October 2021 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting of North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 25th October 2021 At 7.00 pm in the LUKE WALMSLEY PAVILION
There were no members of the public present at the meeting, and District Cllr Paul Rickett was in attendance for part of the meeting. The Chairman welcomed everyone and opened the public session.
Public Session
a. Reports/observations from District and County Councillors
i. Cllr Paul Rickett – commented on the Men’s Mental Health Workshop and the Workshops being held by RWM (Radioactive Waste Management) in Marshchapel, noting that there should also be sessions heald at North Somercotes, Saltfleet and Saltfleetby, etc so that all local persons would be able to attend to find out more about the proposals.
ii. Cllr Danny McNally – referred to the £5.5m Family Support monies for utilities, universal credit, and other schemes. On 2-5 December there will be an illuminated walk at Lincoln Castle, and there is a plastic pollution exhibition at The Collection Lincoln. Grant monies are now available from ELDC.
b. 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 – discussion took place on how to publicise the various sources of information available following a request from a member of the public. The parish council is not able to publicise this information directly on its website, but councillors considered that a page on the Proposals could be established on the website with links to various sources of different views, while noting that the substance or veracity of those items are not the responsibility of the parish council and not endorsed by the parish council. Consultation events regarding the proposals will also be publicised on there.
ii. Alleged Dangerous Dogs – the Clerk has been made aware of a number of different incidents with alleged out of control/aggressive dogs loose on public land, eg playing field and public footpaths as well as on private land, that have attacked or provoked fear of an attack, some allegedly involving the same animal. It has been asked whether the parish council can do anything about this. It was agreed that the Clerk should raise this issue with the police and playing field representatives, to consider some appropriate notices about the need to keep dogs under control, given the potential for an even more serious outcome to a child for example
The Chairman closed the public session at 7.28pm and opened the meeting.
Monthly Meeting
25/10/21-1 a. Present: Cllr Steve Brooks (Chairman), Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Shaun Smalley, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Cllr David Wallis, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer.
b. Apologies for Absence – none
c. to note the resignation of Cllr Cousins and the process for replacement – The District Council has been contacted and the vacancy will be advertised from 20 October until 7 November, and thereafter the parish council can advertise and co-opt if no election is called for. The post will then be advertised on the noticeboard, the website, and in Communication as relevant.
25/10/21-2 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
Cllr Walmsley and Cllr McNally declared an interest in Agenda item 6 - Enforcement issues, and Planning Applications as member of the Planning Committee, respectively, at 7.28 pm.
25/10/21-3 Minutes of the 27th September 2021 Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt the notes as accurate minutes and they were signed and dated by the Chairman.
25/10/21-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only:
a. Public Toilets Refurbishment – tender requirement is being prepared
b. S106 Conisholme Rd – see 6a below
c. PROW FP28 – now awaiting English Coastal Path consultation outcome d. Cemetery – repairs to doors – listed building consent required, quotes for gate and fencing requested (may need planning permission/listed Building Consent). Letters to be done to those with temporary memorials still on graves, hand tests of memorials finished and list to be compiled of those needing attention. No urgent issues noted. Woodwork inspection and possible treatment to be organised for chapels as woodworm has been noted in the doors. Woodworm also present in the fencing, so minor and essential repairs only to be quoted for as whole fencing may need to be replaced.
e. Amenity Stone – chased stonemasons again for quote, and quotes for lifting slabs and replacing with gravel also requested
f. Property Purchase – see 13 below
g. Youth Club – have been reminded re funds available
h. Remembrance Parade – wreath arrangements being clarified, road closure applied for and advance notices will be put up next week, with no refreshments planned for afterwards
i. Seal Season – To note the traffic management arrangements previously circulated
j. North Somercotes Footpath Leaflet – amendments required to the text of the leaflet have been provided to LCC along with some new images, proof awaited
k. Theddlethorpe GDF – various documents and statements have been forwarded to Councillors for information. A date for consultation session/s in North Somercotes is awaited.
25/10/21-5 Cemetery – to discuss and RESOLVE the way forward on various issues:
Proposals for:
a. Columbaria for the Garden of Remembrance – Clerk to circulate information gathered
b. quotes for fencing repairs, door repairs and gates – additional quotes still awaited
c. hedging for rear boundary with footpath – Clerk exploring availability of free/low cost options frist
d. quotes for taking up slabs in Garden of Remembrance and replacing with turf or gravel, so that small ashes memorials could be placed there – additional quotes requested
25/10/21-6 To consider Planning applications received/RESOLVE the way forward on these/other Planning matters
a. Enforcement Issues/Actions – i. S106 Conisholme Rd – a formal request has been made to Ryan Dodds/ELDC for the option of Discounted Market Housing in perpetuity in accordance with the RESOLUTION at the last meeting.
b. Planning applications for approval:
i. N/132/02042/21 - Extensions and alterations to include raising the roof height to provide additional living accommodation. HOME VIEW, BANK END. Following discussion councillors RESOLVED to support this application.
ii. N/132/02135/21 - Non-material amendment to that previously approved under planning permission ref. no. N/132/0389/20. SOMERCOTES ACADEMY. Following discussion councillors RESOLVED to support this application.
c. Any other/urgent planning matters/applications - none
25/10/21-7 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 – this will be monitored in November when traffic is expected to be at its heaviest.
ii. Pedestrian Footway marking/give way to oncoming traffic sign (from Keeling St) on Churchill Rd – possible solutions to be looked at by the new LCC Highways lead
iii. Evison Way and Willerton Rd - resurfacing date now set for first quarter of 2022
iv. Blocked drains on Churchill Rd – reported and action awaited
v. Any additional issues to be reported:
- lights on Right Hand Side of Primary School Sign not working
- lights on Warren Rd still not repaired
- Difficulty with visibility emerging out of Woolpack Meadows on to Keeling St, especially when people are using the entrance for reversing off Keeling St – Cllr McNally to raise with LCC Highways to see if eg Yellow Lines can be extended, or no reversing sign erected.
25/10/21-8 2022/23 Initial Budget Discussion – Clerk to prepare the initial budget narrative and proposed figures for discussion at the November meeting. Notional reserves to be recast to reflect the purchase of Woolpack Meadows.
25/10/21-9 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – Defibrillator has been ordered and most of the money has been raised(see 10 below). Discussion to be held as noted in the public session regarding a notice for the playing field about dog fouling and the need to keep dogs under control.
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – Area meeting for Wolds & Coast priorities has been held today; increased burlgaries expected with darker nights, veterans’s mental health link. Seal season visiting is now underway with visitor numbers going from 100 to 200 a day and people travelling from London for example.
The police will make occasional visits to Donna Nook as operational priorities allow, especially as Marsh Lane is now allegedly being used as a racetrack.
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
25/10/21-10 Finance
a. the bank reconciliation for October 2021, which had been circulated, was checked by the Chairman and signed.
b. it was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of Payments of £182,798.18 and Receipts of £502.30 for October 2021.
c. Request to assist with defibrillator costs/purchase for the NS Football Club/Luke Walmsley Pavilion – following discussion, it was RESOLVED to support the purchase of the defibrillator with a donation of up to £200.
d. to deal with any other/urgent Financial matters:
- Following discussion, it was RESOLVED to support the purchase of a Christmas Tree, to be located near the Axe and Cleaver, with a donation of up to £200.
25/10/21-11 To receive/note general Correspondence for October 2021, Website Updates and Communication
25/10/21-12 Next Meeting – discussion took place on the availability of a larger room to allow for social distancing and members of the public to attend, as space was somewhat limited in the pavilion. The Clerk will check the availability of Monday evenings with St Mary’s and the Village Hall for the dates circulated, and it may be necessary to alter the venue for some meetings, or as an exception the day of the week, in order to be in the most suitable premises. The next meeting will therefore be held in the Village Hall on Wednesday 24th November.
25/10/21-13 Confidential Property Matters – it was RESOLVED that the Council 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 Fields retained land – The Clerk provided an update on the response from Platform Housing and a request has been made to Masons for a written confirmation of the costs for the sale of all or part of the retained land. The Clerk will also begin preparation of a paper to consider the potential options for the land, in accordance with the statutory requirements.
b. Woolpack Meadows – the Clerk provided an update on progress/actions being taken to ready the property for rental, which was noted.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.33pm.
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer