March 2025 Minutes
Minutes of the Grainthorpe Parish Council Meeting held at Grainthorpe Methodist Chapel Schoolroom, High Street, Grainthorpe LN11 7JA, on Wednesday 12th March 2025 at 7.00 PM
Present: Councillors: Cllr Nicholls (Chairman), Crabtree, Hibberd, Jackson and Warrilow.
In attendance: The Parish Clerk, Cllr Rickett, Cllr McNally and 2 members of the public.
01:03/25 Declarations of Interest:
a) To record declarations of interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below. Members declaring interests should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared.
None
b) To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below.
None
02:03/25 Apologies for Absence:
To receive any apologies sent to the Clerk from Members not able to attend the meeting.
No apologies had been received.
03:03/25 Open Forum:
a) Members of the public may make representations in respect of the business on the agenda.
A member of the public addressed the Parish Council on the matter of the Quickline green box. The member of the public deemed the location to be unsuitable.
b) To receive reports from County and District Councillors.
Cllr Rickett advised that ELDC had pulled out of Geological Disposal Facility at Theddlethorpe. The issue of the recent vessel collision in the North Sea was referred to. The ELDC Councillors’ Community Grants Scheme funding has been doubled this year to £4,000 per Council.
Cllr McNally addressed the Parish Council regarding current consideration as to whether the Local Plan will be reviewed. He advised that there is a new re-use paint store at the Louth Recycling Centre, and that a consultation on 40mph speed limit for Fen Lane will commence in the next few weeks.
04:03/25 Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s):
To approve the minutes of the previous meeting(s).
The draft minutes were amended to add that Cllr Warrilow had been in attendance at the meeting.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of Wednesday 8th January be approved as a true record.
05:03/25 Planning:
a) Planning Decisions:
To note any planning decisions received since the previous meeting.
None received.
b) Planning Applications:
To consider any comment from the Parish Council to be submitted to ELDC.
Application reference N/062/00095/25 has been received and is now being considered. Your observations are requested no later than 06/03/2025.
Section 73 application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) previously imposed on planning permission ref. no. N/062/01097/23 for the change of use of existing outbuildings to form 2no. holiday cottages.
RESOLVED: That Grainthorpe Parish Council makes no comment on this application.
PHEASANT LODGE, MARSH LANE, GRAINTHORPE, LOUTH, LN11 7JP
c) Planning Appeals
S/086/00283/25 | Consultation from the Planning Inspectorate on the Scoping Opinion in relation to Ossian Off-shore Wind Farm. | OSSIAN OFFSHORE WIND FARM
The proposal is for two new wind farms using the existing proposed infrastructure.
RESOLVED: That Grainthorpe Parish Council makes an objection on grounds of damage to wildlife and the environment, as well as there being no benefit to the Parish.
06:03/25 Finance & Governance:
a) To approve payment of accounts: -
RESOLVED: That the following payments be approved.
|
T Kuzemczak |
Wages Month 10 |
£XXX |
|
T Kuzemczak |
Wages Month 11 |
£XXX |
|
T Kuzemczak |
WFH Allowance Month 10 |
£7.50 |
|
T Kuzemczak |
WFH Allowance Month 11 |
£7.50 |
|
Ionos *PAID BACS |
Email Services |
£14.05 |
|
HMRC |
Tax/NI Nov 24 – Jan 25 |
£167.80 |
|
Anthony Shaw |
Finance Workbook |
£100.00 |
|
Elan City |
Speed Sign |
£2,747.99 |
|
Argos (reimburse T Kuzemczak) |
Mobile Phone |
£69.99 |
|
Amazon (reimburse T Kuzemczak) |
Stationery |
£34.38 |
|
Ionos (reimburse T Kuzemczak) |
Email Services |
£7.20 |
|
O2 |
Telephone Bill |
£13.20 |
|
O2 |
Telephone Bill |
£13.20 |
|
ICO |
Annual Membership |
£47.00 |
b) To note that a savings account has been opened with Lloyds Bank and to note that interest rate is reducing on 15 April 2025 from 1.00% AER to 0.80% AER.
The Clerk advised that Lloyds Bank had started charging £4.25 per month plus transaction charges for the current account.
RESOLVED: That the savings account be noted. The Clerk to investigate options for switching to an alternative bank.
c) To consider a Lloyds debit card – required payment method for Ionos monthly bills.
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred whilst alternative bank accounts are researched.
d) To review and update the asset register.
The Council’s asset register required review. The Clerk had updated the register from the financial records of the Council dating back to 2001.
RESOLVED: That the updated asset register be approved.
e) To appoint an internal auditor for the year-end 2024-2025.
RESOLVED: That an internal auditor shall be appointed following receipt of information on the previous year’s auditor.
f) To receive an update on the Clerk on the Direct Debit for Ionos
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.
g) To consider adoption of draft Personnel Committee Terms of Reference and agree to form a Personnel Committee.
RESOLVED: That a Personnel Committee be formed with membership of Cllr Warrilow, Cllr Jackson and Cllr Hibberd, and that the Terms of Reference be approved.
h) To note that there is a new phone number for the Parish Council 07521 216333 and to consider the best methods of communicating e.g. email/text/WhatsApp
RESOLVED: That the Clerk’s number be noted.
i) To agree membership of the ICO
RESOLVED: That membership of the ICO be approved.
07:03/25 Highways & Public Rights of Way:
a) To receive an update from Fix My Street on the public footpath alongside A1031 from Beacon Hill House to opposite Wragholme Lane, Grainthorpe where footpath is separated from road by a grass verge.
The update was noted.
b) To discuss the QuickLine box install in Grainthorpe and agree any action.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall request the planning approvals that Quickline were provided with by the local authority. That the Clerk shall request a donation to a cancer charity as well as free internet connection to the following public access buildings; Playing Field Buildings, Methodist Church, Village Hall, and the Church next to the Village Hall.
08:03/25 Speed Signs & Speedwatch:
a) To receive any updates on speed signs.
It was felt that the speed signs were making a positive impact on speeding through the village.
b) To consider if further passive repeater signs are needed.
RESOLVED: That two further signs be ordered.
c) To consider expanding speed reduction measures to include the use of speed guns.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall get the costs of training and equipment for participation in the Community Speed Watch.
09:03/25 Water Board Fences:
To receive any updates and agree any further actions regarding the condition of the fencing.
No updates at the present time were available.
10:03/25 Grass cutting:
a) To agree arrangements for 2025-26 grass cutting of the churchyard.
The churchyard grass cutting was discussed. The Parish Council owned mower is used to cut the churchyard by volunteers.
RESOLVED: That the grass cutting equipment be donated to the Church PCC on proviso that the equipment is returned to the Parish Council should the churchyard become the responsibility of the Parish Council. An annual donation of £150 shall be made to the Church PCC for petrol, to be reviewed annually in May.
b) To consider emails from LCC regarding village grass cutting.
RESOLVED: That the Parish Council will take on the grass cutting of the verges from LCC, and that quotations will be obtained from contractors.
11:03/25 Monkey Challenge:
To receive any updates regarding new play equipment for the playing fields.
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred until the next meeting.
12:03/25 Next Meeting:
a) To report to the Clerk any agenda items for the next meeting.
Bank interest report.
b) To agree the date of the next meeting - Wednesday 14th May 2025 – Annual Parish Meeting 7PM and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council 7.20PM
The dates were noted.
Resolution to exclude the Public and Press:
To consider passing a resolution in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, that public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.
RESOLVED: That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.
13:03/25 Personnel:
a) To approve March staff wages payments and working from home allowance.
RESOLVED: That the March wages payment and expenses be approved.
b) To agree contractual pay point increase for the Clerk from 1st April 2025 from NJC SCP 21 £16.65 per hour to NJC SCP 22 £16.93 per hour.
RESOLVED: That the contractual pay point increase for the Clerk from 1st April 2025 from NJC SCP 21 £16.65 per hour to NJC SCP 22 £16.93 per hour be approved.
The meeting closed at 9.06PM