12th February 2026 Minutes
MINTUES ARE IN DRAFT FORM UNTIL APPROVED & SIGNED AT THE NEXT PC MEETING
WILLINGHAM BY STOW PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES of the February MEETING of WILLINGHAM by STOW PARISH COUNCIL
held on Thursday 12th February 2026 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs D Bingham (Chairman), M Bates, Q Connell, T Clifton, D Leak, A O’Dell
In Attendance: L Brooks-Sleight – clerk, WLDC Cllr L Mullally
5/2026 Apologies for Absence -to note apologies and reasons given. No apologies, all present.
6/2026 Public Participation - to agree, if necessary, to temporary suspend the meeting for a period of no more than 10mins to allow for public Participation. No public present
7/2026 Minutes of last Meetings - The Minutes of the December Council meeting held on 11th December 2025, and the minutes of the Extraordinary PC meeting held on 6th January 2026 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
8/2026 Declarations of Interest - to record declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 for any listed agenda items below. None received
9/2026 Representatives Report - to receive any reports from LCC councillor/WLDC councillor/ Police. WLDC Cllr Lynda Mullally reported on the Regeneration of Lincolnshire and RAF Scampton latest news.
10/2026 Clerks Report - to receive Clerk’s report
• HMRC PAYE overpayment of £655.33 has been refunded
• WLDC have requested an update list of all current members
• Cemetery – burial in January and added inscription to an existing memorial. Also had an enquiry for burial following a death at Howson Care Centre
• The LCC Grit bins on Grange Lane & High St near the village hall – requested to be filled
• The GP surgery requested a grit bin near the surgery, the request was submitted and Cllr Paul Whimhurst was emailed to ask for his support and to follow this up.
• LCC Grass cutting agreement 2026/27 - Contribution figure: £764.12 based on 4210 sq metres Current contribution rate: £0.1815
• WLDC have notified the PC that a new member can be co-opted. The vacancy notice has been placed on the NB, Facebook and the website for applications to be submitted by 2nd March 2026.
11/2026 Publication Scheme – to approve. Proposed & seconded, approved. Resolved
12/2026 IT Policy -to approve the new IT Policy to comply with Assertion 10. To be added March agenda
13/2026 Grant Funding Applications 2026/27 -to receive & consider a grant application from the Playing Field committee a decide future actions. The grant funding request was discussed and it was approved to grant £1400 to the Play Field Committee towards the grass cutting. Clerk to email the Committee stating that the application deadline was end of November 2025, prior to the PC setting the Budget & Precept request for 2026/27 on December 11th 2026 as advertised. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
14/2026 School Trust Fund – the trust secretary was contacted to discuss any updates but not able to meet at a convenient date/time. The PC feel that following advice received from the Charity Commission and LALC, the secretary must arrange a meeting with the current trustees to finalise details; register with the Charity Commission and to confirm the current bank signatories before being transferred the PC as Sole Trustees.
15/2026 Village Hall -to received and note the updated Hire Agreement conditions. The revised Hire Agreement was received & noted.
16/2026 Cemetery Garden Waste bin – to consider & approved the 2026 fee of £48. After discussion it was approved not to renew the garden waste bin at this time but to monitor all waste bins at the cemetery.
17/2026 LALC
a. To consider and approve the LALC Annual fee. The annual fee was approved to be paid 1st April 2026 Proposed & seconded, Resolved
b. To consider and approve to join the LALC Annual Training Scheme. It was decided not to join the training scheme but to pay for any courses as and when required but to review if needed.
18/2026 Highways -to consider any highways issues & determine any actions. The PC discussed several outstanding issues/concerns that were raised with Cllr Paul Wimhurst but have not been addressed or updated by Cllr Wimhurst. It was noted that the corner of High St/Gainsborough Rd has been pumped & jetted due to localised flooding in the area.
19/2026 Planning -to receive any correspondence/decisions by WLDC and discuss any planning applications.
Ref: WL/2026/00125, application to replace side conservatory with extension, Lochearn House, Cotgarth Lane – no comments. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
20/2026 PC Banking -to receive an update on the bank re: adding signatories. Barclays bank has requested a new application form/mandate to add Cllr Clifton as some parts were missing. Forms signed & approved. The bank authorisation of payments will be updated once all signatories have been accepted for online banking.
21/2026 Solar Farm/BESS -to receive any information from the Solar Farms/BESS and consider any future actions. No further updates
22/2026 Finance -the monthly reconciliation of the accounts with the corresponding Bank statements – up to 31/01/2026 with the bank balance of £11881.19 were approved with the payments listed below and payments that were made in January. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
Salary/expenses Dec £533.82
Salary/expenses Jan £533.62
Internal audit fee mins2025/131 £204.00
23/2026 Local Government Re-organisation (LGR) Statutory Consultation from WLDC online survey -to consider a response to the survey – all members encouraged to complete
24/2026 Remembrance – to consider the purchase of large Poppies to be displayed around the village for Remembrance Day under S137. WL Cllr L Mullally offered grant funding for the 10x large poppies at a cost of £50 from her CIF, clerk to complete the forms and then purchase the poppies under S137. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
25/2026 Correspondence (sent prior by email)
NALC Chief Executive Bulletin
Lincolnshire Police update
Lalc Enews
LCC Town & Parish News
26/2026 Agenda Items for next meeting (by 5th March) and to take any points from members
• Notice board
• Apologies from Cllr L Mullally
To confirm the date & time of the next council meeting, Thursday 12th March 2026 at 7.30pm in Willingham Village Hall committee room
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.55pm