11 December 2023 DRAFT minutes
CHAPEL ST LEONARDS COUNCIL
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
7.00pm on the 11 December 2023 at the Village Hall
Present: Cllr P. Robinson (Chair), Cllr C. Jude (Vice Chair), Cllr P. Hamilton, Cllr R. Christie-Smith, Cllr S. Donovan, Cllr B. Holmes, Cllr S. Wood
Parish Clerk: A. Maynard
Cllr C. Davie (LCC), Cllr R. Dawson (ELDC)
12 Residents
Apologies: Cllr S. Whitmore, Cllr C. Seabrooke, Cllr S. Evans (ELDC)
Absent: Cllr F. Doko (Bob)
Public Participation
Permission was granted by the Chair for the local councillors to speak first as they were due elsewhere.
Cllr Roger Dawson (ELDC) - an update on bird scarers however, this needs further investigation as one resident mentioned they were going off more frequently than their allowance of four per hour and they were going off out of hours, Cllr Dawson will report back at the next meeting.
As mentioned previously Chapel Village news is no longer in publication, however Cllr Dawson has found someone who may take this task on, and he will report early next year.
Cllr Dawson has joined the EDLC Health and Wellbeing Committee and would like feedback from any programmes that have been run or attended by anyone and what facilities we require.
Cllr Dawson has joined the Planning Policy Committee; the emphasis is on affordable housing and the local plan. There is a full council meeting on Wednesday and Cllr Dawson will report back any findings.
Cllr Colin Davie (LCC) – Devolution packs are on the way out to all Parish Councils and Cllr Davie encouraged us to fill in the survey, the deal is for Greater Lincolnshire and a Mayor for 2025. There is to be a £750 million (£¾ billion) over 30 years with investment funding economic growth over Lincolnshire with £20 million for Lincolnshire and £8 million for the north and north east, £9 million has been put aside for road improvement to include cycle lanes, paths and roads, particularly from Chapel Point to Sandilands. A better infrastructure to include industrial sites and for training for young people to get them into work.
The National Grid Pylon Line all the way to Spalding is seen as a blot on the landscape and Cllr Davie is not supporting pylons on land and hopes that we will support him too.
The subject of crumbling sea defences is very popular in the press now and LCC are working with agencies to provide better sea defences such as sand replenishment, £800 million will be allocated to sea defences going forward. A resident asked if this was specific to Chapel St Leonards and it is not however if there is a problem at Mablethorpe it will quickly spread to Chapel St Leonards, so these defences are vital.
Acacia Road will have a full resurface in March 2024.
Cllr Davie acknowledges it has been a difficult year for local businesses and does not envisage this getting easier next year so we must all do our best to support local businesses and residents.
There was a request that Cllr Colin Davie investigate flooding and surface water in our area, the drains are clogged, Cllr Davie asked that if there are any gullies that are of concern to report this to the Parish Clerk. There is an LCC £4 million flood alleviation fund under section 19 for water around properties and this may be of interest. Cllr Jude mentioned that there had been a board for coastal issues set up a few years ago whereby local businesses could give there local knowledge about the area re: flooding and Cllr Davie said this would restart in the New Year and Cllr Davie will set up a meeting with Cllr Jude in the New year to move this forward.
A resident mentioned an overhanging tree at the Chapel St Leonards bus shelter and that when they asked who was responsible had been passed from one council to another and this was extremely frustrating. The Parish Clerk assured the resident it would be dealt with by the Parish Council when the weather was better.
A resident asked why grass verges were no longer cut by LCC/ELDC – towns and parishes have been responsible for most of this for some time now.
Both LCC and ELDC councillors then left the meeting.
A resident mentioned a green and untidy bench near the bus stop that needed attention, the Parish Clerk will ask the handyman to attend to this.
The Parish Clerk will investigate further the ownership of the graffiti strewn kiosk at the top of the Pullover and report back.
A resident would like more information about the grass verges and when we started cutting them, the Parish Clerk will send a copy of the paperwork to them.
A resident stated that there was a new Carnival Committee, and they were starting work on 2024 arrangements and would like the forms to hire the Green, the Parish Clerk will send them. There was a request for a flatbed lorry to go on the Green to act as a stage, the Chair pointed out that no vehicles are allowed on the Green but will investigate this as it was to act as a stage. Rob Stevens is the new Carnival Chairperson. Rob owns and runs the local food bank serving Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards and Addlethorpe; this is self-funded by donations and sales from local car boot sales.
Rob would like anyone to contact him on 07910 740007.
A resident asked for a path to be laid through Charley's Folly – this will be investigated.
A resident enquired about the grass on Sandy Lane and the Chair informed them this was a Bridle Path owned by LCC and we would be increasing the cuts to three times per year to keep it tidy.
23/54 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr S. Whitmore, Cllr C. Seabrooke and Cllr S. Evans (ELDC).
23/55 Declarations of Pecuniary Interests not already registered.
None
23/56 To receive and approve the draft minutes of the Parish Council meetings held on 13 November 2023.
Proposed, seconded, and unanimously approved RESOLVED to adopt the draft minutes as the adopted minutes of the 13 November 2023 meeting which the Chair signed.
23/57 Chair’s Report
a) Christmas Lights Switch-On - There were 300 people in attendance and there were 120 presents given out by Santa, the presents are donated by Blue Anchor. This year saw more children coming forward and this was due in part to the tight economic times we are facing and therefore there were not just children from Chapel St Leonards, but no child went away empty handed. The queue for Santa went as far as the Marina chip shop and the lights all worked beautifully. This is an event put on by the Councillors and they thanked all volunteers, stall holders of mulled wine and tombola, this could not be done formally on the night as there was a malfunction with the microphone. There is a new trophy for best business Christmas lights, and this was judged independently by Mick Mangham, Heaven Star Boutique won this for 2023 and the Chair informed the owner personally. The trophy is in the window of the shop.
b) Reindeer - Three lovely reindeer lasted eight days! On 03/12/2023 at 00:41 they were on the Green in situ and by 00:45 they were gone, the large one had its neck broken and thrown on the beach and the smallest one was thrown in the bin; the council workers took the middle one to the workshop. The incident is being investigated by PC Billy Spence and it is alleged there were three people involved. We are waiting for CCTV footage. A friend of the Chair will try to repair the reindeers and it is hoped they can be saved as the enjoyment of the village will not be spoiled by three individuals. At this point the Chair mentioned the fire in the men’s toilets on Ancaster Avenue on Wednesday 6 December 2023; we are waiting for CCTV footage to identify culprits. There was a lot of smoke damage and specialist cleaners are required as this is carcinogenic so this will take some time and the toilets will be closed until further notice.
23/58 Cemetery Committee
The tree survey has been completed and the Chair of the Cemetery Committee is waiting for a date to meet PCC to discuss the churchyard.
23/59 Administration Committee
The item here refers to item 7 on the agenda.
23/60 Vehicles
The Chair reported that Chappie is costing a lot of money in repairs and is just having a sticking plaster put on until the next breakdown. It is ideal for the seafront in Summer when negotiating the obstacles, due to its small size. Lennie is the workhorse but is difficult to use on the seafront in the Summer. It is hoped to sell them both and replace them with two similar size vehicles to Chappie, for £13,500.
It was RESOLVED to spend £13,500 to purchase replacement vehicles and it was further RESOLVED to dispose of the existing vehicles on an appropriate commercial site to gain the best price.
23/61 Defibrillators
The Chair received an email from a previous member of the Residents Association (RA) asking that, now the RA had ceased to exist, could the Parish Council take over the running and maintenance of the two defibrillators, one located at the Village Hall and the other at New Point Stores, St Leonards Drive. The funds were £860, and the equipment had recently had new pads and a battery, therefore they should last 5-6 years. It was RESOLVED unanimously to take responsibility and administration of funds for the defibrillators, Cllrs Donovan and Christie-Smith would maintain them.
23/62 Playground Inspection
Cllr Wood reported that there were no high-risk items to cover. The low-risk matters could be done by the operatives and Cllr Wood was to liaise with the Clerk. There were a few moderate risk items, but this report needed further reading. Cllr Wood will have a low maintenance plan for the next Admin meeting and then investigate funding to replace two items.
23/63 Events Committee
There are plans to meet and evaluate this year’s events and plan for next year.
23/64 Finance Committee
a) Proposed, seconded, and unanimously approved RESOLVED to pay the amounts shown in the circulated payments schedule.
Chapel St Leonards Parish Council Payments 11 December
Payee Amount Reason
Salaries £12,996.86 Work done
British Gas £128.73 Electricity
Screwfix £54.10 Maintenance Equip
Beltons £228.50 Fuel & Service
IPS £352.37 Car Park
M Broughton £164.74 Expenses
SCIS £375.12 IT/Phones
Chapel PCC £32.00 Room Hire/Park
Protec £78.00 Alarms
ELDC £614.00 Rates
LALC £330.00 Training
Green Cuts Ltd £360.00 Tree Survey
Rhythm & Steel £65.00
Chapel Village Hall £81.25 Room Hire
Lloyds Bank £51.92 Service Charges
Amazon £167.05 Maintenance Equip
Wave £76.40 Water
Citation £252.00 Personnel Advice/HR/HS
HG HireBase Alford £500.00 Hoist
Festive Lights Ltd £49.96 Lights
BEC Ltd £19.50 Maintenance Equip
Peter Strawson Ltd £369.12 Xmas Tree
TrophyStore.Co.Uk £104.73 Trophy
£17,451.35
Account ending 002 £20,693.40
Account ending 118 £93,799.32
23/65 To consider new planning applications as a statutory consultee and to note Planning Authority decisions and receive updates on previous application consulted on
● N/031/02002/23 105 ST LEONARDS DRIVE, CHAPEL ST LEONARDS SKEGNESS, PE24 5UQ – Planning permission - Change of use of former ground floor fish and chip shop into a holiday let and extension to existing first floor of dwelling (works already commenced) - On-going
● N/031/02106/23 – CHERRY PARK, SOUTH ROAD, CHAPEL ST LEONARDS, PE24 5TS
Planning permission – Construction of a pagoda to provide outdoor seating associated with the existing café. Councillors to revisit the planning portal and send emails with their comments by Thursday to the Chair.
23/66 Date of Next Meeting
Parish Council meeting - Monday 08 January 2024, 7pm, Village Hall.