October 2023 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of North Somercotes Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 23rd October 2023 in St Mary’s Church Hall
There were no members of the public present. Cllr Paul Rickett had given his apologies owing to a conflicting engagement.
The Chairman opened the public session at 7pm and thanked everyone for coming.
Public Session
a. Comments/updates from District and County Cllrs
County Cllr McNally – ELDC have published details of the Grants for Growth Team, for small businesses and will email the details for circulation. There is an opportunity to join the Police/Crime Panel, and ELDC have appointed an Age Ambassador. Questions are being asked regarding the apparent breakdown of the Flood Alleviation and Protection Scheme in Horncastle, which failed to operate as expected/required. The ELDC Pride Team are available to assist with clearing litter and other jobs.
b. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda
i. Anti-social behaviour/Arson incidents – complaints have been received from various sources regarding what appears to be one individual/small group, and which comprise criminal damage, arson, and anti-social behaviour, including threatening language, bullying/harassment, and homo-phobic abuse.
ii. Locksley Way Poor Pavement Surface - residents have requested the Clerk’s help with providing a letter for them to sign re the state of the pavement and no repairs imminent, when there have been various trips and falls, including just recently a broken hip.
iii. Sign needed for end of Willerton Rd- a request has been made for a sign to help stop large or long vehicles or the oil tankers getting stuck halfway down, as has happened again recently. The Clerk was asked to organise this - See 7 below.
iv. Lack of Maintenance of Louth Canal at Fen Lane Bridge, Grainthorpe – damage to nearby land and property looks to be resulting from what appears to be a lack of proper essential maintenance of the Louth Canal, by the Environment Agency. Video and photographs were shared which illustrated this. The Clerk was asked to prepare a letter detailing this situation to MP Victoria Atkins - see 7 below.
The Chairman closed the public session and opened the meeting at 7.18pm.
Monthly Meeting
23/10/23-1
a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks (Chairman), Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Daniela McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Lynda Plater, Cllr Shaun Smalley, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
b. Apologies for Absence – It was RESOLVED to accept Cllr Wallis’ and Cllr Walmsley’s absence for the reasons given.
23/10/23-2 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.
23/10/23-3 Minutes of the monthly Meeting held on 25 September 2023 – It was RESOLVED to adopt the notes as accurate minutes, and they were signed and dated by the Chairman.
23/10/23-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only
a. Cemetery – plaques and planting now being reinstalled, bulbs arrived and being planted, more free hedge plants secured to replace those lost in the dry weather, spoil heap removal continued, changes to Cemetery Rules & Regulations ongoing, instructed contactor to repair the metalwork on the bell, agreed no further work on the concrete apron at this time; contacted carpenter with regard to the door replacement costs, War Graves notice now on gates, map of grave spaces still being checked which flags up issue with mapping of electric cable – see 5 below
b. Amenity Area – added two hours per month to village maintenance hours to better maintain the area
c. Toilets refurbishment – see13a below
d. Setting up Work Email Addresses – outstanding
e. Coastal Path – still awaiting confirmation of route
f. Chapel Field Housing – Platform visit has taken place but unclear if problem areas in gardens resolved
g. Hedgehog Champions – pack arrived and have contacted the Primary School but no response
h. additional Dog Waste bin on Bank End – ELDC have agreed to put a bin somewhere between Bank End/Eau Bank at no extra charge to the parish council for installation or emptying
i. Parish Council Donations 2024/25 – Swimming pool requirement still awaited, note put in Communication, request from Youth Club and Bowls received and discussed – see also 10 below.
j. purchase of trial dispenser and dog waste bags for Playing Field – outstanding (not chased given current situation at Pavilion)
k. Chapel Field Future Use – neighbours to be contacted re trees, school to be contacted re growing project
l. Donna Nook RAF/DIO Land and Buildings ACV listing – information on local community individual and group use sought as requested by ELDC
m. Defibrillators – location map of each one in the parish to be done/check registration with EMAS – outstanding
n. Remembrance Observance – Crosses for war graves and wreath obtained, Bugler and Chaplain confirmed, road closure confirmed and traffic management arrangements on the day to be confirmed, with light refreshments afterwards in the Village Hall.
o. Replacement 30mph signs – cost gone up to £20 per sign plus LRSP want us to pay again for a licence to put them on lamp posts we already have a licence for, so this needs clarifying before ordering.
23/10/23-5 Cemetery Matters – to discuss and RESOLVE the way forward
a. spoil heap removal – the remaining soil still requires another day’s work at a cost of £350 for two people - following discussion it was RESOLVED to leave the remainder of the soil as it may be needed for backfilling more recent graves. In the meantime, any additional excess soil should be scattered around the hedges to avoid adding further to the pile, until alternative arrangements are agreed. The Clerk noted that she would be drawing up a Cemetery Management Plan, which would include future waste soil management, as this was a requirement to demonstrate sound management of the Cemetery and grounds.
b. to consider the contractors feedback on cost of alternatives to having a mulch cage for the grass clippings at the cemetery and RESOLVE the way forward. The Clerk outlined the options for either funding the required increased number of mulch cuts per year, so that the excess grass clippings would be less and could just be left on top of the mowed grass or funding an additional £50 per time to remove the grass cut, as the contractor would need to pay to dispose of the mowings. It is not acceptable to keep putting the clippings in the corner area in a slimy heap, which the Clerk suggested may in any case be much better re-integrated into the main cemetery for plots given the future shortage. Continuing to put the clippings in the corner area is not conducive to wildlife, except for rats. The Clerk will look at the costing of options as part of budget setting.
c. To consider and RESOLVE the way forward on the Clerk’s recommendation for a ground survey to identify the electric cable route from the box to the Chapels, at an estimated cost of up to £300, both for safety reasons and determination of potential available plots. Following discussion, it was agreed to proceed with getting the survey done, the Clerk to check the most cost-effective option to achieve this.
d. to note the issues of some reserved plots/tree roots and Clerk’s proposals for resolving – the Clerk updated on the work that she was doing on the checking of the digitising of the old cemetery paper plans, and some of the issues that had arisen when checking the used and reserved plots; including the need to map the electric cable route as noted in c above, and some concerns over the size of tree roots when it came to dig certain plots that had been reserved some time ago when the trees were much smaller, especially those for coffin burials.
23/10/23-6 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:
i. N/132/01729/23 – non-material amendments to that previously approved under Planning Permission ref no. N/132/01146/23. BRAYFIELD, WILLERTON ROAD.
ii. N/132/01685/23 - Erection of a detached garage & store with room over. FEN LANE FARM, FEN LANE.
iii. N/132/01664/23 - Change of use of land to use as a touring caravan site. MEALS FARM NURSERY, MARSH LANE.
c. Enforcement Issues/Actions - none
d. Any other urgent planning matters/applications – none.
23/10/23-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting:
a. verbal update on problem log, including:
i. South Rd – programme date awaited
ii. Warren Rd drainage – programme date awaited
iii. overgrown hedge Evison Way – further complaint received; letter now done.
iv. Howden’s Pullover access track to car park/nature reserve – work was done on 13 October 2023
v. Lamp no 28 on Warren Rd – reported
vi. Lamp no 2 Woolpack Meadows/Churchill Close – reported
b. any additional issues/other urgent matters to be reported
i. sign for the lamp post at the end of Willerton Rd – it was RESOLVED to purchase a suitably worded notice to place on the lamp post at the end of Willerton Rd, to prevent HGV and large/long vehicles from trying to access Warren Side and then getting stuck.
23/10/23-8 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – not present
b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – awaiting arrival of the new Area Inspector
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman – The annual Seal Season meeting took place on 4 October 2023 – with the usual arrangement for traffic management at the weekends being confirmed. There have been some 200 visitors already last weekend, but no seals so far.
23/10/23-9 Finance
a) to Chairman checked and signed the bank reconciliations for October 2023
b) It was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of receipts of £1,562.51 and payments of £7,102.73 for October 2023
c) to deal with any urgent financial matters
i. Following discussion, it was agreed to proceed with the replacement pads for the Axe and Cleaver Defibrillator - £115 plus vat from the Donations and Grants budget.
ii. Christmas Tree - It was RESOLVED that the Clerk proceed with the purchase of a Christmas tree again this year to be placed in front of the Axe and Cleaver as per the agreed budget.
23/10/23-10 Budget Setting 24/25 – initial discussion took place on some of the pressure areas and requests for next year’s budget priorities including a request from the Bowls Club for £140 for new fridge, and the £1k for Youth Club. The Clerk will increase Village Maintenance to take into account of additional weeding/tidying of the amenity area of 2 hrs per month. Cemetery Maintenance – will need to be increased for either grass to be removed or more cuts, as discussed above. The Clerk will prepare the narrative and draft budget for the November meeting.
23/10/23-11 To receive/note general Correspondence for October, Website Updates and Communication
Including - Share your views to help shape the future of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership – see
23/10/23-12 Agenda items for the meeting to be held on 27 November 2023 in ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL
Budget Setting narrative on the priorities and pressures for 24/25.
23/10/23-13 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED that the Council move into closed session by reason of the confidential matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public/press present in the meeting.
a. Public Toilets Refurbishment – following discussion it was RESOLVED to accept the lower of the two quotes, and the contractor’s proposed amendments to the works for the reasons given and discussed.
b. Anti-social behaviour/Criminal damage/Arson – discussion took place along with consideration of what action the parish council can take to deal with the current spate of crime and anti-social behaviour to keep community members/property safe, under either its powers to take steps to prevent crime or using the General Power of Competence. It was firstly RESOLVED to make a formal complaint regarding how the arson attack had been responded to by the police, and also RESOLVED to make a formal request to Cllr McNally to use his District Cllr “Community Trigger” response if appropriate to ensure the various agencies jointly respond to deal with the individual(s) and stop the behaviours which are negatively affecting the quality of life of members of the community. Alternatively, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) could be approached to consider a Community Remedy if the person has admitted the offence. Other possible early interventions include acceptable behaviour contracts, parenting contracts, mediation and counselling, or any combination of these and if necessary, a Community Protection Order could be considered. Cllr McNally would need to speak with the parents to ascertain the best way forward for all concerned.
The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.39 pm
Sheila Pearce
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer