March 2024 Minutes
North Somercotes Parish Council
Minutes of the North Somercotes Parish Council held on Monday 25th March 2024 At 7pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, Keeling St
There were no members of the public present. Cllr Rickett was not in attendance having given his apologies.
Public Session
a. Updates from County and District Councillor McNally – New Fire and Rescue Vehicles have been commissioned, and the Energy from Waste Facility is now 10 years old and will be having an Open Day on 25th May 2024. The development at 100 houses at Skegness, which is part of the Local Development Order has been objected to by the Environment Agency. The proposal to proceed with a single Mayor for the 3 Councils jointly working together will proceed to election on 25th May, and a commitment to maintain the infrastructure for flood defences in the county has been stated. All Parish and District Councils together with the County Council have submitted strong objections to the National Grid Grimsby to Walpole proposals for overhead pylons and substations, and the Councils, including North East Lincs, plan to jointly require a formal review of due process with legal action to follow if due process is found not to have been followed.
b. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda
i. Proposed banning of Oasis/floral Foam and plastic flowers – Cllr Plater noted that 7 people had spoken with her and commented following the article in the Communication Magazine. Some people had been upset and angry regarding the changes, though it was noted that no one has contacted the Clerk or attended the parish council meeting to clarify what is proposed to enable the parish council to fulfil its legal and statutory obligations in respect of the Duty to ensure it meets its Biodiversity responsibilities. Discussion took place that no date has yet been given regarding when the floral oasis/some types of plastic flowers would no longer be permitted (the Clerk is producing the necessary draft policy to meet the Biodiversity Duty), and that the rules in respect of removal of disintegrated and unsightly tributes, including Christmas wreaths for example, is no different to what it has been for many years. The Clerk clarified that like many other parishes and towns, the Memorial Poppies on the War Memorial are left as long as possible, and only removed once they start to fade. There is no floral Oasis or foam in them although being mainly black plastic they cannot be recycled in East Lindsey. The Clerk has previously looked into removing the unfaded red petals to reuse and will do so again this year as part of creating a display for the War Memorial railings and lamp post poppies this year as previously suggested.
The Chairman closed the public session at 7.30pm and opened the meeting.
25/3/24-1 a. Present: Cllr Stephen Brooks (Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr John Kennedy, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Daniel McNally, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Lynda Plater, Cllr Shaun Smalley, Cllr David Wallis, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer.
b. Apologies for Absence – it was RESOLVED to accept councillor Drewery’s absence for the reasons given.
25/3/24-2 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.
25/3/24-3 Minutes of 26 February 2024 Meeting – it was RESOLVED to adopt the notes as accurate minutes and the Chairman duly signed and dated them.
25/3/24-4 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only
a. Cemetery – repair to the metalwork on the bell outstanding, first draft mapping of grave spaces submitted, issue with monument database to be resolved, quotes sought for fence replacement, Valuation office reply in hand, note put in Communication re future use of Floral foam/oasis and plastic flowers/tributes, plus someone has stuck an unpaid plaque up with white mastic in the Garden of Remembrance
b. Setting up Work Email Addresses – to be done in March
c. Coastal Path – still awaiting confirmation of route
d. Chapel Field Housing – poor quality turf still needs to be replaced as tenant cannot use garden
e. Chapel Field Future Use – neighbours contacted re trees 22/1/24, no response so further letter noting action that will be taken to be sent, requesting quotes for hedge laying and clearing suckers/trees at entrance, along with siding up overhanging trees
f. Defibrillators – location map of each one in the parish to be done/check registration with EMAS following meeting on 21/2, check and consider budgeting for pads/battery replacements for some/all available to the public
g. Louth Canal lack of maintenance – further letter received from EA appears to accept need to improve
h. Public Toilets – work is nearing completion, Steve Smith Security asked to proceed with installation of new CCTV and removal of old equipment.
i. Swimming pool roof – looking for additional funding, useful meeting held with YMCA lead 21/3 re various funding sources to be followed up
j. litter bins and planters – planters have arrived, and Litter bins awaited, one of which will go to playing field
k. Free trees/hedging – thanks to East Lindsey Pride team who have planted over 500 free trees/hedging plants at the cemetery and bottom playing field
l. Flood Forum – held by Victoria Atkins MP – this was oversubscribed, any outcome from the discussion still awaited
m. National Grid – letter of objection submitted to NG and others
n. District Cllr Funding – received £1110 from Cllrs McNallly/Rickett - £300 for NSUFC towards goal replacement, £300 for Youth Club, £510 towards Playing Field/Toilets CCTV
o. Orchard area – More trees have been broken off/damaged so unlikely to be done by sheep, note to be put in Communication
p. Annual Parish Meeting – Agenda for 10th April 2024 published on website and Noticeboard 6.30 pm start
25/3/24-5–– Policies and Procedures – it was RESOLVED to adopt the updated Grievance Policy & Procedure which had previously been circulated by the Clerk.
25/3/24-6 To consider Planning applications/other planning matters received and RESOLVE the way forward
a. Planning applications for consideration – TPO Tree works at Rakaia House Keeling St – It was unanimously RESOLVED to support the proposed works.
b. To note planning applications approved/refused: none
c. Enforcement Issues/Actions: none
d. Any other urgent planning matters/applications: none
25/3/24-7 Highways, Paths and Lighting:
a. verbal update on problem log, including:
i. South Rd - 24/25 programme date still awaited
ii. Warren Rd drainage – date for investigation and design still awaited
iii. Warren Rd – trees/hedge opposite the primary school – some still in need of removal by LCC
iv. Woolpack Meadows and Churchill Rd junctions with A1031 – comments from LCC Highways indicate that only 1 accident in the last 5 years - which was not due to visibility - so the cost of having to move utilities to reduce the width of the footpath to create parking bays away from the junction could not be justified. The same applies to putting a mini roundabout at the junction of Churchill Rd and Keeling St.
v. School Lane to Kenlea, and Church End corner – numerous potholes and poor state of carriageway has been reported
vi. South Rd, South Somercotes – post office corner poor state of carriageway has been reported and should be done before the end of March.
b. any additional issues/other urgent matters to be reported
i. The drain/grille on Warren Rd should be done in the next 7 days.
25/3/24-8– To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – it was noted that problems continue with damaging bins and setting fires, most recently near the containers. The additional/upgrade CCTV will be installed soon, and a date for the Party in the Park in the summer should be agreed shortly. The cheese and wine evening was very successful as was the Football Club raffle.
b. Police Advisory Group – Cllr Newman – The quarterly meeting with the Area Inspector will take place on 4th April, vandalism, ASB and Neighbourhood policing are the main areas and Cllr Newman will send information by email and feedback to the next meeting as appropriate.
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – No report
d. Village Hall Committee – no report
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report
f. Youth Club – Cllr Wallis – The £300 to help with the volunteer training had been very much appreciated, and the plan to split the group into two separate evenings by age group would be trialled during April.
25/3/24-9 Finance and Audit
a) The bank reconciliation for March 2024 was checked and signed by the Chairman
b) It was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of receipts of £1,874 and payments of £4,550.61 for March 2024
c) the updated Asset List of the council – carried forward to the next agenda
d) It was noted that the deadline for submission of the annual external audit is 1 July 2024 with dates for inspection being 3 June to 12 July inclusive, by mutual agreement with the Clerk during that time.
e) To deal with any other/urgent financial matters - none
25/3/24-10 Insurance Renewal – it was RESOLVED to accept the Clerk’s proposal to agree a three-year agreement with the current insurers with a premium of £3,522.91 which includes an increase over that budgeted for owing to the adjustment for a more realistic increased replacement value for the War Memorial.
25/3/24-11 General Correspondence for March 2024 – various items including emails, Website Updates and Communication had been circulated.
25/3/24-12 Agenda items for the meeting to be held on 22nd April 2024 in the VILLAGE HALL
Year-end outturn versus budget, Annual Audit items for approval as appropriate, items arising from Village Meeting, NG Pylon/substation Proposals and Theddlethorpe Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility proposal to be added to agenda as standing items for future reference, items for the May Annual Meeting of the Council and monthly meeting, including appointment of Chair.
The Chairman reminded everyone that the Annual Parish Meeting will take place on 10th April at 6.30pm in the Village Hall and thanked everyone for attending, closing the meeting at 8.10pm
Sheila Pearce
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer