2025 Parish Council Minutes of Meetings

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON the 6th of June 2025

Present: Cllr I Mills; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr S Smith; Cllr K Redhead; Cllr S Collingwood and Cllr S Brigham.                                                                            Also present: Borough Councillor James Cantwell

Public Forum. (The Public Forum does not form part of the meeting of the Parish Council) - None.

The Chairperson, Cllr Mills, opened the meeting at 19.30.

030/25  Chairperson’s remarks – none.

031/25  To receive apologies and reasons for absence – none.

032/25  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.

033/25  Notes of the meetings held on 12.5.25 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

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

034/25  Financial matters: To resolve to accept the accounts for payment for May 2025, to be checked and signed by two Councillors at this meeting and present budget figures for the year to date. Bank balance £11599.97 as at 27.5.25.

The accounts for payment were checked against the invoices and the lists and signed by  Cllrs Smith and Brigham. It was resolved to agree the payments. The clerk had circulated the budget figures up to date for the current financial year to the Councillors prior to the meeting. The clerk advised that there was nothing new to comment on or explain for the current year to date. It was resolved to accept the budget figures year to date as an accurate copy of the Parish Council’s receipts and payments  and the balance of the bank account at £11599.97.

ACTION: Clerk to make payments and add budget to website

035/25  Planning: B/25/0038 – The Old Farmhouse, Washdike Drove, PE20 2QA, to confirm response sent to Planning Dept. following email consultation with Councillors by email.

It was confirmed and resolved that there were no comments. Clerk advised that the response was sent to Planning Dept on the 23.5.25.

036/25  Correspondence received since the May meeting.

13.5.25  Email from National Grid about Statutory Consultancy for the Eastern Green Links 3 and 4.   Emailed to Cllrs and posted on website and FB 14.5.25

14.5.25  Email from County Councillor Paul Lock about the above consultancy.                                      Emailed to Cllrs 14.5.25

16.5.25  Email from LCC Highways about temporary traffic restrictions on Dances Bank.     Emailed to Cllrs, posted on website and FB 17.5.25

23.5.25  Fortnightly enews and monthly training bulletin from LALC.                                     Emailed to Councillors 24.5.25.

27.5.25  Town and Parish Council update from LCC                                                                   Emailed to Cllrs.27.5.25, posted on website and FB 27.5.25.

**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

037/25  Councillors’ Reports

Cllr I Mills: there has been some plastic fly tipped on Fishmere End. I will report it.  

038 /25 Borough and County Councillors reports.

Borough Councillor Cantwell – Boston Borough Council is using Rural England Prosperity Funding (REPF) to support projects that boost rural businesses and community infrastructure. The council has been allocated £128,779 for 2025/26, which it's dividing equally between community facilities and supporting rural businesses. Boston Borough full Council has agreed to purchase 10 new pod vehicles for food waste collection from April 26 onwards. The Emergency Group will be undertaking Risk Walks around the parishes to identify any issues. The group is planning to work with Parish Councils to create a list of addresses of vulnerable residents. No other data will be collected other than addresses.

039/25  Clerk’s report

Noticeboard update – I am hoping that it now erected and in use.

Cllr Brigham reported fallen branches in the playing field. I arranged for them to be removed at a cost of £50. UPDATE – now removed.

The Annual Audit paperwork is now complete. The required documents have been added to the Website. The Notice of Public Rights has been displayed on the noticeboard today and the dates for inspection are 3.6.25 to 14.7.25. They have also been published on the website. The Certificate of Exemption was sent to the external auditors on the 18.5.25. I have not had confirmation of receipt yet.

Following the last meeting I emailed the grass cutting contractors about the queries on their latest invoice, see copy below:

“Following the meeting of the Parish Council last night, I am writing to raise a couple of points with you. This follows a conversation and messages between me and Julian. Ever since you have cut the grass for us, I have always sent you a document with our requirements when asking you to quote for the coming year. I have attached a copy. The Parish Council have noticed that the alternate cuts of the Wild Life Garden with the schedule requested for the Playing Field is not happening so far this year. Looking at the dates on invoice 13744, both areas have been cut approximately every two weeks. The other point, this time from me and I know Julian is aware of this,  is to have the texts to me giving the date the cut happens and which areas have been cut. Our annual budget is set for grass cutting based on the information in the attached document and, as we are spending public money, we have to account for everything we spend against our budget. Finally, one of our Councillors has asked if the paths in the Wildlife Garden could be cut no shorter than approximately 4 inches long. If that is an issue for you, please let me know. 

The Parish Council understands that the last few months must have been very difficult for you and hope that you Richard are now much better.

A resolution was passed to pay invoice 13911 and 13744 so I will be making those payments very shortly”.

040/25  To review the Play Area inspection undertaken by Cllr Redhead.

The clerk had circulated the report to the Councillors prior to the meeting. There were no new items of concern to discuss.

041/25 To confirm the renewal of the Insurance Policy for 1.6.25 to 31.5.26 at a cost of £547.59 with Ecclesiastical (through Clear Councils) at a cost of £547.59 as part of a 3 year deal.

Following on from minute number 006/25 at the May 25 meeting, it was resolved to accept the above quote and terms from Ecclesiastical Insurance at a premium of £547.59 as part of a 3 year deal. The premium has been paid and  is in force.

042/25  To review the alternative Risk Assessment document and decide whether to resolve to adopt in place of the existing one or not.

It was resolved to adopt the new Risk Assessment document. ACTION: Clerk to post on website.

043/25  To review the new Publication Scheme document and resolve to adopt.

It was resolved to adopt the above document. ACTION: Clerk to post on website.

044/25  To discuss buying 2 goal nets for the playing field (BL).

The clerk had researched online and found 2 nets at £17.19 and £9.99. It was suggested it would be a good idea to also purchase pegs or a weighted tube to hold down the nets. It was resolved to spend a maximum of £50 on the above. ACTION: Clerk to purchase nets and tube/pegs.

045/25  All Councillors to read, complete and sign the GDPR compliance checklist (a requirement annually).

All Parish Councillors read, completed and signed a checklist. Clerk to retain.

Meeting closed at 17:52.  Next meeting is on the 7th of July at 19:30 at the Village Hall.