December 19 2019 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF
FENTON & TORKSEY LOCK PARISH COUNCIL
Held on 19 December 2019, 7:00pm at The Games Room, The White Swan, Torksey Lock.
PRESENT: Cllr G. Newton (Chair), Cllr N Ingamells, Cllr N Jupp. Cllr S Wride (see minute 578)
Ruth Keillar (Clerk)
DCllr J Ellis.
No member of the public was present.
CHAIRMAN’S OPENING REMARKS
The chairman welcomed all present and introduced our new District Councillor, Jane Ellis to the meeting and thanked her for attending and hoped that she would be able to attend as often as she was able.
578
TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FOR CO-OPTION TO THE VACANT SEATS ON THE PARISH COUNCIL.
An application to join the parish council has been received from Mr. Stephen Wride. Councillors have had the opportunity to review the application on the council’s communal email.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr N Ingamells and it was unanimously RESOLVED to co-opt Stephen Wride onto the parish council.
Mr Wride signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and as Cllr Stephen Wride was invited to join the Parish Council.
Cllr Wride was handed a copy of the Declaration of Interests Form to be completed and returned to the Clerk within 28 days.
The Clerk has already provided a link to the PC’s website for viewing various documents including PC policies and other essential reading.
The Clerk will provide LALC’s training schedule for Cllr. Wride’s perusal.
The Chair handed Cllr. Wride the log on details for the PC’s Communal email.
579
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND REASON FOR ABSENCE
None received.
580
TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA
Cllr. Ingamells declared an interest in agenda item 22.
The Chairman stated that item 22 is a progress update from the PC’s solicitor following the completion of the S106 land transfer with regard to the completion of the Deed of Variation with WLDC and that Cllr N Ingamells may remain at the meeting for this.
581
TO RESOLVE TO SUSPEND THE MEETING TO ALLOW NO MORE THAN 15 MINUTES OF PUBLIC FORUM
One member of the public was present. No issues were raised.
582
PREVIOUS MEETING NOTES
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr N Ingamells and it was RESOLVED that the notes from the meeting held on 21 November 2019 be approved as a true record and signed as minutes.
583
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR INFORMATION ONLY
1. Disposal of old Documents.
The Chairman advised that he had completed reviewing the documentation handed over to him when he was appointed as Chairman of the parish council. A number of documents such as minute books and minutes of meetings, up to 2010, have already been archived at the Lincolnshire Archive, as previously agreed - See MOM of 13/1218, minute no. 382, which gives the precise details of the archived documents.
The remainder, the subject of this review, consisted of 17 correspondence files covering the period from June 2003 to December 2009 together with a number of loose items such as planning documents, catalogues and other miscellaneous items all of which predated 2010.
All of the items have been reviewed and nothing has been found that has to be retained as defined by the requirements of LTN40 (Legal Topic Note 40 – Local Councils’ Documents and Records).
A few items of general interest have been retained and these will be passed to the clerk. The remainder has been disposed of.
2. Contact from owners of power lines in Torksey Lock.
The Chairman advised that he was contacted (on 13/11/19) by Mr Scott Short of Northern Powergrid regarding the trimming of trees close to power lines in Torksey lock reported to the company on 8 August 2019. He advised that he would be contacting Lincolnshire CC Highways to liaise with them regarding the matter as the trees are thought to be on LCC land. Mr. Scott promised to advise progress.
584
CLERK’S REPORT FOR INFORMATION ONLY (November and December)
1. Flood Alert update information received and posted to the PC Website.(14/11/19)
2. Meeting Dates – provisional meeting dates (see attached).
It was agreed that these dates be accepted and posted online.
3. LCC Highways – Grass cutting agreement for 2020-2021. The contribution rate for 2020/21 will be 2.38p per square metre of grass, to be cut to LCC's current standard of three safety cuts per year. Therefore, Fenton and Torksey Lock Parish Council would receive a contribution in the sum of £172.22, based on a total area of 2412m2 of urban highway grass. The previously supplied plans remain unchanged.
The current Parish Agreement will end on 31st March 2020 and will not automatically renew, therefore the PC must renew Parish Agreement for 2020/21, by 31st December 2019.
It was agreed that the clerk confirm renewal of the agreement and provide the relevant insurance information.
4. Vacancy posters following the resignations of Cllr A Woods and Cllr G Woods have been received from WLDC and will be posted as required. (19/11/19).
5. Citizens Advice - request for funding 2020-21. Dontation of £50 has previously been agreed in the Budget
6. Election results received and posted online.
585
COUNCILLORS’ REPORT FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Nothing to report
586
TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
Crime reports have been received from Gainsborough Rural South for the periods 30/9/19 to 31/10/19 and from 1/11/19 to 30/11/19.
1 incident of crime reported in the parish, in the latter report.
587
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence received for the period from 25 October – 21 November and 22 November – 19 December 2019 was noted and is attached.
588
TO RECEIVE ANY UPDATES REGARDING THE DEFIBRILLATOR
Cllr N Ingamells reported that further training is to be arranged for January/February 2020. The training will take place at the White Swan, and it is hoped that this will enable more people to take part. It should be noted that that training is not a pre-requisite to use of the defibrillator, as the equipment is designed to be used by untrained persons.
Regular inspections of the equipment are taking place and it has not been deployed as yet.
589
TO RECEIVE ANY UPDATES REGARDING THE LINCOLNSHIRE COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH SCHEME.
Cllr N Ingamells reported that further training is to be arranged for January 2020, there being 3 persons trained so far. Training will be a joint session with members of the Torksey parish Speedwatch Scheme.
590
TO RECEIVE ANY UPDATES ON THE RECENTLY COMPLETED SPEED SURVEY IN FENTON AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
The clerk reported that following the submission of two letters (August 2019), no acknowledgement or reply had been received.
Further contact via Mr John Wise, of LRSP (25/10/19), for assistance in progressing the letters, had resulted in copies being sent to Mr Mike Reed, which had to go via the general LCC Customer services email contact system (19/11/19).
Acknowledgement that the letters email had been received and would be forwarded to Mr Reed was received from Customer Services Highways. (20/11/19).
No reply or acknowledgement has been received from Mr Reed.
It was agreed that copies of the correspondence by forwarded to DCllr J Ellis and she promised to investigate further. It was agreed that copies also be submitted to CCllr R Butroid.
591
TO CONSIDER A DRAFT TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER FOR A REDUCTION IN THE 50MPH SPEED LIMIT IN TORKSEY LOCK.
Cllr N Jupp reported that he had been in conversation regarding this issue and has been liaising with Torksey PC Members. It was agreed that Cllr N Jupp bring an updated report to the next meeting.
It was noted that that all PC activity must be made via, or must include, the Clerks of the respective PCs to be recognised as official PC business. Individuals may carry out investigative work but any official comments/actions must be agreed by the PC to remain within legislation.
592
TO DISCUSS THE CONDITION OF THE TORKSEY LOCK NOTICE BOARD
Cllr N Ingamells reported that he had been unable to investigate further, and it was agreed that Cllr S Wride take on this issue and report back to the next meeting.
It was noted that that the Fenton notice board is also in need of assessment following some damage and Cllr S Wride will investigate and report on this for the next meeting.
593
FINANCIAL MATTERS
i. To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations for November 2019 at 19 December 2019
The RFO reported balances for November 2019:
a) TSB deposit account balance as at 19 December £0
b) TSB current account balance as at 19 December £0
c) Lloyds current account balance as at 19 December £2.267.85
Uncleared cheques: NIL
Payments received, included from balances: £167.15
(LCC Highways Grass-cutting grant 2019-2020)
Payments received, excluded from balances:
TSB, closure of deposit account, including interest accrued £7,079.15
TSB, closure of current account. £1,920.65
To note that a refund from WLDC has been confirmed £763.60
(for Land Transfer costs invoice)
This payment has not appeared in the PC Lloyds account and WLDC have been advised, as it suggests that they have overlooked the new bank account details provided on the invoice.).
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr N Ingamells and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement of accounts and bank reconciliation for
November 2019.
ii. To approve accounts paid online on 17 December 2019:
R Keillar, Clerk Office for December. £18.00
(this payment was made as a test run to establish that the
online system was operating as expected – included in balance).
iii. It was agreed that the payment of any regular accounts be made between meetings, using the online system. All payments will be recorded in the Financial Report at the following meeting.
(e.g. staff salary/office/travel, HMRC, R Marsh, Payroll, pre-approved LALC training invoices)
And that any other unregular payments be approved at a meeting, and then paid using the online system.
(e.g. Solicitors, Donations.)
iv. To approve accounts for 19 December 2019:
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr S Wride and it was unanimously
RESOLVED to accept the following accounts for payment:
R Keillar, Clerk Travel/Postage expenses December £19.32
(travel 15.30, postage £4.02)
R Marsh (ARG). Inv 254 £170.00
(grass, Chestnut corner £50, Hedges £120)
R Keillar, Clerk Salary December £189.94
Chq 013 - CAB Lindsey Donation (as budgeted) £50.00
Chq 014 - White Swan Charities Donation. (as budgeted) £50.00
(payable to Julie Hardy with covering letter)
To note:
HMRC. PAYE due for September £0.80
HMRC, PAYE due for October £1.00
HMRC PAYE due for November £0.80
HMRC PAYE due for December £0.80
(to be paid with at Q4)
v. It was noted that the TSB bank (current and savings) accounts are now closed, confirmation and cheques received from TSB as noted above. (17/12/19)
Lloyds:
a) online account for Cllr G Newton – online access deployed
b) Online account for Cllr N Ingamells – copy to be submitted
c) Debit Card due (Clerk’s use by prior approval) – not received.
594
PLANNING MATTERS
Applications received:
(Received by email on 18/12/19)
APPLICATION REFERENCE NO: 140369
PROPOSAL: Planning application for 1no. dwelling and vehicular access.
LOCATION: Land to the south of Lincoln Road Torksey Lock Lincoln LN1 2EL
APPLICATION TYPE: Full Planning Application
APPLICATION CATEGORY: Minor – Dwellings
This application is said to address the issues raised by the LPA in their previous refusal of planning application 139370 on 28 June 2019 in that
“The proposals fail to meet the sequential test which seek to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding and is therefore contrary to policy LP14 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan and the NPPF. As a consequence, the site is also not considered to be an appropriate location for development in accordance with policy LP2 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan”.
“The site has shown to be within a Minerals Safeguarding Area and the application has not been submitted with a Minerals Assessment. The proposal is, therefore, contrary to policy M11 of the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework”.
The Chairman advised that he had examined the documents and could see no other objections to the development and that no comments had been received by the parish council to date.
Decisions received: None.
It was agreed that any relevant planning applications be posted onto the PC Facebook page and notice boards – see minute 595.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 pm, Cllr S Wride left the room.
No PC business was discussed at this stage.
Cllr N Jupp requested that he be excused from the remainder of the meeting and left the room at 8:22pm.
Cllr S Wride returned to the room and the meeting was reconvened at 8:23pm
595
PARISH COUNCIL COMMUNICATION.
a) Greater communication with parishioners
Cllr N Ingamells reported that he has not been able to post agendas, minutes and other relevant information on Facebook; It was agreed that Cllr S Wride take this portfolio and post any relevant information, which is in the public domain. This will include any planning applications, with direction that members of the public may respond/comment direct to WLDC.
b) Greater involvement with District & County Councillors.
District Cllr Jane Ellis attended this meeting.
County Cllr R Butroid has been invited to this meeting but has not responded.
The local police were also invited and they had confirmed that they will attend when available however no representative was available for this meeting. The Clerk has forwarded the meeting schedule to them for 2020.
It was agreed that prior to the annual Parish Meeting (scheduled for 19 March 2020), a plan for greater engagement within the community be formulated, which could include posters,
596
TO CONSIDER A DRAFT VACANCY POLICY, tabled for consideration by the Council and to receive any comments for discussion at the following meeting - with the intention of adopting an agreed policy.
597
ANY URGENT ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
None
598
TO RECEIVE ANY UPDATES RELATING TO S106 LAND TRANSFER
No update has been received from solicitor despite 2 requests for same having been made. The Chairman will follow this up as a matter of urgency.
599
TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE WEB SITE
As previously discussed at minute 595.
600
DATE OF NEXT MEETING DATE
The next meeting of Fenton and Torksey Lock Parish Council will be held on Thursday 16 January 2020, at 7pm, at The Games Room, The White Swan, Torksey Lock.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8:45pm
Chair……………………G. NEWTON……..Date…………16 JANUARY 2020…….