2025 Full Council Minutes

Full Council Minutes October 2025

Minutes of the Full Council Meeting of Cherry Willingham Parish Council held at 7.00pm on 20th October 2025 held in The Vine, Cherry Willingham

 

Present; Cllr A Burge - Chairman, Cllr M Palmer - Vice chair, Cllr B Robinson, Cllr J Robinson, Cllr Mrs Burge, Cllr D Pitchford, Cllr R Pitchford, Cllr P Bucke, Cllr S Bates, Cllr J Trahearn, Cllr K Mellor, Cllr P Moore.

 

1, Member of the public present, co-option applicant. They introduced themselves and proceeded with a small bio of themselves and the attributes they could bring to CWPC.

 

  1. To note and record apologies and absences.

Cllr R Houghton & Dcllr T Bridgwood.

 

  1. To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and consider any requests for dispensations in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other interests as outlined in the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Cllr J Robinson is the chair of the Witham Valley Access Group.

 

  1. To receive the draft notes of the Full Council meeting held on 15th September 2025.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the minutes from the meeting  held on the 15th September 2025 as a true record.

 

  1. To receive any reports from outside bodies, including the Police, District and County Councillors (if any) and agree actions as required.

Dcllr M Palmer, The new Chief executive is now in post at WLDC.

Inspector Mike Head has a staff shortage and no funding to rectify the current issues they are facing.

Oak Avenue appears to have had some patched surface work carried out the previous week. More work to be carried out in due course.

Cllr R Pitchford attended the Cherry and Reepham Village Hall Committee meeting as the newly elected representative for CWPC. There appear to be quite a few issues the committee do not seem to be addressing, with the facilities of the hall. More to be reported at a later date.

 

  1. To receive a report from the Chair.

Would like to thank Sue Bradley for their donation towards the Cherry Fields Bulb planting event.

 

  1. To receive a report from the Clerk.

Previously circulated. Planning matters that arose were discussed and it was noted that the Committee itself had the power to deal with it as per their Terms or Reference.

 

  1. To receive an update from WLDC funding for CCTV & the National Grid Installation.

No update, The RFO has chased on several occasions and had no response. It was felt that Grant White has been away on leave

 

  1. To discuss the email correspondence from Project Groundwater Greater Lincolnshire (PGGL).

PGGL have shared they are planning on placing sensors in high risk flood areas, to be able to gather data.

RESOLVED unanimously for Cllr B Robinson to mark a map of the village of suggestions on where sensors would best be placed, the Clerk to forward on.

 

  1. To approve an APM date for 2026. 

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the date of the 6th May 2026

RESOLVED to invite Nettleham Medical Practice following the positive response from this year's talk.

 

  1. Financial matters:

To receive a report from the RFO including:

  1. To resolve to accept the Receipts and Payments schedule since the September meeting 2025. Copies of the document can be obtained by emailing the Clerk at cwparishcouncil@gmail.com.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the Receipts and payments since September 2025.

  1. To resolve to accept the quarterly bank reconciliations ending 30th June 25 and 30th September 25.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the bank reconciliation ending 30th June 25 and 20th September 25.

  1. To review the financial transactions protocol and make any adjustments as required.

RESOLVED unanimously to approve the protocol as is with the financial transactions protocol.

RESOLVED unanimously for Cllrs to be able to claim expenses for the sum of upto £100 on agreed expenditure.

  1. To approve the grass cutting tender schedule.

RESOLVED unanimously for the RFO to send the grass cutting schedule for tender.

  1. To receive a report on the latest CIL statement.

CWPC to receive £8108.53 on the 26th October for 5 houses at Little Cherry.

 

  1. To receive a report on the progress with the Green Synergy tenancy agreement and agree to any action as required.

Cllr B Robinson gave an update on the progress of the licence/ Lease, extra documentation was required for the sale of the land to CWPC. Cllr B Robinson had sent over the original TPI as evidence of particular clause that needed clarifying. The use of land can only be used for Social and Therapeutic use

 

  1. To receive reports and recommendations (if any) concerning the business of the council and its committees, sub-committees etc, and agree to any actions accordingly: (Note: queries from minutes, please see individual chairs or members outside of the full council meeting to expedite the meeting)

 

  1. Cherry Fields Committee (CFC) – Chair: Cllr J Robinson

No meeting has been held

  1. To receive a report and resolve any necessary action regarding behind hedge path.

16 year lease , break clause at 5 and 10 year intervals.

RESOLVED with 3 against to support Behind the hedge foot path. 

RESOLVED with 3 against to spend upto £1600 on legal costs for the Environmental Agency.

RESOLVED with 3 against to apply for Dcllr T Bridgwood Initiative fund for the sum of £1000 this will cover the initial cut of the hedge and preparation of the path.

  1. To approve a memorial tree - Cllr P Bucke

RESOLVED Cllr P Bucke could purchase a memorial tree, a mulberry tree was chosen.

 

  1. Events & Fundraising Committee – Chair Cllr R Pitchford.

No meeting has been held

The Light Switch On and The Christmas Quiz is now being advertised. 17 Children have booked on so far for the Santa Grotto at the Light Switch on.

Tickets for The Christmas Quiz are now available via Cllr A Burge

 

  1. Finance & General Purposes Committee – Chair: Cllr Andrew Burge

No meeting has been held

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st October 2025.

 

  1. Human Resources Committee – Chair: Cllr M Palmer

To receive a report from the meeting on 20th October  2025 and approve any action taken.

The HR committee met and and have agreed a christmas opening hours of the office with a rota with Staff

 

  1. Leisure & Amenities Committee (L&A) – Chair Cllr Mrs Burge

To receive a report from the meeting on 6th October  2025 and approve any action taken.

Cllr J Trahearn has carry out the tree survey this year.

St Pauls play park  has had vandalism to the entrance gate and damage to the sign.

L&A are having a bulb planting date for the Burial Ground on the 1st November 2025

  1. To resolve to purchase graffiti remover.

RESOLVED unanimously to spend upto £40 for Graffiti remover.

 

  1. Planning Matters –  Chair: Cllr R Houghton

No meeting has been held. 

The next meeting to be held on the 21st October 2025

  1. To note; planning applications, recently submitted to the Planning Committee for consideration.

 

 

WL/2025/00936 78 Hawthorn Road, Reepham, LN3 4DU

Part 2  Storey and part single storey extension to rear of existing dwelling

No objections

 

WL/2025/00945 42 Rudgard Avenue, Cherry Willingham,  LN3 4JG

Proposed extensions & alterations to dwelling

No objections

 

 

  1. Update on the progress of the neighbourhood plan.

It is hopeful the NP will be completed for March 2026

Thanks was given to Dr I Lacy for all their hard work as they had just completed their 3rd Draft version.

  1. Update on the Marina

There have been 48,000 tons of materials delivered to date.

The Bridge has also arrived.

  1. Village Improvements Committee (VIC) – Chair: Cllr A Burge

No meeting has been held

Next meeting to be held on the 30th October 2025

  1. To approve the purchase of a wreath under s137.

RESOLVED unanimously to purchase a wreath under s137

  1. Allotment Association - Report of rats are on site eating the crops.

RESOLVED unanimously for the Clerk to seek advice.

RESOLVED unanimously for the Clerk to spend upto £100 for help to be seeked

 

20:49

 

TO RESOLVE TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION IN THE ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960 DUE TO THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING MATTERS.

 

Resolved unanimously.

 

To elect a minute taker.

Resolved unanimously to elect Cllr Bates.

 

  1. To review and consider a co-option applications

RESOLVED unanimously to elect James Betts on as a Co-opted member

RESOLVED with 2 abstensions to elect Graham Shaw on as a Co-oped member.

 

Resolve to suspend standing orders at 9pm.

 

d. Human Resources

  1. To discuss and resolve any necessary action relating to staff welfare.

A statement was read out from the Human Resources Committee, and it was made clear to all members that any issues with any member of staff must be dealt with via their line manager. Any problems would be dealt with by the HR committee. Two councillors asked that they be copied in to any emails about matters they had asked staff to deal with.

 

  1. To receive a report following the Clerk annual appraisal.

Remarks made by the Clerk at appraisal had led to the above statement made by the HR committee. These were read out to the members.

 

  1. To confirm the date of the next meeting as 17th November 2025 at 19:00 

(agenda items required no later than noon Thursday 6th November 2025.)

Next Full Council meeting will be on Monday 17 th November 2025 at 19:00. Any items for the agenda to the Clerk by 6 th November.

 

The meeting closed at 9.30pm.