2026 Minutes

 STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL

 

PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING at STICKFORD Community Centre

Tuesday 10th March 2026 @ 7.30pm

 

DRAFT  MINUTES

 

No. of Residents present : 8                Official attendees read Y for attending, N for non-attendance 

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

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                        Y        

                                                                                    

 

1. Residents Public Forum : 

 

a) A resident reported that dogs have been seen loose around the new caravan on the airfield. Concern was expressed for the safety of cyclists and walkers. The clerk will contact the dog warden. 

The clerk is waiting for a response from the Travellers Officer, Caravan Licencing Officer, ELDC after issues reported from previous meetings.

b) A resident requested a new dog bin somewhere along Church Road, between the 2 existing bins, one being at the dead end of Church Road and the other one along Back Lane. Dog owners are not clearing up in that area. The clerk will contact ELDC to request a new one. 

c) A resident reported that a white van has been spotted several times along the Cul de Sac driving slowly after 8.30pm. It is sign written as Anglian Water. The resident has contacted Anglian Water and they have said that it is not being used for business purposes at that time of night. A second resident reported that the van has been seen in Hagnaby Road too. Advice to all residents to report anything that they feel is suspicious. 

d) A resident reported the bad state of the road along Keal Bank. It is very uneven. It has been reported on Fix My Street. The clerk will do likewise and contact LCC Highways. 

e) A resident has reported that bonfires are being lit with strong smoke and explosions after 10pm in the area where old chicken sheds are been taken down along Fen Road. They were under the impression that this land should be put back to arable when the sheds were removed.  The clerk will contact Environmental Health. 

 

 

2. ELDC Report  - NO report received in Councillor Taylors absence.

 

 

3. LCC Report – No report received in Councillor Humes absence.

 

 

4. Lincolnshire Police Report 

 

Nothing to report – no zoom meeting booked as yet for 2026.

 

 

Meeting started at 7.40pm        

 

5. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present. 

 

Following the Monitoring Officers advice, we have reviewed how our minutes in the public forum are recorded. This is to eliminate any incorrect statements being verified.  

 

 

6. Apologies for absence – apologies received from Councillor Taylor and Councillor Hume.

 

 

7. There were no declaration of interest

 

 

8. Approval of Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 13/01/2026

 

Proposed: Cllr John Howlett           Seconded: Cllr Pam Bryant      signed by the Chairman

 

 

9. Matters Arising from previous meeting

 

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.  All done and ok given to go ahead. 

 

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.  ELDC replied: as they are conducting this on their own private land there is nothing the council can do to get involved. If they are causing any nuisance due to odour, light or noise this can be reported to our Environment Protection Team. The chairman asked the clerk to follow this up with Cllr Taylor, ELDC. 

 

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. Witham Fourth confirm that this is a Board Maintained Sewer (sewer 3/7) and will be checked for immediate risk to conveyance. If the site is sold or still for sale, the culvert will probably be replaced but in the meantime if it needs attention WF will contact the owner. 

 

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 affecting the road surface. The Chairman reported this issue at the last MAG meeting. Residents reported that they have seen workmen in this area yesterday and a new cover has been fitted. The MAG (Multi Agency Group) meetings were set up following Storm Babet. As issues have decreased, these meetings will reduce to 6 monthly. Residents are asked to report any issues around the village to the Chairman via the Parish Council meetings. 

 

 

10. Finance Report 

 

a) Authority for Payment:

 

1) £1037.50      Clerks salary – 3 months covering January to March 2026

2) £  186.22      LALC annual subscription

3) £    25.00      Hire of Community Centre 10/3/26

 

ICO payment is due in April. All councillors agreed that payment can be issued when invoice received. Last year the payment was £52. 

 

£120.00 quote received for repair to bench on side of A16 by junction with Hagnaby Road. All councillors agreed for the work to be done and payment can be issued when invoice received. To be taken from ringfenced Asset Maintenance monies. 

 

Internal Audit cheque payment of £70.00 has been issued following January’s meeting. 

 

All payments approved by all Councillors.

VAT return monies received on 13.2.26 = £147.15. 

     

b) Bank Balances as at end February 2026

 

Current account:  £9924.78 

Savings account:  £8,411.96 (£21.30 interest credit received 1.3.26 bringing balance to £8433.26) 

Budget Report to end of February 2026 and including payments to be agreed at this meeting read and agreed by all councillors. All areas on track to budget. 

 

 

11. Clerks Report 

 

a) The clerk expresses her apologies to the resident that raised their annoyance at what they believed to be the mis recording of an item in previous minutes. The clerk will follow the advice of the Monitoring Officer.

 

b) Allotment letters requesting payment for the past 6 months, due on 1st April, have been hand delivered to the tenants.

 

c) Gov.uk emails for the councillors have not yet been set up – due to be done on Friday 13th March. 

 

d) VAT return completed and credit received on 13.2.26 for £147.15. This is for the period March 2025 to January 2026. 

 

e) The clerk has printed off the previous information received in 2022 when the last Speed Survey was completed for the A16, for future reference and discussion.

 

f) Notification of road closure put on noticeboard and website for the period 23/3/26 = 26/3/26 on Back Lane for water main repairs. 

 

g) Details on Project Groundwater Greater Lincolnshire Flood Sensors Onboarding received – zoom call to be arranged with the clerk for an overview of the sensors. 

 

h) Details on Free ‘Do not knock’ door stickers for older people received from Able Community Care – a few have been placed in the Community Centre. 

 

i) The Environment Agency is offering to email out on a monthly basis to clerks the details of frequently asked questions – this month’s topic is ‘dredging or desilting’.  A copy of the factsheet will be put onto the noticeboard.

 

 

12. Internal Audit – discuss report

 

The Chairman read out the report received on 13th January 2026 and confirmed that the 3 observations and recommendations will be actioned. 

 

13. Community Centre – update

 

The Community Centre committee is currently running with 5 trustees following 1 resignation. These 5 people are taking on all the roles needed to run the charity. The Charity commission has been contacted requesting for a change to the date of the AGM, to bring it forward to April instead of June so that voting and planning can start as soon as possible. 14 days’ notice has to be given to residents . A leaflet will be produced to be delivered to all residents asking for support in keeping the Community Centre going. 

 

14. Newsletter – update

 

The Chairman has offered to compile a simple version of the village newsletter for May distribution if all necessary information is emailed to her in good time. The Community Centre committee will be asked for approval. Further discussions need to be had on the future of the Newsletter, to organise a more permanent production of the newsletter going forward or to stop it. 

 

15. Bus Shelters – update re adding Perspex 

 

Details of a Bus Shelter Grant Scheme from LCC has been received by the clerk and an application will be completed to see if we are eligible to receive grant monies for the planned update to our bus shelters.

 

 

16. Bench A16 – repair

 

A quote has been received from a local joiner to repair the bench at a cost of £120.00. All councillors agreed for this work to be done. The monies is to be taken from the ringfenced Asset Maintenance monies in the Savings account.  

 

 

17. Planning – discuss planning applications.

 

There are two village applications and three neighbouring parish consultations.

 

The first village application is an outline planning application 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. The application does not state the property type, we have supported a bungalow in keeping with the neighbouring properties. Outline approval permission was granted on 19th December although we have not been notified by ELDC. Numerous conditions have been imposed to deal with foul water and surface water strategies, soft landscaping considering neighbouring properties, single storey only, limit water consumption to 110 litres per person per day as provided for in building regulations and provision of parking facilities during all stages of the development and storage and delivery for all plant and materials. Pleased to see the conditions imposed were following comments we made.

 

The second village application is for Chrisma Cottage the Cul de Sac for an extension/alteration for additional living accommodation by way of a garden room to the right of the property between the existing dwelling and the site of a garden shed. The materials for the walls and roof will match those for the existing dwelling although the windows and doors will be UPVC whereas they are timber for the existing dwelling. Permission has been granted with only two conditions. The development is to be carried out in accordance with the approved drawings and documents.

 

The first 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 planning applications have been made, in 2022 planning consent was granted for the erection of a house and removal of an existing static caravan. Planning permission has been granted with seven conditions imposed.

 

The second neighbouring parish consultation is a Section 73 variation application to vary condition 2 approved plans for the planning permission granted last year for the erection of a dwelling on land adjacent to the Wetland Site, Hagnaby Lock. Approval was granted for a chalet bungalow, the variation application is to amend and make substantial improvements in the character design and quality with changes to the layout, scale and appearance of the dwelling. The agent says it delivers a materially higher quality architectural outcome. As an enhanced offering is proposed and permission has previously been granted we have supported the application and no comments have been made.

 

The third neighbouring parish consultation is a Section 73 variation application to vary condition 2 approved plans previously approved in planning permission granted last year for the change of use of an existing commercial fishing lake to provide a holiday park with the siting of 22 holiday lodges and additional works. There are some incorrect details on the application for the date and the heading in the agents letter. The agent and the applicant are the same for both section 73 applications. The amendments are to reduce the size of the two lakes as built, to amend the position of the development adjacent to the lakes to reflect their reduced size and to substitute two of the one bedroom holiday lodges for two bedroom lodges 40 feet x 20 feet. Since planning permission has previously been granted and what is proposed is not a substantial variation it is thought approval will be granted. We have neither objected to or supported the application and no comments have been made.

 

 

18. Other Business – matters for next Agenda

 

a) Community Centre – update

b) AGAR

c) Bus Shelters – update re grant application

 

 

Date and time of next Parish Council meeting: 

 

19th May 2026 starting at 7.30pm.  This is the Annual Parish Meeting. 

 

 

12th May 2026 – Annual Meeting of the Parish,7.30pm at the Community Centre

 

 

Meeting closed at 20.45pm