2025 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON the 20th January 2025.

Present: Cllr S Brigham; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr K Redhead and Cllr I Mills. County Councillor M Brookes.

Public Forum. (The Public Forum does not form part of the meeting of the Parish Council) – none.

Cllr Brigham opened the meeting at 19.02.

117/24  Chairperson’s remarks. None.

118/24  To receive apologies and reasons for absence. Apologies and reason for absence received from Cllr Leggott due to sickness and Cllr Collingwood due to other commitments. It was resolved to accept their apologies and reasons for absence.

119/24  To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest not previously recorded on Member’s Register of Interests – none.

120/24  Notes of the meetings held on 4.11.24 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

The above notes were agreed and signed as minutes by Cllr Brigham. It was resolved to accept the notes as minutes.

121/24  Financial matters: Accounts due for payment for December and budget figures ytd. To the checked and signed bank reconciliation from 1.7.24 to 30.9.24 from Cllr Leggott.

It was resolved to agree the payment schedule and the budget figures ytd. The bank reconciliation was received from Cllr Leggott who confirmed that it was correct.  It was resolved to accept the bank reconciliation. ACTION: Clerk to make payments and add budget to website

122/24  Planning - None

123/24 Correspondence received since the 2.12.24 Meeting.

29.11.24               LALC fortnightly enews.                                                                                Emailed to Councillors 1.12.24

16.12.24               Email from the Wigtoft Litter Pickers about the tyre bins                         Emailed to Councillors and sent message to Wyberton Wombles. 16.12.24.

10.1.25                 LALC enews                                                                                                    Emailed to Councillors 12.1.25

5.1.25                   NHT survey for Parish Councillors from LCC Highways                              Emailed to Councillors 15.1.25

**NALC is short for National Association of Local Councils.    **LALC is short for Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils. **BBC is short for Boston Borough Council.    ** LCC is short for Lincolnshire County Council. **FB is short for Facebook

124/24  Councillors’ Reports

 Cllr Baxter – The area between the centre islands on the A17 is overgrown with grass. County Cllr MB comment that this work may be done with the planned roadworks.

Cllr Smith – residents have mentioned their concern about lorries parked on the roadside. The over 65 lunch on the 1.12.24 went well. This will probably be the last one. The money left over was used for the raffle prizes.

125/24  Borough and County Councillors reports.

County Councillor Brookes – There is an article about Fairer Funding in the latest Town and Parish Council Newsletter from LCC. It would help if it was possible to raise awareness about this initiative. There is a link to a template for a letter to your MP about this.  Lincolnshire is £120m short each year. There is also a survey about the pylons and solar farms in the same newsletter and in the County News. Could you circulate to residents please.

Borough Councillor Cantwell – myself and Cllr Brown have produced a Christmas postcard which has been delivered to some residents and the Village Hall. Boston Borough Council Neighbourhood Services Team have advised me that they will clean up the mud by the curbs on  Asperton Road as soon as possible. Two residents have asked me about a sign to advise “keep litter out of our village” and also a flashing speed sign. Councillors commented that the Parish Council have applied for funding for such a speed sign which was refused. Lincs County Council have advised that the overgrown areas on and near the building site on Asperton Road is not within their remit. The Borough Council Enforcement Officer has advised that it is not bad enough to require any action. James suggested that maybe the Wyberton Wombles might help.

126/24  Clerk’s report

Report received from Wigtoft Litter Pickers about the positive impact the tyre bins have had on the litter in the layby. “I thought I'd let you know the effect of the tyre bins in the Wigtoft/ Sutterton layby. Basically excellent. We are getting 1 or 2 bags every 2 weeks and only a small amount that hasn't made it in the bins. It looks like the layby users have a conscience. I hope it continues like this”. I passed this information on to the Wyberton Wombles.

I have only received information from Sandra about the location of the old passive speed notices so there has been no further action with the application to join the Community Speedwatch.

I am struggling to find a way of organising a meeting with Richard Tice, MP, as requested by you at the last meeting. My only suggestion now is to ask if he will attend before or after a monthly meeting.

TCV, I dig tress – I have had to register an expression of interest as the demand has been very high. There should be a further tranche available soon.

I am still waiting to find out how much we owe Boston Borough Council for the electricity use from 1.11.23 to 31.10.24 by the Footway Lighting. I have chased this information and Cllr Cantwell has also helped. We need this information to help with the budget planning.

Cllr Mills has agreed to participate in a zoom information download about an update to the National Planning Policy Framework. I have booked him in on the24.2.25, 6 to 7pm.

Cllr Brigham went to meet a representative from a company called Fawns to gather information to quote for a new roundabout. While she was there, she noticed there were a lot of mole hills in the playing field. I have contacted Premier Pest Services to ask that they deal with this asap.

127/24  To review the annual play area inspection undertaken by Wicksteed on the 20.11.24 for October and decide if any actions are needed.

After reviewing the inspection, it was resolved that there were no pressing issues. The report is to be sent out with the monthly inspection template.

County Councillor Brookes left the meeting at 19.37.

128/24  To review the quotes for the Parish Council replacement noticeboard.

Two quotes were discussed, one for £1250.00 plus delivery from The Parish Notice Board Company and one for £875.23 from GeViews. It was resolved to accept the quote from GeViews for £875.23. ACTION: Clerk to place order.

129/23  To confirm the purchase of a new mobile phone at a cost of £58.33 and a monthly contract with Smarty mobile for £6 per month. Authorised by the clerk and the chairperson in line with Financial regulation 5.15.

It was resolved to confirm the process and order.

130/24  To complete the budget planning process for 25 to 26.

The budget planning was completed. It was resolved to apply for £13792 from Boston Borough Council as the Precept for 1.4.25 to 31.3.26. A detailed spreadsheet for the budget is shown at the end of the minutes and will be added to the website.  ACTION: Clerk to complete and forward the paperwork to Boston Borough Council by the deadline.

Councillors Brigham and Smith left the room at 20:23 while the following agenda item was discussed

131/24  To consider the request from the Village Hall Committee for a donation of £135.91 to pay for replacement pads for the defibrillator at the Village Hall.

It was resolved to donate £135.91 to the Village Hall funds. ACTION: Clerk to make payment.

Councillors Brigham and Smith returned to the room at 20:26.

117/24  To plan the Annual Parish meeting to be held on the 3.3.25 at 6.30pm.

It was resolved to continue with the format previously used. ACTION: Clerk to send out invitations to all groups and advertise the meeting.

Meeting closed at 20.40.  Next meeting 3.3.25 at 7pm. This will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting at 6.30pm.