2025 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Notes of the Annual Meeting of Fiskerton Parish ​Council

Held on Thursday, 8th May 2025 ​Time: 7:00 PM Venue: Fiskerton Village Hall ​

Present: Chairman: Cllr A Walker. ​Councillors: Cllr C Hill, Cllr L Matthews, Cllr C Darcel, Cllr K Brereton

Also Present: Cllr M Palmer,

Clerk: Sharon Johnson

Apologies for Absence: ​Cllr J McGeachie

0 Member of the public attended

Cllr A Walker opened the meeting welcomed everyone

1. Appointment of Chairman
Cllr A Walker nominated himself, seconded by Cllr K Brereton. In the absence of any other nominations, RESOLVED with one abstention (Cllr C Darcel) to appoint Cllr A Walker as Chairman; who then signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office

2. Appointment of Vice Chairman
Cllr K Brereton nominated himself, seconded by Cllr L Matthews.  In the absence of any other nominations, RESOLVED that Cllr K Brereton be appointed as Vice Chairman.

3. Open Session
A public session was held for up to 15 minutes.

Cllr Darcel reported that he was unhappy that the VH did not make use of all the Village Hall for the VE Day celebrations

4. Apologies for Absence
The meeting was advised that apologies had been received from Cllr J McGeachie.

5. Confirmation of Register of Interests
Councillors confirmed that their published Register of Interests forms are up-to-date.

6. Declarations of Interest
No Declarations of interest were received.

7. Approval of Previous Meeting Notes
The notes of the meetings held on 12th November 2024, 12th December 2024, 9th January 2025 be deferred to the next meeting. Notes from 3rd April 2025 had not been received by Cllr C Darcel, to be deferred to next meeting. Cllr Darcel provided with a hard copy to review.

8. Observations from District and County Councillors
A verbal update was received from the District Councillor. Cllr M Palmer reminded the PC that there is a funding pot available through DC’s

District News

County News

ACTION: Cllr A Walker to email Cllr T Bridgwood on Housing strategy 

9. Chairman’s Report
Cllr A Walker Thanked Cllr I Fleetwood for his support and contribution on both a professional and personal basis. He has been a valuable asset to the Parish Council and wishes him well in the future.

10. Review and Approval of Appointments and Delegation Arrangements for 2025/26
Council officer’s appointments

Bank signatories – AW, CD, CH

•           Member to oversee accounting and finance – Vacant

•           Panel with delegated powers to deal with staffing matters (personnel, discipline, remuneration) – AW, JM CH

•           Planning Group – AW, LM, AND CH

•           Neighbourhood Plan Working Group, to include Paddock Action Working Group – All councillors, residents

•           VAS coordinator, charge batteries and move signs – AW, LM, KB

•           Website master – Clerk

•           Member to oversee training – Clerk

•           Remembrance overseer – Clerk, KB

•           Policy Creation and Review Panel’– AW, KB

•           Terms of Reference Creation and Review Panel – AW, KB

•           Councillor to verify and sign at least quarterly bank reconciliations/bank statements (note: cannot be Chair, nor a signatory) – JM

Routine Inspections appointments

• Flood alleviation scheme inspector - AW
• Play area inspector - KB
• Bus shelter inspector – KB
• Allotments inspectors – LM, CH
• Grass cutting inspector – LM
• Inspector for public open space fences, gates and signs – Vacant
• Defibrillator inspectors (weekly checks/online recording of same)
• Village Hall – KB, AW, JM, Short Ferry – Kay Bosworth

Coordinators appointments

•           Village Hall – PC are custodian trustees, liaison with VH committee - AW

•           Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils coordinator - Clerk

•           LCC Highways liaison – reports and communications - Clerk

•           Community Hub liaison councillor – this is included within the VHMC. - AW

•           Public transport liaison councillor - AW

•           Litter picking coordinator – , KB

•           School coordinator – JM

•           Village signs/planters project leader/coordinator – AW, KB, JM

RESOLVED to approve the abovementioned appointments and delegated arrangements

ACTION: To confirm above with Cllr J McGeachie at next meeting

11. Review of Meeting Dates
Meeting dates for 2025 and 2026 were reviewed. RESOLVED to keep the schedule as set out below

FINANCE – annual financial matters

12. RESOLVED to continue direct debits to Sage; and to Tesco Mobile for mobile phone
13. RESOLVED to continue use by clerk of a FPC debit card
14. RESOLVED insurance quote for 2025/26 at £605.36 (note: year 4 of a 5-year long term agreement with Zurich at £728.54 last year)
15. RESOLVED to approve the Clerk continuing to pay the following regular and expected payments which have been included in the annual budget, as allowed by Financial Regs

1. up to the budgeted amount; and reported paid at the next possible FPC meeting
2. if exceeding the budgeted amount, to seek approval at the next possible meeting prior to making a payment
3. provide schedule in advance to Councillors

• Sage, payroll package
• Tesco phone
• Clerk, salary, PAYE, pension
• Clerk printing/paper/ink/stamps/envelopes/folders costs
• Grass cutting

• Date labels for APM banners
• ROSPA Annual play inspection
• PWBL
• WLDC – annual defib scheme fees x 2 defibs
• Village Hall hire for meetings
• Hire of office space at village hall
• Bus Shelter Maintenance and cleaning
• Reimburse any planter costs
• Auditor fees both internal and external
• Poppy wreath
• McAffee computer protection
• LALC Training
• Rent to Hodgson Trust Charity for allotments
• ICO Annual fee

ACCOUNTS

16. Payments for Nov & Dec 2024, Jan, Feb, Mar and April 2025 in Appendix RESOLVED
17. Note schedule of regular payments for May 2024 Appendix 1 attached RESOLVED
18. To approve any non-regular accounts for May 2024 not listed above.

1. To purchase plants for planters- RESOLVED

ACTION: To add 2 new planters to Agenda for next meeting

19. Confirm verification/signing of bank reconciliation/bank statements Qs 1, 2, 3, 4: Deferred in Cllr J McGeachie absence
20. Review asset register - RESOLVED with two abstentions (Cllr C Darcel, Cllr C Hill)
21. Review financial risk assessment - RESOLVED

22. Emergency Plan
ACTION: Cllr K Brereton to circulate

23. Flooding
Updates on flood recovery plans

ACTION: Cllr A Walker to reply to Ryan Davies LCC with outstanding concerns

24. Neighbourhood Plan – update, Regulation 14 consultation. ACTION: To review responses
25. Offer for Paddock – Savils & Public Interest ACTION: For APM & Newsletter
26. Tree Works on behalf of National Grid Land behind 10 – 16 The Crescent Reduce Cherry by 3M – RESOLVED. ACTION: Respond to NG

Correspondence Received
27. LCC Directory – Agreed not for PC

28. Memorial plaques – RESOLVED to accept ACTION: Reply with acceptance & contact Squadron Association for approval for Airfield

 Update Reports

29. Cllr Whitt resignation – To be confirmed

30. Additional Bus Stops - Deferred

31. Road surface between Hall Lane & Corn Close – await outcome of planned road works in June

32. Suggestions for Woodland Trust Reserve – Cllr Darcel suggested planting trees in unused part of alloments. Cllr A Walker suggested using reserve for additional planters ACTION: Write to Hodgson Trust for consideration of allotment land

33. Village Car Park resurfacing. Cllr Walker gave an update on behalf of VHMC. Health and Safety inspections have highlighted car park as high risk and have asked PC for a contribution for resurfacing of one quarter of cost. PC agreed in principle at this stage awaiting further details

34. Extended bus service Cllr M Palmer reported Cherry Willingham’s full support from their recent PC meeting. ACTION: Include new Mayor in request

35. Hearing amplifier. Cllr Brereton to borrow college amplifier to check compatibility. ACTION: Contact retailer for advice

36. Allotments – enquiries for future use of grazing land on hold whilst the waiting list for allotments is reviewed. ACTION: Cllr Matthews and Clerk to review

37. Village Gateway Project – No longer required

38. Installation of memorial bench. -  RESOLVED to install on the crescent, set back from road. ACTION: Cllr L Matthews to progress

39. Installation of Jubilee tree. ACTION: Cllr Walker to liaise with vicar on location

40. Tree Protection Orders. ​ACTION: Clerk to chase WLDC enforcement

41. Communications Policy. – No update​

42. Constitution documents for Village Hall (joint working group nomination). – No volunteers. Cllr A Walker to draft a revised agreement for circulation

43. Repairs/replacement of play equipment and grants. ​- Cllr K Brereton to replace 4 broken mounts on climbing wall

44. Action log – ACTION: To refresh

45. Matters for Inclusion on Next Agenda
Matters for inclusion on the next agenda were discussed.- 2 New planters

46. Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting is the APM scheduled for 22nd May 2025, 7:00pm - 9:00pm at Fiskerton Village Hall ACTION: Clerk to order Banners. The next full council meeting 19th June 2025, 7pm

Meeting Closed by Chair: 20:50

Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of council proceedings until they are approved and signed at the next Parish Council meeting