MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COASTAL AND AMENITIES COMMITTEE

Held on 14 January 2008

Present: Cllr Mrs C Lewis (in the Chair)

Cllrs A Howard, G Gooding, Mrs J Gooding, P Jackson, Mrs M Morgan, G Parkhurst, Miss H Parkhurst, C Tebbutt

In Attendance: Cllrs B Dobbs and Mrs J Taylor

66. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs E Rolls (personal) and Mrs M Rolls (personal).

67. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr A Howard declared a personal interest in minutes 71 and 76 due to membership of the County Council and minute 74 due to membership of the District Council.

Cllrs G Gooding and Mrs J Gooding declared personal and prejudicial interests in minute 74 due to having business interests in the town and left the meeting during consideration of this item.

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

69. ACRE GAP SUB-COMMITTEE
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Acre Gap sub- committee held on 9 November 2007 be received and noted.

70. TRUSTHORPE ALLOTMENTS
The Committee considered a report from the Allotments Working Group which recommended extending the allotments into the area at the north of the cemetery extension land.
In response to a question, the Town Clerk confirmed that the lease provided a provision for the Town Council to determine the lease at any time during the 20 years subject to giving notice as set out in the lease. It was also noted that the lease was for a period of 20 years and that on current demand the land available for burial was estimated at 25-30 years provision.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
1. That an area of land approximately 30 metres by 40 metres to the north of the cemetery extension be included in the agreement with the Trusthorpe Allotments Association to be used as allotment plots.

2. That the Trusthorpe Allotments Association be formally notified that the allotment land will be required to extend the cemetery at some time in the future.

3. That tenders be invited for a scheme of hedge planting to create a boundary to the west of the cemetery extension and to reinforce the hedge adjacent to the A52.

71. TOWN COUNCIL WEB SITE
The Web Site Development Working Group presented a report on the future development of the Town Council’s web site.

It was noted that whilst individual councillors would be able to have their details and own information on the site, content would be managed by the Town Clerk. In response to a question, it was confirmed that any personal ‘blog’ would be on an individual’s own web site, however links from the Town Council’s site would be available.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
1. That the Town Council develop a site in-house using a web site package.

2. That a .gov domain name be purchased at an estimated cost of £100.

3. That a web hosting agreement be entered into, at an estimated cost of £420 per annum, with a company registered to host .gov domains.

4. That the content and updating of the web site be the responsibility of the Town Clerk.

72. ST. MARY’S PARK – WILDLIFE PROJECT
The Committee considered a request from the Dales’ Working Group for the release of funds for a wildlife project in St Mary’s Park. The Group proposed to enhance the area for wildlife with suitable shrub and tree planting, provision of information boards, bat and bird boxes and a number of benches. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust had been contacted for advice and assistance on the suitability of the materials, planting and features proposed.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That £3,500 be allocated from the Dales’ Fund for the
St Mary’s Park Wildlife Project.

73. FINANCIAL AID
(i) 1228 Air Cadets – financial support towards the purchase of a computer and software to be used by the Air Cadets to develop ICT skills. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That a grant of £200 be made to 1228 Air Cadets towards the purchase of a computer and software.
Note: Cllr Mrs C Lewis declared a personal interest in this item due to connections with the applicant.

(ii) Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe Carnival – financial support towards the purchase of street decorations, street signs and children’s equipment. Members raised some concern that the Carnival Committee were required to purchase street signs. It was agreed that the committee be requested to clarify this item. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That a grant of £200 be made to the Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe Carnival towards the purchase of street decorations and children’s equipment.

74. SUMMER ILLUMINATIONS
The Committee considered releasing the Town Council’s contribution of £10,000 to East Lindsey District Council towards the new summer illuminations. It was noted that the original decision to contribute to the illumination features was conditional that the Town Council had some input to the design and theme for the display.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
(i) That the contribution of £10,000 agreed by the Finance, Policy and Development Committee on 13 February 2007 towards the new summer illuminations be released to East Lindsey District Council.
(ii) That East Lindsey District Council be reminded that the Town Council should have an input to the theme for the illuminations display.

75. NEW DOG WASTE BINS
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That a new dog waste bin be installed in the area of the footpath linking Camelot Gardens and Victoria Road, Sutton-on-Sea subject to a suitable location being identified.

76. VEHICLES ON HIGHWAY VERGES
The Committee considered the ongoing problems caused by vehicles being placed on the highway verge and advertised for sale. It was noted that the main areas of concern were:
• Main Bridge, Trusthorpe
• Junction of Trusthorpe Road and Old Trusthorpe Road, Sutton-on-Sea
• Adjacent to Cades Field, Sutton-on-Sea
• Junction of Golf Road and Alford Road, Mablethorpe

With regard to Main Bridge, it was considered the reinstatement of the area following the removal of the highway contractors’ materials would be an ideal opportunity to improve the area. This could include the provision of planting and/or bollards to prevent vehicle access. In other areas it was considered suitable planting would deter such activity. It was also considered that more enforcement to prevent the sale of vehicles on the highway was required.

Questions were raised regarding the ownership of the various areas of land identified.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the Town Clerk should investigate the ownership of the various areas of land and establish what policies were in place to deal with the problems caused by vehicles being advertised for sale whilst parked on the highway.

77. COMMEMORATIVE TREE -
STANLEY AVENUE, MABLETHORPE
The Town Clerk reported that a quotation in the sum of £25 had been received for a commemorative plaque for the tree planted adjacent to the Council’s office. It was estimated that a further £25 would cover the cost of installation.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That a plaque be purchased and installed to commemorate the planting of the tree by the Town Council adjacent to the Mablethorpe Library and Community Access Point, Stanley Avenue, Mablethorpe.

78. THE BOATSHED
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the update report on the Boatshed project be received.
Note: Cllrs A Howard and P Jackson declared a personal interest as Town Council representatives on the Boatshed Committee.

79. CLERK’S CORRESPONDENCE
(i) Correspondence from the Tennyson Amateur Players thanking the Council for the grant towards the Children’s Drama Workshop and inviting councillors to a concert on 11 April 2008 at Tennyson High School to commence at 3.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m.

(ii) Invitation to attend a design workshop for Sea View Car Park, Mablethorpe to be held at the District Council’s Offices at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 15 January 2006.

(iii) Information on East Midlands in Bloom Seminar to be held on
21 February 2008, details passed to the Council’s representative on the ‘In Bloom Committee’.

80. MATTERS FOR URGENT DISCUSSION
(i) It was noted that East Lindsey District Council had advertised the proposed introduction of Dog Control Orders under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. It was suggested that the seasonal dog exclusion ban should be extended to commence prior to Easter when the holiday season begins.

(ii) Information was provided on the MASCOT conference to be held on Wednesday 16 January 2008 at the Bacchus Hotel, Sutton-on-Sea.

(iii) Matters relating to litter in St Mary’s Park and the need to investigate various areas in the park where raising of the top soil was required. The Town Clerk to investigate and report back to this Committee.

(iv) Concern that sand was not being cleared from the promenade and that some of the steps were inaccessible due to the excessive build up.

(v) Notification that a light on the promenade adjacent to Seacroft was not operating.