2025 Minutes

STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL

PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING

at STICKFORD Community Centre

Tuesday 9th September 2025 @ 7.30pm

 

DRAFT  MINUTES

 

No. of Residents present : 9                Official attendees read Y for attending, N for non-attendance 

Chairman Councillor Mrs Lesley Reeson     Y         ELDC Councillor Mr Terry Taylor                     Y

Vice Chairman Councillor Mr John Howlett  Y         Lincs C C Councillor Mrs Maria Hume               Y         

Councillor Mr Clive Kingswood                   N         Parish Clerk Mrs Nicki George                         Y                                                

Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant                        Y         Councillor vacancy x 2                                   

Councillor Mr Tony French                        Y        

                                                                                    

1. Residents Public Forum : 

 

 

a) A resident asked for an update re the caravan in a field off the Cul De Sac.   Cllr Howlett and ELDC Cllr Taylor are still monitoring to see if a planning application is submitted. Cllr Howlett will contact ELDC to inform them of the current situation. This is also in Matters Arising. 

 

b) A resident expressed concern at the amount of reeds/weeds in Catchwater Drain, ahead of autumn. Branches of trees and bushes are also overhanging.  The clerk will inform the Environment Agency. 

 

c) A resident reported that 5 dogs are living at the extra caravan on the airfield. They are tethered and living outdoors, in all weathers. Several residents have reported the situation to the RSPCA and the Dog Warden. The Airfield is technically not in the parish of Stickford but we continue to monitor what is happening as it affects the residents of Stickford. 

 

d) The stile along the footpath that joins Church Road and Back Lane has been reported as broken and dangerous on Fix My Street by several residents. The chairman has closed it off using tape to stop people using it. 

 

e) A resident requested that notice of road closures be put on to the Stickford Parish website. The clerk will put on all that are still applicable and any more that come through. They are being put onto the Noticeboard. 

 

f) A resident reported that the ramps being used and stored by a disabled resident by the foot bridge at the end of the Cul de Sac have been moved by an unknown person into rough grass so not easily accessible for the disabled resident that uses them. What can be done to avoid a health & safety issue ?  It has been discussed before, Environment Agency own the land and Highways own the wooden bridge but Cllr Hume will look into the possibility of improving the disabled access in this area.

 

Page 1 of 5 Signature of Chairman ……………………………………….             Dated ……………………..

 

2. ELDC Report 

 

 

a) No update on Pylons – all quiet

b) Cllr Taylor informed the meeting of grant funding available to communities. Information is regularly emailed to the clerk and shared with the Community Centre committee. 

c) Changes are still afoot for Local Government Reform. Decision due by November 2027 when shadow elections are due to happen. 

 

 

3. LCC Report – see Index 1

 

The Chairman asked if Cllr Hume has been able to assist in clarifying what the parish councils’ position is in finding out what restrictions have been placed on a resident that has recently come out of prison. Concerns are raised as to the proximity of the Community Centre with various activities that include children in attendance. Cllr Hume has given the clerk some information and has offered to help in obtaining more if required.

 

 

4. Lincolnshire Police Report 

 

No report – next Zoom meeting is due on 23rd September 2025. The clerk will attend.

 

 

Meeting started at 8.20pm        

 

5. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.  The Chairman announced an addition to the Agenda of a payment to Time Assured Ltd that has been agreed at a previous meeting. 

 

6. Apologies for absence – Apologies from Councillor Kingswood – reasons accepted by all councillors

 

7. There were no declaration of interest

 

8. Approval of Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 08/07/2025

 

Proposed: Cllr John Howlett           Seconded: Cllr Tony French      signed by the Chairman

 

 

9. Matters Arising from previous meeting

 

a) A resident asked for an update as to what is happening with Evergreens Railway. ELDC Cllr Terry Taylor confirmed that the details had been passed to Planners and Enforcement with no further update as yet.

No further information available – this is technically not in the parish of Stickford, it is just on the boundary. We will continue to monitor what is happening as it affects residents of Stickford. 

 

b) A resident asked for an update re the caravan in a field off the Cul De Sac. Cllr Howlett and ELDC Cllr Taylor are still monitoring to see if a planning application is submitted. Cllr Howlett will contact ELDC to inform them of the current situation. 

 

c) Badger activity is the same. They don’t seem to be digging due to the hard ground over the last couple of months. 

 

d) A resident asked for an update in the bank collapse along Keal Bank. The clerk will chase for an up-to-date response from the Environment Agency. The clerk has sent an email and the issue is acknowledged but it is deemed as not high priority on the budget available. 

 

 

Page 2 of 5 Signature of Chairman ……………………………………….             Dated ……………………..

 

e) Pride in East Lindsey Supervisor has confirmed that Church Road and paths leading to bus shelters will be cleaned up in due course.  This has begun along Church Road by the Community Centre but work is slow. As weeds are being removed it is showing that the paths are not in good repair. The clerk will take photos and put on to Fix My Street. 

 

f) To obtain Speed Road signs around the village and to have Volunteers undertake speed road side checks for letters to be issued to registered keepers, Stickford need to members of the Community Speed Watch (CSW)scheme. Decisions on where the road signs are to be sited need to be made before application can be submitted.  All councillors agreed to go ahead with this application, once decisions have been made re signs.  Discussion was held re siting of speed signs and details to be submitted. The clerk asked the councillors to consider if they would like to take the lead on this project. 

 

g) Email received from a resident re drainage and past flooding in their property along the Cul De Sac the clerk has replied to this email assuring that a lot of work is being done by various agencies and bodies to try to avoid the situation that happened last year and inviting the resident to attend this meeting. 

 

 

10. Finance Report 

 

a) Authority for Payment:

 

1) £1037.50 July to September 2025 salary for Parish Clerk

 

2) £ 25.00 Community Centre hire 9.9.25

 

3) £204.00 Time Assured Ltd. (£170+vat) Previously agreed for Annual Maintenance for the War Memorial Clock This is paid from a personal annual donation. 

 

The previously agreed £50 payment to Community Speed Watch is still outstanding. No cheque has yet been issued. 

 

 

All payments approved by all Councillors.

b) Bank Balances to end of August 2025 : 

Current account £10,602.21   (1 outstanding cheque to be cashed of £53.50 – clerk will chase) 

       Savings account £8,359.74

 

11. Clerks Report 

 

 

a) Receipt of AGAR Certificate of Exemption has been confirmed by PKF Littlejohn LLP

b) Newsletter is due at end of September – items to be included are details of the Emergency Contact details in case of floods and details of the Remembrance Service on 9th November.

c) AGAR Assertion 10, the use of secure gov.uk emails by councillors and clerk – zoom meetings are being offered by LALC webmaster. All councillors agreed that the clerk can attend and to pay the cost of the training if required. 

 

 

 

 

Page 3 of 5 Signature of Chairman ……………………………………….             Dated ……………………..

 

d) Public Rights of Way & Access,  Countryside Access & Community Project Officer, Lincolnshire County Council is requesting assistance in completing a survey. The clerk has asked Ken Richard if he is willing to help in this matter and he has accepted.

e) Reminder from the clerk to all councillors that the Standing Orders and Financial Regulations need updating – a separate meeting is to be arranged.

 

 

12. War Memorial Clock – update

 

Councillor Howlett reports that Time Assured Ltd attended on 29th August to carry out the afore mentioned service and annual maintenance and to check that all is working, before autumn/winter approaches.  It is now working. If the weather looks like it is going to be particularly wet or cold then the clock can be stopped and restarted when weather improves. Time Assured Ltd have offered to come out to make repairs if needed before 9th November, Remembrance Day Service.

 

13. Community Centre – update

 

A letter has been received from The Community Centre Committee  requesting help from the Parish Council in applying for grants for essential maintenance and repairs of the Community Centre.  The clerk is to seek advice and guidance from the auditor, who is unavailable until after 13th September. 

 

14. Allotments – update

 

All tenants have been sent the request for 6 months rent due on 1st October 2025. 

Allotment 17 becomes vacant on 1st October 2025. No one has made contact with the clerk following adverting in the Newsletter. One existing tenant has expressed an interest and all councillors voted to offer the tenancy to them as no one else has come forward. This will be a 2 year Agreement to keep in line with the other 3 year Agreements due to be reviewed and renewed in 2027.

 

15. Community Emergency Plan – update

 

The clerk is to arrange a separate meeting for this to be discussed and to invite all that attended the last meeting in January 2025. 

 

16. Remembrance Service Planning

 

Rev. Judith has confirmed that she is now able to take the service at the War Memorial Clock on Sunday 9th November 2025. No one has come forward following the advert in the August newsletter, asking if anyone with a military background would like to take part in any way. The bugler has confirmed her attendance. Councillor Bryant will order the wreath and more new small crosses will be required this year. Exact number to be confirmed. Councillors Howlett and Bryant are to tidy up the War Memorial garden before the service. The clerk confirmed that £100 is available to spend on flowers/plants from the annual private donation that is set aside for this expenditure as nothing has been spent to date for this current year 2025/6. 

 

 

17. Planning – discuss planning applications. 

 

There are not any new planning applications but there are two updates from July's meeting.

 

Land opposite the Boathouse Hagnaby Lock, Stickney change of use of an existing commercial fishing lake to provide a holiday park including 22 holiday lodges, excavation of land to provide a fishing lake and an extension to an existing lake and erection of a storage building, permission has been granted subject to numerous conditions. Three conditions relate to a written scheme of archaeological investigation to be submitted and all recommendations carried out liaising with the County Records office, flooding conditions including raised finished floor levels of the holiday lodges and a condition to provide on site bicycles for use by visitors described as a transport option for visitors.

 

Grimsby to Walpole pylons scheme. The statutory consultation stage 2 expired on 6th August. Individual and the Parish Council's comments have been submitted as with previous consultations with National Grid and East Lindsey DC as part of the planning process. The next stage is that National Grid will submit a Development Consent Order Application but this will not be until 2027.

 

 

Page 4 of 5 Signature of Chairman ……………………………………….             Dated ……………………..

 

 

 

18. Other Business – matters for next Agenda

 

a) Resilience/ Emergency Plan – the clerk needs to update the Plan and arrange another meeting – update

b) Community Speed Watch

 

 

Date and time of next meeting: 9th December 2025 starting with the public forum at 7.30pm.

 

 

Meeting closed at 21.22pm

 

Appendix 1

County Councillor Report      Date: 09 September 2025     STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for the warm welcome you gave me in July. I was made to feel very welcome, and I felt at home quickly with the fantastic local councillors — who I think are hardworking, and absolutely have the best interests of the people at heart.

The more of these fantastic people I meet, the more I am determined I am to doing everything that I can to make myself useful to you.

I meant it when I said that governments should fear the people, and not the other way around although I mangled that quote somewhat (originally, it was Thomas Jefferson who said, "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.")

I think this quote is so pertinent to the way things are these days. Having said that, I still feel optimistic about the future. I know there is so much good work we can do, and in Lincolnshire, we have so much to fight for.

As ever, please do feel free to email me at CllrM.Hume@lincoInshire.gov.uk at any time, if you have concerns or complaints, or just want to draw attention to any local issues that you see, and I will do my best to respond as quickly as I can.

I do try to respond quickly, but there are times when that is not possible — however, I have always, and will always respond as soon as I possibly can.

With best wishes,

 

Maria B. Hume  CllrM.Hume@lincolnshire.gov.uk County Councillor, Wainfleet Division,  Executive Support Councillor for Adult Care & Health

Address: County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, LNI 1 YL Website:www.lincolnshire.gov.uk

General News

1 . UK and England Flags: The Leader of Lincolnshire Council has clearly stated that as long as it is done sensibly, no Union or St George's flags will be taken down in  Lincolnshire. We think these flags are a sign of unity and inclusion — as well as national pride, and I don't know about you, but it makes me smile every time I see one.

2. Local Government Reorganisation: This process is ongoing, and if you would like to have more information on this, please do visit LCC web site for links to the information you need. If you would like me to pass on any comments or queries, again, please send me an email and I will do so.

 

 

Page 5 of 5 Signature of Chairman ……………………………………….             Dated ……………………..