Fosdyke Parish Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting for Fosdyke Parish Council

Meeting Details

• Date: May 6, 2025

• Time: 7.37 PM

• Location: Fo

• sdyke Village Hall

Attendees

• Cllr J Cropley - Chairman

• Cllr C Cropley

• Cllr K Gratton - Vice Chair

• Cllr M Houssain

• Cllr A Mowton

• Mrs B Gratton - Parish Clerk

Present

• 6 Members of the Public including Councillor Cantwell and Mr. S Garraway from Quickline

25/01ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON FOR 2025-2026

Cllr John Cropley was nominated for Chairman by Cllr Gratton and seconded by Cllr Houssain. Cllr J Cropley accepted the post.

25/02 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRPERSON 2025-2026

Proposed by Cllr Houssain and seconded by Cllr Cropley. Cllr Gratton accepted the position of Vice Chair.

25/03 FOSDYKE PARSIH COUNCIL CLERK REPORT

 Mrs. B. Gratton for the Year 2024-2025

Introduction

• The year 2024-2025 has been a positive and eventful one for the Fosdyke Parish Council. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Chairman and the councillors for their unwavering support in the smooth running of the Village.

• Challenges and Changes

• This year has presented its share of challenges, primarily due to significant changes in the working practices of the Fosdyke Parish Council. We have successfully transitioned to using Scribe Accounts and have embraced Online Banking. Additionally, we have established a payroll system and organized training sessions for our councillors.

• Improvements and Developments

• There have been notable improvements in our community. The anti-social behaviour that plagued us last year has ceased. We have also strengthened our team with the addition of an Administration Assistant, putting us in a strong position to be an effective and successful council.

• Achievements

• One of our proudest achievements this year is the successful completion of our second audit with Lalc, where we received an all-green assessment.

• Conclusion

• Overall, it has been a transformative year for the Fosdyke Parish Council. With continued dedication and support from the entire team, we are well-positioned to achieve even greater success in the future.

• ________________________________________

25/04 UPGRADING BROADBAND IN THE VILLAGE TO FIBRE OPTIC 

Presentation to Fosdyke Parish Council regarding Fibre Optic Broadband Upgrade

Presented by: Mr. Sam Garraway

• Mr. Garraway provided an overview of a proposal to upgrade the village to Fibre Optic Broadband. He highlighted that the village green in front of the Village Hall has been identified as the optimum location for the installation of the necessary infrastructure.

• The proposed broadband cabinet can be customised to ensure it remains in keeping with the aesthetics of the village. All works will be carried out with minimal disruption, and residents will be informed and updated throughout the process.

• It was confirmed that no machinery-related work will take place after 10:00 pm, and all relevant planning permissions will be submitted to Boston Borough Council prior to commencement.

25/05 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011   

There were no declarations of interest.

25/06 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None were received

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 4TH OF MARCH 2025 TO BE APPROVED AND SIGNED BY THE CHAIRMAN.

They were signed as a true copy. Proposed by Cllr Gratton seconded by Cllr C Cropley.

25/07 CORRESPONDENCE

The clerk read out the following list:

Ongoing Various Emails Outer Dowsing 

11/03/2025 Emails Neighbourhood Policing Survey

Ongoing various Emails Public Sector Executive

11/03/2025 Emails Volunteer poster

Ongoing Emails Ossian

11/03/2025 Emails Malc Firth 

11/03/2025 Email Ossain Planning

11/03/2025 E news Lalc

11/03/2025 Email Parish Council Liaison Meeting

11/03/2025 Email Have your say on the draft public rights of way improvement plan 

13/03/2025 Email Price Increase

16/03/2026 Advice need about Allotments/farm holdings

25/03/2025 PKF LittleJohn AGAR : LI0129 Fosdyke Parish Council – 2024/25 AGAR external auditor instructions

09/04/2025 Email Notice of Election

09/04/2025 Email Tractor incident bell lane

17/04/2025 Email LI0129 PKF little john

17/04/2025 Email Notification of temporary traffic regulation Order - Fosdyke TTR011539

17/04/2025 Email Asda Foundation £20,000 for local community spaces

17/04/2025 Email Your Zurich policy documents

The clerk read out the response from a business owner to the residents in relation to agricultural traffic in the Village:

Notice to Residents of Bell Lane Fosdyke:

We want to reassure residents that the large agricultural machinery that occasionally uses the residential street, Bell Lane Fosdyke was proceeding with care and caution.

We have investigated a potential incident of fast driving through Bell Lane in one of our vehicles. This information was reported to us in an email from Fosdyke Parish Council. We take these complaints very seriously and we have spoken to our drivers about moderating speeds as these vehicles are large. The table below shows our reflects our drivers’ intentions.

Priority Driver Actions

Safety Taking all necessary precautions to ensure minimal disruption

Going forwards we would like to assure residents that we do take these matters very seriously and our T.O.M Musson Drivers have been asked to adhere to several key actions to ensure the safety and comfort of residents in the area. These actions include taking all necessary precautions to ensure minimal disruption and driving with care and caution. They will:

• Maintain a moderate speed to control the vehicle effectively.

• Use signals properly to indicate turns or stops to other road users.

• Keep a safe distance from other vehicles to prevent collisions.

• Be vigilant of pedestrians and cyclists, giving them right of way when necessary.

• Ensure the vehicle is well-maintained to avoid mechanical failures.

• Drive especially carefully in residential areas to minimize noise and disruption.

• Follow all traffic laws and regulations to ensure everyone's safety.

We are asking residents to:

Residents are also reminded to exercise respect and consideration for large farm machinery when encountered on the road. These vehicles are indispensable for agricultural operations and may operate at slower speeds than other traffic. To ensure safety for all:

• Allow ample space for large machinery, as these vehicles may require wide turns or sudden stops.

• Exercise patience and refrain from overtaking unless it is safe and legal to do so.

• Be aware that operators may have limited visibility and may not easily see smaller vehicles or pedestrians.

• Recognize that farm machinery often travels on rural roads where space is limited, and passing can pose significant danger.

• Adhere to posted signs and stay informed of any temporary road closures or diversions due to agricultural activities.

By fostering mutual respect and cooperation, we can ensure the safety and well-being of both residents and farm workers. This collaborative approach not only minimizes disruptions but also cultivates a community spirit rooted in understanding and respect.

25/06 FINANCE- ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIL INFORMATION

25/07 SOCIAL MEDIA

Councillor Houssain reported that we had received 1,050 views, but no new followers have been added.

25/08 INSURANCE RENEWAL FOR THE YEAR 2025 2026

Two quotes were obtained for the insurance renewal for the year 2025-2026. The current insurer, Zurich, provided a quote for £257.87. Another quote was obtained from Clear Councils for £720.30. The council has agreed to proceed with the insurance provided by Zurich.

25/09 ON LINE BANKING

Fosdyke Parish Council is now banking online.

25/10 INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS COMMISSION

 Fees for Fosdyke Parish Council

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has sent Fosdyke Parish Council fees amounting to £2,084.28. These fees are due to administration charges incurred because of follow-up requests for Fosdyke Parish Council to submit an AGAR return or a certificate of exemption, as appropriate, for the year ending 31 March 2024.

25/11 COUNCILLOR REFESHER TRAINING 

All councillors have been invited to attend a 3-hour training session online on the 8th May 2025.

25/12 ALLOTMENTS

This was deeply debated this evening form all angles and viewpoints. After a long discussion, and a definition from Mr Glenn about Allotments. It has been voted that Fosdyke Parish Council will keep the Allotments.

The tenants will have a rent increase from April 2026 of 20%.

The clerk as not yet invoiced the tenants until this meeting; invoices will now be sent out.

25/13 Outstanding Highways Monies

The Clerk reported that thanks to a resident raising the issue the monies owing to Fosdyke Parish Council from Lincolnshire Highways has now been settled to the sum of £753.89. 

25/14 Tribute Seat to Mr. Ulyatt

The Ulyatt family would like to offer the village a recycled wood effect bench in memory of the late Mr. Peter Ulyatt, who was a member of the local Council and a local farmer. This bench will replace Geoff Yates' seat, which is now beyond repair.

Proposed: Cllr Gratton

Seconded: Cllr Mowton

25/15 PUBLIC RIGHT OF INSPECTION NOTICE

The clerk said a date for the public inspection of the accounts, but this was challenged as incorrect by a member of the public, the Clerk said that the Agar will be completed next week and that the public right of inspection notice will be on the website and noticeboard and social media. More information is to follow.

NEXT MEETING - Tuesday 1st July 2025 in Fosdyke village Hall.

Meeting closed at 9 pm.