December 2023 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the North Somercotes Parish Council meeting held on Monday 18th December 2023 in St Mary’s Church Hall
There were no members of the public present. District Cllr Rickett had given his apologies and was not in attendance for part of the meeting. The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and opened the public session at 7 pm
Public Session
a. Comments/updates from District and County Cllrs
Cllr McNally – referred to the Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council devolution proposal which is now out for consultation. If progressed this means existing money and power can move from central government to decision-makers in Greater Lincolnshire for adult education, roads and transport, economic growth and environmental projects. Residents, organisations and businesses are being asked to comment on the proposals, with a closing date of 29 January 2024. The Clerk will put a link on the Parish Council website and has paper copies and Executive Summary of the proposal if required.
b. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda
- Road sign broken on Donna Nook Road – has now been dealt with.
- Cars parking on verge opposite Axe and Cleaver slip road – this has again been raised by one of the adjacent households as it is causing mud and debris to be transferred into his driveway, but installing bollards, on what is highways land, would prevent people parking on the roadside and exiting their vehicles so it is unclear what solution, if any, is available.
- Sign at the bottom of Willerton Road – the sign advising HGV and large/long vehicles to go the other way has been put up but interfered with. The Clerk was asked to have the sign placed higher up the pole to prevent such interference, should it become necessary.
- Phone Line Changeover – it was noted that the removal of the analogue phone lines had consequences for those with multiple lines or emergency lines and the roll out has been paused owing to these issues so that they can be resolved.
The Chairman closed the public session at 7.13 pm and commenced the formal meeting
Monthly Meeting
18/12/23-1 a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks (Chairman), Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Danny McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Lynda Plater, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer.
b. Apologies for Absence – none.
18/12/23-2 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 declared.
18/12/23-3 Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 November 2023 – it was RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes and the Chairman signed and dated them accordingly.
18/12/23-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only
a. Cemetery – all plaques now installed, changes to Cemetery Rules & Regulations ongoing, repair to the metalwork on the bell outstanding, mapping of grave spaces nearly completed. Mapping of electric cable done and to be added to the grave plots map which indicates that some extra spaces should be available.
b. Setting up Work Email Addresses – outstanding c. Coastal Path – still awaiting confirmation of route
d. Chapel Field Housing – Platform visit has taken place but do not believe problem areas in gardens resolved
e. Chapel Field Future Use – neighbours still to be contacted re trees, school to be contacted re growing project – in the meantime the land has been cleared but trees and suckers coming from the poplars still need dealing with
f. Donna Nook RAF/DIO Land and Buildings ACV listing –formal response still awaited but understand it has been listed as a community asset for a further 5 years
g. Defibrillators – location map of each one in the parish to be done/check registration with EMAS – outstanding
h. Louth Canal lack of maintenance – response from EA received and circulated
i. Complaint to Police re ASB and criminal damage – ongoing
j. Letter to District Cllr McNally re ASB and criminal damage – ongoing
k. Christmas Tree and Lights – installed at Axe and Cleaver on 4th December and many appreciative comments made
l. Youth Club request for items – total donation to youth Club of c£230 of games, craft items, pool cues etc have been very gratefully received
m. Public Toilets – refurbishment works to start early January – cctv of the youths attempted arson and breaking in of the locked sections made available to Police and other bodies.
18/12/23-5 Budget Setting 24/25 – the Clerk noted the proposed amendments to the budget proposals for next year which should be finalised and agreed at the meeting in January 2024. On the provisional tax base of 573, it would be an increase of £2.97pa, or just under 6p per week to £1.46 per week for a Band D property. However if the confirmed number of Band D properties changes then this will need to be altered.
18/12/23-6 To consider Planning applications received and RESOLVE the way forward on these and other Planning matters
a. Planning applications for approval - none
b. to note planning applications granted/refused:
i. N/132/01647/23 - Siting of additional touring caravan pitches on the site of an existing fishing lake which is to be filled in. PIGEON COTTAGE, CONISHOLME ROAD – noted that Ecological Report submitted 1 Dec 2023 – decision awaited.
c. Enforcement Issues/Actions - none
d. Any other urgent planning matters/applications - none
18/12/23-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting:
a. verbal update on problem log, including:
i. South Rd – programme date still awaited
ii. Warren Rd drainage – programme date still awaited – noted that water across entire width of road following recent heavy rains
iii. Street Light 2 – now working
iv. Willerton Rd sign re narrow lane – to be moved higher up the pole if interfered with again.
v. Loxley Way – residents sent in letter, and it is expected that some works to improve the pavement should now be done.
b. any additional issues/other urgent matters to be reported
i. South Road hedge – Clerk to check cost and organise cutting as appropriate
ii. Hedge/Trees overhanging the road opposite the primary school on Warren Road – has been reported to FixMyStreet and landowners may be served with notice from LCC Highways if not dealt with. However, the Clerk noted that from the property title deeds it appeared that the trees/hedge in question were growing on Highways land, not that belonging to landowners. Clerk will send a copy to Cllr McNally for information.
18/12/23-8 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – The repairs to the Pavilion soffits and guttering damaged in the arson attack are being organised, as are the play area rubber tiles. There will be a February event in the Village Hall for Valentines, date to be confirmed. Lack of response from the Police to the attack, other than one youth being dealt with through the Youth Offending Team, was again noted
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – There will be a meeting with the new Neighbourhood Teams Inspector – Matthew Bennison – on 8th January 2024.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report.
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk – Cllr Newman reported that there had been c. 2,200 pups born this season and there were now very few pups left in the dunes/on the foreshore. The issue with some volunteers not using the traffic one-way system had been raised via an email reminder to all volunteers.
18/12/23-9 Finance
a) the bank reconciliation for December 2023 up until 14 December was checked and signed by the Chairman.
b) It was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of receipts of £979 and payments of ££3,530.14 up to 14 December, with the Clerk to provide an updated schedule to the January meeting as noted. This included the Youth Club items and Christmas Tree lights that had been purchased as per the Clerk’s emails.
c) to deal with any urgent financial matters
i. It was RESOLVED to ratify the payment for the various items for the Youth Club in accordance with the Clerk’s email request of £202.12 plus vat.
18/12/23-10 General Correspondence for December, Website Updates and Communication
Comments have been invited for the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution up until the end of January 2024.
18/12/23-11 Agenda items for the meeting to be held on 22 January 2024 in ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL
Finalising the proposed Budget for 24/25 and confirming the annual precept which results
18/12/23-12 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED that the Council should move into closed session by reason of the confidential personnel to be transacted – there were no members of the public/press present in the meeting at this point.
a. To discuss any updates on the action being taken following the recent spate of Anti-social behaviour/ Criminal damage and RESOLVE the way forward.
The Clerk confirmed that the Police have acknowledged the formal complaint made on 23 November re perceived poor response to the arson attack and appointed an investigating officer. Cllr McNally has followed up with the ASB Officer at ELDC to ascertain that action is being taken with regard to the others involved in the Arson incident on 10/10/23 and he has confirmed that letters have been sent to the others involved. There have also been further incidents of vandalism to the toilets and the workshop windows opposite the toilets, but unfortunately these were not reported to the parish council or the police at the time. Cllr Newman confirmed that she had temporarily stood down from the police group she is on which reviews complaints of Professional Standards until the complaint is resolved.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.03pm
Sheila Pearce
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer