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Louth Town Council - Working with the community to make Louth a better place to live and work

Agenda for Tuesday 10th February 2026

By /

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 10th February 2026 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 possible, please 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 5th Day of February 2026

AGENDA

 

TOWN COUNCIL

(Chairman: Cllr. D. Hobson,  Vice Chairman: Cllr. Mrs. K. Parsons, Membership: All Cllrs.)

  1. Apologies for Absence
    To receive apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk at least one hour prior to the meeting.
  2. Register of Interests
    Councillors are reminded to review the content of their Register of Member Interest forms and complete and submit new forms to the Town Clerk to reflect any required changes. Interests should be declared in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

  3. 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.
  4. Town Clerk’s Remarks
  5. Minutes
    To approve as a correct record the notes of the Council Meeting held on 20th January 2026.
  6. Committee Minutes
    To confirm receipt of the minutes and adopt resolutions contained therein of the following Committee Meetings:

    1. Planning Committee – 9th December 2025
  7. Deputy Mayor Elect 2026/27
    Council to receive nominations and resolve upon a recommendation to fill the Deputy Mayor position in 2026/27. Council to note that:

    1. The Deputy Mayor historically ascends to the position of Mayor in the following Mayoral year (May 2027).
    2. Candidates are expected to fulfil the role of Mayor as per the attached Job Specification.
    3. Councillors putting themselves forward for the position of Deputy Mayor Elect for 2026/27, please ensure, in advance, that you have a seconder;
    4. For those proposing other Councillors please ensure, in advance, that the nominee wishes to stand and a seconder is in place.
    5. The position of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2026/27 will be subject to a formal election at the Annual Town Council meeting on 26th May 2026.
  8. Meeting Dates 2026/27
    Council to approve the attached schedule of meeting dates for 2026/27.
  9. Louth Christmas Market
    Council to receive confirmation from Louth Lions that it has agreed to take on the running of the Louth Christmas Market 2026 and consider accepting Louth Lions requests for support (see attached).
  10. Investment Policy
    Council to review its Investment Policy and approve for continued use.
  11. Grants
    Council to review its decision in 2025 to allow grant applications year-round and resolve upon continuation of that going forwards.

  12. Cemetery Fees
    Council to review and resolve upon its Cemetery Fees for 2026/27. (See attached).
  13. Amenity Grass Cutting
    Council to note that LCC have updated the terms and conditions of the above agreement to ensure that grass cutting by the Council is carried out at around the same time that LCC’s grass cuts are carried out. LCC are to re-issue all agreements.  Council to approve delegated authority to the Clerk to sign and return the agreement, if reasonable, so that quotes for work in 2026/27 can be sought to allow consideration and notification to contractors before the start of the grass cutting season.
  14. Co-option Policy
    Following the recent co-option of members on 20th January at which time Council voiced a wish to review the co-option policy, Councillors to receive a copy of the policy and resolve upon amendments thereto.

  15. Next Meeting
    To note that the next meeting of the Town Council will take place on 3rd March 2026.

PLANNING COMMITTEE
(Chairman: Cllr. P. Starsmore, Vice Chairman: Cllr. D. Moore, Membership: All Cllrs.)

  1. Apologies for Absence
    To receive 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 20th January 2026. (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 02-10-26). (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 Work to Trees
    Committee to ratify comments submitted by the Planning Working Group in time to meet ELDC deadlines, in relation to the applications circulated to Councillors by email on 30/01/26, as below:

    1. Proposals: Group 1 – Sycamore – Dismantle to approx. 6ft for carving, Walnut – Dismantle to approx. 6ft for carving, 2 x Hollys – Dismantle, Laburnum – Dismantle. Location: 26 Westgate.  Reasons: None provided.  Comments:   Tree Officer should visit to assess the size, health and vitality of these trees before a decision is made.  Removal of healthy trees which pose no problems or risks is not supported.
    2. Proposals: T1 – Beech – Canopy Reduction – Reduce height from 18m leaving a height of 14m. Reduce canopy radius from 8m to 5m from the main stem cutting back to viable secondary growth points and following natural flowing lines.  Height will be left above historic pruning points.  Remove dead wood.  Tree has included bark at numerous locations on the main stem.  Reasons: T1 – Beech – It is now a lot of wind sale and past its pruning cycle.  It’s also outgrowing its current location.  Comments:
  7. Compilation of Statement of Concerns
    Following discussion on 20th January 2026, Committee to compile a statement of concerns which Committee could then choose to submit as or add to its planning comments for large scale developments, as necessary. Committee to consider a draft, compiled by Cllr. HF.

  8. Next Meeting
    To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Committee will take place on 3rd March 2026.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

(Chairman: Cllr. Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders, Vice Chairman: Cllr. J. Baskett,
Membership: Cllrs. EB, GEH, JD, PS, Mrs. KP)

  1. Apologies for Absence
    To receive 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 Personnel Committee meeting held on 4th November 2025. (Attached).

  4. Closed Session
    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 confidential and third party nature in relation to Personnel:

    1. Staff
      1. Holidays
      2. Sickness
      3. Accidents
      4. Acting Maintenance Foreman/Cemetery Superintendent – 3 Month Review
  1. Next Meeting
    To note that the next scheduled meeting of the Personnel Committee will take place on 14th April 2026.