October 2025
Notes from the public forum held on 02 October 2025
There were three members of the public present. One came along to show evidence that there is no breach of planning for a large property in the village, this was a letter received from ELDC.
19.20pm one member of the public left the meeting
Other matters discussed were the cemetery footpath and questioning if issues were being chased up at LCC when reported.
19.30pm two members of the public left the meeting
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 02 October 2025 at 7.30pm in the Youth Centre, Hall Lane
1. To accept apologies and reason for absence
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Pritchard and Jones
Present: Cllrs Burton, Hopkins, Pocklington, Sherriff and Edwards (Chairman)
7.33pm Dist Cllr Jones arrived
2. To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
a. County Cllr Hume was not present, although she had emailed to ask about Remembrance Day, a short service is held at the War Memorial, wreaths are laid and then refreshments are served in Church.
b. Dist Cllr Jones reported:
i. The planning application for 9 properties at The Forge has been approved by ELDC.
ii. The Local Government Reorganisation has to be agreed by 17 November 2025. There are ten Councils with nine ideas put forward for Lincolnshire. LCC want one Council for the whole county whereas ELDC want two Councils with a north/south divide. When this is sorted the Mayor will be able to precept and more responsibilities will be passed to Parish Councils.
iii. A Parish Council in East Lindsey has received a grant for an interactive speed sign, details will be passed to the Clerk.
c. Dist Cllr Ashton was not present.
19.50 Dist Cllr Jones left the meeting
d. Cllr Burton reported on the Police Teams meeting:
i. There is not enough policing in rural areas, this should be addressed.
ii. Issues at the picnic area were discussed, the Police were not aware of these. Residents should call 101 and report any incidents before anything will be done.
iii. Funding is available for interactive speed signs, but it was not reported where from.
iv. There will be more Police motor cycles and cars used with speed cameras rather than the vans parked in lay-bys.
v. Lincolnshire Police at £25m light on their finances compared to other areas.
3. To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011
There were no declarations of interest.
4. Notes of the meeting held on 04 September 2025 to be approved and signed as the minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Sherriff and seconded by Cllr Pocklington that the minutes be signed as a true record, all agreed.
5. Clerk’s report
a. Following discussion it was agreed to have a ton bag of salt/grit if it can be placed on the hard standing area at the cemetery.
b. A letter was read out from Witham Fourth regarding the maintenance of the East and West Fen Catchwater Drains – Defra will not give the requested funds to the Environment Agency to pass to Witham Forth to maintain the drains. For 2025/26 Witham Fourth will fund the shortage to give other authorities time to get funding in place for 2026/27.
c. Notices are out regarding the vacancy on the Parish Council.
6. Chairman’s report
The Chairman has nothing to report.
7. To receive external audit report for the year ended 31 March 2025
a. The External Audit report has been received, there are no issues to report following an in depth audit.
b. The Notice of Conclusion of Audit, together with the External Audit Report is in the notice boards and on the website as required.
8. Finance report:
a. Payments approved at this meeting: £
i. Salaries (September) 1171.64
ii. Clerks expenses (September) 71.50
iii. Reconomy (Cemetery Skip - September) 46.20
iv. Bolingbroke Deanery (October magazine) 117.00
v. Malc Firth Landscapes (Play Area grass cutting) 63.50
vi. Haines Watts (PAYE work) 27.60
vii. Clockwise Restorations (Service church clock) 240.00
viii. PKF Littlejohn LLP (External audit) 252.00
ix. H M Revenue & Customs (PAYE) 690.04
b. The balances in bank at 31 August: Current account £34,985.13
Pension account £7,276.10
c. Half year precept of £16,250.00 has been received from ELDC.
9. Planning applications received
There were no planning applications for this meeting.
10. To report any planning decisions from ELDC
Full planning permission has been received for:
02589/25/OUT - Mr M Houlden - Outline erection of 9 dwellings (with means of access to be considered at The Forge, Main Road
11. To discuss gov.uk email addresses
a. The Clerk reported that for the next financial year the Parish Council should have gov.uk email addresses.
b. Information about Cloud Next supplying a domain for these email address was reported.
c. It was resolved to go ahead with this company and use clerk@stickneypc.gov.uk if it is available.
12. Cemetery:
a. To receive report on the cemetery hedge
The beech hedge in the cemetery has been cut, but it is unknown who has done this work. It does need sorting out and the current contractors will deal with this.
b. To discuss tenders received for the grass cutting at the cemetery
i. The Clerk prepared a list of prices received for the hedge cutting and grass cutting in the cemetery.
ii. Following discussion it was resolved to use contractor no 4 on the list. The Clerk will advise the other contractors of this decision.
13. To discuss Christmas 2025
a. Grant Application update
i. The Councillors Community Grant has been approved by Cllr Ashton.
ii. Cllr Pocklington will look at the lights and advise the Clerk of the order to be placed.
b. Siting of Christmas tree in Churchyard
i. The PCC have agreed that a Christmas tree can be placed in the old stump of a fall tree in the churchyard.
a. A local manufacturer will supply a metal ‘tube’ for the Christmas tree, but the stump needs to be ‘ground out’ for the tube, enquires will be made for his work to be carried out.
c. To confirm date of 2025 Christmas Event
i. The Christmas Event can be held on Wednesday 03 December at 6.30pm
ii. The Hundleby Choir will be asked to attend again.
iii. Donations taken on the night will be divided between the Choir and the Church.
iv. Santa will be invited to attend.
14. To receive update regarding licence for William Lovell Academy
Confirmation has been received from the school to say that the planters will be wooden, LCC have been advised but the licence has not yet arrived.
15. To receive update regarding request for cycle route from Stickney to Sibsey Northlands
The request has been made via the County Councillor who was not present at this meeting.
16. Highways:
a. To discuss the Community Speed Watch Scheme
i. The Sibsey team are not wanting to add to their work load.
ii. More volunteers are required for the training.
b. To discuss interactive speed signs
The interactive speed signs with solar panels will cost around £3000 each – figure for the budget.
c. Any other highways issues
i. The glass has not been replaced the in the defibrillator box, LCC reported that it will be done as a temporary fix in the first instance until the company who broke it sort it out.
ii. The drain by the Church was checked, but tree roots have grown into it, this will be dealt with in due course.
iii. The work on the footway at Horbling Lane is due to start on 13 October, all being well.
iv. Pavement parking in Horbling Lane is becoming an issue, this should be reported on 101 if it is causing others to walk in the road.
17. Play area report and inspection report
a. A second inspection has been carried out and there were no issues reported.
b. New litter bins were discussed, it was resolved to purchase two new children’s bins at a cost of £585.00 including fixings. The District Councillors will be asked if they have any funding left.
c. Outdoor gym will be considered for the play area, a supplier will be asked to assess if there is room for any equipment.
18. To consider white gates for the village
It was discussed and resolved to ask LCC if it would be possible to install ‘white gates’ at the four entrances to Stickney.
19. To consider seating in the brick bus shelter at Main Road
Following discussion it was resolved that a seat would not be installed in this bus shelter do to the low height of the mural on the wall.
20. Correspondence received for this meeting
There was no other correspondence for this meeting.
21. Other business – matters for the next agenda
a. To appoint Parish Council Trustees for the Stickney Consolidated Charities
b. To discuss having a handyman in the village.
c. To discuss the base for the bench at Horbling Lane
d. Cllr Sherriff will deal with the November magazines
22. Date of next meeting
06 November 2025 at 7.30pm – Parish Council Meeting with a Public Forum from 7.15pm at the Youth Centre, Hall Lane
There being no further business the meeting closed at 21.10pm