September 2025 Minutes
Welbourn Parish Council
MINUTES OF WELBOURN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2025
IN THE WELBOURN VILLAGE HALL AT 7.30 p.m.
PRESENT
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Parish Councillors Robert Cross (Chair) Harriet Huntsman |
Mark Crosby Steve Ralph Louise Troy |
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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) |
Mr Daniel Bancroft – Responsible Finance Officer (RFO)
Not Present
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Cllr. Stephen Short Cllr. Michael Bighi |
Cllr. Katie Stark Cllr. Steve Spedding |
1. Chairman’s welcome
2. Acceptance of reasons for absence
2.1 Apologies were received from Cllr. Short (holiday), Cllr. Spedding (convalescence), Cllrs. Bighi and Stark (work). These apologies were accepted.
3. Declaration of interest in any matter on the agenda – None declared.
4. Notes of meeting held on 9 July 2025 to be approved as minutes. Proposed by Cllr. Troy and seconded by Cllr. Ralph.
4.1 Resolved: That these be accepted as minutes of the meeting.
5. Parish Clerk’s Report
5.1 A grant of £2040 has been received from Fen Bay Services and a contribution of £850 has been received from Welbourn Village Hall and Playing Field Committee to contribute towards the cost of the tennis court refurbishment. Thank you, letters have been sent to both of these organisations.
5.2 The handyman has relayed the uneven slabs on the pond side of the village hall. This cost £495.
5.3 Regarding item 16.1 of the July 2025 minutes, Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has confirmed that it intends to take no action concerning vehicles driving the wrong way down Cow Lane.
5.4 North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) has invited the Parish Council to attend the Parish and Town Council Forum which takes place on 6 November 2025.
5.5 A resident has written to request that the Parish Council make it clear the following “The LCC flood plan committee hasn't been cancelled by reform it has been moved under the umbrella of Environment.” (sic)
6. Public Forum – No residents were present.
7. County and District Councillors update
7.1 Cllr. Hagues had nothing further to add to her newsletter. (This can be accessed via the Parish Council’s website.) Cllr. Hagues left the meeting at 8.30 pm.
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:-
• The planning applications for the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) at Coleby and Navenby are still being considered by NKDC. She encouraged objectors to submit their views to NKDC.
• She handed in 500 personal letters from residents to the Minister for Energy and Net Zero, Kerry McCarthy, on 3 July 2025.
• The local MP and Reform UK are supporting the campaign against the development of BESS’s and solar farms.
• The Lancaster Bomber sculpture at Norton Disney is now in place,
• LCC has asked the Government for an extra £50 million out of the rates to deal with drainage problems.
• She supports the NKDC proposal for Local Government Reorganisation.
8. Current and future maintenance responsibilities
8.1 A contractor has been appointed to tidy up the overgrown bushes, hedges and weeds at the village pond. The work was due to be carried out last February by this contractor after obtaining quotes, but it had to be postponed as a nesting bird was spotted by a resident. The work will commence 30 September and finish 1 October. Access to the village hall will be restricted whilst the work is being carried out for health and safety reasons. The work will cost £2150 plus VAT.
8.2 Resolved: That approval be given for this work to be carried out as the quote remains the most competitive.
8.2 The handyman will be instructed to clear overgrown areas in the vicinity of the wooden footbridge at Castle Hill.
9. Planning Matters to consider and discuss: None
10. Notifications of Planning Decisions:
10.1 Application Reference: 25/0421/FUL
Proposal: Erection of a general purpose warehouse
Location: Fen Bay Services Ltd North End Welbourn
Approved by NK Planning
11. Finance Report: - From the Responsible Finance Officer (RFO): - To review bank balances, invoices paid since last meeting since, and items to be paid before next meeting: -
11.1 Accounts value (4 September 2025):
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HSBC Client A/c 611: £4,273.15 (Forge et al)
HSBC A/c 772: £25,216.34 (For Precept) |
HSBC Bmm A/c 638: £15,409.43 (Reserves)
HSBC Business C/A 677: £1,994.28
Bank Total: £46,893.20 |
(The bank balances were crossed checked by Cllr. Huntsman against the bank statements).
11.2 Bank reconciled: £0 discrepancy.
11.3 Payments made since 9 July 2025
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11.4 Income received since last meeting (9 July 2025):
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11.5 Expected payments before the next meeting (8 October 2025):
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11.6 Expected Income before next meeting (8 October 2025)
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11.7 The RFO reported that the Annual Governance and Accounting Review has been successfully finalised. The relevant documents will be posted on the website and noticeboard.
11.8 Resolved: That the Parish Council note and approve items 11.1 -11.7.
12. To consider the draft ecologist’s report dated 22 August 2025 on the condition of The Beck (village pond) and agree next steps – Cllr. Cross.
12.1 The report had been circulated to all Parish Councillors prior to the meeting. The report is quite technical. The water in the pond is deoxygenated and contaminated. The reports describes ways of reducing the contamination which includes planting oxygenating plants. The report recommends the dredging of the pond. This was last carried out in 1992 so it is well overdue. The recommended work to restore the pond is likely to be expensive. This can only be afforded if the Parish Council can secure grant funding.
12.2 Resolved: a)That the Parish Council accept the recommendations contained in the draft report; b) That the report be sent to the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust for comments subject to the author’s consent; c) That the ecologist be requested to provide a planting specification prior to obtaining quotes for the work recommended.
13. To consider and note the Parish Clerk’s report of a meeting with Anglian Water following the letter of complaint to Anglian Water regarding interruption of the water supply on 22 June 2025 – Parish Clerk.
13.1 Two representatives met with the Chair of the Parish Council and the Clerk to explain what went wrong. Apparently, there was a turbidity problem in the water, which meant the supply from the Newton on Trent water treatment works was shut down. The back up supply from Bracebridge Heath Reservoir was inadequate to meet demand. The level in this reservoir went below the extraction level point at which point air entered the system. Anglian Water have apologised for the interruption in supply and informed us that the organisation has been fined by Ofwat following the incident. It noted our concerns about the supply of bottled water following the incident and will investigate further.
14. To receive a report on the condition of the two defibrillators and consider replacement thereof – Parish Clerk.
14.1 Prior to the meeting the Councillors received a report on the condition of the defibrillators, costs of replacement batteries and pads and the options for replacing them with modern equipment. The current defibrillators are 11 years old and no longer supported.
14.2 Resolved: The following:-
a. To purchase two Vivest X3 at £995 each in the next financial year.
b. The investigate possible grants and fund raising in the next 2 months to meet the at least 50% of the cost .
c. To consider budgeting for this expense in the 2026-27 budget.
15. To adopt an Information Technology (IT) Policy – Parish Clerk / RFO
15.1 The requirements around the Annual Governance and Accounting Review have been strengthened by the Government. This means that all Parish Councils are required to have an Information Technology (IT) policy.
15.2 Resolved: That the IT policy recommended by the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC) be adopted immediately.
16. To consider approval for an application to NKDC for a litter picking grant.
16.1 Resolved: That the RFO submit the litter picking grant application.
17. To consider the ideas submitted by Parish Councillors for possible small scale volunteer projects to be carried out by LCC contractors and the decide which idea to nominate – Cllr. Cross.
17.1 Cllr. Cross read out the list of ideas which were all considered.
17.2 Resolved: That the Chair place the ideas in priority order for submission to Cllr. Overton.
16. Portfolio Holders Updates.
16.1 Cllr. Crosby reported that he had inspected the allotments along with the Parish Clerk. Most allotments are satisfactory or better apart from one. He asked the Parish Clerk to send letters to allotment holders where attention is needed
16.2 The allotment rents have not been reviewed for many years. The Parish Clerk was requested to carry out a rent review and consultation in due course.
16.3 The Parish Clerk relayed a message from Cllr. Bighi to say that he had purchased a small plaque / sign for the tennis court to thank Fen Bay Services for their generous contribution.
17. Agenda items for the next meeting; Agree dates of 2026 meetings.
Signed ………………………………………………. Date…………………………….
Chair
(Meeting closed at 9.30 pm.)
Next meeting
Wednesday 8 October 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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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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