April 2019 Minutes
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE FISHTOFT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 15 APRIL 2019 AT ROCHFORD TOWER HALL COMMENCING AT 7.00PM.
In attendance:. Councillor E Armstrong (Chairman), Councillors R Lenton, O Snell, J Skinner, P Skinner
Boston Borough Councillor J Noble
Lincolnshire County Councillor M Griggs
Mrs K Partridge (Clerk)
1. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS: Councillor Armstrong welcomed all to the meeting.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies received and accepted from Councillors M Ordway, J Flynn, H Staples and N Fitton.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Councillor P Skinner declared an interest in all planning applications through his role on the Planning Committee at Boston Borough Council and took no part in planning discussions.
4. POLICE MATTERS: Incidents for the last 4 weeks as follows:
2 x Anti-social Behaviour – Fishtoft Road, Pilgrim Hospital
6 x Concern for Safety – Clifton Road, Sibsey Road, Woodthorpe Avenue, Eastwood Road, Saddlers Way, Pilleys Lane
1 xCriminal Damage – Saddlers Way
6 x Burglary – Scotia Road, Rochford Tower Lane, White House Lane, Hobhole Bank, Highgrove Crescent, Scalp Road
2 x Domestic Incident – Wainfleet Road, Lime Grove
2 x Road Traffic Collision – White House Lane, Woodthorpe Avenue
13 x Suspicious Circumstances – Church Green Road x3, Saddlers Way x4, Smalley Road, Freiston Road, Horncastle Road, White House Lane, Eastwood Road, Ward Crescent
1 x Theft – Eastwood Road
1 x Traffic Hazard – Woodthorpe Avenue
2 x Traffic Offence – Bladon Estate, Camelot Gardens
11 x Violence – Rider Gardens, Sandringham Gardens, Meridian Road, Eastwood Road, Rider Gardens, Hobhole Bank, Toot Lane, Pettit Way, Gaysfield Road, Clifton Road, Tattershall Road
PCSO Devenish will be moving on to train as a PC and PCSO Baker will be taking over on 26 April.
5. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 18 MARCH 2019: It was resolved the minutes be approved and signed following change of date at item 16 from 19th to 15. Proposed by Councillor J Skinner, seconded by Councillor P Skinner and agreed.
6. REPORT ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Speed signs: Cost of replacement “30mph” signs is £10.00 each. Speed initiative will be discussed with LRSP before the next meeting.
7. LITTER PICKING GROUP REPORT: It had been noted that 10 bags of rubbish had been collected from Pilgrim Fathers Memorial site by a young couple, they had been thanked.
8. CLERKS REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: General correspondence received was available and included Fly The Red Ensign Merchant Navy Day.
Co-option of Councillors: Offer received from Michelle Sacks, Boston Borough Council for a short discussion to review the Parish Council’s co-option procedures. The Clerk had replied to inform of our current procedure, offer for discussion was declined.
Planning Training: Various dates had been forwarded from Michelle Sacks for planning training, it was not possible to give confirmation of which dates would be suitable due to forthcoming elections. All sessions during the day which is not convenient for all; Clerk to ask if there could be come evening sessions.
LALC Clustering: Questionnaire received from LALC regarding forming cluster groups with local councils; form completed – it was agreed this would be beneficial for some matters, drawback may be of too many differing opinions would be difficult to come to a conclusion.
Policy Documents: Clerk had checked all policy documents, all up to date but it was noted there are new model Standing Orders and these still need to be checked.
9. COUNCILLORS ISSUES:
Fishtoft 400: Two grants had been applied for – Heritage Lottery Fund and the Lottery Community Fund.
Rural Isolation: Councillor Armstrong reported funding of £5,000 can be applied for, this would need to be split between Fishtoft and Old Leake who are the only parishes taking part in the initiative. It was suggested the fund be used to provide a fun day at the Playing Field on 29 September when local groups and organisations can be invited to have a stand in order to let local residents know what is available in the area. Agenda item for the next meeting.
10. BOSTON BOROUGH AND LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORTS:
Councillor P Skinner reported the brown tourist sign near the Red Cow is missing, it is hoped to replace the sign and to include “400”. Bidding for additional work on the road to Pilgrim Fathers is being considered. Parish Council should be aware that replacement costs for street lights may be higher than originally costed.
Councillor Griggs reported a scheme has gone live with regard to ease transition relating to Brexit. BBC have received funding to help deal with homeless.
11. FINANCE REPORT:
. a) a budget update to the end of the last financial year was available, there were no Queries.
. b) to approve payment of accounts:
. . Clerks salary - £341.90
. . Clerks expenses - £31.99
. . Repair to computer - £30.00
. . Mobile broadband (half share) - £8.85
. . Dog waste bin - £244.55 (£40.76 VAT)
. . LALC annual subscription - £992.85.
. It was noted there is no VAT on the LALC invoice this year, Clerk to query.
It was resolved the accounts be paid, proposed by Councillor P Skinner, seconded by Councillor Lenton and unanimously agreed.
. c) Investment of funds –
Clerk had contacted Barclays, interest rates were very poor and all signatories would need to attend an appointment, which may not be locally.
Lloyds Bank had provided the following information:-
•. Fixed Terms of between 3 months and 24 months, interest rates from 0.70% up to 1.20%
•. 32 day notice account, linked to Bank of England interest rate – 0.75% (there must always be a minimum of £10,000 in the account)
•. Special Fixed Terms – due on 5.8.2019 at 0.75%: due on 2.4.2020 at 1.15%
Following discussion it was proposed to invest £20,000 for a Fixed Term of 12 months. This will be an agenda item for May.
12. PILGRIM FATHERS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE: The Woodcarvers have done some excellent drawings for the proposed carvings. The oak for this will be sourced and priced. The wooded area at Hobhole Pumping Station is becoming overgrown again, to ask if NSC would attend to it again.
A website to promote Mayflower 400 would be an advantage, Councillor Armstrong to make enquiries locally.
13. PLANNING MATTERS: to discuss the following applications:-
B/19/0019 - new access lobby and revolving doors at Pilgrim Hospital – no comments
B/19/0085 – proposed extension to existing park home site to provide for an additional 14 lodges at Hall Hills, Tattershall Road – no comments
14. ALLOTMENT REVIEW: Contact with Surveyor still awaited.
15. COMPLETE AUDIT ASSURANCE AND APPROVE END OF YEARS: End of years figures were handed out and approved. It was resolved the Annual Audit Assurance Statement should be completed – “yes” response to all points with the exception of number 4 which was “no”; this was due to the incorrect dates being advertised last year for Electors Rights following a request to the Auditors to have an extension on the date for submission, proposed by Councillor P Skinner, seconded by Councillor J Skinner and unanimously agreed.
16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on Monday 13 May 2019 at the Playing Field Pavilion and will commence at 7.00pm with the Annual Parish meeting, the Parish Council meeting will follow.
There will be a surgery for all Councillors between 6.30 and 7.00pm.
There being no further business to discuss the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.14pm.