FOTHERBY PARISH COUNCIL.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FOTHERBY PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2023 AT ST. MARY’S CHURCH.
Present: Cllr S Mansfield (Chairman), Cllr T Hunter, Cllr K Ensell, and Cllr C Chen.
In attendance: Mrs V Davies (Clerk) ELDC Cllr Mossop, LCC Cllr A Hall
The meeting commenced with an open forum. 3 residents were present.
OPEN FORUM
Winter warmer bundles had been given out to parishioners. This project is continuing with surplus food being delivered from the Wednesday Pop-In’s. A small amount of money is available for an Easter gift for Fotherby House residents. Thanks were given to Cllr Mossop and ELDC for the funding to support this project via the ELDC community grant. The bundles were very well much welcomed by residents.
LCC Cllr Hall reported that the Louth Transport Scheme has now decided that the Louth Cornmarket will revert to parking for most of the year. The area may be closed on certain days in the summer months to promote the café culture intended from the original scheme.
14/2023 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllr L Sutton.
15/2023 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – TO BE STATED IN ANY PROPOSITION
Cllr Chen, Cllr Mansfield and Cllr Hunter declared an interest in item 17/2023 as either themselves or their partners were on the Fotherby Jubilee Committee.
16/2023 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF 3 JANUARY 2023.
Cllr Hunter proposed, seconded Cllr Ensell approval of the minutes of 3 January 2023. Cllr Mansfield signed the minutes.
17/2023 CLERKS UPDATE.
Fotherby Jubilee Committee requested funding towards the celebrations for the coronation of King Charles II. Three of the five councillors on the Parish council (Cllr Chen, Cllr Mansfield and Cllr Hunter) declared an interest as they were either on the committee or their spouse was on the committee. Cllr Ensell proposed that the Parish council pay for the toilet hire for the event which aligns with the support offered for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. The Clerk would email Cllr Sutton to verify if he would second the proposal. Action: Clerk.
Cllr Mansfield and the Clerk would attend online information sessions regarding grant funding. Cllrs would consider grant opportunities and communicate by email.
18/2023 FINANCE
Proposed Cllr Chen, seconded Cllr Ensell approval of the cheques below:
1325 Louth Interskill Bus Shelter Repairs £560.00 Paid 6.1.23.
1326 PMP Printing Keyhole £110.63
1327 V Davies Clerk Salary £233.10
1328 V Davies Clerk Expenses £36.29
1329 Louth Interskill Bush Shelter Repairs £150.00
Balances. Treasurers Account £6656.64 (11.1.23), of which £209.78 is ring-fenced for Fotherby Common
Business Bank Account £2501.36 (9.8.22)
Cllr Mansfield had verified the bank reconciliation.
Cllrs noted the Monthly Reports.
TO APPROVE ANY OTHER EXPENDITURE SUPPORTED BY A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL
Payment for the toilet hire for the coronation celebrations had been discussed and agreed under 17/2023.
TO RATIFY RISK ASSESSMENT
Cllrs ratified the Risk Assessment Policy.
19/2023. PLANNING
There were no planning applications.
20/2023. LOCALISED FLOODING ISSUES
The flooding issues in Peppin Lane were now fully resolved.
Cllr Ensell gave an update on investigations in Allenby Crescent by Anglian Water (AW). Extensive works had been completed on the sewerage system both in and around Allenby Crescent as a direct result of interventions by the Parish Council. Mr Moore (AW) had advised that CCTV had been completed and that some silt and scaling had been removed on the sewer in Allenby Crescent which had increased the capacity marginally. No leakage had been found from beck into the sewer that could have compounded the sewer surcharge under heavy rainfall.
Houses 10 and 11 Allenby Crescent had been marked as at highest risk of sewer flooding and these had been added to AW’s investment prioritisation register to be included in funding assessment in 2023/24 financial year. If promoted, a site survey would be completed on each property and flood mitigation measures applied. This could include the fitting of non-return valves (NRV’s) to the sewerage connections at No’s 10 & 11 Allenby Crescent to prevent flood water entering the properties during heavy rainfall. This might also include diversion of any rainwater away from the foul sewerage system if relevant. A parishioner highlighted that no 9 and no 12 are also affected either side of No’s 10 and 11. This would be reported to Anglian Water. Action Cllr Ensell
As the flooding issue has been actively promoted within AW by the Parish Council, it was proposed that the parish council write to the residents at 9, 10, 11 and 12 Allenby Crescent to advise of the progress and to confirm that any future works are a matter between individual residents and AW.
Discussion also took place about the need to provide a clear route for road drainage to be improved at the low point in Allenby Crescent to allow water to flow into the overgrown ditch. Cllr Mansfield agreed to contact the landowner to seek to promote some localised ditch clearance and simple roadway drainage improvements to move heavy rainfall off the roadway. Action Cllr Mansfield
21/2023. UPDATE FROM FOTHERBY COMMON
The tree surgeon would be felling trees on the next stage of felling within the common. A volunteer working party would also be arranged for the same day. Some branches used to identify pathways had been removed to build a den and there was some evidence of fires being started. Cllrs thanked Mrs Chester and the volunteers for their devoted work in keeping this village asset is good condition for the benefit of all.
22/2023 LITTER STRATEGY
Following the article in the Keyhole, a small number of volunteers had stepped forward to help litter pick on a particular lanes. The Parish Council welcomed these efforts and efforts by all those residents who pick up litter on both a regular and casual basis. Further volunteers would be welcomed to help keep Fotherby litter-free.
A large vehicle tyre had been removed from the rear of a bus shelter near Style and is awaiting collection by ELDC Cleansing Team. A deep clean at the rear of the bus shelter near Allenby Cres north had yielded a full sack of historic litter from the hedgerow.
As part of the litter strategy, it was proposed to create several simple temporary signs for placing on verges around hot spots and on the entries/exits to the village to help reduce traffic-thrown litter. Cllr Ensell to create some draft words and identify potential suppliers. Cllr Mossop had chased up the proposal to provide a gated barrier in Short Lane West, a littering hotspot, and a fly tipping area. Cllr Mossop advised that a contract had now been awarded to provide mobile, covert CCTV to help catch fly tippers. Fotherby had been highlighted for support here. Two areas had been highlighted including Short Lane West.
23/2023. CONDITION OF ROAD FOTHERBY TOP
Cllr Mansfield, Cllr Chen and Cllr Ensell had had zoom meeting with Kyra Nettles, Highways Manager LCC in an effort to find a way forward to improve the road surfacing and to agree future ownership. Ms Nettles agreed to discuss options internally with LCC Legal and feedback would be provided at a further Zoom meeting on 14th February.
24/2023. VILLAGE ASSETS
PROGRESS WITH MAINTENANCE OF BUS SHELTERS
The renovation works had been completed on 2 bus shelters. Cllrs noted that the shelters were much improved, with clear glass panels and fully re-coated inside and out to help extend asset life. In addition, there had been repairs to the roof of the bus shelter by the old village shop. Further renovations are planned in the next financial year to help bring all the shelters up to an excellent condition for the future.
25/2023. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting would take place on Monday 6 March 2023 at 7.30 pm.
26/2023 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Cllr Ensell had drafted an action log to help track outstanding matters and that this log would be updated during the month, reviewed at each meeting by the Parish Council and issued with the Minutes.