2025 Minutes

Welbourn Parish Council

  MINUTES OF WELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2025

IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m.

PRESENT 

Not Present

1. Chairman’s welcome

2. Acceptance of reasons for absence

2.1 Apologies were received from Cllr. Mark Crosby (other meeting), Cllr. Huntsman (family commitment), Cllr. Stark (work) and Cllr. Short (holiday). Cllr Overton also gave her apologies. These apologies were accepted.

3. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda – None declared.

4. Notes of meeting held on 8 October 2025 to be approved as minutes. Proposed by Cllr. Bighi and seconded by Cllr. Spedding.   

4.1 Resolved: That these be accepted as minutes of the meeting.   

5. Parish Clerk’s Report

5.1 Regarding item 16.1 from the October 2025 meeting, the Witham Internal Drainage Board have replied stating that the culvert is not their responsibility.

5.2 Regarding the large chestnut tree outside 25 The Green, Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) have stated that it will not be taking any immediate action but will be seeking arboricultural advice on this. Regarding the large chestnut tree near the BT telephone box, this has now been cut down by LCC contractors.  .

5.3 Regarding the blocked public footpath off Dycote Lane, LCC will not be dealing with this just yet due to a competing workload.

5.4 Welbourn Parish Council received a response from the Environment Agency (EA) following the submission of the ecologist’s draft report on the village pond.  The ecologist has incorporated the EA comments into the final report. This can be viewed on the Welbourn Parish Council website under The Beck section.

5.5 The Parish Council has received a request from Citizens Advice for a donation.

Action Point: Parish Clerk to advise Citizens Advice that this request is declined.

5.6 The Parish Council has been notified that there is an avian flu outbreak near Donington and Swineshead.

5.7 The Welbourn Floods Working Group (WFWG) met with representatives from the LCC floods risk coordinator's office on the 22nd of October 2025.The LCC officer urged the WFWG to ask local farmers and riparian owners to ensure ditches and culverts operate more effectively. The officer added that the faults identified during the Ajet survey, including the repair of the collapsed culvert on The Green along the stone wall to the Manor Care Home, are programmed to be carried out within the next 18 months. Other requests made by the WFWG to the LCC floods risk coordinator were turned down on cost grounds.

6. Public Forum – No residents were present.

7. To discuss and agree the budget for 2026-27.

7.1 The Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) ran through the figures in the draft budget which had been circulated to all Councillors prior to the meeting.

7.2 Resolved: That the following budget is agreed for 2026-27 and is to be used as a basis for next year’s precept:

Audit & accounting fees:                             £297.00

Bank charges:                                                £110.00

Wages/Salaries:                                            £10,738

Insurance:                                                      £1066

Grant Awards:                                               £50.00             

Street lighting (utilities):                              £4,200         

Parish amenities:                                          £88.00

Office and general expenses:                     £400.00

Tree maintenance:                                       £0.00               

LALC & NALC:                                                £428.00

LALC website support (Pete Langford):    £324.00

Phone and internet:                                     £852.00

General maintenance:                                 £4,500

Blacksmith shop:                                          £280.00

Grass-cutting:                                               £5,780               

Contingency:                                                £1500

Total Budget:                         £30,613.00

(Cllr. Bighi left at 8.00 pm)

8. County and District Councillors update

7.1 Cllr. Hagues referred Councillors to her November newsletter. (This can be accessed via the Parish Council’s website.) She added that recycled baby clothes are available at Baby Bliss Baby Bank in Tattershall and Great Northern Terrace, Lincoln. Also, NKDC has withdrawn its objection to the proposed solar farm at Scredington. Cllr. Hagues left the meeting at 8.15 pm.

9 . Current and future maintenance responsibilities

9.1 The Parish Clerk has asked Historic England for permission to cut back brambles impinging on the grassed area at Castle Hill.

9.2. A litter bin has been purchased to replace the vandalised bin at the tennis court and will be fitted by the handyman.

9.3 The handyman has been asked for a quote to repaint the 4 information boards at Castle Hill.

9.4 Cllr. Short has warned that some light fittings may need replacing in the village hall next year.

10. Planning Matters to consider and discuss:

10.1 Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area.

Application reference: 25/1340/TCA

Description of works: T1- Thuja - Remove to a low stump;T2- Cedar (weeping) - Remove to a low stump; T3- Cherry - Reduce by 3 metres in height and 1-1.5

metres in spread; T4- Silver birch - Crown reduce by 3-4 metres in height and 2 metres in spread. Crown lift over footpath and road by 5 metres above ground level

Location: 3 Castle Hill, Welbourn, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 0NF

Resolved: The Parish Council has no objection to the proposed works.

10.2 Notification of Receipt of Planning Application

Planning Application Reference: 25/1309/LBC

Proposal: Replace 3 windows to the rear of the property with timber double glazed units

Location: 16 The Green Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 0NJ

Resolved: The Parish Council supports this application.

11. Notifications of Planning Decisions:

11.1 Application Reference: 25/1090/HOUS

Proposal: Conversion of garage/garden store to include w/c, hobby room, garage and kitchenette with internal staircase on the ground floor and external alterations and erection of a timber framed car-port.

Location: Grange House 9 Moat Lane Welbourn

Approved by NK Planning

12. Finance Report: - From the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO): - To review bank balances, invoices paid since last meeting since, items to be paid before next meeting: -

12.1 Accounts value (4 November 2025):

(These balances were cross checked with the bank statements and signed off by Cllr. Ralph.)

12.2 Bank reconciled:    £0 discrepancy.

12.3 Payments made since 8 October 2025

12.4 Income Received since last meeting (8 October 2025)

12.5 Expected payments before the next meeting (14 January 2026):

12.6 Expected Income before next meeting (14 January 2026)

12.7 Resolved: That the Parish Council note and accept items 12.1 – 12.6 above.

13.To discuss and review approaches made to the Parish Council offering help regarding proposals to construct a large-scale solar farm in Welbourn.

13.1 Cllr. Cross has received an email from Resource-Resolutions which is a new venture established to build mutually acceptable solutions around energy and resource proposals. It works on a self-funded pro bono research initiative basis.  Cllr. Cross has also received an email from Leoda Solar Farm inviting him to join their Community Liaison Group.

13.2 Resolved: That contact be made with Resource Solutions to explore their offering, and to accept the invite from Leoda Solar Farm to join their Community Liaison Group.

14. Portfolio Holders Updates – None to report.

15. Agenda items for the next meeting – None offered.

Signed ……………………………………………….  Date…………………………….

Chair

(Meeting closed at 9.15 pm.)

Next meeting : - Wednesday 14 January 2026

Copies to: Parish Councillors, County & District Councillors, Parish Council Web Site

Future Parish Council Meetings in 2026:  All meetings to commence at 7.30 pm