August 2019 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE FISHTOFT PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 19 AUGUST 2019 AT ROCHFORD TOWER HALL COMMENCING AT 7.00PM
In attendance: Councillor E Armstrong (Chairman), Councillors M Ordway, R Lenton, P Skinner, J Williams.
Councillor J Skinner (arrived at 7.05pm)
Councillor O Snell (arrived at 7.50pm)
Boston Borough Councillor J Noble (arrived at 7.05pm)
Lincolnshire County Councillor M Griggs
Mrs K Partridge (Clerk)
04.1 CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS: It is with sadness to report the death of Mrs Heather Judge, a former Parish, Borough and County Councillor. A letter of condolence had been sent to Mr Judge.
04.2 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Apologies for absence received and accepted from Councillor H Staples. Apologies for late arrival received from Councillors J Skinner and O Snell. Apologies for late arrival also received from Councillor J Noble.
Councillors J Noble and J Skinner arrived at 7.05pm.
04.3 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. Councillor J Skinner declared an interest in planning application B/19/0305 through her connections at Fishtoft Academy and took no part in discussions on the application.
04.4 POLICE REPORT: Not received.
04.5 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15 JULY 2019: It was resolved the minutes be approved and signed, proposed by Councillor Lenton, seconded by Councillor Williams and agreed.
04.6 REPORT ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Wooded area at Hobhole Pumping Station: Contact made with NSC Farm Manager, he is willing to meet on site to discuss future works. Councillor Ordway reported Woodland Trust have free trees, if there is room to plant further trees at the site this may be an option.
Speed Calming Initiative: New 30mph passive signs received, Councillor P Skinner will arrange placement of signs.
Following discussion with regard to the Community Speed Watch it was resolved to source prices for the mobile reactive signs, including additional brackets. Proposed by Councillor P Skinner, seconded by Councillor J Skinner and agreed.
Additional venue for PC meetings: Still no contact with Pilgrim Hospital. Burton Bowling club were happy for the PC to use their club room, however, there may be bowls matches taking place during meetings and in the winter use of the toilet facilities would not be available. Clerk to try to contact Pilgrim Hospital again.
Subsidence at Pilgrim Fathers Memorial Site: Confirmation received from Environment Agency the area falls outside of their remit and suggest it is responsibility of BBC. Clerk to forward copy of the email to Councillor P Skinner who will raise the matter at BBC.
Replacement Notice Board: Following discussion and agreement to replace one of the notice boards, a request had been made to the Clerk to make enquiries for refurbishment of the 3 existing oak boards. A quotation had been received from Beal & Fairchild to clean down, repair where necessary, reseal Perspex and leave in working order at a cost of £100.00 per board plus VAT. It was resolved to rescind the previous agreement, proposed by Councillor Ordway, seconded by Councillor Williams and agreed. It was further resolved to have the 3 boards refurbished together with replacement of locks, proposed by Councillor Ordway, seconded by Councillor Williams and agreed.
Civic Dinner: Confirmation received from The Lime Restaurant for Thursday 28 November. Menus will be available prior to the night.
Dog Waste Bin: Following a request from an Eastwood Road resident for an additional bin along the footpath that runs from Lindis Road to Rochford Tower Lane, BBC had placed signs along the path and this appears to be having the desired effect.
05.7 LITTER PICKING REPORT: Nothing to report.
05.8 CLERKS REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED: General correspondence received was available.
Appointment to BBC Standards Sub Committee: Information and nomination form received in relation to appointment of 2 parish councillors and a parish clerk to the sub-committee.
The Cinnamon Trust: Request received for placement of advertisement for volunteer dog walker for a Fishtoft resident. It was agreed to place on notice boards.
Overgrown Footpaths: Poor state of footpath from Havenside Park through to Fishtoft village, which will form part of the walking map in relation to Mayflower 400, had been reported to LCC, Councillor Noble also reported and he will follow up.
Shredding of confidential waste: The Clerk had arranged for waste to be shredded confidentially at a cost of £24.00.
Code of Conduct: Code of conduct policy handed to all Members together with signature to confirm receipt.
A16/Hilldyke Junction: Councillor Williams had requested some form of slowing the traffic at the junction; following discussion it was agreed to write to LCC to request an extension of the 50mph limit and to liaise with Sibsey Parish Council to ask if they would support the request given that many accidents occur just into their boundary.
05.9 COUNCILLORS ISSUES:
Eastwood Drive Flooding: Councillor Staples had reported there were again issues of combined sewage and water flooding during recent heavy rain; AW had been contacted. Councillor P Skinner asked that any such issues should be reported to LCC, these should initially be reported to the Clerk for forwarding to Councillor P Skinner.
Police and Crime Commissioner: Councillor P Skinner reported the Police and Crime Commissioner would visit but this would need to be with more than 1 PC; therefore suggest an event for all coastal councils. Arrangements to be finalised.
06.10 BOSTON BOROUGH AND LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORTS:
Councillor Noble reported on the following items:
Off licence application at Eastwood Road, notices became illegible and a local resident did not get her objection in before the deadline date.
Footpath from Havenside to Fishtoft; additional information received and will be followed up.
Waste recycling trial in some areas locally, a purple bin provided for paper only. The blue and purple bins will be collected alternatively once a fortnight.
Planning application B/18/0233 has been called in.
Attended a further SOS meeting, a great many vacancies at Pilgrim Hospital for nursing staff.
Councillor Griggs reported there will be waiting time restrictions imposed in the Somersby area, these will be between 8.00am and 4.00pm and will come into effect on 19 September 2019.
Councillor P Skinner reported flooding issues are to be looked into at County level; Anglian Water should attend the meeting. There have been localised flooding issues in Holbeach similar to those experienced at Eastwood Drive and all such issues should be reported to LCC. There will be a programme to remove the silt in the near future.
Councillor J Skinner reported BBC are looking into climate change and this may filter down to Parish Councils, the first meeting will be on 27 August.
Councillor J Skinner reported a task and finish group will be looking into the night time economy and findings will be reported to parish level.
06.11 FINANCE REPORT:
a) a budget update was presented and accepted.
b) to approve payment of accounts:
Clerks salary - £341.90
Clerks expenses – £60.69
Mobile broadband – half share - £8.85
Grass maintenance – BBC and LCC areas (1/12th of annual charge) - £1,064.22 (£177.37 VAT)
It was resolved the accounts be paid, proposed by Councillor P Skinner, seconded by Councillor J Skinner and agreed.
06.12 MAYFLOWER 400:
Councillor Armstrong reported a meeting had taken place with herself, Councillors Ordway and Staples, the woodcarvers, the artist and Phil Perry. Still need a meeting to view the buoys, the original artist would not wish to undertake such a large project, therefore, local schools may be asked to make a contribution; Councillor J Skinner will make enquiries with someone known to her regarding the painting. Suggested sites for placement of the buoy, the favourite being at the junction of Pilleys Lane and A16.
Woodcarvers have some large pieces of wood and will look to carve into “totem pole” style with some being used as benches.
Placement of some items cannot go ahead until the Environment Agency have raised the height of the bank.
Confirmation from HLF to use their logo on the walking map.
07.13 FUN DAY INCORPORATING RURAL ISOLATION: Councillor Armstrong reported the following update:
Fishtoft 400 will have a stand
Competitions will be held on the day with a certificate and rosette for the winner of each category
A hamper will be raffled
Flyers have been printed but additional information is required and an extra sheet will be printed
A planning meeting for the day will be held at the Queen of Spades on 28 August at 6.00pm
07.14 PLANNING MATTERS: To discuss the following applications:
B/19/0233 – proposed two storey dwelling at Tree Tops, White House Lane, it was agreed to forward the following concerns to Planning Department
Over intensification of site
Shared driveway no garage
Additional vehicles accessing property in an already busy area being in close proximity to St Johns Nursing Home and the mini roundabout
Disappointed as the proposal being on the site where a TPO was removed and the weeping beech felled
B/19/0274 – single storey rear extension to create a further 8 bedrooms, extending lounge area and converting laundry and ironing room to 2 further bedrooms at St Johns Nursing Home, White House Lane, it was agreed to forward the following concerns to Planning Department
Concerns the proposed extension will be built at the same level as the current building when the Environment Agency report states it should be built at a higher level on the flood risk assessment
Will there be adequate evacuation plans in place if needed due to any flooding.
B/19/0305 – erection of studio building to replace mobile building following approval of B/17/0408 at Fishtoft Academy, Gaysfield Road – no comments.
07.15 REPORT FROM PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: Councillor Ordway reported on progress for replacement of clerk.
An official resignation letter had been received from Mrs Partridge. It is hoped to recruit a replacement clerk to be in post from January 2020 with a 3 month handover period.
2 boxes of various documents and minute books will be looked at and anything for the archives will be taken to Lincoln by Councillor P Skinner.
The job description will be updated and a contract of employment and associated paperwork will be downloaded from LALC.
Clerk to another parish would be interested in applying, however, advertisement of the vacancy will be posted on notice boards, website, LALC site and Boston Bulletin.
A closing date of 16 November for application, interviews early December with a view to being in post from January 2020. Mrs Partridge will work with the new clerk and will finalise the end of years finances and complete the audit forms.
Interview panel agreed to be Councillors Ordway, Staples, Armstrong, Lenton and P Skinner.
08.16 DATE OF NEXT MEETING: the next meeting will be held on Monday 23 September 2019 at the Playing Field Pavilion and will commence at 7.00pm with a 10 minute public forum, if required.
There will be a surgery between 6.30 and 7.00pm, Councillors M Ordway and O Snell to be in attendance.