2024 Parish Council Minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 1 July 2024 at 7.00pm at Saltfleet Methodist Church, Main Road, Louth Lincolnshire LN11 9HF

Present:                            Chair                                Cllr Guy Williams

                                            Vice-Chair                      Cllr Matthew Benton

                                                                                      Cllr Sheila Warsap

                                                                                      Cllr John Campion

                                                                                      Cllr Peter Mace  

                                                                                      Cllr Graham Barker

Also Present:                    Clerk                               Mrs Binal Sawjani                                   

                                            Members of Public      11

                                             District/County             Cllr Daniel McNally

                                                                                      Cllr Paul Rickett

                                             Apologises:                    Cllr Ian Dickinson (Accepted)

Item 0724/20 Welcome to the meeting: Chair opened meeting at 18.59 and welcomed the councillors, public and district councillors.

• A parishioner express notice for the beach cleaning day organised by Wildflouders. Chair informed people that the day was on the Salfleet Facebook page but we would endeavour to publish the next beach clean day via the website and noticeboard.
• A parishioner wanted a update on the proposed plan for Louth FC using the playing field in the village, what details have been received by the parish council. Chair raised concerns that whilst it was great that the ground was being used that what are the plans for that additional parking for residents and visitors. Plus there is a playing ground there for younger children and if the playing filed is being used would this discourage families with young children not to visit the playground. Further discussion concluded that the plans that have been given to the playing field committee have been scant and omitted the parking element that was discussed originally and replicated plans used at Saltfleetby ground. The only way the parish has benefitted is that the grass has been cut regularly. However the plans need to be reviewed. A planning application has been put in but in the chairs name with his home address and the chair was not aware of this and has contacted planning office to have the application withdrawn. The officers at the planning office explained that once a planning application has been accepted the it cannot be withdrawn only rejected. It was proposed that another call to withdraw application which was seconded and RESOLVED. Chair also, explained that the bio-diversity part of the application has not been mentioned and that if the application had been done via the parish council then it would have saved the cost of the planning fee.
• A parishioner asked how to report overgrown hedges on Main Road. Firstly, report on fix my street as a resident and a friendly word with the resident. As for the part of Toby’s Hill the council would report to the Highways department.

Chair invited Cllr McNally to speak: 19.16

• A parishioner asked about the bus scheme and the arrangements for Saltfleet at the last meeting the Cllr confirmed that there are no plans to extend the bus service Cllr McNally explained that PC Coaches has made routes available that are commercially viable and district council has had made recommendations to run all year round. However they have provided this bus service by tagging onto the current Saltfleet bus route and numbers would have to increase significantly for there to be a business case for own route. There is option of using Call-Connect and council will ensure links are on the noticeboard and website.

Chair invited Cllr Ricketts to speak and welcomed back to the meeting after an absence due to ill health.

• East Lindsey council has committed to reduce carbon emissions by using new technologies and collaborating with sister councils and there will be further news on this by Autumn.

Further notes provided by email:
The South & East Lincolnshire Crowd opens next round of funding to support local causes this Summer

• The South and East Lincolnshire Council's Partnership's Crowdfunding platform, named 'South & East Lincolnshire Crowd' will open its next round of funding to support fantastic local causes across the sub-region. Working in partnership with Spacehive, the UK's leading civic crowdfunding platform, has already allowed the Partnership to support a range of grassroots projects in Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland through crowdfunding. Running a digital crowdfunding campaign means groups will need to ask members of the public to support your project with donations via the Spacehive website. Organisations can apply for up to £5,000 from the Council's funding pots to go towards their funding target. More information on the council funding opportunities are available at https://www.spacehive.com/movement/southandeastlincs Further introduction workshops will also be taking place later in the year, please contact Local Communities Officer, Maddy Eyre at Maddy.Eyre@boston.gov.uk for more information.

NHS Survey

• Please find a current survey to share your views on the NHS Continuing Healthcare service in care homes, as part of their re-procurement engagement. Please provide us with your feedback in order that your views and experiences can help shape this service and the service specification going forward and improve the service that is delivered for the people of Lincolnshire. Staff/stakeholder survey - https://bit.ly/ContinuingHealthcareStaffSurvey  The Personalisation Team's newsletter: https://sway.cloud.microsoft/LfuMu399h9bVHVyR?ref=email&loc=play

South & East Lincolnshire's Household Support Fund has now gone live and is open for applications

•  The council's partners at the Lincolnshire Community Foundation have reopened its Household Support Fund scheme, which can support people struggling with food costs or other forms of financial hardship. The funding is open only to residents of Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland. Households in financial hardship can apply for a grant of up to £300 for a voucher to help with food, clothes or other essentials – anyone can apply online at https://lincolnshirecf.co.uk/grants/hsf/ or contact the Household Support Fund team for assistance on 01529 305825 or email hsf@lincolnshirecf.co.uk. Applications are strictly limited to one per household. Priority will be given to households in financial hardship, experiencing crisis due to a change in circumstance, and that have not previously received a household support fund grant. If you have any questions or queries about the funding scheme, please contact Healthy Living Strategic Lead roxanne.warrick@e-lindsey.gov.uk. 

Sutton on Sea Colonnade project update

• There's been some great progress on site in the past few months, with the foundation and drainage work now completed and the structural steel frame of the building erected. Concrete and dwarf wall building is now underway, and the installation of floor slabs will commence shortly, followed by the main walls, roof and cladding. The project remains on programme to open in time for the 2025 season.

Upcoming Lincs Digital events

• We are pleased to share details of new 'digital inclusion' sessions across South & East Lincolnshire. People can drop in (no booking required) for help with devices, accessing services online or any other digital query (including being 'assisted' if they chose not to go online) and be welcomed by the friendly Lincs Digital team. There will also be a range of learning and training available if people are interested in expanding their skills or increasing confidence. The drop-in sessions can assist with:
  • Online services or general use of your phone, tablet or laptop
  • Data Bank for help with data for your phone.
  • Help with the Council website: Planning, Council tax, Housing
  • Blue Badge applications
  • NHS and online GP services

For the full list of events, and more details about each event: https://lincsdigital.org.uk/events/

Ends 19.26

Item 0724/21 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations: None

Item 0724/22 Apologies for absence received and approve: Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Ian Dickinson

Item 0724/23 To approve the draft notes as minutes of the last meeting held on the 13 May and 26 June 2024: RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes, and they were dated and signed by the Chairman.

Item 0724/24 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2023/24: Forms: Internal audit completed and forms have been signed and sent to the external auditors. Public interest notice has been displayed and AGAR RESOLVED at the emergency meeting on 26 June 2024.

Item 0724/25 Chair’s Report:

• Council would like to express our condolences on the passing of Ralph Benton. He will be a great loss to the parish and as he served the village life for many years.
• Playing fields committee has a temporary event notice and has undertaken risk assessments which will be filed with the clerk.
• Angus electricity update below under parish matters

Item 0724/26 Training:  Training available to all Staff and elected Members and clerk recommends councillors to view training schedule. Two Cllr proposed to attend the annual LALC Conference on 24 July 2024, seconded and RESOLVED. Cllrs to report back on the workshops from the conference.

Item 0724/27 Parish Councillors’ Reports: No reports

Item 0724/28 Parish Matters To receive updates from in respect of:

• RoSPA Play Safety Team – the Parish has responsibility to have play area assessed and last assessment was 2023. Proposed that we could share costs with Playing Committees. 11 items need reviewing and the report provides a checklist of what needs to be reviewed which has been recommended by Cllr. This was seconded and RESOLVED.
• Angus Energy – Parish to complain to the Highways department about the proposed  road expansion of Howdales Road / Saddleback Road as it would been dangerous for school children from the primary and secondary and two special needs schools.
• Village Field update – A draft agreement has been proposed by Louth FC however there is not enough detail as it seems like they have lifted a proposal for another site and used same document for our parish. The proposal does not mention portacabins, bio-diversity and carparking facilities which have been previously discussed. Further to this the Chair has come across a planning application that has been published on the East Lindsey planning portal in his name and address without his permission. A planning application need to be submitted by parish and Andrew Clover has agreed to do this on behalf of the council. There was much discussion on this and the parish would like the playing field used and it would be great to see field being used especially for sports however the proposal needs to be more robust. One of the points was should Louth FC have a licence to occupy but not take it over its use as the field is for parishioners. It was proposed  that chair to ask planning to be withdrawn. A proposal to the playing field committee a licence agreement is in place for Louth FC and others to hire field in line with other charges in neighbouring villages. To reconvene grass cutting contract with Glendale. These points have been proposed, seconded and RESOLVED.
• Update on radar speed indicator signs – Proposed that we commit to one speed indicator as we have the funds. Cost for one £2,500 with £60 extra for the battery which records data and if we have posts we can move the indicator. Posts are £300 each. The indicators has a three coloured traffic light system that shows of the motorist is going to fast. Much discussion on this and the council would like to invite comments to be made to the clerk vis email which will be discussed at the next meeting. Emails will be acknowledged.
• Beach cleaning day – this was a successful event as Cllr had feedback from parishioners. The council will endeavour to advertise the next beach cleaning day.
• Update on burial ground – An email has been sent by Rebecca Flat and this ensures that we are exempt from going through the planning process however we need to do the archaeological dig at a charge of £5,000. However the piece of land we are purchasing has been misregistered by the previous owners and legal proceeding will continue.

Item 0724/29 Bank Account and online banking: Parish clerk needs to attain access to the bank account and review if this is the best account for the parish report back next meeting.

Item 0724/30 Expenses: None.

Item 0724/31 Correspondence: None

Item 0724/32 Future meeting dates: To note the date of the next meeting Monday 2 September and Monday 4 November

Item 0724/33 Financial matters:

1. Bank balances 4 June 2024 £33,899.36
2. To note income for £8210.36 – Percept and interest
3. To authorise the signing of orders for payment

Meeting ended 20.15