MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH
ON TUESDAY 20TH JULY 2021
Present The Mayor, Cllr. D. Hobson (DH) (in the chair).
Councillors: Mrs. E. Ballard (EB), J Baskett (JB), M. Bellwood (MB), L. Cooney (LMC), S. Crew (SC), H. Filer (HF), D. Ford (DF), J. Garrett (JG), D.J.E. Hall (DJEH), G. Horton (GEH), A. Leonard (AL), Mrs. S.E. Locking (SEL), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (JMS), K. Norman (KN), J. Simmons (JS), Mrs. P.F. Watson (PFW) and D.E. Wing (DEW).
Councillors not present: A. Cox (AC), D. Jackman (DJ), F.W.P. Treanor (FWPT)
The Town Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips and the Town Clerk’s Assistant, Mrs. M.C. Vincent were also present.
T25. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. FWPT.
T26. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
Cllrs. Mrs. JMS, AL and DEW – Item 16 in relation to Hubbard’s Hills (it was noted that Cllr. Mrs. JMS had a dispensation).
T27. Council Minutes
It was RESOLVED to approve as a correct record, the notes of the Council Meetings held on the: 29th June 2021, 4th May 2021 (with ‘JS abstained’ crossed through on minute 342 a and b), and 27th April 2021.
T28. Committee Minutes
It was RESOLVED to adopt resolutions contained therein of the following Committee Meetings:
Community Resources – 30th March 2021, Governance and Finance – 26th April 2021, Personnel – 16th February 2021, Planning – 13th April 2021 and 16th March 2021
T29. Annual Town Meeting Minutes 2021
It was RESOLVED to receive the notes of the Annual Town Meeting held on 20th April 2021 and it was noted that no proposals were raised by members of the public.
T30. Louth Hospital
It was RESOLVED that Louth Town Council would write to the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group), LCHS (Lincolnshire Community Health Services) and ULH (United Lincolnshire Health Trust) to express its grave concern at the unexpected and sudden permanent closure of Cawthorpe Ward operating out of Louth County Hospital, noting that local GPs were not even informed it had closed. Further, that the Council would ask the same three organisations to explain exactly what services are going to be actively offered at Louth County Hospital once Covid has subsided and in the light of these responses organise a public meeting once all restrictions were lifted and expected staff reorganisation had taken place, for local concerns to be answered by NHS leaders, to include services at Grimsby and Scunthorpe as well as within Lincolnshire.
T31. Tribute to Keyworkers
It was RESOLVED to create a new ‘Tribute to Keyworkers Working Group’ with a remit to discuss a Covid Tribute and bring recommendations back to Town Council. Membership: All Councillors.
NB: Following this item the meeting was adjoined for five minutes (8:35pm) to allow members to go outside and cool down, due to the hot weather conditions.
T32. Working Group
It was RESOLVED that the Louth Environment Working Group membership would consist of: Cllrs. JB, MB, DJEH, HF, DF and JS.
T33. Louth Bypass
a. Following enquiries as to the costs incurred from LCC to update the out of date details shown on signage on the Louth Bypass, it was RESOLVED that the Town Clerk would make some further enquiries as to costs from other companies to undertake the work.
b. It was RESOLVED that Louth Town Council write to LCC to request they review the issues affecting Louth bypass, including surface dressing, drainage and pedestrian access affected by overhanging vegetation and risk.
T34. Grants
It was RESOLVED to approve the go live date for the LTC grant application form 2021/22 of Tuesday 10th August and closing date for applications of noon on Tuesday 5th October 2021.
T35. Christmas
It was RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to make arrangements, along the same lines as in previous years, provided that costs are contained within budget and to accept the kind offer of a free real tree from Mr. Strawson.
T36. Public Space Protection Order
It was RESOLVED not to put forward any areas for inclusion.
T37. Welcome Back Funding
The Council noted a report from the Town Clerk regarding the Welcome Back Funding from ELDC.
T38. 100th Anniversary of Louth’s War Memorial
The Council noted that the above will take place on 4th August 2021 and that The Mayor had organised a short ceremony to take place at the War Memorial from 10.50am to mark the occasion. Further it was noted that a ‘page’ had been added to the Town Council website documenting the history of the War Memorial, a leaflet had been produced and a pop up exhibition was to be erected in the vicinity of the War Memorial. The Mayor thanked the staff for their work in researching the information and putting it together.
T39. ELDC Councillors’ Community Grants Scheme
It was noted that the Council had received a grant from the above of £1,000 awarded by ELDC Councillors Horton, Leonard, Hall, Jackson and Parkin for use on purchasing Reactive Speed Signs for the town. Cllr. GEH also informed the Council that there would be a Speed Awareness Working Group meeting on August 10th at 7pm at Sessions House to which Sgt Price from Louth Neighbourhood Police would attend.
T40. Closed Session
It was RESOLVED to go into Closed Session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the business to be discussed in the following item, information being of a confidential and legal nature in relation to Hubbard’s Hills.
a. The Council received copies of correspondence from its Solicitor on pink paper for consideration. Following discussion it was RESOLVED as follows:
i) To note the advice of the Council’s solicitors.
ii) To arrange an informal Zoom meeting and in respect of that meeting:
(1) Invite the Hubbard’s Hills Trust to nominate 4 of its members to attend
(2) Invite the Hubbard’s Hills Trust’s legal representative to attend.
(3) Representatives to attend on behalf of the Council to be: Cllrs. JB, JG, HF, GEH.
(4) That the meeting be Chaired by Cllr. Mrs. EB (as Chair of the G&F Committee).
(5) That the Council’s solicitor be invited to attend; and
(6) That the Town Clerk be in attendance.
It was RESOLVED to come out of Closed Session.
The Meeting Closed at 9.50pm.