January 2021 Minutes
MINUTES TAKEN BY THE CLERK AT THE MEETING OF FISHTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 18TH JANUARY 2021 VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE COMMENCING AT 7.00PM
PRESENT: Cllrs. E. Armstrong (Chairman), J. Williams, R. Lenton, P. Skinner, J. Skinner, H. Crawford, Cllr. M. Ordway joining the meeting during the public forum.
Mrs. Victoria Clark, Clerk to the Council
Also present Boston Borough Cllr. J. Noble (Joining the meeting during item 6) and 9 members of the public
PUBLIC FORUM The Chairman opened the public forum at 7.04pm and all attending were invited to speak
Four residents gave their views and objections on planning applications B/20/0488 & 0489 to include:
The intended field would be at risk of flooding, this and nearby properties already have a problem with flooding
The area is unsustainable with no medical facilities, shops, public transport, nursery and with only one infant school
Lack of paths for walkers and narrow roads for cyclists lead to a danger for children going back and forth to school and other destinations
There are no facilities for children of any age which may lead to unsociable behaviour within the community
Roads are very small & not fit for purpose certainly not for large vehicles
The Infrastructure is not suitable for extra traffic during the build or afterwards if it were passed
The intended site is of archaeological interest including Roman, Saxon & the 1st Mayor of Boston had connections to this land.
There was a sink hole at the top of Gaysfield Road near the Red Cow public house
In 2015 a planning application for 1 house behind the Red Cow Pub was refused with, increase of traffic, flood risk, the village lacked facilities and the development was unsustainable being some of the reasons for refusal.
Concerns over scope creep.
Lack of clarity over where the 20 affordable housing properties will be.
The fact that this is a greenfield site, whilst alternate brownfield options do not appear to have been exhaustively considered.
The development is out of character with the village at large.
The new build would overlook existing properties denying reasonable levels of privacy without erection of obtrusive visibility screens.
Impact on local wildlife (swift bricks notwithstanding)
THE MEETING STARTED AT 7.18PM
1. CHAIRMANS REMARKS
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and giving their views
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting
No apologies received
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (if any) To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests
Cllr. P. Skinner declared an interest in item 6 as he is on the Planning committee at the Borough Council
4. NOTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD ON 14th DECEMBER 2020 - To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
The Chairman had previously asked for a change in wording for item 8.
On Proposal from Cllr. P. Skinner and seconded by Cllr. Crawford, with no objections all resolved to accept the notes of the 14th December 2020 as a correct record of the meeting and gave permission for the chairman to sign them
5. FINANCE
a) Approve payment of accounts
Payment list had previously been sent to all members - On Proposal from Cllr. Lenton and seconded by Cllr. Williams, with no objections all resolved to authorised the above payments
Cllr. Ordway later in the meeting asked that the payment list be changed to show a donation of £50 to come from the Chairman’s fund. After a vote of 6 to 1 for, it was proposed by Cllr. Ordway, seconded by Cllr. Armstrong, all resolved this – Cllr. Lenton voted for it to come from the Donations fund.
ACTIONS: The Clerk to alter the payment list
b) Budget update & bank statement – To approve
All members had been sent these ahead of the meeting - On proposal from Cllr. P. Skinner and seconded by Cllr. Lenton, with no objections all resolved to accept them as correct.
6. PLANNING MATTERS – Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - To consider and make observations on all planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints and appeal decisions advised by the Borough Council - To include applications received between 7/12/2020 & 14/12/2020
a) Solar Park – Land at Boston Landfill
With no objections the only comments were that it was a good use of a brown field site and it would produce free energy
b) B/20/0475 - Erection of an industrial building (Use Class B8) on the existing car park, creation of a new car park and formation of a hardstanding at Metsa Wood, Fishtoft Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 0BJ
No objections
ACTION: The Clerk to inform the planning department of the comments for the above applications
c) B/20/0488 - Outline application for 46 residential dwellings and associated works with all matters reserved for later approval at Land adj & to the rear of, Fishtoft Scouts, Gaysfield Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 0SF
d) B/20/0489 - Proposed residential development of 20 affordable dwellings and associated works at Land adj and to the rear of Fishtoft Boy Scouts, Gaysfield Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 0SF
The members gave their views and objections to items 6c & 6d and agreed with those views of the residents:
It was mentioned that the presentation from the residents was good
There had in the past been near miss accidents in this area and because of this Anglian Water had been instructed not to use vehicles in this area during school peak times.
To date the planning department had received 33 responses from residents
The submission of the application date was Christmas eve giving little time for discussion
Concerns of access which is on a corner by the scout hut
Concerns of being near a primary school and the dangers of extra traffic to children that would bring
The question was raised as to whether the Scouts had been informed
The extra flood risk to near-by properties, existing residents already have a problem with flooding
Lack of public transport
No Secondary school
Those attending were informed that both applications had been called in
The area for the affordable housing outside the local plan
The Parish Councils policy is not to take on any more grass cutting or maintenance so therefore any new developments would need a plan for these areas
The question arose as to why developers are not constructing sustainable/green buildings
We should be keeping arable land in an effort to be self sufficient
If planning is given it should only be for bungalows
Would normally agree to affordable housing however this area is not sustainable with no facilities so therefore should not be built.
It is a site of archaeological importance
Fishtoft Parish Council has previously stated that any new housing development should not build houses immediately behind existing bungalows but should build bungalows to retain privacy for existing residents
ACTION: The Clerk to inform the planning department of the comments for the above applications and those from the public forum
7. CLERK’S REPORT ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS
a) A16 speed calming (joint request with Sibsey P.C) – Update
No update from the highways department, Cllr. P. Skinner stated that there was a back log of approximately 18 months however he would keep letting them know that it was in the system
b) Overgrown hedges Pilley’s Lane & A16 – Reported on Fix My Street ref: 380943
The reply from fix my Street was that it required no urgent action and so no further action would be taken
ACTION: Cllr. Crawford would send pictures of the footway and hedges to the Clerk
ACTION: The Clerk to report again with pictures
c) Parking on Church Green Road – Update
LHP have replied stating that most of the properties are now privately owned and not by them
ACTION: The Clerk to write to the owners of the properties
d) Church Green Road Footpath Ref: 4153606
No update
e) Signage at the junction of Rochford Tower Land, Priory Road an Eastwood Road, Fishtoft – Reported on Fix My Street Ref:380952
The report from Fix my street stated that there was sufficient signage and no further action would be taken
Cllr. P. Skinner has requested an Archers report and will keep us informed on this
f) Reported overgrown trees on Saddlers Way – Reported on Fix My Street ref: 380941
The report from Fix my street stated that a neighbour had offered to safely remove debris on behalf of the property owner and that no further action would be taken
g) Vandalism around the Pavilion and CCTV
The committee have not sent in the costs involved
The neighbourhood team have had no reports of vandalism
h) Maple Road Play Area
If residents would like to start a playground committee then the Parish Council would be behind them and give advice
8. MEMBERS REPORTS
a) Fishtoft 400 & Fun Day
The Chairman updated those attending on the next 2 items
Fun Day is not progressing due to Covid-19, there is a deadline of March 31st to report back on where the grant money has been spent, hopefully because of the pandemic there will be an extension.
Due to lost deposits the fund is depleting so no more can be given out until a more definite date is known
The base for the buoy cannot be constructed in bad weather so this should happen in spring
b) Communities leaders briefing – Covid-19 meeting summary
1 in 3 people with Covid have no symptoms could will pass it on to other
20% of people that contract Covid will get it seriously
Factors in area that assist with a high infection rate are the numerous H.M.Os, sharing of transport, schools and food industries
Individuals with no symptoms need to be encouraged to use the community rapid testing centres available from 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week at the Peter Paine Centre and Tollfield Road Campus, Haven High. No booking necessary and available until the 14th February
There is a government grant of £500 available to those on a low income that have too self-isolate
9. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED
None received that isn’t covered elsewhere on the agenda
10. VIEWPOINTS ON QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DURING THE FORUM
Covered under planning
11. REPORTS FROM BOSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL & LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Cllr. Noble
Financially the Borough is looking OK due to Central Government funding, however this could change for the next financial year
Council tax income is only 2% down on the expected amount. Council tax will be going up
People with no Covid symptoms are being encouraged to use the free rapid testing centres as per Item 8b
There is a payment of £500 for those on low income that have to self-isolate
The 1-hour free parking in most of the Borough owed carparks will continue until March 31st and will be reviewed
From funding from central government there will be a language lab at Haven High will open with dual language persons taken on to help to encourage integration
Cllr. P. Skinner
With the new industries opening there will be work opportunities locally and when people are earning, they are more likely to spend which hopefully will help town centre businesses
A letter has been written to Priti Patel asking that tobacco should be licenced
The Borough has received £38mil from Central Government which will help town centre for improvements
Traffic works due 17th – 19th February by Anglian Water
Cllr. J. Skinner
A working group should soon be formed to find solutions for the fly tipping problem
Due to anti-social behaviour and licencing, a letter has been written to Central Government with recommendations that sectors work together, the Police and Council would be able to give support to Parish Councils. Also suggesting increasing the fee for applying for a licence so that officers could be more pro-active to police this.
12. POLICE REPORT
None received
13. HYBRIDE MEETINGS – Discussion
No information on the government site
Halls are closed due to lock down
No-one stated that they are finding video conferencing difficult now
14. FUTURE MEETINGS & NEXT MEETING – Monday 16th February 2021 at 7pm Changed to Monday 8th February 2021 at 7pm
Due to confliction of dates for some members it was suggested that the meetings move from the 3rd Monday of the month to the 2nd Monday
ACTION: The Clerk to send a list of dates to members for approval
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8.45PM