2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

FULBECK PARISH COUNCIL

Notes of Parish Council Meeting – 11th November 2019

Present: Councillors Caunt, Greenhalgh, Hodcroft, Hughes, Morison and Sampson (Acting Chairperson).

Parish Clerk, Carol Tointon.  There were 5 members of the public present including CC Maughan.

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At the beginning of the year the Parish Council had nominated Cllr Fane for the Long Service Achievement Award which was being organised by LALC.  Unfortunately he did not win but Cllr Hodcroft received on his behalf, at the LALC Conference, a certificate of merit.

The winner of the Award had achieved 64 years of service.

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1.   Apologies for absence – Cllr Fane and DC Milnes

2.   Chairperson’s Remarks: The Acting Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that as Cllr Caunt had recently been indisposed and would not be present for the duration of the meeting she would be chairing the proceedings.

3.   Declarations of interest: None

4.   Approval of the notes of the last meeting of the Parish Council.  The notes of the last meeting had been circulated to all Councillors.  It was proposed by Cllr Hughes and seconded by Cllr Morison that these notes be accepted as a true record of the Parish Council meeting held on the 9th September 2019.

5.   Adjournment of business for public questions and comments.

6.   Reports on matters outstanding:

a)   Community Speed Watch – Cllr Morison reported on his on-going e-mails with Mr G Butler of Road Safety Partnership.  As progress was proving very slow he considered it expedient to make an appointment to meet Mr Butler so that the various issues and options could be discussed in a face-to-face situation.  All were in agreement.

Action: Cllr Morison

Another aspect of trying to reduce speed through the Village was to erect two gates at either end of the village.  Cllr Morison had made enquiries of Lincolnshire County Council and had received various forms to complete.  He undertook to obtain costings for gates so that the matter could be discussed at the January meeting in conjunction with the setting of the precept.

Action: Cllr Morison

With regard to the moving of the 30 mph sign this had been brought to the attention of Mr Rowan Smith when the Village tour had taken place with Cllr Caunt, CC Maughan and the Clerk on the 28th August.  It was noted that the moving of the sign would require a RTO notice.

A 20 mph limit through the village was also discussed and CC Maughan pointed out that this limit was only advisory.

CC Maughan asked if the Parish Council had given any more thought to undertaking a community speed watch programme and was advised that this had been investigated but the conclusion had been reached that there would not be enough volunteers to undertake the project.  Also a one-way system was mooted but did not receive any backing.

Once Cllr Morison had met with Mr Butler hopefully a decision could be reached.

b)   Path running along the A607 from Victoria Farm to Washdyke Lane.  It was noted that this work had been placed in the programme of works but, as yet, no date had been given.  CC Maughan agreed to ascertain if any further information was available.

Action: CC Maughan

c)   Broadband Gigabit Voucher Scheme & Rural Gigabit Connectivity Scheme.  CC Maughan explained the criteria for applying for vouchers and it was agreed that this would not be beneficial to Fulbeck.

7.   Financial Matters

a)   Financial Report – The Clerk reported that the balance is currently £19267.35 including in the General Account £17006.26, Playing Field Account £1561.48, £152.61 in the Election Fund, Playing Field Reserve £600 and -£53 in the Defibrillator account.

b)   Accounts for payment – there were five invoices for payment.

Action: Clerk/Cllrs with signature authority

d)   Payments Received:  The Clerk reported that the following payment had been received since the last meeting.

e)   Transfer of Money between Accounts

After discussion it was proposed by Cllr Greenhalgh and seconded by Cllr Hughes that it would be prudent to transfer the sum of £5000.00 from the Yorkshire Bank to Melton Mowbray Building Society.  All were in agreement.

Action: Clerk

f)   Internet Banking

Prior to the meeting Cllr Greenhalgh had circulated a paper which gave details of his research and then explained to the meeting the procedures involved.  After discussion and liaison with the Clerk it was decided to put on hold internet bank for the time being.

Action: Clerk

g)   Precept for 2020

To aid discussion at the January meeting Cllr Greenhalgh asked that the items the Councillors wished to raise be fully costed.

Prior to the next meeting Cllr Greenhalgh undertook to liaise with the Clerk in order to prepare a budget for the following year.

Action: Cllr Greenhalgh/Clerk

h)   Grant for Play Area

Cllr Hughes explained that quotations were being sought for artificial turf to put around the gyroscope in the play area and hopefully the work could be carried out in the New Year.  Once this was completed the form could be submitted to South Kesteven District Council so that the balance of the Grant could be received.

8.   Planning Matters

a)   Planning Applications Received – PL/0159/19 – Demolition of fire damaged building and erection of replacement building at Mid UK Recycling Plant.  No objections were put forward.

b)   Planning Applications Determined – 

• S19/0834 – Change of use of land for the siting of caravans on land Off Bulby Lane.  Planning Permission refused.  (See up-date in DC Milnes report).
• S19/1251 – Erection of detached dwelling at The Grange, Lincoln Road.  Permission granted.
• S19/1451 – Fell trees at The Russets, Washdyke Lane.  Work allowed.
• S19/1737 – 5 day notice – fell apple tree at Carriers Cottage, Rectory Lane.
• S19/1819 – Approval of details reserved by condition at The Old Farmhouse, Sudthorpe Hill.

c)   For information only: The Appeal for an increase in the number of Clay Pigeon Shooting Days at Brandon Wood is scheduled for the 25th-27th February 2020.  The Vice-Chairman undertook to put forward the Parish Council’s objections before the deadline.

Action: Cllr Sampson

9.   Highway Matters

a)   Speed of vehicles down Rectory Lane – this matter was debated again and it was considered that there was very little that the Parish Council could do other than advising the perpetrators and asking them to moderate their speed.

b)   Observation Mirror – CC Maughan advised that this would not receive planning permission.  In the circumstances CC Hughes proposed that this should not be pursued.  All were in agreement.

c)   Beck Lane – A letter had been received from a resident together with accompanying photographs regarding the state of Beck Lane and the deterioration of the road.  Also if the situation could be rectified it would help resolve the issue of flooding at the end of North End Lane.

The Vice-Chairman had spoken to the owner of the ditches and was assured that this would be dealt with as soon as possible.  Also CC Maughan stated that he would go down the lane himself and inspect the damage and try and get the County Council to expedite the necessary work.  

Action: CC Maughan

d)   South Heath Lane – a huge hole had appeared in the Lane within the last two days and it had been reported on ‘Fix My Street’.  CC Maughan agreed to chase this up.

Action: CC Maughan

e)   Village Signs – as the Village would have to pay for any signs to be erected CC Maughan agreed that he would get costings.  It was proposed by Cllr Morison and seconded by Cllr Hughes that no signs are purchased until the speed limit review is received.

Action: CC Maughan

10.  Correspondence – the Clerk notified the members that correspondence had been received as per the circulated list.

11.  LALC Conference & AGM – Cllr Hodcroft reported on the Conference and said that she had found it very interesting and informative.  She gave an outline of the topics covered.  She had attended the workshop on Neighbourhood Planning and said that she would continue to try and get a forum together to discuss the future planning.  To this end she would insert an item in the Village Newsletter.

Action: Cllt Hodcroft

One of the speakers had been Marcus Jones, Lincolnshire Police Crime Commissioner, who had talked about rural security.  He had suggested that the villages investigate the possibility of recruiting Special Constables which is a voluntary role.  Cllr Hodcroft stated that she would put an item in the Village Newsletter advising anyone interested to look on the web site for Special Constables.

It was noted that Lincolnshire had put in a request for another 80 Police Officers and it was hoped they might receive 30.

Action: Cllt Hodcroft

12.  Grant from the District Councillor

Cllr Milnes had kindly offered the Parish Council a grant of £200 and after consideration it was proposed by Cllr Caunt and seconded by Cllr Sampson that the money be put towards the purchase of a projector for the village hall.  All were in agreement.

Action: Clerk

13.  Telephone Kiosk

It was proposed by Cllr Sampson and seconded by Cllr Caunt that as only one telephone call had been made from the kiosk in the last year it could be dispensed with.  All were in agreement.

Action: Clerk

14.  Trees from the Woodland Trust

Cllr Hodcroft gave details of her findings from the Woodland Trust about the packs of trees that were available for communities and it was decided not to pursue the offer at the present time.

15.  District Councillor’s Report

As DC Milnes was unable to be at the meeting she had submitted a written report as follows:-

• Planning Appeal – S19/0834 – an appeal has been lodged with details of the reasons on the South Kesteven District Council website.  It is not yet known what form the appeal will take but there is the possibility of a hearing or public enquiry led by an Inspector.  Cllr Milnes had urged Lincolnshire County Council as the Lead Flood Agency to visit the site as soon as possible whilst everything is wet and to consider the outfall situation at the North West end of the site.
• Neighbourhood Planning – Cllr Milnes could possibly ask for an officer from SKDC to come and talk to the Parish Council about Neighbourhood Planning.  
• Council Houses, Bulby Lane – SKDC have plans to remedy the problems with some of the houses in Ash Close.  Cllr Morison had circulated a paper to all Councillors giving details of his meeting with Mr Dodd from SKDC.  It was noted that SKDC are intending to start work on the wider project of rectifying the structural issues at 9 Ash Close and the rest of the terrace as soon as possible.  Following the structural work the car park will be installed about January/February 2020 depending on progress and contractors programme.  Mr. Dodd agreed to write to the Parish Council outlining their current and future plans.

16.  County Councillor’s Report – CC Maughan reported on the following items of interest:

• Grantham Southern Relief Road – work on the second phase has been officially launched and is expected to take approximately 18 months to construct.
• Highway Contracts for 2020 – as the Authority’s three current highways maintenance contracts are due to end in March 2020 a detailed procurement process was undertaken and three new contractors appointed initially for six years with the option to extend for a further six years.
• The County Councils in Greater Lincolnshire were discussing how their authorities could work more closely together so that they could provide residents with improved services.  CC Maughan emphasised that there would be a spokesperson for Greater Lincolnshire but not a Mayor.  It was hoped that this would give Greater Lincolnshire a stronger voice so that they achieved a better deal from central government.
• Lincolnshire’s Energy from Waste Facility – the latest figure was noted.
• A1 – It was noted that CC Maughan is lobbying locally for improvement to the A1.  However, as usual, it all comes down to availability of money.

17.  Village Organisation’s Report – Village Hall & Playing Field Committee

Cllr Hughes was pleased to report that the firework display had been a success and a profit of £19.39 was made.

The Christmas Party will be held on the 14th December 2019 in the Village Hall.

Date of next meeting – Monday 6th January 2020 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.

The meeting concluded at 10 p.m.