March 2023 Minutes
Spilsby Town Council
Minutes of the Full Council Meeting held on Wednesday 22nd March, 2023 at 6:30pm in Franklin Hall, Spilsby. These are notes of the meeting until approved by the Council as a true record.
Present:
Cllrs T Kemp (Mayor), E Day (Deputy Mayor), M Gibson, W Rose, T Taylor and M Wragg; and County Cllr W Bowkett
Town Clerk, J Sargent and Deputy Town Clerk, R Ford.
Public Session
There was one member of the public in attendance, who asked the Council to consider allowing her to keep chickens on a plot that was previously a community plot and is now full of brambles. The resident reasoned that this area is in an unused area, away from the rest of the allotments. The only tenant neighbouring this area has written a letter in support of this request, given to the Council. The resident advised she would pay for her own pest control.
Cllr Kemp advised that the Council will consider this proposal after they sought the advice of the pest control experts as to whether this will remedy the issues.
The resident also mentioned a gate in this unused area that needs to be installed at the gate hole near plot 17a. The resident also report damage to fencing along the A16, as well as a gate that needs installing on this boundary.
With no further questions, it was resolved unanimously to move to into formal session.
145. Apologies
It was resolved unanimously to accept apologies from Cllrs M Gale, D Mangion, L Marsh, and A Wright.
146. Declarations of Interest.
None received.
147. To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Full Council Meeting on 23rd February 2023.
With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the minutes for February as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
148. To approve the Accounts for:
a. February
With no matters arising the accounts for January were resolved unanimously.
149. To receive a bank reconciliation for:
a. February
The Clerk provided a bank reconciliation to keep Councillors up to date with the Council’s financial status.
150. To approve payment of invoices for:
a. Allbones
After a brief discussion on the conclusion of the works associated with the restoration of the Church wall and the affected properties, it was resolved unanimously to approve payment of the invoice.
Cllr Wragg asked for the orange fencing to be removed from the wall bunding. Cllr Kemp advised this area belongs to Platform Housing and he is liaising with the Works Manager about this area.
151. To receive brief reports from the Town Mayor, Town Council’s working groups, representatives on outside bodies and the Town Clerk.
Mayor’s Report
Cllr Kemp informed Councillors that he’d attended a recent meeting regarding the organisation on the King’s Coronation celebrations which seemed to be coming on well. Cllr Kemp has not attended any civic functions to attend recently, however, there are some in the diary over the coming months.
Recreation Ground
No report received.
Grammar School Foundation
Cllr Gibson advised that a donation had been made to the group planning the music festival and the Grammar School Foundation trustees were invited as VIP’s to attended the festival.
Poorlands
No report received.
Twinning
Spilsby will host visitors from Bassum, Germany over the 2nd weekend of July.
Community Speed Watch
Cllr Day reported the group have not been out recently, but hope to get out more soon with lighter nights and better weather.
Good Neighbourhood Scheme
Cllr Gibson advised the group’s next meeting is in April and they will be having an afternoon tea on the volunteering day of the King’s Coronation weekend. The King Edward Academy would like to arrange pupils from the school to volunteer with litter picking.
Spilsby Business Partnership
No report received.
Town Clerk’s Report
The Clerk reported:
• New taps for the Cemetery have arrived and will hopefully be installed soon.
• The latest edition of the Spilsby Explorer is being delivered around town.
• The internal audit with Steve Fletcher from Mablethorpe Town Council took place recently, with the report issued soon.
• There have been resignations from the Council recently. As we’re within 6 months of an election, we don’t need to fill these vacancies.
• The Big Lottery Community Fund application form (Play Area funding) was submitted Tuesday 21st March, 2023. The process will take approximately 12 weeks, so by the end of June we should know if we have been successful. Many thanks to Cllr Lee Marsh for his valuable contribution to this. An expression of interest has also been submitted to the UK prosperity fund for a future grant application.
• ELDC have agreed to pay for the restoration of the lettering on the John Franklin Statue in town.
• The Clerks would like to thank Cllr Max Gibson for proof reading the Explorer ready for print and thanks all those Councillors who have delivered the Explorer magazine.
• Proludic play equipment presented a quote for the first phase of the refurbishment of the play area at the recreation ground which was impressive.
152. To discuss community matters with and to receive reports from Lincolnshire County Councillor and East Lindsey District Councillors.
District Cllr Mangion emailed a report, forwarded to Councillors.
Cllr W Bowkett reported that problems with residents on Brun Balderston Close have been allieviated as resident had been moved on and the area looks tidier, however, there were now issues at Woodlands Avenue.
Cllr Kemp asked to place on record the Council’s thanks to Cllr Bowkett for all her hard work.
153. To consider and approve a quotation for the urgent repairs to the play area equipment.
The Deputy Clerk updated Councillors on three units in the play area that need urgent works to make them safe. Councillors considered health and safety issues and resolved unanimously to accept the quote. The Clerk to ask Mr Morton to carry out the works at the earliest opportunity.
154. To receive an update on the King Charles III Coronation event.
Cllr Kemp and Cllr Rose attended a meeting at the Red Lion with representatives from local businesses with planning going ahead for an event on the Saturday afternoon.
There are plans for a plaque to be installed near the Franklin information boards to commemorate the coronation, to be manufactured by Tong Engineering in Spilsby. ELDC have been contacted about the installation but no reply has been received. Information has also been requested about the installation of the bikes as the car park belongs to ELDC.
155. To receive an update on the 2023 elections.
The Clerk advised information had already been emailed across to Councillors, including information received at an elections briefing, the nomination pack and the timetable for the elections process. The Clerk confirmed candidates will need to call the elections team at ELDC to get the electoral numbers for their proposers and seconders, with the deadline to submit the nomination papers as Friday 4th April.
With no further matters, Cllr Kemp closed the meeting at 7:15pm.