2026 Minutes (Full Council)

Wainfleet St Mary Parish 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 9th March 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 April 10th, 2026, at 18.10.

Public: One member of the public to include ELDC W Bowkett

Chair Cllr CA opened the meeting at 18.05 following advice on new defib pads and follow up on purchase.

1. Members Present: Cllr Christine Alexander, (Chair), Cllr M Rust (MR) Cllr P Garrard (PG); Cllr T Ward (TW); Cllr Jan Ward (JW); Cllr S Tetley (ST) Also present – Clerk M Clarke

2. Apologies for Absence – Cllr P A Proctor and Cllr M Rendall with LCC Cllr M Hume.

Apologies were resolved by all to approve and accept.

3. Declarations of Interest and Dispensation Requests – None

4. Approval of the Minutes of the Council Meeting on Monday February 9th 2026

The minutes of the meeting held Monday February 9th 2026 were presented as a true record. Proposed Cllr TW ; Seconded Cllr JW– unanimous resolution to approve and resolve. Chair CA signed the minutes.

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

Cllr M Hume had been unable to attend the meeting.

Cllr WB – ELDC presented her report as under:

District council have confirmed their council tax for the coming year will raise by 2.9%, which works out at £176.67 for a band D property which is a £5.13 increase on the previous year which works out at an extra 10p a week, 81%of properties are in bands A to C so will pay less. This will be the lowest district council tax in Lincolnshire. Funding has been cut to ELDC of £1.6 million for the year 26/27 and a further £1.4 million in 27/28. The IDB levy stands at £5.4 million and accounts for 62% of ELDCs share of the council tax.

The district has costs for the coming food waste to find, the cost is anticipated to be £680,000 for 2026/27 which is a part year, for the 2027/28 it will rise to £1,233,000. This must be funded within the overall funding settlement.

The four priority themes will remain the same: Pride in East Lindsey Grant schemes £2 million, Community Development Initiatives £1.5 million, Tourism and Events Programme £2 million and Business support and Enabling Growth £4.5 million.

Elections next year we are awaiting to hear whether the districts will be joint elections with the new devolution council, or whether the districts will not go ahead. It depends on whether the government make a decision quickly.

Please contact me if you need any more information.

Wendy

Cllr Wendy Bowkett

East Lindsey District Councillor for the Wainfleets.

Chair CA thanked Cllr W Bowkett for her report.

6. Community Hall report

Chair of the Committee Cllr JW gave a full report of the Committee meeting which took place Friday 6th February - the minutes are now posted in the Notice Boards and on the web for interested parties. Discussions and decisions made covered include the event planning for the Lunch Club, Picnic in the Park and the Village Show

Chair CA thanked the Hall Chair JW for all the information and updates.

7. Assertion 10 – new email addresses for Council

Suggestions discussed and all agreed to submit cllr (initial). (surname)@wainfleetstmaryparishcouncil.gov.uk.

Proposed Cllr ST, Seconded Cllr MR – all resolved to approve and agree – clerk will submit for approval.

8.Proposal to establish a Community Soccer School Club for Wainfleet children.

Proposal was well accepted and agreed to liaise with Platform and their Community Engagement office to set up on the MUGA – clerk will liaise with all participants with WSM to support in the promotion. Proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr JW – all resolved to agree and approve.

9. Spring Summer Newsletter – content agreed with the addition of Wainfleet Weekend. Clerk to send to print ready for distribution with the Park in the Picnic flyer – proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr MR – all resolved to agree and approve.

10. Clerks report - March 2026

The bid for the Tea tent is still being considered – so in with a shout still.

Community PayBack scheme have approved the project.

Have made contact with BHF regarding the defib pads no longer being manufactured to ask if they can source any – no pads available but the machine can stay in service unless used and then will have to be taken out of service – next funding round we can apply for is June this year.

A Further report has indicated a flashing battery light - following up if this means it needs taking out of service.

Booking 14th March – 18th Birthday

Booking for 24th May – Christening

Posters and flyers collected for Picnic in the Park

Village Show meeting took place Friday 6th March

Provisional date arranged for the next Picnic meeting – 24th March at 4.00pm.

11. Finance and Bank Accounts.

12. Working Group Reports

Allotments – revised contracts have been sent to all tenants; drainage works started with advice to all tenants. The completed drainage works have been successful, and invoices have been sent with a due date of 9th March. Sea Lane is advised as being under repair and BT have confirmed inspection of the exposed cables. Drone reports check dykes – and a suggestion of a chalk entrance to alleviate the entrance issues could be considered for the future dependant on costs and responsibility for cost and maintenance.

Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges – Parish Cutting Agreement – signed and forwarded to confirm acceptance.

Play Area – replacement equipment has been received and contractor in place to effect repairs – notice to go on Play Area and advice on Council web and FB pages

Community Hall – all is in order – defib pads have hopefully been sourced and are now on order. Gas has been delivered

Planning – Planning Application for conversion of 3 holiday cottages to residential accommodation. No objections –    Council voted to support – proposed Cllr MR, Seconded Cllr TW - clerk to advise ELDC Planners. Approval for the kennels on Wainfleet Band has been received as has the Outer Dowsing wind farm application.

Open Spaces – agreement to purchase addl litter bin following ELDC advice at a cost of £90.00 – proposed Cllr PG, seconded Cllr TW – all resolved to agree and approve. Community PayBack scheme has been agreed and set up with a start date of March 24th or 31st – equipment needed will be purchased in readiness for the commencement of works.

13. Correspondence.

      Confirmation of work starting on Sea Lane

      Confirmation BT attending exposed cables

      Confirmation from ELDC regarding placement of new waste bin

      Pelican Trust advice of woodworking skills for council equipment

      Contact from TGL reference funding for refurbishing bus shelters            

14. Date of Next Meetings: 

      Monday April 13th- 6.00pm.- Chair Cllr CA will be away for this meeting thus it was proposed and agreed by all councillors Cllr MR will chair in Councillor CA’s absence.

 15. Items for Inclusion in the April 2026 Agenda

       Funding for Bus Shelter

       Costs of picnic tables with games tops

Chair Cllr CA thanked everyone for a productive evening and closed the meeting at 19.22 hrs.

I certify these are a true record of the meeting held Monday 9th March 2026

 Signed                                                                                             Date

Cllr C Alexander - Chair WSM Parish Council.