January 26 2023 - Minutes
MINUTES OF THE FENTON & TORKSEY LOCK PARISH COUNCIL MEETING,
held on Thursday 26 January 2023, 7pm, at Kettlethorpe Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr G. Newton (Chair), Cllr A Woods (Vice-Chair), Cllr I B Smith.
Also present: Ruth Keillar (Clerk).
3 members of the public were present.
Chairman’s opening remarks.
The Chairman welcomed all present. The Chairman thanked members for agreeing to move this meeting from the scheduled date of 19 January 2023.
Cllr. D Canning-Jones has resigned from the Parish Council for personal reasons. The chairman proposed a vote of thanks for her service. This was endorsed by all present.
907. To receive apologies and reasons for absence.
Apologies had been received from DCllr J Ellis, reasons accepted.
908. 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.
909. To resolve to suspend the meeting to allow no more than 15 minutes of public forum.
3 Members of the public present.
No comments were made
910. Notes of the Parish Council meetings:
Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17 November 2022 to be approved and signed as minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr A Woods and unanimously RESOLVED to approve the notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 17 November 2022 and these were duly signed as minutes.
911. To receive reports from Police with crime information.
Crime report 29/10/22 to 25/11/22 - 0 incidents reported in the parish.
Crime report 26/11/22 to 29/12/22 - 0 incidents reported in the parish.
912. Planning Matters.
Updated as of 23 January 2023
143697 - Planning application for siting of 18no. static caravans, including ancillary associated infrastructure on Little London Park - Granted time limit + conditions.
144148 - Planning application for creation of new access, garage, fence and change of use of land to domestic at 4 Fenton Fields - 18/11/22 Appeal Granted
144200 - Planning application for erection of 1no. detached dwelling at Sunny View Lincoln Road Torksey Lock – Notice of appeal from 2/12/22.
145710 - Listed building consent to replace existing back door at The Barn 4 The Old Stack Yard Fenton – 2/12/22 Granted time limit + conditions.
913. 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) Activities in Torksey Lock are suspended for the winter months.
914. To receive any updates regarding the Notice Board at Torksey Lock.
Awaiting improvement in weather to install
915. 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 end March 2023. There has been no feedback received. It was agreed that a member of the community be approached to submit a regular article regarding activity and services at the church. Cllr A Woods suggested including information about a recent event which had been attended by MP Edward Leigh.
916. To consider Training arrangements for Cllrs. To receive any feedback on training attended.
It was noted that that Cllr I B Smith is attending WLDC Elections briefing on 13 February, by remote link. The clerk is also attending, and feedback will be shared at the next meeting.
917. Clerks report
Website analytics are available to view on the PC website.
918. Financial Matters
a) To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations as at 26/01/2023.
The RFO reported balances as at 26/01/2023:
i. Lloyds Current Account £4,139.94
ii. Lloyds Bus Savings A/C £15,479.00
Interest accrued December/January £10.15
Uncleared cheques: NIL
Payments received, included from balances: £95.80
CIF grant for safety sign (received 24/01/23)
Payments received, excluded from balances: NIL
To note any regular payments made between 13/11/2022 – 26/01/2023:
To approve additional accounts for payment 26/01/2023: 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
November £29.80
December £7.60
To be paid at year end.
It was noted that LALC invoices for Subscription and ATS have been received and will be paid in financial year 2023-24.
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement of accounts, bank reconciliation as at 26/01/2023.
b) To discuss, agree and complete the Precept Estimate for 2023/24 for submission to WLDC by Friday 27 January 2023.
The Chairman had circulated the final precept spreadsheets to members prior to this meeting, for comment and none had been received.
The final precept was set at £6200 (against a budget of £8461), representing a 11.38% 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 final precept to WLDC on the above basis.
The final precept was completed and signed off; The Clerk will submit the estimate to WLDC on 27 January 2023.
The following two agenda items were reported together:
919. Footpaths.
a) To receive any updates and to consider any action regarding maintenance arrangements for the footpath in Torksey Lock
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.
c) To receive any updates from CCllr R Butroid, who had been asked to liaise with LCC Highways, to request that:
d) 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.
920. Parish Speed Limits.
To receive any updates regarding the 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.
Update received from C. Councillor R Butroid by email on 17 January 2023 was that he was chasing the TRO (Traffic Regulation Order for the speed limit relocations.
c) To receive any updates from CCllr R Butroid, who had offered to liaise with LCC Highways:
a. Move the existing Fenton village sign north by approx. 400mrtres to include all the village residences
b. Move the existing 40mph sign to the location of the repositioned village sign.
c. As an alternative to ii above, reduce the current 60mph to 40mph on the A156 between Torksey Lock and Fenton.
d. 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.
e. Extend the existing footpath from the Polish Scout Camp to Laughterton.
f. 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”.
Cllr G. Newton reported that a meeting took place in Torksey Lock on 9 January 2023 between C Cllr R Butroid, Highways representative and PC members to discuss above matters.
It was agreed that Highways would carry out footpath maintenance throughout the village; initially carrying out debris clearance and widening to standard, including cutting back of hedges bordering Severn Trent property. Once cleared the footpaths would be further inspected for faults, repairs, drop kerb requirements; all to be made suitable for mobility scooter/wheelchair access.
Moving of village signs and adding others In Fenton & Torksey Lock was to be investigated by Highways and the 60 to 40 speed limit reduction approaching Fenton was to be looked at within the TRO under item 15 above.
It was considered unlikely that new pathways in the parish, Fenton to Torksey Lock and Torksey Lock to Laughterton, would be funded due to current financial constraints.
An existing unmarked pedestrian crossing, including the central refuge, on the north side of the bridge at the start of the dual carriageway is to be improved within the footpath maintenance programme. This would also benefit from additional warning signage.
It was considered that to enable Little London residents to get better access to the existing footpath network, a footpath be constructed from the existing “temporary” access gate at the new development on Little London, north towards the bridge. Highways agreed to investigate. It would help things if an additional access could be made closer to the bridge through the new development hedge. Cllr. I B Smith agreed to approach the park owners to see what might be possible.
Installation of a controlled pedestrian crossing benefitting both Little London and The Elms residential parks was seen as being more feasible financially that 2 separate crossings. It was recognised that the site of such a crossing was not straightforward. Highways agreed to investigate.
Cllr A Woods queried why the re-location of the speed signs had not been implemented. It was reported that as discussed, this is a long process and updates would be reported in due course.
Cllr A Woods raised an issue regarding road-work quality at an area adjacent to Little London Park. It was reported that this was beyond the remit of the PC to address and that the best route to report issues was via FixMyStreet, a link to which is on the PC website. Cllr G. Newton offered to report the issue to CCllr R Butroid on behalf of Cllr A Woods.
921. Councillor initiative Fund.
a) To receive any updates following an application submitted on 18/11/2022, for £98.50, for an additional safety sign for the CSW group.
Application has been approved and funds (£95.80) received to bank account. The Clerk will proceed to order the additional safety sign and arrange delivery to Cllr I B Smith.
b) To receive any report from Cllr I B Smith who had agreed to investigate the possibility of installing a 6 foot 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 further CIF grant application.
CCllr R Butroid had offered to liaise with LCC Highways to establish ownership of the site and to determine any planning permissions which may be required.
The Chairman had issued bench costs to Cllr. I B Smith and the Clerk.
The Clerk has submitted the application to the CIF (23/01/23).
An alternative bench design had been received and circulated for comment.
It was agreed that the original suggested wooden 6 foot bench be taken forward as the preferred choice.
No update received from CCllr R Butroid regarding the land ownership.
922. Revised Co-option Policy and policy review.
a) The co-option procedure/policy had been amended to include updated legislation regarding eligibility criteria.
b) Policies reviewed with no changes:
i. Standing Orders
ii. Financial Regulations
iii. Audio Recording at Meetings
iv. Communications Policy
v. Complaints Procedure
vi. Data Protection Policy
vii. Model Publication Scheme
viii. Social Media Policy
ix. Code of Conduct
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and it was RESOLVED that the above policies a) and b) be approved and adopted/readopted.
The updated policy review schedule was signed by the Chair and will be posted onto the PC website.
923. 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.
924. Date of next meeting and following meetings in 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 19:40
Conversation after closure of the meeting is not recorded.
Chair...........................................G. NEWTON..............................Date..................16/03/2023