2024 Parish Council Minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 2 September 2024 at 7.00pm at Saltfleet Methodist Church, Main Road, Louth Lincolnshire LN11 9HF

Present:                            Chair                                Cllr Guy Williams

                                                                                     Cllr Ian Dickinson

                                                                                      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

                                             Apologises:                    Cllr Matthew Benton (Accepted)

                                                                                      Cllr Paul Rickett (Accepted)

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

• A parishioner asked what could be done about overgrown hedge at the New Inn. Chair said that it would advisable to reach out to the office.
• Parishioner reported noise nuisance in the village during the recent Olympics at a BBQ of one of his neighbour. It transpired that this was one of the councillors and chair explained that this was not the forum to report and they should report noise nuisance to Environmental Health Agency at East Lindsey.
• A parishioner wanted to clarify the cost of an election which will be covered in the chair’s report.
• They also asked of we could return to monthly meetings and the council would review if needed. Clerk explained that if we needed more time in the public forum then we could vote for this at each meeting.
• Concern about the flares by Angus Energy being allowed to be 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. This is further impacting residents as the noise is loud. Discussion that this would not be resolving itself as they are consulting local groups. If council has more information we will publish on the website.
• Resident brought up the recent abusive comment on social media regarding the playing field and express that surely this is not the place to be have this exchange and stated why is there lack of support from other councillors. Chair stated that the situation is unfortunate but this is what has transpired and as a council we are waiting the a proposal from playing field committee as noted in the last minutes.

At 19.16 Clerk asked for a vote to continue the public forum for further 15 minutes which was proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOVED.

• Parishioner asked about the village survey that has been proposed over the discussions of burial ground and the plans the council has for this for example carpark extension, archaeological dig etc This will all be part of the development plan. This survey was undertaken 15 years ago and chair explained that he had taken the cost of this project into his business at the time. Parishioner asked if it something that can be done with volunteers from villagers. Chair explained that survey would be done by clerk in order to adhere to GDPR and they are the only one who as access to electoral register.  
• Parishioner asked if we could see if we could purchase football goal for the field for the villagers. After discussion it would be beneficial if we approached playing field committee.

Chair invited district councillor to speak Cllr Ricketts via email: 19.25

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. 

Chair invited Cllr McNally to speak:

• A charter has be setup to report scams funded by Easy Lindsey Council to report doorstep crime, credit card scams and or cold callers. This website has lots of useful information please circulate especially among the elderly in our communities. Doorstep Crime and Scam Prevention | Operation Repeat (oprepeat.co.uk)
• Reuse centre to be opened in Tattershall. Open for donations for all sorts of items that can be used others in the community. This is a trial project and if successful we could see a depot in Louth. Parishioners can go pick things up for free or small donation.

Ends 19.31

Item 0924/34 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations: Note that Cllr Benton, Cllr Campion, Cllr Barker all sit on the Playing field committee. Cllr Warsap will decline from votes regarding memorial beacon as it is her family.

Item 0924/35 Apologies for absence: Apologies received and accepted from Cllr Benton and Cllr Ricketts.

Item 0924/36 To approve the draft notes as minutes of the last meeting held on the 1 July 2024: RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes, and they were dated and signed by the Chairman.

Item 0924/37 Chair’s Report:

• Chair would like to acknowledge that there was a query via email regarding the cost of election and at the May meeting where a figure of £10,000 was noted as to a cost of the election. After further investigation cost would be circ. £2,500.
• Other items are on agenda

Item 0924/38 Training:  Training available to all Staff and elected Members and clerk recommends councillors to view training schedule. LALC conference attended by Clerk and two Cllr was very useful from a networking with workshops were useful, meeting with IT advisor and Unity bank.

Workshops were on:
Flooding: prevention the coastal flooding risks are responsibility of Environment Agency and not inland drainage boards.  Prevention of inland floods cannot be guaranteed as what causes it is not predictable in as much as quantity of rain etc.  All that can be done is anticipation of probabilities and managing flood plains over farmlands. Storm Hank Plus another storm had been responsible for flooding of seven districts, 2387 properties flooded in 2023.  It is your own responsibility to protect your own property as much as you can. Parish councils can have a plan i.e. sand bags and distribution.  Those having properties adjacent river or drainage banks.  Are responsible in various ways depending on sort of boundary for that part of water course adjacent the property.

Risk Assessments:  Presentation from HSE consultant.   The main points are of duty of care and if a task or activity exists then a Risk Assessment (RA) for it must be in place.  Example given was, do your grass cutters have a RA for the activity they are carrying out.  We as a Parish Council have RA for the car boots and for recent family fun day.  Please advise me so that it can be looked at.  Example is playing equipment area, even though we have had an annual inspection that may have identified certain points that need monitoring or rectifying a RA can be done to record the control measures that are in place.

Banking:  There was a firm at the meeting who provide a banking service at our annual Precept level for £6 a month.  Believe they are based in the midlands and monies are secured at a rate above the present £85,000 limit.  Advertising material available, leaflets available.

Item 0924/39 Parish Councillors’ Reports: No other  reports

Item 0924/40 Parish Matters To receive updates from in respect of:

1. RoSPA Play Safety Team – Annual inspection carried out 5 August and the report has made various recommendations via a scale from green to red and council will rectify all tasks that have resulted form the inspection.
2. Angus Energy – Flares of dirty gas a is being released over the village 24 hours a day. Council to check with planning department as to what is actually allowed. Previously gas was released if it was an emergency but this has been continuous for some time. Chair urged the parishioners to complain details will be provided on website. It was proposed that the council will write to Environment Agency asking about what is allowed to happen. Seconded and RESOLVED.Liaison meeting with Angus Energy continues and chair is keen to maintain a good relationship as there plan is to double the capacity of use.
3. Burial ground – New application need to be made on our behalf and action around the archaeological dig and that has been misregistered will continue.
4. Village Field update – A planning application will submitted by parish via Andrew Clove. Proposed cost £1380 plus VAT. Application was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED.
5. Radar speed indicator signs – Parish has had emails from eight parishioners all in agreement to purchase the speed indicator and we thank the parishioners that too the time to write. Proposed to purchase with one post as this is a RESOVED decision.
6. Noticeboard – Chair was aware that the noticeboard looked shabby and has repaired this with no cost to the council. Thank you to the chair.
7. Highways Hedges on Church Lane need to be cut back as they are over the 30 miles speed signs. Proposed that Nick Cook asked for a quote, seconded and RESOLVED.
8. Apple Tree Project – Proposed that the council apply for trees via the Kings Community fund for North End side of field for a community orchard.
9. Beacon – Proposed by the Warsap family that a memorial beacon to be erected for social events with the passing of Kieth Warsap. Quotes to be attained and in volve play field committee.
10. HMRC PAYE – The parish council has been setup as an employer and the clerk is being paid. PAYE due will be charged on a monthly basis.

Item 0924/41 Planning Applications: All application have been supported by the Council

N/155/00787/24SPORTS FIELD ADJACENT SALTFLEET CLUB HOUSE, LOUTH ROAD, SALTFLEET

N/155/01754/23TUXWORTH CARAVAN SITE, SEA LANE, SALTFLEET, LOUTH, LN11 7RP

N/155/01058/24THE OLD RECTORY, SOMERCOTES ROAD, SKIDBROOKE, LOUTH, LN11 7DQ

N/155/01057/24THE OLD RECTORY, SOMERCOTES ROAD, SKIDBROOKE, LOUTH, LN11 7DQ

Item 0924/42 Bank Account and online banking: Parish clerk needs to attain access to the bank account the bank forms have been completed and sent but no authorisation as yet. Clerk to chase.

Item 0924/43 Correspondence: To receive and dispose of correspondence received since the last meeting.

Email form National Grid stating that landowners and occupiers will consulted in this next phase. Letter to be sent on behalf of Council against the proposal.

Item 0924/44 Future meeting dates: To note the date of the next meeting Monday 4 November and 2025 meetings Monday 13 January, Monday 3 March, Monday 12 May with Annual Parish Meeting

Item 0924/45 Financial matters:

1. Bank balances 2 July 2024 £33,241.84
2. To note income. None
3. To authorise the signing of orders for payment

Meeting ended 20.19