2018 Meetings

Folkingham Parish Council

MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

held on Thursday 12th July 2018

Item

Action

Welcome & Chair's Remarks   The meeting commenced at 19:30.  The Chairman – Hannah Weston Smith, welcomed those present: FPC Cllrs Richard Clark, Stuart Cameron-Clark, Kevin Edmeads and Phara Hansen were present, along with the clerk (Emma Walken) and 3 members of the public.  PCSO Sandra Brommell was also present.

1. Apologies – Apologies from Cllr King (SKDC) and for a late arrival from Cllr Lucy Robb

2. Declarations - There were no declarations of interest.

3. Public Questions
   1. A member of the public once again raised concerns about speeding traffic on West Street, noting that animals have been injured recently and the dangers present with children playing on the grass area.  Delivery drivers were given as a specific example.  The Chairman responded by reminding everyone present that speed and traffic calming issues are talked about at every Parish Council meeting at that the Parish Council having been making significant efforts to improve speeding in the village but that it takes time to see improvements when it comes to traffic calming measures.  Current efforts include trying to get the speed limit into the village from the direction of Pickworth Road reduced gradually from 60 mph to 40 mph, before the 30mph limit begins near Walcot lane – as can be seen on the approach into Billingborough.  There have also been complaints made to the offending delivery companies.  The Chair also reminded those present that FPC have been trying to get ‘archer strips’ that capture traffic data (including speeds) into the village for some time in order to provide real data to road safety groups and the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.  Last time ‘archer strips’ were used on the A15 section of the village the results showed a low average speed, the FPC would like to see if this is still the case and also to see if the same applies to West Street.
   2. The issue of dog mess on the playing field was once again raised.  It was suggested that a flyer drop throughout the village, reminding residents that all bins can be used for bagged dog waste and also the location of these bins may help. 

5.  Notes of the meeting held on 17th May 2018

The notes of the meeting held on 17th May 2018 were approved, signed by the Chairman as a true record of proceedings and accepted as the minutes.

6.  Matters Arising – updates from previous meetings unless covered by a separate agenda item.

There were no matters arising.

7. Reports from SKDC/LCC/Police

In the absence of Cllrs King or Hill, PCSO Sandra Brommell used this section of the agenda to provide an update from Bourne and Billingborough local Police:

1. PCSO Brommel communicated a new Drink Driving reporting initiative to the FPC.
2. PCSO Drop in sessions are being run at each pop in club and also regularly in the Tea Rooms at Folkingham Store – see posters for details.
3. At the last meeting, PCSO Brommell had been asked to investigate the possibility of making the entire village a ‘no cold calling’ zone.  It was noted that considerable work would be required to make this happen and she explained as follows: 
   1. A PCSO needs to have at least 5 reports of cold calling
   2. An uptake of at least 90% of the village would be required.  A letter to all residents explaining the initiative and requesting a response would need to be circulated. 
   3. A co-ordinator would be required and the initiative would be offered on an ‘opt out’ basis to avoid every resident needing to respond.  Sandra suggested that a Police Cadet may be able to help with the leaflet drop but that we would need to print the leaflets.

The Chair requested that Cllr Edmeads co-ordinate the initiative.

4. There have been reports of a very loud motorbike in the village.  The perpetrator has been given a verbal warning and advised that the bike could be seized if complaints continue.  If residents experience this issue they should call 101 and/or video it.
5. There was an unfortunate incident of a silent 999 call from the phone box in the Market Place at 8:19 one weekday morning.  The caller was, as is the protocol, warned that this is both dangerous and irresponsible.  It had been assumed that the caller may have been a school aged child – however several members of the FPC were able to confirm to the PCSO that as ALL school buses have left the village by this time, it seemed unlikely to be school children.
6. The Chair asked a question about agricultural traffic – several tractors have been seen speeding through the village and there have been reports of drivers of agricultural drivers using their mobile phones.  The Chair noted that whilst there had been a pleasant post on the village Facebook page thanking residents for their understanding and co-operation during busy harvest times, there had also been lots of reports of speeding and use of phones.   On this note, Cllr Richard Clark asked if, given the need for farmers to have to apply to use larger vehicles on public highways, is it possible for the Police to apply a special condition to this.  PCSO Brommell was unsure but agreed to investigate.

8.        Traffic Calming Update

Plans for the village entry gate signs into the village highlighting the 30 mph limit are now complete.  Plans are progressing quickly now that approval has been given to go ahead but there is a 6 week lead time on orders.

Clerk to chase the situation regarding the additional 30 mph signs for the rest of the village. 

Several complaints have been received from residents of Chapel Lane regarding speeding vehicles.  One resident was almost hit by a vehicle as she exited her driveway.  Chair to add this to speed issues log.

PCSO Brommell left the meeting at 19:57.

9.     Playing Field

1. Cllr Robb’s work in securing a community grant to assist in replacing the damaged swing has been successful.  The Chair offered thanks on behalf of the council for the work required to achieve this grant.  The order will be placed shortly and work is expected to be completed by the autumn.
2. The previous query regarding cutting the large hedge running along the field side of the playing field is to be followed up with RWGM.

10.    Grass Cutting

1. Cllr Clark reported that he had made some progress in achieving detailed map coverage of the areas of grass cutting responsibility from SKDC (a freedom of information request had been required!)  Combined with maps from LCC and our own areas of responsibility is helping to ‘fill in the gaps’ and give clarity on who is responsibility for what.  It was also noted that there appeared to be a miscommunication between FPC and RWGM regarding maintenance of the footpath between Churchfields and Wilkie Drive.  It seemed that RWGM believed that they had only been asked to clear the footpath once, rather than adding it to the regular maintenance schedule.  Cllr Clark has corrected this mistake and the footpath will now be regularly mown.
2. The Chair noted that she has now communicated the FPCs decision to cap the contribution to Church grass cutting to 50% of a maximum of 8 cuts per year.  This will be reviewed in the next financial year.

11.   Allotments

Following a complaint from an allotment tenant regarding the erection of a fence using concrete footings, the Terms and Conditions of Allotment Tenancies will be reviewed at the next meeting.

A plot will become available shortly.  Any interested residents should contact the clerk.

12.   Village Green

A new tree is to be planted on the Village Green with the help of a local resident.  Cllr Hansen agreed to offer support with this project.  Prices of a mature tree to be obtained by the next meeting

PH

13.  Summer Events

The Folkingham Fayre is confirmed as Saturday 28th July – to coincide with the New Inn's annual Beer Festival weekend.  The village hall is booked in case of bad weather.

Funds raised will be split between the Millennium Green and Village funds.

14.  Folkingham Flyer

The latest edition is hot off the press and will be distributed throughout the village next week.

Cllr Robb arrived at 20:18

RW/ALL

15.  Planning  Applications received/decisions made by the SKDC planning department are as follows:

No updates at the time of the meeting.

16. Finance

The Clerk provided all councillors with a Financial Summary, including cheques to be presented at the meeting.  All were accepted. 

Following the resignation of Cllr Wright at least one new signatory would be required.  The Clerk repeated her desire to get the banking online to dispense with the need for cheques.

17.  Training Update

The Clerk provided Councillors with an updated list of available LALC training days and reminded them that training days are available from LALC by request.

18.  Correspondence

1. Correspondence has been received from a resident regarding traffic at the south end of the village and also the need to cut the hedge on the millennium green.   The Chair advised that the hedge would be cut shortly by residents and that any help would be gratefully received.
2. Some complaints about bus engines being left running in the mornings whilst waiting for school children had also been received.
3. Temporary auction signs posted on lampposts at the junction of Spring Lane had been reported as causing a visual obstruction when exiting the junction.  This has been removed and residents are reminded that as these unauthorised signs are classed as fly posting, they should be reported to a member of FPC for removal.

19.  Future Meetings

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 20th September at 7.30pm in Folkingham Village Hall. Next scheduled meeting: 15th November 2018

20.  Any Other Business

The Chair requested that the minutes of meetings be circulated within 2 weeks of the meeting and the agenda to be circulated 1 week before.

Cllr Edmeads offered his apologies for the next meeting.

Cllr Cameron Clark noted that £135 was in funds towards the upkeep of the defibrillator and that money had been gained via the Folkingham in Need fund for the purchase of new batteries.  He also shared that if 999 is called for a suspected heart failure within the village, the emergency operators will contact the nearest First Responders but that there had been some issues with caller details.  Cllr Cameron Clark to follow up and also to arrange a new ‘Heart Start’ course to train village residents.

EW

SCC

21.   There being no further business the meeting closed at 20:39