MINUTES OF THE LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ONLINE USING THE ZOOM CONFERENCING PLATFORM
ON TUESDAY 2nd MARCH 2021
Present The Mayor, Cllr. D. Hobson (DH) (in the chair).
Councillors: Mrs. E. Ballard (EB), J. Baskett (JB), M. Bellwood (MB), L. Cooney (LMC), A. Cox (AC), S. Crew (SC), D. Ford (DF), H. Filer (HF), J. Garrett (JG), D.J.E. Hall (DJEH), G.E. Horton (GEH), D. Jackman (DJ), A. Leonard (AL), Mrs. S.E. Locking (SEL), K. Norman (KN), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (JMS), J. Simmons (JS) and D. Wing (DEW).
Councillors not present: F.W.P. Treanor (FWPT) and Mrs. P.F. Watson (PFW)
NB: Cllrs.: AC (7:03pm) and DJ (7:06pm) arrived late.
The Town Clerk, Mrs. L.M. Phillips, the Town Clerk’s Assistant, Mrs. M.C. Vincent, Cllr. R Jackson (ELDC) and one member of the press were also present.
Public Forum
· Cllr. R. Jackson (ELDC) circulated a written report and then discussed many of the issues within including: ELDC finance and precept, CCTV, Strategic Alliance, Covid testing sites at Boston and possible new site for Louth.
· Cllr. Mrs J. Makinson-Sanders (ELDC) reported on Covid testing at the Fire Station in Louth, the percentage of precept going to the Drainage Board and hygiene testing across food premises in the East Linsdey area. She expressed concerns re: mass of visitors expected to visit the coast in the following months, static caravan site residents claiming residency and the abuse shown to Planning staff. She congratulated Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board for the work carried out on the Louth Navigation Canal.
271. Apologies for Absence
Cllrs: FWPT and Mrs. PFW.
272. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
Cllr. Mrs. JMS – item 7b as a member of ELDC and items 10 and 11 as member of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust.
Cllr. AL – items 10 and 11 as member of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust.
Cllr. DEW – items 10 and 11 as member of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust.
The Town Clerk told the Council that she had received requests for the following Dispensations:
Cllr. AL – To speak on matters relating to Hubbard’s Hills until the end of his term in office.
It was noted that Cllr. Mrs. JMS already had a Dispensation to speak on Hubbard’s Hills until the end of her term in office.
Following a vote it was RESOLVED that Cllr. AL be given Dispensation to speak only on matters relating to Hubbard’s Hills in this meeting. That Dispensations would have to be applied for to speak at each further meeting.
273. Council Minutes
It was RESOLVED to approve as a correct record, the notes of the Council Meetings held on the: 19th January 2021.
274. Committee Minutes
It was RESOLVED to confirm receipt of the minutes and adopt the resolutions contained therein of the following meetings: Community Resources – 01/12/2020, Government & Finance – 25/02/2020, 17/11/2020, 15/12/2020, Personnel – 11/02/2020, 01/12/2020 and Planning – 10/03/2020, 15/12/2020, 19/01/2021.
275. Mayor’s Report
The Mayor gave an overview of the last three months of duties undertaken, though he expressed that due to Covid, there had been few opportunities to represent the Town Council. He and the Mayoress had represented the Council informally in November at the War Memorial and at St. James’ Church for Remembrance Day/Sunday. Along with the Mayoress he had appeared in a video of the Christmas Lights Switch On. He and Cllr. Sue Crew had visited and awarded the winners of the Festive Shop Window and Light Up Louth Competitions. On Christmas Day he and the Mayoress had visited the volunteers at the Salvation Army to thank them for their work in delivering meals on Christmas Day. Due to Covid, they were unable to make the usual Christmas Day visit to the County Hospital.
276. Speed Awareness Working Group
It was RESOLVED to give the Speed Awareness Working Group the following remit:
Membership: 8
Required Councillors: Mayor plus 7 others
Remit: To investigate problem areas within the town and potential traffic calming measures. To liaise with other authorities, as required.
Delegated Powers: None. Investigate and enquire with recommendations to CR Committee or Town Council.
Meetings: As required.
It was RESOLVED that the following Councillors would be members of the Working Group: Cllrs: MB, SC, DF, DJEH, GEH, DJ, DEW and the Mayor (currently DH).
277. Tidy Louth Working Group
The Council received a report from Cllr. DF regarding the last meeting of the Tidy Louth group at which Louth Rivercare had spoken. Following some discussion in which Cllr. DF highlighted the constant issue with littering in the town, it was RESOLVED that:
a. The Town Clerk write to ELDC with a list of proposed sites for new waste bins, with proposed costings and possible timescales to be submitted by ELDC.
b. That Cllr. DF approach Councillor Martin Foster, Portfolio Holder for Operational Services at ELDC, to request information to clarify the resources allocated to Louth for litter picking along with other ELDC inland and coastal towns. Furthermore, that if no response was received within a reasonable time, that the Tidy Louth Working Group pursue a Freedom of Information request seeking clarification from ELDC on this subject.
278. Payment for Trinity Allotments 2021/22
It was RESOLVED to send payment of £762.84 in respect of the annual rent of the Trinity Allotments calculation based on the 2020 payment plus 1.5% RPI for 2020.
279. Annual Maintenance Contribution for Louth Flood Storage Reservoirs
It was RESOLVED that as per its agreement with the Environment Agency, payment of £12,394.26 for the 12 Months to 31st May 2020 be authorised and sent.
280. Hubbard’s Hills
Mr. Andrew Leonard (Chairman of the Hubbard’s Hills Trust) did answer questions in relation to the overview and financial report the Trust had submitted to the Council (part of the agenda) and a lengthy discussion ensued during which Cllr. DH read out a letter received by a member of the public endorsing the funding for Hubbard’s Hills.
It was RESOLVED to defer any further votes on Hubbard’s Hills funding until after the Town Council had received the results of the independent review from its legal advisers.
NB. Cllr DEW left during this item at 8:31pm.
281. Insurance
It was RESOLVED to approve payment of £5,326.10, the third year (of a 3 year insurance agreement) for 2021/22.
282. Closed Session
It was RESOLVED to go into Closed Session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the business to be discussed in the following item, information being of a confidential, commercial, third party and sensitive nature in relation to:
a. Hubbard’s Hills – The Council considered quotes for legal advice and it was RESOLVED to accept Option 1 (cost estimated at £900). Further, to give delegated authority to the Town Clerk to liaise/negotiate with the solicitor regarding the work required for a review of the Maintenance Agreement and any extra costs which may be incurred to a limit of £1,500. Costs to be taken from EMR Contingency.
283. Next Meeting
The Council noted that the date of the next scheduled Council Meeting was 30th March 2021.
The Meeting Closed at 9:06pm.
Signed_______________________ (Chairman) Dated_________________________