Minutes from the 7th January meeting
Wainfleet All Saints Town Council Meeting
Minutes from the Town Council Meeting held on 7th January 2026 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).
Apologies: Cllr. C. Drury (CD), Cllr. S. Drury (SD).
Also present: Clerk C.Cleary (CC) and 5 members of the public.
Mayor SM welcomed everyone and opened the meeting at 6.00pm inviting the county and district councillors to make their reports.
1. Reports from county and district councillors
To receive a report from LCC Councillor M.Hume.
Cllr. M. Hume did not attend the meeting, nor send in a report, nor send her apologies.
To receive a report from ELDC Councillor W. Bowkett.
Flooding on Station Road was reported on FixMy Street and repair work has been assigned to a work group.
Public encouraged to reply to ELDC on rates increase.
There were no further questions from the members of the public to the county and district councillors.
Mayor SM thanked WB for her report and asked if the public had any further questions to the town council.
2. Public session
An opportunity for the public to ask the Council questions and to bring new observations.
A member of the public asked about the current status of the proposed pylons that will be in our area situation ongoing. Surveys now with central government.
3. Apologies for absence
To receive and approve apologies for absence.
Cllrs. CD and SD had sent their apologies that they were unable to attend.
Proposed, seconded and resolved to accept the apologies.
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 declared.
5. Draft Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 10th December 2025
To confirm the notes as a true record of the decisions made.
Draft notes from the meeting had been published before the meeting.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the draft notes as a true record of the meeting held on 10th December 2025.
Mayor SM duly signed the minutes of the 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
* Clock tower interior repairs J.Lake contacted scheduled for Spring.
* H&R BS 90 day account opened
* Councillor Community Grant application submitted
* Letters of thanks to Christmas helpers sent
* Container prices updated
* Confirmation sent to Bike event organiser confirming Marketplace and gazebo availability
* War memorial funding options investigated to discuss under item 7e
Issues still pending
* War memorial repairs for discussion under item 7e.
* 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 incurred no overtime in December.
7. Finance
a. To receive the December Financial reports and updates.
The December monthly financial report and bank reconciliation had been circulated to councillors before the meeting. Discussion on report.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the December financial reports
b. To approve payments and receipts
Discussion on payments to be made recommendation to delay payment to Peter Strawson as no reply to councils messages had been received..
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the payments to be made inclusive of the amendment as above.
For transparency, the following payments in excess of £100 were made in December
| Payee | Detail | Amount | VAT | Total |
| P.Whiley | Grass cutting November | £100.00 | £0.00 | £100.00 |
| Staff costs | Staff costs to 29th December | £705.80 | £0.00 | £705.80 |
| Tesco | Selection boxes for children | £180.00 | £30.00 | £210.00 |
| Hinckley & Rugby BS | Opening 90 day notice account | £5000.00 | £0.00 | £5000.00 |
c. To review the draft budget proposal from the finance working group and set the precept for 2026/27
The finance working group had prepared a draft budget which had been circulated to councillors prior to the meeting. No further questions raised by councillors.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the 2026/27 budget.
The finance working group proposed to set the precept for 2026/27 at £45,374. No further questions raised.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to set the precept at £ 45,374.
ACTION: Clerk to submit the Precept request to ELDC.
Mayor SM thanked the finance working group for their work in preparing the budget and noted that with the increase in households paying council tax in the town, the increase to a band D tax payer would be 10p per household.
d. To review and decide on the rents for allotments for 2027 (to be advised to tenants with rent demand for 2026.
Discussion deferred to item 9c.
e. To review funding options for repairs to the War Memorial.
The application for ELIF funding to repair the War Memorial was unsuccessful and as such Council have agreed within the budget to make provision of £2100 per annum towards the repairs. Clerk CC advised there is an alternative to apply for funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Discussion on fund application.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to apply for funding through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
ACTION: Clerk CC to prepare the application.
8. Planning
To receive and discuss new applications.
03785/25/FUL appraisal of Wainfleet All Saints Conservation area discussion on proposal. Council approve the appraisal. ACTION: Clerk to confirm councils approval to ELDC.
Ossian Windfarm Project update circulated to councillors. Noted.
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 items of a financial nature (with the exception of allotment rents see 9c) had been discussed under item 7.
b. Properties & Amenities
The Properties and Amenities Working group met prior to the full council meeting and brought the following proposals/recommendations :
* To purchase an additional 50 whips for the boundary at All Saints Closed Churchyard. Cllr. WH had already obtained and planted some whips and these would complete the boundary hedge. Mayor SM thanked Cllr. WH for his hard work.
* Council had previously approved the repair of the bench outside Northolme cemetery but the original contractor had now retired. Mayor SM will source a new contractor.
* To purchase an additional £300 of wildflower seed for planting at Wainfleet Bank Closed cemetery. Cllr. WH proposed to extend the current wildflower area in the spring with the hope that sufficient seeds could in future be harvested from the current area.
* Discussion on allotment rentals. Proposal that from 2027 the garden allotment rentals be increased to £42 per plot and the farming allotment rentals be increased to £200 per acre. Clerk to notify tenants.
* Offer for attending the annual playground inspection had been received. Council felt that after last years attended inspection there was no need to attend the inspection which incurs additional costs.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the proposals made by the P&A working group.
No activities in Northolme cemetery in December.
c. Marketing & Promotions
The Marketing & Promotions working group met prior to the full council meeting and brought the following proposals/recommendations to council :
* Mayor SM gave a summary of the Christmas Market. Proposal to hold the 2027 Christmas Market on 28th November 2026 (timing to be confirmed). Lighting of the Marketplace to be investigated and reviewed by M&P working group.
* The children s Christmas party had been very successful and well attended. Proposal to hold the 2027 Children s Christmas Party on 13th December 2026.
* Suggestion to hold a Family Day on 3rd May 2025 jointly with Wainfleet St Mary. Details to be discussed between both councils.
* Proposal that working group meetings to be held on a quarterly basis with the next scheduled meeting in April.
PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the proposals made by the M&P working group.
10. Correspondence
To discuss correspondence received
* Annual playground inspection offer received discussed under item 9b.
* Precept form received discussed under item 7c
* ELIF grant paperwork received and returned.
* LCC budget survey circulated to councillors for their reply to LCC.
11. Agenda items for next meeting
To receive items for inclusion on the next meeting s agenda.
Next scheduled meeting is for 4th February.
Mayor SM thanked all for their attendance and closed the meeting at 18.50.