Minutes 2025

Select for downloadble /printable PDF 

Minutes of the Sutton Bridge Parish Council Meeting held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 22 April 2025, in the Curlew Centre Bridge Room, Sutton Bridge.

Present: Cllr Baldry, Cllr C Brewis, Cllr M Booth, Cllr T Judd, Cllr Kirby-Fox, Cllr McLaughlin, Cllr Middleton, (Chair), Cllr M Philpott, Cllr M Pitt, Cllr A Scarlett, County Cllr J Tyrrell (from 19:05hrs), Mr C Brandon-King (co-opted Pavilion Committee), Mrs C Smith, (Clerk), Mrs K Croxford (Admin Assistant).

Absent: Cllr D Cook

Members of the Public: Two

Unless otherwise stated, actions are to be undertaken by the clerk. 

25.075. Apologies 

25.076. Declaration of interests were received from:

i. Cllr J Kirby-Fox for a planning application as a neighbour was an applicant.

ii. Cllr M Middleton for a planning application as a neighbour was an applicant.

19:05 hrs Cllr J Tyrrell entered the meeting.

25.077. Public Representations.

i. It was reported that electric scooters were being driven dangerously around the village could this be reported to the Police. The clerk reported that this had been reported before but would chase this up again.

25.078. It was resolved to approve the minutes of meeting held Tuesday 25 March 2025; they were signed by the chair.

25.079. Police

i. Reports of electric scooters driven dangerously would be reported.

25.080. Chairs Report

i. A visit to the EDF Solar Farm had taken place, it had been interesting and very informative.

25.081. Clerk’s Report 

i. New Play Equipment – The new spinner had been damaged, and the gate was not closing properly. This had been reported to Wicksteed. 

ii. Lock – The padlock to the Memorial Park had been removed by the Fire Service and a new lock had now been purchased and installed.

25.082. District Councillors Reports

1. County Cllr Tyrrell reported on LCC (Lincolnshire County Council) matters.

i.   The new boat on the roundabout had been installed. A flag to celebrate VE80 day would be put up together with a Gateway to Lincolnshire sign, further work would take place soon.

ii.   Cllr Judd reported that there were no junction signs at the top of the East Bank with the A17. Cllr Tyrrell would investigate. Details of overhanging weeds on the footpath near the old Bridge Hotel would be reported to LCC.

2. Cllr Brewis reported on the following SHDC (South Holland District Council) matters.

i. A planning application at the rear of 9 New Road fronting with King Street had been refused and the new battery storage system for the Sutton Bridge Solar Farm had been approved.

ii. The ferry at West Lynn was currently not operating as the concrete landing stage was not safe. 

iii. Sutton Bridge Library had been allocated a community grant for this year.

iv. Tickets for the VE80 Event on the 8 May 2025, were available from the Constitutional Club.

v. A petition had been started regarding the removal of the boat on the roundabout near the Cross Keys Bridge.

3. Cllr Booth reported on the following SHDC (South Holland District Council) matters.

i. The funding window was opening again for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), details had been passed to the clerk. 

ii. Land near the Garden of Rest had been cultivated and would be seeded hopefully in the next few weeks.

iii. So far this year in the UK there had already been 286 fires due to the dry ground conditions. As fly-tipping increased this caused concern as it could provide a fuel source to start fires, if anyone sees fly- tipping taking place please report immediately

iv. Cllr Pitt enquired if any extra bins could be installed in the Memorial Park – the clerk would investigate. 

25.083. Financial Matters

i. It was resolved to approve the March cash book and bank reconciliation.

ii. It was resolved to approve payments to 30 April 2025 as circulated at Appendix A. Cllr Middleton and Cllr Scarlett would authorise bank payments. 

iii. As the internal auditor’s certificate had not been received agenda items iii to ix would be deferred to the next meeting 

iv. It was resolved to continue with the LALC Subscription and Annual Training Scheme 2025/2026

v. It was resolved to approve the quote for the Talk Talk contract at £31.95 + VAT per month. 

25.084. Playzone

i. It was reported that a £50,000 grant was being applied for from the East Coast Community Fund as we needed to raise 25% match funding for the project. The Sutton Bridge Power Station, Solar Farm and Wind Farm grants would also be investigated for funding. It was asked if donations could be asked for on social media or if we could do any crowd funding. Cllrs were happy for Mr Brandon-King to advertise the project and ask for donations on social media.

ii. Cllr Pitt would investigate crowd funding and the fees that they may charge.

iii. Discussions took place on obtaining the money from a Public Loan, it was resolved to seek permission to borrow from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Council would then be in a position to draw down money from HM Treasury if needed. Public consultation would be put in place before permission to borrow was sought.

19:50hrs Mr C Brandon- King left the meeting  

25.085. Emergency Plan

i. A new 36-page document had been generated to provide contact information, the plan had been submitted to the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum. A desktop exercise and training would follow so that we would be able to implement the plan when necessary. Wildfires would be added to the document. 

25.086. Councillors’ open surgeries were being held in the Police Room at the Curlew Centre, Sutton Bridge on the second Saturday of the month between 10am and 12 if anyone would like to attend. Cllr Jeanette Kirby-Fox would take over organising this event.

25.087. Correspondence

i. Public Right of Way -. A document had been drafted by LCC to meet their statutory duty under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. The draft, a two-page summary and a short survey could be found on https://www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/draftrowip

ii. Woodland Trust – An email had confirmed that we had been successful in obtaining 300 trees from the woodland Trust, these were due to arrive in November 2025. Councillors volunteered to plant and water them as necessary.

iii. Walpole - Due to burst water main repairs the use by vehicles of any class on King John Bank from its junction with The Marsh for 50m northwards in the Parish of Walpole would be temporary prohibited. The closure /restriction was anticipated to take place 11 to 17 April but may continue till 1 May 2025.

iv. A resident had complained about overhanging weeds at the back of their property. The clerk would obtain quotes to control the weeds

v. The clerk reported that the cutting around the boundary of the Memorial Park had been included in the budget.

25.088. Planning Applications

i. Cllr Brewis declared an interest in the agenda item and did not participate in the vote.

ii. H18-0315-25: Adj 185 Avenue Farm Road, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9QF, Proposed Barn Conversion. It was resolved to support.

iii. H18-0331-25: Betula Wharf Street, Sutton Bridge PE12 9UF: Erection of Dwelling approved under H18:0191:21. Amendment to add two roof light windows. It was resolved to support. Cllr Middleton did not participate in the vote.

25.089. Planning Decisions – Councillors noted the planning decisions made by South Holland District Council as listed below:

i. H18-0237-25: Bridge Hotel, 4 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9SA: Details of schedule of external materials and hard surfaced areas (condition 7 of H18-O463-24): Approved

ii. H18-1077-24: Sutton Bridge Solar Farm, Land south of centenary Way, Sutton Bridge: Construction of a Battery Energy Storage System: Approved

iii. H18-1047-24: Workshop rear of 9 New Road fronting King Street, Sutton Bridge: Proposed workshop conversion to dwelling: Refused.

25.090. Committee Reports 

01. New Pavilion

i. Cllr Middleton reported that a face-to-face meeting would be arranged with everyone involved in the Pavilion project, as this had not occurred for some time.

02. Events

i. Cllr Pitt reported that the VE Day 80 was a free event which required a ticket to enter. These would be available from St Matthews Church or Sutton Bridge Constitutional Club. A Memorial Service and wreath laying would take place at 17:30hrs at St Matthews Church then from 19:00hrs there would be a buffet and entertainment in Sutton Bridge Constitutional Club followed by a beacon lighting at 21:30hrs. All drinks from the bar not included. 

25.091. There were no outside body representative reports

25.092. Public Participations

i. A resident commented how nice it was to see that the Bridge Hotel was being developed, could anything be done about the overhanging weeds on the footpath around there.

25.093. It was resolved to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 s.1(2).

20:20hrs Two members of the public and Cllr Tyrrell left the meeting.

25.094. Quotes

i. It was resolved to approve for the work in the Garden of Rest @ £935 + VAT

ii. Details of a quote for work alongside the Memorial Park would be passed on to the resident concerned. Cllrs were happy for the work to be undertaken at no expense to the Parish Council.

25.095. Staffing and administration matters

i. The clerk reported that the year-end pensions and HMRC PAYE had been completed and P60’s had been issued to all staff. 

The chair closed the meeting at 20:38 hrs.