May 5 2021 Minutes - Annual Parish Meeting
MINUTES OF THE FENTON & TORKSEY LOCK ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Held on 5 May 2021, 7pm via Zoom.
Parish Councillor Geoff. Newton chaired the meeting supported by parish councillors M Mitchell, A. Wood, S. Wride, DCllr Jane Ellis, and by Ms. Ruth Keillar, the Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer to the Parish Council.
No members of the public were present.
The Chairman, Cllr Newton welcomed all present
The Chairman stated that this is not a parish council meeting however, being the Parish Council Chairman, he is responsible for the management of these proceedings.
1. TO READ APPROVE AND SIGN THE NOTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
It was noted that no APM took place in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic and the resulting suspension of face-to-face public meetings.
The Notes of the previous Annual Parish Meeting of 21 March 2019 were signed by
Cllr Newton as a true record of those proceedings.
2. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ON PARISH ACTIVITIES FOR 2019/20 AND 2020/21.
The Chairman reported that the current membership stood at 4 of 7 parish councillors.
Since the last APM, Cllr. N Ingamells rejoined the parish council and subsequently resigned. Cllr. Neil Jupp also resigned. This left the PC inquorate in April 2021 and District Cllr. Jane Ellis was appointed to the PC to make up the quorate for the purposes of co-opting new members. Two new members Cllrs Andre Woods and Martika Mitchell were co-opted onto the PC on 28 April 2021.
Land between Fenton Fields and Addison Place (formerly the subject of an S106 agreement)
The land has been transferred to the ownership to the Parish Council together with the £6000 maintenance fund from ACM Homes as specified in the original S106.
A Deed of Variation was signed between WLDC and the Parish Council that allowed the parish council to sell the land. The process was undertaken in accordance with the PC’s Policy for the Disposal of Land owned by the Council, expressions of interest and subsequent agreements to purchase were received. We are now awaiting draft contracts of conveyance from the parish council’s solicitors.
Regular crime reports are received from the local police and incidents in the parish are being monitored.
Cllr G. Newton has taken over the defibrillator management following the resignation of Cllr Neil Ingamells. Cllr Newton’s first inspection showed that the defibrillator was not working and it was withdrawn and LIVES notified. WLDC have introduced a maintenance scheme for defibrillators and have provided and activated a replacement machine whilst the PC’s machine is out of service for repairs. The PC has joined WLDC’s defibrillator maintenance scheme.
Frequency of cutting verge grass areas has been maintained for the 2021/22 season and will include the land between Fenton Fields and Addison Place until such time as the land is sold.
Parish assets are being maintained.
The Community Speed Watch requires a new champion to recruit and arrange training. Assistance from the community would be appreciated in this respect
Speed Limit Reduction. A joint approach to this matter between F&TLPC together with Torksey PC was agreed prior to the covid-19 pandemic but did not get off the ground. Any Parish Councillors and/or parishioners willing to represent our parish in this venture are requested to contact the Chairman of the Parish Council
The incorrect pedestrian crossing signs on the approaches to the entrance at Little London Park will be replaced by correct signage.
A speed survey carried out in Fenton by the LRSP commencing on 31 May 2019 for a full 7 days concluded that “The results of the survey together with an analysis of the collision data show that the criteria required for either fixed or mobile speed camera enforcement is not met.”
A speed survey carried out in Torksey Lock in 2017 concluded that there was no justification for (speed) camera enforcement.
The PC has asked for this survey to be repeated in the area of Little London Park.
3. TO RECEIVE A REPORT OF PARISH COUNCIL FINANCES FROM THE RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL OFFICER TO THE COUNCIL, MS. RUTH KEILLAR.
Report deferred from APM 19 March 2020.
In 2019 it was resolved to close the existing TSB accounts and to open a new Treasurers Account with Lloyds, which includes online banking facility. The Lloyds Treasurers account was operational from September 2019. Monies from the TBS account were transferred. In January 2020 a Deposit Lloyds Bus Bank Instant Account was set up, linked to the Treasurers account and the monies from the TBS Deposit account were transferred into this (£7,079.15)
The Deposit Account.
At 17 March 2020 = £7,079.77
Nothing has been paid into this account since the previous year, interest accrued is added monthly.
This account was opened in 2020, by transferring funds held in the previous TBS account into the new Lloyds account.
A reserve of £2000 is kept for Election costs.
The remainder was previously earmarked for the S106 agreement costs for the Play Area, however the Parish Council can re-allocate funds to other projects by resolution.
The Current Account.
Amount carried forward from the previous year was £1,002.91.
Precept for the current year, 2019-20, = £6150, an increase from the previous year which was £5710.
The total income on 1 April 2019 = £7152.91
Income:
a) LCC Grass-cutting contribution of £167.15
Expenditure:
All payments are noted in each month’s Minutes.
This includes:
a) Defibrillator purchased through WLDC scheme, at a reduced contribution of £400
b) Land transfer legal costs of £763.60, which were refunded by WLDC
c) Parish Churchyard upkeep at a cost of £635.06, an increase from £556.60 (2018-19)
The Precept required to cover anticipated costs for April 2020 to March 2021 is £5800.
The budget for 2020-21 was agreed at £7053. The Parish Council anticipated that £1253 of savings would accrue in the 2019/20 accounts and that all of this saving would be put towards the required budget and reduce the precept request thus keeping the Fenton element of the increase to ratepayers as low as possible. (-5.8%)
Accounts for the Parish Council to be audited by T Halloran Accountancy.
A full Statement of audited Accounts for this financial year, April 2019 – March 2020, will be presented to the full Parish Council Meeting when completed.
The external auditors for 2019-20 year end are PKF Littlejohn; the Parish Council will be exempt from submitting the accounts, however the Audit documents will be completed and displayed as required.
Report for APM 5 May 2021.
The Deposit Account.
At 31 March 2021 = £13,081.96
Payments into this account: £6,000.00 (WLDC S106 payment transferred in).
Interest accrued is added monthly.
A reserve of £2000 is kept for Election costs.
The remainder was previously earmarked for the S106 agreement costs for the Play Area, however the Parish Council can re-allocate funds to other projects by resolution.
The Current Account.
Amount carried forward from the previous year was £3,692.38.
Precept for the current year, 2020-21, = £5,800, a decrease from the previous year which was £6150.
The total income on 1 April 2020 = £9,492.38
Income:
a) LCC Grass-cutting contribution of £172.00
b) WLDC S106/play area payment £6,000 (transferred into Savings account)
Expenditure:
All payments are noted in each month’s Minutes.
This includes:
a) Land transfer legal costs of £423.60 which were refunded by WLDC
b) Land sale advertising costs of £463.68 which will be factored into the sale price.
c) Parish Churchyard upkeep at a cost of £520, a decrease from £635.06 (2019-20)
d) Purchase of a laminator at a cost of £19.99
e) Laptop maintenance / service at a cost of £59.99
The Precept required to cover anticipated costs for April 2021 to March 2022 is £5,300
The budget for 2021-22 was agreed at £7,933. The Parish Council anticipated that £2,633 of savings would accrue in the 2020/21 accounts and that all of this saving would be put towards the required budget and reduce the precept request thus keeping the Fenton element of the increase to ratepayers as low as possible. (-9.06%)
Accounts for the Parish Council to be audited by T Holleran Accountancy.
A full Statement of audited Accounts for this financial year, April 2020 – March 2021, will be presented to the full Parish Council Meeting when completed.
The external auditors for 2020-21 year end are PKF Littlejohn; the Parish Council will be exempt from submitting the accounts, however the Audit documents will be completed and displayed as required.
4. TO CONSIDER ANY POINTS WHICH ANY PARISHIONER MAY WISH TO RAISE.
No members of the public were present.
5. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
To be advised.
The meeting closed at 19:50 pm
Chair..........................G. NEWTON........................................Date......................17/03/2022