10-29-24 CR MINS

MINUTES OF THE LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL COMMUNITY RESOURCES COMMITTEE
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH
ON TUESDAY 29th OCTOBER 2024
Councillor D. Hobson (DH) (in the chair).

Present Councillors: Mrs. E. Ballard (Mrs. EB), J. Baskett (JB), L.M. Cooney (LMC), J. Drake (JD), G.E. Horton (GEH), D. Moore (DM), Mrs. K. Parsons (Mrs. KP), P. Starsmore (PS).

Councillors not present: M. Barnes (MB), H. Filer (HF), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (Mrs. JMS), J. Simmons (JS), Mrs. P.F. Watson (Mrs. PFW), D.E. Wing (DEW).

The Town Clerk Mrs. L.M. Phillips, the Town Clerk’s Assistant Miss S. Chitauro, and one member of the public were also present.

C29. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. HF, Mrs. JMS, JS and Mrs. PFW.

C30. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
The following declarations of interest or dispensations were made:
a. Cllr. Mrs. EB – Item 6b as a member of the management group overseeing the astro turf.
b. Cllr. GEH – Item 6b as a member of East Lindsey District Council.

C31. Minutes
It was RESOLVED that the notes of the Community Resources Committee Meeting held on 17th September 2024 be approved as the Minutes.

C32. Our Hall Louth Ltd
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to ratify the actions of the Town Clerk and Chairman who approached the Council’s solicitors, as requested by the Community Resources Committee on 17th September 2024, to act on behalf of the Council but who were unable to accept the Council’s instructions due to a conflict of interest. Therefore, using delegated powers, advice was sought from another solicitor, outside of Louth, with experience working with Councils.

C33. Emergency Planning
The Committee noted that the Lincolnshire Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Service had confirmed that data collated by Lincolnshire County Council Lead Local Flood Authority and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue had shown an increase in Section 19 flood investigations and near-misses in the parish over the last 12 months and as a result Louth had been identified as being one of the Parishes most at risk from river and surface water flooding. It had therefore advised that the Town Council prepared an Emergency Plan. The Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk attended a briefing session on Monday 29th October, from which they were given a template to use for developing the plan. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED as follows:
a. An emergency plan would be drafted.
b. Should a plan be activated, a Community Emergency Response Team would be instated consisting of Cllrs. JB, LMC, JD, DH, DM, Mrs. KP and PS.

C34. Closed Session Item
At 8.06pm, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972, due to the business to be discussed in the following items, information being of a third party and confidential nature with regard to:
a. Old Mill House – It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to await solicitors’ advice and, if unsuccessful, attempt to pursue a sale of the property as per legislation.
b. London Road Astro Turf – It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the Council could not release funding to the London Road Sports Partnership until they provided evidence that they were a properly constituted group with a bank account, demonstrated that they had a convincing funding plan and attended a future meeting to present this to the Council.

NB: Cllr. LMC abstained from voting on item 6b.

At 9.09pm it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the meeting should move out of closed session.

C35. Next Meeting
The Committee noted that the date of the next scheduled Community Resources Committee meeting was 4th February 2025.

The Meeting Closed at 9.10pm.

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman) Dated_________________________