Minutes 2025

Present:                       Cllr Lucy Robb, Cllr Martin Smith, Cllr Robert Broadbent

Also Present:               Nicky Bush (Clerk), Cllr Martin Hill (LCC)

Public Forum:              6 members of the public        

Public Forum 

A resident, who has recently started to use a mobility scooter raised concerns around the condition of some of the pavements as in places he had to use the road.  He has volunteered to make a list of the areas of concern and look at all of the pavements in the village.

Meeting started 7.00 pm

25/234 Chair’s remarks.

Cllr MS welcomed everyone and thanked residents for attending. He confirmed that he has received a letter of resignation for Cllr Anne Booth

25/235 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

Hannan Weston Smith gave apologies. It was resolved to accept the apologies.

25/236 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

Cllr MS planning application S25/0208

25/237 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 16-01-25 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

It was resolved to accept the above notes as minutes.They were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

25/238 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 20.03.25.

The clerk confirmed that the LALC invoice for 264.26 has now been received and is due for payment on 6/4/25.  A transfer of £500 will be needed to cover the outstanding balances

Bank Balances

Lloyds Treasurers account     £      859.08

Lloyds Savings account            £11,554.25

Natwest account                      £   1,000.00

It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment including the payment to LALC in April 25 and make the transfer of monies from the savings account. 

The actual expenditure was reviewed against the budget for the year, income is £15669.14, 16% above the budget due to the increase in allotment rent.  Expenditure is £21,938.87, 59% over budget due to ringfenced monies used for the playground equipment repairs, tree maintenance and pavilion transfer and testing. Also funds from the general reserve for the installation of the street light.

LALC have not yet arranged the audit, it was resolved that the clerk would chase this.

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments, transfer funds and chase LALC regarding the audit

25/239 Planning:

S25/0208 – Reinstate wrought iron railing, The Greyhound House, 39 Market Place

No comments or concerns

S25/0448 – Washdyke Farm – Discharge of conditions

This is just discharge of conditions and there are no comments or concerns

Action: Clerk to pass comments onto the planning dept

25/240 Correspondence

The clerk reported that she has received an email from a resident regarding overgrown hedges preventing an oil delivery to be made.  It was resolved that Cllr MS would identify exactly which properties they belong to and that the clerk will write to the residents asking them to be cut back

Action: Clerk to write to residents with regards to cutting back the hedges.

25/241 Clerks report.

No response has yet been received from Cllr Turner regarding the phone box.  It was resolved that the clerk would follow this up

Action: Clerk to follow up on the phone box funding

25/242 Updates from LCC/SKDC

Cllr M Hill confirmed that the resurfacing work on the main road has been put back while they assess options following our request for an island in the middle to increase safety.  It may be that they offer to narrow the road to make it safer to cross.

He also discussed the up and coming elections and that under the new Greater Lincolnshire structure the government will be looking to create a combined authority and abolish the separate County and District councils.  This will not be until at least 2027 and there are 2 options being put forward to the government.

With regards to flooding the section 31 reports have now come in with the results that the water came from fields behind the property.  It was asked if the pipe could be longer to move the water further away or have a bigger bore.  Since the Billingborough Road flood some work has been done in the fields to see if that will help going forward.

Action: Clerk to email Cllr MT with details of the grant request.

25/243  Pavilion/CCTV –

Cllr LR confirmed that the pavilion needs cleaning, and that fresh graffiti has appeared.  It was resolved that a working party would be arranged to get the Pavilion ready for use, asking residents to assist.

25/244 Playing field/Allotments

Funding for the playing area that was hoped for is now on hold as funding must be linked to Christian nature. Options for alternative funding will be monitored.  Allotment 7 has changed hands, there are now 9 on the waiting list.  The question of whether more allotments could be provided was discussed.  As there has been opposition to this in the past is was resolved that it would added to the agenda for the Annual Parish meeting in May.

Action: Clerk to monitor for funding and add additional allotments to the agenda for the Annual Parish meeting.

25/245 Neighbourhood plan

Cllr M Smith confirmed that he is struggling to get volunteers to support with this.  The application now needs to go in.

Action: Presentation at Annual Parish meeting.

25/246 Flooding in the village/emergency plan

The clerk outlined that the emergency plan template has now been received.  The plan is not a published plan as it will contain personal details, but will be held by the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum and be used in the event of an emergency.  Details and information need to be gathered from the village/residents such as areas of risk, vulnerable residents that might need assistance in an emergency, emergency safety locations, volunteers who may be able to help and support those affected.  It was resolved that this would be part of the Annual Parish meeting to engage residents who may be willing to help in an emergency.

Action: Clerk to add to the agenda for the Annual Parish meeting.

25/247 VE Day 80 celebrations

Aveland History group have offered cut outs to be displayed in the village.  Harris fencing would be required.  A resident confirmed that there would be a concert in the village hall on the Tuesday.  It was resolved that Cllr MS would contact the organiser to see if some could be placed around the village hall and then an advert placed on facebook to see if any business have any fencing that could be borrowed.

Action: Cllr MS to co-ordinate with the concert organiser and then a request to borrow Harris fencing will be placed on the local facebook page.

25/248 Promotion of the Parish activities

Cllr MS suggested a banner be purchased to advertise the Annual Parish meeting so that residents understand it is a meeting for them rather than the Parish Council and for them to engage in what they want for the village.  It was resolved that a banner would be bought.

The Clerk has now been accepted on the Folkingham Friends group so that she is able to post information for residents that do not follow the Parish Council page.  In addition, Cllr MS has created a facebook page, Love Folkingham, which he will publish information about the village and any events that might be of interest to the residents with the hope to gain more community engagement.

Action: Cllr MS to purchase a banner.

25/249 Tree review – update on works

The clerk confirmed that there are still eight trees on the list that still need to be removed.  It was resolved that the clerk would obtain a quote for these to be removed.  A resident asked if the list could be published so that residents could have sight of it.  It was resolved that the clerk would update the list to show which have been removed and then publish on the website.

Action: Clerk to request quote from Charrington trees and update and upload the tree report.

25/250 Other village matters.

None

Action: None

25/251  Date of next meeting:

                20 May 2025 7.00 pm

To resolve on whether the Council will move into closed session to consider the following two confidential staffing and legal matters in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

It was resolved to go into a closed session and the public left the meeting

25/252  Grass Cutting Tender

The clerk confirmed that the only tender she has received is from the current grass cutter.  The tender was reviewed and accepted

Action: Clerk to notify grass cutter

25/253   Co-option of Councillor

Christopher Clark was co-opted as a Councillor and completed the necessary paperwork.

Action: Clerk to notify SKDC

Meeting Closed 9.15 pm

Signed:                                                                                       (In the chair)