November 16 2023 - Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL OF FENTON & TORKSEY LOCK,
held on Thursday 16 November 2023, 7pm, at Kettlethorpe Village Hall.
PRESENT: Cllr G. Newton (Chair), Cllr A Woods (Vice-Chair), Cllr D Buck, Cllr P Jenkinson, Cllr I B Smith.
Also present: Ruth Keillar (Clerk).
*CCllr R Butroid part meeting, *DCllr R Pilgrim part meeting.
Chairman’s opening remarks.
The Chairman welcomed all present.
The Chairman reported that the Remembrance Day wreath laying and 2 minutes silence was held on Sunday 12 November 2923 at 11am. There were 6 attendees.
The wreath was reused from last year and large poppies purchased in lieu of a new wreath were placed on lamp posts etc in the parish.
Police meeting on 14 December 2023 - the questions for this meeting, agreed at the last PC meeting were submitted on 23 October 2023.
1006. Apologies. To receive apologies and reasons for absence.
All members present.
1007. Declarations of Interest. 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.
1008. Public forum. To suspend the meeting to allow no more than 15 minutes of public forum.
No members of public were present.
1009. Notes of the Parish Council meeting:
Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 19 October 2023 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 19 October 2023 and these were duly signed as minutes.
1010. Crime reports. To receive reports from Police with crime information.
None received.
1011. Planning Matters.
A request for consideration of a road name for the development (awaiting exact location info) of Marina Drive.
Location is as shown on the map provided (between the Fossdyke and the Sewer Drain).
It was agreed that there was no objection to this request.
Planning Applications
Updated as of 11 November 2023
24 August 2023
APPLICATION REFERENCE NO: 147067
PROPOSAL: Planning application for change of use of building to a day respite care facility and community use.
LOCATION: Trenton Lodge Lincoln Road Fenton Lincoln LN1 2EN
APPLICATION TYPE: Full Planning Application
APPLICATION CATEGORY: Change of Use
Current status: Envronment Agency objects due to inadequate Flood Risk Assessment.
CCllr R Butroid arrived at this point and at the Chair’s discretion, agenda item 12 (minute 1017) was taken at this point.
1012. Speedwatch. To receive any updates regarding the Speedwatch scheme and to consider any action.
Activities in Fenton remain suspended pending more volunteers coming forward to join that team.
Activities in Torksey Lock have been curtailed by non-availability of team members.
Cllr. I. B. Smith is in contact with CSW Admin regarding training of more volunteers.
1013. Parish Newsletter. To receive any feedback and to consider any action for the next issue.
The September issue had not been printed, due to issues at the printer.
Discussion about possible alternatives were tabled.
It was proposed by Cllr G Newton, seconded by Cllr P Jenkinson and RESOLVED by majority vote (Cllr A Woods abstained) that the Newsletter be cancelled and replaced with an A4 ‘issues sheet’ to be drafted and posted onto the notice boards and PC Facebook page on a regular basis, usually following meetings. Cllr P Jenkinson offered to draft the sheet.
CCllr R Pilgrim arrived and joined the meeting at this point.
1014. Training. To consider Training arrangements for Cllrs. To receive any feedback on training attended.
No Cllr training had been attended since the last meeting. Cllr P Jenkinson enquired about the latest LALC Training bulletin, which had been circulated on 27/09/2023 and it was agreed to re-circulate this. Cllr A Woods requested that he receive a printed copy of this document when issued by LALC.
1015. Clerks report
a) LALC Training bulletins circulated to all on 29/09/2023.
b) Website analytics are available to view on the PC website HERE
c) Lanyards for new Cllrs – available for distribution.
d) KUC (Kettlethorpe United Charities) information has been received and posted online and on the PC notice boards.
e) Local Plan (approved in April 2023) has additional sections and has been posted onto the PC website.
f) To note that NALC SCP salary awards were received on 06/11/2023.
1016. Financial Matters.
a) To approve the Statement of accounts and bank reconciliations as at 18/10/2023.
The RFO reported balances as at 16/11/2023:
i. Lloyds Current Account (49206968) £4,744.06
ii. Lloyds Bus Savings A/C (55156860) £16,337.10
Interest accrued November (£18.02)
iii. Equals Account (31615978) £21.00
Payments received, included in balances: NIL
Payments received, excluded from balances: NIL
Transfers:
03/11/2023 - From Current Account (49206968) to Equals A/C (31615978) £500.00
To note any approved payments made between 19/10/2023 – 10/11/2023:
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the statement of accounts and bank reconciliation as at 16/11/2023.
To approve additional accounts for payment 16/11/2023:
Kettlethorpe PCC has submitted an invoice for third share of the churchyard grass cutting.
The total for 04/03/23-30/10/23 is £1376.00
Third of this is £458.66.
Deducting a Credit Note (01/04/23) relating to an overpayment in 2021) £40.00
Amount due is therefore £418.66 (budget £700.00).
It was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and it was unanimously RESOLVED to approve the above payment of £418.66.
To note expenditure against budget:
b) To receive any updates regarding the Equals Card application.
The account was opened on 03/11/2023. £500.00 was transferred in as agreed at minute 995.
Cards were ordered on 03/11/2023 for Ruth Keillar and Cllr G Newton, which have been received.
It was agreed that a balance of £200 be placed on the Equals card for future expenditure. Clerk to action.
c) To discuss, agree and complete the Precept Estimate for 2024/25 for submission to WLDC by Friday 24 November 2023. Final precept to be submitted by Friday 26 January 2024.
On 31/10/23, the Chairman issued the Precept Estimate breakdown for 2024/25 to members for comment. Comments received were addressed.
The breakdown established a precept estimate request for 2024/25 at £7000 this represented an increase of 13.1% on the 2023/24 precept received. Anticipated savings from the current budget were used to keep the increase at this level.
After discussion it was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr P Jenkinson 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 24 November 2023.
There will be opportunity to further revise the estimate prior to its final submission to WLDC by 26 January 2024.
d) To note the NJC Pay Award for 2023/24 and to record the resulting salary increase and back pay due to the Clerk.
The Clerk’s hourly rate rises to £14.21 as a result of the above payaward and will be paid in the November salary, continuing at this level until the pay award for 2024/25 is made known, probably in November 2024. Back pay due to the Clerk for the 7 months from April to October 2023, amounting to £119, will also be paid in the November salary.
1017. Highways matters
Updates on the following items have been requested from Cllr Butroid:
a) Footpath maintenance - Torksey Lock. CCllr R Butroid reported that this work had not been placed on the regular annual maintenance schedule. This omission had been corrected and the work item added for the next tranche.. Cllr I B Smith reported that the footpath repair is in need of re-doing.
b) New Footpath - Torksey Lock. CCllr R Butroid reported that this is still on the list however the cost is, as previously reported, around £100,000.
c) Enhanced crossing of A156 - Torksey Lock. CCllr R Butroid reported that this is on the list; the overgrowth of vegetation at the existing refuge on the dual was raised as an issue.
d) Permission to site a bench in Torksey Lock.
CCllr R Butroid reported that paperwork was required. He said he would re-circulate the template.
e) Traffic calming measures on Maltkiln Road, Fenton. CCllr R Butroid reported that he had tried to arrange a meeting with Highways and would follow this up and advise.
It was reported that another PC had deployed cardboard cut-out police officers as a deterrent to speeding and it was agreed that the Clerk investigate this.
It was reported that a reflective bollard in the road (A1133) near the entrance to the White Swan has been damaged.
Cllr A Woods raised concerns about pedestrian crossing signs at Little London Park and Torksey Lock.
*CCllr R Butroid left the meeting at this point.
1018. Parish Speed Limits.
A156, Fenton – Speed limit reduction from 40 to 30mph and extend speed limit zone to include Leys Cottage and relocate the existing Fenton village sign to the same point. Chairman to provide update.
No further update to that given at the last meeting.
1019. Accessibility Statement (Parish Council website)
To consider the re-adopting the Accessibility Statement for the Parish Council website.
There being no changes to the Accessibility Statement, it was proposed by Cllr G. Newton, seconded by Cllr P Jenkinson and it was unanimously RESOLVED to re-adopt the Accessibility Statement.
1020. Parish Project
Deferred from last meeting, minute 1003. Email dated 12/9/23 from a resident suggesting the provision of 2 bus shelters in Fenton on opposite sides of the A156 near the Defibrillator station. Discuss.
Volunteer member(s) requested to carry out initial feasibility study to include type of shelter, purchase prices, civils works foundations and surface finishing, shelters installation, locations, Highways approval and other permissions, affected residents, local bus company plus anything else that can be considered relevant, including availability of grants.
It has been suggested that there is a similar need for a shelter in Torksey Lock at the bus stop opposite the Little London Park entrance. It was agreed that this be included in the proposal.
Cllr D Buck reported that he had started preliminary investigation into the project. Cllr D Buck and Cllr A Woods volunteered to take responsibility for the project. It was proposed by Cllr G Newton, seconded by Cllr I B Smith and unanimously RESOLVED that Cllr D Buck and Cllr A Woods take the project forward, and report back to the PC at a future meeting.
It was agreed that three quotes would be required.
Cllr P Jenkinson suggested a vote of thanks for the research which Cllr D Buck had undertaken; this was supported by the Chair and agreed unanimously.
1021. 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.
1022. Date of next meetings.
Regular Meetings – January 18, July 18, Sept 19, and Nov 21.
Annual Parish Meeting – March 21. To be followed by the Regular Meeting.
Annual Meeting of the Parish Council – May 16, to include the Regular meeting.
As there was no further business, the Chair declared the meeting closed at 20:50
Any discussion after close of meeting is not noted.
Signed (Chair).....G. NEWTON....................Date...................18 January 2024...............................