2020 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

FULBECK PARISH COUNCIL

Notes of Parish Council Meeting – 6th January 2020

Present: Councillors Caunt (Chairman), Fane, Greenhalgh, Hodcroft, Hughes, Morison and Sampson.  Parish Clerk, Carol Tointon.  There were three members of the public present including DC Milnes and CC Maughan.

1.   Apologies for absence – None

2.   Chairperson’s Remarks: The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and hoped they had an excellent Christmas and wished them well for 2020.

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 Morison and seconded by Cllr Sampson that these notes be accepted as a true record of the Parish Council meeting held on the 11th November 2019.

5.   Adjournment of business for public questions and comments.

6.   Reports on matters outstanding:

a)   Ash Close, Bulby Lane.  Cllr Morison reported that he had met Mr Adam Dodd, Assistant Project Officer – Development and had ascertained that work was imminent on rectifying the structural issues at 9 Ash Close and the rest of the terrace.  After that work was completed it was hoped to commence work on the car park – hopefully January/February 2020 – depending on the weather conditions.

7.   Financial Matters

a)   Financial Report – The Clerk reported that the balance is currently £10413.68 in the Melton Mowbray Building Society and £7126.93 in the Yorkshire Bank (total £17540.61) including £15904.52 in the General Account, £936.48 in the Playing Field Account, Election Fund £152.61, Playing Field Reserve £600 and -£53 in the Defibrillator Account.

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

Action: Clerk/Cllrs with signature authority

c)   Payments made:  The Clerk reported that the following payment had been made since the previous meeting.

d)   Precept 2020/21

The Clerk outlined the Analysis of Expenditure and Budget tables which had been circulated prior to the meeting and pointed out that the annual grant from Central Government is zero.  Cllr Greenhalgh had a query on the figures that had been produced and the Clerk undertook to go through the workings again and report back.

Action: Clerk

After considerable debate Cllr Sampson proposed that the precept should be raised to £7600, an increase of 1.10%.  This was seconded by Cllr Hughes.  All were in agreement.  The Clerk stated that the deadline for submission of the precept was 17th January 2020 and she would ensure that it was submitted before that date.

Action: Clerk

The Chairman thanked Cllr Greenhalgh for all his work on the figures for the precept.

8.   Planning Matters

a)   Planning Applications received – S19/2096 Hurlingham Business Park, Fulbeck Heath Road – amendment to position of storage building approved by S18/2034.  No representations were put forward.

b)   Planning Applications Determined – PL/0159/19 – Demolition of fire damaged building and erection of new building at New Earth Solutions (West) Ltd., Caythorpe Heath Lane.

S19/1805 – Approval of details reserved by Condition – Ermine House, High Street.

S19/1500 – Extension to existing offices at Fulbeck Heights, Pottergate Road.

c)   Planning Appeal – S19/0834- Change of use of land for the siting of caravans for residential purposes for 4 gypsy pitches and associated hardstanding, access and utility blocks on land off Bulby Lane.  (Inspectorate Ref: APP/E253/W/19/3240125).  It was noted that an appeal and had been lodged but no date set for the Hearing.  

The Chairman asked that DC Milnes keep the residents of North End fully informed of all the developments.  This she undertook to do.

Action: DC Milnes

DC Milnes outlined the steps she had taken to date with regard to the surface water situation and CC Maughan gave details of Lincolnshire County Council’s responsibilities.  These were noted.

d)   Drop Box – Cllr Morison stated that Drop Box wanted to charge £100 per annum for the use of the facility.  As he only used it for planning applications the charge was extreme.  As this charge would be levied on all the Councillors it was agreed that when applications were circulated everyone was copied in so that everyone could see each other’s comments.

Action: All Cllrs

9.   Highway Matters

a)   Beck Lane – There were still problems with flooding even after two days of dry weather.  Cllr Fane stated that work was being done to find the drain and hopefully the problem would be sorted out in the near future.

Action: Cllr Fane

The Chairman had used the services of a firm at Donington and undertook to let Cllr Fane have details.

Action: Chairman

b)   Speed Camera

Cllr Morison reiterated that the purchase of a speed camera had been agreed by the Parish Council at its meeting last May and the only question outstanding was how to operate the camera i.e. battery, solar or mains electricity.

Cllrs Morison and Sampson had met with Graeme Butler, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership who stated that the vicinity of the trees would not be an issue with solar and that he would arrange for one to be put in and if it works the Parish Council can pay for it and if it does not then it can be taken away.  Cllr Morison also explained where the post was being erected for the camera and the reasons for its placement.  The cost was £1899 for SID and £700 for the post but it had been agreed to cap the cost at £2500 – a saving of £99.  CC Maughan suggested that it would be prudent to await the assessment to see if a regulation order to move the 30 mph could be given.

Everyone was in agreement that SID should proceed.

There was also agreement that the discussion of the need for village gates should be left in abeyance.

In the meantime, CC Maughan agreed to expedite the 30mph painted circles on the road.

Action: Cllr Maughan

c)   Maintenance

It was noted that the pot holes down Stragglethorpe Lane had been placed on ‘Fix my Street’, the ditch at the bottom of Brant Road floods as the trees have fallen into the ditch and have started growing and the grid is blocked on Washdyke Lane.  Cllr Sampson to check Washdyke Lane.

Action: Cllr Sampson

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

11.  District Councillor’s Report – matters raised included:

• Neighbourhood Planning – DC Milnes was willing to ask an Officer to come from SKDC and give a talk.  Cllr Hodcroft stated that although there were residents keen on the idea of a neighbourhood plan they were not willing to participate and, in the circumstances, it would appear that it would not be going ahead.
• The appeal against refusal of an increase in clay pigeon shooting days will take place at the end of February.
• DC Milnes urged residents to fill out noise report sheets relating to the clay pigeon shooting and the Lincolnshire Kart Club as no planning restrictions were put on the original application so the Enforcement Officer cannot do anything under planning.  This means the only way is through environmental health issues.  Cllr Milnes to forward  information to Cllr Morison so that the form can go on Facebook.

Action: DC Milnes/Cllr Morison

• If anyone wishes to complain about dog faeces they should go on to SKDC where there is a form for completion or a telephone call can be made to Customer Services.
• Cllr Sampson to pass information about an abandoned car on South Heath Lane to DC Milnes

Action: Cllr Sampson

• DC Milnes is a member of the Rural and Communities overview and Scrutiny Committee who are in the process of preparing the SKDC budget.

12.  County Councillor’s Report – matters raised included:

• There has been an 81% reduction in government grants since 2011.
• CC Maughan gave a run-down of the budget briefing to members and highlighted the difficulties being faced.
• A new Chief Executive, Debbie Barnes, had been appointed to the post which had been vacant for one year.   She was an internal candidate.
• The executive members of the LCC, North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council are joining forces to give an improved and efficient service to residents
• The County Council have committed to be carbon neutral by 2050

13.  Village Organisation’s Report – Village Hall and Playing Field Committee

Cllr Hughes was pleased to report the Lincs Lawn have supplied and installed artificial grass to the underneath of the Spirogyra on the Play Area.  This completes the project and the application can be sent to SKDC for the balance of the money.

Action: Clerk

14.  Appointment of Auditor

Cllr Sampson reported that she would make enquiries about a replacement auditor as the previous auditor had died and report back.

Action: Cllr Sampson

15.  HGV and Village Signs

CC Maughan stated that there had been a delay in obtaining the necessary information due to the Christmas and New Year holidays but he would continue to chase the relevant personnel.

Action: Cllr Maughan

Date of next meeting – Monday 9th March 2020 at 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall.

The meeting concluded at 9.45 p.m.

FULBECK PARISH COUNCIL

CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED SINCE JANUARY 2020

In Correspondence folder

• Broxap Catalogue

Circulated by E-mail

• Lincolnshire Lowland Search and Rescue
• Latest news from ICO
• Parish & Town Council Update Newsletter
• Latest News and Events from InvestSK
• LALC E-news – various
• Discover South Kesteven News
• South Kesteven Local Plan 2011-36 – Notification of Inspector’s Report
• Deadline extension for previously exempt abstraction activity licence applications
• Letter re Course for up-dating website – training session Monday 30th March 2020
• Weekly Planning List from South Kesteven District Council (when applicable)
• Notification from CC Maughan re North Rural Panel meeting on 28th March 2020 at Dry Doddington
• Latest news and events from InvestSK (circulated 29th February)
• Fabrication North East Ltd – Remembrance Bench
• Lincolnshire Best Kept Village Competition
• Invitation to attend one of the Rural Strategy Roadshows
• Various correspondence re Planning Appeal