2024 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Fulbeck Parish Council

Minutes for Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on 19 September 2024 at 7.00 PM

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

MINUTES

1. Welcome.
   • The Chair welcomed everyone, and voiced a thank you to all the volunteers in the Parish involved

in events over the summer weeks, including the Summer Festival, car boot sales, the 'Digging for

Britain/Arnhem Commemoration, and others.

2. Public Forum (limited to no more than 15 minutes).
   • There was a proposal to approach LRSP for a Speed Watch group in the village – the application

to proceed was supported.

• A member of the public wanted to thank an unknown person for being helpful in reporting a

dangerous branch – there was a suggestion that the thanks should be registered on the local

Facebook page.

3. County and District Councillor reports.
   • The County Councillor had submitted a written report and the District Councillor gave a verbal

report that was followed up by a written version that can be obtained from the Clerk to the Parish

Council.

24/25/053 Open the Council meeting.

• The meeting commenced at 7.33pm.
• Present: Councillors June Hutchinson (Chair), Peter Hughes (Deputy Chair), Alix Fane, Ollie

Crowder, Nick Harrison, Jane Hodcroft; Dermot Daly (Clerk); District Councillor Penny Milnes; Four

members of the public.

24/25/054 To receive and approve any apologies for absence.

• It was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the apologies received from Cllr Rosie Siddans.

24/25/055 To receive disclosures of interests from Councillors on matters at this meeting.

• There were no interests declared.

MEETINGS

24/25/056 To approve the Minutes for the Parish Council meeting held on 11th July 2024.

• Three minor changes were proposed and agreed - 24/25/045 'Ashers' be replaced with 'Valley

View House', 24/25/045 'thought to be originally requested by the Parish Council' be struck, and

24/25/049 '15th' be struck - it was then RESOLVED unanimously to approve the Minutes.

POLICY & PROCESS

24/25/057 To agree that all resolutions have the associated voting volumes recorded in respect of for, against,

and abstentions; and that this is appropriately reflected in the Standing Orders.

• It was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the change in process and associated change to the

Standing Orders.

24/25/058 To approve the Grievance Policy.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously to approve the policy.

24/25/059 To approve the Complaints Procedure.

• It was unanimously RESOLVED to amend the Procedure to deal with complaints about either the

Clerk or the Chair to be reported to the other person; the subsequent changed document to be

deferred to the next full Council meeting; and that the Communications Policy be reviewed at the

earliest opportunity and brought to a full Council meeting.

GENERAL

24/25/060 To review and agree actions relating to the annual play area inspection reports, the pre-emptive

maintenance work, and the interim play equipment inspections.

• It was recognised that a wood chip infill top-up is required under the play equipment - with a

volume of 55 cubic metres it is estimated a cost of £2100.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously that this is paid out of the reserves for the play equipment.
• It was RESOLVED unanimously to build up reserves for replacement play equipment over a

period of time.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously that Cllrs Nick Harrison and Peter Hughes will review the

maintenance required on the equipment from the annual safety check report, and bring back to the

Council together with estimated replacement costs.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously to replace the retention boarding plus the cushion fall top-up at

an estimated value of £2,250.

24/25/061 To provide an update on the greens and verges initiative and agree any related actions.

• It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the Extraordinary meeting on 3rd October 2024.

24/25/062 To discuss and agree a submission of an application for biodiversity funding to South Kesteven

District Council.

• It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the Extraordinary meeting on 3rd October 2024.

FINANCE

24/25/063 To review and agree a budget for biodiversity initiatives.

• It was RESOLVED to defer this item to the Extraordinary meeting on 3rd October 2024.

24/25/064 To review the Financial Report for the period.

• The Clerk presented the circulated report.
• It was RESOLVED unanimously to accept the report as circulated.

24/25/065 To review and approve the Accounts for Payment, including 25% of the SLCC membership.

• It was RESOLVED by a majority with one abstention to approve the payments.

24/25/066 To approve a request to purchase fireworks for the village event in November up to a maximum of

£600.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously to purchase the fireworks for the Village event.

24/25/067 To review and approve an application for a grant of £500 toward the Village Hall and Playing Fields.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously to award a grant of £500 to the Village Hall and Playing Fields

Committee for the great efforts of managing these facilities on behalf of the community.

24/25/068 To confirm the closure of the Melton Building Society Account, transferring to the Unity Trust

banking facility, and sign the closure letter.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously to close the Melton Building Society account and transfer to

interest-bearing account of the Unity Trust bank facility.

24/25/069 To discuss the set up of a specific domain for Councillor and Clerk emails ahead of the move to

.gov.uk domain requirement, to align to regulatory best practice.

• It was RESOLVED unanimously to carry out this work.

REPORTS (for information only)

24/25/070 To receive the Clerk's Report.

• The Clerk reported that an anonymous member of the public contacted him about some

threatening dogs and verbal abuse from the same property. Advice was provided to contact the

Police or Environmental Health department of the District Council.

24/25/071 To provide a report on the Arnhem commemorations project.

• Cllr Alix Fane reported a very successful event with the dig uncovering Nissen huts, live

ammunition, identity tags, and even a medieval manor house under the lawn.

24/25/072          To provide an update on the South Kesteven District Council - Parish Forum.

• Cllr June Hutchinson had attended the South Kesteven District Council's Local and Parish Councils Forum and reported that it was an interesting session and that a formal report will be released later when all the sessions around the District have been completed.
• Headlines: Food waste collections are aimed for 2026; the corporate plan is available in full on the SKDC website; the devolution bill is under discussion; they want to work better together with communities; they deliver over 100 services with 500 staff; their District is classed as 'affluent' with pockets of severe deprivation; they deal with 1,100 planning applications every year; their local development plan covers the period until 2041 and is to be agreed by 2026.

NEXT MEETING

24/25/073        To consider agenda items for the next meeting on Thursday 14th November 2024 commencing 7.00pm.

• there was a request for a walkabout with County Cllr to be reconvened, covering highways.
• Complaints policy.
• Initial budget.
• Review of Communications Policy?

Close meeting.

• There being no further business the meeting was closed at 10.08pm.

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