November 17 2022 - Minutes
MINUTES OF THE FENTON & TORKSEY LOCK PARISH COUNCIL MEETING,
held on Thursday 17 November 2022, 7pm, at Kettlethorpe Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr G. Newton (Chair), Cllr A Woods (Vice-Chair), DCllr J Ellis, Cllr I B Smith.
Also present: Ruth Keillar (Clerk). CCllr R Butroid.
2 members of the public were present.
Chairman’s opening remarks.
The Chairman welcomed all present. The Chairman noted that the wreath laying at the memorial on Remembrance Sunday 13 November 2022 was attended by 5 parishioners.
The Chairman also noted that he had seen comments on the PC’s Facebook page referring to placing large poppies on lampposts in the parish. It was suggested that the Council might consider this for 2023/24, i.e PC to purchase poppies and volunteers to put them on lampposts.
The Chairman suggested that the above be included in the next issue of the parish newsletter.
889. To receive apologies and reasons for absence.
Apologies had been received from Cllr D Canning-Jones, reasons accepted.
890. 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.
891. To resolve to suspend the meeting to allow no more than 15 minutes of public forum.
2 Members of the public present.
No comments were made
892. Notes of the Parish Council meetings:
Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 1 September 2022 to be approved and signed as minutes.
It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 1 September 2022 and these were duly signed as minutes.
893. To receive reports from Police with crime information.
Crime report 27/08/22 to 30/09/22 - 0 incidents reported in the parish.
Crime report 1/10/22 to 28/10/22 - 1 incident reported in the parish.
894. Planning Matters.
Updated as of 14 November 2022
143697 – (Little London Park) - Current status: Public consutation period extended to 18 November 2022.
144148 – (Fenton Fields) - Current status: Refused. Application is proceding to appeal.
145710 – (Fenton – The Old Stackyard) - Listed building consent to replace existing back door. Current status: Public consutation period underway.
895. To receive any updates regarding the Speedwatch scheme and to consider any action.
a) Activities in Fenton remain suspended pending more volunteers coming forward to join that team.
b) Torksey Lock. An additional 3 locations have been approved by CSW Admin. Regular speed checks are being carried out by the volunteer team and results reported.
c) Cllr I B Smith reported that the team is enjoying the scheme. There had been a query regarding timescales for reporting data and this has been clarified satisfactorily.
896. To receive any updates regarding the Notice Board at Torksey Lock.
Box is manufactured and roofing felt supplied for waterproofing.
897. Parish Newsletter. To receive any feedback and to consider any action for the next issue.
Cllr I B Smith reported that the next issue is due for publication on 1st January 2023. There has been no feedback received. After discussion it was agreed to continue with the newsletter going forward and the value of it can be re-assessed in due course.
898. To consider Training arrangements for Cllrs. To receive any feedback on training attended.
No training had been undertaken or booked since the last meeting.
899. Clerks report
a) Weebly website update – this site was set up as a temporary measure between the closure of the old LCC PC websites and the rolling out of adequate training for the new LCC website. The Weebly site was taken offline but retained once the new site was established (January 2021). The provider has made some changes and requested new log-in. This has been done and the Weebly website has now been de-activated.
b) Age UK – free event for ‘Older People’ information received. Posted to website.
c) LALC cost of Living Crisis information – posted online.
d) FOI request received 26/09/22 regarding Childrens Play areas; reply submitted by Clerk 27/09/22 and acknowledged by the requester.
e) The Clerk attended the LALC AGM, 12/10/2022 at the Bentley Hotel, Lincoln. Report attached.
f) The Clerk will attend the LALC website refresher 22/11/2022 under the ATS, via Zoom.
g) Xmas Market- Lincs Wildlife - Information received and posted online.
h) WLDC DCllr Jane Ellis has submitted an invitation to the PC to apply for Cllr Initiative Funding, with £800 available at present.
i) LALC payscales award for 2022-23 available and passed to the Chair.
j) Website analytics September: users 268, page views 649, unique page views 590.
Website analytics October: users 379, page views 794, unique page views 776.
900. Financial Matters
a) To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations to date.
The RFO reported balances as at 12/11/2022:
i. Lloyds Current Account £5,299.40
ii. Lloyds Bus Savings A/C £15,468.85
Interest accrued September/October/November £2.97
Uncleared cheques: NIL
Payments received, included from balances:
LCC Grass-cutting Grant £180.92
Payments received, excluded from balances: NIL
To note any regular payments made between 01/09/2022 – 12/11/2022:
To approve additional accounts for payment 17/11/2022: NIL
To note expenditure against budget:
To note:
HMRC. PAYE
April £2.40
May £2.60
June £2.60
July £2.60
August £2.60
September £2.40
October £2.60
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr A Woods and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement of accounts, bank reconciliation as at 12/11/2022.
b) Insurance quotes received, for consideration at item 885 (see below):
Current provider AJG. £230.02
Quote from AJG £tbc
Quote from BHIB £364. / £344.72 for a 3-year fixed deal.
Quote from Zurich £308.95
It was confirmed that the Insurance premium be paid for 2022/23 only, AJG at £268.68.
c) To discuss, agree and complete the Precept Estimate for 2023/24 for submission to WLDC by Friday 25 November 2022. Final precept to be submitted by Friday 27 January 2023.
The Chairman had circulated the precept estimate spreadsheets to members prior to this meeting, for comment and none had been received.
The precept estimate was set at £6200 (against a budget of £8200), representing a 17.31% increase against 2022/23.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and it was unanimously RESOLVED to proceed to submit the precept estimate to WLDC on the above basis.
The precept estimate was completed and signed off; The Clerk will submit the estimate to WLDC prior to 25 November 2022.
There will be opportunity to further revise the estimate prior to its final submission to WLDC by 27 January 2023.
d) To note any approval of the suggested salary increase for the Clerk.
The Clerk has been employed by the parish council since May 2016 and has been on the same pay scale, SCP12, since then. The Chairman considers that a salary increase is now appropriate and suggested that the pay scale be changed to SCP14.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr A Woods and it was unanimously RESOLVED to change the Clerks pay scale to SCP14 with immediate effect.
The 2022/23 National Salary Award has been published and back-pay is due to the Clerk from 1 April 2022. The relevant calculations will be made and implemented and reported at the next meeting.
The 2023/23 precept estimate will need to be revised to include the change in pay scale for the 23/24 Final Precept submission in January. The chairman will circulate the final documentation to councillors prior to the next meeting.
901. Footpaths. Cllr A Woods to report and table suggestions for consideration.
a) To consider maintenance arrangements for the footpath in Torksey Lock.
Cllr A Woods reported that he had previously met with LCC Highways Steve Hudson and maintenance had been discussed although no improvements had been made since that meeting
There followed a general discussion regarding the condition of the paths in Torksey Lock and it was agreed that further work was necessary to clear encroaching vegetation on a regular basis on the paths opposite Little London Park and from the White Swan to the Fossdyke.
It was agreed that the paths also needed to be reinstated to the recommended minimum width – the Chairman thought this to be 1 metre. (Post meeting note - The Disability Discrimination Act recommends that a minimum of 1200mm width of footway should be kept free of obstructions.).
It was further agreed that the level and state of the path topping should be reviewed and improved as required.
Cllr A Woods suggested that at one point a dropped curb would be appropriate and that at another point, Cllr I B Smith stated that a curb needs to be lowered; both points are causing difficulties for residents of Little London Park, many of whom are elderly and have mobility issues, some using mobility scooters.
CCllr R Butroid offered to pursue the issues raised with LCC Highways. It was agreed that a site meeting be arranged if possible, to view and discuss the issues raised.
b) To receive any updates and to consider any action, regarding the siting of a new footpath along the road from Torksey Lock to Fenton and along the frontage to Little London Park towards the Fosse Dyke Canal bridge.
The lack of a path between Fenton & Torksey Lock was discussed at length with health and safety, wellbeing and cycling issues being included in the comments.
C Cllr R Butroid advised that a budget cost to install a path between Fenton & Torksey Lock was estimated by Highways to be in the region of £160,000, excluding any drainage costs and costs to purchase land necessary to site the path. It was noted that funding for such a project from the LCC Highways budget was unlikely but that he would press for its inclusion in a future budget.
Cllr Butroid advised that LCC Highways had acknowledged the existence of the footpath along this route. The footpath had not been reinstated following the widening of the A156.
It was also noted that due to the current speed limit of 60mph, the creation of a path would require a buffer zone of verge, to increase protection for path-users from road traffic, especially buffeting from HGVs.
It was considered that if the speed limit were to be reduced between Fenton & Torksey Lock to 40 mph, there would be no requirement for a buffer zone.
A footpath along the frontage of Little London Park to the Fossdyke was also discussed at length together with alternative options for Pelican crossings opposite Little London and The Elms in Torksey. D Cllr J Ellis agreed to raise the latter with Torksey Parish Council.
CCllr R Butroid had expressed the idea that a crossing at approx. £50k, would be less expensive than installing a new footpath on the Little London frontage. He also suggested that if a pedestrian access could be provided at the west end of Little London Park, this could result in a much shorter length of path being required to link up to the existing footpath at the Fossdyke bridge. A pedestrian crossing at the Elms would then serve both the Elms and Little London.
It was agreed that Cllrs Wood and Smith would approach the Little London Park owners to see whether a pedestrian access at the west end of Little London Park could be provided.
It was agreed that CCllr R Butroid be officially asked to liaise with LCC Highways, to request that :
i. An assessment survey be carried out so that the installation of a crossing be considered; noting that it may take up to a year for any assessment to commence.
902. Parish Speed Limits.
There are 2 areas within the parish where residences are outside the current 40mph speed limits.
a) Along the A1133, Newark Road, from Laughterton – extend speed limit zone to include Fenton High House, the Polish Scouting Centre and the village sign and
b) Along the A156, Lincoln Road, from Torksey Lock – extend speed limit zone to include Leys Cottage and relocate the existing Fenton village sign to the same point. Discuss and agree action to be taken.
It was noted that that 2 letters supporting changes to the location of the speed limit signs on the A1133, Newark Road had been received from The Trustees of the Polish Scout Centre and The National Commissioners, UK Region for Polish Scouts and Girl Guides, by Cllr A Woods.
An extension of the footpath opposite the Camp was also supported.
Following detailed discussion and with the aid of photographs, it was agreed that the following be requested, with the assistance of CCllr R Butroid, who would liaise with LCC Highways:
i. Move the existing Fenton village sign north by approx. 400mrtres to include all the village residences
ii. Move the existing 40mph sign to the location of the repositioned village sign.
iii. As an alternative to ii above, reduce the current 60mph to 40mph on the A156 between Torksey Lock and Fenton.
iv. On the A1133, approaching Torksey Lock from Laughterton, move the existing 40mph signs approx 200 metres south to the existing location of the Torksey Lock Village sign. This will extend the 40mph limit zone to include the Polish Scout Camp and Fenton High House. This will also enable the CSW team to operate in this area.
v. Extend the existing footpath from the Polish Scout Camp to Laughterton.
vi. The beneficial effects of the provision of additional warning signage was also discussed: to include such as “Please drive carefully through our village”, “children crossing”, “elderly pedestrians”.
903. LCC Grass-cutting agreement. To consider accepting the rolling annual agreement as detailed in the letter
dated 20/10/2022 (email). The PC currently signs up to this agreement annually.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr A Woods and it was unanimously RESOLVED to accept the rolling annual LCC Grass Cutting agreement.
904. Councillor initiative Fund. To consider whether any community projects or activities would benefit from
applications for this funding.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and it was RESOLVED that an additional Safety Warning sign be purchased for use of the CSW team. The estimated cost is £100, and that an application to the CIF be submitted.
Following discussion, it was agreed that Cllr I B Smith would investigate the possibility of installing a 6foot bench on the green area opposite to The White Swan public house in Torksey Lock. The Chairman is to investigate the bench costs for a possible CIF application.
CCllr R Butroid offered to liaise with LCC Highways to establish ownership of the site and to determine any planning permissions which may be required. It was agreed that a further grant application could be made following an update at the next meeting.
905. 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.
906. Date of next meeting and following meetings in 2022.
It was agreed that the following dates be set for 2023:
19 January 2023
Annual Parish Meeting – March 16. To be followed by the Regular Meeting.
Annual Meeting of the Parish Council – May 18, To include the Regular meeting.
Regular Meetings – July 20, Sept 21, and Nov 16.
As there was no further business, the Chair declared the meeting closed at 20:34
Conversation after closure of the meeting is not recorded.
Chair...........................G. NEWTON.
Date...........................26 January 2023