Minutes Meeting with Parishiones 8 May 2024
Fotherby Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Fotherby Parish Council with Parishioners held on Wednesday 8 May 2024 commencing at 7:00pm in St Mary’s Church.
Present: Councillors Mansfield, Sutton, Hunter, Ensell,
In attendance: V Davies (Clerk), Cllr E Mossop
7 Parishioners were in attendance.
1.APOLOGIES: NONE RECEIVED
Cllr A Hall, Cllr C Chen.
2. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD ON 15 MAY 2023
Minutes were checked and agreed to be a true and correct record of the meeting. Minutes were proposed by Cllr Hunter and seconded by Cllr Sutton. All in favour for the minutes to be signed by Cllr Mansfield
3. PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE
Cllr Mansfield reported the following: -
I believe that Fotherby Parish Council has had a very positive year and remains a very proactive body.
The village looks so much cleaner and free of litter thanks to the efforts of many local individuals. All of these volunteers, whether assisting on the Common, providing functions and events, assisting council activities, grass cutting, tidying the Dock area or caring and supporting other individuals, certainly deserve our grateful thanks.
Community assets, such as bus shelters, seats, footpaths, hedgerows, saltboxes, and bins are regularly inspected and, where necessary, repaired and maintained for everyone’s’ use.
This year has witnessed efforts to tackle some long-standing issues. We have tried to discover a solution for the rough section of road leading up to Fotherby Common and have applied for a Lottery Grant to re-establish a suitable surface so anyone with mobility issues will be able to access the Common, an area of peace and tranquillity.
Regarding flooding in the village, the Council has worked with Anglian Water to try to assist those residents who suffer these problems in their streets and homes. Direct contact with Anglian Water for these people has been established and their issues are being investigated, to help provide a permanent solution to the problem. We have also addressed flooding issues at the rear of the properties on Allenby by direct contact with the field owner and have been assured that they will attempt to address the drainage problems when the field starts to dry out. We have also created a central Community Sandbag Store in Church Lane, where villagers can access sandbags, should they experience a repeat of the October flooding following Storm Babet.
The Council continues to associate itself with local celebrations of national events. Most recently the Coronation of King Charles enabled us to assist Fotherby Jubilee Committee with some financial help to cover their costs with this celebration. The work of that committee, I am sure, was fully appreciated by all who attended.
Not all planning issues have been resolved as we might have wished but I believe that the Council have attempted to remain consistent with any representations made. We continue to monitor National Grid’s plans for 87 miles of pylons throughout our neighbouring countryside and have strongly objected to this plan to destroy prime agricultural land, our beautiful countryside and wildlife habitats.
Speeding vehicles continue to be a problem at times, but we are seeking a grant application to procure a second Speed Indicator Device to hopefully reduce the risks from speeding.
We have been grateful for the support of our ELDC and Lincolnshire County Councillors who regularly attend our meetings and certainly the groups from both of those councils who visit our community to carry out tasks at our request.
Our clerk continues to supply the council with the policies and procedures required. Thanks were given to both the clerk and the councillors for all their work.
Fotherby is a very pleasant environment in which to live. We are surrounded by open spaces which are enjoyed by many, and I hope that the Council can be seen as protecting these for everyone.
We are a group of 5 councillors but are allowed a total of 7. If you feel you could bring something to the Council, please do not hesitate in contacting us, to discover just how you may be of value to our group and to Fotherby.
4. FINANCIAL MATTERS
The clerk reported that the carry forward is £6,786.70. There is a high level of internal control, and all expenditure is closely monitored by the parish council against the budgeted expenditure.
5. MATTERS RAISED BY ELECTORS
No comments were raised.
The meeting closed at 7:07pm.
Signed ………………………………………… Dated ……………………………….