Louth Town Council
The Sessions House, Eastgate,
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 9AJ
01507 355895
clerk@louthtowncouncil.gov.uk

To the Members of the Town Council of Louth:

You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of Louth Town Council and its Planning Committee which will be held on Tuesday 14^th January 2025 in The Old Court Room, The Sessions House, Eastgate, Louth at 7pm.  The business to be dealt with at the meeting is listed in the agenda below.

There will be a 15 minute public forum between 6.45pm and 7.00pm when members of the public may ask questions or make short statements to the Council, and your attendance is requested during this period. 

Please note, any public, wishing to speak in the public forum may do so on items which appear on the agenda or may ‘sit in’ on the meeting(s).  It would be much appreciated if any member of the public wishing to speak would please contact the Town Clerk, by emailing clerk@louthtowncouncil.gov.uk in advance of the meeting to discuss attendance arrangements.  Written representation can also be considered rather than attending in person. 

Members of the public should note that they will not be allowed to speak during the formal meeting.

Mrs. L.M. Phillips

Town Clerk

Dated this 9^th Day of January 2025

AGENDA

TOWN COUNCIL

(Chairman: Cllr. D. Hobson, Membership: All Cllrs.)

1. Apologies for Absence
   To receive and note apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk at least one hour prior to the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act, 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation received by the Proper Officer under section 22 of the Localism Act.
3. Town Clerk’s Remarks

4. Minutes
   To approve as a correct record the notes of the Council Meeting held on 19^th November 2024.
5. Committee Minutes
   To confirm receipt of the minutes and adopt resolutions contained therein of the following Committee Meetings:
   1. Planning Committee – 8^th October 2024
   2. Planning Committee – 29^th October 2024
   3. Planning Committee – 19^th November 2024
   4. Governance and Finance Committee – 8^th October 2024
   5. Community Resources Committee – 17^th September 2024

6. Precept
   918. Council to receive a recommendation from the Governance and Finance Committee made on 10^th December 2024 that the attached budget proposal papers be approved which result in a precept request for 2025/26 of £349,918.64 which equates to an annual cost for a Band D property of £59.81 (using updated Tax Base figures, now received from ELDC).
   919. Council to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to complete the necessary form and submit to ELDC (Collection Authority).
        

7. Town and Parish Council Scrutiny Survey
   As resolved on 10^th December 2024, Council to ratify the corporate response to the above, submitted to meet the deadline of 6^th January 2025.
8. Civic Matters
   Council to note/resolve upon the following:
   1. Funeral Arrangements – to note that the funeral of Cllr. Mrs. J. Simmons will take place on 23^rd January 2025 at 11am in St. James’ Church.
   2. Mayoral Succession – following the passing of Cllr. J. Simmons to consider whether to elect a successor or allow the current Deputy Mayor to fulfil obligations as necessary (expenses to be taken from the Mayor’s day to day budget head) until the Annual Meeting of the Council in May 2025.
   3. Mayor’s Serjeant – to note that the Mayor’s Serjeant has been asked to lead the funeral cortege in to church at Cllr. J. Simmons funeral and consider authorising the use of a mace and the Mayor’s hat.
9. Use of Room at Sessions House
   Council to consider a request from a local knitting group to use the back room of the Sessions House for an hour, twice per week and resolve upon the way forward.
10. Grants
    Council to consider opening its grants process for year-round applications (from April 2025) instead of for only a few months of the year.
11. Sexual and General Harassment Training
    Following the introduction of new legislation which places greater responsibilities and legal requirements on all Employers (which includes each individual Councillor) to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment at work. The adoption of a policy for use by the Council on 22^nd October by the Personnel Committee, the receipt of this by all Councillors with the Town Council agenda for 19^th November 2024 and 14^th January 2024.  Councillors to watch a short video on the above and sign to confirm that they have received, read, understood and will abide by the policy.

12. Next Meeting
    To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Town Council will take place on 25^th March 2025

PLANNING COMMITTEE

(Chairman: Cllr. P. Starsmore, Membership: All Cllrs.)

1. Apologies for Absence
   To receive and note apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk at least one hour prior to the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act, 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation received by the Proper Officer under section 22 of the Localism Act.
3. Minutes
   To approve as a correct record the notes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on 10^th December 2024. (Attached).
4. Applications received by the Local Planning Authority
   To consider and make observations/ratify comments already submitted by the Planning Working Group to meet deadlines, on all planning applications received including those listed in the schedule (PA/Schedule 01-14-25). (Attached).
5. Planning Correspondence
   Committee to receive planning decisions, enforcement complaints, appeal decisions, temporary road closures etc., as advised by the District and County Council. (Attached).
6. Proposed Works to Trees
   Committee to receive details and consider supporting the following proposed works to trees:
   1. Location: 2 Crowtree Lane. Proposals: T1 – Cherry – (C1 on plan) crown reduce to previous pruning points, approx.. 3m height.  T2 – Cypressus – (C2 on plan) fell.  T3 – Silver Birch – (S1 on plan) crown reduce to previous pruning points, approx.. 4m.  Reasons: T2 – growing too close to wall and C1.  T3 – too close to house.
7. Proposed Limited Waiting Bay – B1200, Newmarket, Louth
   Committee to receive details of the above and consider supporting an amendment to the proposed waiting limit from Monday – Saturday 8am – 6pm, 2 hours, No return within 2 hours to Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm, 30 minutes, No return within 1 hour.
8. Proposed ‘No Waiting at Any Time’ – Linden Walk, Louth
   Committee to receive details of the above and consider supporting.
9. Next Meeting
   To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Committee will take place on 4^th February 2025.