2026 Minutes

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 2nd March 2026.

Present: Cllr I Mills; Cllr S Baxter; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr K Redhead and Cllr S Brigham and the clerk. County Cllrs P Lock, Borough Councillor J Cantwell and 1 member of the public.

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

The Chairperson, Cllr Mills, opened the meeting at 19.00 and welcomed everyone present.

119/25  Chairperson’s remarks – I am sorry to tell you that I have received a letter of resignation from Cllr Sally Smith. I am sorry that she has decided to step down after almost 7  years’ service to the Parish Council. I would like to thank her for what she has done for this Parish during this time. All of the Councillors agreed with these comments.

120/25  To receive apologies and reasons for absence  - Cllr Collingwood had sent his apologies and reason for absence. It was resolved to accept his apologies and reason for absence.

121/25  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.

122/25  Notes of the meetings held on 19.1.26 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

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

123/25  Financial matters: To resolve to accept the accounts for payment for January and February 26, to be checked and signed by two Councillors at this meeting. Clerk to present budget figures for the year to date. Bank balance £10156.98 as at 6.1.26. To resolve the purchase of additional minutes for the LALC website Webmaster service at a cost of £54 + £10.80 vat. To  hand over the bank reconciliation for 1.9.25 to 31.12.25 to Cllr Redhead for checking.

The accounts for payment for January and February were checked against the invoices to the list, confirmed as correct and signed by Cllrs Redhead and Brigham (January 26) and Cllrs Baxter and Leggott (February 26).  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  together with the balance of the bank account at £10156.98.

ACTION: Clerk to make payments and add budget to website.

124/66  Planning – B/26/0046 Change of use and erection of an MOT bay at Auto Truck Ltd Main Road, Wigtoft.

Following a discussion, it was resolved to submit the following comments:

1. The proposed plan reduces the current workspace by 25%. In line with previously submitted comments/concerns by the Parish Council and residents, this is very likely to cause an increase in the parking and working on the lorries on the roadside to what is currently happening. 

2. The Parish Council and residents have a huge concern about the volume and type of traffic moving on and off the site by heavy goods vehicles. If this plan is agreed, the volume will increase.  It is not a safe entrance and exit for the volume and size of vehicles entering and exiting the site. 

3.Similarly, at the moment, lorries regularly park on the side of the road. This is also likely to increase for all of the above-mentioned reasons causing more hazards to drivers. 

4.For all of the reasons above, the noise generated by the business from early morning to late at night is most likely to increase causing further distress to residents. 

5. This business is growing rapidly. The Parish Council has no wish to stop an expanding business from developing but it is clear that this location is not suitable for an expanding business of this type in the centre of a residential village. It would be more suited to a location specifically for businesses e.g. an industrial estate. 

It would be very clear to anyone observing the site for a short period of time that the above comments are pertinent. ACTION: Clerk to submit comments to planning department.

125/25  Correspondence received since the January meeting.

23.1.26, 6.2.26, 20.2.26     LALC enews                                                                      Cllrs now receive this direct from LALC

28.1.26                 From LCC, National Highways and Transport Survey                  Emailed to Cllrs 2.2.26

28.1.26                 Town & Parish News from LCC                                       Emailed to Cllrs. Added to website 29.1.26                 

10.2.26                 Lincs Community Foundation survey about a repayable grants scheme. Emailed to Cllrs 10.2.26

18.2.26                 Two Highways notices of road works             Emailed to Cllrs. 20.2.26. Added to website and FB.  

Weekly                 Email from County Cllr Lock re info Causeway one network      Emailed to Councillors.

23.2.26                 Wigtoft Newsletter                                          Emailed to Councillors and added to the website 23.2.26

23.2.26                 email from member of the public requesting feedback about work of an advertiser in the Wigtoft Newsletter.                                                                                           Replied to sender. Emailed to Cllrs 24.2.26

23.2.26                 Traffic Regulation order, Hofleet stow           Emailed to Councillors, Added to website 24.2.26

** Cllrs is short for Councillors. **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

126/25  Councillors’ Reports – Cllr Redhead advised that a resident had commented that the speed signs need replacing. Cllr Brigham advise that a resident had reported that a number of different people are taking dogs in to the playing field/play area which is not allowed. Cllr Mills reported that the fly tip on Fishmere End hs been collected.

127/25  Borough and County Councillor’s reports: Borough Cllr Cantwell reported that Boston Borough Council are considering setting up a Town Council for Boston; The £1k given to Borough Councillors to support local initiatives has been used up; a resident reported the footpath by Church Road along Main Road into the village needs repairing; the owner of the building site on Asperton Road has been established; the Winter Hubs project will start in December or January; I have again pushed for a rota of street cleaning; Local Government Reorganisation, a decision will be made by Government later this year; Boston Borough Council is re-registering the ownership of assets from the Borough to the parishes. There are none in Wigtoft; Lincs Police have been given £12m extra over the next 3 years from the Government which means there will be no redundancies. County Councillor Lock reported the consultation about Local Gov Reorganisation has been submitted to the Government and is being considered; there is a new Area Highways Manager and there will be an increase in crews to deal with the repair of potholes; County Councillors are hoping to receive a pot of money to distribute to local initiatives; Council tax is to increase by 2.9%; there will be no increase in the remuneration for County Councillors; there has been hige savings in spending identified over the next 3 years; the Battle of Britain Memorial Flights visitor centre, which has been in situ for 50 years) is to be refurbished by the Council and the RAF; I have been given additional responsibility for adult care and wellbeing.

128/25  Clerk’s report

The VAT return for quarter 3 has been submitted and £453.25 has been received in the bank account on 16.2.26.

I have set up an Amazon business account in the name of the Parish Council so that vat can be reclaimed on purchases.

Update on gov.uk new email addresses – Cllrs Brigham, Collingwood, Mills and Redhead are now set up. Cllr Leggott is ready to set up but has problems. I am helping him to resolve this. Cllr Baxter advised on 1.3.26 that his pc has been repaired but he can’t set up new email address. I will help him to resolve this.

The Precept request for £19154 for the financial year 1.4.26 to 31.3.27 was submitted on the 27.1.26.

Update on the Internal Audit actions:

Notes to accompany the Internal Auditors mid year review notes 19.11.25, updated 24.2.26.

1. Members interest – Review to be undertaken on 1.12.25. Completed.
2. I advised the IA that the Councillors email addresses are set up ready to go. The comments do not reflect this. 4 Councillors new email addresses are up and running. The remining 2 have problems at the moment but will help to resolve.
3. I advised the IA that the clerk’s review took place on the 3.11.25 but it will not be agreed by Council until 1.12.25. The comments do not reflect this. As clerk, I do not think that this council is large enough to have a Committee. My contract says the Chair and Vice-Chair would be responsible for my review. Agreed by Council.
4. Updated IT Policy - I have not seen anything in the LALC weekly newsletter or any emails from LALC about this new policy. I have downloaded it and was intending to put it on the agenda for 1.12.25 but it is more complex than the last and I felt we will have enough to do with the budget planning being on the agenda. It will be an agenda item at the meeting after the 1.12.25. On the agenda 2.3.26
5. VAT on purchases. I know that vat can only be reclaimed if the invoice is in the name of the Parish Council. This was an oversight. Consider setting up an Amazon business account. Amazon business account set up. Vat claimed in error repaid by the last vat return. Completed.
6. Data input error. Will check data from payments list monthly. Completed.
7. Contractors Liability - I now have a copy of this which has been sent to you with the minutes. Completed.  Diarised to request new conformation when existing one expires.

129/25  To confirm the dates for future meetings

The proposed dates discussed at the last meeting have been confirmed with the Village Hall Committee. It was resolved to adopt these dates. ACTION: Clerk to publish on the website.

130/25  To discuss trees and hedges in general which the Parish Council has responsibility for (requested at last meeting)

Cllr Mills had not had time to organize a meet up at the Playing Field to inspect and review work needed. Potential date is 28.3.26.

131/25  To resolve retrospectively the purchase of 2 “no dog fouling” sign for the path down to the Wildlife Garden at a cost of ££49.99 including vat of £8.34, in line with our Financial Regulation 6.8V.

It was resolved to agree to make the above payment.

132/25  To review and agree to pay the sum of £85.88 to the Church for electricity used to power the Christmas Lights.

It was resolved to make this payment on the 1.4.26.

133/25  To review the Annual Play area/playing field inspection undertaken by Wicksteed Leisure on 19.1.26 (sent to Cllrs 9.2.26). Cllr Leggott to complete the March monthly inspection.

The report was reviewed in full. There were no high priority issues. It was resolved that Cllr Leggott would use the report when undertaking the March monthly inspection and report back at the next meeting.

134/25  To discuss and decide the next steps needed to install the new “dog fouling” signs.

It was resolved to purchase two wooden posts, the clerk to obtain prices and email to Councillors.

135/25  To review the Asset Register and arrange for the annual check of the assets.

Cllr Brigham offered to check all accessible assets over the next two weeks. Cllr Leggott will check any assets in the play area/playing field.

136/25 To review and adopt a new IT Policy for Wigtoft Parish Council.

The clerk advised that the new IT policy has been designed to fit all councils irrespective of size. Because of this, only part of the policy has been completed in draft. It was resolved that the clerk is to complete the review and forward to Councillors for checking by the 20.3.26 and, once agreed, it is to be added to the website.

Meeting closed at 20:25. Next meeting is on the 13th of April at 19:30