Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2016 (copy enclosed). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

Barrier Bank

Roger Perkins requested an update on Barrier Bank and the closed footpath along Barrier Bank.  Councillor Drury advised that he had contacted Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership in relation to this closure, and was awaiting confirmation of a site visit with an officer.  Councillor Drury noted that he had also been in contact with the local MP, Rt.  Hon John Hayes, regarding the matter.   It was hoped that if no budget could be found to make necessary improvements to the footpath, then a reduction on the speed limit could be enforced.  Members of the Forum requested an update at the next meeting. 

AGREED:

(a)       That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2016, be agreed as a        correct record;

(b)       That Councillor Drury provide an update on the closed footpath along        Barrier Bank, at the next meeting.

Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain ad a result of a grant of dispensation.

There were none.

Geoff Taylor (Chain Bridge Forge) is to be in attendance to discuss plans for the commercialisation of Spalding’s Chain Bridge Forge. 

The Chairman introduced Geoff Taylor of Chain Bridge Forge to the Forum.  The Chairman had invited Geoff to speak to The Forum, and provide a presentation about the work of Chain Bridge Forge, a working forge and museum which was situated along the River Welland within Spalding.

Members were provided with a presentation showing the work of the Forge, and the engagement that they had within the Community.  The Forge was an accredited Museum which was established with the aide of Lottery Funding, and relied on volunteers from the community to support it work.  The Forge was lucky enough to have a qualified Blacksmith who provided work shops for visitors and school children.  It was hoped that the Forge, in order to be a more sustainable Museum hoped to become more commercial.  Due to being able to provide a service which was no longer widely available they could in the future start to receive an income for goods produced. 

Members of the Forum thanked Geoff for the presentation and wished him and the Forge luck for the future. 

(Geoff Taylor (Chain Bridge Forge) and Trudy Shepherd (Lincs CVS) left the meeting at 7.26p.m. after consideration of the above item). 

To receive the response from the Forum's written request for information on antisocial behaviour, and to note the recommendations made. 

The Chairman provided the Forum with an overview of the response he had received from Inspector Jo Reeves, Lincolnshire Police, in relation to a letter he had sent posing several questions relating to issues in Spalding. 

Members of the Forum agreed that whilst this information was useful it would be beneficial to invite Inspector Reeves to a future meeting, so that questions could be posed, and hopefully answered. 

Councillor Taylor advised that, as Portfolio Holder for Communities and Facilities, he had been in contact with Inspector Reeves, and she had advised that she would attend any meetings that were relevant to the work of the Police.  Members were reminded that Inspector Reeves had recently attended a South Holland District Council meeting of the Performance Monitoring Panel, which had proved for useful to members of the District Council.

Members agreed that there were many areas of Spalding that caused concern for local residents and it would prove useful for ward members to be able to discuss these at a meeting with Inspector Reeves.  The Chairman proposed that she be invited to a future meeting, and to aide the Inspector, questions be posed prior to the meeting, so any relevant figures etc. could be gathered. 

AGREED:

(a)       That the Chairman invite Inspector J Reeves to a future meeting of the      Spalding Town Forum; and

(b)       That members of the Spalding Town Forum provide, to the Democratic       Services Officer, questions which they wished to pose, and that these be passed on to Inspector Reeves, prior to the meeting. 

The Vice Chairman (Councillor George Aley) would like to discuss with the Forum  issues surrounding traffic management in Spalding. 

The Vice Chairman, Councillor George Aley, had requested that members discuss the on going issues with Traffic Management within Spalding. 

Councillor Aley had looked back over Spalding Town Forum records and had found that Traffic Management had been an ongoing issues since 2010.  There had been various meetings, and responses from Lincolnshire County Council since that time. 

Members agreed that as they felt there had been no significant improvement to traffic management that a senior highways office, from Lincolnshire County Council should be invited to a future meeting to discuss the various concerns and to provide an update on the Spalding Transport Strategy.

AGREED:

That a senior Lincolnshire County Council Highways Officer be invited to a future meeting, to receive an update on the Spalding Transport Strategy, and for members to raise concerns in relation to the management of traffic in Spalding. 

To discuss concerns for pedestrian safety around the bus station.  

Members raised many concerns that they had over the safety of the Bus Station in Spalding.  Councillor Lawton advised that Compass Point Business Services (East Coast) Ltd, on behalf of South Holland District Council, had performed a safety assessment of the bus station, and to look at what improvements could potentially be made. 

Following this review the Environmental Services and Asset Manager, South Holland District Council,  had informed members that it was proposed that clear identification markings would be painted around the bus station, and that barriers were to be placed in order to prevent pedestrians from crossing at unsafe locations.  It was hoped that an update on potential works would be provided at a later date. 

(Councillor Angela Newton left the meeting at 8.06p.m., after consideration of the above item).

Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum

A public meeting of the Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum was to be held on 22 September 2016, at 7.30pm. at the SHDC Council Offices.  Members of the Forum were encouraged to attend. 

A clean up and litter pick at Spading Train Station had been planned for Saturday 25 September, at 3.00p.m.  Volunteers form local groups and organisations were going to come together a clean up the trains station. It was hoped that members of the Spalding Town Form would also come along and participate. 

Lincolnshire County Councillor attendance

The Chairman reminded members that it had been agreed at a previous meeting that County Councillors, whose areas covered Spalding, be invited to meetings as advisory members.   Councillor Richard Fairman thanked the Forum for the invitation and hoped to attend future meetings. 

The next meeting of the Spalding Town Forum is scheduled to take place on 14 December 2016, in Meeting Room 1 commencing at 6.30p.m. 

The next meeting of Spalding Town Forum was scheduled to take place on 14 December 2016, at 6.30p.m.