MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COASTAL AND AMENITIES COMMITTEE

Held on 1st October 2007

Present: Cllr Mrs M Rolls (In the Chair)

Cllrs G Gooding Mrs J Gooding A Howard P Jackson Mrs C Lewis Mrs M Morgan G Parkhurst Miss H Parkhurst E Rolls R B Shields MBE C.Tebbutt

Town Clerk

In Attendance: Cllrs B Dobbs and Mrs J Taylor

37. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr G Parkhurst declared a personal interest in minute 48 due to his position on the Executive Committee as the Town Council’s representative.

Cllrs G Gooding and A Howard declared personal interests in minute 39 due to membership of East Lindsey District Council and business interests in the town.

Cllr R B Shields, MBE declared personal interests in minute 39 due to membership of East Lindsey District Council and minute 42 due to his appointment to the Management Committee as the Town Council’s representative.

Cllr G Gooding declared a personal interest in minute 46(i) due to involvement at the District Council with the organisation’s application.

Cllr Mrs J Gooding declared personal interests in minute 39 due to business interests in the town and minute 46(ii) as she knew many of the team members due to her employment.

Cllr C Tebbutt declared a personal and prejudicial interest in minute 46(ii) due to his involvement with football and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

38. MINUTES

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2007, having been previously circulated, be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

39. SUMMER ILLUMINATIONS 2008

Mr R Suich, Team Leader (Resorts and Open Spaces) at East Lindsey District Council attended to discuss arrangements for the 2008 illuminations switch on. He provided details of preliminary enquiries that had been made for the entertainment. The switch on was provisionally set for 20 July 2008.

Members of the Committee raised a number of issues which it was hoped would be addressed for next year; these included:-

(i) better layout and facilities in the stage area
(ii) more themed presentation of the illumination features
(iii) the celebrity being more child orientated
(iv) the possibility of having a “count down” clock for the switch on
(v) all the lights coming on at about the same time
(vi) improving the arrangements for the parade to include more organisations
(vii) considering some form of entertainment for the after switch on reception.

Mr Suich acknowledged there had been some difficulties this year, mainly due to late changes necessary because of the adverse weather. He welcomed the Town Council’s comments and suggestions. He also pointed out that representatives of the District Council’s Technical Team, who were responsible for the illuminations, would welcome feedback and suggestions for the displays.

Mr Suich concluded that the feedback he had received from the public was that the event had been a success despite the various difficulties “behind the scenes”. The Committee agreed that the Red Arrows display had been well received and that the celebrity had entertained the crowd.

The Chairman thanked Mr Suich for his attendance.

40. ST. MARY’S PARK

The Committee considered a report from the Town Clerk on the possible solutions to the flooding problems in St. Mary’s Park. There was some doubt expressed about the estimated cost of raising the footpath as this did not provide for building up the adjacent land. There was also concern that planting well established trees would require holes to be dug through the “cap”.

The Clerk explained that there was no budget provision for the raising of the path. However, it was anticipated there would be some funds available from the maintenance budget at the end of the year. Funding for tree planting could be available from the Dales bequest as the project was consistent with the terms of the bequest.

As there was insufficient professional advice available it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
(i) That the County Council’s Conservation Officer be requested to inspect the area and advise on suitable solutions.
(ii) That the Conservation Officer be invited to a future meeting to present any recommendations.

41. ST. MARY’S CHURCHYARD

The Town Clerk reported that a request had been received, from the occupiers of a property adjacent to the churchyard, for the cutting back of some of the trees on their boundary.

Members of the Committee pointed out that work had been undertaken in the past as some of the roots were causing damage to the church.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That expert opinion be sought regarding the works required and the vicar be consulted on any proposals.

42. TRUSTHORPE ALLOTMENTS

The Committee considered a proposal to extend the existing allotments into the area of land to the north east of the cemetery. It was reported it would be necessary to extend the internal access road at an estimated cost of £8,000. In addition, there would be a requirement for some planting and hedging.

Some councillors acknowledged the demand for additional allotment plots and the health, social and environmental benefits. However, there was concern that, having purchased the land for use as a cemetery, the Council would not be able to meet future demand for burial space.

It was suggested that the area of land in front of the village hall might be suitable for allotments.
Note: At this point Cllrs Mrs M Rolls and E Rolls declared personal and prejudicial interests as members of the village hall committee and left the meeting for the remainder of this item.

Cllr R B Shields, MBE declared a personal interest as a trustee of the village hall.

Cllr Mrs C Lewis in the chair.

Following further discussion about the availability of land for allotments, the projected demand for burial spaces and the possibility of using the land adjacent to the village hall it was proposed, seconded and

Resolved: That a sub-committee comprising Cllrs G Gooding, Mrs C Lewis and R B Shields, MBE be established to investigate the provision of additional allotments.

Cllr Mrs M Rolls in the chair.

43. SUTTON-ON-SEA ALLOTMENTS

It was reported that the rent for the Sutton-on-Sea allotments was due for review.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
(i) That the annual rent for the allotments at Sutton-on-Sea be increased to £11 per annum for plots 1-4, 6 and 7 and to £15 per annum for plot 5 with effect from 1 April 2008.

(ii) That the rent be reviewed in three year’s time.

44. DALES BEQUEST

The Committee considered a request from Mrs M Codling regarding utilising funds from the Dales bequest to enhance the town for the Britain in Bloom competition.

Reference was also made to conservation initiatives in St. Mary’s Park and the provision of seats on Sea View car park.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the sub-committee to manage the Dales bequest be re- constituted to comprise Cllrs B Dobbs, P Jackson, Mrs C Lewis and
Miss H Parkhurst, together with the Town Clerk and a representative of the Dales family.

45. LIONS SIGN

A request was considered from the Mablethorpe and Sutton Lions Club to erect a sign on the A1031. A formal application had been submitted to the County Council who had suggested any sign could be attached to the “Welcome to Mablethorpe” sign.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
(i) That the Town Council support the application from the Mablethorpe and Sutton Lions Club for a promotional sign on the A1031.
(ii) That the Town Council does not support the suggestion that the promotional sign be attached to the Town Council’s sign.

46. FINANCIAL AID

(i) Tennyson Amateur Players – financial support towards a week of tuition for local children attending a drama workshop during the Easter holiday 2008.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That a grant of £400 be made to the Tennyson Amateur Players towards the drama workshop to be held in April 2008.

(ii) Kirkstead Krusader JFC – financial support towards the purchase of equipment for junior footballers. Members pointed out that funding was available from Sport England and the Football Association for new teams. It was noted that no other body had been approached for funding and that there were no details of the number of new teams nor which league they were proposing to enter.

It was therefore proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the Kirkstead Krusaders JFC be advised of the availability of funding from other sources and that additional information is required if they wish to proceed with the application to the Town Council.

47. CEMETERY FEES

The Clerk reported on the level of fees for the cemetery which were effective from April 2006. Details of fees for neighbouring authorities were provided for comparison.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
(i) That the fees for the cemetery be increased by 6% rounded, with the exception of the fees for the burial of children which should remain at no fee for under one month and £75 for under 18 years, to be effective from 1 April 2008.

(ii) That a fee of £275 be set for the exhumation of remains to be implemented with immediate effect.

48. MABLETHORPE COMMUNITY HALL

The Committee was informed that the Community Hall Executive Committee was looking into purchasing a portable stage for use in the hall. It was recognised that this would be a valuable asset for the hall and the community.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the Town Council supports the Mablethorpe Community Hall Executive Committee in its efforts to provide a stage for the hall.

49. SUTTON-ON-SEA ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT SCHEME

Note: Cllr Mrs Morgan declared a personal interest in this item as the Town Council’s representative on the steering committee.

The Committee considered a request for the Town Council to take responsibility for the painting of the light columns on the High Street, Sutton- on-Sea. Concern was expressed that it was not a practical proposition to paint the light columns as the paint finish may be damaged resulting in a detrimental effect on the enhancement scheme. Other councillors considered the proposal would be of great benefit to the scheme.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the Town Council does not take responsibility for the future painting of the light columns on the High Street, Sutton-on-Sea.

50. CLERK’S CORRESPONDENCE

(i) Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marsh Project – details of a grant of £49,600 awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the gathering of evidence for a major £1.7 million Landscape Partnership Scheme.

(ii) Queen’s Park – details of proposals from the Queen’s Park Lease Holders for improvements to the park to be considered at the next meeting of this committee.

51. MATTERS FOR URGENT DISCUSSION

(i) Noted that the street furniture on High Street, Mablethorpe had been cleared of fly posters and repainted.

(ii) Concern that a number of areas of green highway verge are being used to display vehicles for sale, to be included on the agenda for the next meeting of this committee.