July DRAFT Minutes STILL TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Reepham Parish Council held on
Tuesday 28th July 2025 at 7.30pm in Reepham Methodist Chapel
Present: Cllrs D Perkins (Chair), B Wharton (also acting as Clerk), A Brammer, D Davies, H Gee, C Wilson, 2 members of the public also attended.
Meeting started at 07.30pm.
Matters raised by members of the public:
Carried forward from the last June meeting, the members of the public reiterated their reasons for attendance.
Standing Orders were commenced at 07.35pm.
1. Apologies: C/Cllr T Bridgwood and D/Cllr M Palmer (attending meeting at WLDC). M Doughty (work) and J Oxby (funeral attendance).
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that these apologies be accepted
2. Declarations of Interest. Nil
3. Minutes of Meeting held on 25th June 2025:
A point had been raised that the R1 and R2 designators had been reversed. Given that these be correctly amended to this and previous minutes; at the proposal by Cllr H Gee, seconded by Cllr A Brammer, 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. The National Rail representative had been met on site and, after photographs and discussion with management had confirmed that later in the year this vegetation will be placed upon the clearance list.
Kennel Lane bus shelter damage: it was confirmed that this had been reported to police.
Clerk s annual leave on w/c 8 Sept and w/c 29 Sept was noted.
Reports from C/Cllr T Bridgwood and from D/Cllr M Palmer were read out. Copies on file.
5. Correspondence:
WLDC July Newsletter.
WLDC Community Grants Programme has reopened.
D/Cllr T Bridgwood re cold callers.
Police statistics and updates.
Police. Next online engagement session Thurs 25 Sept -6-8pm: Cllr D Davies confirmed that he will attend.
6. Financial matters
a) Presentation of Accounts for Payment:
M Vail, July salary, £248.15
PAYE, July, £62.00
M Vail, Aug salary, £248.15
PAYE, Aug, £62.00
Sage payroll, July, £12.00 (inc. £2.00 VAT)
Sage payroll, July, £12.00 (inc. £2.00 VAT)
Glendale 1521, £377.28 (inc. £62.87 VAT)
Glendale 1484, £1076.40 (inc. £179.40 VAT)
DAB Graphics, Lottery Grant Funded Noticeboard for Green, 1253.40 (inc. 208.90 VAT)
TOTAL, £3353.78 (inc. £455.57 VAT)
At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr C Wilson it was RESOLVED that these be paid.
b) Approve quote to replace damaged bus shelter quote (Kennel Lane): At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that the quote of 315 no VAT be accepted.
c) Approval for payment to Acorn Glass once invoice is presented for the High Street bus shelter. 315.00, no VAT. At the proposal by Cllr B Wharton, seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that the invoice of 315 (no VAT) be accepted.
d) Approval for payment to Acorn Glass once invoice is presented for the Kennel Lane bus shelter. NB Acorn were asked to reduce the second quote to 250.00 but felt unable to reduce. 315.00 (no VAT). At the proposal by Cllr B Wharton, seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that the invoice of 315 (no VAT) be accepted.
e) Payment for Glendale s invoice for grass cutting as they are received if they agree with original acceptance quote. At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that this be paid.
7. Planning Matters
Report from Planning Committee: The Chair of the planning committee updated that three applications are in hand at present.
WL/2025/00432, The development of the land behind 20 High St: this is still ongoing but there had been no change of stance by Highways (they have no objections).
WL/2025/00402: The 5-house re-application on Wragby Rd, N Greetwell which has been granted an extension until 31st July.
WL/2024/00036. Battery Installation to south of Barlings Lane. This appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is closed.
Goods Farm Development: Nothing to report.
Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group: The Chair updated the meeting on the results of the Referendum and its follow-up acceptance at WLDC.
It was agreed to send a letter to the Chair of the group, Nigel Hewerdine, thanking him for his perseverance, diligence and successful guidance that will result, through their collective efforts, in the future benefits for the village.
It was noted that any residual funds received to assist the process would need to be returned. Finance Officer to investigate in due course.
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
Meadow Close Chair provided an update and noted that some sections had been surfaced whilst others remained untouched. Chair to forward photographs to C/Cllr T Bridgwood for representation to LCC.
Fuel spillage at The Green. LCC have decided that nothing is needed.
9. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
Reepham /Greetwell PF 131: Delayed works: LCC have notified that, since the increase in cost and availability of wood, they have no funds for this repair. Holding item.
A comment had been made requesting that the horse field grass cutting, previously controlled by the horses, be resumed. Clerk to check.
10. Conservation area
Village Green: Cllr A Brammer noted that the project of the village green refurbishment was now more or less complete with the installation of the Information Board: an option to rectify the spelling mistake will be considered.
Cllr Brammer also requested that the notice board be taken off the Assets Register. At the proposal by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies it was RESOLVED that it be removed. The storage, for possible reuse of this board, was discussed.
Publicity. Cllr C Wilson raised the point that a Press Release laying out the need for this project, who had supplied the funds for its provision and to allocate thanks to those who had provided their time, knowledge and energies. A draft would be written and circulated to all councillors and only released after general acceptance.
11. Amenity areas
Damage to slide: EDM had quoted 250 but this had been increased to 290.00 + VAT. Proposed by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to proceed with this repair.
The logs on the slide had been found to need replacing: At a cost of 35.00 + VAT per log by EDM. Proposed by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to proceed with this repair at a maximum cost of 175.00 + VAT.
Cllr Brammer made the comment that the play area surface would need attention, either infill or surface cover. This to be investigated.
It was noted that the tree in the school grounds, close to the play area, had been trimmed by the school.
Play Area inspections. At the proposal of Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr B Wharton, it was RESOLVED that the Play Inspection Company be retained for 2026 at a cost of 96.50 + VAT.
12. Trees/vegetation
Meeting closed at 2040 to allow discussion.
Standing Orders resumed at 2047.
Vegetation behind Manor Rise (R2) and Ownership requirements and maintenance of R1 on Fiskerton Road: There was a site meeting on 28th July with Tree Officer from WLDC and Parish Council representatives. The Tree Officer is to update all TPO maps to agree a starting point for the current situation of what does, or does not, constitute the TPO population for the Manor Rise (R2).
Bearing in mind any civil or legal requirements and the need to be as helpful as possible to residents affected by overhangs, etc, applying to both areas, there is differentiation between procedures when an involved tree is dangerous, has a Tree Protection order on it, is self-seeded or is, simply, dead. The Parish Council is to work on developing a draft policy detailing how they will deal with the various scenarios to ensure consistency and provide clarity for all.
It was agreed to obtain quotations for felling a dead tree within the Fiskerton Road amenity area (R1) and reducing the hedge around it.
13. Approve Xmas tree expenditure: Given a maximum of 350 + VAT, it was proposed by Cllr A Brammer, seconded by Cllr D Davies, and RESOLVED to proceed with the purchase of a suitable tree at this price. Cllrs Brammer and Davies volunteered to visit the supplier and select the tree.
14. Business for next agenda:
Consider increasing Standing Orders in relation to the limit on expenditure that can be authorised outside a Parish Council Meeting.
15. Date of next meeting:
Parish Meeting: Tuesday, 30th September 2025, 7.30pm, Methodist Chapel.
The meeting closed at 08.55pm.
Cllr Brian Wharton, Temporary acting Parish Clerk. 3rd August 2025.