2026 Minutes (Full Council)

St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary,

Lincs. PE24 4HB

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Wainfleet St Mary which took place on Monday 12th October 2026 at 18.00 in the Community Hall, St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary, PE24 4HB.

These are draft minutes and are subject to amendment until approved at the next Council Meeting November 9th 2026, at 18.00

Public: 2 members of public were in attendance along with ELDC Councillor W Bowkett (WB), ELDC Councillor C Drury (CD) and LCC Councillor M Hume (MH)

LCC Leader Cllr S Matthews joined the meeting just before 19.00 hours.

Chair CA welcomed all to the meeting and invited the public to address the Council.

Trees in Vicarage Lane had been the subject of a FixMyStreet report and returned as not encroaching on the highway thus no further action was to be taken – the resident had concerns that whilst the highway is not compromised, their property potentially is and presents a danger with large branches if high winds become prevalent in the winter months – EDLC Cllr WB advised to report to the East Lindsey Tree Officer to inspect and report on – Clerk to confirm an Officer has been appointed and to contact on behalf of the resident. 

A concern was raised by the second member of public regarding the double cropping aspect of the land that is currently tenanted with regard to the dry summer and lack of moisture within the ground.

Chair CA thanked him for his comments and undertook to have this fully discussed within the Working Group section of the meeting. The member of public expressed his appreciation and left the meeting. The resident from Vicarage Lane elected to stay for part of the full Council meeting.

Chair CA thanked both members of the public for their contributions.

Chair CA opened the formal session of the Council meeting at 18.10.

1. Members Present: Chair C Alexander (CA); Cllr M Rust (MR); Cllr T Ward (TW); Cllr Jan Ward (JW), Cllr J Graves (JG), Cllr S Tetley (ST) Cllr P Garrard (PG); Cllr M Rendall (MLR)

Also present – Clerk M Clarke

2. Apologies for Absence – Cllr A Proctor

Apologies were resolved by all to approve and accept

3. Declarations of Interest and Dispensation Requests – None

4. Approval of the Council Minutes of the Council Meeting on Monday September 14th 2026

The minutes of the meeting held Monday September 14th 2026, were presented as a true record. Proposed Cllr TW; Seconded Cllr JW – unanimous resolution to approve and resolve. Chair Cllr CA signed the minutes

5. LCC and ELDC Invitation to report on items relevant to WSM

LCC MH requested to delay her report pending the arrival of LCC Leader Cllr S Matthews. ELDC Councillor WB made her report as under which included:

The Crisis Resilience Fund are offering short term support if you are on a low income and struggling to meet essential household needs, please go to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/council_councillors/crisis-resilience-fund-of/2 or alternatively please get in touch and I will help you contact the relative officer.

Citizens Advice are starting a drop-in service in Wainfleet, they will be attending the Friday morning Wainfleet Methodist Coffee morning from 9 am till 1pm - they will be able to help with not only advice but help with form filling and lots more. This is free to access.

I had met with Inspector Jackie Evans to discuss how we can see a police presence in Wainfleet and Wainfleet St Mary, this was a positive meeting and with the new police officers and PCSOs that are being recruited this year, hopefully after Xmas we will see a police walk about on a regular basis. Flood Action Online brings together guidance on checking whether a property is at risk of flooding, registering for flood warnings and accessing Met Office weather alerts. It also provides information on practical measures homeowners can take to improve their property’s resilience to flooding. The service was launched today (12 October 2026) to coincide with the start of the Environment Agency’s annual Flood Action Week campaign, which encourages people to understand their flood risk, prepare a flood plan and sign up for warnings. This coincides with the anniversary of flooding in the Wainfleets and Thorpe in 2019.

Chair CA thanked Cllr WB for her full and informative report.

6. Community Hall report Chair of the Committee Cllr JW gave a full report of the Committee meeting held on Friday 9th October covering the Lunch Club, Village Show and Christmas plans to date. The minutes of the meeting are available on the Council website and displayed on the notice boards.

The draft newsletter had been approved at the hall Meeting – Agreement sought from the Council to approve and sent to print – Proposed Cllr JG, Seconded Cllr PG – all resolved to approve.

7. Clerk’s Report – Clerk’s Report October 12th 2026

The grant applications submitted to Platform, and the East Lindsey Councillor Community Fund for £500 for each application to support the purchase of a storage container – have been successful. £1000 will shortly be in the kitty towards the purchase. There has been no further response from the LCC Councillor although receipt has been acknowledged.

Additionally, Platform have contributed £500 towards the Breakfast with Santa meaning this can be a free event for the families again this year. The details for this will be featured in the Autumn /Winter newsletter with a booking form to book their table – menu choices must be pre-ordered.

ELDC Councillor Wendy Bowkett has also agreed a contribution of £300 for The Friendship Club to support their meetings at the Hall.

Young Farmers have booked their meetings again at the Hall from October to April – all dates are on the calendar

The RBL have been in touch to ask if they could run an Afternoon Tea from the Hall – dates tba.

The draft Newsletter has been circulated.

It was agreed for the Events to be the subject of separate meetings to allow for a full discussion on planning and arrangements without overextending hall meetings.

The field sign has been received and agreement on installation – just waiting a suitable date.

There has been an offer from the field tenant to replace the stile with a gate in appreciation of the grazing currently enjoyed by his horses – Community Hall Committee will discuss at their meeting on the 9th.

The shelf for the corner for the display of the trophy is to be purchased – we have a volunteer who is happy to fix and also to fit a hasp and padlock to the store doors if the Committee/Council would like to go ahead with this.

The Christmas tree is ordered and delivery is due 21st November – agreed to decorate the hall on the 21st whilst waiting for delivery.

PAT testing including all the Christmas decorations has been completed.

Advice has been sought regarding the extension cables for power to the tea tent.

The bid for £1000 for the container to East Lindsey Legacy Fund has been drafted along with an additional amount to support the Lunch Club and Woodthorpe Christmas Lunch – closing date is 30th October.

A nomination to support Wainfleet Mums has been submitted on behalf of the Council and Hall Committee.

Plans are in hand for storing the additional equipment pending the purchase of a new container.

The support payment for Grass Cutting has been submitted to LCC.

October is potentially the last of the contracted cuts – a new contract will need to be agreed and put in place for 2027.

Leave has been requested for w/comm 19th October and 23rd November.

The member of public from Vicarage Lane thanked all for an informative and interesting meeting and left the meeting.

8. Finance and Bank Accounts.

The Finance and Budget reports were presented for approval – proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr MR – all resolved to approve.

The Payments were presented for approval – proposed Cllr JW - Seconded Cllr ST – all resolved to approve.

The Banking reconciliations were presented for approval – Proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr ST– all resolved to approve.

Funding Opportunities – The draft bid to the East Lindsey Legacy fund had been circulated to all and approval was sought to submit. Proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr MR – all resolved to approve. Clerk to action.

9. Working Group Reports.

Agricultural Holdings/Allotments – Report from the Group Chair MR confirms they all are in a good state of management. – a check needs to be made on the dyke that needs a tidy up -drone footage to confirm. Following the representation from one of the tenants with reference to the double cropping aspect on the Tofts in light of the dry summer and drought. Agreement was reached to hold a separate working group meeting with attendance by all councillors to agree the best way to support the tenant. Proposed Cllr MR, seconded Cllr PG – all resolved to approve with an agree date of Friday 23rd October at 10.30. Drone footage will be available to support. Clerk to circulate possible options for discussion following consultation with other parties.

Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges; Grass Cutting Contractor has agreed to continue for 2027.

18.50 - LCC Leader Cllr S Matthews joined the meeting and was made welcome by the Chair and all Councillors.

Play Area – Anti-social behaviour over the last weekend has been reported to the Police and an incident number obtained for a follow up. The tables and Notice Board have been removed and will not be replaced until such time as it deemed safe to re-instate. ELDC Cllr WB asked for the information and any photos to be submitted to her- clerk will action. Discussion centred around the provision and installation of CCTV – clerk will follow up and obtains costs for the next meeting.

The costing for the new Play Area sign had been circulated for approval. Proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr ST – all agreed to resolve and approve.

Clerk to follow up on the date for the 2026 inspection and advise.

Community Hall – report received from Cllr PG confirmed all is in order. Defib is checked and in order – cabinet cleaned. Locks were agreed for one store cupboard.

Planning – no new applications had been received. One approval had been received which had been circulated to all Councillors prior to the meeting.

Open Spaces – An offer from the field tenant has been received to replace the stile with a gate – clerk to ensure this is feasible pending ownership of the stile and ease of access for anti-social behaviour – eg motor bikes – to be deferred for discussion at the November meeting. Some areas around the Play Area and Orchard required strimming – clerk has requested photos to send to contractor to enable strimming to be completed in the right places.

(5) Reports from LCC councillors – agenda item no 5 re-scheduled.

LCC Councillor MH was invited to make her report which covered the availability of funding and the information around the project “Inspire you”. Concerns about the report of the trees in Vicarage Lane had been previously rec’d and were now being addressed by EDLC Cllr WB and the Clerk; equally support was sought to resolve the collapse of the riverbank and potential loss of the highway if remedial action is not taken along with the delayed works on the A52.Mention was made of the funding opportunities with LCC – which WSM has approached for funding for the container.

LCC Leader Cllr S Matthews was invited to share information with the Council and to take questions. Local Government reorganisation was covered along with the budget and current expenditure - the Council concerns reference the repairs – or lack of them on the A52 and the damage along The Pinfold and Steeping riverbank were noted and an inspection of the 2 areas was undertaken with the lead from ELDC Councillor WB and ELDC Councillor C Drury.

Cllrs WB, CD and SM vacated the meeting to visit the 2 areas of concern at 19.40.

10. Review of Grass Cutting Season for next season – Clerk has confirmed contractor agreeable to continue – costs to be confirmed for the next meeting.

11.Bus Shelter Improvements and Funding - Quotes have been invited but not yet to hand – to be followed up

12.The Pinfold Riverbank and A52 repairs – this had been discussed in full with LCC Leader Cllr SM and both East Lindsey District Councillors earlier in the meeting with a visual inspection.

13.To review and agree updated terms of reference for the Staffing Committee and to agree an appraisal date for the Clerk.

The current terms require updating to reflect the new guidelines – the amended terms had been circulated to all Councillors prior to the meeting – all were happy to adopt with a revised membership of Chair Appraisal Panel Cllr JW, panel members Cllr CA and Cllr JG with the Grievance Panel to be Cllr MR and Cllr ST – proposed Cllr TW and Seconded Cllr PG – all resolved to accept and approve. The new terms will be signed by the Chair and posted to the Council website with a further review in May 2027. The appraisal panel will agree a date for the clerk appraisal.

14. Correspondence. Responding to a reply from WASTC Town Clerk all Councillors discussed and agreed the following:

Wainfleet St Mary Parish Council agreed that in the interests of maintaining positive and constructive inter-council working, the Council does not intend to pursue the issue further. WSM Council considers the matter closed and looks forward to continued cooperative working between the 2 councils.

15. Date of next meeting. Monday November 9th

16. Items for inclusion in the November meeting

Quotes for bus shelter improvements

Any further Response from LCC on A52 improvements and the repairs to the riverbank.

There being no further items for discussion Chair CA thanked all Councillors for their attendance and closed the meeting at 19.55

I certify these are a true copy of the Minutes of the Council Meeting held Monday October 12th 2026

Signed Chair Wainfleet St Mary Parish Council – Cllr C Alexander.

......................................................................................    Date........................................

Date 12th October 2026

Email:     clerk@wainfleetstmaryparishcouncil.gov.uk

Website: https://wainfleet-saint-mary.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk