2024 Combined Agendas and Minutes

LONG SUTTON PARISH COUNCIL 

Minutes of the meeting of the Long Sutton Parish Council held on Thursday 25 January 2024 commencing at 7.00 p.m. at the Former Reform Church, London Road, Long Sutton 

Present:   With Cllr J Clarey in the Chair there were present: Councillors C Broughton, M Ladbrook, H Feetham, A Facey, I Thompson, J Tyrrell, D Rose, 

01 Members of the Press.    09 Members of the Public   

OPEN FORUM – Members of the public raised concerns about the lack of any work at the Bull Hotel, concerns regarding the proposals by National Grid to erect overground wires and pylons across Lincolnshire and the Long Sutton in Bloom garden on London Road

RESPONSE: The Council were aware of the National Grid proposals and consultation details had been sent to all Cllrs prior to the meeting and it would be discussed as an agenda item that evening. 

Cllr J Tyrrell advised that Cllr Tennant would be meeting District Councillor Sneath as the Property Redevelopment Portfolio Holder to discuss the Hotel and also the Conservation area.

Progress on the Bull Hotel had stalled due to a £22,000 VAT bill the developer would incur and would not claim back.

AGENDA

1.    To receive Apologies for Absence and reasons given

2.   To receive Declarations of Interests and DPIs

3.    To resolve to adopt the Notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 23 November 2023 as minutes of the meeting. 

4.    To receive the Clerks Report on matters outstanding

5.    To receive the Chairman’s Remark’s.

6.   Financial Matters –

a.   To resolve to approve Invoices for Payment

b.   To resolve to receive the Report of Cleared Payments since last meeting   

7.   To resolve to receive confirm a date for a Parish Meeting to receive the report relating to the proposals from the 21 November 2023 Parish Meeting.

8.   Correspondence

a.   To note general correspondence.

b.   LS Civic Society – Town Pump

c.   LIVES – Thank you letter

d.   Resident – Planning Issue.CC – 

e.   Lincs CC – Devolution consultation

f.    National Grid – Walpole to Grimsby proposals

9.   To resolve to discuss the proposals by Lincolnshire County Council to provide £50,000 funding and appointing town manager for Spalding and Holbeach

9.   To resolve to consider the following Planning Applications and resolve to submit appropriate comments to SHDC as a consultee. 

Plans may be considered at the meeting if received after the agenda is published.        

11.   To resolve to consider request to discuss the agenda format.

12.   To resolve to consider a request for the Parish Council to hold a Fireworks Night event.

13.   To receive reports from District and County Councillors

14.   To resolve to confirm a date for the Parks Meeting and Inspection

15.   Members Comments -To receive any comments from members of the council and requests for matters to be placed on the next agenda. No resolutions may be passed under this item.

16 To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (admissions to meetings) Act 1960 to discuss the following matters. Should this resolution be passed the public and press will be required to leave the meeting at this stage.

17 To resolve to discuss legal matters and approve the annual Precept.

1.   APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Cllr D Cawthorn

2.   TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST or DPIs.

Cllr J Tyrrell declared an interest in Items 10 of the agenda being a member of SHDC Planning Committee.

3.   NOTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON  23 NOVEMBER 2023

Action: It was resolved to approve the notes as minutes and a true record of the meeting held on 23 November 2023

4.   CLERKS REPORT

The Clerk reported that:

•   She had received complaints in regard to items being removed from plots in the London Road Cemetery over the past few weeks and had advised that the items had not been removed by the Council. She advised that the Council were only responsible for the grass cutting in the cemetery and that the families were responsible to maintain the plot and insure the headstone. 
•   That CWC had assured her that the outstanding tasks in the parks and car park would be completed before the end of January when their maintenance contract ends.
•   A Fire Inspection would be carried out by Citation shortly.
•   The Public Notice relating to the Tendering for the grass maintenance contract is in the local press with a cutoff date of 31 January 2024.
•   A police surgery would be held on Monday 29 January 2024 in the Market House, 10.00 -11.00 hrs

5.        CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Cllr J Clarey reported that:

•   The Winfrey Park gates had now been restored and the contractor had done a great job and luckily there had been no issues on the field when the gates had been removed due to the fencing not being provided as agreed.
•   He had received several complaints in relation to the parking issues as at the Primary School but was assured after being advised that the Parking Warden had recently visited to address the issues.
•   He and Cllr A Facey had carried out a Parks Inspection and there had been no major damage but a large branch was overhanging the dog walk.

6.      FINANCIAL MATTERS

a.   To resolve to approve Invoices for Payment

Action: The invoices for payment were approved.

b.   To resolve to receive the Report of Cleared Payments since Last Meeting

Action: The cleared payments were approved.

7.   TO RESOLVE TO RECEIVE PROPOSALS FROM THE 21 NOVEMBER 2023 PARISH MEETING AND APPROVE ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

Action: The Council resolved to hold a further public meeting on Tuesday 13 February 2024 at 7.00 p.m. in the Church Hall to receive the Clerks report and the proposals from the Parish Meeting.

8.       CORRESPONDENCE    

To note General Correspondence

a.      LS Civic Society – Town Pump

Action: The Council resolved to advise the Society of the Council’s previous resolutions relating to the matter and to advise them regarding the information from the archives which indicate the pump cover is a replica after having previous repairs, could be of little historic value and belongs to the SHDC and not the Parish Council.

b.       LIVES – Thank you letter

c.      Resident – Planning Issue.CC 

Action: The Council resolved to discuss the matter in closed session.

d.      Lincs CC – Devolution consultation

•   C Cllr J Tyrrell advised that there would be a cost to South Lincolnshire to implement the proposals 
•   10 Councillors will be elected to the board at Lincolnshire County Council and a Mayor.
•   06 Councillors would be elected from the County Council and 01 Councillor from each District Council.
•   Funding of 24 million pounds could be awarded over a 30 -year period. 
•   He could not advise what the net value of funding would be after deducting the costs of the mayor and 10 Councillors plus administration from the 24 million pounds grants.

Action: The Council resolved to object to the proposals and advise the money could be better spent than funding a mayor and another tier of local government.

e.   National Grid – Walpole to Grimsby proposals

The Clerk advised that she had circulated the consultation to all councillors for their information and to enable them to respond individually as well as the Full Council.

Action: The Council resolved that Councillors J Clarey, M Ladbrook and G Garratt monitor the situation and report back to the council as further information comes to light.

9.   TO RESOLVE TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS BY LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE £50,000 FUNDING AND APPOINTING TOWN MANAGER FOR SPALDING AND HOLBEACH

Action: The Council resolved to write to the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council to ask why Long Sutton has again not been considered for funding as one of the Towns in South Holland and funding only seems to be awarded to Holbeach and Spalding.

10.   TO RESOLVE TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND RESOLVE TO SUBMIT APPROPRIATE COMMENTS TO SHDC AS A CONSULTEE

11.    TO RESOLVE TO DISCUSS THE AGENDA FORMAT.

Cllr J Tyrrell asked that the council allow apologies to be given at the meeting on behalf of absent councillors and also requested that reports from committees also be placed on the agenda.

The Clerk advised that due to the 6-month rule apologies should be given to the Council prior to the meeting with a reason given in accordance with the LGA 1972 and due to privacy and security reasons for absence are not to be given at the meeting.

Action: The Council resolved to place the matter on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting.

12.        RESOLVE TO DISCUSS A REQUEST FOR THE PARISH COUNCI TO HOLD A FIREWORKS NIGHT EVENT

Action: The Council resolved to consider an event and that it be discussed by the Events Working Party at their next meeting.

13.       TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS

Cllr Tyrrell advised that:

•   The SHDC Budget had increased by 3.09 % which equated to 12p per week for a Band D property.
•   50% of the Budget goes to the Drainage Board for the maintenance of the dykes.
•   There were ongoing issues with the new recycling routes and collections, with a few collections missed, staff absences, 6 day working week.
•   There had been 210 additional tons of extra waste over the Christmas period.
•   The rerouting would continue until the end of March 2024 and a decision would then be reached as to whether to keep the new routes or not
•   D Cllrs would use grant funds to provide more bins.
•   The garden waste bins were now available a £54.00 a year

14. TO RESOLVE TO CONFIRM A DATE FOR THE PARKS MEETING AND INSPECTION

Action: The Cllr J Clarey advised that he would confirm a date with the Cllr Cawthorn, Chairman of the Playing Fields Committee.  

15.    MEMBERS COMMENTS

Members raised the following matters:     

Cllr A Facey advised that the Rock Bus was for hire during the summer at a cost of £150.00 for the first hour and £100.00 thereafter.

Cllr C Broughton advised that the next Events Working Party Meeting would be 26 February 2024 at 6.30 p.m. in the council meeting room.

Cllr M Ladbrook advised that the working Party were liaising with the schools to hold an Easter Egg Hunt in Cinder Ash Park and this would be discussed at the Events meeting.

16.   TO RESOLVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

The Council resolved to go into closed session to discuss Item 17 of the agenda.

This part of the meeting closed at 8.20. p.m.