6th January 2026 - Extraordinary MEETING
WILLINGHAM BY STOW PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the Extraordinary MEETING of WILLINGHAM by STOW PARISH COUNCIL
held on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at 6.30pm
Present: Cllrs D Bingham (Chairman), M Bates, T Clifton, Q Connell, D Leak, A O’Dell
In Attendance: L Brooks-Sleight – clerk, WLDC Cllr L Mullally and 26 residents
1/2026 To note apologies and reasons given
– The resignation was received from Chantelle Devine on 2nd January 2026 and was accepted.
2/2026 To agree, if necessary, to temporary suspend the meeting for a period of no more than 10mins to allow for public Participation at 6.33pm
– The meeting was suspended and the Chair invited the residents to speak to the council. The treasurer of the Playing Field Committee spoke on behalf of the Playing Field Committee with details of the grant application to the FCC Communities Foundation requesting the PC’s support and approval. Four other residents also spoke of the history of the play field & the importance of a water supply for toilets, and their full support for the grant application. The Chair asked the playing field treasurer if the plans were for Solar or mains electric – to which he replied that hadn’t been confirmed which. Cllr Lynda Mullally spoke to offer her support.
The Chair reopened the meeting at 6.40pm
3/2026 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations for any listed agenda items below.
- Cllr Bates submitted a request for a dispensation to the clerk prior to the meeting as being a named person with a registered interest in the land known as Willingham Playing Field were the agreement states that permission is required from PA & MR Bates for any plans. In accordance with the Standing Orders, as Proper Officer, the clerk approved the dispensations of Cllr Bates to stay in the room for discussion only.
4/2026 To consider the request from the Playing Field Committee to approve & support their grant application - to improve the facilities at Willingham by Stow Playing Field, as received on the 29th December 2025 at 7pm: (details and information circulated to all members on the 30/12/2025)
Add toilet drainage
Add electricity supply
Add water supply
Fitout of toilet
Add teenage play equipment
Electrical fitout
site security, storage and welfare for the project
-The councillors discussed the grant application; correspondence has been received dated Nov 2024 from Northern Powergrid to say they have no safety issues with the plans for the toilet & septic tank and their power cables & power lines. Cllr Bates confirmed he had received the letters from the Playing Field Committee requesting approval for the works, for which a meeting was arranged for tomorrow morning, as both himself and his brother will need to agree and sign the letter.
It was proposed and seconded for the Parish Council to approved and support the Playing Field Grant application to improve the facilities, all eligible councillors voted in favour, approved. Resolved
The Chair closed the meeting at 6.54pm