December 2025

Wainfleet All Saints Town Council Meeting        

Draft notes from the Town Council Meeting held on 10th December 2025 at 6.00pm in the Methodist Chapel.

Councillors present: Cllr. S. Mitchell (SM), Cllr. C. Mitchell (CM), Cllr. W. Bowkett (WB), Cllr. W. Hatchman (WH), Cllr. M Clarke (MC), Cllr. C. Drury (CD), Cllr. S. Drury (SD).
Apologies: None
Also present: 7 members of the public. 

Mayor SM welcomed everyone and opened the public session at 1800 hrs. Due to the Clerk being incapacitated the draft notes would be taken by Cllr M Clarke.

1.  Reports from county and district councillors
To receive a report from ELDC Councillor W. Bowkett.
ELDC Cllr. WB gave her report. The Resilience group have a meeting 16th February 2026, the proposals for the Greater Lincolnshire body have been submitted by all parties – Government will now review and respond. The drain issue in the High Street has been reported to FixMyStreet and repairs are receiving consideration.

2. Public session
An opportunity for the public to ask the Council questions and to bring new observations.

Mayor SM thanked Cllr WB for her report, introduced all members of the Council to a new resident to the Town and invited the members of the public to give comments and questions to the council.

Two parishioners voiced their concerns over the flooding issue and had hoped to engage the LCC Councillor in discussion and a way to resolve the potential damage to their properties along with the inconvenience of being unable to exit their properties – the issue is further exacerbated by cars driving through the flooded road and creating spray over the affected properties. Cllr WB responded with information and advice – recommended to email LCC Councillor M Hume and Highways with the problem.
     
Mayor SM thanked all present and closed the public session at 18.20 hrs.

3. Apologies for absence
To receive and approve apologies for absence.
None.

4. Declarations of interest
To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011.
Being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on the Members Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation.
None.

5. Draft Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 5th November 2025
To confirm the notes as a true record of the decisions made.
Draft notes from the meeting held on 5th November had been published prior to the meeting.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to confirm the draft notes as a true record of the meeting held on 5th November
Mayor SM duly signed the minutes of the 5th November meeting

6. Clerks report and action points from the previous minutes
To receive the clerks report and deal with matters arising.
Matters arising from last meeting
Completed issues

* ELIF grass roots grant approval received
* One year bond application opened with Cambridge & Counties BS
* Credit received from overcharged water rates for bus shelter at Marketplace
* Allotment holders advised of annual meeting
* Application to open 90-day notice account with Hinckley & Rugby building Society
* Draft budget prepared for full council review
* Pride in Place funding investigated – applications closed 17th November

Issues still pending

* Bus stop signage on Marketplace – awaiting reply from LCC
* Clock tower interior repairs – to be started after approval of grant
* War memorial repairs – for discussion
* Block paving repairs
* Extension of cremation plot area in Northolme 
* Reply from diocese for wildflower area in All Saints cemetery
* Community Payback Scheme – awaiting their availability

Clerk issues
No overtime for November. Clerk will be absent from the office on Friday 12th December due to medical treatment.

7. Finance
    a. To receive the November Financial reports and updates.
The November monthly financial report and bank reconciliation had been circulated to councillors before the meeting. Discussion on report.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the November financial reports
    b. To approve payments and receipts
Discussion on payments to be made – recommendation to delay payment to Peter Strawson pending a query with the company and the Town Clerk and a slight amendment to change the payee from C Drury to S Drury.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the payments to be made inclusive of the amendments as above.
    
For transparency, the following payments in excess of £100 were made in November

    
    c. To review the grant approved by ELIF towards the repair of the clock tower and the container purchase.
Chair introduced the good news the Council has been successful in sourcing funding to purchase a container for storage and to effect the repairs to the Clock Tower. Appreciation goes to the Town Clerk for the work in sourcing and achieving a successful outcome – Cllr CD confirmed he has the preparation of the ground/base in hand.
Chair invited the Council to approve – 
PROPOSED, SECONDED AND RESOLVED TO ACCEPT THE GRANT
Chair requested the chosen contractor Joseph Lake in respect of the Clock repairs be approved and requested to commence the works once funds are received from ELIF – 
PROPOSED, SECONDED AND RESOLVED TO APPROVE.
The Town Clerk is currently obtaining updated and confirmed costs for the storage container which will be available for the January meeting.
Funding for the War Memorial repairs continue to be investigated – the Finance Group will meet to look at further avenues.

d. To review the draft budget proposal from the Finance Working Group
The draft budget had been forwarded to all Councillors prior to the meeting for consideration. Whilst sourcing funding and possible other sources of income to fund the repairs for the War Memorial remain under discussion it was agreed to delay the final decision to the January Meeting.

e. To review and decide on applying for the ELDC Councillor Community Grant from ELDC Cllr W Bowkett.
Discussion followed with appreciation to Cllr WB for the grant availability – suggested £500 towards Christmas Lights and £1000 for the installation of a permanent gate at Brooks Walk with the option to move any underspend on the gate to the Christmas lights.
PROPOSED, SECONDED AND RESOLVED TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT ALLOCATED AS ABOVE.
    
8. Planning
No new applications have been received.
EC 02020/25 21 High Street – no breach of planning. Property immune from enforcement.

9. Reports from working group meetings
To receive and discuss the actions recommended by the working group meetings and approve associated expenditure.
a. Finance
All matters under Finance have been covered in item 7.

b. Marketing & Promotions
Review of the Christmas Market which was well supported despite the wet weather – funds raised totalled £650.00. The date for 2026 will be discussed and agreed at the next M and P meeting and brought to full Council with other suggestions and ideas for Event in 2026. A letter of thanks to be sent to D Ward, S Roy and the supplier of the cup-cakes. Chair will request the Clerk to effect.
The upcoming Children’s Christmas party – Sunday December 14th - any volunteers would be warmly welcomed to help with the preparations – all is in hand with the party booked for 1 till 4.00 with Santa in attendance and all supplies purchased with an anticipated take up of 66.

c. Properties & Amenities

A Meeting of the P&A working group was held on 9th December 2025.
PLAYING FIELD - Funding has been agreed for the purchase of the container. CC has contacted suppliers for an updated price and will bring to Council. Groundworks/Trees in hand 
EQUIPMENT - Minor repairs to be carried out. Non urgent and will be monitored to ensure that there are no safety issues.
GATE had been a consideration for closing off but with the confirmation of funding from Cllr WB a new gate will now be purchase – the offer of free chippings to be placed on the muddy areas to enable footfall to continue accepted. Cllr WB will follow up.
ALL SAINTS CEMETERY
The boundary badly needs to be bordered as the verge is completely churned up and looks dreadful. Enquiries were made of the Woodland Trust for the supply of free Hawthorn whips. Unfortunately demand outstripped supply so Council need to revisit funding – further contact from Cllr WH has located enough whips to enable the project to be completed – Cllr WH will plant as received.
Update on funding for the wildflower project – SM advised that currently the church and diocese are in communication as to whether we would be able to start the project. Once we have an update council will be informed.
MARKET PLACE
Bus stop – LCC have responded to CC’s email advising that we should do a Land Registry check to obtain who is in fact the owner of the marketplace. CC has replied advising that we are the leaseholders and a Land Registry check is unnecessary from the Town Council point of view.
Winter Planting – Summer bedding to be removed. SM/CM to purchase plants for the Spring on the same basis as 2025. Shrubs currently in the tubs to be removed. WH to remove shrubs and replant in Northolme Cemetery.
Trees in Market Place – Look badly affected and as we know the roots are causing substantial damage to the block paving by the bus shelter. – SM to speak to CC regarding ownership of the trees and whose responsibility to maintain.
NORTHOLME
Fence repair outstanding. No urgency required 
Extension of Ashes plot – Still awaiting quote. – CD to have a look at work involved. – quote has been submitted at the start of the meeting.
Payback Scheme – No further update available
Bench outside Cemetery – Badly damaged – SM to seek Council approval to replace bench at a cost of £180.
PROPOSED, AGREED AND RESOLVED for repairs to be carried out.
Rooted Sycamores – Need clearing – all removed by Cllr WH prior to the meeting
Consideration to be given to sourcing planings to improve the car park – Cllr MC to contact LCC highways on the recommendation of Cllr WB.
Northolme activities in November
Burials
EROB     : Plots GR351
Internments    : Plots XU59, GR351
Memorials     : GR 351
Total cemetery income November : £825

ALLOTMENTS
Meeting held Tuesday 9th December – 8 allotment holders in attendance plus Chair Cllr WH and Council Chair Cllr SM. The holders were advised there would be no increase in rent and the new procedures that would be introduced in 2026. Concerns were raised that the fence in the middle of the allotments has fallen into disrepair. – quotes to be obtained for replacing with green netting.  Water rates for the year had increased by 400% sparking a conversation on water butts. Council to investigate the possibility of obtaining water storage from for example Batemans free of charge. – Cllr SM to follow up. Full council would have to discuss any rules/regulation changes to possibly accommodate new tenants supplying their own water storage.
Rent payments- rent payments are due on January 1st each year and that there is a grace period until 28th February to complete payment. Holders requested that a reminder letter be sent out.(SM to request CC to send out reminder letter in December)

10. Correspondence

               To  discuss correspondence received.

* LCC permit charges consultation – circulated to councillors
* Complaint of dangerous parking on Bees Corner from resident – advised to contact LCC
* Precept letter received from ELDC – last date for submitting 30th January
* Councillor community grant application received – discussed under finance.
* Request for the Market Place to be utilised for the Bike Night September 5th and the loan of gazebos for stall holders – all in agreement. Formal processing to be administered by the Town Clerk.

11. Agenda items for next meeting

To receive items for inclusion on the next meeting’s agenda.
Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday 7th January 2026

Chair thanked all for their attendance and input and closed the meeting at 19.15