MINUTES OF A EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL

Held on 28 January 2008

Cllrs Mrs I Daw, B Dobbs, G Gooding, Mrs C Lewis, G Parkhurst, S Pratley, P Prince, E Rolls, Mrs M Rolls, R B Shields MBE, Mrs J Taylor

Town Clerk

82. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received and accepted from Cllrs Mrs J Gooding (personal), P Jackson (illness), Mrs M Morgan (personal), Miss H Parkhurst (personal), G Richards (personal), C Tebbutt (personal).

83. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllrs G Gooding , A Howard and R B Shields MBE declared a personal interest in minute 84 due to membership of the District Council.

84. EAST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL – AREA COMMITTEES
Further to minute 78 of the meeting held on 21 January 2008, the Council gave further consideration to the draft leaflet produced by the District Council and the consultation on Area Committees.

Issues raised during the debate on Area Committees focused on the purpose of the Committee. It was stated that the former liaison committee between the Town Council and the District Council was more constructive as the Town Council representatives had voting rights and issues raised were actioned. There was agreement that there was a need for constructive liaison between the two councils.

The Council then considered whether the area covered by the current committee met the needs of the Town Council and the other parishes included in the area. It was suggested that the alternatives were the current area; just the Town Council; a coastal committee; or an area covering parishes to the south and inland towards Alford. There was recognition that some of the parishes included in the existing area had stronger links with Louth than the coastal area.

In summarising the debate, the Mayor identified the issues as:
• Shortfalls in the past arrangements
• The feeling that the structure had been imposed on the Town and Parish Councils
• A lack of feedback following the Area Committee meetings
• What arrangements would meet the needs of the Town Council and surrounding parishes?
• There should be an emphasis on partnership

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved:
1. That the arrangements for Area Committees should continue.
2. That the Mablethorpe Area Committee should comprise representatives of the Town Council, District Council and any Parish Council that wishes to be linked with the area.
3. That the County Councillors for the area should be invited to attend meetings of the Area Committee.
4. That members of the public should be encouraged to attend meetings and be provided with the opportunity to raise issues.
5. That matters should be decided at meetings of the Area Committees by taking a “straw poll” of those representatives present.
6. That where matters are raised at Area Committees, there is full feedback on the action taken and any outcomes.

The Council then considered the contents of the draft leaflet “Committed to a thriving East Lindsey”. Whilst welcoming the commitment to partnership working with the Town and Parish Councils, it was considered much of the content of the leaflet was dictatorial. The Town Council considered it could support the principle of the leaflet subject to redrafting to provide a partnership based focus.

It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That the Town Clerk be authorised to respond to the consultation from East Lindsey District Council setting out the issues identified in this minute.