March 2024 Minutes
FILLINGHAM PARISH MEETING MINUTES
4 March 2024
ATTENDANCE
Present: Margaret O’Grady (Chair), Peter O’Grady (Vice Chair), Judith Russell (Clerk), Glenn Cargill RFO, Cllr R Butroid
In Attendance: Six Parishioners
Apologies: Cllr Patterson, Mr T Jois
1. WELCOME
The Chair welcomed people to the meeting and took apologies.
2. NOTICE OF INTEREST
None Reported
3. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record.
4. MATTERS ARISING NOT ON THE AGENDA
Drainage and Floods – Still issues to be addressed. These are being monitored and pursued by the Chair.
Playground – The annual inspection report highlighted damage to the rubber matting under the swing. Replacement cost to supply and install this is quoted at £488.40. It was agreed to go with a professional installer and the quote was accepted. The order will now be placed. Glenn raised the issue of ongoing maintenance of the playground, and it was agreed that £100 p.a. should be set aside.
Street Lights – The street light 003 Rectory Lea which would not turn off at night has now been fixed.
Road sweeper – Several emails have been sent to no avail. This will be chased up.
5 REPORTS
5a. Finance Report
Glenn (RFO) reported the following:
• The bank account is in a healthy state.
• Village Hall - outgoings for February the utilities were £241. The outstanding refund is still being chased. The fire tests and Pat testing are all completed and a grant for £4,000 to replace the boiler has been offered from WL. With the funds already allocated in the budget we have the full costs and it was agreed that we should go ahead with the purchase and installation when the grant is received. There was a discussion about investing in HIVE or NEST software so the heating can be controlled from a distance. The question of installing broadband in the village hall was raised and it was agreed to go ahead.
6. CORRESPONDENCE
Information was received from William Rose, that 9 Willingham Road is to have some work carried out on it, including the extension of the driveway. All permissions have now been received and these allow for the removal of part of the hedge to allow for the work. The hedge will be relocated but re-instated on completion of the work.
7. PARISH, DISTRICT, COUNTY MATTERS
7a. Parish Matters.
Solar – Gate Burton and Cottam will be under examination from 5 March. These are with the Examining Authority before the scheme goes to the Secretary of State. The 7,000 Acres group will be there throughout. West Burton Scheme consultation finished on the 1 March. Research has identified that so far only one scheme on the same scales as the local ones here has been approved and that is near London. Another similarly sized one near Newmarket has been delayed. It was pointed out that panels on 2 million house roofs would achieve the same generation power as these local schemes.
7b District Matters
Scampton – Cllr Butroid updated the meeting. He reported that it is unclear where negotiation are at, with a possible revision of some elements of the proposed housing of refugees/asylum seekers. Legal challenges are ongoing.
8. AOB
Speed signs - some new ones have become available and a review of the placing of signs will take place. Cllr Butroid reported that there is a review of the Highways speed policy as there are significant inconsistencies.
Through traffic - The significant increase in the number of horse boxes going through the village was raised. This is creating problems as there are difficulties of passing other vehicles on Willingham Road as the grass verges are becoming very waterlogged and vehicles getting stuck is becoming a problem. (Large lorry stuck at Willingham end recently and required a tow truck). The installation of passing places would help to alleviate the problem. Margaret O’Grady to write to LCC Highways to make them aware of the issue.
Drains – Parishioners Gary Whitley, Margaret O’Grady and Andrew Sutcliffe were thanked for their hard work on clearing the ditches and drains on High Street and Willingham Road. Job logged as completed on Feb 6th. Cllr Butroid reported that £4 million is set aside for flood relief. Following an investigation so remedial work can be prioritised. The question of longer-term plans was raised, and the meeting was informed that a meeting of the LCC subcommittee will be convened with the Environment Agency, Anglian Water and the Internal Drainage Board.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Due to Bank Holidays the next Parish meeting will be on Monday 8 April at 7.30pm and the May (AGM) meeting will be on the 13 May for the same reason.