10-31-23 CR MINS

 

MINUTES OF THE LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMITTEE
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH

ON TUESDAY 31^st OCTOBER 2023

 

Councillor Darren Hobson (DH) (in the chair).

 

Present Councillors: Mrs. E. Ballard (Mrs. EB), J. Baskett (JB), L.M. Cooney (LMC), Mrs. S. Crew (Mrs. SC), J. Drake (JD), H. Filer (HF), L. Frost (LF), G.E. Horton (GEH), M. Lamb (ML), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (Mrs. JMS), Mrs. K. Parsons (Mrs. KP), J. Simmons (JS) and P. Starsmore (PS).

Councillors not present: Mrs. E. Ballard (EB), M. Barnes (MB), S. Evardson (SE) and Mrs. P.F. Watson (Mrs. PFW).

The Town Clerk Mrs. L.M. Phillip, the Town Clerk’s Assistant Miss S. Chitauro, Chairman of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust Mr. Andrew Leonard and two members of the public were also present.

 

• Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. MB, Mrs. PFW and Mrs. EB who would be late.

 

• Declarations of Interest / Dispensations

The following declarations of interest were made:

1. DH – Agenda Item 5 as a member of ELDC.
2. GEH – Agenda Item 5 as a member of ELDC.
3. Mrs. JMS – Agenda items 4 and 5 as a member of ELDC; Agenda item 9a as a member of Hubbard’s Hills Trust and agenda item 9c as a former acquaintance of Albert Ernest Maxey.

NB: Cllr. Mrs. EB entered the meeting at 7.02pm.

Cllr. Mrs. JMS requested a dispensation as a member of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust to be allowed to remain in meetings during discussions of Hubbard’s Hills, with the dispensation taking place for the duration of her term in office until 2027.  She felt that she was an important intermediary between the Trust, the District, the Town and the County Council.  Councillors discussed this and a recorded vote was taken.  It was RESOLVED to approve the dispensation as follows:

 

Cllr. Mrs. EB	For
Cllr. JB	Against
Cllr. LMC	Against
Cllr. Mrs. SC	For
Cllr. JD	For
Cllr. HF	Against
Cllr. LF	For
Cllr. DH	For
Cllr. GEH	For
Cllr. ML	For
Cllr. Mrs. JMS	For
Cllr. Mrs. KP	For
Cllr. JS	Against
Cllr. PS	For

 

The Town Clerk reminded the Council that it had the right to revoke the dispensation temporarily if it should wish.

• Minutes
  It was RESOLVED that the notes of the Community Resources Committee Meeting held on 29^th August 2023 be approved as the Minutes.
• Presentation from the London Road Sports Partnership
  The Town Clerk informed Councillors that unfortunately the London Road Sports Partnership were not able to provide the Council with their scheduled presentation and would instead be attending the next Town Council Meeting on 21^st November 2023.

 

• Charles Street Recreation Ground
  Following the resolution passed on 29^th August 2023 which was as follows: “RESOLVED to ask Cllr. DH to lead discussions with ELDC as a representative of St. James’ Ward and Louth Town Council, with support from fellow ward Cllrs. JD and LF and volunteers from community groups, regarding bringing Charles Street Recreation Ground back into public use.” the Committee noted that Cllr. DH had met with ELDC for an initial discussion and was told that ELDC would be asking for parties interested in leasing the fishing pond aspect of the site to come forward.  It was also confirmed that other aspects of the site would be discussed individually when the pond had been dealt with.  LMC further confirmed that she had been in contact with members of the public and Councillor Marsh at ELDC regarding the Recreation Ground.

• Renewal of Storage Agreement with Louth Naturalists, Antiquarian and Literary Society (LNALS)
  It was RESOLVED to approve renewal of LNALS agreement with the Council to store its property at the Sessions House under the term of two years at £15 per month with a 3 month notice clause on either side and LNALS to insure.
• Renewal of Lease on East Chapel, London Road Cemetery, Louth

It was RESOLVED to approve renewal of the lease in its existing format on East Chapel at the London Road Cemetery.

• Remembrance Sunday – 12^th November 2023
  Councillors received an update regarding changes that were being made to the Remembrance Sunday Parade and a tabled document detailing proceedings.

• Closed Session Items
  The Committee resolved to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to business to be discussed in the following items, information being of a third party, confidential and commercial nature in relation to the following:
  8. Hubbard’s Hills – Chairman of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust, Mr. Andrew Leonard, put forward a request for the Council to pay the shortfall regarding the cost of the work to the river. Before this was voted on, Cllrs. LMC, HF and GEH left the meeting at 8.55pm, therefore abstaining from the vote.  It was RESOLVED that the Council would pay the £172,176 bill for work to the river and that FOG would review the Council’s budgets.  Hubbard’s Hills would reimburse the Council £75,000 and the Council would seek independent advice regarding claiming back the VAT.
  9. Ride on Mower – After receiving three quotes for the cost of replacing the existing ride on mower, it was RESOLVED that the Council would approve the purchase of a Husqvarna R316TsX AWD from ACB Machinery at a cost of £8,362.31 including VAT with costs to be taken from EMR Cem Equipment Replacement. Further, it was approved that ACB Machinery & Servicing Ltd should take the Council’s old machine on a part exchange basis for the price of £750.
  10. Portrait of Albert Ernest Maxey – The Committee received details of the portrait of Albert Ernest Maxey and it was RESOLVED to accept the donation of the portrait and keep it in safe custody until such time as a claim upon its ownership might be received.

 

• Next Meeting
  It was noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Community Resources Committee would take place on 30^th January 2023.

 

The Meeting Closed at 9.10pm.

 

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman)               Dated_________________________