East Kirkby Parish Council Meeting
17th July 2025 19.00 start
East Kirkby Village Hall
Public meeting: Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, opened the public meeting and then closed the public meeting at 19.05 as there were no members of the public present.
Present & Apologies: Cllrs B Nowicki (Chairman), C Brandwood, V Lingard, C Warman, Y James, County Cllr P Roberts (Arrived at 19.50), Mrs JH Mussett (Clerk)
Apologies: District County Cllr T Taylor
Declarations of interest: There were no declarations of interest based on the published agenda.
Approval of minutes from the June 2025 meeting: Approval of minutes from the Parish Council meeting from June 2025: Chairman ascertained that the Councillors had read the minutes and that they were an accurate representation of that meeting. Acceptance of the minutes was proposed by Cllr Brandwood and seconded by Cllr Lingard. Unanimously agreed at the subsequent vote. Chairman signed a copy of the minutes and will post a copy on the notice board. Minutes are available on the website.
Update from District and County Councillors:
District Councillor Taylor: Sent apologies.
County Councillor Roberts:
Chairman asked Cllr Roberts for an update on the Lincolnshire re-organisation.
The discussion was centered on the Greater Lincolnshire For All document Which was produced by ELDC and South Holland District Council and Cllr Roberts had not seen.
Action: Chairman asked Cllr Roberts to send the LCC/Reform suggestion to Clerk.
This proposal is for Northern Lincolnshire Council to comprise of Lincoln, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey.
Southern Lincolnshire Council to comprise Boston, East Lindsey, South Holland, North Kesteven and South Kesteven.
Cllr Brandwood asked Cllr Roberts about the funding for the drainage boards and their works and if/when Lincolnshire should get more.
Lincolnshire spends a lot of money on drainage which is disproportionate to the rest of the country. If drainage board charges were levelled out, Lincolnshire would be financially better off. Funding is an area that the Mayoress and Reform, as a whole, are looking into.
Updates from previous month:
Councillors discussed the footpath between East Kirkby and Revesby. Cllr Roberts had promised to take this back to the District Council and Highways. Clerk had written to Ms Hardy from Highways who has requested numbers of footpath users etc. Councillors discussed and agreed to send information to Clerk on numbers.
Action: Councillors to send information on numbers to Clerk.
Cllr Roberts gave an update on the footpath. Ms Hardy advised Cllr Roberts that bringing the footpath fully up to scratch would cost about £750,000, which has been agreed in the past with LCC (Cllr Davies). However, this funding is no longer available following the changes from the July 2024 elections.
Cllr Roberts has accepted an offer from Highways of putting shingle down on the entire footpath and making it at least useable.
Action: Chairman asked Cllr Roberts to take this back to LCC and Highways and request yet again that the promise to bring the footpath fully up to the original spec. Highways advised that the full amount request had been submitted in October 2024 and subsequently rejected (Which we were not informed about. Since Cllr Gray didn’t mention it, so it is unclear whether he had been advised of the plan being rejected). Ms Hardy mentioned in her email that feedback had been provided – Councillors would like to ask WHAT the feedback is and WHO it was sent to) – However, Cllr Gray mentioned in the February 2025 meeting that the funding request had been submitted and never mentioned that the funding had been rejected. Cllr Roberts will try to make sense of this. Chairman asked Cllr Roberts to investigate if it would be easier to ask for funding in sections (With East Kirkby to Park Lane section as THE priority) rather than the large full sum.
Cllr Roberts will make sure to get to the bottom of this issue.
Planning applications:
02446/25/FUL Tunnard Straw Limited – Change of use from disused runway to straw bale storage site. Chairman advised that the proposed site is beyond the boundary of East Kirkby. Councillors questioned the suitability of the site regarding the size and number of lorries. However, this is for Highways to question and advise.
Action: Chairman and Councillors agreed for Clerk to “Not comment” as this application is outside our remit and area.
Matters of interest from LALC newsletter and from Rural Services Newsletter
None
Procedural and Financial Matters:
2025 Statement of Internal Financial Control: All Councillors had read the statement and agreed to it for 2025-2026. Review in July 2026.
AGAR: 2024-2025 accounts have been sent to PFK Littlejohn albeit late due to a misunderstanding between Chairman and Clerk and we have incurred a £40.00 penalty. Councillors unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would pay the late fine.
Pruning of tree by village hall/Grass cutting at the churchyard: Chairman advised Councillors about the request from the village hall committee regarding the pruning of the oak tree in the front of the village hall. Chairman replied stating that EKPC, whilst paying for the lease of the village hall is not responsible for its upkeep, this falls to the village hall committee. EKPC offered to contribute to the work, but the offer was declined.
Discussion ensued as to who pays for keeping the area outside the village hall tidy as well as the churchyard cut and maintained. There is some discrepancy as to who is responsible for maintaining the churchyard. Chairman believed this fell to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) whilst the Church Warden, Cllr Lingard, felt that the Parish Council was responsible for its upkeep.
Action: Chairman and Clerk to investigate.
In the meantime, the Parish Council confirmed that it was very grateful to Mike Chatterton for looking after the churchyard and were happy to continue funding the work.
It became apparent, during the discussions, that it is necessary to have a formalized policy in place for the making of small payments (grants) of, say, under £100.00.
Chairman and Clerk will investigate and draw up a policy allowing organisations to apply for small grants from the Parish Council.
Action: Chairman and Clerk to arrange for a policy and simple application process.
Invoices received/paid:
Dm Payroll Services Limited invoice received: Price has increased from £60 every 6 months to £72, which includes VAT as DM Payroll Services Ltd is now VAT registered. (Cheque no. 100662)
Minute ref: 20250717-01
Clerk’s wages invoice: Invoice spanning May 2025 to July 2025 was presented and signed off (Cheque no. 100663).
Minute ref: 20250717-02
Internet banking: On-going
Chairman thanked all those present for their attention and contribution to the meeting and closed the meeting at 21.00.
Any items to be brought before the Council can be submitted to the Clerk via eastkirkbypc@gmail.com
by the Thursday (1 week) before the meeting.
Findings will be recorded in the minutes and uploaded to the website.
Please visit our web-site via:
https://east-kirkby.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/
Meeting dates for 2025:
18th September; 16th October; 4th December
Dates are subject to change.
All meetings start at 19.00 and take place in East Kirkby Village Hall.