November 2022 Minutes
PUBLIC FORUM
• Cllr. Hall gave a report on the Active Travel Scheme public meeting 17th October 2022 and reported that it had been well attended and many people had come from the rural villages around Louth. Since then, he had also attended the Louth Transport Board meeting, 25th October, which was based on broader travel issues, but that the Active Travel Scheme had been discussed. Cllr. Hall personally felt that L.C.C. were still not listening to the views of the residents of Louth and those in the villages, that Cllr. Parkin was still in favour of the pedestrianisation of Louth. He felt the whole scheme should be abolished as pedestrianisation would have to be put in place to receive funding, and he thought that this would kill the town. Cllr. Hall explained the L.C.C. Councillor representation: Cllr Parkin was Louth South (in which the Market Place, Mercer Row and Cornmarket was situated, he was Louth North and Cllr Marfleet was Louth Wolds. He concluded that the poorly placed and designed parklets and lack of consultation in the early days had ruined any chance of a successful outcome of the Active Travel scheme.
Record of Members Present:
Present - Cllr Alan Woodward (AW) (Chair), Cllr Terry Buckley (TB), Nicola Gallant (NG),
Cllr John Mackin (NM), Cllr Nicola Mackin (JM), Cllr Jackie Woodward (JW) and
Cllr Matthew Wright (MW).
Not Present – None.
In Attendance - Clerk Maria Vincent, 7 member of the public and Cllr Hall (LCC).
52. Apologies Received
None.
53. To receive any Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011
None.
54. Minutes
It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of Parish Council Meeting 5th October 2022 as correct and the Chairman signed them.
55. Council Matters, Actions and Communications
a) Chairman’s Remarks. The Chairman reported that he had posted a flyer through all residents’ doors regarding suggestions for projects in the village and had enjoyed having a good look around the village. He noted there were a few new residents in the village.
b) Clerk’s Report. The Clerk reported she had sent a letter to close down the internet banking with HSBC but had not received any further correspondence from them.
c) Ideas from the community for projects – The residents of the village were encouraged to speak and voice ideas during this item. A number of ideas had been emailed to the Clerk including:
i. A sign board to place near the lamppost near the bus stop outside the hall, where village events can be promoted.
ii. Some sort of play equipment for children on the Village Green.
iii. Organising or paying for rural touring productions to put on plays in the Village Hall or Church.
iv. Ref towards the Grimsby end of the village - it would be appreciated to have the footpaths redefined and made safe to walk upon.
v. A community orchard, play area and wildlife pond on the Village Green.
vi. Tasteful and effective speed calming measures (decorative gates/village signs) on main roads.
vii. Traffic safety mirrors to be attached to the bus shelter opposite to aid vision of the A16 when pulling out of Chapel Lane.
viii. Speed bumps installed on Church Lane to slow the cars that completely ignore the speed limit.
Regarding the above, Cllr. Hall said that speed bumps would not be implemented by LCC as they had been found not to be carbon friendly (as people sped up in between bumps increasing use of fuel). Cllr. TB liked the idea of a play area and said that when he was young the Green was used much more for events as well. Cllr. AW said that there would have to be consideration of health and safety, insurance and accountability, along with monthly checks of any play area carried out by councillors and also annual checks, he continued that a fence would have to be put around any pond and therefore this would restrict the enjoyment of it. A resident asked if we could have more trees and benches on the Village Green. Another resident did caution the planting of fruit trees as all the fruit would have to be picked up to avoid attracting vermin. Cllr. AW reported that we had planted six trees over the last two years and put in two benches. He continued that prior to Covid, the village used to have a Saturday Cafe in the hall and it would be good to have that back and expand it, perhaps having chairs and tables on the Village Green.
The suggestion of a defibrillator was also raised. Fotherby had recently purchased one.
d) It was RESOLVED that Parish Council meetings would continue to start at 7pm in the autumn/winter (December 2022 – March 2023) as otherwise Cllr. TB would be unable to attend due to his farming working day.
e) It was RESOLVED that the Utterby Parish Meeting would take place at 6pm on 5th April 2023, prior to the Parish Council Meeting. The Clerk advised the Council that the May 2023 meeting might have to be moved back by two weeks to allow for a contested parish council election.
f) Consultations – Anglian Water new reservoir consultation – It was RESOLVED that the Council did not wish to make any comments to this consultation.
g) Communications were noted from: NALC regarding Handling Online Abuse and Intimidation Webinar and ELDC regarding avian influenza.
56 Finance and Budgets
a) It was RESOLVED to change Financial Regs point 10h ‘When it is to enter into a contract of less than £25,000 in value for the supply of goods or materials or for the execution of works or specialist services other than such goods, materials, works or specialist services as are excepted as set out in paragraph (a) the Clerk or RFO shall obtain 3 quotations (priced descriptions of the proposed supply); where the value is below £3,000 and above £250 the Clerk or RFO shall strive to obtain 3 estimates. Otherwise, Regulation 9.3 above shall apply.’ from £250 to £500.
b) It was RESOLVED to approve the November payments schedule: DW Gibbs November 2022 Bus shelter and phone box £30.00,HM Revenue and Customs October 22 Tax £2.60, Clerk salary and expenses in October 22 £217.71, Glendale Countryside Ltd Verge cutting in September 2022 £130.46, Dave Skells TM Ltd refurb of bus shelter opposite Benson Court 558.00, David Buckley village green hedge x 2 and footpath x 2 £200.00, Glendale Countryside Ltd Verge cutting in October 2022 £130.46 TOTAL £1,269.23. It was noted that Lincolnshire County Council had paid their contribution towards grass cutting 2022/23 of £825.14.
c) It was RESOLVED that the Parish Clerk would look into the feasibility of all the suggested projects in item 4c and report back at a future meeting. After discussion regarding the precept, it was RESOLVED that this should be kept the same, no increase, for 2023-24 as had been for the previous two years, £8843.84.
d) Quarterly Monitoring Report – Cllr. NG reported that she had checked the documents for the Quarterly Monitoring July –end September 2022 and it was RESOLVED to accept and approve them.
e) It was RESOLVED to obtain quotations for grass cutting and hedge cutting 2023/24, further that the Council would continue to use DW Gibbs for cleaning the bus shelters and telephone box in 2023/24. Any other projects would go out to quote as per Financial Regulations. Cllr. AW reiterated that the Council would not always chose the cheapest quote, but that which they considered best value and that he considered we currently were using very good contractors.
57 Planning
a) Urgent Planning Applications – None
b) Updates from any planning issues - N/192/00289/17 LAND OFF CHAPEL LANE AND GRANGE LANE. The Clerk reported that although she had emailed three times to ELDC Enforcement, no reply had been received. A resident reported that she had spoken to an enforcement assistant a number of times and had received confirmation of complaints she had made. Cllr. JM had also spoken to Enforcement regarding a number of complaints. The list of complaints included: Dust being generated on site it not being dampened down, wheels on lorries are not being cleaned before going off site, manhole covers being damaged on the road entering into the development site, the proximity of the gas canisters to neighbouring properties and fence, the installation of a large electric fridge in one of the wooden sheds. It was also reported that there should be a turning circle and that the pond that used to be on the land has now gone. ELDC Enforcement said they would be visiting the site to check the situation. These could be continuous issues for the next two years as it was understood that the person building the property had run out of money to continue the build but was living on site in the caravan. Some of the other house owners were now moving in and they would be living in a building site. The Clerk said she would ring the Enforcement Officer and try to find out information regarding action on these issues. Clerk to email Cllr. Mossop to request that he assists and also to find out if he is able to attend the December meeting.
58 Parish Council Amenities (bus shelters, village green, etc)
a) Welcome Pack. Two new sets of residents in the village, Chairman to take a welcome pack around.
b) Verges and Village Green – it was RESOLVED that the Clerk would find out from LCC if any action could be taken on the grass cutting at the north of the village to try and improve the path. Further it was RESOLVED that the mole man was required again for the Village Green and verges.
c) Bus Shelters – The Clerk reported she was waiting for Dave Skells TM to report back regarding the price of the Perspex for the bus shelter outside Benson Court
d) Utterby Voice – It was confirmed that there would be an article included about walking dogs in the village, keeping them on leads, poo bins etc.
e) Christmas Lights - It was RESOLVED that Cllr. AW would arrange that the lights on the tree were on for advent, and that the new set would be added. The Clerk to contact David Buckley to arrange for his assistance. Cllr AW to buy the batteries and send the Clerk the receipts.
59 ELDC/LCC Services (Streetlights, Bins, Highways, Verges, Footpaths, etc)
a) Any urgent issues – Cllr AW reported that he had spoken to one of the gentlemen who had been to our meeting from Benson Court and he had told Cllr. AW that the other resident had now died. There were only five residents left at Benson Court. The Clerk to ask if Cllr. Mossop could update us at the next meeting on any news. It was also reported that the complaint regarding the street light on Grange Lane which was in danger of being knocked over, had escalated somewhat, and that LCC had acknowledged it (Fix My Street) had been damaged and had fused all the lights in the row and so none of the lights were now working.
b) Footpaths – See note regarding north end of village footpath under 4c.
c) Drainage on Grange Lane – It was noted that the water had quickly collected at the road entrance during heavy rain, but that this had subsided and so some of the drains were currently working. There was one drain with a covered hole, Cllr. MW to take a photo to send to the Clerk so she could add to Fix My Street.
60 Notifications
a) Nothing to report.
61 Date and time of Next Meeting
Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday 7th December 2022 at 7pm at the Village Hall.
The meeting finished at 8:38pm.
Signed ___________________ Date________________________