January 2026 Minutes
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING
at STICKFORD Community Centre
Tuesday 13th January 2026 @ 7.30pm
DRAFT MINUTES
No. of Residents present : 11 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 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 has requested guidance for the erection of a log cabin on their property to be used as a small hairdressing business. Councillor Taylor, ELDC, advised them to contact Planning to make sure they comply with building regulations.
b) A resident reported their concern that the old coal yard is being used to store waste from other venues and asked for advice on what permissions would be required to comply with regulations. The clerk will contact ELDC and LCC to clarify what is their requirements.
c) A resident reported that there has been some activity on the recently sold land behind Fen Road on the left has you turn to go out of the back of the village. They believe that ground testing has taken place and presume all ok as a sold sign is now up. It appears that the workmen in their vehicles have damaged the brickwork to the bridge/culvert at the access to the land. The clerk will report this to Witham Fourth.
d) A resident reported that one of the drains at the end of Church Road by the sand bins is blocked. Water is coming out of one drain and moving along to the next and going back down. Councillor Reeson will report this at the next MAG meeting due to be held on 19th January, along with the slippage along Keal Bank which is now effecting the road surface.
2. ELDC Report
a) Local Government Reform update. Proposals have been submitted for the government to consider. Next update should be during the summer.
b) Pylons consultations have now ended.
Page 1 of 3 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..
3. LCC Report – No report received and Councillor Hume not in attendance at the meeting.
4. Lincolnshire Police Report
Nothing to report – no zoom meeting booked as yet for 2026.
Meeting started at 7.50pm
5. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
6. Apologies for absence – no apologies received
7. There were no declaration of interest
8. Approval of Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 09/12/2025
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 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. The clerk will endeavour to make contact with the police to inform them of the concerns that residents of Stickford have over the potential dangers to drivers in that area.
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. The clerk will email Witham Fourth.
10. Finance Report
a) Authority for Payment:
1) £92.62 Admin costs , 4 x toner for printer, 2nd class stamps, copy paper
2) £43.20 ECBS Sentinel One annual security package for clerks laptop
3) £25.00 Hire of Community Centre 13/1/26
Internal Audit has just been completed and payment of £70.00 is due – authority given to be paid before next meeting, if necessary.
All payments approved by all Councillors.
b) Bank Balances as at end December 2025
Current account: £10,182.72, Savings account: £8,411.96
Wayleave has been received and banked totalling £138.73
Page 2 of 3 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..
11. Precept – second discussion. The Chairman read out all items and suggested figures with explanations. All agreed on the figures and authorised the clerk to submit a request for £4662.00 for the 2026/2027 Precept.
12. Clerks Report
a) Information received from Mobile Library giving dates and details – to be put on Noticeboard and a copy to be given to the Community Centre to put on their noticeboard.
b) 2 more quotes have been obtained for Perspex to be added to the 4 bus shelters to give protection from wind & rain. The councillors felt that they needed time to consider the quotes and asked for this subject to be added on to the Agenda for the next meeting in March .
c) The wooden bench on Hagnaby Road side of the A16 is broken. Quotes to be obtained to repair it.
d) Councillor Howlett confirms that the clock has been stopped at present, in an to attempt to preserve it during the cold, icy, wet and snowy winter period. This should protect the mechanism from ceasing up and thus prevent it from not working.
13. Community Speed Watch
The requirements to join Community Speed Watch were discussed and considered. As Stickford does not have street lighting, signs would need to be attached to telegraph poles to meet the requirement of being 1.5 m from the ground. The signs would need to be moved every 6 weeks to a new location within the village. Councillors agreed to take no action at present and ring fence the £100 allowed for in this years Precept.
14. Planning – discuss planning applications.
No new applications received and no updates since the last meeting in December.
15. Other Business – matters for next Agenda
a) Payment due LALC annual subscription of £186.22
b) ICO payment will be due in April.
c) Discuss Perspex on Bus shelters – 3 quotes obtained
d) Bench – quotes to fix being obtained
e) Internal Audit – discuss Report and agree on actions if any required
Date and time of next meeting: 10th March 2026 starting with the public forum at 7.30pm.
Meeting closed at 20.35pm
Confidential/Exempt Matters (Closed Session)
The Council resolved to move into closed session under the provisions of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.
The matters discussed were noted, and the Council made decisions as required.
No further details of the discussion are included in these minutes to maintain confidentiality.
Page 3 of 3 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..