July 2025 DRAFT Minutes
Welbourn Parish Council
MINUTES OF WELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 9 JULY 2025
IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT
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Parish Councillors Robert Cross (Chair) Steve Spedding Louise Troy |
Mark Crosby Steve Ralph Katie Stark Michael Bighi |
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District Cllr Marianne Overton MBE District Councillor Lucille Hagues |
Mr Jim Fieldhouse – Parish Clerk Mr Daniel Bancroft – Responsible Finance Officer (RFO) |
Not Present
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Cllr. Stephen Short |
Cllr. Harriet Huntsman |
1. Chairman’s welcome
2. Acceptance of reasons for absence
2.1 Apologies were received from Cllr. Huntsman (holiday) and Cllr. Short (illness). These apologies were accepted.
3. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda – None declared.
4. Notes of meeting held on 11June 2025 to be approved as minutes. Proposed by Cllr Stark and seconded by Cllr Spedding.
4.1 Resolved: That these be accepted as minutes of the meeting.
4a) Correction to minutes of 14 May 2025 – delete “Cllr. Harriet Huntsman” from the list of Parish Councillors present. This was inserted in error and Cllr. Huntsman gave her apologies.
4.2 Resolved: Noted and approved.
5. Parish Clerk’s Report
5.1 Re the following items from the June 2025 meeting:-
• 8.1 – LCC have reviewed the railings at Castle Hill & Beck Street and have decided not to carry out any maintenance work but requested that it be contacted again should the condition of the railings deteriorate significantly.
• 13.2 – The Parish Clerk has received confirmation from the LCC Floods risks Coordinator that the programme of works for the current financial year is unaffected following the change in the leadership of LCC to Reform UK.
5.2 Parish Councillors have been invited by West Local Policing Superintendent to a Zoom meeting on 16 September 2025.
5.3 The £250 funding provided by British Sugar Neighbourhood Funding has been received. This funding enabled paints to be purchased to paint the Frog at the playing field using the winning design from the competition arranged by Cllr Bighi and the Headteacher at Welbourn C of E Primary School. The funds left after the purchase of the paints, were used to purchase prizes for pupils with outstanding competition entries, and the provision of a cheque for £103.30 for the school to purchase of art supplies. This was with the approval of British Sugar.
5.4 Resolved: The Council thanks British Sugar Neighbourhood Funding and all involved at Welbourn C of E Primary School in making this a success.
6. Public Forum – No residents were present.
7. County and District Councillors update
7.1 Cllr. Hagues mentioned that North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) will be introducing a food waste collection scheme to households shortly. (Cllr. Hagues left the meeting at 20.10 and her newsletter is available to view on the Parish Council website).
7.2 (Cllr. Overton arrived 8.45 pm and her newsletter is available to view on the Parish Council website). Cllr. Overton highlighted the following issues:-
• Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has approved £110m towards the North Hykeham Bypass. The road scheme is now going forward.
• The National Planning Inspectorate inquiry regarding the proposed Springwell Solar Farm continues its next phase between 15 – 18 July 2025. She urged residents to speak out against the proposal.
• The NKDC Planning will hear and decide on the Battery Energy Storage System planning applications proposed at Navenby and Coleby on 29 July 2025.
• She has handed in a 500-signature petition on “ Solar on roofs not Farmland” to the Minister for Energy and Net Zero.
8. Current and future maintenance responsibilities
8.1 The Parish Clerk advised that that the lifebuoy acquired for the village pond and the rules sign for the tennis court refurbishment had not been fitted yet.
8.2 Action Point: Cllrs. Bighi and Spedding will organise for these jobs to be completed.
8.3 Cllr. Short emailed to report that there are some uneven slabs on the pond side of the village hall that require relaying.
8.4 Action Point: Parish Clerk to instruct the handyman to relay the uneven slabs.
8.5 A resident has complained that an overgrown hedge is obscuring the view when pulling out of Moat Lane onto the A607.
8.6 Action Point: Cllr. Cross to check and assess the required remedial action.
8.7 The lime tree on Bell Tree Green is overgrown and partially blocking the footpath.
8.8 Action Point: Parish Clerk to arrange light trim of branches.
9. Planning Matters to consider and discuss:
9.1 Planning Application Reference: 25/0418/FUL
Proposal: Extension of existing churchyard to include change of use from agricultural
land to burial ground
Location: St Chad's Church North End Welbourn Lincoln Lincolnshire
Resolved: The Council supports this application.
9.2 Application reference: 25/0781/TCA
Description of works: Conifers along the rear garden - Reduce from 15m to 2m.
Trees along the left side of the property – Reduce from 25m to 2m.
Location: Castle Hill Bungalow, 6 Castle Hill, Welbourn, Lincoln
Resolved: The Council supports this application.
9.3 Planning Application Reference: 25/0789/DISCON
Proposal: Application to discharge condition 2 (biodiversity & habitat enhancement report) of 21/1879/VARCON
Location: Land Corner of Beck Street/Cow Lane Welbourn Lincoln
Resolved: The Council supports the proposal to erect bat boxes but wishes to draw the applicant’s attention to biodiversity improvements which could be implemented at The Beck (village pond) which is very close to the development site in question.
10. Notifications of Planning Decisions:
10.1 Application Reference: 25/0601/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of rear single storey extension
Location: 1 Poplar Court Welbourn Lincoln
Approved by NK Planning.
11. 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, and quarter end report: -
11.1 Accounts value (4 July 2025):
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HSBC Client A/c 611: £4,262.12 (Forge et al)
HSBC A/c 772: £31,326.34 (For Precept) |
HSBC Bmm A/c 638: £15,409.43 (Reserves)
HSBC Business C/A 677: £1,915.90
Bank Total: £52,913.79 |
11.2 Bank reconciled: £0 discrepancy.
11.3 Payments made since 11 June 2025
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11.4 Income received since last meeting (11 June 2025):
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11.5 Expected payments before the next meeting (10 September 2025):
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11.6 Expected Income before next meeting (10 September 2025)
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11.6 Quarter end report
Quarter 1
Total budget: £29,203
Anticipated budget spend: £7,300.75 (03/12)
Actual budget spend: £7,979.07 (9.29% Over Budget)
Spend against budget by area:
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Budget |
Actual |
Percentage Difference |
Reason |
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Utilities: |
£1,075 |
£481.03
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55% Under |
No Npower invoice so far this financial year (timing issues) |
|
Grass cutting: |
£1,262.50 |
£1,460
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15.64% Over |
Summer |
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General maintenance: |
£1,055 |
£0
|
100% Under |
Many annual expenses anticipated (Pond, etc) – Handyman not yet engaged |
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Insurance: |
£260 |
£1015.76
|
390% Over |
Annual Cost |
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Financial: |
£135 |
£72.25
|
46.48% Under |
Primarily annual cost |
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LALC: |
£226 |
£162
|
28% Under |
No courses, etc |
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Clerk & RFO: |
£2,639.75 |
£2,574.03
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2.48% Under |
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Village hall: |
£375
|
£2,214 |
590% Over |
Wellers Law group |
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Community projects: |
£12.50 |
£0
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100% Under |
Annual Grant |
11.7 Resolved: That the Council note and approve Items 11.1 – 11.6 above.
11.8 The RFO reported that he is researching funding opportunities to finance the following projects:
• Replacement of visual display system for the village hall.
• Biodiversity improvements to The Beck (village pond).
• Erection of bus shelter.
• Information signs.
12. To review an ecologist’s pre-survey report (second version) on the condition of The Beck (village pond) and agree next steps.
12.1 Following on from Resolution 12.2 of the 11 June 2025 meeting, the Council considered the ecologist’s second pre-survey report dated 25 June 2025 and the notes of a Zoom meeting with the ecologist, the Chair and the Parish Clerk held on 26 June 2025.
12.2. Resolved: a) That the Parish Clerk instruct the ecologist to proceed with the survey costing £853.50: b) That the Council investigate funding sources to fund the cost of this survey and the cost of implementing the recommendations.
13. To adopt the Council’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.
13.1 Resolved: The Council implement and adopt this policy forthwith.
14. To assess Anglian Water’s response to the interruption to the water supply on 22 June 2025 and decide next steps.
14.1 The Council discussed the difficulties local residents and the local care homes had experienced following the interruption and the water supply on 22 June 2025.
14.2 Resolved: That the Parish Clerk compose a letter addressed to Anglian Water outlining the Council’s thoughts and concerns regarding the incident.
15. To consider and approve a Management Agreement between the Welbourn Parish Council and the Welbourn Village Hall and Playing Field Committee.
15.1 Regarding Resolution 17.3 of the 11 June 2025 Parish Council meeting, Wellers Law Group has prepared a draft Management Agreement between Welbourn Parish Council and Welbourn Village Hall and Playing Field Committee. The draft agreement was considered by the Council.
15.2 Resolved: That the Council approve the draft agreement pending receiving approval from the Welbourn Village Hall and Playing Field Committee.
16. Portfolio Holders Updates.
16.1 Cllr. Cross has received complaints that vehicles are entering the village via Cow Lane. This is not permitted as there are No Entry signs. This is creating a nuisance for pedestrians using Cow Lane.
Action Point: Parish Clerk to report the issue to LCC.
16.2 Cllr. Bighi reported that the Parish Council is now eligible to apply for FCC funding. Potential projects were discussed.
17. Agenda items for the next meeting; Introduction of IT Policy.
Signed ………………………………………………. Date…………………………….
Chair
(Meeting closed at 9.10 pm.)
Next meeting
Wednesday 10 September 2025
Copies to: Parish Councillors, County & District Councillors, Parish Council Web Site
Future Parish Council Meetings in 2025: All meetings to commence at 7.30 pm
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10 September |
8 October 12 November |
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Councillor |
Portfolio 1 |
Portfolio 2 (& 3) |
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Robert Cross |
Byways/Highways |
Cliff Cluster Group Rep & The Forge |
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Stephen Short |
Planning & Finance Cttee |
Human Resources Cttee (& VH Rep) |
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Harriet Huntsman |
Finance Cttee |
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Katie Stark |
Human Resources Cttee |
Communications (& Planning) |
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Steve Ralph |
Drainage |
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Michael Bighi |
Schools Liaison |
Nature and Environment |
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Steve Spedding |
Castle Hill |
Community Safety & Resilience |
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Mark Crosby |
Allotments |
Village Hall Rep |
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Louise Troy |
Health & Welfare |
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