Minutes 2026

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Draft Minutes of the Sutton Bridge Parish Council Meeting held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 28 April 2026, in the Curlew Centre Bridge Room, Sutton Bridge.

Present: Cllr T Baldry, Cllr C Brewis, Cllr M Booth, Cllr T Judd (from 19:04hrs), Cllr M Middleton, Cllr M Philpott, Cllr M Pitt, Mrs. C Smith (Parish Clerk), Mrs. K Croxford, (Admin Assistant)

One Member of the Public: Absent:  Cllr D Cook

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

26.069. Apologies were received from Cllr D Cook and County Cllr R Woods

26.070. There were no declarations of interest.

26.071. There were no public representations.

19:04hrs Cllr Judd entered the meeting.

26.072. It was resolved to approve the minutes of meeting held Tuesday 24 March 2026 they were signed by the chair.

26.073. There were no Police matters.

26.074. Chair’s Report 

i. Cllr Middleton reported that there was no report as all matters were included in the agenda.

26.075. Clerk’s Report

i. Internal Audit – LALC had appointed a different auditor from last year and we were currently awaiting to hear the dates for when the audit would be completed. Information was being gathered in preparation for the documents to be completed.

ii. County Councillor Volunteer Scheme – An officer had made contact regarding the scheme. Following the Council’s suggestion of works to be undertaken in the Memorial Park, the officer will visit the site to assess requirements. A meeting had been arranged with the officer and County Councillor Woods on 28 May, which will also include consideration of the Propeller Memorial

iii. Tree Plants –Surplus plants were advertised on social media; however, there had been no interest, with only one plant given out to date.

iv. Salary Query – Following comments on social media regarding staff salaries an email had been sent to the member of public. No response had yet been received.

26.076. District and County Councillors Report

01. There was no County Councillor report.

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

i. He was pleased that the outside toilets were now open at weekends due to the Parish Council employing a member of staff to open them. 

ii. As the weather had been dry, he had watered the new plants in the Memorial Park and would do so again in the next few days. 

iii. He was disappointed to hear that the temporary building could not be moved from the car park.

iv. The local government reorganisation in Norfolk and Suffolk had been confirmed; he anticipated that Lincolnshire would be divided into three.

v. He had attended the 81 VE Day Flag Raising ceremony.

vi. A presentation regarding the serious problem of fly tipping was coming up.

vii. A Tree/Bush was causing problems to oncoming traffic near the Propeller Memorial on the East Bank could this be put on the agenda for next month.

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

i.   In the past a request to site a Memorial Bench near the Propeller Memorial had been refused by Lincolnshire County Council Highways.

ii. There had been no answers concerning the new waste collections. A meeting was arranged for 9 June with the Portfolio Holder to discuss the new arrangements. District councillors were invited to raise any issues or concerns affecting residents in their respective areas.

iii. The outcome of the new council restructuring was expected between June and July 2026

iv. Cllr Pitt also reported that residents were experiencing confusion over brown bin collections. In recent weeks, differing collection dates had been observed. It was requested if this issue could be investigated and clarified.

26.077. Financial Matters

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

ii. It was resolved to approve payments to 29 April 2026 as circulated at Appendix A. Cllr Kirby - Fox and Cllr Scarlett would authorise bank payments.

iii. Receipts: Precept £ 110,000. Memorial Park Hire £320.00, Burial Fees £635.00, Garden Allotment Rent £171.27 were noted.

iv. The year end receipts and payments summary had been circulated and were noted.

26.078. It was resolved to agree the meeting schedule for 2026-27.

26.079. The next Councillor surgery would be on the 9 May 2026 – Cllrs Mclaughlin and Philpott. Cllr Middleton reported that an additional key had been cut for the Police Room. This key should be kept with the rota book. Members were reminded that a charge would be incurred if the key were lost.

26.080. Following a resident’s report of an old bus stop pole that had been cut down, leaving a piece of metal protruding from the ground and presenting a potential trip hazard, the matter was reported via Fix My Street. A response was received stating that, although the surface appeared uneven, it did not currently require further attention, and no action would be taken at this time.

26.081. It was resolved to endorse the Flag of the Fens 

26.082. Pathway 

i. Cllr Scarlett reported that residents with pushchairs were experiencing difficulty accessing the Memorial Park during wet and muddy conditions. It was suggested that a pathway be created from the Arnie Broughton Walk into the Memorial Park.

ii. It was resolved to investigate the cost of installing an asphalt pathway and to write to South Holland District Council regarding the uneven pathway at the entrance to the Arnie Broughton Walk, caused by tree roots.

iii. The chair commented that a pathway was planned around the play zone. The Clerk would obtain costings for both grass matting and asphalt options.

26.083. Playzone

i. The clerk reported that there had been a slight delay in discharging the BNG prestart planning conditions. All the information had been submitted and the planners asked if they could move this along.

ii. A meeting with the FA was arranged for 11.00am on the 5 May on team regarding the Playzone and the first meeting of the steering group would be held also on the 5 May at 14:00hrs where representatives from the Football Club, the FA and Active Lincolnshire would attend. 

26.084. Correspondence

i. George Clark Scholarship – A scholarship was available for those under 25 who were attending a course of higher education (level 4 or above) at university or college for the 2026-27 academic year. Please contact Eddie.Corrigan@lincolnshire.gov.uk Telephone 01522 552995

ii. National Grid –. The Spring 2026 community update from the National Grid Grimsby to Walpole newsletter had been received and was noted. 

iii. Precept – It was noted that the precept of £110,000 had been paid from South Holland District Council.

26.085. Planning applications

i. Cllr Brewis abstained from voting on the applications as he was a member of the planning committee.

ii. H18-0311-26: Adj Rose Cottage, Kings John Bank, Walpole St Andrew, PE14 7JSB: Erection of two self-build dwellings and garages: It was resolved to comment that attention should be drawn to the planning authority that the proposed development is located in open countryside.

iii. H18-0301-26: 4 Grange Farm, Cockle hole Road, Terrington St Clement, PE34 4HH: Proposed single storey and first floor side extensions and alterations: It was resolved to support.

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

i. H18-0129-26: 159 Railway Lane South, Sutton Bridge, PE12 9UZ: Proposed single storey rear extension: Approved

26.087. Committee Reports 

01. Pavilion – Cllr Middleton reported on the following.

i. The Rt Hon Sir John Hayes had written to the local press and to Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth (copies circulated to members), regarding information received from the Football Association concerning the reduced level of potential funding support for the new pavilion.

ii. Cllr Middleton and Mr D Wall would travel to Coventry to view a pavilion currently under construction. They had also met with another contractor the previous week, who indicated that minimal groundworks should be required due to the proximity of existing services in the area, which it is hoped will reduce the overall quotation.

iii. The temporary pavilion would not be placed on the concrete slabs and would now be put where the new pavilion was intended. 

19:55hrs Cllr Pitt left the meeting.

iv. Once funding had been secured for the new pavilion, the temporary building would need to be relocated again. It was resolved that the temporary building be moved to the car park once construction of the new building commences.

19:57 hrs Cllr Pitt entered the meeting.

v. The Clerk reported that grant applications had been submitted to Anglian Water for £36,000 and she was also working with Chris Brandon-King on an application to the National Lottery. It was suggested that the Council could also consider reapplying to Sport England

02. Open Spaces, Burials and Allotments. 

i. The clerk reported that a further working party meeting was arranged for 19:00hrs on the 5 May to discuss the members of the public comments from the previous meeting on the Garden of Rest rules and regulations.

ii. Cllr Kirby- Fox reported that the allotment inspection had not taken place, this would be rearranged at the next meeting.

26.088. Cllr Brewis reported that letters to gain support for the new Youth Club would be sent out and a further meeting was arranged for the 12 May 2026.

26.089. Representations from members of the public

i. A member of the public commented that they tend to the flowers at the Propeller Memorial and noted that a local business had offered assistance with the removal of a tree/bush obstructing visibility for oncoming vehicles. Councillors expressed thanks to the member of the public for their ongoing efforts in keeping the area looking lovely.

20:07 hrs One member of the public left the meeting.

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

26.091. It was resolved to delegate authority to the clerk to approve the quote for the play equipment operational inspection at a cost of no more than £120.00 + VAT. 

26.092. Staffing and Administration Matters

i. The clerk reported on staffing matters relating to the new Toilet Attendant and forthcoming staff holidays.

ii. Details regarding the public toilets and South Holland District Council (SHDC) involvement would be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

iii. Details of a memorial bench in the Garden of Rest were discussed.

iv. Cllr Middleton reported that the bin outside the One Stop had been emptied.

Appendix A 

The chair closed the meeting at 20:30 hrs.