February 2021 Minutes
MINUTES TAKEN BY THE CLERK AT THE MEETING OF FISHTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2021 VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE COMMENCING AT 7PM
PRESENT: Cllrs. E. Armstrong (Chairman), J. Williams, R. Lenton, P. Skinner, J. Skinner, H. Crawford, Cllr. M. Ordway joining before item 8 and Mrs. Victoria Clark, Clerk to the Council
Also present Boston Borough Cllr. J. Noble and 1 member of the public
PUBLIC FORUM No requests
1. CHAIRMANS REMARKS
Thanks were given to Boston Borough Council on the testing and vaccination program which is doing well with cases in Boston coming down
An update on how the Borough council is keeping the community safe was given
Planning Applications B/20/0488 & 0489 residential and affordable housing in Gaysfield Lane, PE21 0SF have been called in, the Borough planning meeting for February has been cancelled and the next on scheduled for March 9th.
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 member apologies received
Apologies from PCSO Baker were 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 7 as he is on the planning committee at the Borough
4. NOTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD ON 18th JANUARY 2021 - To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
On Proposal from Cllr. Williams and seconded by Cllr. P. Skinner, with no objections all resolved to accept the notes of the 18th January 2021 as a correct record of the meeting and gave permission for the chairman to sign them
5. POLICE REPORT
No incidents reported
6. FINANCE
a) Approve payment of accounts
On Proposal from Cllr. Crawford and seconded by Cllr. Williams, with no objections all resolved to authorised the payments as previously sent to the members
b) Budget update & bank statement – To approve
All members had been sent the above ahead of the meeting - On proposal from Cllr. Lenton and seconded by Cllr. J. Skinner, with no objections all resolved to accept them as correct.
c) Grass Maintenance contract
Due to lockdown and Covid the Clerk would ask the contractor if he would extend the contact for the next financial year 2021/2022 and give the council a price for that. On proposal from Cllr. Lenton and seconded by Cllr. P. Skinner, with no objections all resolved to extend the contract for a further year.
ACTION: The Clerk to contact the Contractor
7. 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) B/21/0017 - Single storey side & rear extension at Ashlea, Fishtoft Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 0QR
The Members present at the meeting with no interest had no objections or comments
ACTION: The Clerk to advise the planning department
Planning application B/21/0034 came in on the day of the meeting and some members had not seen it
ACTION: The Clerk to ask the planning department for an extension to after the 8th March, the date of the next Parish Council meeting
8. CLERK’S REPORT ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS
a) A16 speed calming (joint request with Sibsey P.C) – Update
Cllr. P. Skinner had sent an update report on this
b) Overgrown hedges Pilley’s Lane & A16 – 2nd report on Fix My Street ref: 386049
The Clerk had sent the photos from Cllr. Crawford with the report to Fix My Street
c) Parking on Church Green Road – Update
The Clerk has written a letter & Cllrs. Armstrong & Lenton will deliver them
d) Church Green Road Footpath Ref: 4153606
Pathways have low priority; however, the Clerk will keep asking for an update
e) Junction of Rochford Tower Land, Priory Road an Eastwood Road, Fishtoft – Archers report
Still waiting for an Archers report
Cllr. P. Skinner will put up some reflective signs
9. MEMBERS REPORTS
No reports
10. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED, EVENTS & REPORTS
a) Fix My Street – Wythes Lane/Priory Road junction – Ongoing flooding – Ref: 385112
The Clerk was contacted by a member of the public & reported it on Fix My Street
b) Fix My Street – Shortfield Lane – Mud & damage to road surface – Ref: 385758
The Clerk was contacted by a member of the public & reported it on Fix My Street
c) Community Leaders Briefing – 4th February 6.30pm
The Chairman attended this briefing and commented how good it was to know how things are working to get on top of Covid spreading. It was mentioned about how communications & working together will help and also there will be planning for the regeneration of the town.
d) Burials Training – April 2021
Motion: should the Parish Council share the cost of £45 with Carrington Parish Council for the Clerk to attend this online training. The vote was 4 to 2 for, Cllrs. Ordway and J. Skinner objecting and Cllr. Crawford abstaining. To conclude the Council will share the cost with Carrington Parish Council
e) LIVES – Fundraising Letter
This was discussed and all agreed that it does not meet with the council’s policy of only giving grant money to charities that work solely for Fishtoft residents
ACTION: The Clerk to inform LIVES
f) Temporary Road Restrictions – 17/2 – 19/2/2021 – Anglian Water - Road Closure Order in place on: Priory Road (Between 250m & 375m West of Wythes Lane)
11. VIEWPOINTS ON QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DURING THE FORUM
None given
12. REPORTS FROM BOSTON BOROUGH COUNCIL & LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Cllr. J. Skinner
Reported that after having a Covid test at the Tollfield Road site the results were back within an hour and the staff were fantastic
Cllr. P. Skinner
An update of what is happening around the County from Cllr. P. Skinner was sent to all members and he reported on the following
Lateral Flow testing figures and results are good with a low percentage of positives compared to the rest of the country
Central Government money has been received which will help the community
Plans before Christmas were set up between Rotterdam & Boston
Biggest task will be in getting the town up & running again
Residents in houses of Mutual Occupancy (HMOs) are being contacted through Landlords and by other means
Help is being given to the homeless to try and get them off the streets & also getting them vaccinated
Setting up a modern language Lab at Haven High Campus to help with community cohesion
Cllr. J. Noble
Borough Council tax set to rise and to be approved at the next full Borough Council meeting
The strategic Alliance between ELDC & BBC should see savings of £400,000 in the next financial year
There will be money left at the end of this financial year however there is a need to be prudent with it as not sure how long central government help will last.
It will be discussed at the next full Borough Council meeting whether PSPS will take over some departments of the Borough including HR & IT
Cllr. Lenton asked why there would be a raise in council tax putting an extra burden on people who cannot make ends meet and losing their jobs. It was explained that Lincolnshire County Council, the drainage boards and the Police have increased their charges to the Borough.
13. FUTURE MEETINGS – Discussion and approval of dates
After discussion it was agreed that the Annual Parish & Parish Council meeting would be on the same evening starting at 6pm with the Annual Parish Meeting on Monday 10th May
ACTION: The Clerk to amend the dates and send to all that need it
14. NEXT MEETING – Monday 8th March 2021 at 7pm via Zoom
15. RESOLVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
All resolved at 7.54pm
16. CO-OPTION OF MEMBERS – Discussion only
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8.12PM