2025 Minutes

WILDMORE PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of Wildmore Parish Council held on Monday 6th October 2025 in New York Village Hall.

Present:              Chairman:                        Cllr A Everard

Councillors:                      Cllr M A Jones, Cllr A Harrison, Cllr J Lawes, Cllr P Bargh, Cllr S Langdon, Cllr J Laird

(Cllr Langdon and Laird joined the meeting after minute 83/25).

Clerk:                                 Mrs S Phillips

Members of public:        4 members present       

Public Participation

• It was noted that some are still having issues with accessing the correct parish council website.
• The grass verge going out of New York on the right-hand side is giving way but the county council have said they are not responsible for it.  LCC Cllr Matthews agreed to investigate.

77/25.   Chairman’s Remarks

All were welcomed to the meeting.

78/25.   Apologies for absence and acceptance of any reasons given

              None.

79/25. To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations

Cllr Harrison declared an interest in agenda item 84/25 due to allotments and Cllr Everard declared an interest in agenda item 85/25 due to working for LALC and requested a dispensation which was agreed.

80/25. Notes of the last meetings held on 12th May 2025, 24th June 2025 and 14th July 2025 to be approved as the minutes

              Minutes of the meeting held on 12th May 2025, 24th June 2025 and 14th July 2025 were circulated prior to the meeting. It was RESOLVED that the minutes be accepted as a true and accurate record and were signed by Cllr Everard.

81/25.   Clerks report on matters outstanding

1. Update on the changes to banking arrangements

All required paperwork has been submitted to Unity Bank.

2. Website update

Meeting dates have been added to website.

The clerk requested that Webmaster is used to revamp the website so that documents can be added easier.It was RESOLVED that Webmaster could be used for 3 hours work costing £54.00.

3. Update from checklist from the internal auditor
   • The clerk reported that the publication scheme is included in the papers for approval.
   • A VAT return has been completed from 1st April 2023 until 31st March 2025 with a total claim being £801.75.

82/25.   Reports from outside bodies:

1. County Councillor

Cllr Matthews reported the following:

• It was confirmed that the drain covers outside Tenby Lodge was noisy and loose and has now been fixed.
• Castledyke Bank Road works have been completed much sooner than expected.
• Langrick Road is due to be repaired and will be chased.
• New York Primary School has closed down with all children attending Frithville Primary School.  The building is still controlled by Horncastle Education Trust (HET), so Lincolnshire County Council is unable to do anything with the building until the trust no longer want it.   LCC has been asked for the 30MPH to be removed but it will not be reviewed until it is known what is happening with the building.

Cllr Bargh confirmed that HET were now consulting about setting up a school to support Additional Requirements. Due to government changes it could be 6 to 9 months before this new school is set up.
A discussion took place on the playing field next to the New York Primary School and if it was owned by the school, councillors were under the impression that the playing field was leased to the school.

• Work is being done to Moorside Road, Sandy Bank.
• Cllr Matthews reported that the proposed housing estate of 148 dwellings in planning application S/035/02114/23 off Leagate Road is being considered and he is currently lobbying to have the junction replaced to a roundabout by the petrol station due to safety concerns.
• Timeline for Local Government Reorganisation are local proposals to be submitted by November 2025, and a decision made by Government by March 2026.  Lincolnshire have 5 different bids.  It was confirmed that there will no longer be district councils but by either two or three Unitary Councils covering Lincolnshire and there will be Neighbourhood Boards to bring local parishes and other sectors together.  Unitary elections will take place in May 2027.  It is expected to save money but could take 5 years before any savings are seen.

2. District Councillor

Cllr Foster reported the following:

• £1.6 million is due to be spent on upgrading public toilets which will include Coningsby.  It is planned to demolish the existing public toilets and install a new modular block with individual toilets to reduce people hanging out in them.
• Food waste collection bins will be delivered from April 2026.  These bins will go out weekly, and a new fleet of vehicles has been purchased.  All the waste will go to a digester and made into biogas.  Communication will begin in November, so everyone is clear on how to use them.

83/25.   To consider applications for co-option.

There are currently 4 vacancies, with two applications being received from Judith Laird and Stephen Langdon.  It was proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded by Cllr Harrison and RESOLVED to co-opt both applicants. Both signed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office and were asked to complete their Register of Interests within 28 days.

84/25.   Financial Matters

1. To consider changes to pay rates. 

Councillors were informed that a 3.2% increase was agreed on each pay scale.

2. Finance update

A full financial update was provided by the clerk.

3. To approve the bank reconciliation

The bank reconciliation was signed off by Cllr Langdon.

4. Payments to be approved

It was RESOLVED to accept all payments including drainage rates £212.30.

5. To consider purchase of new laptop and dealing with old laptop

£600 has been budgeted for a new laptop for the clerk, Cllr Everard will arrange.

85/25.   To consider appointment of internal auditor

              Cllr Everard requested a dispensation which was agreed. 

It is estimated the internal audit with LALC will cost £190.  All were in approval to remain with LALC, with the exception of Cllr Everard who abstained.

86/25.   To consider new data management AGAR Assertion 10 requirements including council-owned email account. 

              A new requirement has come in from 1st April to do with data and data management; websites must be compliant with accessibility, the parish council must have .gov.uk or .org.uk email accounts and an IT policy is to be adopted. 

              It was RESOLVED to purchase Cloudnext premium package with 75 x 5GB costing £99.99 plus VAT for a council owned email account.

87/25.   To consider pollarding the lime trees

It was highlighted that the parish council are responsible for 4 of the trees and it would be for the parish council to decide on how much is removed.  Cllr Laird with investigate if they can be trimmed.

88/25.   To consider how to manage the defibrillator

The defibrillator is to go onto The Circuit, details to be forwarded to the clerk to be registered from Cllr Jones.

89/25.   To receive an update on the bus shelter

Two residents have requested a bus shelter.  It was agreed that Cllr Everard will draft a letter to be sent to the county council for suggestions on the best position.

90/25.   To note local government re-organisation proposals

              Covered in agenda item 82/25.

91/25.   To consider the next edition of the newsletter

It was felt that there were a number of items which could go into a newsletter.  Cost to print from home would be £70, or printers being £120.  A decision is to be made on how to progress at next meeting.

92/25.   Highways Matters

• Full fibre is coming to the village.

93/23.   Policies

1. Publication Scheme

It was agreed to amend the printing charge to 25p per copy.  RESOLVED: The policy was adopted.

94/25. Correspondence

              The external audit report has been received stating the parish council is exempt.

95/25.   Future Meetings and Items for Consideration

• Community Speed Watch
• Speeding Data
• Quotes for the next Speed Indicator Device.

The meeting was declared closed at 9.36pm.