To receive an update from the Heritage Manager.

The Chairman welcomed Emilie Wales, Heritage Manager and Councillor Wendy Bowkett as Heritage Champion to provide Members with an update.

The Heritage Manager advised Members that the four draft conservation area reports for Alford, Horncastle, Spilsby and Wainfleet with funding from the 2021-22 Welcome Back Fund had been completed and sent to Town and Parish Councils for comment, and that the aim was to progress to public consultation before the end of 2024.  Members were further advised that the consultation would run for a minimum of 28 days to allow for a workshop and a meeting in each area which would be attended by Heritage Lincolnshire.  Members were further advised that any recommendations received would be incorporated into documents for consideration by the Executive Board and then for Full Council approval.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward.

·         The Chairman queried whether comments had been received from Town Councils.  In response, the Heritage Manager confirmed that Town Council responses had been received and that the most comprehensive comments had been received from Horncastle Town Council.  The Heritage Manager further confirmed that objection or support comments based on planning aspects would be incorporated into the final draft.

·         The Heritage Champion commented that the conservation area appraisal was welcomed and seen as a positive move for Wainfleet.  The biggest concern had been that Platform Housing and the areas around it had not been included in the appraisal process.

·         The Chairman commented that support for conservation was also welcomed in Horncastle.

·         A Member welcomed the return of the Heritage Manager and reiterated that Louth was listed as ‘at risk’ by English Heritage and that buildings in Louth needed love and attention.  In response, the Heritage Manager advised Members that towns which were on the ‘at risk’ register which had not been added previously was due to lack of funding availability.  The Heritage Manager further advised Members that capacity would be examined with a view to add Louth for consideration in the next financial year.

·         A Member queried whether the Council could examine the Article 4 Direction Order alongside undertaking an appraisal of Louth.  In response, the Heritage Manager confirmed that one of the recommendations in the report was to re-examine the Article 4 Directions which currently applied to Louth, Horncastle and Wainfleet.

·         A Member spoke in support of the Cube report and queried whether the Cube report had been examined and reutilised.  In response, the Heritage Manager confirmed that five appraisals were undertaken in 2007 and 2008 including Louth and that the Cube report had not been adopted due to political concern.

·         Councillor Ashton as Portfolio Holder for Planning assured Members that he was very keen for the Council to examine additional conservation areas, particularly in reference to New Bolingbroke and other areas which had missed out on consideration in the last round of funding.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending.

N.B Councillor Wendy Bowkett, Heritage Champion, Councillor Tom Ashton, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Emilie Wales, Heritage Manager and Pranali Parikh, Director of Economic Development left the Meeting at 10.37am.