2026 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WIGTOFT PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 13th April 2026.

Present: Cllr I Mills; Cllr B Leggott; Cllr K Redhead; Cllr S Collingwood and the clerk. Also Borough Councillor J Cantwell.

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 19.30 and welcomed everyone present.

137/25  Chairperson’s remarks – none.

138/25  To receive apologies and reasons for absence  - Cllrs Brigham and Baxter had sent their apologies and reasons for absence. It was resolved to accept their apologies and reasons for absence.

139/25  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.

140/25  Notes of the meetings held on 2.3.26 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.

141/25  Financial matters: a) To resolve to accept the accounts for payment up to 31.3.26 and payments to date for April 26, to be checked and signed by two Councillors at this meeting. b)To review the budget figures for the year to date. Bank balance £8872.59 as at 31.3.26 and £8102.71 as at 8.4.26. c) To  hand over the bank reconciliation for 1.1.26 to 31.3.26 to Cllr Leggott for checking.

a)The accounts for payment were checked against the invoices to the lists, confirmed as correct and signed by Cllrs Collingwood and Leggott (March 26) and Cllrs Redhead and Mills (April 26).  It was resolved to agree the payments. b)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 noted that the planned budget for 1.4.25 to 31.3.26 was £14739 and the amount spent was £14730. 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 8.4.26, £8102.71. c)The nak reconciliation for the period 1.1.26 to 31.3.26 was handed to Cllr Leggott for checking.

ACTION:  Clerk to add budget to website.

142/66  Planning – B/25 Appeal, change of use from Agricultural Building to Dwelling House.

The appeal will be sent to the Secretary of State for a decision on the appeal. The original comments and information will be submitted along with the appeal. It was resolved that there were nothing further to add to the original comments.

143/25  Correspondence received since the March meeting.

16.3.26  Traffic restriction order from LCC    Posted on website, Facebook and forwarded to Councillors

16.3.26  Advance notification of A17 road resurfacing Hoffleet Stow. Posted on website, Facebook and forwarded to Councillors

20.3.26  LALC enews                                                       No action needed

31.3.26  LCC Parish Council newsletter                        Posted on website and forwarded to Councillors

2.4.26    LCC Highways notice of traffic restriction Wigtoft Bank            Posted on website, Facebook and forwarded to Councillors

** 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

144/25  Councillors’ Reports: Cllr Collingwood advised that the hedge XXXXXX was overgrown again and causing an obstruction. Clerk to write to owner of the property. Cllr Redhead mentioned the overgrown trees along Sleaford Road. Clerk reminded Councillors that this was reported last year and Lincs County Council sent an update to say it could take some time to resolve. Clerk to check progress and report back to Councillors. Cllr Mills updated Council that the fly tip on Fishmere End Road had been cleared. The temporary repair to Asperton road surface is not great and drivers should still take care along that stretch of the road.

145/25  Borough and County Councillor’s reports:

Borough Councillor Cantwell updated Council. I am checking with planning department on a regular basis about the progress of the planning application by Auto Truck; Boston Borough Council have launched  “Pride in Place” initiative. There will be funding available for Parishes.  This is the information from BBC’s website - Boston Borough Council has secured up to £20 million in government funding through the Pride in Place Programme, a 10-year initiative (starting April 2026) to regenerate the town based on local priorities. This programme, strongly endorsed in March 2026, aims to revitalize high streets, enhance public spaces, and support community projects. 

146/25  Clerk’s report,. including progress on Internal Audit report actions and the setting up of the new gov.uk email addresses for Councillors.

I have produced a certificate of appreciation for the service given to the Parish Council by ex Cllr Sally Smith which has been signed by the Chair and delivered to her today.

The Year End accounting figures have balanced. The Annual Return will be complete to sign off at the next meeting.

I realised when completing the documents for this month’s meeting that I have now worked for The Parish Council for 8 years!

Update on gov.uk new email addresses – All Councillors are now set up and using their new email addresses except for Councillor Baxter. I will endeavor to assist him to set it up asap.

Update to the Internal Audit actions: All actions now complete.

147/25  To discuss advertising the vacancy for a Councillor.    

The clerk advised Council that she had already placed an advert on the Council’s website and Facebook page. Notices will be placed on the Noticeboards in the village and at the Village Hall. ACTION: update at next meeting.

148/25  To discuss the information received from Cllr Brigham about dogs in the playing field/play area and the quote for a new “no dogs allowed” sign for the entrance gate to the playing field.

It was resolved that the clerk should obtain a quote for a new sign and the cleaning liquid for the play equipment and email to Councillors for approval. Once both of the costs are approved by a majority, it was resolved that the clerk should place the orders and advise Councillors when deliveries are received.

149/25  To discuss trees and hedges in general which the Parish Council has responsibility for (requested at last meeting)

Cllr Mills apologised that the meet up at the Playing Field to inspect and review work needed had not yet happened. A new potential date is 25.4.26. Agenda item next meeting.

150/25  To review the monthly play area/playing field inspection undertaken by Cllr Leggott in March.

Cllr Leggott had missed the email from the clerk sending the template for the inspection. He confirmed he will complete the inspection as soon as possible.

151/25  To resolve retrospectively to pay Witham Timber £21.80 + vat for 2 timber posts for the new signs to the entrance to the Wildlife Garden, in line with our Financial Regulation 6.8V. To discuss the next steps needed to install the posts and the signs.

It was resolved to approve the payment. It was resolved that Cllrs Mills and Collingwood would investigate where equipment to help with the installation could be hired and how much it would cost. Agenda item next meeting.

152/25  To resolve to agree the Asset Register as at 31.3.26

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

153/25  To review the following Parish Council Policies/Procedures: Code of Conduct; Communications; Complaints Procedure; Data Protection; Equal Opportunities; Records Retention; Sickness/Absence; social media; Transparency Code and resolve to adopt a new Councillor Co-option policy and procedure.

The clerk had reviewed all of the above policies and procedures and forwarded them to all Councillors to read through prior to the meeting. It was resolved to adopt all of the reviewed policies.

154/25  To retrospectively resolve to discontinue using LALC’s Webmaster service and to use an alternative at the same cost of £20 per hour.

It was resolved to adopt the above course of action.

Meeting closed at 20:20. The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council is on 11.5.26 at 19.30 followed by the usual monthly meeting.