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’s Planning Committee and Personnel Committee which will be held on Tuesday 6^th May 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.  Written representation can also be considered 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 30^th Day of April 2025

AGENDA

PLANNING COMMITTEE

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

9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Minutes
    To approve as a correct record the notes of the Planning Committee Meeting held on 15^th April 2025. (Attached).
12. Refused Application for 3G Pitch at Wood Lane / Alternative Arrangements
    Committee to receive a presentation from a representative of Louth Town Football Club and consider approving that either the Mayor Elect or the Deputy Mayor Elect attend meetings to assist in progressing alternative arrangements for Louth. This representative to report back to Town Council. 
13. Applications received by the Local Planning Authority
    To consider and make observations on all planning applications received including those listed in the schedule (PA/Schedule 05-06-25). (Attached).
14. Planning Correspondence
    Committee to note planning decisions, enforcement complaints, appeal decisions, temporary road closures etc., as advised by the District and County Council. (Attached).
15. Advertisement Consent Appeal
    Committee to note that Wildstone Estates Ltd., has appealed against ELDC’s refusal for 1 no. internally illuminated digital poster sign at 152-154 Eastgate (N/105/01928/24). All previous comments have been forwarded by ELDC to the Planning Inspector.  Council to resolve upon whether it wishes to make further comments, modify or withdraw it’s previous representation which was:
    Louth Town Council considered application N/105/01928/24 on 14th January 2025 and object on the following grounds: Effect on listed buildings and conservation area: This internally illuminated, wall mounted, digital hoarding would be completely out of place in Louth, an unspoilt Market Town with a medieval street pattern and a plethora of architecturally notable Georgian and Victorian buildings, which wishes to retain its historic character, directly opposite to the Grade II Listed Almshouses (not mentioned in the application) and the Grade II Listed War Memorial. The proposed materials would be out of keeping with and would therefore have a detrimental impact on Louth’s Conservation Area, within which this proposal is located. It would cause a significant change to the character and appearance of a main entrance to the town located within the Conservation Area. Louth Town Council would like to see a Heritage Assessment carried out. Overbearing nature of the scheme / Noise and disturbance from the scheme: This proposal with its intermittently changing and bright flashing images would cause light pollution and be a disturbance to and annoyance to the elderly residents of the Almshouses, who live directly opposite and who currently enjoy reasonably tranquil surroundings for a town centre location. It would be crass and visually invasive/intrusive. It would also be disrespectful to the town’s War Memorial which is also directly opposite, especially during sombre times of remembrance when a significant portion of the town gathers here to pay their respects to the town’s war dead.  Highway safety: This proposal being located immediately over a highway (Albion Place) which has no footpath and is directly adjacent to a roundabout and also on one of the main entrances/exits of the town, near to Morrison’s where permission has recently been granted for redevelopment, which will see the stores main entrance and exit relocated to this area on the roundabout and which will significantly increase the already considerable movement of pedestrians and vehicles in this area, is dangerous and would cause a hazard to drivers and pedestrians alike as it would be a distraction, drawing and diverting the attention of all.  Other concerns: Louth Town Council is concerned that this proposal will have no benefit to Louth; neither local businesses, nor the promotion of employment opportunities. It is administered by Carter Jonas, a national agency whose application has no regard for the locality. It would be an eyesore imposed by remote commercial interests.
16. Proposed Work to Trees
    Committee to consider the following proposed works to trees:
    1. Location: The Wheatsheaf Inn, Westgate – Proposals: T1 – Sycamore – Canopy reduction from 18m to 15m high and 18m to 12m wide. Removal of small stem growing from the base. Raise canopy to 5m. T2 – Elder – Remove to ground level. T3 – Sycamore – Remove and grind out stump – Reasons: T1 – To let more light into garden, reduce honey dew drip and open up view onto tennis courts. T3 – To let more light into garden, reduce honey dew drip, lifting of slabs inside garden, lifting of carpark tarmac and would like to renew damaged fence.
    2. Location: Elm Cottage, Stainesway – Proposals: G1 – Group Consisting Of Horse Chestnut, Sycamore, Oak, Beech, Lime, Ash, Willow, Walnut, Evergreen Oak, Bind Cherry & Mixed Evergreens – T1 on plan (Holm Oak) reduce encroachment to the south by up to 2m to suitable growth points and round into the sides and top to retain aesthetics. Reasons: G1 – Tree has a heavy lean to the south, works are to reduce the weight to the south to help balance the tree and mitigate the risk of future failure.
17. Next Meeting
    Committee to note that the date of the next scheduled Planning Committee meeting is 3^rd June 2025.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

(Membership: Cllrs. Mrs. JMS, Mrs. EB, GEH, DH, HF, JB, JD)

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 Personnel Committee Meeting held on 15^th April 2025. (Attached).
4. 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. New Employee – Following interviews, Committee to receive a recommendation from the Interview Panel and resolve upon a) an offer of employment, b) purchase of reception furniture, c) purchase of IT equipment.