11 February
Minutes taken by the Parish Council, Mrs Deborah Money, at the Parish Council Extra Ordinary Meeting of Eastville, Midville and New Leake Parish Council, which was held on Wednesday 11 February 2026, in Eastville, Midville and New Leake Village Hall.
Present: Councillors Glyn Nunn (Chair), Simon Thorold (Vice-Chair), Ian Money, Bob Conway, Holly Buckle, Tanya Atkin, James Sweetman, and the Clerk.
Public forum for a maximum of 15 minutes when members of the public may ask questions or make short statements to the council.
5 Members of the public attended. Two chose to speak.
A resident questioned the Parish Council's refusal to fund defibrillator batteries and pads. The Council stated that a formal request is required before allocating public funds. The resident will email the Clerk to have the matter added to a future agenda for further discussion. The Midville defibrillator is current and operational. She also asked about a missing plaque from Memorial Gardens and informed Parish Council that the Church requires roof repairs.
The second member of the public was present to express dissatisfaction with how long it took the Parish Council to pay for the wreath from last year. Although the Council attempted to clarify the cause of the delay, the individual chose not to hear their explanation.
To receive reports from elected Members of Lincolnshire County Council, and East Lindsey District Council.
a) District Councillor Dickinson, sent out her report which had been forwarded to the Councillors.
Special Interest Group for Internal Drainage Board Levies. The District Councils Network and Special Interest Group highlighted Environment Agency cuts to river maintenance. This will increase levies and council tax, putting pressure on council budgets. The Government will provide £5m this year for councils most affected, but services may be impacted if funds are diverted to flood prevention.
Lincolnshire Police will temporarily reassign around 50 officers from specialist teams to frontline duties due to staffing shortages. This arrangement will last about six months and aims to protect public safety and support vulnerable individuals. The impact will be monitored and addressed through the Community Safety Partnership. Recruitment for new officers is ongoing. The Home Office has increased Lincolnshire Police's funding to £100.1m for 2026/27, plus an additional £12m annually for at least two years, reflecting unique local challenges. With this support, the Force plans to recruit up to 128 police officers, 16 PCSOs, and 120 staff in 2026/27, following autumn’s decision to begin recruitment to maintain effective service levels.
Community Funding – session at the Hub Discover funding options for East Lindsey community groups at this informal event, where you can discuss ideas and challenges with others. Funding may support social isolation projects, youth programs, arts, wellbeing, or local events. Horncastle Hub, Wednesday 25 February 2026, 6pm–7.30pm Free entry and refreshments provided.
Renew or subscribe online for green waste collections for the 2026/27 season – East Lindsey residents can renew or join the green waste collection service online at https://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/greenwaste for the 2026/27 season. The annual fee is £55 for 21 collections. Re-subscribe by Sunday 22 February to ensure you receive all 21 collections; late subscriptions may result in fewer collections, but the fee remains the same. The final 2025/26 collection is in the week ending Sunday 29 March 2026, and the new subscription starts Monday 30 March 2026. Early subscribers will receive a confirmation letter, collection calendar, and bin sticker.
Councillors Community Grant – I granted £500 to the parish council for Memorial Garden planters and £561.46 to the village hall for broadband installation. I have £599.62 remaining and have contacted two organisations that are applying for funding; I expect to allocate all funds by the 28th February deadline.
b) County Councillor Hume sent her apologies.
The meeting was opened at 19:15
Chair advised that the Clerk was starting audio recording for preparing minutes. (Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014)
1. Chair’s welcome:
Councillor Nunn welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies for absence: To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting.
Councillor Scott was absent and his apologies were accepted.
3. Declarations of interest: (if any) To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests.
Councillor Nunn declared his interest for item 16 and will leave the room.
4. Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 16th December 2025.
To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chair to sign the official minutes.
On proposal from Councillor Money and seconded by Councillor Conway and with no objections, all resolved to accept the minutes as a correct.
5. Financial matters: To resolve as correct and authorise.
Community Account 31 January 2026 £6502.90
Deposit Account 31 January 2026 £13094.05
Income Interest January £6.98
Income Interest December £7.72
Grant December £500
a) To receive the cash book and bank reconciliation January 2026
b) Precept request has been sent to East Lindsey District Council.
c) Change of Bank Mandate, it was agreed that the Clerk could change the bank mandate to remove Councillor Baker.
6. Internal Council Matters
a) Defibrillator for Eastville, Midville and New Leake Village Hall/Playing Field
The defibrillator has been delivered and is presently located at the Clerk's residence. The Clerk has asked the Village Hall to coordinate installation arrangements and seek clarification on electrical requirements. The Clerk will chase the Village Hall again to ensure responses are provided and to avoid incurring unnecessary costs due to incomplete actions.
b) Village Gates
Councillor Sweetman and Councillor Money will meet with the highways department on 12 February 2026 to discuss the potential approval and placement of new village gates.
c) Bench for walk to school
Following the local farmer's verbal agreement to permit a bench on his property, Councillor Conway will request written confirmation, to be sent to the Clerk. Meanwhile, we will obtain cost estimates for both the bench and its required fixings.
d) War Memorial Monument
Councillor Conway has contacted the War Memorial Fund and provided them with photos. He informed the Parish Council someone has recently reregistered the monument; but it was mistakenly placed at the Church’s location instead of where the monument actually stands. He is now awaiting this correction.
e) East Lindsey Electoral Office Information for Vacant Seat
East Lindsey District Council has been informed by the Clerk that there is now an open position on the Parish Council.
f) Risk Assessment RFO cover
The Clerk stated that a Parish Councillor should be familiar with scribe accountancy for backup purposes. Councillor Thorold volunteered for this responsibility.
7. Planning: Town and Country Planning Act 1990. To consider and make observations on all planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints and appeal decisions advised by the district council. To include those received from the date of this notice and the day on the meeting
Planning Permission - Erection of an agricultural machinery assembly building and parts storage area.
LOCATION: Slate Worx, Station Road, Eastville, Lincolnshire, PE22 8LT
Grid Ref.: 541025 356863 Expected Decision Level: Delegated Decision
Approved on 29/01/2026
8. Memorial Gardens Project
a) Grant For Planters
The Parish Council thanks District Councillor Dickinson for the £500 grant for plants and soil for the new planters.
b) Memorial Garden Policy
All parish councillors accepted the policy sent before the meeting, and the Clerk will obtain cost estimates for brass plaques with black lettering, to be placed on the sleepers.
9. Reactive Speed Sign
The Clerk presented the data at the meeting and read several speed recordings to the Councillors. In January, one speed was recorded at 115mph during a school day. The Clerk will post a summary of the data on the website and send a copy to be published in the next issue of the Old Leake Magazine. Councillor Conway has also removed the sign down Spilsby Road for charging.
10. Newsletter
Update on Eastville, Midville and New Leake, newsletter.
A resident has contacted us via email in response to the newsletter; the Clerk has provided a reply and forwarded his comments to the appropriate parties. The playing field committee responded regarding the repairs to the playing fields and tree planting initiatives; this has been forwarded to the resident. We are currently awaiting a response from the County Councillor concerning the Grimsby/Walpole pylon project.
11. Clerk’s reports, outstanding matters and new matters
No matters to discuss.
12. Highways
There is still no update regarding the Repeat Signs; the Clerk has reminded County Councillor Hume that she previously agreed to look into this.
Lincs Comms Ltd Reason for restriction: Installing new duct for telecoms
Road closure Order -
Spilsby Road (Between Bellwater Bank & Fodderdyke Bank)
Spilsby Road (Between Thorpe Bank & Bellwater Bank)
09/03/2026 – 12/04/2026
Lincolnshire County Council
Culvert reconstruction
Road closure Order – Hobhole Bank (West side of Hobhole Drain, between Barlode Drain & ‘Track From Black Drove To Hobhole Bank’)
18/03/2026 – 15/05/2026
13. Information, reports and correspondence
A resident contacted the Parish Council about a van parked near the Village Hall. The clerk provided information on who to contact if the van is believed to be illegally parked or abandoned.
14. Payments Schedule: All invoices listed have been examined, verified and certified by the Responsible Financial Officer. To verify payments made since the last meeting under delegated powers or previously approved.
a) Spusu £10.00
b) Scribe £74.40
c) HP Instant Ink £13.49
d) Staff Costs TBA
e) Taxing Times £55.20
f) Lucy Lawns £300.00
g) Bank – Service Charge £4.25
h) Village Hall £240.00
i) Blackmore Grass Cutting £839.40
19:50 Councillor Nunn left the room, with the remaining members of the public.
15. To resolve on whether the council will move into closed session to consider the Village Hall and legal matters in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meeting) Act 1960. (Should this resolution be passed the public and press will be required to leave the meeting at this stage).
It was agreed that Parish Council would go into closed session.
16. Eastville, Midville and New Leake Village Hall.
Councillor Thorold requested an update on the Village Hall from Councillor Money. After a heated discussion, it was unanimously agreed that the Clerk should contact LALC to have the Parish Council referred to solicitors, ensuring any assistance provided to the Village Hall is done lawfully. The Clerk noted that we are entitled to 45 minutes of free advice, and it was further agreed that, if necessary, the Clerk may spend up to £500 before the next meeting to facilitate the process.
17. Matters for next agenda
18. Next meeting: Wednesday 11 March 2026
Meeting Ended 20:38