April 2022 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of a meeting of North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 25th April 2022 At 7.00 pm in the Village Hall, Keeling St
There were no members of the public present and District Cllr Rickett had given his apologies. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and opened the public session at 7pm.
Public Session
a. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or Issues raised for consideration for future agenda
i. Enquiry regarding Car Boot Sales in North Somercotes – an explanation as to why there are no car boot sales currently held in North Somercotes had been given to the member of the public making the enquiry.
Monthly Meeting
25/4/22-1
a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks - Chairman, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Lynda Plater Cllr Shaun Smalley, Cllr David Wallis, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial officer
b. Apologies for Absence – it was RESOLVED to accept the apologies and reasons given for Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr Danny McNally, and Cllr Paul Walmsley. District Cllr Paul Rickett had also tendered his apologies.
25/4/22-2 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 – None.
25/4/22-3 Minutes of the 28th March 2022 Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt/sign the notes as accurate minutes and they were signed and dated by the Chairman.
25/4/22-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only:
a. S106 Conisholme Rd – see 6b below
b. English Coastal Path/PROW FP28 – ECP consultation outcome still awaited but alternative path through camp to beach now established
c. Cemetery – see 13 below
d. Out of control dogs – pending response from police/further reports of attacks on holidaymakers in the Warren
e. St Mary’s Redundant section – wall issues pending
f. Chapel Fields retained land – Clerk to prepare options paper
g. Zero Carbon Parishes Project – further information awaited
h. Community Orchard – AGS to do first strim then see if volunteers able to keep it maintained. Free places available on the Forthcoming pruning workshop in Louth.
i. Chapel Woodworm treatment – grateful thanks to Cllr Newman for preparing the pews and other wooden items, plastic sheeting to be obtained/used to cover all other items, and booked in for 4th July 2022
j. Annual Audit – selected for interim review
25/4/22-5 Annual Audit 21-22 – Councillors considered the audit requirements below:
a) final bank reconciliations for March ‘22 – current account and investment accounts – were received and noted
b) the 2021-22 outturn against budget as of 31 March 2022 was received and noted
c) the Internal Audit Report had already been received and approved – minute 29/2/22- 9d refers
d) the Risk Management review/actions had already been received and approved – minute 22/2/22-9a refers
e) the updated Parish Council/Cemetery Asset Lists had been received and approved – minute 29/2/22-9b refers
f) the general/earmarked reserves position – was received and noted
and it was RESOLVED that the required Audit documents be submitted for final approval at the next meeting.
25/4/22-6 To consider Applications received/RESOLVE the way forward on these/other Planning matters
a. Future strategy for housing in North Somercotes – it was agreed that the Clerk would check the priority status of Neighbourhood Planning and the ELDC Local Plan as part of reviewing the need to review the parish council’s strategic position on housing development and use of land in the parish.
b. Enforcement Issues/Actions – i. S106 Conisholme Rd – it was RESOLVED that the Clerk should try to establish the formula for determining what generally constitutes an acceptable offer in percentage terms/profit element for the purchase of an affordable housing unit by a Registered Provider from a developer, and if required to submit a Freedom of Information Request to access the relevant information. It was noted that a further offer had been put forward by Lincs Rural housing and it was hoped that the matter would be successfully concluded shortly.
c. Planning applications for approval: none
d. To note previous Planning Application Outcomes:
i. N/132/00291/22 - Change of use of land to form an extension to the domestic curtilage, erection of a house, stable block, garage block and excavation of land to form a wildlife pond, existing dwelling to be demolished. WESTFIELD FARM, CONISHOLME ROAD – approved.
ii. N/132/00373/22 non-material amendment to that previously approved under planning permission ref no. N/132/1916/20. - LAND OFF, SOUTH ROAD –approved with confirmation of previous conditions re hedging etc.
iii. N/132/00356/22 - Rear extension to existing dwelling to provide a garden room with balcony over, existing conservatory to be demolished. DURHAM HOUSE, BANK END – outcome awaited
iv. N/132/00393/22 | Planning Permission - Extension and alterations to existing dwelling and outbuilding to provide additional living accommodation. PEGASUS COTTAGE, KEELING STREET – outcome awaited
v. N/132/00493/22 - Erection of 1no. detached dwelling with attached garage. LAND ADJACENT DAMAR, PLOT 6, TULIP WAY, CONISHOLME ROAD – outcome awaited
25/4/22-7 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 – on hold pending evidence
ii. Pedestrian Footway marking/give way to oncoming traffic sign (from Keeling St) on Churchill Rd – Cllr McNally looking into
iii. standing water alongside Oasis Lakes – major sewer works to be programmed
iv. school sign lighting – reported from LCC as fixed.
v. street lighting on Warren Rd – two 26 columns and 27 - Cllr McNally has raised this prior to making a formal complaint if it is not resolved.
b. Any other urgent highways issues
i. South Road – road edges and hedges. A note has been put in communication as agreed regarding the need for people to report the issues on Fix My Street. The Clerk will reiterate the complaint lodged with LCC on Fix My Street in 2020 regarding the state of the carriageway along large portions of South Rd, which included a letter from a member of the public.
ii. Reversing into/using Woolpack Meadows junction with Keeling St as turning area – Cllr McNally to be asked to look into whether or not signage is warranted to deter this activity as it was felt that this activity is raising the likelihood of a serious accident.
25/4/22-8 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley not present at the meeting
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman - quarterly review of priorities has been undertaken. There are issues about the general problem of failure to communicate with the public – issues of staff shortages, and the use of the Next Door App does not reach the target audience. Louth Town and Rural teams have merged and there is recruitment of PCSOs underway.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
25/4/22-9 Finance
a. the bank reconciliations for April 2022 was noted – this will be updated after the May meeting, once the audit is signed off and once the new accounting year is set up on the system
b. it was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of Payments of £8043.25 and Receipts of 21,673.83 for April 2022.
c. to note the updated payments and receipts for March 2022 as per the last meeting and item 5 above. Removal of ELDC Council tax for Woolpack Meadows, as this only cleared into the account on 1 April 2022.
25/4/22-10 Annual Parish Meeting 6th April 2022 – as previously noted, attendance for next year’s meeting to try and be improved by inviting village organisations to take part. Owing to lack of attendees this year, the consultation on the proposed purchase for additional cemetery ground has been put again in the communication magazine.
25/4/22-11 To receive/note general Correspondence for April 22 - Communication entry, and Website Updates have been circulated, including email from Victoria Atkins office
25/4/22-12 Annual Council Meeting and Monthly Meeting – 23rd May 2022 at 6.30pm in THE VILLAGE HALL Keeling St – appointment of Chairman and Vice Chairman, External Audit, consideration of issues relating to the proposed Cemetery extension, Review of policies and procedures (proposal to carry them forward to later in the year to allow Clerk to take annual leave in May and August.)
25/4/22-13 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED that the Council would 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. Cemetery
Discussion took place on the various Cemetery issues, including the possible amount of the Public Works Loan that would be required to purchase the additional land and the necessary works to prepare it for use, including drainage, paths, fencing, hedging, etc plus the advisability of digitising the cemetery administration, linked to the current Finance system.
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer