2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Minutes of Fishtoft Parish Council meeting held Monday 11th July 2022 at Pavilion, Fishtoft Playing Fields, Fishtoft commencing at 7pm

PRESENT:     Councillor Helen Crawford presiding as Chairperson
        Councillor Joff Williams presiding as Vice-Chairperson
        Councillors Elizabeth Armstrong, Roly Ashley and Margaret Ordway
        Councillor Judith Skinner representing as both Parish and Boston Borough Councillor
Councillor Paul Skinner representing as Parish, Boston Borough and Lincolnshire County Councillor

Boston Borough Councillor Jonathan 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.

BBC Councillor Noble reported the following:
•    The last financial quarter shows that the Borough Council are in a favourable budget position
•    Boston is to have a Tree and Hedgerow Strategy to help tackle challenges faced by climate change - No specifics at present known
•    There was a recent meeting held with the local fishermen with a MP also in attendance to discuss issues and concerns with regulations
•    UK Shared Prosperity Fund submitting a plan to enable the Council to receive the allocation of £2.2 million for the benefit of the communities of Boston.
•    Majority of residents should have been paid via Direct Debit for the Council Tax Rebate.  Those who have not to date received the funds should be getting a letter on how to apply for this.
•    There are to be new disabled toilets situated around town
•    The return of Boston Bike Night was a great success

Councillor J Skinner reported the following as Boston Borough Councillor:
•    The new disabled toilets are like a pod and will be situated next to the existing public toilets around the town
•    Recycling centres are to be discussed at a future Environment & Performance Committee

Councillor P Skinner reported as Lincolnshire County Councillor that he had recently attended the LGA 2022 conference in Harrogate.

Councillor Crawford asked BBC Councillor Noble if there was going to be a consultation paper being circulated in relation to the Shared Fund.  He replied that information can be found relating to this on the Boston Borough Council Website.

Councillor Ordway asked if the new disabled toilets will be suitable for those with mobility scooters.  It was replied that this was believed to be.  Councillor J Skinner additionally relayed that she had queried the security access to these other than just a RADAR key to also include a combination lock.

The meeting opened at 7.17pm

1.     Chairman’s remarks
Councillor Crawford thanked Councillor Ashley for his hard work taking temporarily over from the previous clerk and dealing with the role.
Since the last meeting Councillor Lenton had been taken seriously ill of which the Chair relayed best wishes to him and his family and look forward to seeing him back soon.     

2.     Apologies for absence - To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting
Apologies were received in relation to Councillor Lenton of which it was resolved to accept the reason 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 6 on the agenda

4.     Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 9 June 2022 - To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
Councillor J Skinner asked for an amendment to the minutes to include that there was no verbal report from either herself or Councillor P Skinner due to forwarding their apologies for absence.

No paper minutes were at the meeting to be signed thereby was deferred until the next meeting for approval and signing

5.     Finance
a) Payment of accounts to be approved

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

b) Payments & receipts: since 9 June 2022 - Appendix A

Following proposal by Councillor P Skinner, seconded by Councillor J Williams and with no objections it was resolved that these payments were made appropriately.

c) Cash book - to be received from Councillor Crawford
Resolved in previous meeting.

d) Bank Account as of 30 June 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 June 2022 was £59105.41.
e) Savings account - Bank needs to be contacted by a signatory
This item was deferred to the next meeting

f) Mandate - Change online banking access - Approval & signing of Mandate
This item was deferred to the next meeting

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 after this agenda has been posted and the day of the meeting
a) B/22/0254 - Proposed alterations, raising rear walls and new pitched roof on garage - 170 Eastwood Road, Fishtoft, Boston, PE21 0PW
    After deliberation there were no objections to this application

7.      Members reports and business
a) Clearing and tidying the wooded area near the Hobhole pumping station - Update from Councillor Ordway
Councillor Ordway reported there has been email correspondence with North Sea Camp. At present the farmer is currently away.  On there return the tools will be handed over.  She asked should they be marked as Parish Council property prior to this.  It was relayed that this was advisable along with a record of items. The clerk advised that marking the tools with a UV marker would be additionally beneficial.

b) Queens Platinum Jubilee Fun Day - Discuss correspondence & receive final finance report
An alleged incident had been reported to the Parish Council that occurred on the day.  After discussion reiterating the precautions taken on the day and that there were sufficient bodies onsite to aid at the event there was no reason for any fault.  The chair was to pursue correspondence with the Insurance company before communicating any further with the respondent.

Councillor Armstrong relayed that the final costing of the event was approximately £3100.

c) Fishtoft 400/Buoy - Any updates
Councillor Armstrong informed that the project is ongoing.  Once they are laid out it is believed that there should currently have about two thirds of the mosaics required.  The next project when completed will be to have them glued onto the buoy, which is believed to require a lot of manpower.

d) Emergency Plan - Update from Councillor Williams
Councillor Williams circulated posters to be displayed in the noticeboards.  Speaking with Endeavour FM he relayed that he has a meeting with them to record an advertisement on the station requesting people to get involved with the scheme.

Councillor Ashley informed that he required batteries for equipment and asked the Parish Council’s permission to get them.  Following proposal by Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor P Skinner and with no objections it was resolved for these to be purchased.

e) Pilgrim Fathers gate vandalism - To discuss cameras and ICO information
Councillor Crawford relayed that the Parish Council is no further forward to query raised.  Query has been raised with ICO for there thoughts on putting up CCTV in a public area, would need to apply to the police if able to install.  Would need to find out who owns that land as without this being established the Parish Council cannot move forward.

f) Notice boards - To discuss the condition of each board and action: Requested by Cllr Ashley
It was agreed to assess all the Parish Council noticeboards to see if these need refurbing or replacing and a report be brought to the next meeting for discussion.

g) Wythes Lane Bus Stop - To discuss condition and resolve action - Requested by Cllr Ordway
Councillor Ordway informed this bus stop is owned by the Parish Council and is currently covered in Ivy.  As this is on a Main Road the job to clear this is not suitable for an individual therefore requires volunteers to help her with the work.  Councillors Armstrong and Ashley agreed to help.

h) Co-op Community Champions application - To discuss & resolve - Requested by Cllr Crawford
Councillor Crawford relayed that the Community Champions scheme is just one of the ways that the co-op shares their profits with the community. Every time a member shops at one of the branches using their dividend card, a donation is made through the scheme.  They fundraise for different causes every three months - it can be good causes tackling a local topical or social need, health groups, environmental groups and local community groups and good causes.  The next round for consideration ends on 2nd September 2022 with disbursement of funds from March 2023.  
After querying there was enough councillors who were members of the co-op to apply to the scheme.

i) Fishtoft playing fields - To discuss Football Clubs report from the Annual Parish Meeting
The Football Clubs report was discussed were additional funding for the upkeep of the playing field, in particular the children’s play area was requested in the amount of £4000.  
Several queries and concerns were raised relating to this especially in relation to the Parish Council taking on the responsibility of the play area.  It was deemed that more information was required for this matter to be discussed further.

j) Documentation Storage – Options – Requested by Cllr Ashley
Councillor Ashley relayed that there was more paperwork and documents than thought to be transferred from the previous clerk to his custodial until a new clerk was appointed.  This was deemed not safe to be in the hands of one responsible person and other means need to be looked into the safe storage of these.  He recommended that suitable containable storage would be the best solution.  After discussion it was proposed by Councillor Crawford, seconded by Councillor P Skinner and with no objections it was resolved that Councillor Ashley to look into various companies, inspect and report back for a suitable relocation of the documents as soon as possible.

k) PAYE to HMRC (April, May, June, July) – requested by PC
This item was deferred until the next meeting

8.     Correspondence received, Events & Reports
a) Boston Borough Council: Review of housing standards - Discuss and answer email sent 26 June
It was resolved that this information should be put on the noticeboards and website and wait for any views to be received

b) Resident email: Speeding along Sibsey Road - Discuss action and reply to email sent 24 June
Councillor P Skinner relayed that Archer surveys have been done within the Boston and District areas.

Queries were raised about having a speed reduction within the area, whereby Councillor P Skinner informed that this is being accessed at LCC though will chase for a response.
BBC Councillor Noble proposed to see if the Police and/or Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership would look at surveying the area near the hospital.

9.     Fix My Street, Highways and Boston Borough Council - To receive any updates on reported issues Appendix B
    It was relayed that there is a tree down in Chestnut Road and there are overgrown hedges in Eastwood Road

10.     Dates for future meetings

The open meeting closed at 8.50pm

11.    Resolve to go into closed session
At 8.51pm it was proposed by Councillor Crawford, seconded by Councillor P Skinner and with no objections it was resolved to go into closed session

12.    Co-option - To discuss and resolve co-option and a policy
An application for consideration had been received from a resident to be co-opted onto the Parish Council.  After discussion and deliberation, it was resolved not to co-opt.

There being no further business the meeting finished at 8.58pm

Appendix A (Item 5)    FISHTOFT PC PAYMENTS JUNE/JULY 2022

Payments for approval

Payments made since 9 June for signature