Parish Council Minutes 2025

St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary,

Lincs. PE24 4HB

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Wainfleet St Mary which took place on Monday 10th February 2025 at 18.10 in the Community Hall, St Michaels Lane, Wainfleet St Mary, PE24 4HB, preceded by the Public Forum at 18.00

These are draft minutes and are subject to amendment until approved at the next Council Meeting Monday March10th, 2025, at 18.10.

Public; Two members of the public including LCC Councillor W Bowkett.

Cllr IH welcomed the members of the public to the meeting and introduced the Council.

The public session opened with a contribution regarding the ongoing drainage difficulties on the Sea Lane allotments resulting in lost revenue. Council undertook to review the whole picture and assess the best way forward – and to keep in contact to inform.

Chair I Hyde invited LCC/ELDC Councillor Wendy Bowkett to make her monthly report detailed as under.

Lincolnshire County Council and ELDC report -

County Council Elections have been confirmed as going ahead on the 1st May by government. These will take place alongside the Mayoral Elections for Greater Lincolnshire.

Lincolnshire County Council will be asking full council to agree the council tax for next year at 2.99 % increase. There has been a consultation where residents agreed with the 2.99 %.

The net budget for next year is £690 million; the settlement is £20million less than last year.

I recently met with the River Steeping steering group, the EA confirmed their capital budget for this year has been cancelled, but maintenance budget is still there so will continue to do the planned maintenance for the year.

Next year new ways of funding will be announced where capital can be used as revenue, more details should be available soon.

Chair I Hyde thanked Cllr WB and opened the meeting at 18.10hrs.

1. Members present 

Chair Cllr I Hyde (IH); Vice Chair Dr C Shrubsole (Dr CS), Cllr M Rust (MR); Cllr P Garrard (PG); Cllr C Alexander (CA); Cllr T Ward (TW); Cllr Mike Rendall (MRL); Cllr and Hall Chair Jan Ward (JW) . Also present – Clerk M Clarke.

2. Apologies for Absence – Apologies were received from Cllr A Proctor – Council resolved to accept.

3. Declarations of Interest – No declarations were received.

4. Approval of the Minutes of the Council Meeting on Monday January 13th 2025

The minutes of the meeting held Monday January 13th 2025 were presented as a true record. Proposed Cllr TW; Seconded Cllr MR; – unanimous resolution to accept.

5. Community Hall Report

Chair of the Committee JW gave a full report of the Committee actions to date which are contained in the Hall Minutes and available on the web and in the Notice Boards. An exchange of ideas around the table covered VE Day and the Village Show along with ideas for maintaining and repairing the marquee frame.

The data from the Survey was presented to the Council with a full discussion on the findings – clerk to share the slides with all Councillors along with the Village Hall information.

Chair IH thanked the Hall Chair for all the information and updates.

6. Formal Acceptance to WSM Council of Mrs J Ward

DPI and formal acceptance signed and witnessed. Chair IH welcomed Mrs Ward to the Council.

7. Clerk’s Report:

The Friendship Club continues to meet every 2nd and 4th Wednesday.

The Play Area repairs have been completed and the invoice received.

The Hall Boiler has been serviced and invoice received.

Outer Dowsing funding – fences to be painted – Dr C and Clerk to put a project together for the Community Payback scheme.

Invitation to attend Outer Dowsing Community Liaison Group – 25th March

Cllr Dr C Will attend – thank you – clerk will advise.

Date in March agreed with Outer Dowsing for work around the Play Area

Invitation to attend the Village Show for OD has been accepted.

Gas cylinders ordered and delivered.

LIVES delivered an excellent training session on Defib and CPR – no invoice is forthcoming – it has been offered as a free session – could appreciation be shown with a purchase of a tin of biscuits maybe? Agreed – Clerk will purchase from Chair Allowance

LCC and ELDC have been contacted and will visit and review the safety and recommended actions for the tree on Wainfleet Bank....contact has been received and a date of inspection to be agreed....still chasing.

The moles look to be in retreat.....addl traps to be purchased

St Mary’s resident contacted with reference to an incident of shooting on allotments – (near Batemans so under the care of All Saints) It has been reported to the police on 101 and the vehicle identified. A follow up visit has been made to the resident. WASTC have been advised as a courtesy as landowners.

And have been in touch with Sam from Platform enquiring as to how she is progressing and to let her know what is going on with the Council and Hall Committee for 2025 – she is mending bit by bit.

Current training booked –

24th Feb- National Planning Policy (TW)

3rd March – Jadu Home Page refresher (Clerk)

18th March – New Councillor (JW)

13th May – Play Area Inspections (TW- non core – tba)

8. Working Group Reports.

a) Allotments – Discussion on the best way to proceed agreed a meeting of the Working Group with full council in attendance to avoid time constraints that are in a monthly meeting – clerk to arrange a date and produce an Agenda to cover all topics that will require to be covered. Proposed Cllr IH, Seconded Cllr MR. All resolved to approve.

A letter of interest has been received for the upcoming vacant 24 acres – clerk will acknowledge.

b) Grass Cutting, Trees and Hedges –. Trees in Jubilee Orchard have been trimmed back along with the Play Area.

c) Play Area – repairs have been undertaken and completed – Stain etc for wood to be obtained by Cllr TW. Tree requires to be trimmed back – date to be arranged Cllr TW. Proposal to fully close Play Park when wood staining and mole control date is decided. Proposed Cllr TW, Seconded Cllr PG – All resolved to approve.

d) Community Hall – CCTV is working well and doing the job it was intended to do.

All checks completed and in good order. Mole Control has removed 8 moles – addl traps to be purchased for use in the Play Area.

e) Planning – No applications received.

f) Open Spaces – Wainfleet Bank cracked willow awaiting inspection and guidance advice from LCC and ELDC Inspectors. To be chased up by clerk.

7. Finance and Bank Accounts

Proposal to amend Financial Regulations to restrict signatures to unrelated signatories – i.e family members to ensure clear audit controls.

Proposed Cllr IH, Seconded Cllr CA – all resolved to approve – clerk to amend Financial Regulations.

10. Review of speed controls on the Wainfleet St Mary crossing section of the A52 to include level crossing.

Issue initially raised in November 2023 and July 2024.

A report from the Road Safety Partnership has been undertaken. Findings indicate there is consideration being given to reducing the limit to 40mph as requested by British Rail along with average speed cameras. Council propose a letter of concern focussing on the homes along the A52 (opposite Groose Lane and St Michael’s Lane) with support for average speed cameras and a reduction in the speed limit to be applied from Lomax Corner to the level crossing and beyond to past Groose Lane and St Michael’s Lane to prevent further accidents and loss of life. Proposed Cllr IH, Seconded Cllr TW – all resolved to approve. Letter to be drafted by clerk for all to input and comment.

11.Update on Quickline Fibre installation.

Fibre broadband cabinet is proposed with Quickline working with LCC to bring fibre broadband to Wainfleet. All agreed this can only be a benefit to the Community and are fully in support of the installation.

12. National Highways and Transport (NHT) surveys for Councillors and Parish Councils.

A survey through the link for all Councillor to take part in at the request of Cllr R Davies – agreement to complete individually using the link provided in the Agenda.

13. Review of Standing orders.

Link provided for reviewing – proposed all in order by Cllr CA, Seconded By Cllr IH – all resolved to approve as current - no amendments required.

14. Items for the Newsletter.

Items requested by the clerk to be submitted for inclusion before the next meeting so a draft can be produced and ready to print to accompany the Village Show schedule to be distributed in March. All agreed to submit any suggestions that they consider should be included.

15. Correspondence

Items as per the Agenda include

• Lithium Batteries request for support – Ron Bailey – circulated 3rd Feb
• Avian Flu – posted and circulated 31st January
• East Lindsey Grass Roots funding information on new opportunities – circulated last week
• National Grid Community Newsletter – attached to email summons
• Additional item reference Pension enrolment compliance – clerk will complete and return.
• All other items have been covered in the meeting

15. Items for Inclusion in the next meeting Agenda.

All items to be received by 3rd March.

16. Date of Next Meeting: - Date agreed for the next meeting Monday March 10th @ 18.00.      Chair IH offered his apologies – Vice Chair Dr C Shrubsole will chair in his absence.

Chair I Hyde thanked everyone for a productive evening and closed the meeting @ 20.32.

I certify these are a true record of the meeting held Monday 10th February 2025

 Signed                

                                                                                                                        Date

Chair WSM Parish Council.