Minutes

Minutes of the meeting held 5 February 2024, 7:30 pm at St Vedast Church, Tathwell

The Councillors present agreed that Cllr Elizabeth Hairsine act as Chairman for this meeting.

Public Forum. There were four members of the public present to support the request for extending the 30 miles speed limit in the parish towards Louth. It was requested that the Council also consider extending the speed limit at New Lane towards the Horncastle road junction after Tathwell Hall.

1. ELDC Ward Member Cllr Adam Grist was not present and did not send any update.
2. LCC Ward Member Cllr Hugo Marfleet was also not present and had no updates.
3. St Vedast Church Committee Report.  Mr Russell Howard thanked the Parish Council for funding the repair of the bench outside St Vedast Church.  He also reported that the heating system should be completed by this year.  The service this Sunday will be moved to 10:30am and will be led by the Bishop of Grimsby.

24/02-1 Record of Members Present and Apologies.

Present: Cllr Elizabeth Hairsine (acting Chair), Cllr John Stainton and Cllr John Williams

Apologies accepted: Cllr Lou Fear, Cllr Rowena Larkin, Cllr Jo Walsh and Cllr Steve Samuel

Also in attendance: R Howard (Churchwarden) and N Must (Clerk)

24/02-2 To receive any Declarations of Interest on any item on the agenda. None

24/02-3 Minutes from 6 November 2023.  It was RESOLVED that the notes of the meeting were accurate and Cllr E Hairsine, acting as Chair, signed the minutes.

24/02-4 Council Matters

1. Chairman’s Remarks.  Parish Council Chairman, Cllr L Fear, sent his apologies for the meeting but sent his report regarding comments made at the public forum in the November 2023 meeting which was read by Cllr E Hairsine.  

There has not been a problem at the Thacker’s Lane copse despite all the windy weather, so no action to be taken.The lake was not leaking on to Thackers Lane. Recent flood water came down the hill from Rookery farm area.The couple who park their vehicle on the pavement did it for an extended period when they were having building works done. They also park on the street when the gardener comes so that he can have access up the drive. There was no excessive parking on the pavement and no further action is required.

However, the ongoing mud and debris on Raithby Road was a concern and it was requested that the landowner/farmer be contacted for action. Cllr Hairsine will find out who was responsible. The Council noted its thanks to Mr J Storr for clearing the road on a number of occasions.

Cllr Fear also made enquiries about the removal of the hedge on the bridle way up from Chaplins Yard. Wharton Estates removed the brambles and random bushes but have left in place the original hawthorn hedge. This was done to provide access as they now own the field down on the other side of the hedgerow.To compensate for the shrubs removed, they are planting 800m of hedgerow with trees every 20m from Olgarth Hill Farm to Chaplins Yard along the top of the escarpment. They will also provide a mown walkway around the field adjacent to the top of Thackers Lane so people can view the area that has been left to grow wild.

2. Actions from Previous Meeting. Noted.
   1. Public Forum comments – response provided by Chairman above.
   2. Police and Crime Commissioner’s Engagement Session.  Cllr Williams sent his report and will be attending the next sessions.
   3. Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Grant.  A Certificate has been received and will be published on the noticeboards.
   4. Redaction of Councillor details on websites.  Each of the parish councillors to request and sent to the Parish Clerk for forwarding to ELDC.
3. Communications.  Noted. Cllr Williams will represent the Council at the Lincolnshire Police online sessions to be held in February and June 2024.
4. Councillors’Community Grants Fund application. The Council agreed the application and the Clerk to submit to the ELDC Ward Member for his signature.
5. Tathwell and Haugham Merge.  No update from ELDC nor from the ELDC Ward Member. 
6. Litter pick.  It was agreed to set the next event for Saturday,16th March starting at 10am.  Cllr Hairsine has plenty of bags and litter pickers available.  Residents who are unable to join on the day but willing to litter-pick on some other time are requested to do so closer to the event so that ELDC only need to pick up all the filled bags in one go.  The Clerk will post the date on the Tathwell Community page on Facebook.

1. Payments approved for February 2024

2. Budget Monitoring and Latest Receipts and Payments.  Noted.  The Clerk has reconciled the receipts and payments with the bank statements.
3. FY 2024/25 Precept requirement submitted to ELDC and precept per property band.  Noted. 

24/02-6    Community Amenities/Issues

1. Portable loo hire.  It was agreed to site the portable loo on the Green and not at the carpark.
2. Postbox at Haugham.  Cllr J Williams reported that the postbox was taken away a few months ago allegedly because of damaged but has not been replaced.  The Parish Council resolved to request the Post Office to have it put back as the residents use this facility.
3. 30mph speed limit extension.  Cllr J Williams reported that he had a near miss collision and a road rage incident at the Haugham junction due to a vehicle speeding fast from New Lane.  This was not an isolated case and there have been previous incidents reported by other residents.  The legislation suggests that where there are streetlights, a 30mph speed limit applies.  The Council resolved to send their request to Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and copying LCC Ward Member Cllr Marfleet for his support.
4. D-Day 80th Celebration – June 2024.  The Parish Council will not be able to join the celebrations.  Both church bells at Tathwell and Haugham are out of commission.

24/02-7    Planning Matters.  There were no planning applications to consider.

24/02-8    Dates of Meetings for FY 2024/25.  The Council agreed the hold the meetings as tabled below.

The meeting closed at 8:43pm.