Minutes 2025

WADDINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

HELD ON 10th MARCH 2025

IN THE COMMUNITY HUB

Present:        Councillors:          Bainborrow, Barling, Bayston, Carcass, Forrester, Gallagher,

    Mrs Hopkins, Hadfield, Hurst, Richardson, Wilson

Clerk:                   Mrs Smith,

OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL

1.   Apologies for absence. (Reasons to be given to the Clerk in advance of the meeting)

Apologies were received from Cllr’s Sanders who was ill, Cllr Tennant who had her dog at the vets and Cllr Williams for family reasons.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Mrs Hopkins that they accept the apologies and reasons for absence.

All agreed.  Carried.

2.   Declarations of interest for any agenda item.

None.

3.  Signing of the minutes.  To accept the Clerk’s notes from the meeting held on 10th February 2025.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Hurst that the minutes of 10th February were a true record of the meeting, and they were agreed to be signed.

7 Agreed, 3 Abstention Carried.

4.   Finance

a)   Monthly finance report – to receive and accept the monthly finance report.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Wilson that the finance reports be accepted.

All agreed.  Carried.

b)   Authorising of the payments. To resolve to authorise the BACS payments listed by the RFO and certify invoices.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Hopkins and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that the BACS payments and invoices could be signed.

All agreed.  Carried.

5.   Clerks Report and Correspondence.

The Clerk had received an email from a Mr Paul Bainborrow requesting to be co-opted on to the Council.

It was proposed by Cllr Gallagher and seconded by Cllr Hurst that they co-opt Paul Bainborrow onto the Council.

All agreed.  Carried.

The Clerk informed that she had purchased a shredder, to help shred all the cutting from the hedges and trees.  She had consulted with the Chairman on which was the best one to purchase, this will help with the annual maintenance.

The annual grass cutting contract has been received from LCC, there are some changes, in that there are no longer areas in yellow, which are cut by residents, all areas are now in red to be cut as part of the contract.  However, the contractor, will cut where he has previously cut unless he is informed otherwise by the Parish Office, following a request from the resident.

The Clerk had forwarded a letter to the Councillors, that had been received from a resident after the agenda had been raised.  The letter was regarding ASB and the playground at the Village Hall.  The Clerk informed that she had informed PCSO Sarah Lingard, who in turn had reported it to the ASB team at NKDC, and PCSO Lingard was collecting the flashdrive that had accompanied the letter.

The Clerk informed that following the purchase of the shredder, she had arranged with Mr Ian Richardson to work with the handymen, Paul, Bill and Martin, to clear the foliage at the Village Hall Playground and that it was to be done in the next few weeks.

It was agreed that a working party of Councillors would help with the clearing, as they did last year at the burial ground.  The Clerk will inform them of the date, and anyone that can help will come along.

The Ark Pre-school, at requested to put up to notice boards in the Committee Room at the Village Hall.

It was agreed that they would be allowed to put up the boards, but that they handymen would put them up and they would be painted to blend in with the wall.

The Clerk had had a meeting with a Mr Colin Bruce from CGI, the company like to contribute to community where they work, and they have some at RAF Waddington.  He asked if there are any project within Waddington that they can help with.    The Clerk had thought of the planted of hedges around the perimeter of the Grantham Road Playing Field that had been suggested on a previous site visit. 

It was agreed that they would go ahead with the idea by the Clerk.

The Clerk informed that there had been a post on facebook, from a resident who had commented that they were unable to gain access to the playground on the High Street with a double pram.  It is possible to get a wheelchair through the gate as the Clerk had tried with the one from the Hub.  The gates around the playground are over 100 years old and in the conservation area, so it was agreed that no changes would be made.  Parents could leave double prams outside of the playground and take the children in, or they could use one of the other playgrounds in the village, the closest one being at the Village Hall.

6.   Matters arising from the last meeting.  Only for discussion.

None.

7.   Burial Ground.  An update on the issue reported in the Clerks report last month and discuss any possible growth for the burial ground going forward.

The Clerk informed that an agreement had been reached between the co-op and the family, and therefore the individual would not be exhumed.

The growth of the burial ground was discussed.

It was proposed by Cllr Bayston and seconded by Cllr Gallagher that they look into purchasing the field next to the burial ground.

All agreed. Carried.

8.   Consultation on the Central Lincolnshire Design Code.  Discuss the email received from NKDC which was forwarded to all Councillors on the 17th February.

The consultation was discussed and some ideas were agreed,

Recycling water for toilets.

More bungalows.

They don’t all look the same.

9.   Urgent matters for attention – Items which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency due to special circumstances.

Cllr Barling, informed that the church had finally got faculty approval for the lights on the church footpath.

10.   Date of the next meeting.  There will be a meeting of the Community Emergency Plan Committee on Monday 24th March at 6.30pm in the Community Hub.  The Annual Parish Meeting is on the 31st March, 6.30pm in the Village Hall.  There will be a meeting of the Summer Fair Sub-Committee on Monday 14th April at 6pm, followed by the next Parish Council Meeting at 7pm in the Community Hub.

Meeting closed at 9.10pm.

Open Forum

County Councillor

Cllr Dyer informed that there was no update on the North Hykeham relief road, but Cllr Hill had agreed to write to the secretary of state for transport.

The County Council element of the Council Tax will be raised by 3%.

In December the County Council opened its first RePaint store  in Grantham.  Last week they opened the 2nd one in Louth.  Anyone can donate any paint that they don’t want or pick some up.  Somerton Gate Lane will be closed so they can install more drainage.

Waddington West will be having some more footpath repairs done in 25/26 and 26/27.

Lower High Street will be closed for 2 days between 17th and 21st Mar to unblock gullies and rebuild footpath.

District Councillors

Cllr Pennell informed that they had had an extraordinary council meeting coming up, to discuss how to go forward, as the government want to do away with district councils to save money.  They will be doing local consultation and have to have a proposal for the government for November.

NALC are pushing the government not to forget Town/Parish Councils.

Cllr Sanders sent his apologies.

Cllr Cooper informed that a mural has been painted on the side of the building of 10 Boston Road, Sleaford.  The owner of the property received funding from the UK shared prosperity fund to pay for it. 

Residents

Dr Broughton from Grantham Road, wanted to draw the Councils attention to an email/letter he had sent to the Council, regarding the ongoing anti-social behaviour.  Last year the council had agreed to remove the scrub land, but nothing had been done.

Cllr Gallagher commented, that no other residents in the area seem to be having any problems, and asked “do you think anyone has anything against you”.

Dr Broughton replied that he had not communicated with them.

Cllr Gallagher asked if he had reported it to the police or the anti-social behaviour team at NK.

Dr Broughton replied yes he had reported it to the police.