March 2024 Minutes
Fulbeck Parish Council
Minutes for Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on 14 March 2024 at 7.00 PM
Location: Village Hall, Lincoln Road, Fulbeck, NG32 3JW
MINUTES
(I) Welcome
- The Chair, Cllr June Hutchinson, welcomed all and opened the public section of the meeting.
(ii) Public Forum (limited to no more than 15 minutes).
- It was requested whether the Beech tree in the churchyard could be looked at as part of the local tree maintenance programme.
- It was pointed out that two local residents had been killed on D-Day so it might be relevant to commemorate as part of any organised event.
- It was further suggested that it might be relevant to look at commemoration of The Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden (17-26 September 1944).
(iii) To receive the District Councillor Report.
- There follows a summary of verbal report given on the evening, a full written report is available by contacting the Clerk.
• There is a Public Space Protection Order approved for Pottergate Lane to help protect against fly tipping.
• The Brandon Shoot enforcement action has gone to appeal.
• The new local development plan, which defines what development happens where, is out for consultation until 25th April and the District Council is after your views – please follow this link to give your feedback.
• There is now a new Council Leader to South Kesteven District Council (Ashley Baxter).
• Your Council Tax has increased, rising by 3.2% for the District Council element (meaning a typical Band D property would pay £2098).
• A new depot for bin lorries is to be constructed with a £8M capital loan.
• There has been a mixed response to the new bins and the checking of the waste deposited in these bins when they are collected has caused some issue so the process on collection is being reviewed.
• There is now a digital version of SK Today, so download now!
(iv) To receive the County Councillor Report.
- There follows a summary of verbal report given on the evening, a full written report is available by contacting the Clerk.
• The schemes on the A607 are being discussed and explored to address the impact on the closures that have happened and are being planned for the future.
• South Heath Lane condition is terrible. Public have reported on FixMyStreet but it appears to be a long-term issue that may need a complete reconstruction of that section of the road.
• Feedback will come to the Parish Council regarding what is intended to be done. A French Drain was placed on the north side of the road about 10 years ago.
23/24/062 Open the Council meeting.The Chair opened the formal Council meeting at 19:36.
Present: Councillors June Hutchinson (Chair), Peter Hughes, Alix Fane, Ollie Crowder, Rosie Siddans, Nick Harrison; County Councillor Alexander Maughan; District Councillor Penny Milnes; Dermot Daly (Clerk); 14 members of the public.
23/24/063 To receive and approve any apologies for absence.
- It was RESOLVED to accept the apologies from Cllr Jane Hodcroft.
23/24/064 To receive disclosures of interests from Councillors on matters at this meeting.
- 23/24/067: Cllr Alix Fane.
23/24/065 To agree the appointment of a new Clerk to Fulbeck Parish Council.
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to appoint Mr Dermot Daly as Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer for Fulbeck Parish Council.
MEETINGS
23/24/066 To approve the minutes for the Parish Council meeting held on 11th January 2024.
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the minutes as circulated.
PLANNING 23/24/067 S23/1124
APP/E2530/W/23/3334444 - Land North Of South Heath Lane, Fulbeck, Lincolnshire - Erection of 9(no) dwellings, comprising 7(no) affordable dwellings and (2no) open market dwellings; formation of new private drives and associated hard landscaping to provide access from South Heath Lane (Revised submission of S21/1974) [Deadline: 28/03/2024]
- Cllr Alix Fane left the meeting at 19:43.
- It was RESOLVED to support the original application, to ensure that our previous comments have been submitted, and to add to the previous submission with:
The Parish Council stands by the previous communications through the original application and for the avoidance of doubt we support the development.
- It was noted that previous responses to SKDC Planning Department do not appear to be on the Planning Portal and that the response was only as part of the Planning Officers report, so the accuracy and detail of the Parish Council is in question. This was raised as an issue and requested of the District Councillor, present at the meeting, that this be investigated and that the full Parish Council response is provided to the Appeal process.
- It was RESOLVED to support the original application, to ensure that it has been submitted, and to add to the previous submission with:
The Parish Council stands by the previous communications through the original application and for the avoidance of doubt we support the development.
- Cllr Alix Fane rejoined the meeting at 20:23.
POLICY & PROCESS
23/24/068 To review and agree the Staff and Councillor Expenses Policies.
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the policies as circulated, following addition of a link for the relevant mileage rates on the HMRC website.
23/24/069 To review and agree the Grievance & Disciplinary Procedure.
- It was RESOLVED to defer this policy and to look at the relationship with the Staffing Committee and the requirement of an Appeal Committee.
23/24/070 To review and agree the Health & Safety Guidance (including Display Screen Equipment Guidance).
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the guidance document as circulated.
23/24/071 To review and agree the Whistleblowing Policy.
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the policy as circulated.
- The Council asked for clarification on when the full Council is informed of the whistleblowing outcome.
23/24/072 To review and agree the Data Protection Policy.
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the policy as circulated.
23/24/073 To review and agree the Diversity & Equality Policy.
- It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the policy as circulated.
- It was recognised the need for a Recruitment Policy.
23/24/074 To review and agree the Communications Policy to replace the existing Communications Policy, Emails Policy, and Social Media Policy.
- As there was some discussion regarding Facebook and location of displaying the Minutes and Agendas, it was RESOLVED to defer this item.
23/24/075 To discuss and agree the creation of a staffing committee, including the terms of reference, and the members of the committee.
It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the next meeting.
PLANNING POLICY
23/24/076 To discuss and agree any actions or responses to the South Kesteven District Council Planning Policy Consultation running from 29/2/2024 to 25/4/2024.
- The Planning Policy Consultation is running from 29/2/2024 to 25/4/2024.
- It was RESOLVED to organise an informal session and for the Chair to provide feedback through the Clerk.
FINANCE
23/24/077 To review the Financial Report for the period.
- It was RESOLVED to accept the finance report as circulated.
23/24/078 To review and approve the Accounts for Payment.
- It was RESOLVED to approve the Accounts for Payment as circulated and the relevant cheques to be signed at the end of the meeting.
23/24/079 To review and approve the updated banking mandate.
- It was RESOLVED to sign the updated mandates as presented.
23/24/080 To review and approve the updated reserves building society mandate.
- It was RESOLVED to sign the updated mandates as presented.
23/24/081 To agree the budget and precept for the financial year 2024-25.
- It was RESOLVED to approve the budget and precept as circulated.
GENERAL
23/24/082 To discuss and agree whether the Council is to subscribe to the LALC Training Scheme.
- It was RESOLVED to not join the scheme.
23/24/083 To agree the terms of reference for the Community Resilience Working Group.
- The Lincolnshire Resilience Group is focussed on major incidents.
- There is a possibility that we could take the Lincolnshire plan and scale it down for use in Fulbeck.
- It was RESOLVED that the Chair is to contact Simon Nash on the subject and report back.
23/24/084 To agree the terms of reference for the Road Safety and Speeding Working Group.
- There has been an invitation by a resident for a Councillor to visit and evidence the speeding.
- There will be an initial investigation into active speed signage.
- There was an Invitation for the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) to visit with their equipment but has been turned down.
23/24/085 To report on, discuss, and agree related actions to local vehicle speeding issues.
- It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the next meeting.
23/24/086 To discuss and agree actions relating to potholes and pothole repairs in the Parish.
- It was RESOLVED to combine this with 23/24/085 and defer it until the next meeting.
23/24/087 To discuss and agree whether there would be any support for a D-Day 80 event and, if so, any associated actions.
- This item is to be investigated further and any proposal to be presented at a future meeting.
23/24/088 To discuss and agree whether the Council is to support repairs to the Church Clock and to what extent.
- Clerk received email with two quotes totalling £3,150.
- It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the next meeting.
23/24/089 To discuss and agree actions relating to the identification of EV Charge Points within the Parish for Lincolnshire County Council.
- It was RESOLVED to propose the playing field car park (2 units).
23/24/090 To discuss and agree whether to accept the offer of a presentation for Fibre rollout plans by Quickline.
- It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the next meeting.
23/24/091 To confirm the eligibility criteria and to formalise the adoption of the General Power of Competence for Fulbeck Parish Council (as defined in the Localism Act 2011 Section 1(1)).
- Given the confirmed relevant validity of the Council, with two-thirds of the Councillors elected and a CiLCA qualified Clerk, it was RESOLVED to declare the General Power of Competency For Fulbeck Parish Council.
23/24/092 To agree the forward schedule of Parish Council meetings for 2024-25.
- It was RESOLVED to accept the dates as circulated.
- The dates are:
2024: 9th May, 11th July, 12th September, 14th November 2025: 9th January, 13th March, 8th May, 10th July
23/24/093 To discuss and agree actions relating to highways and road closures.
- The County Councillor is to keep a watching brief and pressure on the contractors and Highways department as the plans formulate for work later in the year.
REPORTS (for information only) 23/24/094 Clerk's Report
- Planning Application: S24/0350 - Section 211 notice to remove the lower branches up to a height of 5 metres above ground level on a Sycamore tree.
- Application: S24/0376 - Section 211 notice to reduce Conifer trees.
- Callconnect will not be operating and our booking offices will be closed on Good Friday 29 March and Easter Monday 1 April.
- Availability of funding for village halls through Lincolnshire Community Foundation website at lincolnshirecf.co.uk/available-grants/
23/24/095 To receive the report for Biodiversity & Wilding on Fulbeck village greens and other sites.
- Coordination of Biodiversity & Wilding on Fulbeck village greens and other sites has commenced with an initial meeting held on 10th February at which key aims, aspirations, and actions were decided. Work is to start on the village church green, commencing mainly with monitoring for the first year then subsequently to plan work needed to create diversity and attract further wildlife species. Further reports will be displayed on our noticeboard.
23/24/096 To receive the report for the Community Resilience Working Group.
- See item 23/24/083.
NEXT MEETING
23/24/097 To consider agenda items for the next meeting on Thursday 9th May 2024 commencing 7.00pm.
- Grievance & Disciplinary Procedure.
- Communications Policy.
- Creation of a staffing committee, including the terms of reference, and the members of the committee.
- Local vehicle speeding issues, potholes and pothole repairs.
- Presentation for Fibre rollout plans by Quickline.
- D-Day 80 event.
- Repairs to the Church Clock.
LEGEND
Close meeting.
- There being no further business the Chair closed the meeting at 21:48.
EV - Electric Vehicle
FPC - Fulbeck Parish Council
LALC - Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils LCC - Lincolnshire County Council
LRSP - Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership LWT - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
PC - Parish Council
PCC - Parochial Church Council
SKDC - South Kesteven District Council