Minutes 2026

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Draft Mins 

Minutes of the Sutton Bridge Parish Council Meeting held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 24 March 2026, in the Curlew Centre Bridge Room, Sutton Bridge.

Present: Cllr T Baldry, Cllr C Brewis, Cllr M Booth, Cllr T Judd, Cllr M Middleton, Cllr M Philpott, Cllr M Pitt (from 19:10hrs), Mrs. C Smith (Parish Clerk), Mrs. K Croxford, (Admin Assistant), County Cllr R Woods

Three Members of the Public:  Absent:  Cllr D Cook

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

26.046. Apologies were received from Cllrs Kirby-Fox, McLaughlin, Scarlett

26.047. Declarations of interest were received from Chris Brewis for agenda item 15 (min.ref 26.060) as he was a member of the District Planning Committee. 

26.048. Public representations

i. A member of the public commented and said how nice the Bridge Hotel was now looking.

ii. An allotment tenant asked whether a low-voltage electric fence could be installed around the plot, as muntjac deer had been eating the produce grown there. This would be considered at the next Open Spaces, Burial and Allotment meeting.

iii. It was asked what the concrete squares were on the Memorial Park, the chair commented and said they were for the temporary facilities for the Football Club. This would be further discussed on the agenda.

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

26.050. There were no Police matters.

19:10hrs Cllr Pitt entered the meeting.

26.051. Chair’s Report 

i. Cllr Middleton reported that she had been following up with Sir John Hayes regarding funding for the new Pavilion project.

ii. The new temporary building for the Football Club had arrived and would shortly be moved from the car park area and on to the concrete slabs in the Memorial Park.

iii. An article had been written from a member of the fundraising committee and published in the Daily Mail concerning the lack of funding from the FA towards the new Pavilion project, the chair read out the article to all members.

19:15hrs A member of the public entered the meeting. 

26.052. Clerk’s Report

i. It had been reported that a member of the public had been urinating in the Curlew Centre Car Park, this had been reported to the Police. Cllr Booth commented that we have not got enough Police in this area. It was resolved to write to our local MP and Mayor of Lincolnshire regarding policing levels in the area.

ii. Cllr Scarlett had reported that wild garlic had been picked from the Memorial Park, the person had mentioned that the Parish Council were aware of this, it was confirmed that there were no arrangements in place to allow this.

iii. Internal Audit – LALC had appointed an auditor, we were waiting for them to get in touch.

iv. External Audit – PKF Littlejohn had sent a letter with instructions for the external audit, all submissions should be made before 1 July 2026.

v. Hedge Plants – Many thanks for all those involved with their help to plant the hedges in the Memorial Park. All the hedge plants had now been used from the Woodland Trust and consideration would be given to future planting locations for the remaining trees. If anyone needed a tree, please contact the Parish Clerk. Cllr Booth offered some tree guards and canes if they were needed. Cllr Middleton thanked him for the offer.

26.053. District and County Councillors Report

01. Cllr Woods reported on the following LCC (Lincolnshire County Council) matters.

i. There were planned Highway surface dressing works on the B1359 and Long Sutton /Sutton Bridge Hospital Road/East Bank.

ii. Pothole repairs on the A17 were due to be completed shortly. Work was ongoing with LCC to introduce a new portal to allow easier access to updates, reducing the need to chase via email. 

iii. Clean Up Britain - Work was underway with Clean Up Britain to tackle fly tipping in the local area, with the aim of integrating this initiative with the local council. Members were asked to report any know hotspots to Cllr Woods

iv. One Stop - He had been informed of an assault outside the One Stop shop due to illegal parking on the clearway. Cllr Woods and Cllr Booth would look into this.

v. Councillor Volunteer Scheme – He asked if the Clerk could send through again the details for the work required for the Councillor Volunteer Scheme.

vi. Long Sutton Market House – It had been mentioned in a recent growth report that LCC may sell off the Market House in Long Sutton, this was not the case. A meeting had been arranged with the trustees to clarify the situation and provide reassurance, with a view to the trustees potentially purchasing the Market House.

vii. Burning Smell - Reports had been received of a burning smell in and around the local area, no one seemed to know where this was coming from. The Clerk confirmed that similar reports had also been received. Cllr Woods would investigate.

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

i. He was sad and sorry to hear of the recent passing of a young local lady who recently lost her life, it was agreed to send a card of condolence to the family.

ii. The new Renters’ Rights Act will come into effect on 1 May 2026, providing increased rights for tenants.

iii. Concern was raised regarding the lack of information in the recent District Council Tax correspondence relating to residents who were unable to use wheelie bins and may require continuation of rubbish bags. He would chase this up.

iv. The bollards at the Burial Ground had been damaged and the fence posts broken, remote control cars were being used in the area. The Clerk also reported comments from residents regarding disabled access for visiting graves. This matter would be discussed at the next Open Spaces, Burial and Allotment meeting.

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

i.   It was noted that the funding for the new temporary facilities for the Football Club had now been received by the Parish Council from Cllr Booth and Cllr Brewis’ District Councillors’ budgets. Members were advised that anyone wishing to know who else had benefitted from these District Councillors’ budgets should contact Cllr Brewis 

ii. The senior citizen bus pass was still going strong after 28 years, after three local residents had the original idea.

iii. A full list of bin collection dates would be given out to address the new complex bin collection

iv. The decision over the Local Government reshuffle was due in the Autumn 2026.

26.054. Financial Matters

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

ii. It was resolved to approve payment to 24 March 2026 as circulated at Appendix A. Cllr Middleton and Cllr Scarlett would authorise bank payments. 

26.055. It was resolved to support the new establishment of a Bus Stop Clearway on Bridge Road.

26.056. Playzone

i. The clerk reported that at a pre- start meeting it was agreed that a drainage survey was now required.

ii. At the pre-start meeting the clerk asked if a grass mat path could be installed instead of a tarmac one. The Football Foundation agreed to the change as long as the Parish Council committed to maintaining the path. It was resolved to maintain the path as part of the maintenance of the Memorial Park. 

iii. The original start date for the project had been scheduled for June; however, the contractors were now considering bringing this forward to April.

iv. Active Lincolnshire had been contacted concerning the activation of the Steering Group, a meeting date would be arranged by the end of week. An appointment for a Playzone co-ordinator would be discussed at the next Personnel meeting.

v. Cllr Middleton reported that the outline of the new Pavilion would be marked out this week. 

26.057. Temporary Pavilion

i. Cllr Middleton reported that the concrete slabs had been put down to level the building and the Football Club were waiting for the bolts to fix them together. The Football club would also paint the old storage container at the bottom of the Memorial Park.

ii. The clerk reported that the Tree officer from South Holland District Council had been in touch to advise that a member of the public had reported that the temporary facilities would be installed under the Oak tree which had a tree preservation on it. Concerns were raised over excavations within the Root Protection area of the oak tree. 

iii. Cllr Middleton confirmed that no excavations would take place and that the building would remain in its current location. It was hoped that the bench currently behind the area could be relocated.

iv. The Clerk reported that a piece of material from the temporary building had come loose and was blowing in the wind. Thanks were extended to Cllr Pitt for reinforcing it back to the building. 

26.058. Councillors Surgery

i. Cllr Middleton reported that there had been no one attend the last meeting, but looking at the figures from the last six months there had been an approvement and it was decided to continue with the surgeries.

ii. The next surgery would be on the 11 April 2026 – Cllrs Middleton and Judd. 

26.059. Correspondence

i. Cllr Brewis – A letter from Cllr Brewis was read out concerning last month’s correspondence concerning the Garden Waste. This brought this matter to a close as the garden waste services would be available in Sutton Bridge this year.

ii. Stanley Drive – A resident had reported that a Morrisons delivery van had churned up the grass near their property, an area that SBPC cut on behalf of Lincolnshire Council. The clerk advised that this had been reported to Morrisons. 

iii. Email from Resident – An email had been again received this year concerning the increase in employee’s salary and precept levels. It was resolved for the clerk to respond to the resident.

iv. Garden Waste Poster – Garden waste Collections would take place 28 March Spring Gardens – Long Sutton, 25 April Pudding poke Lane Lutton, 30 May Rectory Road- Tydd St Mary, 27 June King Street p Sutton Bridge, 25 July Spring Gardens – Long Sutton, 29 August Pudding poke Lane – Lutton, 31 October King Street – Sutton Bridge, 28 November Spring Gardens – Long Sutton. 

v. National Energy Action - Are looking for members of the local community who would be interested in leaning more about the energy awareness. Please contact Home Energy Advice on 01507 613189 or email Heart@e-lindsey.gov.uk. 

vi. Touring South Lincs Photo Exhibition – The clerk advised that the booking form was still awaited concerning the dates for the event. It was resolved to approve the exhibition. 

26.060. Planning applications

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

ii. H18-0186-26: Bridge Hotel, 4 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge PE12 9UA: Change of use from hotel Class 1 to residential Class C3 including the creating of fifteen residential units: It was resolved to support.

iii. H18-0191-26: Gunthorpe Road Solar Farm, Land South of Gunthorpe Road, Walpole Marsh, PE14 7JH: Details of written scheme of investigation (condition 9 ofH18-1034-23): It was resolved to comment on the application and advised that we were unable to view the planning application information.

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

i. H18-1269-25: 8A High Street, Sutton Bridge: conversion of shop/residential into three self-contained units: Approved

ii. H18-1274-25: Gunthorpe Road Solar Farm, South of Gunthorpe Road, Walpole Marsh, PE14 7JH: installation of a solar farm and battery storage facility with associated infrastructure: Approved

iii. H18-1221-25: Kerry Foods, Chalk Lane, Sutton Bridge: Replacement of existing flat roof: Approved

26.062. Committee Reports 

01. Open Spaces – A working party meeting was arranged for the 8 Apil to discuss the Burial Ground rules and regulations.

02. Pavilion – Cllr Middleton reported the following. 

i. Further quotes had been investigation following the comments made by the FA that they could be found cheaper. A further quote had been received this was for only four modules and the price quoted was in the region of £299.000. The lowest quote for eight modules was £297,000, this was being further investigated.

ii. She had emailed Sir John Hayes to see if he had had a meeting yet with the Football Association. Cllrs expressed their thanks to Cllr Middleton for all her hard work on the project.

26.063. There were no outside body representative reports.

26.064. Representations from members of the public

i. A member of the Public agreed and stated that it was an offence to park on a bus stop and that this matter should be looked into further.

ii. It was asked if a member of the Public could have a tree to plant in the Curlew Centre garden.

20:36hrs Cllr Baldry left the meeting.

iii. A report was made of a smell of burning within the village and the amount of litter surrounding the one stop shop as the shop had now taken the bin away.

20:38hrs Cllr Baldry entered the meeting. 

20:42 hrs Three members of the public, County Cllr Woods and Cllr Pitt left the meeting.

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

26.066. It was resolved to approve the memorial in the Garden of Rest and allocated spaces of burial plots.

26.067. There were no quotes.

26.068. Staffing Matters

i. The clerk reported that the job had been advertised for the Toilet Attendant and applications had been sent out.

ii. Recruitment for the Playzone Co-ordinator would be discussed at the next Personnel meeting.

The chair closed the meeting at 20:55 hrs.

Appendix A