Minutes 18th September 2025
WILLOUGHBY & DISTRICT PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE
ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING
HELD 18th September 2025
Present: Cllrs Eyre, Mulhern, Banham, Cooper, Hale
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
Cllr D. Brooks (LCC)
5 Members of the Public
Cllr Eyre introduced Cllr D. Brooks, the LCC representative for the area.
During the public session the question of whether the Parish Council could fund a selection of spring bulbs to plant at the entrances to the village, including Sloothby and Claxby.
Members were advised that the drainage on Bonthorpe Road seems to have improved, however there had not been heavy rainfall to test fully. Thanks were sent to LCC Highways.
51 APOLOGIES
Apologies and valid reasons for absence were received from Cllrs Rapoz, Jenkinson, Fairfield and White, and these were accepted.
52 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none
53 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 17TH JULY 2025
It was resolved that the Chairman sign these as a correct record.
54 UPDATES FROM THAT MEETING
Minute 41 – the Clerk had the defib pads for Sloothby, and will drop them off with Cllr Fairfield
It was confirmed that the defib at the school was in working order, however concern was that the one at the Willoughby Arms was missing.
Minute 47 – Cllr Hale to negotiation regarding the hedge cutting.
55 UPDATES FROM ELDC/LCC REPRESENTATIVES
Cllr Eyre (ELDC) had nothing to report.
Cllr Brooks (LCC) gave an update on the local government reorganisation. Current District and County Councils to be replaced by unitary authorities, several plans put forward, including splitting Lincolnshire into two each with approx. 500,000 voters or leaving Lincolnshire as one unitary. Currently 432 councillors in Lincolnshire, this will drop to around 200 meaning there will be less local representation. Unitary elections scheduled for 2027 and the final decision rests with the Secretary of State.
A repaint store has opened in Skegness – half full tins of paint can be donated for others to use, and paint can be collected – useful for where only a small amount of paint is required. Saved some 12000 litres already from incinerator.
Fix My Street has been upgraded, can now report flooding and drains
Food waste collections to be introduced shortly.
Free Trees for communities scheme extended for another two years
56 DOT GOV EMAIL/DOMAIN
The Clerk briefly outlined the requirements for Councils to have their own domain name and secure email addresses. However, this came at a cost for every councillor to have individual email addresses (circa £250). Parish Online were offering a core one .gov email address for each Council, and after discussion it was resolved that the Council obtain one free .gov email address for Parish Council emails, via the Clerk.
57 FINANCE
It was resolved that the following accounts be paid:
Clerks salary & PAYE (Aug/Sept) £361.66
R. Aldrich (grounds) (inc trimming back
Lime Trees on green ) £468.57
Payment to Community heartbeat for the Defib pads which the Clerk had received and paid by BACS was agreed £123.54
58 VILLAGE MATTERS
a) Playing Fields – there were no issues, Cllrs Hale & Rapoz will report back to the next meeting on any repairs.
b) Village Green – request from the Events Committee to use the Green for the Fete 4th July 2026 was received. This was approved, subject to the Council receiving a copy of the Fete insurance and confirmation that the Council would be indemnified against any claim arising from the fete.
c) Allotments- no issues reported
59 CORRESPONDENCE
Clerk advised that ELDC would be contacting current postal voters with the requirement that they re-register if they wished to continue to use a postal vote.
60 SPEED DEVICE
The Clerk had sent the two additional locations (opposite school and on approach to garage from Welton le Marsh) to LCC for approval. As soon as this was granted, Cllr Banham will fix the backing plates. The Parish Council resolved to approve the two additional locations.
61 VEHICLES PARKED STATION ROAD/JOHN ADAMS WAY
The Clerk confirmed that the housing association had been to inspect the premises and were investigating. Additional photos of vehicles being repaired in the road had been forwarded. It was agreed to monitor the situation, to report to the Police for dangerous parking and to continue to liaise with the housing association.
62 PLANNING
Prior Approval application had been received regarding access to land at Mill House Farm, This was not a formal application and the Council raised no comments.
63 ANY OTHER MATTERS/NEXT AGENDA
Brief discussion on the proposed “haul road” to be built around Alford to allow large construction and transport vehicles in connection with pylons and substations proposed.
Cllrs Cooper and Mulhern had attended the on line presentation regarding local government reorganisation, concerns raised regarding planning processes.
Bonfire to be held later in the year.
64 NEXT MEETING
This is scheduled for 16th October 2025
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.45pm