2020 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Belchford and Fulletby Parish Council

Minutes from Parish Council Meeting 12 March 2020.
(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: J Newby (JN), P Morris (PM), P Thompson (PT), J Smith (JS), I Goodall (IG}, R Short, (RS), N Brigginshaw NB), Z Henden (ZH).  Also present eleven members of the public, including two speakers from OnLincolnshire.

Public Forum: Those present discussed the safety bollard which has been removed or knocked over and the road edge which is close to collapse.  Also discussed was the delayed delivery of the newsletter and this will be reviewed at he next parish council meeting.  The meeting began at 7.30pm.

 
1.   Apologies for absence and reasons given - Apologies were received from our M Brown and J Leedham and Police.

2.   Declaration of interests and requests for dispensations - To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Loca/ism 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 had nothing of relevance to note.

4.   To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on gth January 2020 - it was proposed, seconded , voted and RESOLVED unanimously that 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 receive a presentation from Onlincolnshire:  The guests were introduced and explained the Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme. The values per household and business has increased and is now £1500 for residents and £3500 for businesses.  Therefore the figures estimated by IG for Fulletby & Belchford would be increased to £173 ,000, however if there are more businesses and residents who want to join the scheme they will not be turned away .  Businesses must be registered in order to count and a terms and conditions document will be circulated to all interested parties for clarity . There will be minimal disruption or involvement from Onlincolnshire when the supplier contractor has been appointed.  The current speeds needs to be determined in both villages to adhere to the Terms & Conditions and an explanation of areas which may be of concern for testing of broadband speeds in the parishes.

Questions were raised including outlying properties up to half a mile outside the village centre as these may include additional costs at the civil excavation level and may prove disproportionate.  The quote will be from BT Openreach although alternative contractors are available.  The contractors usually use the infrastructure which is already in place and underground is the preferred choice of delivery.  The public asked if you are tied to BT for provision of supply into properties and also will you home by bypassed if you don't sign up to the scheme - yes.  In signing up to the formal expression of interest form you are obliged to agree to a 12 month contract which doubles your current supply .

This is sensible for most people although exit fees for current Internet Service Providers may need to be taken into account.  Once contracts are signed the whole process should be complete within 12 months. The fibre does not replace the copper, which is left in place.  Individuals and businesses should check with their personal ISP for more clarity.  Are there any planning issues involved in this process - very rarely. The guests were thanked for their time and presentation.  Members discussed what to do next and how to move forward .  Once IG has received the documents from Onlincolnshire the scheme must be sold properly so that people are fully aware of what they are signing up to.  [Three people left the meeting at 8.20pm]

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

a.   Ward Walk - the clerk advised that a meeting is to be organised between the Highways Officer, County Councillor and parish representatives.  The Fulletby issue is now worse and is at risk of damaging private properties.  The lngs Lane ford the beck over flows . The end of Fulletby Road is nearly falling into the river.

b.   Annual Parish Meeting - this is to be held in April, hopefully with a meeting in the Church and

7.   To receive reports from District and County Councillors, and Police (if available) - There were no representatives from the District or County Council present. The Police have submitted their apologies for attendance.

8.   To receive a report from the Village Green Committee - The Committee representative reported that the committee are investigating the costs of installing a play area and early quotes have been in the region of £50 ,000.  Grant funding is also to be investigated hopefully from WREN and 3 tenders are required in this process.  The design will be suitable for a village green area and the timescale is approximately 18 months. Training of volunteers will also be required to ROSPA standards for daily and weekly inspections and it is also noted that annual audit and safety inspections of this type of equipment will also be required and budgeted for. The Village Green Committee would like to ask for permission to site a 20' container on the village green, this will be on a non-maintenance base and will be painted on an appropriately subtle colour.  The position for the play area has not yet been decided.  JS thanked ZH for the report.  A reminder to the committee for replacement of the notice board was issued alongside a reminder for Anglian Water to replace the post and rail fencing.

9.   To review any potholes:   there are none.

10.   To consider any other Highways Matters: this has already been discussed at this meeting.

11.   To provide an update on the Community Woodland - PM advised that the hedge has been planted and an area has been marked off for volunteers to plant trees , however this is not thought to be big enough.  JS has dug out the pond and the next step is for more extensive tree planting next winter and grants are to be applied for by JN.  The gate needs to be installed and thanks were extended to all those who had volunteered so far.  Is there a name for the field can we look at old maps for a previous field name.  JS also noted that there are approximately 50 hedging plants available for free.

12.   To approve funding of recycling project (Ward Twins) - this was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED (£10).

13.   Community Speed Watch Scheme - PT confirmed that there have been no volunteers so far. However, PT will investigate training requirements and costs involved in taking this project further.

14.   To consider correspondence received since the last meeting:

a.   Horncastle Matters magazine - following discussion it was RESOLVED not to make a donation.

b.   LALC - Annual Training Course; the course details were circulated to all members and it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to sign up to this scheme, £102 .00. (4 members of the public left the meeting]

15.   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. The current balance is £7,844.23

b)   Payment of accounts - members were advised of the list of payments and it was then proposed, seconded , voted and RESOLVED that payments were made for clerks salary & expenses, LALC membership & subscription , village hall hire, legal expenses (woodland) , hedging plants, gate, donation and newsletter printing.  It is also noted that the precept will be received during April.

16.   Planning Matters:

a.   S/013/00178/20 - Dial Cottage - application withdrawn .

b.   S/013/00340/20 - Warthbeck House - Change of use. An explanation was provided by the applicant. Questions were raised and answered and the linked annexe will stay within the current footprint and following discussion it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to support this application.

c.   S/055/02017/19 - Corner Farm - approval of reserved matters.

d.   S/013/02291/19 - Pinecroft - the application was a technically deleted record.

17.   To consider items for the Parish Newsletter

•   Parish Meeting - clerk to organise .
•   Play Area at the Village Green (ZH)

Broadband provision re contract im  lications (IG

•   Name for the Community Woodland (Easter Egg for the best name?) Two volunteers for community woodland management

18.   To agree agenda items for the 21•1 May 2020 meeting (please note the change of date) and the venue for this meeting will be Belchford Village Hall.

•   Village Entrance Sign maintenance (leg repairs) There being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.10 pm

Appendix 1: see below