FOTHERBY PARISH COUNCIL.
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FOTHERBY PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 6 JANUARY 2025 AT 7.30 IN ST. MARY’S CHURCH
Present: Cllr Steve Mansfield (Chair), Cllr Kevin Ensell, Cllr Tim Hunter, Cllr Neil Tomlin, Cllr Lee Sutton.
In attendance: Mrs. Viv Davies (Clerk), ELDC.
The meeting commenced with an open forum. 2 residents were present.
OPEN FORUM:
A parishioner advised that he had reported further incidents of sewer flooding in Allenby Crescent to Anglian Water (AW) following heavy rainfall. He had spoken to an AW operative who attended who had advised they had previously reduced pumping at the Utterby Pumping Station and that this reduced flooding events in Fotherby. There was further flooding of sewerage 6 January 2025 during excess rainfall but the pumping at Utterby Pumping Station had to be increased as it was currently overwhelmed. It was noted that tankers had also been used regularly to remove sewage at the pumping station in Peppin Lane and that this had damaged part of the private track. Following discussion, it was agreed that the Parish Council would write to AW for an update on proposals for a sustainable solution to sewerage issues in Fotherby and to ask for the track to be reinstated.
Cllr Mansfield distributed some sandbags 6 January 2025 to a resident during heavy rainfall. It was noted that recent clearance of the dyke near the Old Hall in Church Lane had increased capacity and that the heavy water flows on 6th January had not overspilled into the lane placing properties at risk of external flooding.
Cllr Mansfield had received a response to the letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner and read this out to members. The Commissioner had offered to pass the contents of our letter to the local Police Inspector and members agreed to this action.
1/2025 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from ELDC Cllr E Mossop, LCC Cllr A Hall, Cllr Christina Chen. The parish council accepted the apologies.
2/2025 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – TO BE STATED IN ANY PROPOSITION
There were no declarations of interest.
3/2025 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 2.12.24
Cllr Ensell proposed, seconded Cllr Hunter approval of the minutes of 2 December 2024. Cllr Mansfield signed the minutes
4/2025 CLERKS UPDATE
Guidelines and a provisional contract had been received from Fotherby St Mary’s Church DCC regarding increased focus on managing costs for heating and lighting for organisations hiring the building. The current price remains and continues the same at the start of our new contract on 1st April 2025
6/2025 MATTERS ARISING FROM ACTION PLAN/MINUTES
Cllr Ensell had updated the Action Plan.
7/2025 FINANCE
Cllr Mansfield had verified the bank reconciliation. Cllrs noted the financial reports. Proposed Cllr Hunter, seconded Cllr Ensell approval of the cheques below.
Chq No
1431 Anglian Water Business Allotment Water £22.16
1432 V Davies Clerk Salary £305.62
1436 V Davies Clerk Expenses + £108.41
Reimburse
Balances
Treasurers Account £4,886.16 of which £209.78 relates to ring fenced account for
Fotherby Common ( 20.10.24)
Business Bank £2,550.26 (10.10.24)
Income
Lloyds Bank Interest £2.31 11.11.24
REQUEST TO CONSIDER FURTHER ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE.
There were no further items of expenditure.
TO AGREE THE BUDGET 2025-2026
Councillors discussed the budget and raised concerns regarding the low budget allocation of £100 for contingency. To manage the headline percentage increase next year, a low contingency was proposed to balance the budget. It was noted that very careful budgetary control will be needed in 2025-26 however significant work had been done on the budget cost build up this year to give extra confidence that the budget was sound. Proposed Cllr Mansfield, seconded Cllr Ensell and approved by all Cllrs to approve the budgeted expenditure of £11,801.00, income of £11,806.20 and the precept of £10,021. This equated to a 5% increase in the precept or around £4 per property per year on average.
8/2025 FLOOD RISK ITEMS
This had been discussed in the open forum.
9/2025 PLANNING APPLICATION
There we no planning applications.
10/2025 FOTHERBY COMMON:
There was no update.
11/2025 LITTER STRATEGY & FLY TIPPING UPDATE
Cllr Ensell reported that litter picking continues.
12/2025 VILLAGE ASSETS
The asset register had been reviewed and updated
PARKING RESTRICTIONS
The clerk had responded to the proposal for parking restrictions by the LCC around the bus stop lay-by near the Old PO advising that the Parish council agreed with the proposal.
DOG BIN CLOSE TO MAWER'S FARM, PEPPIN LANE.
The dog bin, for which a costing for re-siting had been requested from ELDC since June 2024, has been re-sited by ELDC without consultation with the Parish Council. However there had been no charge. If the parish council required this to be re-sited this would also be done at no cost. A brief discussion ensued, and it was decided to leave it where it had been placed further down Peppin Lane opposite the allotments. It had removed the bin from near the Dock and bench which had been a cause of complaint in warm weather.
13/2025 PREPARATION FOR INTERNAL AUDIT
APPOINTMENT OF INTERNAL AUDITOR
Proposed Cllr Mansfield, seconded Cllr Ensell to use the same internal auditor as in previous years (J Cooper).
TO RATIFY STANDING ORDERS
Proposed Cllr Mansfield, seconded Cllr Hunter to ratify the standing orders.
TO RATIFY FINANCIAL REGULATIONS.
Proposed Cllr Ensell, seconded Cllr Mansfield to ratify the Financial Regulations.
TO RATIFY RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY
Proposed Cllr Sutton, seconded Cllr Mansfield to ratify the risk assessment policy.
TO RATIFY ASSET REGISTER.
Proposed Cllr Ensell, seconded Cllr Sutton to ratify the Asset Register.
14/2025 STATUS OF SALT BINS
Cllr Mansfield had conducted a survey of the salt bins, some the property of LCC, the remainder, Fotherby Parish Council. His proposal was to purchase 3 or 4 x 25kg bags of salt to replenish 2 of the bins and also 4 plastic scoops, to replace ones that were missing. This should ensure, when the salt is broken up in some bins, that this should last for the duration of the Winter season. Cllr Mansfield would purchase the salt and scoops and be reimbursed. The Clerk will place on our July agenda, an item to remind us to approach the LCC to order salt to cover this item for next Winter. A villager has offered to drain water from and empty the LCC bin at the far end of Allenby Close. The salt, when dry enough, will be transferred into the new bin, also donated. The council offered their grateful thanks for this work.
15/2025 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
16/2025 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will take place on Monday 3 February 2025 at 7.30 pm.