3-24-26 TC MINS

MINUTES OF THE EXRTAORDINARY MEETING OF LOUTH TOWN COUNCIL
HELD IN THE OLD COURT ROOM, THE SESSIONS HOUSE, LOUTH
ON TUESDAY 24th MARCH 2026

The Mayor, Cllr. D. Hobson (DH) (in the chair).

Present Councillors: T. Ball (TB), Mrs. E. Ballard (Mrs. EB), J. Baskett (JB), J. Drake (JD), H. Filer (HF), G.E. Horton (GEH), Mrs. H. Hunt (HH), Mrs. J. Makinson-Sanders (Mrs. JMS), Mrs. K. Parsons (Mrs. KP), P. Starsmore (PS), H. Steer (HS).

Councillors Not Present: D. Moore (DM), Mrs. P.F. Watson (Mrs. PFW), D.E. Wing

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

T146. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. DM and DEW. Cllr. Mrs. PFW also submitted her apologies and requested that Council accept her reasons, these being her recent ill health and diagnosis. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept Cllr. Mrs. PFW’s apologies and send her Council’s best wishes.

T147. Register of Interests
Cllrs. were reminded to review the content of their Register of Member Interest forms and to complete and submit any new forms to the Town Clerk to reflect any required changes in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

T148. Declarations of Interest / Dispensations
The following declarations of interest were made:
a. Cllr. TB – Item 22 as an acquaintance of the candidate.
b. Cllr. DH – Item 16 as a member of East Lindsey District Council (ELDC).
c. Cllr. GEH – Item 16 as a member of ELDC.
d. Cllr. Mrs. JMS – Item 16 as a member of ELDC.
e. Cllr. PS – Item 8 due to his partner working for the Environment Agency.

T149. Minutes
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the notes of the Council Meeting held 10th February 2026, and 3rd March 2026 be approved as the minutes.

T150. Committee Minutes
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to confirm receipt of the minutes and adopt the resolutions contained therein of the following Committee Meetings:
a. Planning Committee – 20th January 2026
b. Governance and Finance Committee – 9th December 2025
c. Personnel Committee – 21st October 2025

T151. Cemetery Fees
Council received a recommendation from FOG to increase Cemetery fees by 8.7% for 2026/27, to be increased by RPI plus 1.5% annually thereafter. Members of FOG acknowledged that 8.7% was a considerable increase for the upcoming year but felt that it was necessary due to the limited space in the Cemetery. FOG also said that, upon researching cemetery fees in the surrounding areas, Louth Cemetery prices were low in comparison. After discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to implement FOG’s recommendation of increasing fees by 8.7% for 2026/27, to be increased by RPI plus 1.5% annually thereafter.

T152. Citizen’s Advice Lincoln and Lindsey – Funding Contribution
Committee noted that it approved an amount of £1,050 in the 2025/26 budget for release to the above, as per the Council’s powers under s142(2a) of the LGA 1972. After receiving a tabled update as to how the organisation was faring, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Council release the funds.

T153. Environment Agency
Council received a financial statement from the Environment Agency and noted that the amount due in respect of the Council’s agreed Flood Alleviation Scheme contribution for the period May 2025 to May 2026 was £17,099.79. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to release the funds.

NB: Cllr. PS abstained from voting on this item.

T154. Insurance
Council reviewed its insurance and noted that payment for the second year of its three-year agreement with Zurich would be due shortly in the sum of £7,264.99, with payment to be made to meet the deadline.

T155. Safeguarding Policy
Council noted that its Safeguarding Policy had been reviewed and no amendments had been made. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the policy for continued use.

T156. Biodiversity Policy
Council noted that its Biodiversity Policy had been reviewed and minor amendments had been made. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the policy for continued use with the minor amendments.

T157. Dignity at Work/In Council Policy
Council noted that it’s Dignity at Work Policy had been reviewed and minor amendments had been made. After discussion, it was subsequently proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the policy for continued use with the minor amendments.

T158. IT Policy
Council received a new IT Policy based on NALC’s new template. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the new document for use.

T159. Action Plan
Council reviewed it’s Action Plan and, after discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve for use.

T160. Asset Register
Upon inspection of the Council’s tabled asset register, it was determined that there had been a mistake regarding the acquisition fees of several of the Town Council’s charters. The Town Clerk confirmed that they were actually the valuation fees, and that those values needed deleting from that column. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the document with the necessary amendments, and request that the Asset Working Group review assets which may be affected by Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), such as CCTV and electricity boxes, and bring their findings and recommendations back to Council.

T161. ELDC Assets
Council received tabled comments from FOG regarding the future of ELDC Assets in Louth. Cllr. JD informed the Town Clerk that Spout Yard Park should be listed under community assets and parks. He went on to disclose that he felt that FOG’s comments that electricity and gas substation sites were likely to be powering commodities such as street amenities and infrastructure were inappropriate, as he believed the sites were supplying large areas with electricity. He said that the landowners may receive a wayleave, therefore if LTC took ownership, it would likely make no difference other than minor monetary gain. Councillors then discussed ELDC owned car parks in Louth, with several voicing their dismay at ELDC’s recent increase in parking fees in the town. Councillors were of the opinion that an increase in charges would lead to less footfall and visitors to the town, which was necessary for local businesses, and felt that Louth’s car parks should grant two free hours like other towns nearby. Subsequently, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Council should write to ELDC before 14th April sharing their concerns around parking fees, and amend the tabled document to include Spout Yard Park in community assets and parks.

NB: Cllr. HS left the meeting at 8.02pm and re-entered at 8.04pm.

T162. Data Map and Appropriate Policy Document
Further to review of its other GDPR policies and documentation in June 2025, Council received its Data Map and Appropriate Policy Document for review and approval. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the Data Map and Appropriate Policy Document for use.

T163. Reserves Policy
Following a request by Cllr. Mrs. JMS that its Reserves Policy be reviewed again, Council noted that FOG had met on 11th March to review the document and recommended that no further amendments were necessary. It was subsequently proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the document for continued use.

NB: Cllr. Mrs. JMS abstained from voting on this item.

T164. Hubbard’s Hills
Council received a tabled update from the Town Clerk regarding Hubbard’s Hills, who reported on the work that had been completed at Hubbard’s Hills since September 2025. Cllr. JB expressed concern that the stepping stones were covered in moss and suggested that they were cleaned as they may pose a safety risk. After discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that LTC would continue management of Hubbard’s Hills ‘in-house’, with arrangements to be reviewed when consequences of LGR were known.

T165. Pavement Parking
Council received correspondence from a member of the public regarding pavement parking. A discussion ensued, with several Councillors feeling that a carte blanche approach to banning all pavement parking was not ideal as commercial areas of the town posed different parking issues to residential areas in the town, and it was acknowledged that some areas, such as St. Bernard’s Avenue, benefitted from pavement parking. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to reply to the member of the public in the above vein and request clarification on the particular areas of town that they were concerned about regarding pavement parking.

T166. Closed Session Item
At 8.33pm upon a proposal by Cllr. Mrs. JMS, seconded by Cllr. GEH, 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 confidential, commercial and third-party nature in regard to the following.
a. Cemetery grass cutting – Council received a report and considered quotes. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to award Cemetery grass cutting work in 2026/27 to Glendale.
b. Amenity grass cutting – Council received an update to changes being introduced by LCC which was causing a delay in the process. After discussion, it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to delegate authority to the Town Clerk to award the work in 2026/27 to enable cuts to commence as soon as possible.

At 8.39pm it was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to move out of closed session.

T167. Co-option
Council received a presentation from a candidate for co-option, Mrs. Hannah Hunt. Council then asked questions which they felt were pertinent to the candidate’s potential role on the Council. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that Mrs. Hunt (Mrs. HH) should be co-opted onto Louth Town Council onto North Holme Ward. She signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and joined the Council meeting.

NB: Cllrs. HF and Mrs. JMS abstained from voting on this item.
NB: Cllr. Mrs. EB left the meeting at 8.58pm and re-entered at 9pm.

T168. Next Meeting
It was noted that the date of the next scheduled Town Council meeting was 14th April 2026.

The Meeting Closed at 9.02pm.

 

Signed_______________________ (Chairman) Dated_________________________