Louth Town Council
The Sessions House, Eastgate,
Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 9AJ

01507 355895
clerk@louthtowncouncil.gov.uk

To the Members of the Town Council of Louth:

You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of Louth Town Council, its Planning Committee and its Personnel Committee which will be held on Tuesday 22^nd July 2025 in The Old Court Room, The Sessions House, Eastgate, Louth at 7pm.  The business to be dealt with at the meeting is listed in the agenda below.

There will be a 15 minute public forum between 6.45pm and 7.00pm when members of the public may ask questions or make short statements to the Council, and your attendance is requested during this period. 

Please note, any public, wishing to speak in the public forum may do so on items which appear on the agenda or may ‘sit in’ on the meeting(s).  It would be much appreciated if any member of the public wishing to speak would please contact the Town Clerk, by emailing clerk@louthtowncouncil.gov.uk in advance of the meeting to discuss attendance arrangements.  If preferred it is possible to provide written representation rather than attending in person.

Members of the public should note that they will not be allowed to speak during the formal meeting.

Mrs. L.M. Phillips
Town Clerk
Dated this 17^th Day of July 2025

AGENDA

TOWN COUNCIL

(Chairman: Cllr. D. Hobson, Membership: All Cllrs.)

1. Apologies for Absence
   To receive and note apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk at least one hour prior to the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act, 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation received by the Proper Officer under section 22 of the Localism Act.
3. Minutes
   To approve as a correct record the notes of the Town Council meeting held on 24^th June 2025. (Attached).
4. Play Park on land off Park Avenue
   Council to receive a report from the working group regarding the proposed play park off Park Avenue and resolve on the way forward. (Attached).
5. Community Communications
   Council to receive a report from Cllr. Mrs. K. Parsons and resolve upon the way forward. (Attached).

6. Equality and Diversity Policy
   Council to receive a draft Equality and Diversity Policy and consider approving and adopting for use.
7. Armed Forces Friendly
   Council to consider whether it might wish to become an Armed Forces Friendly Council which will require it to a) sign the armed forces covenant, b) identify a number of Councillors that would be it’s ‘champions’, c) attend 4 training sessions (SSAFA, DWP, Veteran Support Services, Armed Forces Overview), d) amend it’s website to demonstrate it’s commitment, e) be prepared to ‘signpost’ people to services; and f) champion the armed forces community in Louth. Council to consider an offer from Mr. P. Drury the Lincolnshire Armed Forces Community Covenant Officer that he speak to Council on the initiative informally.

8. Lincolnshire Police and Parish Council Sessions
   Council to nominate a representative to attend the Lincolnshire Police and Parish Council East Lindsey briefing sessions, next session being held by Teams on 23^rd September 2025 from 6pm.

9. Louth United Charities
   Council to note that Mr. A. Leonard’s term of office as an LTC representative on the above organisation expired at the end of June 2025. Council to nominate a new representative.
10. Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC)
    To receive reports from attendees at the following:
    2025. LALC AGM – held by Zoom on 3^rd July 2025. (Attached).
    2026. LALC Annual Conference – held at The Epic Centre, Lincoln on 16^th July 2025.
11. Local Government Review
    6. Councillors to receive details of the proposals being put forward by ELDC and South Holland District Council in relation to the above (attached) and note that online events for Council’s will be held on 28^th July from 6.30pm and 20^th August from 6.30pm offering the opportunity to discuss issues around local area governance and the future role and responsibilities of town and parish councils. More information can be found at greaterlincolnshireforall.org
    7. Councillors to receive details of survey’s being conducted by LCC. (Attached).

12. Closed Session Items
    Council to resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the business to be discussed in the following items, information being of a third party, commercial, confidential and or legal nature in relation to:
    1. Old Mill House
       1. Following discussions on 3^rd June and 24^th June, Council to ratify its conclusion that sale of the freehold must be pursued at the value previously calculated by the District Valuer in light of the leaseholders right to buy (previously confirmed by the Barrister) and the Barrister’s most current advice, which offered no cast iron option to retain the property unless court proceedings were risked and a potential substantial financial burden.
       2. Council to receive an update and approve TP.
    2. London Road Sports Partnership
       1. Following discussion on 24^th June Council to receive draft lease and suggested amendments, note that it previously concluded that none of the changes to the draft lease, as suggested by LRSP’s solicitor should be implemented, receive an update and resolve upon the way forward.
    3. Next Meeting
       To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Town Council will take place on 19^th August 2025.

 

PLANNING COMMITTEE

(Chairman: Cllr. P. Starsmore, Membership: All Cllrs.)

1. Apologies for Absence
   To receive and note apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk at least one hour prior to the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act, 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation received by the Proper Officer under section 22 of the Localism Act.
3. Minutes
   To approve as a correct record the notes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on 24^th June 2025. (Attached).
4. Applications received by the Local Planning Authority
   To consider and make observations/ratify comments already submitted by the Planning Working Group to meet deadlines, on all planning applications received including those listed in the schedule (PA/Schedule 07-22-25). (Attached).
5. Planning Correspondence
   Committee to receive planning decisions, enforcement complaints, appeal decisions, temporary road closures etc., as advised by the District and County Council. (Attached).

6. Proposed Works to Trees
   Committee to consider the following proposed works to trees (no location plans supplied):
   1. Proposals: T1 – Pear spp – height reduction 1.5-2 meters. T2 – Apple spp – 1.5m off height.  T3 – Wild Cherry – height reduction by 3m and crown reduction of up to 1m to shape (will also band ivy).  T4 – Pear – height reduction by 1.5m.  T5 – Apple – reduce height by 2m.  T6 – Holly spp – height reduction by 3m to previous pruning height and reduce crown 2m to match bottom side.  Location: 64 Broadbank.  Reasons: T4 – will band ivy and split wisteria.
   2. Proposals: T1 – Apple spp – 2m height reduction. T2 – Apple spp – Remove.  Location: 62 Broadbank.  Reasons: T1 – Height reduction.  T2 – Very unhealthy/dying, overtak3en by ivy; overhanging a boundary.
7. The Great Grid Upgrade: Grimsby to Walpole Stage 2
   Council to receive and ratify the corporate response formulated at the Planning Working Group meeting held 15^th July 2025 as resolved at the Planning Committee meeting on 24^th June 2025 for submission by the deadline of 6^th August 2025.
8. Application for a Pavement Café Licence by Larders Coffee House, Little Butcher Lane, Louth
   Further to circulation of details of the above by email, Councillors to ratify the response of the Planning Working Group which was to support the application.

9. Street Lighting Improvement Scheme, Louth
   Council to receive the response from LCC (attached) following receipt of notification (on 24^th June 2025) that it was to improve street lighting in Kidgate, Aswell Street, Lee Street and Cinder Lane and the Council’s response that a) these streets are located in the Conservation Area, and as such, street lights need to be replaced by good quality, Victorian-style posts which are in keeping with the Conservation Area; and b) the Council should be consulted on the proposed replacement designs.

10. Next Meeting
    To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Committee will take place on 19^th August 2025.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

(Membership: Cllrs. Mrs. JMS, GEH, JB, JD, Mrs. KP, PS)

1. Election of Personnel Committee Chairman
   The Mayor will initially take the chair for this item. Committee to receive nominations and to elect the Chairman of the Personnel Committee to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Louth Town Council in 2026.
   
2. Election of Personnel Committee Vice Chairman
   Committee to receive nominations and to elect the Vice Chairman of the Personnel Committee to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Louth Town Council in 2026.

3. Apologies for Absence
   To receive and note apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk at least one hour prior to the meeting.
4. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
   To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act, 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation received by the Proper Officer under section 22 of the Localism Act.
5. Minutes
   To approve as a correct record the notes of the Personnel Committee Meeting held on 6^th May 2025. (Attached).

6. Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA)
   Committee to approve Clerk’s registration to undertake the above qualification (cost £450). Funds to be taken from the EMR Quality Council – balance £4,425.
7. Closed Session
   Committee to resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the business to be discussed in the following items, information being of a third party and confidential nature in relation to Personnel:
   1. Holidays
   2. Sickness
   3. Accidents
   4. New Employee
8. Next Meeting
   Committee to note that the date of the next scheduled Personnel Committee meeting is 21^st October 2025.