09-28-22 TC MINS

 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH

ON WEDNESDAY 28^TH SEPTEMBER 2022

 

Present                                          The Mayor, Cllr. J Baskett (JB) (in the chair).

 

Councillors:       Mrs. E. Ballard (EB), L. Cooney (LMC), S. Crew (SC), D. Ford (DF), D.J.E. Hall (DJEH),
D. Hobson (DH), G. Horton (GEH), M. Lamb (ML), A. Leonard (AL), Mrs. S.E. Locking (SEL),
Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (JMS), K. Norman (KN), B. O’Brien (BO), and Mrs. P.F. Watson (PFW).

Councillors not present: M. Bellwood (MB), H. Filer (HF), J. Garrett (JG), J. Simmons (JS) and D.E. Wing (DEW).

 

The Town Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips, the Town Clerk’s Assistant, Mrs. M. Vincent, the Mayor’s Serjeant and the Mayor’s Chaplain were also present.

 

It was RESOLVED that Cllr. Mrs. EB would act as Vice Chair at this meeting.

• Chairman’s Remarks
  

• Apologies for Absence
  Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. MB, JG, JS and DEW.
• Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
  Mrs. JMS – item 11 as a member of ELDC and item 14 as a member of Hubbard’s Hills Trust.
  Cllr. AL – item 14 as the Chairman of Hubbard’s Hills Trust.

Cllr. GEH – item 11 as currently involved with weekly meetings undertaken.

Cllr. DF – item 10 pecuniary interest as owner of property on Mercer Row.

Cllr. Mrs. SEL – item 10 pecuniary interest as owner of property on Mercer Row.

Cllr DJEH – item 11 as on ELDC Magna Vitae scrutiny panel.

Cllr. Mrs. EB – item 11 as President of Louth Athletics Club and having been on the group since inception.

• Minutes
  It was RESOLVED to approve as a correct record, the notes of the Council Meeting held on the 26^th July 2022.
• Committee Minutes
  It was RESOLVED to confirm receipt of the minutes and adopt the resolutions contained therein of the following Committee Meetings: a) Planning Committee – 14th June 2022, b) Planning Committee – 5th July 2022, c) Planning Committee – 26th July 2022 and d) Community Resources Committee – 5th July 2022.
• Mayor’s Announcements
  The Mayor gave Council an update of key events he had attended since May including: Civic Trust Pride of Place Awards at which Cllr. Leonard won an award for his work on the Mansion House; Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting; Louth Lions Classic Car Show; Louth Division Girl Guides Queen’s Jubilee celebrations; Louth Navigation Canal events; Louth Male Voice Choir event; Opening the Louth Run for Life; Meeting the residents at the Wolds Care Home; Representing the Town Council at Cllr. Fran Treanor’s funeral; Strawson’s Christmas Tree selection; Knitted Churches – Life of John Wesley exhibition; Proclamation of King Charles III, LCC’s Cathedral Service for Queen Elizabeth; Lives Open Day; Opening of the sensory gardens at the St. Barnabas Wellbeing Centre; Lovely Louth Awards. The Mayor was also delighted that Sandra Dykes had been appointed as the new Mayor’s Serjeant.
• Louth Transport Board
  The Council RESOLVED to nominate Cllrs. JB and DJEH as members to represent the Council on the Louth Transport Board which would discuss a range of issues from public transport, fault reports and highway maintenance to the Active Travel Scheme etc. The next meeting would be held using Microsoft Teams on 25^th October at 3pm.
• Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2021/22
  2022. The Council noted that the Council’s External Auditor had completed its limited assurance review of Louth Town Council for the year ended 31^st March 2022.
  2023. The Council RESOLVED to receive and approve the Notice of Conclusion of Audit.
  2024. The Council received Section 3 – External Auditor Report and Certificate 2021/22 and noted that the Council had received an unqualified audit, the external auditor having found no issues on which to make comment.
        Thanks were given to the Town Clerk for her work on the AGAR.
• Use of Louth Coat of Arms

It was RESOLVED to give approval for the use of the Louth Coat of Arms (without the Louth Town Council scroll) to the Louth Veterans for use on their Remembrance Day Wreath.

• Town Centre Improvements Review
  It was RESOLVED that the Town Clerk would summarise all the comments as suggested by councillors at the meeting and submit them to Lincolnshire County Council’s Scrutiny Panel.
  B: During this item Cllr. GEH left the room at 7:45pm for one minute.
• King Edward VI Grammar School Consultations
  It was RESOLVED that the following responses would be sent regarding the consultation:
  1. Conversion of Activity Hall into Design and Engineering Block and School Assembly/Exam Hall/Performance Space. That the Council supported the idea of upskilling and post 16 education in Louth.  However, it did not wish to make any comments which may relate to planning issues.
  2. London Road Sports Partnership Proposals. Defer any response until all parties involved in the Management Group had attended at Council (arranged for 11/10/22).
  3. Hospital Walk Footpath Safeguarding Proposals – Louth Town Council believed it was the responsibility of the school to deal with safeguarding issues as they have the liability.  Louth Town Council will continue to represent the public where appropriate.

 

• Solar Xmas Trees
  Councillors noted the cost of renting, having erected and having removed 32 half Christmas Trees around the Town Centre plus that there were other costs that LCC would levy before they would grant permission for the trees.
  2022. It was RESOLVED that the Town Clerk would approach the Louth Independent Traders to ask if they would be prepared to pay for the cost of the solar Christmas trees in 2022.
  2023. Failing a) it was RESOLVED that the Louth Independent Traders should be asked to make a donation towards the cost (LTC to meet the remainder) and the Town Clerk should attempt to obtain the correct permissions in time to install a decreased number of trees.
        Item B was a recorded vote as follows:

For	Against	Abstained
EB, JB, BO, LMC, DF, DJEH, ML, SEL, KN	SC, AL	DH, GEH, JMS, PFW

 

• James’ Christmas Tree Festival

It was RESOLVED that the Town Council would take part in the 2022 St. James’ Church Christmas Tree Festival which would run from 1/12/22 to 8/12/22 (setting up on 1/12 and dismantling on 8/12).  Delegated authority was granted to the Town Clerk to incur expenditure in this regard, and it was agreed that the Mayor would lead on arrangements.

• Closed Session Items
  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 third party, commercial, confidential and or legal nature.
  1. Hubbard’s Hills:
     The Council received, considered and noted the income and expenditure breakdown from Hubbard’s Hills Trust and RESOLVED to agree on the wording for the suppletory schedule with the addition of ‘EMR’ to be written out in full (Earmarked Reserve). Further it was RESOLVED that Cllr. Mrs. EB and Cllr. JB would sign the agreement.

     It was RESOLVED to come out of Closed Session.

• Next Meeting
  It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Town Council would take place on 13th December 2022.

The Meeting Closed at 9.26pm.

 

 

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman)                Dated_________________________