June DRAFT Minutes STILL TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Reepham Parish Council held on
Tuesday 24th June 2025 at 7.30pm in Reepham Methodist Chapel
Present: Cllrs D Perkins (Chair), B Wharton (also acting as Clerk), D Davies, J Oxby, H Gee, C Wilson, 4 members of the public and the Chair of Fiskerton Parish Council also attended.
Meeting started at 07.30pm.
Matters raised by members of the public:
The attending members of the public were invited to introduce themselves and briefly outline their reason for attendance. Their raised matters are addressed in later Agenda items.
The Chair of Fiskerton attended to assist in a trial of amplification for the meeting.
Standing Orders were commenced at 07.35pm.
1. Apologies: C/Cllr T Bridgwood (holiday), D/Cllr M Palmer (attending meeting at WLDC). Cllr A Brammer (illness).
2. Declarations of Interest.
3. Minutes of Meeting held on 14th May 2025:
At the proposal by Cllr D Davies, seconded by Cllr H Gee, it was RESOLVED
that the minutes be accepted.
4. Clerk s Report: A report was read out by Cllr D Perkins.
An update from National Rail ref brambles. Notice had been received that National Rail would like a site meet. This has been arranged at 1230 on 2nd July. Cllr B Wharton will attend plus any volunteer.
Slide and bus shelter damage reported to police. Following a suggestion at the May meeting, the Police have been informed of the damages to the slide and bus shelter.
Request made to Fiskerton PC to trial their table hearing loop device hence the attendance of the Chair. The resident device now in use at the Methodist Chapel was also trialled.
5. Correspondence:
WLDC - Free Online Workshops for Parish & Town Councils.
Resident grass cutting on Walnut Tree Close; This had been forwarded to LCC for inclusion in their grass cutting services. No response as yet to confirm inclusion.
Residents - Cherry tree on The Green: There had been correspondence and a petition received. Written requests for the matter to be discussed were received from Cllr C Wilson, Cllr D Davies, Cllr A Brammer which, under Standing Orders, allows this matter to be discussed again before the normally requisite 6 months.
Resident request for RPC to check legal documents ref boundary query: This request will be addressed in a later Item.
6. Financial matters
a) Presentation of Accounts for Payment:
M Vail June salary 248.15
PAYE June 62.00
M Vail - homeworking allowance, Apr-Jun 15.00
Sage payroll, June 12.00 (inc. 2.00 VAT)
Glendale, 1395 754.56 (inc. 125.74 VAT)
WLDC, School defib annual fee 110.00 (inc. 18.33 VAT)
Play Inspection company, Annual Inspection 108.30 (inc. 18.03 VAT)
TOTAL 1310.01 (inc. 164.10 VAT)
At the proposal by Cllr H Gee, seconded by Cllr J Oxby it was RESOLVED that these be paid.
b) Approve quote to replace damaged bus shelter quote: It has proved difficult to obtain quotations for this work. At the proposal by Cllr J Oxby, seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that the lowest quote be accepted.
7. Planning Matters
Report from Planning Committee: The Chair of the planning committee commented that three applications are in hand at present.
WL/2025/00432, The development of the land behind 20 High St: this ongoing.
WL/2025/00402: The 5-house re-application on Wragby Rd, N Greetwell which has been granted an extension until late July.
WL/2024/00036. Battery Installation to south of Barlings Lane. This had been declined but an appeal has been made with a hearing in October: this also served as a prompt should anyone wish to make any points at the hearing. Cllr B Wharton advised that this was declined for technical reasons that had been placed by experts in this subject. It was suggested that no gain could be made from any broader arguments at this stage.
Lansdown Villa wall There have been no changes from the earlier position of no enforcement following the investigation by the Gainsborough MP.
Goods Farm Development: Nothing to report.
Fiskerton Rd: High boundary wall build - contrary to planning application requirements. It was confirmed that the wall has been built taller than agreed on the application. However, yet again, WLDC do not consider it expedient to carry the matter forward to enforcement. The number built outside planning permission approvals increase yet again.
Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group: The Chair described the last public meeting recently held at the church. This had been well attended and the attendees seemed supportive. Certainly, the Parish Council appreciates and admires the work done by all who have been involved in the many hours of work involved in reaching the stage at which we stand at present. The Referendum for acceptance takes place on Thursday 26th.
8. Roads and footways
Mellows Close to Manor Rise footpath holding item
Mellows Close yellow lines holding item
Bus shelter, Lincoln bound travellers at the bus stop in Fiskerton holding item
Residents concerns. Meadow Close pothole position comment from LCC is awaited.
9. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
Reepham /Greetwell PF 131: Delayed works: holding item.
10. Conservation area
Village Green: In the absence of Cllr A Brammer, it was noted that the litter bin had been installed and that the notice board had been ordered with delivery awaited.
Discussion on the Cherry Tree followed with the Chair detailing the events leading up to the decision in February for the removal and replacement of the Cherry tree and the success of earlier decisions regarding its sister tree s replacement. It was also stressed that these decisions were not taken lightly and followed detailed discussion by the Council and unanimous agreement. As authors of letters requesting the re-discussion of these matters, the two available Councillors were asked to expand on their reasons for their decision. Cllr D Davies had shown support for the residents, especially those who had signed the petition, by providing the means by which this might happen. Cllr C Wilson presented a stronger response that required a deeper discussion into the future of the problem which included the assistance of a professional arboriculturist. This was agreed as a way forward before future decisions, but the Chair suggested that thoughts should also include the option of an additional tree, rather than the replacement of the existing tree.
11. Amenity areas
Damage to slide: Quotes had been difficult to obtain but EDM had quoted 250. Proposed by Cllr J Oxby, seconded by Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to proceed with this repair.
Play Area inspections internal: The annual Pi Inspection had found a number of faults that require rectification. At the proposal of Cllr J Oxby, seconded by Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED that quotes for these will be obtained.
Councillor Brammer had suggested that it would be prudent to ensure that the Parish Council s insurer was aware that the play area complies with BS 5696 / DIN7926, which was current at the time of construction, and not the current BS EN 1176 Part7. It was agreed to ask the Clerk to check.
12. Trees/vegetation
Vegetation behind Manor Rise: There appears to have been no further movement on this matter. It was noted that the tree population does not agree with the PTO ordered sites as some identified TPOs may have died and self-seeded replacements have become fully mature. It was decided that the best way forward was to engage the advice of the Tree Officer from WLDC for an appraisal of the status quo.
Resident s queries over ownership of and maintenance requirements for R2 and open fields adjoining the furthest property on Fiskerton Rd. The query followed the 106 Agreement to provide and maintain a defined plot of land when this group of houses were built. It is known that the Lincolnshire rail fence is time degraded and it is the cut of R2 hedging is either not as per contract, or that the contract details have changed unintentionally. Maintenance of the trees are also queried. Contact details were taken and the Chair invited all to observe the site for further discussion.
13. Business for next agenda:
Xmas tree expenditure.
14. Date of next meeting:
Parish Meeting: Tuesday 29th July 2025, 7.30pm, Methodist Chapel.
The meeting closed at 08.30pm.
Cllr Brian Wharton, Temporary acting Parish Clerk. 26th June 2025.