January 2019 Minutes

Fleet Parish Council

Meeting – Monday 21st January 2019

A meeting of Fleet Parish Council was held at the Community Hall, Hargate Close, Fleet Hargate on Monday 21st January 2019 at 7pm which was attended by 6 members of the public and the following Councillors:

Peter Coupland (Chair)
Evelyn Penney
Yolanda Ward
Valery Gemmell
Geoff Donley
Paul Barnes

Prior to the commencement of the meeting a 10 minute public forum was held when the following points were raised by members of the public:

1. Hard standing area at the top of the Playing Field – request made for this to be looked into. Item on the Agenda so agreed to discuss at appropriate juncture.

2. Farmers Market held on a monthly basis– would the PC be amenable to this idea? Hard standing would facilitate.

3. Moles on the Playing Field – would PC consider closing the area for 2 weeks for the problem to be properly addressed. Agreed to discuss under Item 5.

There were no reports from the Police or elected members of Lincolnshire Council and South Holland District Council.

 

MAIN MEETING

1. Apologies for Absence – received from Cllr A Male who was on holiday and Cllrs R & A Dean due to ill health.

2. Declarations of interest - in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011, members were reminded of the need to note any direct interest in Agenda items in the book provided for this purpose and to request dispensation in respects of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests – there were none.

3. Signing of the Minutes – the minutes of the meeting held on 19th November 2018 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

4. Financial Matters
➢ Clerk talked members through the Bank Reconciliation for November & December 2018 and detailed the current balance of £8499.66 after unpresented cheques accounted for.
➢ Payment of invoices to the following were approved:

Hollyoak Landscapes - £576 (gross) – partial dyke clearance @ Playing Field
Michael Tee - £15.30 – compost and plants f or planters at both ends of Old Main Road
SHDC - £99 – hire of community room for PC meetings during 2019

➢ After much discussion and analysis of the Budget figures prepared by the Clerk, it was resolved to increase the Precept by 7.5% to a figure of £22,550 for 2019/20 from £20,775 in 2018/19 to cover estimated expenditure. It was agreed that a Grants fund of £2000 would be earmarked for any organisations that may apply for assistance and that a full schedule of works would be put together and distributed to a minimum of 3 grass cutting contractors to enable quotes to be obtained on a like for like basis for cutting the playing field.

5. To receive reports -

  • Actions List – Clerk went through the current Actions List to provide an update and ascertain which items had been dealt with since the last meeting, resulting in the highlighted items being removed due to completion:
  ISSUE AGREED ACTION DATE ACTION TAKEN DATE ISSUE RECTIFIED
1 Lorries on Hocklesgate Request made for ‘Not suitable for HGV’s’ sign
Highway’s ref:
101000301039
2/8/2018
Cllr Coupland asked to chase – 10/18
Ongoing
2 Playground equipment inspection/replacement Decision required whether to make repairs or purchase replacement items. Further quotes required Ongoing
3 Quotes for dyke clearance on Playing Field Cllr Coupland to arrange. Quotes received – work to be carried out by Hollyoaks Landscapes December 2018 - completed
4 Rowan trees causing trip hazard on Old Main Road Clerk notified Highways Dept ref: 101000278619 11/4/2018
Cllr Coupland asked to chase 10/18
Awaiting action by LCC
5 Overhanging branch, Bensgate Tree completely dead – will require road closure to remove. LCC advised. Highways ref: 101000278626 Confirmation from LCC – work to be undertaken February 2019 February2019
6 War Memorial area – broken fence/blocked culvert Quote required for remedial work to be carried out Quote from T Waters £150 - 2 more quotes to be arranged Ongoing
7 New 30 mph speed sign required on Old Main Road Clerk reported to Highways Dept New sign erected Jan 2019 Completed
8 New information boards at St Mary Magdalene Church and vicinity of Holbeach House Funds received, decision required as to style and detail. Agenda meeting 21/1/19 Ongoing Ongoing
9 Reduction of speed limit on Hallgate/Lowgate New speed initiative available – volunteers required Agenda meeting 21/1/19 to discuss signing up for new initiative and arranging for monitoring officer to visit to enable speed monitoring system to be set up Ongoing
10 Request for new dog bin – Grimwood Close, Fleet Road Clerk to contact SHDC Requested from SHDC 23/08/18 Ongoing
11 Campaign to establish Fleet is not Holbeach Work ongoing by Royal Mail – update received Agenda meeting 21/1/19 for update to be noted Ongoing
12 Request for village sign For discussion and resolution Cost implications required Ongoing
13 Query raised over whereabouts and use of funds from sale of old village hall Query raised at meeting 19/11/18 Clerk provided findings to date; Cllr Donley to pursue. Ongoing
14 Adopt or purchase Cherry Lane play area from SHDC Request made 2017. Further correspondence received from residents. Area being considered as possible building plot – SHDC. Ongoing
15 Uneven block paving on pavement between Cherry Lane & Little Marsh Lane Cllr Coupland to inspect. Work carried out January 2019 Completed
16 Trees at rear of Mayfair Close Parishioner concern raised 17/9/18 Cllr Coupland still investigating – ownership under question 21/1/19. Ongoing
17 Greenfields – resurfacing Cllr Coupland to raise with LCC LCC have agreed to carry out necessary works Ongoing
  •  
  • Playing Field & Pavilion Working Group - Cllr Coupland reported that there had been no problems lately other than another infestation of moles. It was discussed and resolved to arrange for another course of treatment and to ‘close’ the area for 2 weeks while this work was carried out to secure maximum impact. Signs will be erected warning that members of the public ‘Enter at their own risk’; Cllr Coupland to arrange. Quote from D Moore Services to replace pavilion windows to be placed on file pending further quotes.
  • Fleet Christmas Festival, 7/12/18 – Cllr Donley reported that the event was very successful with approx. 270 visitors enjoying the various stalls and entertainment. It is hoped that this can become an annual event and with this in mind a request has been made for a fir tree to be planted to negate this cost year on year. As the event was virtually self-funding (£57 provided from PC funds) there was no need to call on the £250 offered from District Funds which will be rolled over to this year’s event
  • Monthly Councillor surgery - Cllr Donley reported that whilst attendance was low, he still felt the surgeries were beneficial and was happy to continue with them on a monthly basis; next one scheduled for Saturday 2nd February at Holbeach Library.
  • Skate Park fund raising group - Cllr Coupland advised that the group had held another meeting at which approaching the 3 local Wind Farms for funding had been agreed. He pointed out that many funding providers were keen to see community engagement in any potential project and that this was the next area of focus with a press release and leaflet drop being considered.

6. Planning Matters

Cllrs noted the following Planning Applications and decisions received from SHDC since the last meeting and were reminded of the need to submit any comments to Cllr Male in a timely manner:

Applications received since last Meeting:

Date Reference no Type Proposal Location Comments by
4/12/18 H05-1118-18 OUTLINE Erection of 6 dwellings with means of access. Land off Fleet Road Fleet Hargate 4th December 2018
18/12/18 H05-1227-18 Outline Demolition of garage and erection of bungalow Adj. 13 Albion Street Holbeach 11th January 2019
19/12/18 H05-1235-18 FULL Residential development of 9 dwellings (Re-submission of H05-0372-17 Land off Old Main Road Fleet Hargate 12th January 2019
21/12/18 H05-1241-18 FULL Proposed canopy to front elevation and internal alterations 11 Parklands Fleet 14th January 2019
14/01/19 H05-0015-19 Full Proposed alterations IVY HOUSE OLD MAIN ROAD 4th February 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decided Planning Applications by SHDC:

Date Reference Type Development Location Decision
10/12/18 H05-0996-18 CONDITION
COMPLIANCE

Details of external
materials, scheme
to deal with 
contamination,
engineering,
drainage, street
lighting, surface 
water drainage
and Construction
Management
(Conditions 3, 6, 10,
11 and 12 of 
H05-0308-17)

184 Fleet Road
Fleet Hargate
Spalding
Approved
12/12/18 H05-1193-18 NON MAT
AMENDMENT

Proposed rear extension
and alterations - approved
under H05-1006-18.
Amendments to design

8 Cross St
Fleet
Spalding
Approved
2/12/18 H05-0999-18 TPO
Tree
Works
Works to
Fleet Tree
Preservation
Order 005/01/1965.

Land To The East
of Proudfoot Lane
And South of The
Rectory Fleet
Spalding Lincs

Approved
18/12/18 H05-1118-18 OUTLINE Erection of 6 dwellings
with means of access
Land Off
Fleet Road
Fleet Hargate
Spalding
Approved
18/12/18 H05-1168-18 Tree Works
in CON
Works to trees
in Fleet
Conservation Area
Farm Yard:
Manor House
Hall Gate
Fleet
Spalding
Approved
09/01/19 H05-1192-18 Full Proposed solar
panels for
domestic use
The Poplars,
Frostley Gate
Fleet
Approved

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Correspondence - the following items were noted:

  • British Red Cross – free first aid sessions for parish councils. Cllrs agreed that training should be arranged in the Spring; place on Actions List for organisation.
  • University Academy Holbeach – proposal for expansion
  • SHDC – Parish Ward changes. County boundaries were revised in Lincolnshire in 2016 and whilst the Fleet has not changed the names are now Fleet North and Fleet South instead of village and fen wards.
  • LCC – Road closure, Little Marsh Lane between 04/02/19 and 15/02/19 for essential maintenance works.

8. Fleet identity – Clerk advised that following request from Royal Mail, letters of support had been submitted from Rt Hon Sir John Hayes and South Holland District Council. Royal Mail now need to prepare consultation letters for distribution to all affected postcodes and will advise when this is complete. Place on Action List for monitoring purposes.

9. Provide hard standing at top of Playing Field – following the successful Christmas Festival which was held on this area, Cllr Barnes asked members to look into the possibility of making the top of the Playing Field hard standing to allow for parking to ease the congestion on Old Main Road and for other events such as Farmers Markets, Car Boot sales etc to be organised. He also requested permission to use the playing field again for a 2019 Christmas event which was unanimously approved.

Cllr Coupland advised that fear of travellers visiting the site had meant that this not been done before but an adequate barrier should prevent this. It was resolved that Cllrs Coupland, Barnes and R Dean would look at the area to consider what could be done and report back to the next meeting. Agenda next meeting for update

9. Speed watch initiative – Cllr Barnes had attended a meeting for a new Community Speed Watch initiative and Cllrs now needed to resolve whether to participate in the scheme as there were some logistical and financial implications. It was discussed and resolved that the Clerk would contact the organiser of the initiative to find out further details which would be cascaded to members accordingly. Resident asked to attend the next training event on 28th January – Charles Penney – which the Clerk will organise. Agenda next meeting for update.

10. Information Boards – whilst Cllrs Coupland and Ward had made some improvements to the content for the information boards, they advised there was still some work to be done before they were ready for manufacture. Place on Action List for monitoring purposes.

11. Alternative polling station provision – following the distribution of 370 letters to residents living in proximity of the Catholic Church asking for their views on this matter, it was discussed and resolved that as very few parishioners had responded, the current polling station at Hargate Close would be maintained.

12. Date of next meeting: it was noted that the next meeting will be held on 18th March 2019

13. Closed session - it was resolved to go into closed session to discuss the resignation of the Clerk and agree an interview panel to appoint her successor.