September 2021 Minutes
Minutes from the North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 27th September 2021 at 7.00 pm in the North Somercotes Village Hall
There were 2 Members of the public present and District Cllr Rickett was in attendance.
Public Session
a. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or Issues raised for consideration for future agenda
i. Proposals for long term storage of nuclear waste at Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal (Geological Disposal Facility – GDF): a member of the public addressed the meeting and provided a very informative presentation regarding the storage proposals and the process that is now expected to be undertaken, and the concerns which this appears to have generated both in Theddlethorpe and the immediate coastal areas, as well as within the wider Lincolnshire community.
Following further discussion, the member of the public will forward copies of the current policy document for GDF and the inventory for Disposal to be circulated to Councillors. The Clerk was asked to find out from both the County and District Councils when they intend informing parish and town councils about the proposals, or will this be RWM (Radioactive Waste Management - who are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)) - and when will the County/District Council/RWM confirm what the consultation process will be, and whether the working party or consultation process would involve North Somercotes Parish Council and residents for example. It was noted that there is an Executive meeting being held at Lincs County Council on the 5th October when they will discuss the invitation to join a Working Group for the proposed GDF at Theddlethorpe.
Cllr McNally noted that he had a number of concerns about lack of information to date, and queries on the detail of how the process would be undertaken, which he was seeking clarity on.
ii. Difficulty using FP30E Jubilee Rd to Evison Way – overgrown hedge – a letter has been sent to the landowner asking them to please trim the hedge back.
iii. Enquiry regarding allotments – no further action at present.
iv. School Lane Amenity Area – Hedging – this has been cut back to improve visibility at the junction with Warren Road.
v. Complaint re caravan being used for living accommodation – Donna Nook – this has previously been raised with Enforcement and no further action taken.
vi. Blocked drains on Churchill Rd – these are full of weeds and overflow when heavy rains occur – referred to Cllr McNally to discuss with ELDC
vii. Disposal of commercial glass waste in Co-op glass recycling bins – a local commercial premises appears to have been depositing their business related waste glass in the glass recycling bins at the Co-op which accounts for why they are needing to be emptied so often. ELDC will be following this up as commercial premises must have their own arrangements for disposal of business waste, and not be using the ones for the public at the Co-op. A response has been received from ELDC regarding future proposals for glass recycling, which has been circulated to Cllrs for information.
b. Reports/observations from District and County Councillors
Both Cllr Rickett and Cllr McNally commented on the presentation by the member of the public for the proposed GDF under the sea off Theddlethorpe, and in addition:
i. Cllr McNally referred to the Afghan Refugee Relocation Scheme and the Bus Driver shortage for School Transport, as well as the local care commissioning group bid to the NHs for improvement monies for Louth hospital.
ii. Cllr Rickett referred to the rise in infection rates for COVID19 in this area.
The Chairman thanked the members of the public for attending, closed the public session and opened the Monthly meeting.
Monthly Meeting
27/9/21-1 a. Present: Cllr Steve Brooks-Chairman, Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Danny McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Cllr David Wallis, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer.
b. Apologies for Absence – it was RESOLVED to accept the apologies and reasons from Councillors Arundel, Cousins, and Smalley.
27/9/21-2 To receive 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. Cllrs Walmsley and McNally declared an interest in relation to planning matters at Agenda item 6a and 6 respectively.
27/9/21-3 Minutes of the 26 July 2021 Monthly Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt the notes as accurate minutes and the Chairman signed and dated them.
27/9/21-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only:
a. Public Toilets Refurbishment – tender requirement being prepared to send out for quotes.
b. S106 Conisholme Rd – see 6a below
c. PROW FP28 – see 7b below
d. Bottle Bank – formal response requested/received from ELDC regarding frequency of emptying and future changes, plus local business premises using the public co-op bottle bank to be reminded by ELDC this is not appropriate as they must correctly dispose of their own commercial waste
e. Cemetery – quotes for repairs to doors, replace gate and fencing requested, letters to be done and hand testing finished
f. Parish Council Website – agreement started 1/9/21, documents and images gradually being added
g. Response from EA to Muntjac trapped in fence – response circulated
h. Property Purchase – see 13 below
i. Amenity Area – some shrubs trimmed back for visibility, others to be done later. Quote for lifting slabs and regrouting requested, although would still need to be done on an ongoing basis – gravel may be easier to weed and maintain on a longer-term basis. Map cleaned, quote requested for repairs to stone sections.
j. Communication – note re Cemetery items included as agreed.
k. Youth Club – still awaiting further details of items that councillors have agreed to help fund.
27/9/21-5 Cemetery Actions arising from the Annual Cemetery Meeting held on 17th July 2021 – to discuss and RESOLVE the way forward on any required actions
a. Notes from meeting held on 17th July – these were agreed.
b. Chapel Door Repairs – quote requested and received – listed building consent being looked into.
c. Fence repairs – quotes requested, one received and a further one to be obtained. Clerk to look into hedging for the rear boundary fence along the footpath.
d. Gate replacement – quotes requested for wooden, quotes for metal to also be obtained.
e. Columbaria – prices obtained, to be circulated, Clerk clarifying position on the tablets/inscription costs
f. Garden of Remembrance – quote of £1,600 for lifting slabs and regrouting/weed suppression received, but would not provide a long-term solution. A better idea may be to remove the sloping slabs and grass the area over, for future use for memorials/ashes.
g. Smart Meter – request to install smart meter at Cemetery – Clerk to confirm this can proceed.
h. Extra cuts for cemetery grounds – if required these will be £220 per cut, once the last two have been done in October and before the new season starts next year on April.
District Cllr Rickett left the meeting at 8.10pm
27/9/21-6 To consider Planning applications received/RESOLVE the way forward on these/other Planning matters
a. Enforcement Issues/Actions:
i. S106 Conisholme Rd – following discussion regarding the length of time it is taking to achieve the obligations of the S106 Agreement, it was RESOLVED that on behalf of the Parish Council, the Clerk be asked to formally request, that given the apparent inability to reach a satisfactory conclusion with an Affordable Housing provider for the S106 element of the development, that the alternative of discounted market housing, in perpetuity, on the basis of a local connection criteria to be applied, also in perpetuity, should be formally requested.
ii. Beachview Stud – Neither Enforcement nor Environmental Health at ELDC appear to be taking any further action regarding the various issues with apparent lack of acceptable drainage in line with current regulations, or lack of
b. Planning applications for approval: It was RESOLVED to ratify the emailed decisions to support the following:
i. N/132/01589/21 - OASIS LAKES, WARREN ROAD - Extension to existing building to provide an enlarged tackle shop, toilets, and entrance hall to flat.
ii. N/132/01832/21 - LAKESIDE PARK, WARREN RD - Alterations to existing swimming pool to provide a new roof.
c. Tree works applications: It was RESOLVED to ratify the emailed decisions to support the following:
i. Home View, Bank End – allow light into property and clear cabling
ii. Brock House, Keeling St – clearance for light column
iii. St Mary’s Church Yard – to improve churchyard and let in more light
iv. Umbrella House – Crown Reduction x3 Sycamore (pending) to let in light and prevent future problems
d. Any other/urgent planning matters/applications: none.
27/9/21-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting – to discuss/RESOLVE the way forward on relevant Highways issues
a. verbal update on problem log:
i. Parking at Axe and Cleaver Crossroads – impact on visibility, under investigation
ii. Yellow lines to prevent parking on Marsh Lane at Stonebridge cottages when roadworks finished – should not be necessary and unlikely to meet LCC requirements – revisit once works finished if a problem.
iii. Pedestrian Footway marking/give way to oncoming traffic (from Keeling St) sign on Churchill Rd – under investigation
iv. Evison Way and Willerton Rd - resurfacing date awaited
v. Blocked drains on Churchill Rd – reported via Cllr McNally
vi. Any additional issues to be reported:
- Small mirror on Woolpack Meadows junction with Keeling St – this has not been erected by LCC Highways.
b. PROW FP28 – agreement in principle has been reached with the DIO, with assistance from LCC Footpaths, regarding changes to be implemented to ensure permanent public right of way giving access to the foreshore/English Coastal Path (ECP) from FP28, as well as a permissive access away from the working area, while waiting for the ECP to be brought into use.
c. North Somercotes Footpath Leaflet – any changes required to the images or text of the leaflet to be notified to the Clerk asap.
d. Any other urgent highways issues
i. Remembrance event 14 November - road closure applied for, but Councillor training needs to be undertaken in order for us to have a competent person and be allowed to close the road – training date 20 October 2021.
ii. Seal Season Traffic Arrangements – Warden briefing taking place on 8/9 October, and an increase to the number of weekends for the Traffic Management arrangements is expected for this year to cope with expected numbers.
27/9/21-8 Amenity Area School Lane – a quotation of £1,300 has been received for redoing the paving as it is, but it is thought to be better to undertake a longer-term solution such as gravelling most of the area as this would be easier to weed and last longer. Leakes have been asked for a quote to repair the Amenity stone and surround.
27/9/21-9 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – no bonfire event planned for this year, or other events. The Pavilion should be available again for room hire from October onwards.
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – nothing to report
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk - nothing to report
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk - nothing to report
27/9/21-10 Finance & Audit
a. the bank reconciliation for August and September 2021 previously circulated was checked and signed by the Chairman.
b. it was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of Payments of £19,569.06 and Receipts of £19,217.50 for August and September 2021
c. The Clerk has circulated the report showing Actual v Budget for the second quarter
d. It was RESOLVED to confirm the decision to fund various items as per the email request for the Youth Club, as per the Clerk’s email, of approx £1,000 (£1,300 available in the budget)
e. satisfactory conclusion of the External Audit for 20/21, and publication of Completion Notice on 20/9 were noted.
f. A request to assist with defibrillator costs/purchase for the NS Football Club/Luke Walmsley Pavilion has been received and further details are awaited.
g. to deal with any other/urgent financial matters
i. Anglian Water – Credit invoices now received and awaiting checking by the Clerk
ii. Melton Mowbray – 30 day account – It was RESOLVED to close the 30 day account and the request was duly signed as required.
27/9/21-11 General Correspondence for August/Sept 2021, Website Updates and Communication these were noted as already circulated, and in addition the letter from ELDC District Cllr Graham Marsh thanking the Parish Council, Councillors and the Clerk for making possible the Affordable housing at Chapel Field recently completed and occupied by those with a strong local connection.
27/9/21-12 Next Meetings – following discussion, as noted in item 9 above, the Clerk was asked to cancel the bookings for St Mary’s Hall as it should now be possible to return to the Luke Walmsley Pavilion for meetings from October onwards, providing large numbers of public attendees are not expected. Agenda items to include confirmation of Remembrance arrangements, and initial budget discussions for 22/23.
27/9/21-13 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/press present in the meeting at this point.
a. Chapel Fields retained land – Following discussion it was RESOLVED that the Clerk should proceed as discussed to enable the council to then explore disposal and other options for use of the retained land, once it has been tidied of all Poplar suckers etc, as per the Council’s Statutory fiduciary duty to make the best use of its assets in the interests of the local residents/tax payers.
b. Property Purchase – the Clerk provided an update on progress/actions being taken, and these were noted:
- deposit paid on exchange, and completion due to take place on 30/9/21 if investment monies received from The Melton in time, which will save an additional c£1200 in Stamp Duty Fees payable from 1 October 2021
- Shower replacement, change to Mermaid/Dolphin Board and section of bathroom floor to be replaced where it has suffered from water ingress from cracked tiles and poor seal to be progressed
- Extractor fan/light to be replaced over shower, plus a wall extractor permanently linked to main bathroom light to be installed as soon as possible (identified in survey to minimise condensation/damp)
- section of utility floor will possibly need replacing where it has suffered from water ingress from washing machine
- kitchen cupboard doors – exploring options of some damaged/all doors to be replaced as necessary and securing person to instal these
- quotes for decorating throughout requested, blinds and curtains to be removed to facilitate this
- quotes for carpet and vinyl requested, existing flooring to be lifted and removed asap
- electric supply and appliance checks organised, oil boiler service/system check to be done
- letting agent appointed and informed that letting may not be able to commence until the new year owing to difficulty getting hold of trades people to undertake required works
- garden to be kept tidy, fencing to be checked – both side gates identified as needing attention in survey
- property has security alarm but it is not anticipated that this will be used by a prospective tenant – if they wish to do so then they could pay for this to be checked
- piano in garage has been offered to Louth Museum but they are unable to accept it owing to size.
The Chairman thanked the everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 9pm.