September 2024 Minutes

North Somercotes Parish Council 

Minutes of the North Somercotes Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 23rd September 2024 at 7.00 pm

There were no members of the public present.  District Cllr Rickett was in attendance for part of the meeting, departing at approx 7.45pm.  The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and welcomed them to the meeting, started the public session at 7pm.

Public Session 
a.    Comments/updates from District and County Cllrs
Cllr Rickett referred to the Car Parking Penalty scam in Louth and other market towns, and the increasing instances of ‘Cuckooing’ whereby people move into people’s houses with them and run drug dealing activities from their homes.  He also noted that there is a new NHS dentist now set up in Mablethorpe.

b.    Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda
i.    Damage/repair to Footbridge Rail from Playing Field to orchard field FP34/1 – this has been reported to LCC and added to list of repairs required, and the CCTV has being checked and will be given to Police along with the names of the 4 males recorded on the CCTV.
ii.    Queries/concerns re Holmes Farm Licence Application – advised individuals to clarify with Holmes Farm/submit comments to ELDC as Parish Council are no longer a consultee for Licensing applications.
iii.    Cars for sale at Village Hall – concerns had been expressed re these taking up spaces used by patients/staff of GP surgery/village hall users
iv.    Defibrillator at Playing Field interfered with – CCTV provided to police who have attended Youth Club to try and identify the individual and will be visiting the Youth Club again to warn of the dnagers of interfering with lifesaving equipment.
v.    Weed overgrowth on Louth Canal at Austen Fen Bridge, Grainthorpe – reported to EA and reply received and passed on
vi.    Public Toilets Blockage 11/9 – Ajet attended, and an item of clothing removed
vii.    Horse dung on pavements – note put in Communication magazine regarding removal
viii.    Dog bite of pedestrian – despite being on a lead, a dog had attached and badly bitten a member of the public on Jubilee Rd.  Following concerns raised with the Clerk, Cllr Newman had spoken with the investigating PC.

The Chairman closed the public session at 7.19 pm and commenced the formal meeting

23/9/24-1    a. Present:  Cllr Stephen Brooks (Chairman), Cllr Neil Drewery (Vice Chairman), Cllr Stuart Arundel, Cllr Roger Maidens, Cllr Trisha Newman, Cllr Lynda Plater, Cllr David Wallis, Cllr Paul Walmsley, Sheila Pearce – Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer

c.    Apologies for Absence – It was RESOLVED to accept Cllr John Kennedy’s, and Cllr Daniel McNally’s absence for the reasons given.  Cllr Smalley was noted as absent.

23/9/24-2 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.

23/9/24-3     Minutes of the 29th July 2024 Meeting– it was RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes, and they were signed and dated by the Chairman.

23/9/24-4    Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only
a. Cemetery – repair to the metalwork on the bell done 30/7, checking of first draft mapping of grave spaces ongoing, rear fence replaced and repairs to side fence carried out 11/9. Request submitted for Listed Building Permission for replacement of front planking on Cemetery Chapel doors. Hedge cut 11/9. Columbaria/vault/Sundial feature for Garden of Remembrance pending (once doors dealt with), checking gate repair situation, electricity contract changed

b. Setting up .gov work Email Addresses – still trying to resolve technical issue

c. Coastal Path/ Kings Coronation Path – meeting at RAF DN 25/9 for Lincs Wildlife Trust and DIO to agree route

d. Chapel Field Housing – attended meeting with tenant/Platform - ongoing. Also made file note of comments from neighbour. Outcome awaited

e. Chapel Field Future Use – see 13a below f. Defibrillators – obtained quote for location maps using the information on The Circuit but errors and omissions still need addressed first

g. Public Toilets – police have now followed up with the identified individual, as well as looking at new incident re Pavilion defib machine. Blockage dealt with 11/9/24, electric contract changed h. Levelling up funding – still looking for additional funding for various community projects

i. Orchard area –strimming and weedkiller around trees done, replace broken/ damaged trees shortly

j. Dog Fouling/Public Space Protection Order – result of discussion with ELDC – see 5 below.  Posters from KBT arrived and to be put up, once analysis of problem areas undertaken

k. 2024 Public Rights of Way annual survey – ongoing. l. Bench opposite bus garage/bench on Conisholme Rd – ongoing

m. Donations – no reply to emails to Gardening Group and Can’t Sing Choir

n. National Grid Projects – ongoing

o. Amenity Area corner of School Lane – Platform removed ash saplings and trimmed shrubbery, parish council have cleaned paving and applied weedkiller 
p. Clarkes Court – thistles now removed  

q. Environment Agency – update on management of Donna Nook requested, plus request to know when the work to remove weeds at Poultney Drain/Austen Fen Bridge on the Louth Canal will be undertaken before their overgrowth leads to further flooding of nearby land and property

r. South Road repairs – Scheduled for end of October/early November 24

s. Oil Scheme – over 52000 litres delivered over two days with an overall saving of c£800.

t. Climate Change Adaptation Workshop/LCC – Clerk attended online session 4/9/92

u. Policies and Procedures – schedule of updates to be prepared, including new Statutory Duty to prevent Sexual Harassment at work

v. 2025/26 meeting dates – draft produced for comment.

w. Woolpack Meadows – Woolpack Meadows fencing has now been cleared of Ivy

x. Untidy gardens/land – the Clerk confirmed that Aranmore on Churchill Rd has again been referred to Enforcement, and the Vicarage on Keeling St also needs referring.

23/9/24-5    Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) – Dog Fouling – the Clerk provided an update on discussions with ELDC that would provide the opportunity for checks within the parish to see if people are complying with the PSPO and issue fines for non-compliance. The requested posters have arrived and there is associated publicity that could also be used as well as a method of recording problem areas and then checking for improvement of the dog fouling situation.  A note has been put in Communication asking for details of the worst affected areas and times. It was RESOLVED to proceed with the actions outlined by the Clerk as discussed with ELDC.

23/9/24-6    To consider Planning applications received/RESOLVE the way forward on these/other Planning matters 
a.  Planning applications for consideration: none – other than the Parish Council’s own application in respect of the work to the Chapel doors.
b. Planning applications approved: 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
c. To note planning applications refused: none
d. Planning Applications appealed: none
e. Enforcement Issues/Actions: none
f. Theddlethorpe Nuclear Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) – no updates
g. National Grid Grimsby to Walpole and other projects – information sent via email from Clerk
h. Any other urgent planning matters/applications: none

Cllr Walmsley gave his apologies and departed the meeting at 7.50pm

23/9/24-7    Highways, Paths and Lighting:
a. verbal update on problem log, including:
i. South Rd – road has been marked out - One Network to advise of diversions/closures between 28 Oct/3 Nov 
ii. Warren Rd drainage – date for investigation and design still awaited
iii. 2024 Footpath reviews – underway
iv. Parking opposite Warren Road Track to Oasis/Warren Farm near primary school – outcome awaited of request for double yellow lines, white lines or exclusion box to prevent parking to ensure safe access/exit
b. Remaining Flower Planter – following discussion it was RESOLVED to site the remaining planter on Keeling St near Woolpack Meadows entrance, providing it does not impact on the sight line for emerging cars.
c. Remembrance Observance – Road Closure has been applied for and the signs will be put out two weeks before. Wreath, crosses and lamppost poppies obtained - some using donations from parishioners, and Cllr Maidens and Simon Paine have once again kindly agreed to make the address and play the Last Post respectively.  The WI will also be providing some poppies their members have made to decorate the railings, and the Clerk will collect and organise a display of these.
d. any additional issues/other urgent matters to be reported

23/9/24-8    To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees                
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley – no report             

b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman – next quarterly meeting is on 2/10 to set priorities and get feedback on relevant issues.

c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no report    
d. Village Hall Committee – copy of latest accounts received by the Clerk and noted.

e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman/Clerk – no date set for seal season meeting but expected to run largely the same as in previous years.  The Traffic Order for the one way system will run from mid-Nov to mid-Dec this year and there will be Disabled Toilets provided at Stonebridge where the allocated Disabled parking is based.        
f. Youth Club – Cllr Wallis – two of the main organisers have now left, so arrangements for running the Club are being looked at.

23/9/24-9 Finance and Audit     
a)    the bank reconciliation for August and September 2024 was received and checked and signed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman
b)    It was RESOLVED to approve the schedule of receipts of £23,300 and payments of £8,196.28 for August and September 2024.
c)    Annual Audit 23/24 – Cllrs noted that this has now been signed off as satisfactory by the external auditors and the public Notice of Conclusion will be published tomorrow
d)    Actual expenditure v budget for the period Apr- Sep 2024 had been circulated by the Clerk and was noted.
e)    to deal with any urgent financial matters - none

23/9/24-10 General Correspondence for August/September, Website Updates and Communication entry – these have been circulated and were noted.

23/9/24-11 Cemetery Title Deeds – the Clerk noted that when obtaining copies of the title documents for the Listed Building planning application for works to the chapel doors that the address needs updating.  It was RESOLVED that the Clerk should complete the Land Registry paperwork accordingly, to ensure that the correct address of Warren Studio is on the documents. 

23/9/24-12 Agenda items for the meeting to be held on 21st October 2024 in St Mary’s Church Hall
Action plan for the Biodiversity Duty, and the Cemetery Management and Waste Plan, Chapel Field future use, 25/26 initial budget discussion/narrative, confirmation of Remembrance Observance arrangements 10 Nov 24, purchase of surveyors ladder or similar.

23/9/24-13 Confidential Matters – it was RESOLVED that the Council would move into closed session by reason of the confidential property and security matters to be transacted – there were no members of the public/press present in the meeting at this point.

a. Chapel Field valuation and future use/disposal
The Clerk outlined the contents of the valuation report on the land which had been provided by John Taylors.  Discussion on the various options took place as well as consideration of other uses.  This will be discussed at the next meeting with a view to making a decision on the way forward.

b. Toilets Criminal Damage Investigation/Defibrillator incident/Footbridge Handrail
The Clerk noted the action which had been taken by the Police in respect of the young female from North Cotes who had been identified as the perpetrator of the attempted Criminal Damage at the toilets.

The CCTV of the Defibrillator incident has been checked by the Police against attendees of the Youth Club, and the Police will attend the Youth Club to restate the dangers of interfering with emergency equipment. The Clerk will pass the CCTV of the 4 youths, who have all now been identified as involved in/witnessing the damage to the bridge handrail, to the police.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.50pm


Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer