June 2022 Minutes
SKIDBROOKE CUM SALTFLEET HAVEN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the monthly meeting held on Monday 6 June 2022 which commenced at 19:00 at the Social Centre, Sea Lane, Saltfleet
Chair: Cllr Brian Bignell,
Vice-Chair: Cllr Peter Mace,
Parish Councillors: Cllr Ralph Benton, Cllr Sheila Warsap, Cllr Keith Warsap, Cllr Guy Williams and Cllr Meryl Cunliffe
Clerk: Mrs S Bristow
District & County Councillors: Cllrs Daniel McNally and Pete Ricketts
Members of Public: 5 MOPs
Item 22/06-01 Chair’s Welcome
The Chair welcomed everyone to the Parish Council monthly meeting.
Public Forum
A frequent visitor to the village asked the council if she could place a bench as a memorial to her mother-in-law, with costs of purchasing, fitting, and maintaining it being borne by her family. There were no objections from any councillors.
A villager enquired about benches in general, and particularly the broken bench between the junction and the garage. The Council advised them that the order for four benches, originally made in 2019, was being resurrected and that the goal was to replace, not repair, benches in the village.
Another villager asked about starting a village gardening group and if there would be objections to placing flower pots around the village. They were advised that the establishment of such a group was not a council function and that, so long as no impeding of footpaths or highways was caused, they were welcome to beautify the village. The MOP further queried council funding for pots, etc, which she was advised to return to enquire about once she’d established the group.
The public forum was closed at 19:10 and the public were asked to leave as the council required a closed session regarding concerns over recent Councillor co-options and resignation. The meeting re-opened at 19:16 and the public returned to the room.
Item 22/06-02 Police Matters
No members of the Local Neighbourhood Policing Team were in attendance. No report was made, or issues raised.
Item 22/06-03 Apologies and acceptance for absence
None.
Item 22/06-04 Declarations of Pecuniary Interest in accordance with Localism Act 2011
None.
Item 22/06-05 District & County Councillors Report
County Cllr McNally reported on Jubilee Funding opportunities, which the Clerk will investigate, with the thought it could defray the cost of the four benches. He added that bottle banks were removed from the village for the Environment Agency to do their improvements at the pumping station and that they may not return, it will depend upon when household recycling is expanded to include glass. He also noted several scams are around at present, allegedly from the councils and warned people to be cautious.
District Cllr Paul Rickett noted the £150 council tax rebates were in progress for those eligible homes paying by direct debit. Eligible homes who do not pay this way will need to request the rebate using a form. He noted that a housing scrutiny report was submitted regarding suitable housing. This prompted questions from the Parish Councillors about empty homes in the village and if there was any policy about those, it was noted there is not one and, unless a home is in a terrible state of repair that there is little that can be done about it being empty.
Item 22/06-06 Parish Councillor Vacancies
None.
Item 22/06-07 To Resolve as Minutes the Record of the Monthly Meeting held on 9 May 2022
Resolved and signed by Chair.
Item 22/06-08 To Check the content of the Draft Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting 9 May 2022
Reviewed and deemed accurate. Will be approved at the 2023 Annual Parish Meeting.
Item 22/06-09 To Resolve as Minutes the record of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 9 May 2022
Resolved and signed by Chair.
Item 22/06-10 Chair’s Report
Chair outlined the breakdown of the Clerk’s equipment, software, and training expenses as they will be shared with her other employer, Theddlethorpe PC. The parish councillors agreed this breakdown. It was also noted that the Playing Fields bank account is expected to be opened within a fortnight at Lloyds Bank.
Item 22/06-11 Clerks Report
A letter was presented from the LMDB about a public information session that had taken place at an earlier date. As this was the new Clerk’s first meeting, she outlined her priorities which included bringing the PC’s accounts up to date and bringing the website up to date. Noted she will be on holiday 20 June through 20 July but will have mobile/email access and will complete the July meeting tasks prior to departing.
Item 22/06-12 Parish Councillors Reports/Matters to Raise
Cllr S Warsap communicated that the Social Centre was allowing the PC to use the hall at no charge again this year and indicated that they would be happy to put the PC meeting agendas and minutes onto their information board. The contact details for the centre’s manager were passed to the Clerk to follow up.
Item 22/06-13 Financial Matters
£47.00 cheque written to Chair to cover cost of floral gift to previous Clerk. Overpaid precept issue is ongoing with the Chair taking the lead on communicating with the PC’s bank about the change in Clerk and the need for updating addresses and requesting a new cheque book.
Item 22/06-14 Planning Matters: A) To Consider the ELDC Planning Applications Received:
(i) Ref: N/155/00702/22 Applicant: Mr J Tolley
Proposal: Planning Permission – Construction of a Vehicular Access
Location: Kirkby Cottage, Warren Road, Saltfleet, Nr. Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 7RU
Councillors lodged no objections and the Clerk will return comment to ELDC.
Item 22/06-15 Highways / Footpath / Lighting Matters
Vice-Chair Mace noted a bad pothole on Louth Road between the nursery and playing fields, he is waiting for dry weather before he can take a photo.
Cllr S Warsap enquired about the overgrowth and state of disrepair on the footpath between the nursery and garage,. Tabled until August as no cutting can take place in summer. Costs to lay a new footpath will also be investigated at that time.
Cllr K Warsap continued the concerns on overgrowth across the footpaths on both the north and south ends of the village, noting it was impossible to get a pushchair or wheelchair/buggy over it. Chair to action this concern with LCC.
A villager then asked about the crumbling footpath on the corner of Pump Lane and Main Road, asking if anything can be done about this.
Both District and County Councillors left the meeting at this point (20:25).
Item 22/06-16 Village Field
Cllr Williams looked into obtaining planning permission for the footprint of a building on the field, which would cost £231. The planning would last for 3 years and it is thought “levelling up” funds could be used to erect such building. Councillors asked about who would be running this building, and what its purpose would be. It transpired that the village plan was last updated some 12 years ago. Councillors agreed to consider questions for an updated survey and to resolve it at the July meeting with Cllr Williams drafting it in the first instance.
A summary of the Field’s finances was shared leading to questions about whether or not this information was available to the public as the field is publicly owned. Cllr Cunliffe noted the new signs on the field car park were working and enquired about the PC’s position on legal matters which Cllr Williams understood was part of the PC’s annual LALC subscription. A further query was made about the PC’s insurance and if it incorporated the field. Clerk to investigate and forward the policy documents.
Item 22/06-17 Any Other Urgent Matters
Gratitude was expressed to all those responsible for organising and supporting the recent Jubilee events.
The idea of the PC making known to the public that it welcomes memorial benches, planters, etc was expressed; this concept will be noted on PC website and social media. Cllr Cunliffe is to establish an official PC Facebook page in the coming weeks.
Item 22/06-18 To Resolve the Date of the next Parish Council Monthly Meeting – 4 July 2022
The next Parish Council meeting will be held at the Social Centre, Sea Lane, Saltfleet on Monday 4 July 2022, commencing at 19:00.
With no further business or matters raised, the Chair then closed the meeting at 20:55.