Fotherby Parish Council
Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday, 5th November 2018 at St Mary’s Church
Present: Councillors Pridgeon, A Thompson, L Thompson, Odlin, Lane and Cllr Tony Bridges (LCC)
Four Parishioners were present.
Introduction: Cllr Pridgeon welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Public Forum:
Parishioners raised the following matters for consideration and discussion:
Some potholes in the village were still in a bad state and needed repairing (Brackenborough turning and entrance to Fotherby). Action – Cllr Bridges agreed to send an email report to Highways for their attention, Clerk to follow up with online report if no reply (See also Agenda Item 3 as below).
Exercise of Public Rights Notice for 2017/18 – It was noted that no documentation concerning accounts had been deleted from the website. Action – Cllr Lane to check dates of display on Noticeboard and Website and report back (as per updated Standing Orders).
Trees at Allenby Crescent – Parishioner volunteered to cut these back to provide safe passage. No further action required.
Dog Bin opposite Allenby Crescent – The bin stake had come away and needed repairing. Action – Clerk to report to ELDC.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Cllr Cotterill and Cllr David Buckley (ELDC).
2. Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 1st October 2018
The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record. Proposed by Cllr L Thompson – Seconded by Cllr A Thompson.
3. Matters Arising from the Minutes
3.1 Highways (potholes) – for repair
Cllr Bridges (as above) to email report to A. Ratcliffe at Lincolnshire County Council, Highways.
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Highways (bus stop markings)
Cllr Bridges provided an update on progress. It was noted that the work was being undertaken by contractors and should be completed shortly. Action – Cllr Bridges to send email reminder.
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Grass Cutting
Cllr Lane reporting that costing for the grass cutting on Fotherby Common had been reduced.
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Public Byways and Pathways
The Clerk confirmed that a report had been submitted to Highways regarding pathway overgrowth and that cutting back of the overhanging trees was being progressed. All other areas had been dealt with. Action – Clerk to provide update at next meeting
3.5 Volunteer Warden (should read Countryside Access Volunteer) – Reporting and Protocols
The Clerk provided a report on the Countryside Access Volunteer’s remit and duties in surveying and identifying relevant usage issues for Rights of Way footpaths and bridleways in Fotherby and surrounds. It was noted that the footpath through Brackenborough Hall and grounds is not dog friendly as the access by the hall is over a cattle grid with no alternative route.
Councillors agreed that the protocols and monthly reports be included on the Parish Council Website. Action – Clerk to add Countryside Access Volunteer Reports to future Agendas.
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Councillor Resignation
The Clerk confirmed that ELDC had been informed and that all names of co-opted members had been passed to Elections.
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Letter re tree growing in Dyke
It was noted that the clerk had sent the letter regarding setting up a meeting to discuss cutting down of the dead tree, to date no response had been received. Councillors agreed that this should go ahead as proposed by the parishioner, without the need to meet.
4. Accounts
4.1 Amounts Received
No amounts had been received in October 2018.
4.2 Invoices to Pay
Cllr Lane confirmed that a summary of amounts received would be drawn up and distributed to Councillors at each Parish Council meeting (as per updated Financial Regulations). The following invoices for payment had been received:
Ali’s Gardening Service (Dock Maintenance) £ 80.00
Bush Landscaping and Fencing (Grass Cutting) £480.00
Parish Magazine Printing £ 79.35
Clerk’s Salary £175.32
Louth Interskill Ltd (Fence Repair) – Received and Agreed
During Meeting £650.00
TOTAL £1,464.67
Proposed by Cllr Odlin – Seconded by Cllr L Thompson
4.3 Accounts Summary
Cllr Lane distributed the Accounts Summary and confirmed that there was an underspend of £175.00 for September 2018 and £3,131.00 for the year to date which includes election costs.
5. Budget and Precept
Cllr Lane handed out seven draft budgets for consideration by Councillors at the meeting. Following discussion it was resolved that budget five should be used for the precept funding application which included an additional eight verge cuttings between Manna Farm and Long Acre at £288.00 and a contingency to cover increased costs from the previous year. Proposed by Cllr Odlin – Seconded by Cllr L Thompson). Cllr A Thompson also volunteered to cut the verges down Peppin Lane (near allotments).
6. Grass Cutting by Parishes
Further to correspondence received concerning grass cutting to be undertaken by Parish Councils it was proposed and accepted that the Council did not wish to participate in the scheme. Action – Cllr Bridges to contact Highways to confirm what areas of the main bus routes are included in their cutting provision.
7. Bottle Bank Provision
Cllr Pridgeon reported that discussion of the Bottle Bank Provision had not taken place as the Alms Houses meeting had been postponed. Action – Clerk to carry forward to the next meeting.
8. LALC Training
It was noted that Councillors would be attending training organised through LALC in November 2018; the Clerk would also be attending a Clerks training day.
9. Parish Council Website
Further to email distribution of three updated policy and procedural documents to Councillors for their attention, a resolution was passed to agree and adopt the following:
Standing Orders 2018 – updated November 2018
Financial Regulations (England) – updated November 2018
Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Policy – updated November 2018
Action – Clerk to update the Website accordingly and work on other policies for agreement at subsequent council meetings.
10. Correspondence Received
The Clerk presented the correspondence received for October 2018 as follows:
Parishioner email regarding Allenby Crescent flooding issues – It was noted that Anglian Water had registered the area as ‘Blue Light’ and that ELDC Planning Department would consider drainage criteria when reviewing planning applications.
Safeguarding email from parishioner – Policy updated as above.
LALC notice re Tesco Bags of Help Community Funding – Clerk to forward to parishioner to consider for Old School Room
For Information – Children’s Entertaining Group, Community Lincs Bulletin, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, ELDC Review of Polling Stations, Lincolnshire Wolds AONB Management Plan, Rural Community Business Webinar and ELDC E-News – No action required.
Parishioner emails regarding safeguarding in relation to car occupant – has been resolved and support provided.
Letter regarding Louth Road temporary closure – noted.
Parishioner email concerning railings and dog bin needing repair in North Elkington Lane – it was agreed that the Clerk send a report to ELDC.
Neighbourhood Watch and vandalism in the village – email received from parishioner concerning this. Clerk to contact the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator to look at the possibility of including information and details on the website.
Emails received from Lincolnshire County Council regarding grit bins and salt bags – Clerk to email LCC and ask for two salt bags to be delivered to Cllr Pridgeon for Councillors to fill bins and distribute salt to villagers as required.
Emergency Alert Texting System – Clerk to forward contact details for texting purposes concerning alert situations affecting Fotherby.
School Admissions letter received for school intake consultation – Clerk to display poster on Noticeboard.
Parishioner queries regarding (i) the Parish Council website and duplicate costings for clerk to re-input DPI forms and policies (ii) audit report and risk assessment (emails distributed to Councillors prior to meeting) – Cllr Pridgeon commented that it was not necessary for the Parish Council to respond to this correspondence as it had been dealt with in previous meetings and suggested moving on rather than continually dealing with historic matters. The clerk, with the Chairs permission expanded on this.
British Red Cross First Aid training – Information circulated.
Cllr Pridgeon raised a query from a parishioner regarding the use of church meeting facilities and whether it would be more cost effective to look at alternative arrangements. Following discussion the Councillors resolved to leave the arrangements with the church as they were. Proposed by Cllr L Thompson – Seconded by Cllr Lane.
11. Planning
11.1 New Planning Application
Notice of new extension application ref: N052/03032/18/ - Councillors had no objections, Clerk to notify Planning accordingly.
11.2 Tree Preservation
Tree Preservation Order ref: 0086/18/TPA – Clerk had sent email to Planning asking for consideration to be given to preserving the tree by cutting off the affected branches, awaiting response.
12. Parish Council Meetings and AGM
The Clerk presented a list of Parish Council Meetings and AGM dates for consideration. Councillors agreed with the dates proposed. Action – Clerk to check availability with the Church Wardens and publish when confirmed.
13. Other Business
Cllr A Thompson passed the Fotherby Litter Pick completed Risk Assessment form to the Clerk for filing. It was noted that the event had gone well with several parishioners participating in keeping the village and common tidy.
Meeting closed 9:19pm
The next meeting will be at 7.00pm on the 7th January 2019.
Signed …........................................................ Dated …..........................………………
Chairman