2022 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

Belchford and Fulletby Parish Council

Minutes from Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 19th May 2022 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: I Goodall (IG), J Newby (JN), M Brown (MB), P Thompson (PT), J Smith (JS) and P Morris (PM).  Also present the clerk, Mrs K M Elliott and 2 members of the public.

The public forum began at 7.30pm

Public Forum:  Thanks were offered to LCC for “doing” the footpaths unfortunately this has resulted in debris in the road/kerb edge and falling into the drains.  The request for a bin at Fulletby was also raised, this has been submitted to ELDC.

Annual Parish Council meeting

1.   Election of Officers and signing of Declaration of Acceptance of Office and DPI.

a.   Chairman – Mr J Smith, proposed, seconded, voted and RESOLVED.

b.   Vice Chairman – Mr P Thompson, proposed, seconded, voted and RESOLVED.

c.   RFO – Mr N Brigginshaw, proposed, seconded, voted and RESOLVED.

Meeting:

1.   Apologies for absence and reasons given – N Brigginshaw, J Leedham and Z Henden have sent apologies.  D Cllr D Andrews has also sent his 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.  None were made.

3.   Chairman’s remarks – JS, had no comments to make.

4.   To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17th March 2022 – 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.  JS thanked PT for taking the notes from the March meeting.

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

a.   Lane Lettings – K Elliott, M Brown, P Morris and I Goodall all purchased lanes for the forthcoming year.  

•   A proposed future project could be to clear Ings Lane.
•   IG is still chasing new locks for the Belchford noticeboard.
•   Broadband – this requires further investigations and Plan B is not finished yet.
•   Parish Council Website – JN has spoken with JL who has confirmed that he does not have time to do this himself.  Members discussed the options available as there are lots of archive documents to add.  A budget of £300 was agreed and this matter will be decided upon at the July meeting.  A member of the public expressed an interest in taking on this task.
•   Jubilee – grant funds are available from ELDC and it was suggested to apply for £1000 for jubilee mugs for all residents.

6.   To receive reports from District and County Councillors, and Police (if available) – No representatives were present and therefore there were no reports.

7.   To receive an update from the Village Green Committee – JS suggested a meeting with S Miller soon, to discuss the car parking proposal and also the play equipment.  Quotes have been received for the play equipment but these are now 2 years old.  Both these proposals will require planning permission.  Grant funding would need to be applied for and SM is not in a position to be able to do this.  JS suggested a working group needs to be set up to get this project through the planning process and clear up any animosity from residents.

8.   To discuss/decide on visitor car parking opportunity at the village green site – Is there an active village green committee?  We need to achieve this project and we may need to help out the village green committee.  Two VG committee members are keen.  JS asked for this to be brought back to the parish council by next autumn, with a plan, a grant application and a planning application.  Please CC everyone on the parish council with any communications.  Would it help for the parish council to apply for the planning and grants to achieve this goal?

9.   To review any potholes & other Highways matters – The laybys between Belchford & Fulletby are full of potholes and Dams Lane needs a total resurface.  The clerk was asked to report theses to LCC.  There are also potholes outside Ingsbrook and The Leas on Chapel Lane.  It is noted that Furlongs Lane needs road sweeping.

10.   Footpaths - There is a wish to encourage circular walks, this was discussed at the last NDP meeting.  A proposal was put forward to write to landowners to ask for permissive footpaths and a possible link between the Viking Way and Furlongs Wood.  JN provided details.  Following discussion it was suggested that this could be for one year only and there would be a contract between the landowner and the parish council.  In principle this proposal is supported.

11.   Neighbourhood Development Plan – Notification of further grant funding has been received, £4,296.00 which is to pay for technical support for setting and agreeing policies.  If any councillors or residents have not yet completed the questionnaire please complete and send them in.

12.   Jubilee – Leaflets are to be handed around about the Gala for the Jubilee on Sunday 5th June, there is to be a road closure from 1.15pm.  JN provided details of the activities planned for the day.  A question was raised about the signage for the road closure, which is to be put out by LCC.  The Fulletby event will take place on Friday 3rd June.

13.   Speeding – Local children are tired of speeding cars.  An idea was circulated by JN together with a request for parish council funding for two movable figures to encourage drivers and vehicles to slow down.  These figures would not be in place permanently and would cost £185 each to purchase.  A plan of action was requested for the next parish council meeting. 

14.   Provision of Car Park for visitors – this matter has already been discussed.

15.   Open Morning/Afternoon at Community Woodland – All agreed that this would be a good idea and a formal event held at the woodland perhaps at the Summer Solstice was discussed.  The Landlord and LWCS could be invited plus our District and County Councillors.  A BBQ was suggested with bring own refreshments and a date of Tuesday 21st June from 7pm.  There will also be an opportunity to learn how to Morris Dance.

16.   To consider correspondence received since the last meeting: none received.

17.   Financial matters: to authorise the signing of cheques and to note the income for this period.  All councillors were also asked to provide information required by our bank as part of their safeguard review.

a)   To consider using BACS payments – it was RESOLVED to set up this new system of payments to avoid charges for using cheques.

b)   LALC Subscription – payment approved at £142.74

c)   To receive an updated bank reconciliation form, as provided by NB – received and attached – Appendix  below.  The current balance is £ 10,734.23

d)   To consider and resolve payments since the last meeting including clerks salary.

e)   Internal Audit to year end 31.03.2022.  RFO NB is arranging this check.

f)   Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR)

i)   To agree Year end Accounts to 31.03.2022. and

ii)   To complete and approve Annual Governance Statement. 2021/2022.

£1,500 – Anglian Water Money – was this spent, JS to ask NB to investigate.

18.   Planning Matters: 

a.   S/013/00345/22 – FPP Given

b.   S/013/00198/22 – FPP Given

c.   S/013/00286/22 – FPP Given

d.   S/055/00434/22 – FPP Given.

19.   To consider items for the Parish Newsletter: Please send articles to the clerk.  The next newsletter will not be before the Jubilee.  There will be a round-up of Jubilee events from both villages.

20.   To agree agenda items for the July 2022 meeting – This will be held in Fulletby.

There being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.15 pm.