2021 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Notes from Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 16th September 2021 held at Belchford Village Hall.

(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 in person: Councillors: R Short (RS), J Smith (JS), I Goodall (IG), J Newby (JN), P Morris (PM), M Brown (MB), N Brigginshaw (NB), Z Henden (ZH), J Leedham (JL).  Also present the clerk, Mrs K M Elliott and 5 members of the public.

      Meeting:

1. Apologies for absence and reasons given – PT has sent apologies.
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 suggested that more daffodils could be planted again this year and a £25 budget was agreed for this task.
4. To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 20th May 2021 – following suggested amendments 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 reports from the Clerk and Councillors on matters outstanding: 
   1. To consider Website Management Service: the clerk provided background to this proposal and what was on offer from LALC.  The basic option costs £60 per year and premium costs £180 per year.  Following discussion JL offered to investigate the system and website on offer from LCC.  A report will be provided at the November meeting.
6. To receive reports from District and County Councillors, and Police (if available) – No representatives were present and there were no reports.
6. To receive an update from the Village Green Committee – new committee members have been recruited and the survey results have been received and are interesting.  There is a meeting in 3 weeks’ time to discuss what to do in the next 12 months.  Thanks are offered to the parish council for support and feedback and also to the Wards for mowing the grass.
8. To discuss the provision of car parking for visitors – this is to be discussed at the village green committee meeting in 3 weeks.  A suggestion was put forward to use the village hall car park and this was also discussed alongside an honesty box for visitors to use.
9. To review any potholes & other Highways matters – Greetham Road, Fulletby a large pothole; the road edge is crumbling away Fulletby to Tetford junction and also Avoca House, Lowfield Lane; Woodview Ings Lane; Pinecroft and Warthbeck Farm on Furlongs Lane.  These are to be reported.
10. Questionnaire results and Neighbourhood Development Plan – There are 56 responses so far and several copies of the results to date were circulated, data has been coordinated by Nancy.  More details are to be given.  The link will be on the next newsletter as the questionnaires can still be returned up to the end of October.  This will be on the next agenda for further discussion.  An open day is planned for the future to enable parishioners to know more about the Neighbourhood Development Plan.
11. Footpaths – This will be deferred to the November meeting in light of new information.
12. Neighbourhood Development Plan – as per item 10 above.
13. Community Woodland – Thank you to everyone who has pulled ragwort, this has been a tremendous effort.  The paths will be mown again before the end of the season.  18 trees have been ordered for the residents who have signed up and contributed and these are to be planted this winter.  Mrs Abbott’s daughters are to be contacted by the clerk.  Mrs Murfin confirmed that she has a number of seedlings available to be planted at the woodland.  It was confirmed that a grant has been awarded from Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Services for £2,581.38 towards the project for the Lincolnshire Wolds Observatory within the woodland.  Those present also discussed the level of tree planting for this winter, the Treescapes scheme from LCC may still be available and we are making good progress in populating the site.
14. Full Fibre Broadband – IG reported that we are currently waiting for a third and final quotation from Openreach.  The outlying properties not included in this third stage will not be included in the overall scheme.  More interest is needed and two further pledges have been forthcoming from neighbourly conversations.  This is our opportunity if we decide to take it.  It was confirmed that the grants available are £1500 for residential properties and £3500 for businesses.  IG is reluctant to go house to house but would be willing to have a word with those who could be persuaded.  This could be included in the open day which is planned for the Neighbourhood Development Plan.  More details will be included on the next newsletter.
15. Belchford Public Purposes Charity – this is to be discussed at the November meeting.
16. To consider correspondence received since the last meeting:
    1. Letter received about Fulletby Glebe Field grass & hedge cutting contribution – PM disclosed an interest in this matter as he is on the Glebe Trust.  The correct channels are to be established first, we are not against this in principle.  A request was made for a delay on this request so that any hedge cutting to be delayed until the berries have been eaten by wildlife.
    2. Request for bin for Fulletby Glebe Field – this request was supported and will be submitted to ELDC.
17. Financial matters: to authorise the signing of cheques and to note the income for this period.
    1. To receive an updated bank reconciliation form, as provided by NB – received and attached – Appendix 1 below.  The current balance is £ 7,563.06 and there are no outstanding cheques.  NB noted that the precept has been kept the same for a number of years and asked members to consider reducing the precept.
    2. Payment of accounts – To consider and resolve payments since last meeting including clerks’ salary and HMRC, LALC, village hall hire.  Proposed, seconded, Voted and Resolved.
18. Planning Matters:
    1. S/013/00599/21 – Planning Appeal; Keepers Corner, Flintwood Farm.  This is a difficult situation.  There is some sympathy for the applicants, however we must not take sides.  Access was discussed but this is not for consideration at this point.  It was agreed that we should provide a narrative response to this appeal with additional comments as the applicants are local people who are integrated within the community and local businesses.  Also to be included are details on the NPPF as provided by JN.  The clerk will draft a document which will be approved by the chairman before it is sent.
    2. S/013/01888/21 – this planning application has been received and the deadline for responses is 1st October.
19. To consider items for the Parish Newsletter: Please send articles to the clerk.  There are several items already suggested during this meeting including local houses for local people; the village Green and autumn clear up dates; community woodland update; Fulletby Glebe Field and clearing up after your dogs.
20. To agree agenda items for the November 2021 meeting – Belchford Public Purposes Charity, Mrs Abbott’s tree and the Community Woodland.

There being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.10 pm

Appendix 1: see below

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