January 2026 DRAFT Minutes STILL TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Reepham Parish Council held on
Tuesday 27th January 2026 at 7.30pm in Reepham Methodist Chapel
Present: Cllrs D Perkins (Chair), B Wharton, A Brammer, D Davies, H Gee, J Oxby, Mrs M Vail (Clerk), D/Cllr M Palmer, C/Cllr & D/Cllr T Bridgwood.
Five members of the public also attended.
Meeting started at 7.30pm.
Matters raised by members of the public
Resident: spoke in respect of the R1 amenity space on Fiskerton Road, expressing concerns in connection with recent work carried out, and asking what RPC’s next steps would be in respect of this space.
Resident: advised their interest in the cherry tree on the green. It was explained that, due to nil response from the primary appointed arboricultural advisor, a second professional had been appointed. Their report will be given consideration before any decisions are taken; and works consent will be required due to the tree being in the conservation area.
Resident: spoke in respect of the proposed FP 129/1 diversion (Goods Farm), distributing copies of a map, and opining that the Footpath was being obstructed. The three consultations with RPC on this matter from 2023 onwards were summarised, noting that RPC’s submitted comments from October 2025 on the most recent consultation had not been published on WLDC’s website. Action: Clerk.
1. Apologies: Cllrs D Davies (family event), C Wilson (ill), N Ward (ill)
One member of the public left the meeting at 7.43pm.
2. Declarations of Interest: None
3. Minutes of Meeting held on 25 November 2025:
With the addition of the words ‘or the applicant’ to Item 7, proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED these minutes be accepted.
4. Clerk’s Report:
Councillor vacancy: Cllr Mark Doughty has resigned, and the resultant vacancy is being advertised.
Annual village litter pick: It was RESOLVED for 29th March 2026, meeting at the village hall at 10am. D/Cllrs will provide the equipment. Mark Doughty has offered to run the social media promotion once again.
Email changeover: the Clerk and most Councillors have moved to the new email addresses. Very little mail is coming to the old email address.
Methodist Chapel License 2026: this has been signed and returned for hall hire.
Request for bus shelter on Kennel Lane for William Farr pupils: the school has been written to twice but has not responded.
5. Correspondence:
To note:
WLDC – December newsletter.
Police updates including their moving back to using Lincs Alert.
Resident - Bylaw on right of way at gate at the back lane and Beck Hill development. As there is no RPC involvement in bylaws, the resident was advised to approach WLDC.
Action Required:
WLDC - Local Government Reorganisation: Briefing Session for West Lindsey Parish & Town Councils (Mon 2 Feb: 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Online):
The Clerk is to attend. D/Cllr T Bridgwood advised that the Government’s consultation phase will shortly be entered. Six options are currently on the table, although some are duplicates and may be consolidated.
LCC: National Highways & Transport (NHT) Survey: Councillors can complete the survey if they wish.
6. Financial matters
a) Presentation of Accounts for Payment (Jan):
M Vail – Jan salary £ 256.13
PAYE – Jan £ 64.00
Sage payroll, Jan £ 13.20 (inc. £2.20 VAT)
Methodist Church, Hire for meetings £ 225.00
LALC annual subs £ 296.76
TOTAL £855.09 (inc £2.20 VAT)
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr H Gee, it was RESOLVED that these be paid. Action: Clerk
b) Consider joining LALC Annual Training Scheme at £145.00 + £29.00 vat:
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr J Oxby, it was RESOLVED not to join the Annual Training Scheme.
7. Planning Matters
Report from Planning Committee:
WL/2026/00028: 25 Mellows Close: extension. No comment. Action Clerk
WL/2026/00069: new school entrance: a new application, so this will be circulated to the Planning Panel for comments. Action: Clerk.
WL/2026/00044: Land to north of Moor Lane: Install a new single pole mounted transformer, to accommodate for a new electricity supply: the applicant is to be asked (via WLDC) for further details as to its purpose, before comments are agreed. Action: Clerk
Goods Farm Development: LCC feedback on independent road safety surveyors: LCC had suggested that recent inspections might have been carried out by Anglian Water, as they had completed works on 11th December 2025.
8. Roads and footways
Mellows Close to Manor Rise footpath – holding item
Mellows Close yellow lines – LCC have submitted a proposal, to include Mellows Close junction, to introduce waiting restrictions at junctions in the vicinity of the school to help ‘address inconsiderate and dangerous parking causing safety concerns for all road users.’ Agenda item for February meeting. Action: Clerk
Bus shelter for Lincoln bound travellers at the bus stop in Fiskerton – LCC have finally reviewed the location and submitted their findings. Agenda item for February meeting. Action: Clerk
Section of road surface dressing works completed in 2025 (Langworth – Reepham); also Kennel Lane:
LCC have advised that the works are failing, so the contractor will carry out regular sweeping of the affected areas, followed by remedial works at the contractor’s expense.
Passageway from Station Road to Meadows Close:
A resident has advised of a dead tree overhanging the passageway, fallen branches, and roots uplifting the pavement. There are also concerns with rotten and leaning fencing. Action: Clerk to report to LCC.
LCC consultation: proposed 30mph extension at Kennel Lane:
Having previously being advised by LCC that it would not be possible to extend the 30mph zone, LCC are now consulting on this. Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr J Oxby, it was RESOLVED to support this proposal. Action: Clerk
If previous item is approved and implemented by LCC, consider, with approval of Lincs Road Safety Partnership (LRSP), relocation of Speed Indicator Device (SID): A suggestion was made to keep the SID in its current location and install repeater 30mph signs, obtainable from LRSP. Item for next agenda. Action: Clerk
9. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
Reepham /Greetwell PF 131: Delayed works: holding item
FP 125/2 Loose kissing gate posts (horse field):
LCC will inspect and raise a job as required. LCC are also resetting a post on FP128.
10. Conservation area
Village Green – project update including finances, cherry tree:
The second arboricultural advisor will make contact in early March to inspect the cherry tree, then report back accordingly.
11. Amenity areas
Play Area inspections – internal, play area surfaces, roundabout repainting:
The January play inspection has not yet been completed. The repainting is weather dependent. The tie wraps to deter pigeons have been reset, and the moles have reappeared.
Fencing, boundary definition at R1:
Noted that the resident’s correspondence and S106 documentation relating to R1 had been circulated to councillors ahead of the meeting. Councillors were then given opportunity to make comment.
Standing Orders were suspended at 8.30pm.
The Chairman explained to the resident that it was felt that providing security via its boundary was not a PC responsibility. The PC does have a responsibility to define the boundary but not necessarily in the form of a fence, for example, this could be in the form of posts on the boundary line as the PC has previously done at the school. The Chairman repeated that the PC were generally satisfied with the contractor’s work.
The resident responded to explain that where a dead tree had been removed, other vegetation had also come out, leaving a gaping hole. He noted that the field side of R1 is fine, and that ash trees, which are not on the original planting, remain in situ.
The Chairman then summarised next steps:
* Replant old planting where it is missing across the back run of hedging
* Remove old fence and put in boundary markers
* Cut back overhanging vegetation so the residents can put their own fencing up.
Item for next agenda. Action: Clerk. Action: All Councillors to inspect R1.
Standing Orders resumed at 8.35pm
12. Trees/vegetation:
Vegetation behind Manor Rise, TPO mapping – holding item:
Tree Policy may be road tested by a resident.
Protection of fences etc: requires a Spring site meeting (Manor Rise)
Trees for Streets scheme – LCC’s policy on tree planting on verges:
LCC have advised that they do not have an actual policy but do have a Legal Power to Plant. Councillors to consider where to plants trees in the parish.
Item for next agenda. Action: Clerk.
Condition of two trees in grass area on left side of Mellows Close:
Some branches have come away in the high winds before Christmas. One branch is currently just ‘resting’ and requires removing. The arboricultural advisor will inspect.
Railway – are due to do their vegetation work in February.
13. Xmas: review/feedback:
Thanks were extended to all involved in the Xmas celebrations. Noted that three strings of lights require replacing. Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr B Wharton, it was RESOLVED to purchase 3 replacement strings at £32.99 per string. Action: Cllr A Brammer
14. Business for next agenda: Annual approval of Financial Risk Assessment
D/Cllr M Palmer advised that food waste bin collections will commence from beginning of March 2026.
15. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 24 February 2026, 7.30pm, Methodist Chapel
Mrs Michelle Vail, Parish Clerk/RFO 15th February 2026
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