Minutes 2026

Minutes taken by the Parish Council, Mrs Deborah Money, at the Parish Council Meeting of Eastville, Midville and New Leake, which was held on Wednesday 09 September 2026, meeting room Slate Worx, Station Road, Eastville, Boston PE22 8LT commencing at 7:00 pm.

Present:  Councillors Simon Thorold (Chair), Ian Money (Vice-Chair), James Sweetman, Glyn Nunn, Tanya Atkin and the Clerk Deborah Money.

Councillor Thorold advised that a audio recording was starting, for preparing minutes.  (Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014)

Public Forum for a maximum of 15 minutes when members of the public may ask questions or make short statements to the council.  Items not on the agenda will not be debated, but if appropriate, will become an agenda item at the next appropriate meeting.  Members of the public are expected to be polite, civil and respectful always during the meeting.

No Members of the public

To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies.

1. District Councillor Dickinson – Sent her apologies, with a report that will be forwarded to Parish Councillors and published on our website.
2. County Councillor Hume – Did not attend.

Meeting begun at 1900

1. Chairman’s Welcome:  Councillor Thorold welcomed everyone to the meeting and read our District Councillor Dickinson’s report.

2. Apologies for absence: To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Buckle and Scott and were accepted on the proposal of Councillor Money, seconded by Councillor Atkin.

Councillor Conway was also absent and sent no apologies.

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 interest in item .

4. Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 08 July 2026.

To resolve as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes.On proposal from Councillor Sweetman and seconded by Councillor Money and with no objections, all resolved to accept the minutes as a correct.

5. Financial matters: To resolve as correct and authorise.

1. To receive the cash book and bank reconciliation 05 September 2026
2. Income

Interest July £5.39 and August £5.75

3. Payments Schedule

5a) and 5c)  The Clerk confirmed that all invoices, bank statements, the cashbook, and the bank reconciliation were checked by the Clerk and then provided to Councillor Thorold and Money for verification ahead of the meeting. Following their review, the complete financial pack, including the Payment Schedule and all supporting documents, was circulated to all councillors for examination prior to the meeting. Councillors noted that all materials had been reviewed in accordance with the Council’s financial procedures, and was signed by Councillor Sweetman.

6. Internal Council Matters

1. Village Gates Update

The Clerk reported that two quotations had been received for placing the village gates.  Councillor Money advised that permission from Witham Forth is required for two of the gates and that the application process involves considerable paperwork.  It was agreed that Councillor Money would continue with the applications and, if successful, the Parish Council resolved to pay the £100 application fee.

2. Bench for walk to School

It was agreed to defer this agenda item until Councillor Conway is available to assist.

3. Midville Bus Shelter

The Clerk has received three quotations and has spoken to Highways about a grant. At Councillor Nunn’s suggestion, the Clerk will obtain the cost of replacing the shelter roof with corrugated tiles to help prevent ongoing vandalism.

4. War Memorial Monument

No updated information.

5. Placement of Remembrance Plaques

The Clerk will take the plaque to the Memorial Gardens to check its suitability. If it fits, it was agreed that it will be placed on top of the planters; if it is too large, it will be placed along the side.

6. Wreath

It was agreed that the Clerk will order a wreath for the November Remembrance Service.

7. External Audit

The conclusion of the external audit of accounts was noted, and it was resolved to approve 08 September 2026 as the date for displaying the Notice of Conclusion of Audit.

8. Advert for 2027-28 Grants.

The Clerk has created a poster advertising the 2027–28 grants, which has been published on the website and Facebook. It will also be placed on the parish noticeboard.

1. NJC annual pay increase agreed at 3.3% with back pay to April 2026.

The Clerk explained that the new NJC pay award had been agreed. On the proposal of Councillor Atkin, seconded by Councillor Sweetman, it was agreed to approve the new salary scale and back pay to April 2026.

7. To agree and resolve Policies

1. Safeguarding
2. Chairman’s Allowance
3. Training and Development
4. Accessibility
5. To Review our current grant policy.

All policies were resolved.

8. 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

Application reference 00976/26/FUL Observations are requested no later than 2nd September 2026.
Planning Permission - Change of use of land to form caravan and container storage, siting of 9no. holiday lodges, erection of an amenity building, change of use of existing dayroom to form a shop, excavation of land to form a fishing lake and construction of access roads.
Stickney Showground Equestrian Centre East Fen Lane Stickney Lincolnshire PE22 8DE   

The Clerk will send the Parish Council’s Objections.

9. Highways

1. Repeater Signs

The Clerk will once again request from Councillor Hume.

2. Reactive Speed Data

There was no data to report because the batteries for the reactive speed sign by the village hall had not been charging. The Clerk has contacted Elan City but has had difficulty obtaining assistance due to the lack of Wi-Fi signal. It was agreed that the batteries would be recharged and swapped with those from the school sign to determine whether the solar panels are faulty. Councillor Money will also contact Highways to ask whether the sign can be moved to the opposite side of the road.

10. Clerk’s reports, outstanding matters and new matters

1. The Clerk has received an email from solicitors that she approached with regard to help with the village hall, as she was unaware of any financial cost for receiving a quote it was agreed that she would reply as such to their email.
2. The Clerk had received an email from the playing fields addressed to the Chair and Councillors.  This will be added to the next agenda.

11. To resolve on whether the council will move into closed session to consider the following confidential staffing 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 resolved to move into closed session to consider confidential staffing and legal matters.Audio recording was switched off.