2025 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON the 7th April 2025.

Present: Cllr S Brigham; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr S Smith; Cllr K Redhead and Cllr I Mills.                                                                                Also present, Borough Councillor James Cantwell. Ten  members of the public. Boro Cllr Stuart Evans.

Public Forum. (The Public Forum does not form part of the meeting of the Parish Council)

The members of the public in attendance spoke about their concerns regarding planning number B/25/0111 as in agenda item 7 below. Key points raised were – lorries parking on road and near junctions causing a danger to traffic, noise from early morning to late at night, offensive language used by employees, detrimental impact on nearby properties as many are old from a damage and future value point of view. (This is a precis of the comments made).

Borough Councillor Stuart Evans introduced himself as prospective Conservative candidate for the upcoming County Council Elections on the 1.5.25.

Cllr Brigham opened the meeting at 19.30

148/24  Chairperson’s remarks – none.

149/24  To receive apologies and reasons for absence. Apologies and reason for absence were received from Cllr Collingwood. It was resolved to accept his apologies and reason for absence. County Councillor Mike Brookes and Borough Councillor David Smith sent their apologies

150/24  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.

151/24  Notes of the meetings held on 3.3.25 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.

152/24  Financial matters: To confirm the purchase of a new printer agreed by the clerk and the chair at a cost of £45.83 + vat. To agree the accounts for payment for March 2025 and budget figures to the year ending 31.3.25.  Bank balance £8923.29 as at year end 31.3.25. To receive and agree the checked bank reconciliation for the period 1.10.24 to 31.12.24 from Cllr Mills. To hand over the bank reconciliation for checking for the period 1.1.25 to 31.3.25.

It was resolved to confirm the purchase of the new printer as above and the bank reconciliation for the period 1.10.24 to 31.12.24 checked by Cllr Mills. The accounts for payment were checked against the invoices and the lists signed by 1. Cllrs Smith and Baxter and 2. Cllrs Mills and Leggott. It was resolved to agree the payments. The clerk had circulated the budget figures up to the end of the financial year 31.3.24 to the Councillors prior to the meeting. The clerk advised that there was nothing new to comment on or explain since the March Meeting. It was resolved to accept the budget figures to 31.3.25 as an accurate copy of the Parish Council’s receipts and payments from 1.4.24 to 31.3.25.  The bank reconciliation 1.1.25 to 31.3.25 was handed to Cllr Baxter for checking.

ACTION: Clerk to make payments and add budget to website

153/24  Planning: B/25/0111.

The item was discussed at length. It was resolved to send the following comments and objections to the  planning department at Boston Borough Council. “Our concerns are – Road safety re parking and volume of traffic in and out of site, noise pollution. We strongly object to this application in line with all of the residents points raised below and our own. It will add to problems that have been there for years. Concerns about health and safety issues – pollution, increased risk of accidents. Increased co2 emissions, increase in noise. In plans, if turning circle was moved further into the field instead of proposed site, it would help alleviate some issues. This proposed development of the site is not right for our village, increasing the volume of traffic in and out of the site will only make matters worse. As the business has grown, the problems have increased. If this application is passed, it will make existing problems worse and create new ones.  The proposed development of this business is very close to the properties at the back. It is not appropriate at this site. If it were on an industrial estate then it would be appropriate.

Summary of comments from Wigtoft  Parish Council

The Parish Council strongly object to this application for all reasons given by the Parish Council and residents below. If this application should be passed, we would be very worried and concerned for our residents who live anywhere in the close vicinity of this business and also for the potential danger to road users. We would not normally include comments from residents in response to a planning application but, in this instance, we felt it is appropriate especially as we fully support and agree with every comment made by residents. Comments agreed by resolution at Wigtoft Parish Council meeting 7.4.25.

ACTION: Clerk to submit their comments and objections on the 8.4.25

(Residents comments

Blight on the village; more traffic violations; plenty of other mot stations in the area; too many lorries park on the road now opposite junctions in the village; already been an accident where lorry parked on road at night with no lights; 4 to 5 lorries parked on road on Sundays; road is now a bus route, lorries badly parked causes problems for the bus drivers; business starts work at 6am or earlier, very noisy; residents with older properties close by shake when lorries turning of moving, e.g. at rear of premises; cannot have bedroom windows open otherwise would be woken early; not just the noise of the business and the lorries, it’s the offensive language used; 1 property directly adjacent to proposed area, if plans passed will have a huge detrimental impact on the family. Children play in garden, daughter asthmatic, no boundary proposed in plans, noise between 6am and 10pm. Disappointed in lack of detail in application. Tried to engage with business in various ways but no response; boundary of mixed hedge to the east but no boundary o to the north; main yard proposal will be porous, multiple lorries per day will be turning in this area, not the most stable surface; property very old, concerned about damage to it; plans not giving any consideration to the village and the business has not done since it has been there; trailers are parked on the road side or on the grass verge without lights or number plates daytime and overnight; Lorries churn up the grass verges and block exit from side roads/junctions. Sometimes work all night and leave engines running . Will create higher co2 emissions. The A17 trunk road was built to keep heavy traffic out of the village (and other villages too); echo the comments about foul language, have to bring children in from the garden when this happens; company has also applied for planning permission for the barn (separate planning case B.25.0079), the road will come in front of cottages. Road is not capable of taking heavy traffic; How will we get in and out while they make the road suitable; we are trying to be positive with comments as we are worried about retribution.)

It was resolved to move agenda item 15 to this point.

154/24  To discuss the email from Borough Councillor James Cantwell about the Emergency Group for Fosdyke, Sutterton and Algarkirk villages.

A presentation was given by Mandy Spiller  about the need and benefits of setting up or joining an emergency group for the village. Key points were an emergency process will need to be set up by 2027; the process will include a place to go in case of any emergency and to receive support; the plan is for the villages Wigtoft, Sutterton, Algarkirk andP Fosdyke to come together. More responsibilities will be given to Parish Councils in the future. An emergency pack was demonstrated. The packs cost £160 each. Each Parish needs 2 volunteers with a lead person, ideally a Parish Councillor. Best practise is to hold a list of addresses of vulnerable residents (no other details).The next meeting is at Algarkirk Village Hall which Cllr Mills volunteered to attend.

155/24 Correspondence received since the 3.3.25 meeting.

2.3.25                   LALC fortnightly enews.                                                                 Emailed to Councillors 24.3.25.

7.3.25                   Q2 Neighbourhood Policing Priority setting survey                    Emailed to Councillors 22.3.25

17.3.25                 LCC re new bus stops in Wigtoft      Emailed to Councillors 24.3.25

19.3.25                 Notice of upcoming elections          Emailed to Cllr Baxter for noticeboard 19.3.25

21.3.25                 LALC fortnightly enews.                    Emailed to Councillors 24.3.25

28.3.25                 LALC training bulletin.                       Emailed to Councillors 3.4.25.

**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

156/24  Councillors’ Reports

Cllr Mills– behind my house near the business premises know as Agrii, there is a lot of litter. Do the litter pickers go down there? Cllr Smith volunteered to ask them. There is still a lot of water sitting on the plot on Asperton Road.

Cllr Redhead – could I have a blank sheet for the May play area check.

Cllr Leggott – Wildflower paths cut too short. ACTION: Clerk to contact contractors to request cut higher to 4 for 5 inches.

157/24  Borough and County Councillors reports.

Borough Cllr Cantwell – Boston Borough Council (BBC)  have received funding for bunting etc for VJ Day. Parish Council can apply. The government are doing a lot of work to update the planning process. I attended an event to thank the Village Hall Committee for the huge amount of work done to update the Village Hall. BBC has a budget for £1k for community funding for local areas. BBC are reducing the cost of rent on a market stall. BBB and East Lindsey District Council have been awarded £250m sports related funding.

158/24  Clerk’s report

Cllr Brigham completed the play area inspection in March, instead of Cllr Redhead. I have scheduled in Cllr Redhead for the May inspection instead of Cllr Brigham. I will be doing the April inspection.

I have renewed the AVG anti-virus subscription for two years at a cost of £49.99 ex vat. This was with a discount of £110. As this has been paid out of this year’s budget and there were sufficient funds left within the budget, I have not included this as an agenda item (in line with our standing order 5.15).

The playing field was cut on the 10.3.25 (grass was collected as requested)  and on the 26.3.25. Does anyone know what the grass is like on the Wildlife Garden?

I have submitted the vat return to the 31.3.25 for a refund of £1037.34.

Noticeboard update – the noticeboard was delivered to me on the 31.3.25 instead of to Cllr Collingwood as requested. It was collected on the 1.4.25. It should have been delivered on the 2.4.25. I have not yet had confirmation from Cllr Collingwood that is has been received. 

Microsoft renewal due 29.4.25, cost £84.99. I am investigating whether we can cancel this on expiry and buy a new package cheaper than this.

REMINDER – when replying to emails needing a reply, please always use REPLY TO ALL. Also, when sending me an email about a new subject, please do not use an existing thread but start a new one. Many thanks.

159/24  To review the play area inspection undertaken by Cllr Leggott on the 21.2.25 and decide if any actions are needed.

Cllr Leggott said there is a lot of algae and moss on certain areas which makes the surface slippery. The grass has been well cut. No other pressing issues. The annual report is to be sent out with the monthly inspection template. ACTION: Clerk to get quote for applying “Wet and Forget” product.

160/24  To review the Asset Register for the financial year end 31.3.25 and to confirm that all assets have been verified. To decide what to do with the old laptop and printer.

It was resolved to agree the details on the Asset Register. As the old laptop is no use to the parish council, it was resolved to investigate donating it to somewhere the information on it could be wiped off and it could be made use of. It was resolved to destroy the printer as it no longer works properly. It was resolved that the old noticeboard is to be destroyed after the new on is in place. ACTION: Clerk to remove the old printer and laptop from the Asset Register and then add it to the website under the Annual Audit section. Clerk to investigate if there is anywhere which could make use of old laptop.

161/24  To review the Equality and Diversity Policy, the Code of Conduct, the Complaints procedure and the Records Retention Policy. To read and adopt a Publication Scheme.

The clerk reminded Councillors that it is their responsibility to read the Code of Conduct annually. Following a review discussion, it was resolved to adopt the above revised policies. ACTION: Clerk to update policies on the website.

Meeting closed at 21.03.  Next meeting is the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council  at 7.30pm followed by the usual monthly meeting.