2025-26 Full Parish Council Minutes

Washingborough Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 18th February 2026 at 6.00pm in the

Community Centre, Small Hall, Fen Road, Washingborough, Lincoln. LN4 1AB

Present:

• Cllr Mrs B Bland

• Cllr A Fraser

• Cllr Mrs L Hannam (Facilitator)

• Cllr G Peck

• Cllr A Redgrift 

• Cllr Mrs W Skelton

In Attendance: Miss K Broddle (Clerk) & Mrs E Salter (Assistant Clerk)

Also in Attendance: Cllr L Cawrey (LCC) Cllr C Goodwin (NKDC).

Members of the Public: There were three members of the public present. 

a. Public Forum: none. 

       b.  Report from LCC attached. No report from NKDC.

76 Localism Act 2011 requirements:

a. Apologies and reason for absence were received from: Cllrs Harrington, Mrs Nixon and Mrs Simons. Apologies were also received by District CllrsCarrington (NKDC).

b. Declarations of interest: None

c. Applications for dispensation: None

77. Draft notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 21st January were proposed,

      seconded and resolved as the minutes.

78. Matters raised at Public Forum: none 

79. Clerks Report: 

     The following were noted:

a. The annual fire extinguisher inspection has been completed and associated work carried out to ensure compliancy with regulations.

b. The property flood resilience survey has been carried out regarding the flood resilience grant application.

c. The email from Project Groundwater regarding the installation of the flood alarm system in Washingborough.

d. The email from Savills following the meeting that took place on 5th February regarding the new sewer pipe on Council land. 

e. The request from Cllr Peck to contact the Environment Agency to enquire if the proposed waterway clearance has taken place, we can advise that a work order has been issued and is scheduled for completion within the next four weeks. Council were advised that works will involve maintaining access to the Sandhill Beck penstock and an operational check. 

f. The request from Cllr Peck to contact the Internal Drainage Board to confirm what funding if any, they are to receive from the Environment Agency for the year 2026. We can advise that an email has been sent and a reply received. It was agreed that this item will be discussed, for resolution, at the March Parish Council meeting. 

g. The meeting between the Parish Council and Environment Agency will take place on 25th March 2026.  

80. To discuss and resolve the following:

a. The co-option of a new Councillor:

It was proposed, seconded and resolved to co-opt Mr K Newton on to the Parish Council.

b. The request from Lafford Homes asking the Parish Council to add the play area on Warwick Drive to their assets:

It was proposed, seconded and resolved to refuse this request, outright.  

c. The request to install a Padel Court on the playing fields:

It was proposed, seconded and resolved not to install a Padel Court on the playing fields. 

d. To  agree the installation of rubber grass matting on the embankment slide in the play park:

It was proposed, seconded and resolved to install the matting as soon as possible to give the area time to settle.

e.   The request from Cllr Peck to write to Lincolnshire County Council regarding the decision    

      to delay the repair of Fen Road until 2027:

 It was proposed, seconded and resolved to send a letter as requested and for this to go  

 via our County Councillor, Lindsey Cawrey.

           f.   To consider any comments on North Kesteven’s proposal regarding the Local 

Government Reorganisation:

It was proposed, seconded and resolved not to make any comments on this matter.  

81.      Planning Matters:

a. To resolve any comments on the following applications received: 

i. 25/1550/FUL: Cherry View, Fen Road - Erection of 141no. dwellings and associated infrastructure – Washingborough Parish have no comments to make on this application.

ii. 25/0025/HOUS: 24 Park Lane – Proposed Single storey rear extension -Washingborough Parish have no comments to make on this application.

iii. 26/0145/TPO: 38 Fen Road – Ash - Remove branches within 2m of main street light. Remove crown of tree by 6m to reduce height.

iv. 26/0134/HOUS: 17 Malvern Avenue – Proposed side extension and alterations – Washingborough Parish Council have no comments to make on this application.

b. To comments on the following applications, returned under Clerks delegated powers were ratified by Washingborough Parish Council.

i. 26/0032/VARCON: Unit 1 Archive Warehouse Facility, Church Hill – Application to remove condition 5 (archive document storage) of planning permission 04/0735/FUL – part change of use from agricultural building to archive storage – Change to general warehouse use (B8) to include amended proposal description and revised location of fire escape door. Washingborough Parish Council has no comment to make on this application. 

c. The decisions from NKDC on the following applications were noted:

i. 25/1356/HOUS: 1 Alabala Close – Erection of side extensions and alterations. Approved. 

 82.   Financial Matters.

a. The payment schedule for February2026 was proposed, seconded and resolved and the salaries were noted.

b. The accounts and budgets for January 2026 were noted.

c. The Unity Trust Bank statement for January 2026 was noted.

d. To note the price increase of waste collection service for the Community Centre for 2026/27 – the increase was noted by Washingborough Parish Council.

e. To agree the renewal for the supply of gas, from ESPO from 31st March 2027 – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to agree the renewal with ESPO.

f. To consider the quote from MKM for the purchase of play bark for the playground – the quote of £98 per bag was proposed, seconded and resolved.

g. To consider the purchase of two Christmas trees for the Community Centre, available at reduces price (minute no. 64 December 2025) – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to purchase two Christmas trees for £87.50 per tree.

h. To authorise the painting of yellow hatching in front of the main gate on to the playing field, so access is available when needed – it was proposed, seconded and resolved to undertake this work as soon as possible.

 83.   To resolve moving into Closed Session (Public Bodies Admission to Meetings Act 1960). 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 6.52 pm

     Signature:…………………………………………….

     Date…………………………………………………..

North Hykeham Relief Road

The government has confirmed its funding commitment of £110m towards the cost of delivering the road that will complete the ring road around Lincoln. Construction will commence later this year and is due for completion in 2029.

Full Council – 20 February

The council is due to debate the 2.99% increase in council tax, in spite of being in receipt of over £50m in central government funding (rising to over £80m pa in subsequent years).

Council Plan

The council has published its plan setting out its strategic vision for service delivery in the coming 12 months.

Ward Walk

The ward walk with the local highways manager is confirmed for 20 March. We will discuss: Fen Road, Park Lane (& similar surrounding roads), Church Hill (speed and volume of traffic) and Washingborough Road footway. I will also raise the question – again – why did Washingborough Road not get a footbridge over the bypass when BBH and Cherry Willingham got a footbridge, and Branston got an underpass.