FOTHERBY PARISH COUNCIL.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FOTHERBY PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 5 DECEMBER 2022 AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH.
Present: Cllr S Mansfield (Chairman), Cllr T Hunter, Cllr K Ensell, Cllr L Sutton and Cllr C Chen,
In attendance: Mrs V Davies (Clerk) ELDC Cllr Mossop.
Four Parishioners present
The meeting began at 19:25 hours with an open forum.
Cllr Mansfield reported on the railway and the withdrawal of the permissive bridleway. Work will take place shortly on the railway adjacent to Fotherby.
Cllr Mansfield had been to a meeting regarding a consultation for the Viking CCS pipeline from Immingham to Theddlethorpe. The new pipeline would be situated to the east of Little Grimsby and access would likely to be via the pipeline temporary construction route.
An email had been received from a parishioner regarding concerns about the condition of the grave for Samuel Day. Mrs Chester advised that Samuel Day died during WW1 war. His family had erected the headstone and he is buried alongside his family. As the headstone had been erected by the family the Commonwealth War Graves commission does not accept any responsibility for the condition of the grave. The headstone had become unstable and hazard warning tape is in place. There is no family to look after the headstone. It was proposed that a working party be established in the churchyard to assist with general maintenance. Cllr Mansfield would put an article in the keyhole asking for volunteers. Three other men died in WW1 but are each buried abroad close to where they died, with CWGC headstones. There are three names on the roll of honour in the church and the fourth has a brass memorial plaque in another part of the church. There are graves of family members for two others which have become a focus for remembering them and it is proposed that, in future, wreaths be placed at this place for each of the men who died.
Cllr Mossop reported that the drainage boards had met to agree the general levy for landowners. Due to the increase in energy costs for the surface water pumping stations, the levy would likely increase in the region of 20-30%.
143/2022 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from ESCC Cllr Alex Hall.
144/22 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – TO BE STATED IN ANY PROPOSITION
There were no declarations of interest. Cllrs had reviewed their declarations of interest and confirmed they were up to date. Cllr Ensell’s declaration of interest was not on the website. Cllr Ensell completed the form again. This would be posted again to East Lindsey District Council.
145/22 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF 7 NOVEMBER 2022.
Cllr Sutton proposed, seconded Cllr Ensell approval of the minutes of 7 November 2022. Cllr Mansfield signed the minutes.
146/22 CLERKS UPDATE.
The clerk advised that best practice is for parish councils to purchase a gov.com email addresses for council use. Following discussion, Cllrs were asked to ensure they had a separate email for parish council business.
Meeting dates 2023
Tuesday 3 January (Monday 2 is a bank holiday)
Monday 6 February
Monday 6 March
Monday 3 April
Monday 15 May – Annual meeting which must take place within 2 weeks of election on 9 May.
Monday 5 June
Monday 3 July
Monday 7 August
Monday 4 September
Monday 2 October
Monday 6 November
Monday 4 December
147/22 TO CONSIDER/AGREE THE BUDGET FOR 2023/2024 INCLUDING THE STRATEGY FOR LONG TERM RESERVES COVER.
Cllrs considered the budget drafted by the clerk and Cllr Ensell.
Option 1 5.2% increase (£436). Precept £8699 increase. Retain £7304 reserves
Option 2 retain present precept £8263. Reduce reserves by 6% to £6868
Option 3 Increase of Precept by 10% to £9,089. Retain reserves at £7304.79.
Proposed Cllr Hunter seconded Cllr Chen to agree budget option 3 with a precept of £9089. Approved unanimously by all Cllrs.
The parish council resolved to aim to maintain a reserve of 80 -90% of expenditure to guard against in year cost shocks from unanticipated expenditure needs. This level of reserve cover would be reviewed ahead of budget setting for 2024/25.
148/22 FINANCE
Proposed Cllr Mansfield, Seconded Cllr Hunter approval of the cheques below:
1319 V Davies Clerk Expenses £25.41
1320 V Davies Clerk Salary £233.10
1321 PMP Keyhole £100.41
Balances. Treasurers Account £8186.24 (20.10.22), of which £209.78 is ring-fenced for Fotherby Common
Business Bank Account £2501.36 (9.8.22)
Cllrs noted the Monthly Reports.
TO APPROVE ANY OTHER EXPENDITURE SUPPORTED BY A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL
There were no further proposals for expenditure.
149/22. PLANNING N/052/02271/22 JAYSWOOD, PEPPIN LANE, FOTHERBY. ERECTION OF 3 GREENHOUSES, BOUNDARY FENCING AND ACCESS GATES TO THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 1.8 METRES.
The Parish council would submit a no comment response to the planning department.
150/2022. FLOODING IN PEPPIN LANE AND ALLENBY CRESCENT
Cllr Mansfield had arranged to meet Mr Moore from Anglian Water on 13 December.
151/2022. UPDATE FROM FOTHERBY COMMON
Mrs Chester was waiting for the tree surgeon to commence work in early 2023. The parish council noted that some of the large branches for edging had been removed and there is evidence of some fires. Thanks were given to Mrs Chester and all the volunteers for their diligence in keeping the Common in good order.
152/2022 LITTER STRATEGY
Cllr Ensell reported that litter picking continues. There had been no further incidents of fly tipping. An article on the litter strategy will be published in the spring edition of the Keyhole following which more activity will follow. ELDC had taken the Fotherby lead and sent out a litter strategy for the partnership.
153/2022. CONDITION OF ROAD FOTHERBY TOP
A letter had been sent to the Chief Solicitor at LCC in November asking for permission to apply for a grant to improve the roadway without prejudice. This did not commit the parish council or LCC to future liability for the road. No response had been received to date.
154/2022. BUS SHELTERS UPKEEP
Interskill had commenced the work on two bus shelters. Five parishioners had volunteered to adopt and look after each of the bus shelters. This was welcomed by the Parish Council and adoptees were thanked for their voluntary efforts.
155/2022. FIXED ASSET REGISTER. ARRANGING REGULAR INSPECTIONS
Cllr Ensell was working on updating the asset register. Discussion took place regarding ownership of the benches, and it was resolved that the benches be added onto the asset register. Cllr Ensell would distribute a draft amended Fixed Asset Register in the coming month for validation and agreement. It was noted that an annual inspection of assets based on this amended register be undertaken to help inform likely expenditure ahead of budget setting for 2024-25.
156/2022. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting would take place on Tuesday 3 January 2023 at 7.30 pm.
157/2022 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.