The Annual Parish Meeting 2022

CHAPEL ST LEONARDS ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

7.00 pm Monday 23rd May 2022

Present:                       Councillor G.Dalton (Chairman of the Council) in the Chair

Present                        Acting Parish Clerk – A. Everard

                                    21 members of the public were in attendance

1.   WELCOME

The Chairman of the Council, Councillor G.Dalton welcomed all present.

2.   REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL ON

      COUNCIL ACTIVITIES DURING THE PAST YEAR

The Chairman read out his report, noting that it had not been possible to hold these meetings in this format in the recent past couple of years and that there had been many changes to the council but looked forward to working with the new administration and a new Clerk, once appointed, to tackle many of the issues that parishioners wanted resolving.  There were still council vacancies to fill and if residents wanted to join the council to let him or the Acting Clerk know. He thanked parish councillors for their support in electing him Chair and for the work they were undertaking to rebuild the parish council.

3.   REPORT FROM LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILLOR COLIN DAVIE

Councillor Davie touched on the increasing cost of living, the risk of recession and the effect on tourism.  He reported on the £450million capital spending programme which is now worth 25% less due to increasing costs. Cycleways and relief roads will still be prioritised. He commended the effect North Sea Observatory had transformed part of the parish that needed it. Regina Walk caravan park had been successfully fought. Healthcare is still a challenge.  ULHT is recruiting from University of Lincoln Medical School graduates and MP’s and LCC councillors are fighting to bring a dental school to the county to feed into locally-trained graduates. With 25% of UK food produced in Lincolnshire and the war in Ukraine pressure on our farmers will only grow in demand and more automation and technology investment will increase. 25% of the Highways budget was taken away by the Government and LCC is fighting to get it back.           

3.   REPORT FROM EAST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCILLOR Dr GRAHAM WILLIAMS

Councillor Graham explained that he was fighting for a share of the £48.5m Towns Fund. Training people for jobs is good but need more for long-term jobs not just seasonal. Skegness Sea Shore and shopping area will be improved. Mobihub was being developed. A Police training centre in Skegness and new cycling and pathways will be part of the scheme. He noted that Sandilands Golf Course had been taken over by the National Trust which will improve the tourism offer. In spite of the pandemic bin collections have carried on throughout. Staff have worked at home but more returning to offices now.

ELDC has taken more from reserves to balance the budget.

Locally Regina Walk caravan park has been successfully fought for now along with the monopole proposed for the village centre.  There are better places for these. Gradually, field by field, caravan parks are extending to Hogsthorpe meaning Chapel St Leonards will be surrounded by caravan parks. This process needs careful management.

Upcoming events such as the Carnival on 6-7th August – ‘Go Green’ is the theme. Jubilee weekend village hall Tea Dance on 5th June and a Big Lunch Picnic planned on the Village Green.          

7.   PARISH MATTERS – OPEN FORUM

 Q1) Could the Parish Office move back to the village?

A1) No. The old office is going to be leased out to generate more revenue.

Q2) Can the public visit the Parish Office?

A2) Yes by arrangement as staff need to complete work rather than interrupted by drop-ins.

Q3) Can the dyke by the garden centre be filled in?

A3) Cllr Davie advised there was another planning application for that site and he was aware of the narrow roads at that point.

Q4) Can there be more litter bins on Skegness Road?

A4) This was noted for a review.

Q5) When will street lighting be improved?

A5) Cllr Davie said that Covid had affected roll-out of LED improvement and the village had been last on the list.  He will send updates to the Parish Council so they will be aware.

Q6) Street lights are switched off at 11.30pm or 12midnight but residents said they are not coping in the darkness.

A6) Cllr Davie said that evidence showed that there had not been an increase in crime or accidents.  He will see if the Police and Crime Commissioner could speak in the village.

Q7) Golden Palm keeps putting in various planning applications for caravan parks.  It is not just the new ones to worry about also the extensions to the existing ones to watch.

A7) Cllr Williams said that all new planning applications even for extensions are treated as if they were ‘new’ applications.

Q8) Some caravan parks have empty spaces and do not need to apply for new sites. Can that be taken into account in deciding planning applications?

A8) Cllr Williams said that it was for each business to decide how to run their business and is not material to the planning application consideration and the decision. Cllr Davie said that investing in the coast is important and ensuring coastal areas are protected with climate change will require £1billion investment. The Secretary of State is quite clear he will not support caravan parks being open 12 months a year so it will affect the viability of some investment. Between 3 to 4,000 people live in caravans year-round so it may be something the government will consider to ensure they are liable to pay council tax to pay for local services for which the meeting was broadly supportive.

Q9) Could planning gain be received by the parish council and other tiers from new caravan parks and extensions? Previous grants to Skegness areas did not benefit Chapel St Leonards so perhaps it should be spread more widely?

A9) A flat tax (infrastructure tax) had been discussed by the Government so it might come in and the idea of spreading investment more widely could be looked at. Cllr Davie said that it was up to the parish council to be clear what they wanted if more funds were available.

Q10) A litter picker reported that ELDC has removed bins from outside the ‘fish and chip’ shops.  Can there be more bins down Sandy Lane or near Greens Amusements? 

A10) This will be looked at.

Q11)Will devolution to Lincolnshire happen?  Will it reduce bureaucracy?  Will there be a Mayor?

A11) Cllr Davie said that it was for the 7 District Councils, North and North East Lincolnshire councils and the County Council to agree the way forward to bring more of the London-based decision-making back to the county. It will take time. Large budgets at stake, for example, £260m a year in LCC care packages budget.  More could be devolved to Parish and Town Councils.

Q12) 25% of the budget was spent on grass-cutting and toilet cleaning which many residents feel is not good value.  Why can’t we take this contract back in-house?

A12) The parish council will review the toilet cleaning contract to see what the money is being spent on and ensure the grass-cutting contract is monitored carefully.

Summing up, the Chair said, after lively debate and discussion on the above topics after the last two years of restrictions due to the covid pandemic when it just wasn’t possible this opportunity was welcome.  Residents welcomed the new parish council and the hard work that had been put into making this event inclusive and open to discussion and interaction.  

       There being no further comments the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8.15pm

These draft minutes will be presented to the Annual Parish Meeting 2023 for approval. .