Minutes 2025

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DRAFT   Minutes of the Sutton Bridge Parish Council Meeting held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 24 June 2025, in the Curlew Centre Bridge Room, Sutton Bridge.

Present: Cllr T Baldry, Cllr C Brewis, Cllr M Booth, Cllr D Cook, Cllr T Judd, Cllr J Kirby-Fox, Cllr S McLaughlin, Cllr M Philpott, Cllr M Pitt, Cllr A Scarlett, Mrs C Smith, (Clerk), Mrs K Croxford (Admin Assistant).

Absent: Cllr M Middleton   Members of the Public: Three

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

25.135. Apologies were received from Cllr Middleton. In the Chair’s absence, Cllr S. McLaughlin, as Vice-Chair, chaired the meeting.

25.136. There was no declaration of interests.

25.137. Public Representations.

i. It was reported that that were overhanging branches on the highway near Nene Lodge. The clerk would report on Fix My Street.

25.138. It was resolved to approve the minutes of meeting held Tuesday 27 May 2025; they were signed by the chair.

25.139. Police

i. The clerk reported that there had been further incidents of vandalism and fires started in the Memorial Park. These incidents had been reported to the Police, and they would be asked to consider including this area in their priority settings. Cllr Scarlett commented that no further investment should be made in the park until CCTV has been installed.

25.140. There was no Chairs report

25.141. Clerk’s Report 

i. Fire in Memorial Park. The Fire Service had attended to put out the fire and had again cut off the lock on the gate, Holbeach Fire Station had been contacted and had apologised for this.

ii. Village Green – Adams Landscape could no longer maintain the area. It was resolved for the grass contractor to carry out the work.

25.142. District Councillors Reports

1. Cllr Brewis reported on SHDC (South Holland District Council) matters.

i.   Cabinet was to discuss the complex issues of the future of rubbish and recycling in the area.

ii.   Contact details for the Voluntary Car Scheme were available if anyone wanted a copy, please contact Cllr Brewis.

iii.   Details from Sutton Bridge Players attending the Hunstanton Festival had been received if anyone would like further information on this.

iv.   He had made a four-page response on the Grimsby to Walpole National Grid Consultation. Copies were available if anyone needed them.

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

i. As Cllr Brewis had mentioned, Cabinet would be discussing waste collections on Thursday. There was a possibility that households could end up with as many as five bins for rubbish and recycling. He intended to raise concerns about the impact this could have on residents of terraced and rural houses, where storage and access could present challenges.

ii. A meeting was also arranged with Anglian Water to discuss the capacity of their treatment works in light of increased development, and whether they would be able to manage the resulting rise in effluent waste.

25.143. Financial Matters

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

ii. It was resolved to approve payments to 24 June 2025 as circulated at Appendix A. Cllr Middleton and Cllr Scarlett would authorise bank payments. 

iii. Receipts of £166.00 bank interest, £6061.59 farm business rent, £2293.00 LCC agreement, £300.00 burial ground fees, transfer of funds from current to savings account of £75,000 were noted

iv. The final internal auditor’s report for 2024/25 was received and circulated to members, comments were noted, the end of audit notice had not been placed on the website on time. The clerk apologised for the oversight and would ensure this did not occur again.

v. The annual internal audit certificate 2024/25 (AGAR page 3 of 6) was received

vi. Considering each statement in turn, it was resolved to agree and approve responses to the annual governance statement 20204/25 (AGAR page 4 of 6). All responses were yes apart from 4). As per the recommendation from the internal auditor a no was recorded.

vii. It was resolved to approve the annual accounting statements 20204/25 (AGAR page 5 of 6)

viii. It was resolved to approve the explanation of variance 2024/25

ix. It was resolved to set the dates for the period of the exercise of public rights from Tuesday 1 July 2025 to Monday 11 August 2025

x. It was resolved to approve the service for the Church Clock. 

25.144. Tyco Close Fence

i. Cllr J Kirby-Fox declared an interest on the agenda item as she resided in the area, and did not participate in the vote

ii. The fence was originally installed by Canon Kirk Developers and was not owned by the Parish Council. It was resolved to write to the residents confirming that there were no objections to the installation of a fence on that side. Further investigations would also be carried out regarding the possibility of planting a hedge along the boundary.

25.145. Volunteer Group – A date was set for a group of volunteers to clip the ivy on the trees in the Memorial Park on Sunday 3 August at 10.30 am and Sunday 10 August 2025 if required.

25.146. 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 the next one would be on the 12 July 2025.

25.147. Correspondence

i. National Grid Grimsby to Walpole Stage 2 consultation from 11 June to 6 August 2025. Any questions please contact email at contact@g-w.nationalgrid.com or phone on 0808 258 4395

ii. After a meeting with a contractor and the Community Warden an email had been received concerning CCTV proposals, it was resolved to proceed with costings and contacting and report back at the next meeting

iii. A resident had emailed concerning Prince’s Street play area. The clerk had responded to say that currently the area belongs to SHDC.

25.148. Planning Applications

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

ii. H18-0586-25: Bridge Hotel, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9UA, change of use from Class C1 to residential Class C3 amendment to window locations to suit revised floor layout. It was resolved to support.

iii. H18-0480-25: 96 Railway Lane South, Sutton Bridge PE12 9XA: Single store extension: No comment.

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

i. H18-0398-25: Bridge Hotel, 4 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9UA: Details of means surface water (condition of H18-0463-24): Approved

ii. H18-0383-25: Rear of 210 New Road, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9QE: Demolition of existing barn & erection of one dwelling and garage: Refused

iii. H18-0373-25: W S Hoyles and Sons, Westmere House, New Road, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9QD: Proposed farm building for the storage of potatoes: Approved

iv. H18-0367-25: Adjacent to Rylton House, Mill Lane, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9UE: Residential development of 2 dwellings. Refused

v. H18-0023-25: 2 Tyco Close, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9PY: Erection of shed attached to dwelling retrospective. Approved

vi. H18-1076-24: Maze Farm, Hospital Drove, Long Sutton, PE12 9EN. Demolition of existing barn & erection of one dwelling. Refused

vii. H18-0979-24: Adj 8-9 Grange Farm, Hospital Road, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9YR. Proposed conversion and change of use to kennels. Refused

25.150. Committee Reports 

01. New Pavilion Committee

i. Playzone – The Clerk reported that a total of £104,000 in match funding was required. It had been confirmed that £68,000 would be provided from the UKSPF fund, £10,000 from the Solar Farm, and £2,000 from Sutton Bridge Power Station. Additional grant applications were in progress, including £5,000 from Grange Farm and £15,000 from Sport England. In the worst-case scenario, the Parish Council would be required to contribute £24,000. It was resolved to underwrite this amount in order to assure the Football Association (FA) that the match funding would be guaranteed

ii. New Pavilion – Work on the project was still ongoing. A meeting had been arranged with the Football Association, and a business plan had been completed. Sir John Hayes had also attended the meeting and expressed his commitment to supporting the project.

02. Open Spaces

i. The minutes from the meeting held on 17 June 2025 were noted.

03 Other Committees

i. Cllr Brewis asked when the next LALC meeting was. The clerk would make some enquiries. 

25.151. Outside body representative reports

i. Cllr Scarlett had attended a meeting for the Allens Charity. She reported that she had sent apologies from Cllr Cook and Cllr Philpott. The next meetings would be held on the 10 November 2025 at 15:00hrs and 8 December 2025 at 15:00 hrs. 

ii. Phillips Charity – Next meeting 14 October 2025 at 15:00 hrs (Cllr McLaughlin & Cllr Middleton) 

25.152. Public Participations

i. A resident commented that we need to do our part in reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill and noted that alternative solutions are available to help address this issue.

ii. It was reported that a lorry had left a tyre near the roundabout. Cllr Pitt stated that it had been reported.

25.153. Next date of Meeting – Tuesday 22 July 2025 at 19:00hrs

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

20:50hrs Three members of the public left the meeting.

25.155. It was resolved to continue with negotiations with SHDC concerning ownership of open spaces assets on Prince’s Street and Lime Street Park.

25.156. There were no quotes

25.157. There were no staffing and administration matters

The chair closed the meeting at 21:00 hrs.

Appendix A