February 2019 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes from the monthly meeting of North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 25th February 2019 At 7.00 pm in the Luke Walmsley Pavilion
There were 2 members of the public present and the Chairman welcomed everyone to the public session and commenced the public session at 7 pm
Public Session
a. Any Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda
i. Dog Waste Bin on Church Lane (Saltfleet) – following discussion with the 2 members of the public present they departed the meeting to raise the matter with the appropriate council.
ii. Amount of Dog mess on Willerton Rd and Elsewhere – the Clerk noted that ELDC have recruited additional staff to undertake patrols of problem areas and she would be speaking to them shortly.
iii. Complaint regarding aggressive/out of control dogs – the Clerk noted that she has received several complaints from people using the playing field and the Warren who have been upset by the behaviour of an individual who is allegedly failing to control her dogs, which are not on a lead and have been behaving aggressively towards other dogs. The Clerk has raised this with PCSO Ian Porter and will provide him with further details of the alleged incidents, and in the meantime he has provided a notice which can be put on the gate by the Pavilion if acceptable to the Playing Fields Association.
iv. State of the Road to the Pavilion – a number of comments have been made about the state of the roadway, especially after rain and in the dark when t is difficult to walk along because of the unevenness and puddles.
b. District Councillor/County Councillor McNally update on District Council and County Council Matters
i. LCC walkabout – Cllr McNally has spoken to Dean Myhill at LCC – the Gulleys and drains should be done next month and the scattered chippings outside the Bay Horse will be dealt with. Resurfacing/top dressing will be done on Pear Tree Lane and at Scupholme which should fill and cover the cracks caused by drought.
ii. LCC budget has been set, a 5% increase on last year’s; district budget to be agreed next Wednesday, the highways weed spraying and the verge cutting will be increased from 2 to 3 times per annum. In addition there are 4 new pot hole teams.
The Chairman closed the public session and opened the monthly meeting.
Monthly Meeting
25/2/19-1 a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks (Chairman) Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr Zoe Dowson, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Danny McNally, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Paul Walmsley (from 7.17pm), Sheila Pearce – Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer. b. Apologies for Absence – it was RESOLVED to accept councillor absence/reasons given for Cllrs Martine Hopper and Ros Webster.
25/2/19-2 Declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest on any item on the agenda in accordance with the Localism Act and the Council’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders – Cllr McNally declared an interest in all planning members as a member of ELDC Planning Committee and signed the book at 7.18pm
25/2/19-3 Minutes of 28th January 2019 Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt the notes as accurate minutes and the Chairman signed and dated them.
25/2/19-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – the Clerk reporting on the following for information only
a. Coastal Path – responses from RAF and Natural England have been received – see item 7b
b. Chapel Fields – a request for Community land trust steering group members has been put in the Communication Magazine, and the meeting with LRHA was held on 22 February – see item 11a
c. Cemetery Actions –an offer has been received for the mower – see item 8cii below, Quinquennial inspection – unavoidably delayed but should be done before the end of March, M&M Grantham Services confirmed as the successor organisation for grounds maintenance
d. War Memorial – letter replacement outstanding
e. Anglian Water – still waiting for an explanation as to why the meter has been changed for the Toilets and how it can be read/checked
f. oil scheme - c 27,000 + litres at 45.7p per litre
g. St Marys Trees redundant section – the Clerk has been to St Marys to look at the TPO trees in the redundant section that are said to require work – see 8ci below.
25/2/19-5 To receive reports from Councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Dowson – the Stolen Fridays event raised £1,400 and the Easter Raffle will take place on 12 April at the Axe and Cleaver.
b. Police Panel/Speedwatch – Cllr Newman – meeting with the Chief Superintendent on Wednesday, notes from the meeting will be circulated
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – nothing to report
d. Village Hall Committee – nothing to report
e. DTE Wildlife Group/Seal Season Meeting – Cllr Newman/Clerk – Minutes from the Seal Season Meeting have been circulated; generally felt that the Traffic Management worked very well. ELDC have been asked to assist with litter management at Stonebridge for next year, highways signs to be left up to encourage one-way system to continue when Traffic Management not operating, though the road widening may have been done by then which will help. Lack of sign ‘to the Sea’ still an issue, with visitors going to RAF Donna Nook instead of Stonebridge.
25/2/19-6 Planning - To consider any Planning applications received and RESOLVE the way forward on these and other Planning matters
a. N/132/00233/19 - GLENGARTH, CHURCHILL ROAD - Extension to existing bungalow to provide 2no. additional ground floor bedrooms, bathroom and lounge on the site of an existing sun room which is to be demolished. Following discussion it was RESOLVED to support the application.
b. TPO Application – Warren Studio – carried forward to next meeting
c. Any other Planning matters/applications
i. TPO St Marys Redundant Churchyard - the Clerk confirmed that Guy Bishell has examined the trees including the decaying Chestnut and permission to deal with the tree as a matter of priority had been requested. Following discussion it was RESOLVED to support the application and ask for a swift response given the potential risk/liability.
ii. N/132/00252/19 - The Paddocks Willerton Rd - Extension and alterations to existing bungalow to provide a car port and erection of a hot tub canopy/hoist. Following discussion it was RESOLVED to support the application.
25/2/19-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting – to discuss/RESOLVE the way forward on relevant Highways issues
a. verbal update on problems following walkabout with LCC on 29 January 2019 – County Cllr McNally updated on progression with the various issues.
b. Coastal Path – the reply from Natural England had been circulated and their approach was still thought to be very disappointing given the potential waste of resources and public money that would be expended by progressing with nomination of the proposed buckthorn route, when there was no legitimate reason not to use the historic walked path which is outside the Range Danger Area, and has been safely in use by the public – both locals and visitors/coastal walkers - for c.50 years. The .gov website for Lincolnshire’s Nature Reserves (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lincolnshires-national-nature-reserves/lincolnshires-national-nature-reserves ) also states: “Safety: The Ministry of Defence still maintains part of the area as a bombing target range and under no circumstances should anyone enter the bombing area when red flags are flying. However, most of the dune area is accessible at all times.” In addition the Lincs Wildlife Trust’s own website also states quite clearly that “Visitors should be aware that the Ministry of Defence still maintains part of the area as a bombing target range and under no circumstances should anyone enter the bombing area when red flags are flying. However, most of the dune area is accessible at all times.”. The Clerk will be consulting with the Barrister and collating the additional historic papers, which detail the continued footpath and beach usage, in preparation for a meeting with the RAF set for 14th March 2pm – the Chairman or Vice Chairman and the Clerk will be attending on behalf of the Parish Council together with the landowners. In the meantime evidence of historic footpath usage is also being collated from various sources, which includes 1.25 million seal season visitors between 1995 and 2018 alone.
c. Donna Nook Seal Season Meeting – the minutes from 12 Feb 2019 have been circulated; feedback indicates that the new traffic and car parking arrangements worked well last year, and if the one way and other signs can be left up at other times, this would also be helpful. The Clerk has asked ELDC what assistance they can provide next season with litter bins and collections from Stonebridge, particularly since the District and County Councils are promoting the area to visitors.
25/2/19-8 Finance
a) the bank reconciliation for February 2019 was received, checked and signed by the Chairman.
b) The payments and receipts schedule for February was inspected and it was RESOLVED to approve and sign the cheques.
c) any urgent/other Financial matters
i. Quote for works to St Mary’s Chestnut Tree – it was RESOLVED to approve the works for the sum of £350
ii. Sales of Cemetery Mower – it was RESOLVED to accept the offer of £1350 for the Ride on Mower
25/2/19-9 To receive/note general Correspondence for February, Website Updates and Communication
Items were circulated for information where not already done so.
25/2/19-10 To note/agree items for Discussion/inclusion at next meeting – Monday 25th March 2019 at 7pm
- Chapel Fields Housing Development
- Coastal Footpath
- Quinquennial Inspection
- Sale of Mower
- St Mary’s Tree works (Redundant Section)
- Year-End out-turn versus Budget & Audit
- Asset list Update and Notional Reserve position
- Risk Management Review, Standing orders, Code of conduct and Financial Rules
25/2/19-11 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED to move into closed session by reason of the confidential property matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public present in the meeting at this point.
a. Chapel Field Housing Development –the Clerk updated councillors on discussions with LRHA in accordance with the financial parameters RESOLVED at the January meeting. She would now be speaking with the Solicitor to see if he was still available to act for the Parish Council/Community Land Trust (CLT), and with the East Midlands Community Led Housing Trust regarding support for setting up the North Somercotes CLT. An advert has been placed in the Communication magazine for other members to join the Working Group, and LRHA are organising a meeting with ELDC to ascertain funding availability. A copy of the recently obtained land valuation will be provided to the LRHA, and the Open Reach paperwork for the Telegraph Pole relocation will be shared with them also. Funding for setting up the CLT is also being looked into, as this will eventually be a separate organisation to the Parish Council with its own separate legal identity, management and financial arrangements.