2025 Parish Council Minutes

Birnage (Chair)

Broomham

Ford

Forman

Lett

Arnold

25-62

Public Forum: to receive questions and comments from residents of the village on any matter relating to items on this agenda. (15 minutes maximum)

There were no questions or comments.

25-63

To note apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Arnold.

25-64

To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and consider any dispensation requests received by the Clerk.

No declarations of interest had been received.

25-65

To welcome representatives of the Environment Agency to answer questions on flooding in the parish.

Members welcomed Mr Ian Cappitt, the Environment Agency’s Witham Partnerships and Strategic Overview Team Leader.

He explained how funding for maintenance came in three categories with different funding streams: Annual maintenance, intermittent maintenance and capital refurbishment. The limited funding available would be allocated in the order of high, medium and low consequences whereby Westborough would be in the medium consequences category.

The Environment Agency works in partnership with the Internal Drainage Boards And the Flood Authority.

Being asked why the river Witham had not been dredged, he explained that this had been a big project in the 1970ies and the aim had been to increase  the flow volume to a certain level in an effort to remove excess water as quickly as possible from a given area. The water levels that had occurred during storms Babette and Henk had been exceptional. These days it is understood that removing water quickly from one area may have negative consequences in other areas. Water management was needed taking numerous factors into account.

The government had a new approach relying on natural flood management and building resilience in local communities.

He stated that he would return to the October meeting when he was hoping the latest flood modelling data would be available.

25-66

To receive the minutes of the previous Full Council Meeting and resolve to sign these as a true record of the meeting(s).

Minutes of Annual Parish Council Meeting on 08 May 2025

The council received the minutes of the annual Parish Council Meeting 08/05/2025 and resolved to sign these as a true record of that meeting.

25-67

To review and adopt the following policies and procedures based on NALC/LALC and SLCC templates

1. Code of Conduct
2. Complaints policy and procedure 
3. Grant Policy
4. Co-option Policy
5. Risk Management Policy

1. The council resolved to adopt
2. Code of Conduct
3. Complaints policy and procedure 
4. Grant Policy
5. Co-option Policy
6. Risk Management Policy

25-68

To receive and note the Clerk’s Report and confirm the receipt of the 2025 Practitioner’s Guide.

The Council received and noted the Clerk’s report and confirmed the receipt of the 2025 Practitioner’s Guide.

25-69

To receive a grant application from Westborough Village Hall Committee for the renovation of the hall’s roof and consider awarding a grant from the Copley Solar Fund.

The Council considered the application in detail and resolved to award a grant of £15,450 from the Copley Solar fund for the renovation of the hall’s roof and associated works. £12,000 to come from Earmarked Reserves for the Westborough Village Hall Roof.

25-70

To consider changing the clerk’s email address to a free .gov.uk address and choose one of the permissible addresses.

The Council resolved to change the Clerk’s email address to clerk@westborough-dry-doddington-pc.gov.uk through Parish Online.

25-71

Financial Matters:

1. To receive  and note the council’s receipts and payments over budget report to 30 June 2025 and review the current budget and any virements.

The Council received receipts and payments over budget report to 30 June 2025 and reviewed the current budget but did not agree any virements.

2. To receive and note the council’s bank reconciliation to 30 June 2025.

The Council received and noted the bank reconciliation to 30 June 2025. The council’s bank accounts had the following balances:

STATEMENT BALANCES

NatWest Current Account                 2,806.89

Nat West Reserve Account               6,100.89

Nat West 35 Day Notice                   20,000.00

Melton Building Society                    27,428.98

3. To authorise the following known upcoming payments:

The council authorised the above payments.

Furthermore, the council approved the following additional payments:

25-72

BANKING

1. To consider adding Bankline authorisation to the NatWest bank accounts: https://www.natwest.com/business/ways-to-bank/bankline-for-communities.html

The clerk explained that according to the bank’s website, Bankline is only available to new community accounts. But there may be an option for Bankline.

The Council resolved to add Bankline authorisation to the Council’s NatWest accounts.

2. To consider opening a CCLA Public Sector Deposit Fund Account to maximise income from interest: https://www.ccla.co.uk/investments/investor/local-authorities

The Council resolved to open a CCLA Public Sector Deposit Fund Account.

25-73

To receive the results of a poll on public spaces for children and teenagers and consider what action to take. (Cllr Birnage).

Cllr Birnage reported that 62% of dry Doddington residents who had replied to the WhatsApp group poll on children’s play equipment, 29% replied none was needed, 11% were not sure and 62% were in favour of children’s play equipment in Dry Doddington. The Clerk would look into the feasibility of a play area on the village green.

25-74

To consider planning applications for comment.

S25/1207 | Section 211 Notice for the felling and removal of Yew tree. | The Cottage Long Lane Westborough Lincolnshire NG23 5HH

Members resolved not to comment.

25-75

To note planning decisions made since the last meeting.

S25/0173 | Erection of permanent agricultural workers dwelling and associated works. | J And J Alpacas Meadow Farm Clensey Lane Dry Doddington Lincolnshire NG23 5HT – Declined

Members noted the decision.

25-76

To receive and note reports from members including Highways updates. (for information only).

25-77

To receive the County and District Councillor’s reports (for information only).

County Councillor Bamford had attended the village walkaround with members of the Environment Agency and the council. He spoke about the challenges posed by the Local Government Re-organisation and that members of the public would be consulted shortly.

When asked where to report obstructions he stated that all obstructions damage, potholes or similar to the public highway including footways should be reported on https://www.fixmystreet.com/ or the phone app of the same name.

Cllr Betts leaves at 20:45.

25-78

To note correspondence previously circulated by email.

Members noted the correspondence previously circulated by email.

25-79

Items for notification to be included in a future agenda. For information only.

• Play Area
• Environment Agency Update
• Flood Shed Update

25-80

To note the date and time of the next Full Council meeting as 09 October 2025 at 19.30 at Dry Doddington Village Hall.

This was duly noted.