December 2025 Minutes
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING
at STICKFORD Community Centre
Tuesday 9th December 2025 @ 7.30pm
THE MINUTES
No. of Residents present : 10 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 N
Councillor Mr Clive Kingswood Y Parish Clerk Mrs Nicki George Y
Councillor Mrs Pam Bryant Y Councillor vacancy x 2
Councillor Mr Tony French N
1. Residents Public Forum :
a) A resident asked for an update on the situation with the new caravan on the airfield. Flowerpots and rubbish bags are being left very near to the road which could be a hazard to motorists. No response from RSPCA or dog warden. ELDC has no update but will chase. 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.
b) A resident reported that a culvert has collapsed in a section along Fen Road near to the field that is for sale. (sold subject to contract). Witham Fourth has been digging in the area. Councillor Howlett will investigate and the clerk will email Witham Fourth.
2. ELDC Report
a) Cllr Taylor informed the meeting that £40k worth of ELIF grant funding has been issued to local communities. Information is regularly emailed to the clerk and shared with the Community Centre committee.
b) Changes are still afoot for Local Government Reform. Proposals have been submitted and decision due by January/February 2026.
3 residents and Councillor Taylor left the meeting at 7.55pm
3. LCC Report – see Index 1 The Chairman read out the report in the absence of LCC Hume.
4. Lincolnshire Police Report
The clerk sat in on the Zoom meeting held on 23rd September 2025. These meetings are for councillors and clerks of all parishes in Lincolnshire to receive an update from Lincolnshire Police along with a Q&A session. The clerk distributed a copy of the power point to all councillors after the meeting by email.
Meeting started at 8.00pm
5. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
6. Apologies for absence – Apologies from Councillor French – reasons accepted by all councillors
7. There were no declaration of interest
8. Approval of Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 09/09/2025
Proposed: Cllr John Howlett Seconded: Cllr Pam Bryant signed by the Chairman
9. Matters Arising from previous meeting
a) A resident asked for an update re the caravan in a field off the Cul De Sac. Cllr Howlett confirms that Enforcement are now dealing with the matter. Water has been connected and horses are in the field with no shelter.
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 has emailed the Environment Agency and await notification if action is to be taken. They do not have funds available. Witham Fourth have been dredging and there is an improvement. The Chairman does attend the MAG (Multi Agency Group) meetings at which she highlights the slippages and issues that are in the parish.
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. No response from RSPCA or dog warden. ELDC has no update but will chase. 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. Fix My Street have confirmed repair has been completed.
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.
Councillor Bryant has located an email dated 2014 from LCC Highways confirming that this piece of land is owned by the Environment Agency and that it would be a costly and time-consuming process to re-surface this area and they were not willing to take action at that time. A resident suggested that we highlight that this route may be needed for evacuation purposes for residents of the Cul De Sac if an emergency or event happened to block access on Fen Road, along with disability access. The clerk will contact EA, WF and LCC to see if anything can be done at this stage.
10. Finance Report
a) Authority for Payment:
1) £1037.50 Staff Costs, October to December 2025
2) £100.00 Hire of Community Centre 14/10, 4/11, 18/11, 9/12
3) £42.00 Abbey Payroll Services (6 months)
4) £45.00 Royal British Legion (£25 wreath, £20 for 20 crosses)
5) £10.00 Donation to Royal British Legion
6) £31.99 Flowers for War Memorial Clock Garden
7) £12.00 Flowers for bugler at Remembrance Service
8) £216.00 (£180+vat) LALC website maintenance – 10 hours
£18.00 (£15 + vat) approved by email during October, LALC training for clerk zoom session re Assertion 10 in AGAR. (ringfenced in savings a/c for training)
Replacement cheque (100980) issued to Victoria Clark from May 2025 (100964) – clerk had used incorrect payee - £53.50
a) Bank Balances as at end November 2025
Current account: £11,184.21 (all payments now processed), Savings account: £8,387.49
b) Budget Report – all councillors handed a copy of the report – discussed – all areas on budget or reasons accepted if not on target.
All payments approved by all Councillors.
11. Precept – initial discussion. The Chairman read out all items and suggested figures with explanations, and discussed. To be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting to be held on 13th January 2026.
12. Clerks Report
a) Pride in East Lindsey Supervisor has confirmed that the cleaning work of the Church Road pathway and paths leading to bus shelters has been completed.
b) All allotment monies have been received for October 2025.
c) The interim audit is currently underway. Due to be completed in January 2026.
d) Gov.uk emails are currently being set up, for the clerk and then for each councillor, to comply with the new AGAR rules.
e) Quote received from Karl Sharpe for Perspex to be added to the 4 bus shelters to give protection from wind & rain. The councillors felt that the quotes were rather high, and asked the clerk to prepare some more quotes for the next meeting.
f) The annual security update of the clerk laptop is due. ECBS will complete the task in the next few days. Invoice will be submitted for payment at the January meeting.
The following policies & procedures have been read, updated and approved by all councillors and signed by the Chairman at this meeting.
1) Code of Conduct
2) Data Breach Policy
3) Data Protection Policy
4) Financial Regulations
5) Freedom of Information
6) Records Retention Policy
7) Risk Management Policy
8) Standing Orders
9) Subject Access Request Procedure
10) Transparency Code
11) Publication Scheme
12) Ant-harassment & Bullying Policy
13) Complaints Procedure
14) IT Policy
15) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy
16) Grievance Policy
17) Disciplinary Policy
13. Community Emergency Plan – update
The clerk is waiting for Kimberley at LCC to make contact to arrange a tabletop practice but the Plan is in place and active now.
1 resident left the meeting at 8.55pm
14. Community Speed Watch
In the absence of Councillor French at this meeting, we will discuss this at the January meeting.
15. Planning – discuss planning applications.
There is not much to report, a brief update on the pylons scheme, a planning application in the village and an application where we have been consulted as a neighbouring parish.
Grimsby to Walpole pylons scheme, National Grid have said the Stage 2 consultation is complete. The next stage is to submit a development consent order application expected in summer 2027.
The village application is for outline permission for the erection of a dwelling on land between the Conifers and Meadow View the Cul de Sac. It is infill land and a self-build is proposed. We will comment further when a full application is made but initial comments have been made in support of a bungalow (the application doesn't state the property type) in keeping with neighbouring properties. Two reservations have been made; more strain on existing infrastructure and public highway safety concerns from construction no parking of vehicles on the Cul de Sac and grass verges and to park within the curtilage of the property. The Cul de Sac is a narrow single-track road resurfaced within the past two years and would not want it to be damaged.
The neighbouring parish consultation is for the erection of a dwelling and pole barn to replace an existing static caravan and shed on site Charnwood West Fen Lane Stickney. Previous applications were made in 2014 and 2016 when we were consulted and in 2019 and 2022 when we were not. In 2022 planning consent was granted for the erection of a house and removal of an existing static caravan. We have neither supported or objected to the application and have put some comments on the planning portal although given the approval granted in 2022 it is thought likely permission will be granted for this latest application.
16. Other Business – matters for next Agenda
a) Community Speed Watch
b) Precept – 2nd discussion
c) Admin costs due for payment (toners & copy paper)
d) Laptop annual security package due for payment
Date and time of next meeting: 13th January 2026 starting with the public forum at 7.30pm.
Meeting closed at 21.05pm
Appendix 1
County Councillor Report 09 December 2025
STICKFORD
Hello everyone,
It has been a rather eventful year for us all – with so many changes and challenges, it has been an intensive journey to date, with so much learning and adapting to change, certainly on my part.
I don’t think the learning process ever really ends, and I am continuing to learn and grow into this role as each week passes.
I want to thank you all, for making this journey so much smoother – your support has been invaluable to date.
I hope that we will continue to work well together, and rest assured, I will continue to strive to do the very best I can for the Stickford.
I also hope that everyone has a wonderful break over this Christmas period. I am looking forward to not looking at my emails … well, at least for a few days!
All the very best for now and over the Christmas break,
1. Service Volunteer Grants
There may still be time to get more of these in, so please do email me and I’ll forward your request on. I can say that most of the ones I have submitted to date, have been accepted!
2. Q & A on the Upcoming Food Waste Collections in Lincolnshire
I have attached a more detailed document on this, including a Q & A provided to us, to answer questions that residents may have. If you know of any other questions that residents have, or that you may have about this programme, please do let me know via email, and I will pass on any queries to the team.
3. Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home
Have you had any feedback on this? I have received some help requests and I am working on those, but in the meantime, if you know of anyone who could use a bit more help, please do let me know.
BRIEFING: Preparing for Food Waste Collections in Lincolnshire
This project is part of the national government mandate under new Simpler Recycling legislation (Environment Act 2021), from 2026 all Lincolnshire households will be required to separate their food waste from their general rubbish.
This initiative aims to reduce the amount of food waste currently sent to our Energy from Waste facility, cut carbon emissions, and help residents recycle more effectively. Separated food waste will instead be sent to an anaerobic digestion facility in Lincolnshire, where it will be turned into renewable energy and fertiliser.
Key Points to Note:
• The programme starts in East Lindsey in the Autumn of 2026
• Every household will receive 2 caddies (indoor kitchen caddy and a larger outdoor caddy).
• Collections will take place weekly.
• All cooked and uncooked food can go into the caddy.
• Food waste will be recycled into renewable energy and fertiliser here in Lincolnshire.
Why? In Lincolnshire, food waste currently goes to our Energy from Waste facility, not landfill.
By collecting food waste separately, the project aims to:
• Help reduce contamination in other recycling bins
• Turn food waste into green energy and compost
• Support a cleaner, greener environment for our communities
What you can put in your food waste bin
All cooked and uncooked food, including:
• Leftover food and plate scrapings
• Raw or cooked meat inc bones
• Raw or cooked fish inc bones
• Dairy products, inc egg shells
• Tea bags and coffee grounds
• Rice, pasta and beans
• Bread, cakes and pastries
• Fruit & veg (including peelings)
• Leftover pet food
What NOT to put in - Please don’t include:
• No food in packaging
• Liquids (milk, oil, soup)
• Any materials that is not food
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE FULL BRIEFING ON THE STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE UNDER LCC REPORTS