September 2026 Draft Minutes
STICKFORD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL STATUTORY MEETING
at STICKFORD Community Centre
Tuesday 8th September 2026 @ 7.30pm
DRAFT MINUTES
No. of Residents present : 46 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 N 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 raised the new planning application on the Cul De Sac. Residents discussed their issues and all were advised to submit their comments on the ELDC Portal or write a letter to be delivered to the Hub in Horncastle. The landowner was in attendance and put their side of the situation to the meeting.
b. A resident raised the speed of vehicles travelling along Fen Road and asked if the signage can be looked at. i.e clearer signs showing the speed limit, or longer areas for the 30mph to cover.
c. A resident raised the issue with bushes obscuring vision on the junction of Fen Road and the Cul de Sac but this is being dealt with under Matters Arising (9.4) as it was raised at the last meeting.
2. ELDC Report
There have been some changes implemented in the way that Planning applications are dealt with. The District Councillors have less power and the residents and parish council have more power. Comments on any planning application are to be submitted within 21 days. If the portal is down, please send an email.
District Council elections are due to be held in 2027, under the existing district boundaries.
3. LCC Report – none in the absence of Cllr Hume
4. Lincolnshire Police Report
Nothing to report – no zoom meeting booked as yet for 2026.
Page 1 of 5 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..
Meeting started at 8.25pm
5. The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
The Chairman’s Statement was read to the meeting and is attached as an appendix to these minutes.
6. Apologies for absence
Apologies received from Councillor Kingswood and Councillor Howlett and reasons accepted.
7. There were no declaration of interest
8. Approval of Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 14/07/2026
Proposed: Cllr Tony French Seconded: Cllr Pam Bryant signed by the Chairman
9. Matters Arising from previous meeting
1. A resident reported that the public footpath between Back Lane and Hagnaby Road is overgrown. Another resident reported that it has been cleared around the time of the last meeting in July. The clerk asked for residents to inform her when it needs cutting again.
2. A resident reported that issues are still arising at the airfield with the amount of scrap metal and scrap wood, along with the loose dog. Cllr Hume confirmed that she will look into this situation. The clerk will make contact with ELDC Travellers Officer.
3. A resident reported that the state of the road along Fen Road and the Cul De Sac is poor. Some potholes have been patched as a result of reporting on Fix My Street, but not all of them. Cllr Hume confirmed that she will investigate with Highways.
4. A resident reported that the hedge next to the junction of Fen Road and the Cul De Sac is becoming overgrown, obscuring vision to drivers. The resident has confirmed that it will be cut back.
5. A resident reported that the curbs on the central reservation on the A16 are too high when using a wheelchair. It makes it a very dangerous place for all wheelchair users when attempting to cross the main A16. Cllr Hume and the clerk will contact Highways to see if an up-to-date Speed Survey could be carried out.
10. Finance Report
a. Authority for Payment:
1. £1075.00 Clerks wages July to September 2026
2. £ 30.00 Community Centre rent 8/9/26
3. £ 90.64 Admin expenses : toners £86.89, copy paper £3.75
Page 2 of 5 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..
Approval for cheques to be issued in October :
£ 80.00 Interim Internal Audit – Victoria Clark
£ 59.98 Cloudnext –Home Hosting (Annual Billing)
£ 60.00 Cloudnext - .gov.uk Domain Renewal
£1800.00 Shaun Turner – Bus Shelters (£1500 deposit paid 1.9.2026)
All payments approved by all Councillors.
A Budget Report to the end of August was distributed to the councillors. All areas on track.
b. Bank Balances as at end June 2026
Current account: £10,997.55
Savings account: £ 8,457.29
11. Clerks Report
a. Letters have been issued requesting allotment rents due on 1st October 2026.
b. The Friendly Faces group has closed and the grant that was issued in May has been returned totalling £180.00
c. Letters requesting grant applications to the Parish Council for consideration in the 2027/8 Precept will be sent out by 1st October 2026 to the local groups that have previously received a grant.
d. Application to ELDC for a new dog bin on Church Road was submitted on 30/7/26.
12. Bus Shelters update
Deposit issued 1.9.26 for £1500.00. Mr Turner confirms that the job will be completed by the end of September/early October.
13. Remembrance Service planning (Sunday 8th November 2026)
Revd Simons will be able to lead the service. Cllr Bryant will organise the wreath & crosses with RBL. Cllr Howlett will be asked to check if the bugler is able to attend.
14. Places of historical interest to protect for the future – update
No update, no changes
Page 3 of 5 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..
15. Planning – discuss planning applications.
01187/26/FUL
Planning Permission - Erection of an agricultural barn, dog kennels, a dwelling with detached garage block and construction of a vehicular access road in connection with agriculture land at Cul De Sac Stickford Lincolnshire.
Comments by 28th September.
01189/26/ESR
The applicant is effectively asking the planning authority to determine whether the proposed development is of a type/scale that requires a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
01157/26/RES
Reserved matters application relating to the erection of 2no. Dwellings and construction of a vehicular access road (outline planning permission ref. No. S/168/00520/24 for the erection of 2no. Dwellings).
Comments now closed. Awaiting decision
01011/26/OUT
Outline erection of up to 5no. dwellings, with means of access to be considered. Land West of Homeleigh, Fen Road, Stickford, Lincolnshire.
Comments now closed. Awaiting decision
00475/26/FUL
Planning Permission – Change of use of existing static caravan to form a security facility.
Decided. Application withdrawn
Outside of Stickford
00805/26/FUL
Planning Permission – Erection of 6no. Poultry units, construction of a vehicular access, construction of an internal access road with car parking, excavation of land to provide an attenuation basin and associated infrastructure. LOCATION: Land East of Main Road, Keal Cotes, Lincolnshire,
Comments by 27/09/2026
16. Other Business – matters for next Agenda
a. Payment to RBL for a wreath and crosses
b. Update policies
c. Precept – 1st discussion
Date and time of next Parish Council meeting: 8th December 2026 starting at 7.30pm.
Meeting closed at 9 pm
Page 4 of 5 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..
Appendix
Chairman’s Statement – Planning Permissions and Unauthorised Development
Legal disclaimer:
This statement is intended to set out the general position and policy approach of the Parish Council. It is not intended to constitute legal advice, a determination that any particular development is lawful or unlawful, or a finding that any individual has breached planning legislation. The legal status of any particular development, and any decision concerning planning enforcement, is a matter for the relevant planning authority and, where appropriate, the courts or other competent authority. Nothing in this statement should be taken as prejudging the outcome of any planning application, enforcement investigation, appeal or other statutory process.
I would like to put on record the Parish Council’s position regarding planning applications and development undertaken without the necessary planning permission or other required consent.
The Parish Council recognises that the planning system provides a statutory framework within which development is considered. Where planning permission is required, development should not commence until the necessary permission has been granted, unless the proposed works are otherwise lawfully permitted under the applicable planning legislation.
The Parish Council takes a serious and strongly adverse view of development being commenced without the necessary planning permission, or being carried out in breach of an existing planning condition or other applicable planning requirement.
It is important that the same planning rules and processes apply fairly to everyone. Residents and applicants who follow the proper procedure should not be placed at a disadvantage by development being undertaken first and the planning position being addressed afterwards.
The fact that development has commenced, or even that it has been substantially completed, does not in itself mean that the development is acceptable or that retrospective permission will necessarily be granted. Where development has taken place without the required permission, the appropriate planning authority will determine what action, if any, is necessary in accordance with the relevant legislation and its planning enforcement policies.
The Parish Council is not the local planning authority and therefore cannot grant planning permission, determine planning applications on behalf of that authority, or itself determine whether enforcement action should be taken. However, where development comes to the Council’s attention which appears to have been undertaken without the necessary permission, or appears not to comply with an approved permission or condition, the Council may raise its concerns with the appropriate planning authority and ask that the matter be considered.
Our preference is always for residents and landowners to establish the planning position before commencing development. Where permission is required, the proper course is to submit the appropriate application and await the decision before beginning the work.
This is not about opposing development for the sake of it, nor is it about treating any particular individual differently. It is about ensuring that the planning process is respected and that the interests of the wider community, neighbouring residents and those who comply with the planning system are properly protected.
The Parish Council’s position is therefore clear: where planning permission or other statutory consent is required, the appropriate consent should be obtained before development commences, and development should then be carried out in accordance with the permission granted and any conditions attached to it.
The Council will continue to consider planning matters on their merits and will support residents who engage with the proper process. Equally, where there are credible concerns regarding development undertaken without the necessary consent or contrary to an existing permission, the Council will not ignore those concerns.
Page 5 of 5 Signature of Chairman ………………………………………. Dated ……………………..