October 2019 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting of North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 28th October 2019
There were no members of the public present for the public session. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and started the public session at 7.00pm
Public Session
a. Any Policing Update - none
b. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda
i. Coastal Path - queries had been raised by two members of the public regarding what was happening with the coastal path proposals and the Clerk would provide an update following discussion of agenda items5b.
c. District & County Cllr McNally/District Cllr Paul Ricketts – no updates
d. Broadband Meeting – MP Victoria Atkins will be holding a Broadband meeting on 9th Nov if anyone wishes to attend or provide comments. Its was noted that there are still problems with access to reliable broadband in outlying areas of the parish such as Marsh Lane. The Clerk will pass this observation on.
The Chairman closed the public session and opened the Monthly meeting at 7.10pm
Monthly Meeting
28/10/19-1 a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks (Chairman), Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr David Wallis, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Mrs Sheila Pearce - Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
b. Apologies for Absence – it was RESOLVED to accept Councillor McNally’s absence for the reasons given.
c. Lincolnshire Association of Local Councillors – Star Awards – the Chairman and other Councillors took the opportunity to congratulate Cllr Newman on her success in achieving Councillor of the Year in recognition of her contribution and efforts on behalf of our community.
28/10/19-2
a. 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 – none.
b. Dispensations – it was RESOLVED to confirm the Dispensations for both discussion and voting in respect of the Coastal Path for Cllrs Kennedy and Arundel and they were signed accordingly.
28/10/19-3 Minutes of 30th September 2019 Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes.
28/10/19-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only
a. Chapel Fields – see agenda item 14a
b. Coastal Path – see Agenda item 5b
c. Cemetery Actions – immediate actions to be looked at and longer term issues to be discussed in the spring
d. Crime Prevention – see agenda item 14b
e. Councillor Training – evening session at North Somercotes Village Hall on 20 November – Cllrs confirmed who was attending.
f. Co-option to two councillor vacancies – one potential applicant to take forward
g. Emergency Planning Working Group Meeting – to be arranged
h. Annual Parish Meeting – suggestions for Community Awards and Ceremony at the Annual Parish Meeting – see agenda item 8
i. Clerk’s Appraisal – to be arranged
j. Bottle Bank – expectation is that they will be moved from the Bay Horse to the Co-op car park area.
28/10/19-5 Highways, Paths and Lighting – to discuss/resolve the way forward on relevant Highways issues
a. verbal update on problem log - no additional items.
b. English Coastal Path (ECP) – to Clerk updated councillors on the latest proposals from Natural England (NE) which had been circulated. Following discussion of the proposals councillors:
- Agreed that the proposed fencing options to north and south in the buckthorn were not supported and were felt to be a waste of money and unnecessary disturbance to habitat; it was preferable to keep visitors away from the seals altogether on the southern stretch during seal season
- Agreed that the field track from the sea bank to the bottom of Ark Rd (Red Farm Route) would provide the most direct option
- Agreed that it was not acceptable to have the official ECP route in the buckthorn – the official route should be along the historic walked beach path, with the potential seasonal alternative being the track from the Pullover on the bank to the bottom of Ark Rd.
- Agreed that If NE/DIO did not propose to have the historic walked beach route as the official ECP then the Council would need to reactivate the Public Right of Way (PROW) Claim which has already been discussed with the
- appointed Barrister, since this should be officially determined as a PROW and if the historic beach path was only held to be permissive, then that permission could be removed at any time which would be unacceptable, and had already been threatened by staff of DIO previously
- It was acknowledged that the/one of the Landowners did not agree with the use of the Red Farm Track and it was agreed that NE should be asked to ascertain the ownership and rights of this track as many people had said that they had used this route in the past, including when it was owned by others
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk should confirm the Council’s position to NE as per the agreed discussion.
c. progress on requests to LCC Highways: in the absence of Cllr McNally carried forward to next meeting
i. South Road 30mph extension or introduction of 40mph
ii. A1031 Parking at Axe and Cleaver Crossroads
iii. road markings on Churchill Rd opposite Bay Horse car park entrance
iv. Road markings on Warren Road opposite Warren House/Oasis entrance track v. complaint re cancelling road repairs between Scupholme Pond and Cormack Engineering
d. Any other/urgent highways issues - noted that seal signage, eg ‘Ignore Sat nav’ is now in place.
28/10/19-6 To consider Applications received and Resolve the way forward on these and other Planning matters
a. decisions on previous applications i. South Road – Refused, ii. Lilac House – withdrawn iii. Home View Jubilee Rd – approved iv. White Gables Willerton Rd – approved v. Lakeside – approved iv. Holmes Farm - withdrawn
b. Any other urgent planning matters/applications
i. N/132/01877/19 - Erection of an agricultural storage barn for storage of farm machinery and horse related equipment. WOODCOTE, CONISHOLME ROAD – decision on this application held over to the next meeting so full information would be available.
28/10/19-7 Remembrance Observation – arrangements were confirmed for 10 November 2019 including completion of Risk assessment and volunteer details which have been provided to insurers.
28/10/19-8 Proposals for Annual Parish Meeting 2010 – Community Star Awards – the Clerk handed out a draft containing proposals for consideration, which can then be discussed at the next meeting.
28/10/19-9 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – Fireworks Display – gate opens at 5pm on 2nd Nov, fire lit at 6, fireworks at 6.30. proposals to deal with the access road to Pavilion have been discussed.
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – Minutes of Police Panel have been circulated. PCC had attended a public meeting at Marshchapel but although open to everyone it had only been advertised in Marshchapel.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – 31st October EA Consultation Meeting for landowners to be held at Brigg. Recent Flood warnings – parish not directly affected by fluvial flooding.
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
28/10/19-10 2020/21 Initial Budget Discussion – to discuss the main issues and likely budgetary pressures for budget setting and RESOLVE the way forward as may be required
The Clerk has circulated the year to date accounts actual versus forecast. Councillors were asked to suggest any additional items or proposals for next year’s budget, for example support to the swimming pool, wildlife hedging, wildflower planting for Conisholme Rd.
28/10/19-11 Finance and Audit
a) the bank reconciliation for October 2019 was received, checked and signed by the Chairman.
b) It was Resolved to approve the schedule of Receipts of £16,250.50 and Payments of £3,740.44 For October 2019 and they were authorised and signed.
c) There were no urgent/other Financial matters
28/10/19-12 General Correspondence for October, Website Updates and Communication were noted
28/10/19-13 Items for discussion/inclusion at next meeting - Monday 25 November 2019 at 7pm
*Budget Proposals/timetable
*Chapel Fields Development update
*Coastal Path update
*Community Land Trust update
*Emergency Planning Working Group
*Clerk’s Appraisal
28/10/19-14– Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED to move into closed session by reason of the confidential property and crime matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public/press present at this point, other than the two who had been invited to take part in the discussions in the meeting.
a. Chapel Fields Housing Development and Community Land Trust (CLT) progress
i. Development
Discussion took place with representatives from Waterloo Housing and East Lindsey District Council. It was agreed that further research into the position of Right to Buy would be helpful and once ascertained the council would consider the development stage proposals from the two housing organisations as soon as practicable. An Extraordinary meeting will be called if required in order that a decision may be made to discuss and RESOLVE the way forward as required
ii. CLT – this will be progressed further as agreed; the Clerk will discuss with Martin Field from East Midlands Community Land Trust and arrange a further meeting once the Right to Buy situation is clarified and a decision made on the way forward.
b. Crime Prevention Matters
The Agreement has been signed and the costs ascertained for budget purposes.