2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Fishtoft Parish Council meeting held Thursday 8th December 2022 at Rochford Tower Hall, Fishtoft commencing at 7pm

PRESENT:     Councillor Joff Williams presiding as Chairperson
        Councillors Elizabeth Armstrong, Richard Lenton, Margaret Ordway and Roly Ashley
Councillor Paul Skinner representing as Parish, Boston Borough and Lincolnshire County Councillor 

Boston Borough Councillor Jonathon Noble
Fishtoft Parish Council Clerk – Sarah Knowles

PUBLIC FORUM
There were no members of the public present to ask any questions or make short statements during the time allocated.

Councillor Noble reported the following as Boston Borough Councillor:
•    The reported overhanging trees in between Ryder Gardens and The Chase as well as the neighbouring substation roof have been crown lifted.
•    The fly tipping etc to the rear of property in Woodville Road has been dealt with and a fence erected to avoid further issue occurring.
•    Grove Street double parking. Appropriate enforcement has been notified and continuing to investigate this area and issue notices if and when required.
•    Financial Matters – The Covid Smoothing Reserve will be used to cover lower than expected income from Car Parks and Leisure, in particular the Geoff Moulder Leisure Complex. The Council is likely to receive less Central Government funding in the form of grants in the financial year 2023-24
•    Boston is scheduled to receive £2.2 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £5.46m for Household Support fund
•    The Borough Council are looking at raising the element of the Council Tax by 2.93%.

Councillor P Skinner reported the following as Lincolnshire County and Boston Borough Councillor:
•    Reported and unreported potholes in the Fishtoft area have been repaired 
•    Following the shocking death along Sibsey Road, Cllr Ashton and Cllr Skinner wrote to LCC stipulating that the recommendations within the area that were not going to be addressed, due to the recent issue this needs to be relooked into.

The meeting opened at 7.12pm

1.     Chairman’s remarks
Councillor Williams welcomed everyone to the December’s meeting.  

2.     Apologies for absence - To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting
Cllrs Crawford and J Skinner sent their apologies of which the Parish Councillors were aware of the reasons for not attending. Following proposal by Cllr Ashely, seconded by Cllr Williams and with no objections it was resolved to accept the reasons for absence.

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
    Councillor P Skinner declared an interest to Item 7 on the agenda.
    Councillor Lenton declared an interest to Item 9e on the agenda.

4.     Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14th November 2022 - To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Lenton and with no objections it was resolved to accept these notes as a true and accurate record.

5.    Footway Lighting in Parish
A circulated report to the Councillors was read during the meeting depicting the various costs involved associated with future Footway Lighting bills, depending on whether the current lighting remained in place or were to change to LEDs whether all or some as well as the fees that would be incurred in changing from old bulbs to new LEDs. 

After deliberation it was proposed by Cllr Ashley, seconded by Cllr P Skinner with Cllr Ordway objecting to change all the old lights to new LEDs on part night timing with additionally changing the current LEDs from all night to part night timings.

6.    Finance
a) Payment of accounts to be approved

Following proposal by Cllr Lenton, seconded by Cllr P Skinner and with no objections it was resolved that these payments should be made.

b) Additional payments to be approved after setting of the agenda
There was one additional payment to HMRC relating to Employers NI contributions for the amount of £290.75 to be made. Following proposal by Cllr Ordway, seconded by Cllr P Skinner and with no objections it was resolved that this payment should be made.

c) Payments & receipts: since 14th November 2022 - Appendix A
Only payments recorded in the 14th November 2022 minutes and as per Appendix A were made.

d) Bank Account as of 30th November 2022
All members had received a copy of the bank statement via email prior to the meeting of which showed that balance of the bank account as of 30th November 2022 was £74376.04

e) Savings account – Opening of Savings Account for Earmarked Reserves- Bank needs to be contacted by a signatory
Cllr Armstrong agreed to contact the bank to arrange opening a savings account for earmarked reserves.

f) Budget for 2023/2024 Financial year Precept
The revised budget was reviewed by the councillors taking into additional information.  After evaluation and deliberation and following proposal by Cllr Williams, seconded by Cllr Ashley and with no objections it was resolved to set the precept at £40094.

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 after this agenda has been posted and the day of the meeting
a) B/22/0473 - Proposed single storey rear side extension, removal of the chimney, internal alterations, front block paving’s and erection of boundary wall with gate at 14, Lindis Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 9RS    
There were no objections to this planning application.

b) B/22/0479 - Proposed erection of 1 no. detached dwelling (Resubmission of B/18/0267) at Land adjacent to, 6A, Priory Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 0RA
There were no objections to this planning application.  

c) Planning Reports and Information received including Planning Application decisions
The following planning information/planning decisions have been received:
•    B/22/0355 – Single storey rear extension and first floor side extension – 30 Highgrove Crescent, Fishtoft, PE21 9AR
•    B/22/0380 - Proposed two storey side extension - Skirbeck Farm, Tattershall Road, Boston, PE21 9NW
•    B/22/0408 - Application for the variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) under Appeal reference APP/Z2505/D/20/3262257 (B/20/0262 proposed two storey side and rear extensions and alterations) to facilitate an increase in the footprint and roof height of the proposed western side extension - 15 Pilleys Lane, Boston, PE21 9RA

8.    Highway - To consider and make observations associated with Highways matters that are not associated with Appendix B
a)    A16 Fishtoft and Sibsey Road Safety
Following the fatal accident along Sibsey Road it was deemed to relevant that a letter to LCC Highways should be sent viewing the Parish Council’s concerns within this area and to have the criteria to the speed limits revaluated. It was actioned for Cllr Williams to draft an appropriate letter to LCC Highways.

b)    A52 Wainfleet Road Speed Reduction
Following a proposal received from a resident the considerations were reviewed by the Parish Council. It was actioned for Cllr Williams to draft an appropriate letter to LCC Highways.

9.      Members reports and business
a) Clearing and tidying the wooded area near the Hobhole pumping station - Update from Councillor Ordway
There was no information to report.

b) Fishtoft 400/Buoy - Any updates
There was no information to report.

c) Noticeboards: Costs to refurbish additional noticeboards
After evaluating the costs of refurbishing the additional noticeboards within the Parish.  Following proposal by Cllr P Skinner, seconded by Cllr Lenton and with no objections it was resolved to set a budget of £300 for work required to be done.

d) Outer Dowsing Liaison Community Group – Update from Councillor Ashley
Cllr Ashley reported that after attending recent meeting, Outer Dowsing are assessing other areas which includes Alford which seems to be more appropriate but decision will need to be made by National Grid.  If it is concluded to go with Alford, there would be no further liaison with Fishtoft. The next group meeting is scheduled for February 2023.

e) Fishtoft playing fields - To discuss Football Clubs report from the Annual Parish Meeting
Cllr Lenton relayed after discussion with Glenn Hislop and Ben Parkinson, no committee has been set up to date but this is being organised in January 2023.  However, at present the Pavilion is not deemed habitable due to not being certified, therefore no meetings can currently be held in this vicinity, therefore, January’s Parish Council meeting will need to be rescheduled.

e) Parish Council Website – Councillor Ashley
Cllr Ashley reported that several notices are out of date and the site needs to be reviewed.  A suggestion was made to meet in the new year and assess how to move forward.

10.     Correspondence received, Events & Reports
 a) Letter received from LCC Cllr Richard Davies re Marsh Lane Roundabout
 There was no discussion associated with this correspondence.

b) Email received from resident associated with Layby in Fishtoft Road near to Fogarty’s old site 
Ownership of this area needed to be obtained, Cllr P Skinner relayed that he will look into this to find out who is responsible for this zone to be able to move forward with unauthorised parking.

c) Discuss any other correspondence or reports received after posting of agenda and day of meeting
There was no other correspondence to discuss

11.     Fix My Street, Highways and Boston Borough Council - To receive any updates on reported issues Appendix B

10.     Dates for future meetings

There being no further business the meeting finished at 9.03pm

Appendix A

Item 6c on agenda             

FISHTOFT PAYMENTS AND RECEIPTS FOR PERIOD

NOVEMBER 2022

Payments made as approved at 14th November 2022 meeting

Payments to be approved

Appendix B 
Item 9 on agenda            FixMyStreet, LCC & BBC
No.    AREA                                   ISSUE                                                      HOW    REF       OUTCOME
1        A16 Hilldyke-Sibsey             Traffic Calming - Joint letter with Sibsey                             Does not meet criteria
2        Tower/Priory/Eastwood        Archers Report                                                                    Waiting outcome
3        Sibsey Road                        2 x Damaged pavement, trip hazard        FMS    404599    Informed work be done when funds available
4        Woad Lane                          Gouges, potholes & flooding                    FMS    390639    Work completed 
5        Whitehouse Lane                 Lamp out                                                  BBC    404325    Lamp number required
6        Church Green Road             Footpath uneven and damaged               FMS    4153606    Proposal for works South Division – request update from LCC
7        Eastwood Road Footpath    Footpath uneven and damaged                FMS    4164960    As above
8        Freiston Road Footpath       Footpath uneven and damaged                FMS    4164961    As above
9       Church Green Road              Extension of path – Email                         LCC    4169782    Chase LCC for update
10     Scalp Road                            Pot holes & need for layby    =                 LCC                      13/12/21 P.S. Unadopted – sponsors being looked for – Environment agency have patched