2019 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Belchford and Fulletby Parish Council

Minutes from Parish Council Meeting 11th July 2019
(These notes are a record of the meeting and are not accepted as formal minutes until duly signed on behalf of the Parish Council)

Present: Councillors: M Brown (MB), J Newby (JN), J Leedham (JL), R Short (RS), P Thompson (PT).  Also present D Cllr D Andrews (DA) and four members of the public.

Public Forum:  Those present discussed the recent planning application and the parish council objection is not showing in the public domain. It is believed that the plans are to be resubmitted.  Our District Councillor is to be contacted with regard to the meeting dates for the District Council Planning Committee.  Potholes on Mill Lane, Fulletby and Paradise Lane/Church Street the whole surface needs redoing.  The blocked drain in Fulletby was also discussed.  The Tree at the village green on Narrow Lane is dangerous and Simon Miller of the Village Green Committee is to be contacted to take action.  Two emails received by the clerk were read to the meeting from Mr D Perren and Mr D Hodgson, these were acknowledged.

1.   Apologies for absence and reasons given – Apologies were received from PM, NB and JS.

2.   Declaration of interests and requests for dispensations - To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider granting dispensation(s), as per written requests received by the proper officer, to councillors under section 22 of the Act.  There were none.

3.   Chairman’s remarks – JS has given his apologies for non-attendance this evening.  The meeting was chaired by PT.

4.   To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 16th May 2019 – it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED unanimously that following one amendment the official minutes of the last meeting having been previously circulated were approved as a true and accurate record of the minutes, Chairman signed and dated.

5.   To co-opt a parish councillor(s) – There were two candidates for the two vacant positions in Belchford, Mr I Goodall and Mr Z Hendon.  Having provided a brief background each candidate was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to join the parish council.

6.   To receive reports from the Clerk and Councillors on matters outstanding:  

a.   Village Green Sign – A reminder is to be issued to Anglian water and the village green committee with regard to the re positioning of the sign.  ZH is to take action on this matter.

7.   To receive reports from District and County Councillors, and Police (if available) – D Cllr D Andrews and Our C Cllr are not present and Police have also sent their apologies.

8.   To review potholes – the ones on Dams Lane and Furlongs Lane have been repaired.  Lowfield Lane has received a top dressing.  Paradise Lane the whole surface has deteriorated and on Mill Lane there are 2 potholes outside IG’s house.  The clerk was requested to remind all councillors of the website link to report these matters directly to LCC.

9.   To consider any other Highways Matters – footpaths and in particular the Viking Way from Belchford to Fulletby, there are lots of knee high nettles for about a one mile section.  There are also problems on Dams Lane to Paradise Lane.

10.   To sign Community Woodland lease agreement – the meeting RESOLVED to delay signing this until JS is available to sign.  It was RESOLVED for the clerk and JS to sign this lease before the next meeting.  It was also RESOLVED to allocate an overall £400 budget for this land registration and other legal requirements.

11.   To consider correspondence received since the last Council meeting –

a.   LALC AGM & Conference 15/10 – for information

b.   Broadband Gigabit Voucher Scheme – we already have fibre in both villages and IG volunteered to enquire if this scheme can be of any further interest for our parishes.

12.   To Consider Barn Owl Box Scheme – those present enquired why this scheme only includes Belchford and the clerk was asked to find out why Fulletby has been omitted,  the clerk is to find out and report at the September meeting.

13.   Belchford Public Purposes Charity – Final Accounts to 31.3.2019 and report from P Hughes.

a.   To appoint an auditor for this account – it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED for ZH to ask a suitable candidate to carry out this task.

b.   To consider if another councillor to take over this role – it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to ask P Hughes to carry on in this role.

14.   Financial matters: to authorise the signing of cheques and to note the income for this period.

a)   To receive an updated bank reconciliation form RFO – received and attached – Appendix 1 below.

b)   Payment of accounts – members were advised of the list of payments and it was then proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that payments were made for clerks salary, J Smith for litter pickers, Insurance, LALC subs and HMRC.

2)   Planning Matters:

a)   ELDC letter re notifications/communications with Parish Councils – members RESOLVED to confirm they still wish to be consulted on all planning applications and that all communications will be received electronically.

15.   To consider items for the Parish Newsletter 

•   Meeting report
•   Potholes/Drains and link to online reporting
•   Community Woodland volunteer labour (PT)
•   Tractor run and Box Event

It is noted that delivery of the newsletter needs resolving in certain areas of Belchford and that the clerk will collate the contents of the newsletter which will then be sent to JN for “prettying up!”

16.   To agree agenda items for the 12th September 2019 meeting and the venue for this meeting will be Belchford Village Hall.

•   Community Woodland update
•   Owl Boxes
•   Highways & Drains

Thanks were offered to RS for the repairs to the notice boards and there being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.15 pm

Appendix 1: see below