Meeting Minutes 2021/22

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF BILSBY & FARLESTHORPE

 HOLY TRINTY CHURCH, BILSBY

ON THURSAY 6th JANUARY  2022

Present: Cllrs Cooper (Chair); L Gaston (Vice Chair); Morley; Wilson-Brown, N Gaston, Willoughby, Bailey, Marsh (ELDC) and Matthews (LCC),

No members of the public were present at the meeting.

Mrs M Hoad, Parish Clerk took the minutes.

 Cllr Cooper welcomed everyone to the meeting and as there were no public comments the Chairman opened the meeting for      business.

            306         APOLOGIES

Apologies had been received from Cllr Devereux (ELDC).  It was resolved to accept all reasons for absence.

             307         DECLARATIONS OF INTERTEST

                There were no declarations of interest from Parish Councillors at this meeting.

             308         MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON THE 4th NOVEMBER 2021

It was resolved by all that the Chairman sign the minutes of the Council Meeting held on the 4th November 2021 as a correct record.

             309         MATTERS ARISING FROM MEETING

The Clerk had circulated information regarding a Natwest Community bank account for consideration.  She had also approached LALC regarding the amending of Council’s Financial Regulation to undertake online banking.  Following discussion, it was resolved to remain with Barclays Bank, but to move to online banking.  The Chairman agreed to contact the bank to amend the mandate and the Clerk will revise the Financial Regs docs for consideration/approval at the next meeting.  It was agreed that any other action items were to be covered in the agenda.               

             310         FINANCIAL

A. Accounts to be paid/authorised The Council noted the following payments – Clerks Salary & Expenses Nov/Dec; HMRC £19.40 and Community Heartbeat – New Defib for Farlesthorpe and it was resolved to authorise all payments – totalling £2847.42

B. Accounts as at end of November 2021 – Bank reconciliation as at end of November had been circulated for review and was accepted as correct, signed by the Chairman.

C. Councillors Budget Statement as at the end of November 2021 – the document had been circulated for comment and was noted and signed by the Chairman.

D. Budget Planning for 2022/23 a proposed budget had been circulated for comment and recommendations were made.  It was resolved to request a precept level for 2022/23 of £3800 = cost to a band D property of £22.35, on tax base of 170.  Clerk to complete and return precept form.

              311         PLANNING

There were no new planning applications for consideration. 

             312         HIGHWAYS

The problem of flooding in Back Lane had still not been resolved.  The Clerk had chased this with Anglian Water and LCC highways and following the jetting of the drain by ACL it appears that a problem exists with the drainage pipes.  Concern was raised over possible flooding to property and the Clerk was asked to refer the matter to Cllr Matthews.  Clerk to action.  It had been noted that some pothole repair work had been undertaken in Back Lane and Asserby Lane but that large holes did remain in some areas.  No remedial work had been undertaken in Thurlby Lane.  The bollard replacement in Back Lane had also been identified as in action on FixMyStreet but nothing had yet taken place.   Cllr Matthews advised that Highways were seriously underfunded and brought Council’s attention to the Fix our Funding to Fix our Roads campaign.  It was still a situation of prioritising the repairs required with the funding available and advised to keep chasing these problems.  The Clerk advised the long outstanding issue of the lamp post replacements had been referred to Cllr Devereux for assistance and Cllr Marsh also offered to follow this up with ELDC.

             313         REPORTED FLY PROBLEM 

A fly infestation occurring around Back Lane area at the beginning of January had been reported to the Parish Council.  It was believed this outbreak could have been linked to work being carried out to cull birds in area infected by Avian Flu.  Following debate, it was resolved to ask the Clerk to write to APHA (copying Cllr Matthews, Trading Standards & Environmental Health) to ascertain what processes were involved with the culling and removal process of infected poultry and to report the fly problem, in order that residents could be advised accordingly.

             314         COMMUNITY PROJECTS

a. Phone Box project – Farlesthorpe:  Quotes for installation of a defib in the phone box at Farlesthorpe had been circulated and it was resolved to order an AED & cabinet from Community Heartbeat along with installation work.  – Clerk to action

b. Maintenance of Village Bench – The Clerk had met with Louth Men’s Shed (LMS) to look at repairs needed to the bench as the wooden slats were now rotten and soft.  LMS to provide a quote for replacing the wooden slats.

c. Installation of new backing plate for Speed Sign – Cllr N Gaston had kindly installed the new backing plate on a warning sign on Alford Road.  It was agreed to obtain permission to reposition the plate on the lamp post in the same area and to fix higher to improve visibility. 

d. Noticeboards – The Clerk advised LMS had looked at the renovations needed to the Bilsby noticeboard and would provide a quote for sanding down and re painting woodwork and iron work of the board.  Cllr N Gaston agreed to obtain an alternative quotation for repairs to the Bilsby noticeboard and provision of a metal work noticeboard for Farlesthorpe.  A resident had requested that the Parish Council consider the relocation of the Bilsby noticeboard to be sited on ‘Bilsby Hill’, near the bench.  Following debate, it was resolved to ask the Clerk to look into the viability and costs of relocating the noticeboard for discussion at the next meeting.

          315         CORRESPONDENCE NOV/DEC 2021

1. Nat West Community Account information – circulated to all.  Update to be received at next meeting.
2. Meeting with Louth Men’s Shed regarding bench repair and renovation to notice boards – update to be presented at meeting.
3. Cllr Matthew’s November & December Briefings – emailed to all
4. Request to inform residents re bird flu and protection of their fowl received from Cllr Morley and NFU information poster published on web site / facebook page.  Advice letter received from ELDC published on web site / noticeboard – circulated to all.
5. Community Heartbeat Trust invoice and order info emailed to all
6. Advice of Precept submission form and tax base for 2022/23 received.
7. Call from resident regarding traffic accident on Alford Road.  Liaised with Lincs Road Safety Partnership (RSP) re road conditions and recommendations.  Reported problem to PCSO.  RSP inspected location and considered issues caused by speeding.  New backing plate obtained for speed sign and erected in Alford Road.  Additional locations for sign being considered and authorisation obtained from LCC lighting team.  Resident updated of action taken.
8. Email from Cllr Marsh re Towns Funds projects – emailed to all.
9. LALC news – emailed to all
10. Festive wishes put on noticeboard / FB page.
11. Support for lonely & isolated email received from public health Lincolnshire – circulated to all.
12. Fix our Funding to Fix our roads LCC campaign publicised on noticeboards/web site.
13. Funding request letter received from Citizens Advice Lindsey – to be reviewed at meeting
14. Annual Microsoft 365 renewal undertaken, plus McAffee renewal for PC Laptop
15. Call regarding increase in flies in Back Lane, possibly linked to the culling of birds due to Avian Flu – added to agenda

              316         DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT & EVERSLEIGH UPDATE

 Cllr Devereux had sent her apologies; Cllr Marsh provided the District Council update in her absence.  Council was advised that ELDC staff were predominately home working at present but that the new ELDC site in Horncastle should be completed by end of the summer.  The college element of the build would be looking to take its first entrants of students in 2023.  ELDC grants for businesses and individuals were now available online and overall, January was a very busy time for the District Council.  Residents should also be able to renew their Green Bin subscription which had seen a £10 raise this year to £50, but this level would be held for a further 3 years.   

Planning enforcement had responded regarding Eversleigh, the enforcement case was still open, and they are awaiting the outcome of current planning application before further action.  The site has been referred to the Historic Environment Officer to see if anything else can be undertaken to sort the property out.   There was no action required with regard to the caravan left on site as this was permissible even if the property itself was not occupied. 

317         COUNTY COUNCIL REPORT

Cllr Matthews advised that Alford Windmill’s top had now been removed for repair and the building capped.  He was able to confirm that the windmill will be transferred to Alford Town Council as an asset once repairs had been completed.  LCC had launched its campaign to Fix our Funds to Fix our roads in support of the underfunding of Highways by central government.

318         ANY OTHER MATTERS/NEXT AGENDA

Cllr Morley asked if consideration could be given to a celebratory event in the Parish to mark the Queen’s Jubilee in June 2022.  This item to be added to the next agenda for discussion.  Next Parish Council Meeting to be held on Thursday 3rd March 2022.

             319         CLOSING THE MEETING TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

In accordance with The Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act the Chairman moved to close the meeting to the public and press to consider personnel matters.  It was resolved to close the meeting to the public and visiting Cllrs who left the room.  Following the Clerk’s appraisal, the Chairman and Vice Chairman made salary and training recommendations for the forthcoming year.  These were agreed by Council and will be adopted from 1st April 2022.

310a

    Accounts for payment                                                                              Meeting                   06.01.2022

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 20.20