September DRAFT Minutes STILL TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Fiskerton Parish Council held on Thursday 19th September 2024 at 7:00pm in Fiskerton Village Hall
Present: Cllrs A Walker, C Hill, C Darcel, L Matthews, K Brereton, Mrs M Vail (Clerk), D/Cllr M Palmer, and two members of the public.
Meeting started at 7.00pm.
172/24 Open Session: Public concerns were raised as follows:
Straw on the Highways: it is an eyesore; who is responsible for clearing it away; and it poses a flooding risk should it enter the drains. Noted that the Chairman has already reported matters, including blocked drains, dykes and culverts. The road sweeper has attended localised village spots, and will be requested to revisit. Action: Cllr A Walker.
Parking opposite Blacksmith Lane is of concern. Noted that the Home has been contacted, and Lincs Road Safety Partnership and the Police have been approached for advice. Parking is an LCC matter to enforce but they are under resourced to respond.
Archaeological test trenches have been dug in the flood pond behind the village hall. Permission had not been given for this work to go ahead, and FPC had only been advised of this work on 5th August 2024 when the work had already begun.
173/24 Apologies for absence: Cllr J McGeachie, Cllr P Whitt (apologies were given before the meeting but only picked up afterwards), C/Cllr I Fleetwood, D/Cllr T Bridgwood
174/24 To receive any declarations of interest: None.
175/24 Approve notes of meeting of 27th June 2024 as a true record:
RESOLVED with one abstention (Cllr C Darcel) that the notes of meeting of 27th June 2024 were a true record, and these were duly signed.
176/24 To receive observations of the District and County Councillors:
Noted that D/Cllr T Bridgwood had provided a written update on Health & Safety issues regarding planning applications for BESS Sites in the District.
D/Cllr M Palmer:
Affordable housing new National Planning Framework being set out by Government will affect WLDC.
A budget consultation is to take place. Costs will increase and future years budgets will be affected. Concerns as to how the Food Waste Scheme will be funded (c. 400,000).
D/Cllr C Darcel:
With the loss of the Winter Fuel Allowance, he is extremely concerned for the decrease in pensioner incomes.
177/24 Chairman s report
The Remembrance bench to be located on the Crescent is finished, and possible locations have been shared with Councillors. Work is progressing to at least have the base installed as soon as possible.
D/Cllr T Bridgewood has passed on a report following a police meeting at Cherry Willingham. The Police message is to report everything to the police, as they require these statistics to evidence need for manpower and where to direct it. Action: Clerk to promote this message via Fiskerton News.
There have been incidences of dogs in the play area which is not allowed - Action: Clerk to promote this in Fiskerton News.
Complaints regarding overgrown footpaths have been raised with LCC, and these have subsequently been cut. It has been suggested that FPC could fund interim cuts of footpaths, but LCC had advised not. This is because their team would not cut paths which appear to be maintained, and Fiskerton could then be cut from LCC s budget.
Litter in the village was noted. Individual Councillor(s) will pick up.
ALLOTMENTS:
178/24 Report from Allotment Inspectors: consider and resolve on the following as required:
i. General update on allotments:
One new person has signed up to a plot, and a second interested person is due to be met on site to view a plot. The waiting list is reducing.
ii. Access to allotments approach via cottage:
There are issues for access for emergency vehicles. Encroaching shrubbery, believed to be from an adjacent property, prevents vehicular access. RESOLVED to write letter. Action: Clerk
iii. Update on plot 3B:
A meeting with the plotholder is to be arranged onsite.
iv. Tenancy agreements issue of new ones:
A revised draft agreement will be brought to the next meeting for approval. It will be an enhanced agreement, and reflect the current day and age.
v. Preparation for issue of invoices for 2025 growing year:
Future invoices are to be issued in December with 30 days to pay. These will cover the period January to December, to align with the growing season, and allow the giving up of plots without this affecting crops. In 2025, some plot holders will require a pro-rota invoice.
vi. Access to grazing land for cutting of grass:
Cllrs A Walker and L Matthews are working on the access issue. There are no plans to immediately address concerns with the dyke.
vii. Ratify expenditure to clear the allotment site in August at 52.00 + VAT:
RESOLVED to ratify this expenditure, noting that it had been required before a plot could be released to a new tenant.
viii. Ratify expenditure to side up the footpath hedge at the bottom of Nelson Road in August at 35+vat:
RESOLVED to ratify this expenditure.
VILLAGE GATEWAY PROJECT:
179/24 Update on project to include: installation of speed indicator devices, update on gates, LRSP review of new locations:
Install of the mobile SID is planned for the forthcoming weekend. Noted that data can be extracted from SIDs.
ACCOUNTS:
180/24 Receive the circulated schedule of payments/receipts for August 2024: Received.
181/24 Note schedule of regular payments for September/October 2024: Noted.
182/24 To approve any non-regular accounts for September 2024 not listed above:
i. Reimburse Cllr A Walker for NP leaflet printing at 132.37 inc VAT
ii. Reimburse Cllr A Walker for Microsoft Office for Councillor laptop at 30.99:
RESOLVED with one abstention (Cllr A Walker) to approve payment of the above two non-regular accounts (items 11 i and 11 ii). Action: Clerk
183/24 Note successful completion of external audit. Noted.
FLOODING:
184/24 Receive any update on flood recovery plans following Storm Babet:
Repairs to the river bank have begun and are anticipated to take 3 months. Action: Cllr A Walker is to chase up rumours that a historical artefact has been unearthed.
Straw in the village has been reported (see Open Session above).
Aqua Sacs are on loan from a neighbouring parish council.
Residents should be prepared themselves in case of need to take action. Action: Clerk to promote this message via Fiskerton News.
EMERGENCY PLAN:
185/24 Progress report on Emergency Plan: Cllr K Brereton will circulate a draft copy as soon as possible.
PLANNING: to consider and agree actions as required:
186/24 Neighbourhood Plan update, draft policies, liaison with school, resolve to submit NP draft plan documents to WLDC and move to Regulation 14 consultation, offer for Paddock:
The Working Group had met on 11th July 2024 and had agreed a detailed response to the Corn Close planning application which had been submitted to WLDC.
FPC had, via the consultation on the Central Lincs Local Plan, unsuccessfully tried to have the Local Plan changed, and had also approached the Church Commissioners. Deloitte had been chased several times in respect of trying to obtain the Paddock.
Noted that the further through the process a Neighbourhood Plan proceeds, the more weight it will carry with planning applications.
Steps to organise and promote the six week Regulation 14 consultation, which will end on 28th October 2024, had been agreed.
187/24 WL/2024/00674: Application for approval of reserved matters to erect 143no. dwellings considering appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission 142874 granted 14 July 2023. Location: Land to north of Rudgard Avenue, Cherry Willingham:
Action: All to review and send a collated response to the Clerk for submission to WLDC.
CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED:
To note:
188/24 Central Lincs Local Plan Invite to event in September: Design Code consultation (first stage runs from Tuesday 10th to Tuesday 22nd October 2024):
Noted that all four original consultation times were morning sessions, therefore not suitable for councillors who work. Action: All to review and provide thoughts for a collated response.
189/24 Police stats for August 2024: Noted.
190/24 Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Preferred approach consultation: Tuesday 30 July 2024 and finishes at 5pm on Tuesday 24 September 2024:
Noted. This does not affect Fiskerton.
Action required:
191/24 Request from VHMC for funding to repair the Village Hall car park:
A letter has been received from the VHMC. They are still in the early stages of this project. RESOLVED, in principle, to support a proposal in favour of supporting the VH, noting that there are a number of caveats, and that FPC will need to see figures. Action: Clerk to provide VHMC with details of FPC s grant application process, and Lark Energy Process.
192/24 Witham Valley Access Group offer of presentation at Annual Parish Meeting 2025; and questions about Parish Paths Partnership scheme:
In principle, Councillors were happy to accept the offer of a presentation. Answers to questions raised were given. Action: Clerk to reply.
NEW ITEMS: to consider and agree actions as required:
193/24 ROSPA Play Area inspection Report 2024:
Item deferred. Action: Clerk to recirculate report.
194/24 To consider adopting a Vexatious Communications Policy:
It was agreed that such a policy would complement the existing Complaints Policy. Action: Clerk to circulate a draft policy for adoption at next meeting.
UPDATE REPORTS: to consider and agree actions as required:
195/24 Communications Policy: Production of this is in progress.
196/24 Laptop for Councillors install of updates: Completed and the laptop is now with Cllr C Hill. Action: Clerk to update asset register (laptop, power charger, mouse).
197/24 Consider purchase of hearing device:
RESOLVED to purchase device as trialled at a previous meeting, at 150.00. Action: Cllr K Brereton to provide Clerk with product details. Action: Clerk.
198/24 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:
A resident has emailed on this subject. Action: Cllr A Walker to reply.
199/24 Repairs/replacement play equipment, grants: In hand.
200/24 Action log to consider items which have an update:
Many items have been completed. Updates were given on outstanding items.
MEETINGS:
201/24 Matters for inclusion on next agenda:
Grass cutting
Budget and precept setting
202/24 Date of next meeting: Tuesday 12th November 2024, 7 9pm, Fiskerton Village Hall
203/24 Resolve to move into Closed Session as the following items contains information of a personal, sensitive and/or confidential nature:
RESOLVED to move into closed session.
At 8.57pm, D/Cllr M Palmer and the members of the public left the meeting.
204/24 Formal complaint to hear decision:
Noted that the complainant had been invited to this meeting to hear the outcome, but had declined. Points raised by the complainant following their invitation to this meeting were firstly given consideration, before the decision letter was read out. Action: Clerk to send decision letter to complainant.
205/24 Allotment matters to consider concerns raised:
Concerns which had been raised, were considered. Cllrs C Hill and L Matthews will meet with those concerned on site to discuss matters further. Action: Clerk to arrange meeting.
Meeting ended at 9.37pm.
Mrs Michelle Vail
Clerk/RFO to Fiskerton Parish Council Dated 30.10.24