October 2023 Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting of Fiskerton Parish Council held on
Thursday 19th October 2023 at 7:00pm in Fiskerton Village Hall
Present: Cllrs A Walker, P Whitt, C Darcel, C Hill, J McGeachie, L Matthews, K Brereton, Mrs Michelle Vail (Clerk), C/Cllr I Fleetwood (arrived at 7.21pm), D/Cllr M Palmer, D/Cllr T Bridgwood. There were five members of the public in attendance.
Meeting started at 7.00pm.
253/23 Open Session: There was no public representation.
254/23 Apologies for absence: None
255/23 Declarations of interest: None.
256/23 Approve draft minutes of meeting held on 25th September 2023 as a true record:
RESOLVED with one abstention (Cllr P Whitt) that the minutes were a true record, and they were duly signed.
257/23 To receive observations of the District and County Councillors:
D/Cllr M Palmer:
o Details of WLDC’s ‘Name a Lorry’ competition have been supplied. These have been passed to the school.
D/Cllr T Bridgwood:
o A Full Stop order at RAF Scampton has not been complied with. Officers visiting the site on 13th October 2023 had noted that a breach of the Full Stop Order had occurred. The Mess has been granted Grade II listing, but it is uncertain if this will make a difference.
o Preparations are underway for the Annual Police visit. Police funding is biased towards non-rural areas; and a more appropriate funding stream would increase benefit to rural areas. Community Inspector Head has advised how local areas will be policed; their focus in this area will be speeding.
D/Cllr C Darcel:
o Grants of up to £15,000.00 are available to businesses in local communities for environmental upgrades of their buildings.
258/23 Chairman’s report:
o Reports made on Fix My Street regarding overgrown public rights of way are being logged under ‘Parks and Recreation’ in the absence of any more appropriate headings. However, these are being directed to WLDC which does not have responsibility. LCC have acknowledged that no option exists on either their website, or on Fix My Street for reporting footpath matters. Instead, they advise that a request should be submitted via LCC’s Customer Services.
o A WhatsApp group has been set up for Councillors and the Clerk; with the protocol that it will be used professionally and with integrity.
o The Remembrance Day wreath has arrived. Cllr K Brereton offered to lay the wreath.
Two residents arrived at 7.13pm.
259/23 Freedom of Information update:
Cllr A Walker explained the background to the FOI response sent to a resident in May 2023. He had subsequently met informally with the resident who was, in general, happy with the response but had two points to make as follows:
o He considered it would have been more beneficial in respect of the village hall roof repair to engage an independent surveyor to produce an independent report, rather than accept the feedback of contractors.
o He would expect Councillors sitting on both FPC and the VHMC to declare an interest at every meeting. Cllr A Walker responded to advise that interests are already reported on a published Declarations of Interest Form. As such, there is no obligation to continue to report these at each meeting and, in his opinion, could be confusing.
Noted that the resident may reply at a future date.
260/23 Declarations of Interest – explanation of requirements:
There is only a legal obligation to declare pecuniary interests. However, Councillors are advised to declare any interest if they have any doubt as to the correct thing to do. Councillors should ensure their published Declaration of Interest forms are kept up to date. If a declaration has been made on the published form, then there is no requirement to repeatedly make this declaration at meetings.
C/Cllr I Fleetwood arrived at 7.21pm.
ALLOTMENTS:
261/23 Report from Allotment Inspectors, and to consider and resolve on the following as required:
a. Update on production of draft risk assessment report:
The draft requires a final review; then it will be circulated ahead of the November meeting.
b. Update on untended plot: Nothing to report.
c. Update on talks with tenant of the grazing land: Cllr A Walker and Cllr L Matthews will talk with the tenant before the November meeting.
d. Update on putting plans into place to increase number of plots: No progress as yet as the tenant of the grazing land needs to be approached first.
e. Agree any further steps: No decisions were made.
Two residents left the meeting at 7.25pm.
Due to his late arrival, C/Cllr I Fleetwood gave his report at this point in the meeting as follows:
o the public will be consulted on Devolution in due course. This would add another government tier locally in Lincolnshire and would include the role of Mayor. If Devolution is supported by the public, this would enable a bid for it to be made, and such a registered interest would give priority treatment locally.
o He continues to lobby for resurfacing of Ferry Road
o He attends the Witham Valley Access Project Group meetings
o He will enquire about FPC not receiving any LCC response regarding progressing the village gateway project
FINANCE
262/23 ACCOUNTS
a. Receive circulated schedule of payments/receipts made for September 2023:
Received.
b. To approve any known non-regular accounts for payment for October 2023:
No non-regular accounts for paying.
c. Confirm verification and signing of bank reconciliation and bank statements for April – June 2023 (Quarter 1):
Cllr A Walker, Cllr J McGeachie and the Clerk have met to review this process and a check form has been created. Action: Cllr A Walker to send Cllr J McGeachie a Dropbox link so checks can begin.
263/23 Review budget heads:
A list of current budget heads has been circulated. Action: All to consider if any changes to these are required. Noted that monies can, upon a resolution being made, be vired between budget heads.
264/23 Consider reallocating reserves monies in light of external auditor’s comment that FPC does not hold sufficient funds in unallocated reserves to cover one year of business:
Noted that the auditor sees the accounts figures at financial year end when monies are depleted. Upon a review of finances, it was confirmed that FPC is only £58.00 short of what is needed to cover one year of business, therefore it is on target. Therefore, RESOLVED to see how the external auditor responds next year.
PLANNING: to consider and agree actions as required:
265/23 Neighbourhood Plan (NP) – update, draft policies, liaison with school, public consultation including to ratify submission to Fiskerton News (time sensitive – magazine deadline):
A local resident with relevant experience is assisting FPC with the survey, and she has suggested gathering the opinion of children. Cllr J McGeachie’s DBS check is complete so he will visit the school after the half term break. The draft village survey has been revised to include ages 11+.
Councillors have met, and NP policies are being reviewed and updated as needed. Cllr A Walker has looked at Locality who will liaise with him if required.
The village survey will run from 1st to 15th November via the website, and with paper copies on request, and is being advertised in Fiskerton News (to include a QR code). A 10-day period is planned to feed the questionnaire results into the NP policies. There will be two NP drop-in public sessions on 24th November, 1 – 3pm and 25th November, 9.30 – 11.30am.
WLDC has confirmed that it is therefore possible to go to Regulation 14 consultation by early December 2023 for a six-week period, and comments from this will be used to refine the draft NP ahead of it progressing to the next stage. Once the NP appears on WLDC’s website, it will carry weight against the determination of future planning applications.
266/23 Village questionnaire – draft questions, ratify submission to Fiskerton News (time-sensitive - magazine deadline):
In addition to the previous item, confirmed that the questionnaire is not solely about the NP.
267/23 147384: proposed single storey extension and alterations to dwelling: Kosylea, Orchard Road, Fiskerton:
RESOLVED that there are no objections. Action: Clerk
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: to consider and agree actions as required:
268/23 District Cllr C Darcel- email ref. FOI reply sent to resident in May 2023:
Noted that Cllr C Darcel had supplied several emails on this matter, which had been circulated to all by Cllr A Walker.
269/23 Police invite to their upcoming Teams Parish Council Engagement Session (14 December 2023 6 – 8pm), with questions in advance to be submitted by 22nd October:
Cllr A Walker is to attend, and can arrange for other Councillors to listen in on proceedings if they so wish. He has submitted questions in advance in respect of parking concerns.
270/23 WLDC Review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations: Noted.
NEW ITEMS: to consider and agree actions as required:
271/23 Facebook communication to residents:
Cllr L Matthews has offered to lead on this. Noted that a Facebook page can be set up to fit in with both FPC’s requirements and compliance.
272/23 Repairs/replacement play equipment:
Cllr K Brereton is reviewing both the annual inspection report, with a view to whether to repair or replace play items, and sample play equipment quotes as provided by the Clerk. Noted that FPC can work with the community including the school in this matter as required. Further noted that £1500.00 is already earmarked in Reserves towards play equipment; and that grant funding can be sought.
273/23 Village footpath matters: Item deferred.
274/23 Local burglaries: Local area crime figures are available from the police website. Reports of incidents should be reported via telephoning 101. This enables a crime number to be issued and the incident will appear on police statistics, thus enabling Community Inspector Head to review and plan police action accordingly.
275/23 Suggestion for CCTV/body cam at school crossing location to improve safety for those crossing road:
Cllr J McGeachie explained the background leading up to this agenda item. Advice has been sought from Lincs Road Safety Partnership and LALC. This included explaining issues around filming; and that the employer has a responsibility for an employee’s safety. However, FPC is able to hold those responsible to account.
C/Cllr I Fleetwood noted:
o That FPC will shortly be installing speed indicator devices. These raise driver awareness, and can act as a deterrent. He can assist with their set up and extraction of data.
o The existence of the Community Speedwatch Scheme run by LRSP.
o The presence of a person standing at the roadside holding a speed radar device is effective, and he offered to help Cllr J McGeachie in this endeavour.
276/23 Launch of 2024 Star Energy (formerly IGAS) grant scheme: Item deferred.
UPDATE REPORTS: to consider and agree actions as required:
277/23 Draft constitution documents for Village Hall: car park agreement, play area agreement, and Village Hall Management Committee constitution – any update from Charity Commissioners, joint meeting with VHMC with an independent Chairperson:
The Village Hall Management Committee has agreed to a joint meeting (potentially in January 2024) to resolve issues. An independent Chairperson has been suggested, and is to be arranged.
278/23 Village gateway project – order placed for speed indicator devices (SIDs), update on gates
Four SIDs have arrived (3 x solar, 1 x battery powered). Lincs Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) will review possible sites for these, as well as to review parking/hydrant concerns near to the Hall, and speeding near to the school. Two LRSP speed survey units are to be deployed.
Action: C/Cllr I Fleetwood and Cllr K Brereton to liaise.
279/23 Witham Valley Access Group (WVAG) – meeting, improving the Nelson Road-riverbank footpath:
Meeting minutes will be deposited in Dropbox once received from WVAG.
280/23 Hard of hearing attendees at meetings:
Equipment will be trialled at a future meeting.
281/23 Metal bench, to be plasma cut with a Fiskerton theme:
No progress. Action: Cllr J McGeachie to chase
282/23 Holmfield Open Space:
The second parcel of land has now been registered with Land Registry so FPC are now owners of both open spaces.
It was reiterated that the legal status is that these must remain as publicly accessible grassed open spaces, and that this cannot be changed. Usage of the land must not annoy neighbours. No activities are excluded at present, but this can change if the land is misused.
283/23 Action log – to consider any other items which have an update:
The Action Log was reviewed and updates given.
MEETINGS:
284/23 Matters for inclusion on next agenda:
Road markings (Cllr P Whitt)
Footpaths
Budget and Precept setting
285/23 Date of next meeting: Thursday 16th November 2023, 7 – 9pm, Fiskerton Village Hall
Meeting ended at 9.08pm
Mrs Michelle Vail Clerk/RFO to Fiskerton Parish Council Dated 01.11.23