2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Fulbeck Parish Council

Minutes for Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on 11 July 2024 at 7.00 PM

Location: Village Hall, Lincoln Road, Fulbeck, NG32 3JW

MINUTES

Welcome.

• The Chair welcomed all present and provided background on the difference between an Annual Parish Meeting (held between 1st March and 1st June) and an Annual Parish Council Meeting (held in May).

Public Forum (limited to no more than 15 minutes).

• District Councillor Penny Milne hoped the residents were getting used to the different bins and reported on the flexibility that is being observed during kerbside collections. There was nothing further to report.
• There were no comments from the members of the public.

24/25/037        Open the Council meeting.

• The meeting commenced at 7.08pm.
• Present: Councillors June Hutchinson (Chair), Peter Hughes, Alix Fane, Ollie Crowder, Rosie Siddans, Nick Harrison, Jane Hodcroft; Dermot Daly (Clerk); District Councillor Penny Milnes; 6 members of the public.

24/25/038  To receive and approve any apologies for absence.  - There were no apologies for absence.

24/25/039        To receive disclosures of interests from Councillors on matters at this meeting.  - Cllr Alix Fane declared interests in items:  24/25/044, 24/25/045, and  24/25/049.

MEETINGS

24/25/040        To approve the Minutes for the Parish Council meeting held on 16th May 2024.

 - It was RESOLVED by majority to approve the Minutes as circulated, with item 24/25/013 being changed with the addition of the following wording "The Clerk to contact Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC) to ask, where does a Councillor go to if they do not agree to an internal process, specifically the Complaints Procedure."

24/25/041        To approve the Minutes for the Parish Council meeting held on 27th June 2024.  - It was RESOLVED by majority to approve the Minutes as circulated.

POLICY & PROCESS

24/25/042        To adopt the Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct, and sign-up to the Civility and Respect Pledge, and approve any associated training.

 - It was RESOLVED unanimously to adopt the latest Councillor Code of Conduct, to sign up to the Civility and Respect Pledge, and to monitor for when LALC provide associated training.

PLANNING

24/25/043  S24/0929 - Little Becks, Bulby Lane, Fulbeck, NG32 3JG - Single storey rear extension with new windows and changes to external finishes to existing walls. [Deadline: 12/07/2024]  - It was RESOLVED by a majority to not object to the application.

24/25/044        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 -- Appeal upheld. (Information only).

GENERAL

24/25/045        To discuss and agree actions relating to a damaged tree subject to a Tree Preservation Order.

 - A tree on land opposite Ashers, a mature Sycamore, has sustained 30% damage from a fire.

There is some new growth lower down but about 10 or 11 branches are damaged. There is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the tree, thought to be originally requested by the Parish Council. The tree is on private land and the damage has been reported by the landowner to the District Council (SKDC). It was RESOLVED by a majority for the Clerk to contact SKDC about the health and safety aspect of the damaged tree.

24/25/046        To agree provision of mobile Wi-Fi for the Village Hall.

• Some councillors declared issues with accessing the proposal document so the Chair read out the proposal. It was pointed out by a Councillor that a TV license, at £169.50 per year, would be required if someone connects to the Wi-Fi and uses the power from the establishment. There was a further view that the relevant Authority that polices the licensing do not check TV use or cannot confirm the consumption of BBC channels. A further alternative was suggested, using a portable router with a data pay-as-you-go SIM.
• It was RESOLVED unanimously to not go with the proposal and to return to it at a later date.

24/25/047        To agree recording of the Parish Council meetings and the associated retention period.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously that the official meetings are recorded, including the County and District Councillors’ reports; the recording to be retained until the specific meeting minutes are approved and signed off.
• As part of resolution it was agreed that the recording of the meeting should be communicated to the public prior to the start of each meeting so that should they be invited to speak or answer a question then they will be aware of the recording taking place and implicitly accept that they are recorded.

24/25/048        To discuss and agree subsequent actions relating to the Biodiversity proposals.

• Cllr Rosie Siddans made a representation regarding the potential back-track of the Parish Council at the last meeting following an aggressive challenge from part of the village who did not agree to wild areas, especially the Church Green, and which has resulted in the monitored areas being mown.
• Cllr Rosie Siddans proposed that the Parish Council reviews its position, as the approach had been previously adopted by the Parish Council and was following guidance and advice from the Wildlife Trust, monitoring un-mown areas for wild species during the initial season.
• It was RESOLVED by a majority to convene the working group, identify a budget for a survey, have some initial plans for the content of the survey, and present to the next meeting.

24/25/049        To discuss and agree actions relating to the proposed Arnhem commemorations.

• Cllr Alix Fane reported that there are already plans for a 15th archaeological dig; the Friday list of events would include a talk; Fulbeck is at the centre of the Arnhem Trail; press and TV are being engaged, there will be a re-enactment and a fly-past. The Saturday would be a Family Day. The initial announcement of the events went out on 11th July and the posters are now available. There will be an invitation coming out to the public to get involved together with associated Facebook and website information.
• It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would support the series of events.

FINANCE

24/25/050        To review the Financial Report for the period.

 - Due to a lack of time, this item was not covered and would be incorporated into the next meeting.

24/25/051        To review and approve the Accounts for Payment.

 - It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the accounts for payment.

NEXT MEETING

24/25/052        To consider agenda items for the next meeting on Thursday 12th September 2024 commencing 7.00pm.

• To agree the noting of voting volumes for all items on a set of Minutes
• Budget for biodiversity survey - Arnhem update and related actions

Close meeting.

• There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.09pm.

 LEGEND

AGAR -  Annual Governance and Accountability Return

FPC - Fulbeck Parish Council

LALC - Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils

LCC - Lincolnshire County Council

LRSP - Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership

LWT - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

PCC - Parochial Church Council

SKDC - South Kesteven District Council

TPO - Tree Preservation Order

VH&PF - Village Hall and Playing Field