November 2020 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the North Somercotes Parish Council meeting held on Monday 23 November 2020 at 7pm By Zoom Video
There were no members of the public present. Cllr Paul Rickett was in attendance and the Chairman opened the public session at 7.01pm
Public Session
a. Any Policing Update: the crime prevention event was held in the village hall.
b. County and District Councillor updates:
i. County Cllr McNally - updated on the Family Adoption amalgamation of Childrens’ Services across the different counties, availability of all main services, eg library – for order/collection, and the increase in cyclists cross the county.
ii. District Cllr Paul Rickett – updated on the Towns bid submitted for Mablethorpe and Skegness, savings today on the Boston Strategic Alliance, Grant Funding now open for small businesses in our area for the 2nd lockdown.
c. Any items raised by members of the public or comments on the agenda:
i. Horse Dung going into watercourse alongside public footpath – location has been notified to Environmental Protection (EP) at ELDC and Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board (LMDB)
ii. Rubbish and oil being put in drain on Jubilee Rd – this has been notified to EP and LMDB
iii. query regarding Caravan being used for residence near Coastguard Cottage – has been passed to ELDC Enforcement
iv. Conifers needing trimming back on two footpaths – 31 and 32 - passed to LCC Footpaths Officer
v. Request for contribution to village Christmas Tree to be sited at the Fire Station – see 10c below
The Chairman closed the public session and started the meeting at 7.15 pm
Monthly Meeting
23/11/20-1
a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks – Chairman, Cllr Neil Drewery – Vice Chairman, Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr Joy Cousins, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Danny McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Cllr David Wallis, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer. In attendance Cllr Paul Rickett.
b. Absent – Cllr Shaun Smalley
23/11/20-2 Any 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 Planning Matters under Agenda Item 6 at 7.16pm.
23/11/20-3 Minutes of meeting held on Monday 26th October 2020– it was RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes.
Cllr Rickett departed the meeting at 7.18pm
23/11/20-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – the Clerk updated on the following for information only:
a. Public Toilets opening update – see agenda item 14c below
b. Cemetery Chapel – awaiting quote for roof to determine if insurance claim required for loose nails from storm damage, and remedial work to gutters.
c. Community Trees/Orchard – awaiting information
d. Community Land Trust – see item 8 d. Remembrance Observance – video seen by over 800 people
e. Planning Objection response - completed and submitted
f. Seal Season current situation – now closed owing to Covid19
g. Complaint of Discrimination - LALC response confirms PC response, suggested speaking to Insurers, their response is awaited, then Chairman will do final response
h. New Council website - outstanding as planning objection took priority
i. Oil Order – 27p p litre v Boiler juice 28.8p and oil club >20,000 litres
23/11/20-5 Reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – nothing to report
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – Police Panel has been disbanded. Consultation taking place about open meetings, and use of Facebook, Next Door, twitter and using that input to provide information to neighbourhood teams to determine priorities. An independent representative will be required for the East Coast/Louth/Rural Wolds quarterly meeting.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – recent high tides with onshore wind resulted in a small surge
d. Village Hall Committee – nothing to report
e. DTE Wildlife Group/Seal Season – Cllr Newman/Clerk – Seal Viewing area closed to the public owing to lockdown and volunteers stood down, paid wardens on duty to deal with significant number of visitors still turning up claiming to be unaware it is closed. May reopen for ticketing on Dec 2, depending on rules then in force.
23/11/20-6 To consider Planning applications received, Resolve the way forward on these/other Planning matters
a. Enforcement Cases – any issues raised by members of the public passed on to Enforcement
i. Intrusive lighting and other issues at Cooperative store – Enforcement have now visited and are taking forward.
ii. Horse Dung going into drain on public footpath – reported to LMDB and Environmental Protection
iii. Rubbish and oil being put in drain – reported to LMDB and Environmental Protection
iv. Caravan possibly being used for holiday home/residence – reported to enforcement to investigate
Cllr McNally took no part in the Planning Applications Resolutions in accordance with his declared interest.
b. Planning Applications for approval:
i. N/132/01916/20 - Erection of 5 no. industrial units to include the construction of vehicular access and vehicular parking area. LAND TO THE EAST OF SOUTH ROAD, NORTH SOMERCOTES, LOUTH, LINCOLNSHIRE
ii. N132/01926/20 Change of use, conversion of, alterations to existing stable block to provide dog boarding kennels. LAND & STABLE, CROWSFOOT FARM, COMMON LANE, NORTH SOMERCOTES, LOUTH, LN11 7NS. It was RESOLVED to commission a report from Specialist Noise Consultants if this becomes necessary on this, or any subsequent application, for this site.
c. Planning Applications approved:
iii. N/132/01543/20 - WILLOW HOLT, MARSH LANE – to note request to remove restriction has been granted.
23/11/20-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting – to discuss/resolve the way forward on relevant Highways issues
a. Any additional items to report – light column 26 (there appear to be 2 no.26) has ceased working again. Clerk to check numbers and report.
b. Footpaths Annual survey of usability/signage – underway. If any other paths need surveying these will be offered to councillors to undertake in the first instance.
c. Any other/urgent highways issues – lighting on Churchill Rd has been reported, as has the light at the bottom of Sea Lane Saltfleet, though ELDC have said they won’t repair this one until April 2021.
23/11/20-8 Community Land Trust – members confirmed as Cllr Brooks, Walmsley, Drewery, Wallis, Geoff Pearce, Sheila Pearce. The Clerk has names of two other members of the public who may be interested and additional members of the public to be sought – note put in latest Communication magazine seeking members. Draft legal document carried forward to December/January meeting.
23/11/20-9 Dates for Meetings for 2021 – to Clerk has circulated proposed dates for 2021, which were noted.
23/11/20-10 Finance and Expenses, Annual Audit
a. the bank reconciliation for November 2020 was noted and signed by the Chairman
b. it was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of Payments of £2,803.85 for November 2020, plus the addition of £400 for the External Auditors.
c. to deal with any urgent/other Financial matters
i. Contribution to Village Christmas Tree to be based at the Fire Station – request for S137 donation – it was unanimously RESOLVED to donate up to £200 towards the Fire Station Village Christmas Tree if this should be required.
23/11/20-11 Budget Discussion – the Clerk’s initial proposals for the 2021/22 budget setting as laid out in the narrative and draft spreadsheets were noted. Some additional work will be required once the results of the tendering exercise for grass cutting are known, plus figures on wages need to be clarified once the position on the national living wage is confirmed, and until the tax base is known last year’s will be used.
23/11/20-12 General Correspondence for November, Website Updates and Communication - ELDC - Issues and Options Briefing Paper regarding Local Plan Review of Coastal Housing – has been circulated, ELDC Housing Allocations Policy – has been circulated.
23/11/20-13 Agenda Items for meeting to be held on 21 December/future meetings
a. Chapel Field – future maintenance/use of retained land
b. Public Toilets
c. Fire Resistant Cabinets
d. Parish Council Website
e. 21/22 Budget setting
f. Community Land Trust Set up
g. Communications Strategy
h. Local Plan Review
i. Cemetery Issues – Garden of Remembrance feature
25/11/19-14 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED to move into closed session by reason of the confidential matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public present at the meeting at this point.
a. to discuss tender preparation for cemetery grounds maintenance and verge and parish paths grass cutting
The Clerk updated on the current situation and that she was now drawing up the required information pack to go out to tender for Cemetery Maintenance, Parish Paths and Parish Verge cutting. This will be circulated to councillors for comment as soon as possible so that it will be ready for sending out before the end of the week.
b. to discuss and Resolve the way forward on any outstanding confidential CLT items from item 8 – carried forward.
c. To discuss/update on toilets position
i. The insurers response on the allegation of Disability Discrimination as noted earlier in the meeting was noted and the Chairman will respond accordingly
ii. Reopening of the Toilets – the Clerk confirmed that Anglian Water have capped off the old meter to the playing field (refund of the £300+ not yet received), the tap has been replaced, the tiles have been repaired, the ladies and gents sections have been closed off, the necessary sanitiser stations inside and outside have been installed along with notices, and the required PPE has been provided for the cleaner along with additional cleaning materials as per the Risk Assessment. The Cleaner has been briefed on the need for the enhanced cleaning regime, which has also been provided in written format, and will let the Clerk know if additional time needs to be added to hours paid. Discussion took place on the benefits of opening the toilets now and the lock down position and expected tier category, following which it was RESOLVED to open the toilets as soon as possible.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.32pm