March 17 2022 - Minutes
MINUTES OF THE FENTON & TORKSEY LOCK PARISH COUNCIL MEETING,
held on Thursday 17 March 2022, 7pm, at Kettlethorpe Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr G. Newton (Chair), DCllr J Ellis, Cllr I B Smith,
Ms. Ruth Keillar (Clerk) was unable to attend. Meeting notes are taken by the Chairman
Chairman’s opening remarks.
The Chairman welcomed all present to the meeting.
Cllr. Steve Wride resigned from the parish council and his resignation was accepted.
The Chairman asked that all members try and encourage any of our residents who may be interested in joining the parish council to at least get in touch or attend a meeting to see how we work.
814. To receive apologies and reasons for absence.
Apologies received from Cllr. A. Woods & Cllr D. Canning-Jones. Reasons accepted.
815. To receive Declarations of Interest on any item on the Agenda.
Members may make any declarations of interest at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting.
No Declarations of Interest received.
816. To resolve to suspend the meeting to allow no more than 15 minutes of public forum.
No members of the public were present.
817. Notes of Parish Council meetings: i. Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 20 January 2022 to be approved and signed as minutes.
It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Ian B Smith and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 20 January 2022 and these were duly signed as minutes.
The minutes from the meeting held on 18 November 2021, approved in minute 799a at the meeting of 20 January 2022, were duly signed by the Chairman.
Ii. To note any Parish Council Business conducted under Delegated Powers to carry out PC business by the Clerk, as adopted 5 May 2021, minute 757 b. (if applicable).
No business to note.
818. To receive reports from Police with crime information.
Crime report 01/01/22 to 28/01/22 - 2 incidents reported.
Crime report 29/01/22 to 25/102/22 - 0 incidents reported.
819. Planning Matters.
Situation with applications since 2/11/21
143697 - Current status: Public consutation period extended to 30 March 2022; as stated on WLDC planning portal 11/3/22.
144077 - Current status: Granted time limit +conditions.
144148 - Current status: Refused. Under 15322 Application is proceding to appeal as of 9/3/22.
144200 - Current status: Public consutation period extended.
No new applications received after 11 January 2022.
820. To receive any updates regarding the Speedwatch scheme and to consider any action.
Surveys have commenced at locations in Fenton. 5 vehicles recorded as exceeding the speed limit and reported. The teams noted significant compliance with the speed limit during surveys and that drivers are generally co-operative with a majority of positive responses.
It is disappointing to note that despite efforts made, no further volunteers have come forward. Plenty of people like to complain about speeding in the parish but only few are prepared to do something about it and contribute to the cause. The parish council is aiming for a 30mph speed limit through the parish however, without a significant increase in support from the community, this will be unachievable.
821. To receive any updates regarding the proposed Speed Reduction at Torksey Lock.
The initial consultation period for the proposed reduction in the speed limit from 50mph to 40mph in Torksey Lock has been completed. No objections were received.
A public notice has been placed in the local press by Lincolnshire County Council as part of the public consultation process.
822. To consider provision of a bench at Chestnut Corner in Fenton.
Following discussion it was agreed that the PC would proceed with the 5ft Tribute Teak Commemorative Memorial Bench supplied by https://www.corido.co.uk
A provisional cost was estimated at £662.50 including installation and the inscription “Parish of Fenton & Torksey Lock” to be carved into the top rail.
The Chairman is to firm up the costs.
It was further agreed that the Parish Council will make application to the West Lindsey District Councillor’s Fund for funding this project.
823. To consider re-adopting the following policies and to consider any updates:
i. Standing Orders – suggested update to include Section 3 a) to include: “Alcohol is not be consumed at any parish council meeting."
ii. Financial Regulations
iii. Audio Recording at Meetings
iv. Co-option Procedure
v. Communications Policy
vi. Complaints Procedure
vii. Data Protection Policy
viii. Model Publication Scheme
ix. Social Media Policy
x. WLDC Code of Conduct * to note revised version to follow.
It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by D/Cllr. Jane Ellis and unanimously RESOLVED that the following amendment is added to Standing Orders Section 3 a) “Alcohol is not be consumed at any parish council meeting." and that this amended document is re-adopted.
It was further proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Ian B Smith and unanimously RESOLVED that the following policies also be re-adopted - Financial Regulations, Audio Recording at Meetings, Co-option Procedure, Communications Policy, Complaints Procedure, Data Protection Policy, Model Publication Scheme, Social Media Policy, WLDC Code of Conduct.
It is noted that the WLDC Code of Conduct has been amended as is explained in WLDC letter to the Parish Council dated 2 March 2022. The adoption must be completed before the end of June 2022. This will be carried out at the next Parish Council meeting on 19 May 2022. Additionally, at this meeting, parish councillors will need to sign an “undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct” on a form that will be provided.
824. To consider adopting ‘gov.uk’ email addresses for Cllrs and Council business
Report attached in Appendix A
Following discussion it was agreed that the parish council would adopt the .gov.uk email address system.
It was further agreed that the preferred option was for this to be provided by 34SP in accordance with the costs given in the above report.
825. Parish Newsletter. To receive any feedback to the 1st issue and to consider any action for the next issue
There has been no feedback received into the parish council website or communal email.
The next issue is scheduled for publication at the end of April. An initial draft has been prepared and circulated. The editorial team will update content as necessary and circulate prior to publication and distribution.
826. I D for parish Councillors. To receive any updates regarding ID for Cllrs
Cllrs. Newton & Smith confirmed that they had forwarded their photographs to the Clerk.
Chairman to ask the Clerk whether all of the photographs have been forwarded to her.
827. To receive any updates regarding the defibrillator.
The Chairman reported
Defibrillator is in full operation
Weekly checks are being carried out and recorded using the WLDC on-line system
828. To consider Training arrangements for Cllrs.
Cllr Ian B Smith had identified a course that he would like to attend and he would contact the Clerk to make the booking.
829. Clerks report
Clerk salary
LALC has circulated details of the SPC pay awards which take effect fro 01/04/2021, delayed due to coronavirus. The current SPC 12
2020. SCP 12 at £11.53 p.h. from 01/04/19 – 01/04/2021.
2021 SCP 12 at £11.73 p.h. from 01/04/21
Monthly salary will increase from £196.01 to £199.41 (£3.40 p.m.)
Salary for March 2022 will therefore by £199.41
Back pay from 01/04/21 – end February 2022 is £3.40 x 11 months, = £37.40
The budget for Salary 2021-2022 is £2506.00, the estimated cost before increase is £2,352.12.
Estimated cost including increase is £2,392.92
It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr. Ian B Smith. and unanimously RESOLVED that the Clerk’s salary increase and back pay is authorised for payment.
LCC grass cutting
LCC Highways Grass-Cutting agreement for 2022-23 has been submitted, as approved at minute 584.3. LCC’s Budget was approved on 18th February, and the contribution rate for 2022-23 has now been confirmed at £0.0249 per m2, per cut to LCC’s standard of three cuts per annum. Therefore, the contribution figure for Fenton & Torksey Lock Parish Council for 2022-23 is £180.92. (previous estimate was £172.22)
Website analytics
January: users 229, page views 686, unique page views 576.
February: users 132, page views 422, unique page views 344.
830. Financial Matters
i. To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations to date.
To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations for part January, February – 12 March 2022.
The RFO reported balances as at 12/03/2022:
a) Lloyds Current Account £4,617.36
b) Lloyds Bus Savings A/C £15,464.84
Interest accrued January/February/March £0.39
Uncleared cheques: NIL
Payments received, included from balances:
Payments received, excluded from balances: NIL
To note any regular payments made between 16/01/2022 – 12/03/2022:
To approve additional accounts for payment 17 March 2022:
LALC – ATS for 2022-2023, quote £95+VAT. Budget £75+VAT.
Kettlethorpe Churchyard 1/3 share of upkeep costs, £560. Budget £667.
To note expenditure against budget
To note:
HMRC. PAYE
April £1.80
May £1.80
June £2.00
July £1.80
August £2.00
September £1.80
October £1.80
November £2.00
December £1.80
January £2.00
February -£4.00
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by D/Cllr Jane Ellis and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement of accounts, bank reconciliation and additional accounts for payment for part January, February – 12 March 2022.
i. To consider arrangements for the appointment of an Internal Auditor.
After discussion it was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr. Ian B Smith and it was unanimously RESOLVED to retain the services of Tom Holleran as the Parish Council’s internal auditor for a further year.
831. Any urgent items for discussion
Matters can be raised and may become future agenda items. Items will only be taken if notified to the Chairman 24 hours prior to the meeting.
No items had been raised.
832. To discuss the upcoming Jubilee celebrations.
It was confirmed that Little London residents wished to keep their celebrations “within park”.
Following discussion it was agreed that the parish Council would not be providing mementos for parish school children as this was thought to be best carried out by their schools.
It was further agreed that an idea to arrange a “party day” on the 55th June 2022 for parish residents in Fenton was not viable.
833. Date of next meetings
Annual Meeting of the Parish Council – May 19, To include the Regular meeting.
Regular Meetings – July 21, Sept 15, and Nov 17.
.
As there was no further business, the Chair declared the meeting closed at 20:10
Chair............................G. NEWTON..............................Date.....................21/07/2022