9th July 2026 minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT until approved at the following meeting
Willingham by Stow Parish Council
Minutes of Meeting held on 9th July 2026 at 7.30pm held in Willingham Village Hall ______________________________________________________________________________________
Present: Cllrs M Bates (Chair), T Clifton, A O’Dell, Q Connell
Absent: Cllrs D Bingham, Leak
In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk), Cllr L Mullally WLDC, 2 residents (1 resident left before 127/2026)
124/2026 To receive Apologies for absence with reasons.
Received with reason from Cllr Bingham.
125/2026 To record declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 for any listed agenda items below. None received.
126/2026 To agree, if necessary, to temporary suspend the meeting for a period of no more than 10mins to allow for public Participation.
The Chair suspended the meeting. A resident spoke to the council about replacing a Best Village Comp sign from the 1970’s that has worn away with age.
127/2026 To receive any reports from LCC councillor/WLDC councillor/ Police.
Cllr Lynda Mullally reported on a meeting with Highways & Cllr P Wimhurst to discuss a dropped kerb outside the GP surgery and The Twinning group asked her for help/support.
Cllr Paul Wimhurst was hoping to attend but sent his apology if could make it!
128/2026 The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 11th June 2026 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
129/2026 To receive the Clerk’s report
An email was read from the Chair of the Playing Field Committee, apologising that he was unable to attend but sent an update on the play equipment; equipment inspections; signage; boundary fence & grant application with the FCC Foundation. Looking forward to attending in September and will send a further update ahead of that meeting if there is anything of note to report in the meantime.
130/2026 To receive & discuss information on the Cadent H2East Pipeline – Voluntary request for non-intrusive access onto land. Information was circulated prior and discussed. The request was approved as per terms & conditions stated in letter dated 9th July 2026 with an Incentive payment. The clerk to sign and return the form. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
131/2026 Highways -to consider any highways issues & determine any actions required
Cllr Paul Wimhurst – still no show at PC meetings for over a year.
Residents had contacted councillors regarding a vehicle parking on the High St near the bus shelter making it difficult for buses to manoeuvre around it. The clerk to contact Highways to request road markings for the ‘bus stop’ to try to resolve the matter.
132/2026 To receive any correspondence/decisions by WLDC and discuss any planning applications.
WL/2026/00596: Outline planning application to erect 6no. dwellings with all matters reserved. Land to the East and West of Gainsborough Road, Willingham by Stow.
The Council considered the application and resolved to object on the following grounds:
• The site lies within a hamlet scale cluster outside the main built up area of the village. Hamlets are not identified for growth under the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, and a development of six dwellings is inappropriate in this location.
• The land is situated in open countryside, outside the settlement boundary. The proposal conflicts with the settlement hierarchy and Policies S1, S5, and S16 of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 2023.
• A similar multi dwelling proposal on this land was refused in 2017, with WLDC concluding that the site was unsustainable, inappropriate for development, and did not meet hamlet level criteria. These reasons remain applicable.
• The Council’s historic concerns regarding dwelling footprint, scale, and impact on the rural street scene remain unchanged and are amplified by the increased number of units.
• The location is unsustainable, with no access to local services or public transport. Future occupants would be car dependent for all daily needs.
• No local housing need has been demonstrated for six new dwellings in this part of the parish.
WL/2026/00533: Planning to erect a carport, Rockley, The Paddocks. No comments
WL/2026/00422: Planning to erect a straw shed, Park Farm. WLDC granted with conditions
133/2026 Finance
The monthly reconciliation of the accounts with the corresponding Bank statements – up to 30/06/2026 with the current account balance of £20,930.62 a savings account of £2109.24 was approved and councillors Clifton & Bates were nominated to sign/authorise the payments listed below with the corresponding invoices: Proposed & seconded, Resolved
Grass contractor 625.71
Salary April 537.62
HMRC - PAYE 50.82
134/2026 To discuss & approved the Grant Applications 2027/28 policy & procedure.
After a discussion, it was approved to update the policy with any organisation applying for funding to attend the November PC meeting to present their application and then the PC to consider all applications at their December meeting. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
135/2026 To approve the CIL 2025/26 Report
The CIL report was approved, proposed & seconded. Resolved
136/2026 To receive an update on the Willingham School Trust charity.
A meeting was called by 2 existing School Trust charity trustees, who appointed a new secretary and 3 more trustees. The registration with the Charity Commission in 2007 doesn’t seem to have been completed, the secretary to enquire & register with the Charity Commission. Also, to update/change the contact details/trustees with the banks/savings accounts. The Governing Document also to be updated with the new trustees.
137/2026 Correspondence (sent prior by email)
NALC Chief Executive Bulletin
Lalc Enews
WLDC Parish Newsletter
138/2026 Agenda Items for next meeting (by 3rd August) and to take any points from members
Cllrs Clifton & Connell reported on the last Village Hall Committee meeting and the notice boards at the front of the village hall requiring refurbishment
The date of the next PC Meeting as Thursday 10th September 2026 at 7.30pm in Willingham Village Hall committee room.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.40pm