07-22-25 TC MINS

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH
ON TUESDAY 22nd JULY 2025

The Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Mrs. K. Parsons (Mrs. KP) (in the chair).

Present Councillors: Mrs. E. Ballard (Mrs. EB), J. Baskett (JB), J. Drake (JD), H. Filer (HF), G.E. Horton (GEH), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (Mrs. JMS), D. Moore (DM), P. Starsmore (PS), Mrs. P.F. Watson (Mrs. PFW).

Councillors Not Present: M. Barnes (MB), D. Hobson (DH), D.E. Wing (DEW).

The Town Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips and the Town Clerk’s Assistant, Mrs. S. Chitauro-Adlard were also present.

Public Forum
• Cllr. EB acknowledged the contribution made to the Council by a former Cllr. during her tenure with the Council.

NB: Before the meeting commenced, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Cllr. PS act as Vice Chair for the duration of the meeting.

T49. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. DH.

T50. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
The following declarations of interest were made:
a. Cllr. GEH – Item 8 – as he sometimes works with the police.
b. Cllr. Mrs. JMS – Item 11 – as a member of East Lindsey District Council (ELDC).
c. Cllr. Mrs. KP – Item 7 – as a member of Veteran Support Services.

T51. Minutes
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the notes of the Council Meetings held on 24th June 2025 be approved as the minutes.

T52. Play Park on Land Off Park Avenue
The Council received a report from the Park Avenue Playground Working Group (PAPWG), in which Cllr. DM informed the Council that the Park Avenue Residents Group (PARG) were hoping to obtain charitable status, that they had established trustees and that they had approached South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership to enquire about applying for a grant of £90,000. A discussion ensued and it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that LTC should wait until the PARG achieved charitable status and presented a sensible business plan before progressing matters further.

T53. Community Communications
The Council received a report compiled by Cllr. KP detailing her recent investigation into the Town Council potentially publishing a community magazine. After discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to establish a working group consisting of Cllrs. PS and Mrs. KP, along with the Town Clerk, to undertake further research into the possibility of a small community magazine being developed.

NB: Cllr. Mrs. PFW left the room at 7.46pm during discussions of Community Communications and re-entered at 7.47pm.

T54. Equality and Diversity Policy
The Council received and reviewed the drafted Equality and Diversity Policy, and it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve for use.

NB: Cllr. Mrs. EB left the room at 8pm and re-entered at 8.02pm.

T55. Armed Forces Friendly
The Council noted that to become an Armed Forces Friendly Council it would be required 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. After discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to invite Mr. P. Drury, the Lincolnshire Armed Forces Community Covenant Officer, to speak to the Council about the initiative.

T56. Lincolnshire Police and Parish Council Sessions
After discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to nominate Cllr. Mrs. EB as a representative of LTC to attend the Lincolnshire Police and Parish Council East Lindsey briefing session to be held by Teams on 23rd September 2025.

T57. Louth United Charities
It was noted that Mr. A. Leonard’s term of office as an LTC representative on the above organisation had expired in June 2025. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Cllr. Mrs. KP be elected as LTC’s new representative of Louth United Charities.

T58. Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC)
a. LALC AGM – the Council received a tabled report from Cllr. Mrs. JMS on the LALC AGM, held via Zoom on 3rd July 2025.
b. LALC Annual Conference – Cllrs. GEH and DM shared their experiences of attending the LALC Annual Conference, held in Lincoln on 16th July 2025.

T59. Local Government Review
a. The Council received details of the proposals from ELDC and South Holland District Council in relation to the above and noted that online events for Council’s would be held on 28th July 2025 from 6.30pm and 20th 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.
b. Councillors received details of the surveys being conducted by LCC. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to formulate a corporate response to the survey in a future Planning Working Group meeting. Councillors could also submit their own individual responses to the survey.

T60. Closed Session
At 8.49pm upon a proposal by Cllr. PS, seconded by Cllr. Mrs. JMS, it was RESOLVED 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, the information being of a commercially confidential nature in regard to:
a. Old Mill House
i. Following lengthy deliberation, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to reluctantly proceed with the sale of Old Mill House at a 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.
ii. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the TP1. It was noted that the water wheel was not in its original location, and the Council agreed to request that it be restored and re-sited if possible.
b. London Road Sports Partnership
i. The Council noted that London Road Sports Partnership solicitors had suggested amendments to the draft lease regarding a provision to assist them in the event of inactive insolvency. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the lease but request that if the time frame suggested was not statutory, it be reduced if possible.

At 9.30pm it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to move out of closed session.

T61. Next Meeting
It was noted that the date of the next scheduled Town Council meeting would take place on 19th August 2025.

The Meeting Closed at 9.30pm.

Signed_______________________ (Chairman) Dated_________________________