MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH
ON TUESDAY 29TH JUNE 2021

 

Present                                        The Mayor, Cllr. D. Hobson (DH) (in the chair).

 

Councillors:       Mrs. E. Ballard (EB), J Baskett (JB), L. Cooney (LMC), A. Cox (AC) S. Crew (SC), 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), F.W.P. Treanor (FWPT) and D.E. Wing (DEW).

 

Councillors not present: M. Bellwood (MB), H. Filer (HF), D. Jackman (DJ), Mrs. P.F. Watson (PFW).

 

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

 

T16.        Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. MB, HF, DJ and Mrs. PFW.

 

T17.        Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
Cllr. Mrs. SEL – item 9 as previous Warden and now Deputy Warden of King Edward VI Almshouse, School and Educational Charity, Louth.
Cllr. Mrs EB – item 9 as Warden of King Edward VI Almshouse, School and Educational Charity, Louth.

Cllr. AL – any item relating to ELDC or Hubbard’s Hills.

 

T18.        Council Minutes
It was RESOLVED to approve as a correct record, the notes of the Annual Council Meeting held on the on 6th May 2021.

 

T19.        Finance
On a recommendation by FOG it was RESOLVED to approve and authorise the following:

a)        Receipts and Payments – Cashbooks 1 and 2 – Month 12

i)       Cash Book 1 Receipts £10,302.33 Payments £37,067.19

ii)     Cash Book 2 Receipts £100.00 Payments £143.10

b)        Detailed Income and Expenditure Report (Budget Variance Report) as at Month 12 to 31st March 2021.

c)        Earmarked Reserves Report as at 31st March 2021.

d)        Cashbook 1 and 2 Bank Reconciliations which reconcile to account statements showing balances as follows:

i)       Lloyds Treasurers Account (balance on statement 52) – £314,829.37

ii)     Petty Cash (balance as at 31st March 2020) – £192.30

iii)   Lloyds Deposit Account (balance on statement 5) – £166,650.51

iv)    National Savings and Investment Account (balance on statement 9) – £111,323.47

 

T20.         Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2020/21
On a recommendation by FOG it was RESOLVED to:

a)        Receive and note the report of the internal auditor.

b)        Receive the Balance Sheet for the year ended 31st March 2021 and approve signing by the Chairman and Responsible Financial Officer (RFO).

c)        Approve the Annual Governance Statement (Section 1 of the AGAR) for the financial year 2020/21 and authorise signing by the Chairman and the Town Clerk.

d)        Approve the Accounting Statements (Section 2 of the AGAR) for the financial year 2020/21 as certified by the RFO and authorise signing by the Chairman.

e)        Approve the dates for public inspection these being 1st July 2021 to 11th August 2021.

 

T21.        Working Group
It was RESOLVED that the Council establish the following working group as a working group to the Council and approved the name and remit as follows:
Name: Louth Environment Working Group.  Remit: To take recommendations to Council, to focus attention on the wider environment in Louth and address issues relating to the environmental and sustainability where relevant to Louth Town Council’s broader remit.  Delegated Authority: Investigate and enquire only bringing recommendations back to Council.

 

T22.        Committees of the Council
Following correspondence received in accordance with Standing Orders, the Council reconsidered the resolution made at Town Council on 6th May 2021 under minute no. T8. Following an email from Cllr. Mrs. JMS which was read out, further discussion and advice from the Town Clerk and LALC, it was RESOLVED to increase the membership of the Personnel Committee by two, those extra members being elected: Cllr. JB and Cllr. JS.

 

NB: Cllr. AC left the room from 7:40pm to 7:41pm at the end of this item.

 

T23.        Louth United Charities
It was RESOLVED to re-elect Cllr. AL to serve a new term of office on Louth United Charities.

 

T24.        King Edward VI Almshouse, School and Educational Charities
It was RESOLVED to elect Cllr. DH to serve a term on the King Edward VI Almshouse, School and Educational Charity, Louth.

 

T25.        Business Rate Relief
It was RESOLVED that the Council give delegated authority to the Town Clerk to sign the Louth Navigation Trust’s application to ELDC for Business Rate Relief on behalf of the Town Council to confirm the Town Council’s support for such.

 

 

NB: A discussion took place after the last agenda item regarding the proposed closure of some of ELDC’s Area Offices, especially that located in Louth. The Town Clerk informed Councillors that as this matter had not been included on the agenda the Council were unable to make a formal resolution on the matter.  However, Council felt so strongly about the issue that it unanimously agreed that the Town Clerk should write a strong letter of objection to ELDC, also enquiring as to why Louth Town Council had not been consulted on the matter, using delegated authority, previously afforded to her.  The Council felt that the matter constituted an emergency as it was perceived that the proposals were being progressed quickly and there would not be time to call another Town Council meeting to discuss before ELDC made formal decisions.  Therefore, it requested that the letter be sent as soon as possible.

 

 

The Meeting Closed at 8.03pm.

 

 

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman)                Dated_________________________