March 2026

Wainfleet All Saints Town Council Meeting

Draft notes from the Town Council Meeting held on 4th March 2026 at 6.00pm in the Methodist Chapel.

Councillors present: Cllr. S. Mitchell (SM), Cllr. C. Mitchell (CM), Cllr. C. Drury (CD), Cllr. S. Drury (SD), Cllr. W. Bowkett (WB), Cllr. M Clarke (MC).

Apologies: None..

Also present: Clerk C.Cleary (CC) and 6 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. – Not present no report sent.

To receive a report from ELDC Councillor W. Bowkett.

ELDC have confirmed their council tax for the coming year, which will be £176.67 for a band D property which is the lowest district council tax in Lincolnshire. Funding has been cut to ELDC of £1.6 million for the year 26/27 and a further £1.4 million in 27/28. The IDB levy stands at £5.4 million and accounts for 62% of ELDCs share of the council tax.

The district has costs for the coming food waste to find, the cost is anticipated to be £680,000 for 2026/27 which is a part year, for the 2027/28 it will rise to £1,233,000. This has to be funded within the overall funding settlement.

The four priority themes will remain the same : Pride in East Lindsey Grant schemes £2 million, Community Development Initiatives £1.5 million, Tourism and Events Programme £2 million and Business support and Enabling Growth £4.5 million.

Elections next year we are awaiting to hear whether the districts will be joint elections with the new devolved council.

Mayor SM thanked Cllr. WB for her report and asked if there were any further questions from the public for the town council.

2. Public session

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

WB gave a brief review on the activities of the junior football club and their plans to have a pavilion constructed.

WB gave a brief review on Wainfleet Weekend with a request that it be added as an agenda item to next months meeting.

Discussion on flooding on playing field from former BT building.

Mayor SM thanked the public and announced that council was now in full session.

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 declared.

5. Draft Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 4th February 2026

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 4th February 2026.

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

* Contractor advised to commence cremation area extension (mid-April)

* DPI’s for new councillors sent to ELDC

* LCC grass cutting agreement returned

* Japanese Knotweed contractor contacted for inspection

* Claim for container costs submitted to ELIF

Issues still pending

* War memorial repairs

* Block paving repairs

7. Finance

    a. To receive the February Financial reports and updates.

The February monthly financial report and bank reconciliation had been circulated to councillors before the meeting. Discussion on report.

PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the February financial reports

        b. To approve payments and receipts.

Discussion on payments to be made.

PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to approve the payments to be made.

For transparency, the following payments in excess of £100 were made in February.

    Clerk CC advised that the costs for the container would be met fully by the ELIF and a claim had been submitted.

    Clerk CC advised that cemetery income for the month was £525.00 from the following :

Ashes internments plots GR225

Memorials XU59, plots 861, 863.

    c. To review the proposed repair to the pulley in the clock tower.

    The latest service of the clock noted that a pulley required replacing. Discussion on quotation.

    PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the quotation. Clerk to contact supplier.

    d. To review the subscription to LALC training programme.

    An offer to subscribe to the LALC training programme had been received. Discussion on offer.

    Council voted unanimously not to take up the offer.

8. Planning

To receive and discuss new applications.

Notification that Outer Dowsing has been approved by Secretary of State – noted.

0213/26/FUL – Change of use 3 holiday cottages to dwellings (located in WSM). Council fully supports the application. Clerk to advise ELDC of decision.

9. Vacant allotment plots

To review the application from a resident of Wainfleet for allotment plot 1.

An application had been received for the tenancy of plot 1. Discussion on application.

PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to offer the tenancy to the applicant. Clerk to contact the applicant and arrange paperwork,

To decide on offering plot 11 tenancy to a partner of an existing plot holder. 

Prior to the meeting a new enquiry for an allotment plot had been received. In accordance with policy, the applicant is to be contacted and interviewed before offering the plot.

10. Christmas 2026 events

To receive a proposal that the venue for the Children’s Christmas Party be held at the Methodist Chapel.

Discussion on proposal.

PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to request the booking of the Methodist Chapel for the Childrens Christmas Party.

To receive a proposal that the Christmas Market be from 4pm to 8pm on 28th November 2026. 

Mayor SM withdrew the proposal. Discussion on Christmas light switch on 2026. Councillors inclined to provide entertainment at light switch on and for the market to be held indoor by either the Coronation Hall or the Methodist Chapel. Mayor SM to contact both parties and revert.

11. Letter to Lincs. Fire & Rescue

To receive a proposal to send a letter to Lincs. Fire and Resue expressing concern at the reduced services from Wainfleet Fire Station.

Discussion on letter to be sent. Minor modifications to letter suggested and agreed.

PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to submit the letter to the Chief Fire Officer at Lincs. Fire & Rescue.

12. Block paving in Marketplace

To discuss the proposed repair to block paving in the Marketplace.

Despite requesting quotations from several local companies to effect the repairs to the block paving in the Marketplace, only one quotation had been received.

PROPOSED, SECONDED and RESOLVED to accept the quotation and instruct the contractor to commence work without delay.

13. CCTV

To discuss the needs and requirements for installing CCTV within the town.

Discussion on CCTV. Current situation is that it is not a requirement at present and can be reviewed once the District Councillor grants have been finalised.

14. Gate for Brooks Walk entrance to playing fields

To review the quotations for the gate at Brooks Walk

Cllr. CD will obtain quotes for review at the next meeting.

15. Correspondence

To discuss correspondence received

* Recommendation to replace pulley in clock tower (see item 7c)

* Notification of price increase from Healthguard. Noted.

* Resignation of Cllrs. Hatchman, Bonsor and Whiting. SM proposed letter of thanks to WH. Approved.

* Letter from Colin Horton, former tree officer from ELDC advising of new private service. Noted.

* Notification from LALC that remote meetings are still not allowed. Noted.

* Plan for renovation of Brooks Walk toilet facilities received. Noted.

* Invitation from RSPB to “Living Wash Workshop”. Noted.

16. Agenda items for next meeting

To receive items for inclusion on the next meeting’s agenda.

Christmas lighting.

Date of next meeting 1st April 2026.

17. Closed session item

To receive a report from Mayor S. Mitchell.

Item withdrawn by Mayor SM.

Mayor SM thanked all for their attendance and closed the meeting at 6.52pm.