240/23 Resident concerns re car parking in village:
Cllr D Darcel noted that the resident who had spoken in the Open Session had covered all areas of concern.
241/23 Footpath from Hall Lane to Tania s: part of the overhanging branches have been trimmed but in places pedestrians have to step off the pavement:
Approx.. 40 50 yards of this hedging has been trimmed, but the remainder up to the Tanya site (approx. 100 yards) still impedes the footpath. Noted that this can be reported via Fix My Street.
242/23 Recommendations of ROSPA play inspection report:
No major issues have been identified. The play equipment would benefit from being replaced. As it is unlikely that the Paddock can be obtained, it was suggested that initial research is undertaken. The school pupils could be part of this process. Action: Clerk to provide Cllrs K Brereton and J McGeachie with details of various play equipment suppliers.
UPDATE REPORTS: to consider and agree actions as required:
243/23 Draft constitution documents for Village Hall: car park agreement, play area agreement, and Village Hall Management Committee constitution any update from Charity Commissioners:
Cllr A Walker has circulated a summary of the investigatory work, as well as the responses from the Charity Commissioners and Land Registry. Action: all to respond with any comments. The VHMC has recently met, and their consensus was to have a joint VHMC and FPC meeting to resolve matters. RESOLVED unanimously in favour of this meeting, and it was suggested to have an independent Chairperson. Action: Cllr A Walker to recirculate documents.
244/23 Village gateway project speed indicator devices, gates:
Quotes have been received for three solar powered speed indicator devices ranging between 7920.00 and 13,500.00 inc. VAT. LCC have previously approved the locations of three mounting posts. Including a fourth battery powered sign (for moving between locations), the cheapest quote increases to 8750.00 exc. VAT.
To fund this purchase, the Road Safety Reserve contains 8000.00, and FPC has an IGAS grant of 1000.00. RESOLVED to purchase three solar SIDS and one battery SID from the cheapest supplier. Action: Clerk
The Village Gateway Reserve contains 1500.00, and it was noted that the village may only be able to accommodate three gates across the village in total. Action: Cllr K Brereton to remeasure.
245/23 Witham Valley Access Group - meeting on 18th September, consider information pack in respect of improving the Nelson Road-riverbank footpath:
This had been a productive meeting attended by representatives from many varied organisations, all in favour of supporting improved village connectivity. The Group is now planning new objectives which will be largely based on the Government s Health Strategy that being outdoors reaps health benefits.
The Group has offered assistance to improve the Nelson Road riverbank footpath.
Three residents left the meeting at 8.48pm.
246/23 Updates around hard of hearing attendees at meetings:
Cllr K Brereton continues to carry out research. It may be possible to borrow a unit (costs approx.. 300.00 - 400.00) to try it out.
247/23 Offer of a metal bench, to be plasma cut with a Fiskerton theme sketch design and ACIS reply:
Draft plans have been sent to the manufacturer who currently has an increased lead time due to additional workload. ACIS have granted permission for the bench to be located on the grassed area at The Crescent, close to the existing planters.
248/23 Plan to develop old website into a community website:
Item deferred until 2024.
249/23 Confirm package for FPC s replacement mobile phone:
Confirmed that the agreed package was Nokia C32 phone, with 3GB data at 11.50. This is a 24-month contract, the phone itself is free. Action: Clerk
250/23 Action log to consider any other items which have an update:
Updates were provided where possible.
MEETINGS:
251/23 Matters for inclusion on next agenda:
Review budget heads; matters regarding footpaths; local burglaries
252/23 Date of next meeting: Thursday 19th October 2023, 7 9pm, Fiskerton Village Hall
Meeting ended at 9.06pm.
Mrs Michelle Vail
Clerk/RFO to Fiskerton Parish Council
09/10/23