February 2026 DRAFT Minutes STILL TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Reepham Parish Council held on
Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 7.30pm in Reepham Methodist Chapel
Present: Cllrs D Perkins (Chair), B Wharton, A Brammer, D Davies, H Gee, N Ward, Mrs M Vail (Clerk), C/Cllr & D/Cllr T Bridgwood.
Four members of the public also attended.
Open session started at 7.30pm.
Matters raised by members of the public
Resident: advised their attendance in respect of item 13, oak tree behind Manor Rise.
Resident: spoke in respect of the proposed FP 129/1 diversion (Goods Farm). They distributed a summary of their points raised at this meeting and advised that their submitted objection to the proposed FP diversion will be withdrawn. They requested that RPC, on behalf of the village, takes concerns forward and maintains objections.
Resident: spoke at length in respect of the proposed FP 129/1 diversion (Goods Farm). They distributed a handout in support of their speech. Their points raised included: stressing the importance of the definitive FP map, and the influence that FPs can have upon planning applications. They expressed concern with the seeming lack of transparency throughout the whole planning process and considered that important comments submitted to the planning authority had been ignored. They had also withdrawn their own objection.
C/Cllr T Bridgwood advised that the Local Government Reorganisation online consultation is running from 5th February 2026 for 7 weeks.
Meeting started at 8.21pm.
1. Apologies: Cllr J Oxby (work), D/Cllr M Palmer (meeting)
2. Declarations of Interest:
Cllr A Brammer: two non-pecuniary declarations of interest in respect of item 8: planning application WL/2026/00086 9 The Green, and Diversion of part footpath 129/1(Goods Farm).
Cllr H Gee: item 13, oak tree behind Manor Rise.
3. Minutes of Meeting held on 27 January 2026:
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED that
these minutes be accepted.
Cllr Catherine Wilson the Chairman marked the sad passing of Cllr Catherine Wilson. A valued member of the Neighbourhood Plan Group, and Village Green Project Group, Catherine s contributions as a Parish Councillor will be greatly missed.
4. Councillor vacancies Co-option:
There are two vacancies which are aimed to be filled by co-option at the May meeting.
5. Clerk s Report:
Annual village litter pick - 29th March 2026. Arrangements were confirmed.
Email changeover two councillors are still to move to their new email addresses.
Pensions Regulator - re-declaration of compliance completed: Noted.
Clerk s annual leave w/c 16 March 2026: Noted.
6. Correspondence:
To note:
Police update Feb 2026.
Local Government Reorganisation online consultation - 5th Feb for 7 weeks.
FOI Request in respect of proposed FP 129/1 diversion (Goods Farm). The applicant has been responded to.
LCC - road safety issues on Hawthorn Road LCC has copied RPC into a response to a member of the public concerning an accident between the R&CW Village Hall and Kennel Lane. Part of this response suggested that RPC may consider repositioning one of its speed indicator devices to the accident location. However, this location falls within Cherry Willingham parish. Action: Clerk to forward LCC s response and request to CWPC.
Action Required:
LCC Parish grass cutting plans for review and acceptance:
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to accept the grass cutting plans. Action: Clerk.
7. Financial matters
a) Presentation of Accounts for Payment (Feb):
M Vail Feb salary 255.93
PAYE Feb 64.20
Sage payroll, Feb 13.20 (inc. 2.20 VAT)
TOTAL 333.33 (inc 2.20 VAT)
Reported that the invoice for Reepham News, to cover Jan Oct 2026, had been received at 100.00. Approval to pay this had already been given at an earlier meeting, although at that time the amount had not been known.
After October 2026, Reepham News will move to being an online publication, without advertisers, due to the current editor stepping down.
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED that the abovementioned accounts be paid. Action: Clerk
b) Annual approval of Reviewed Financial Risk Assessment
Proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED to approve and accept the Reviewed Financial Risk Assessment
c) Annual approval of Reviewed Asset Register
Proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED to approve and accept the Reviewed Asset Register
8. Planning Matters
Report from Planning Committee:
WL/2026/00028: 25 Mellows Close: extension. Approved
WL/2026/00069: new school entrance. No objections.
WL/2026/00044: Land to north of Moor Lane: Install a new single pole mounted transformer. No objections.
WL/2026/00086: 9 The Green: extension & alterations to dwelling: Action: Cllr B Wharton to draw up comments for submission to WLDC.
Action: Clerk to action all planning applications as required.
Diversion of part footpath 129/1 - Letter from Order Making Authority:
The letter from the Order Making Authority (OMA) explains the statutory process to be followed if a public footpath is to be diverted and the two tests to be satisfied for an order to divert a public footpath to be confirmed: necessity and merit. The OMA considers these two tests to have been met.
The letter asks that if the email from RPC to WLDC dated 8th October 2025 is a formal objection to the diversion order, that RPC reviews its position and considers withdrawing its position.
The letter further explains that, should an objection not be withdrawn, and the matter be referred to the Secretary of State for an inquiry or hearing, an award of costs can be made against the objectors. In the case of RPC, this would mean that costs would fall to the residents.
Councillors discussed FP 129/1, and its routing, at length. Standing Orders were suspended and resumed twice during discussions to allow residents to speak, between 8.47pm and 8.49pm, and again between 8.55pm and 8.58pm.
After full consideration, proposed by Cllr D Davies and seconded Cllr H Gee, it was RESOLVED to withdraw the objection. Action: Clerk
Goods Farm Development WL/2026/00102:
Planning application to erect 8no. dwellings being variation of conditions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 10 of planning permission 145047 granted 1 September 2023 - to satisfy the original pre-commencement conditions and alterations to layout & property types
Cllr A Brammer s declaration of interest was noted.
Noted that there had once been grass verges which had disappeared when gates had been installed. It was uncertain if the development plans on this application show any allowance for verges.
Subject to checking the grass verge query, it was RESOLVED, with one abstention, to accept this application as the principle of the development had already been established by the earlier application which is still valid. Action: Cllr B Wharton, Clerk
Sudbrooke Neighbourhood Plan Review - Regulation 16 Submission: Consultation: Noted.
9. Roads and footways
Mellows Close to Manor Rise footpath holding item
Mellows Close yellow lines LCC have submitted a proposal to introduce waiting restrictions at several junctions in the vicinity of the school.
To include a suggestion that extra double yellow lines also be included, to run from the zig zag lines outside the school to the corner of Chapel Close, it was RESOLVED to support LCC s proposal. Action: Clerk. Noted that existing road signage is ignored. Action: Clerk to ask LCC for suggestions to improve upon signage.
Bus shelter for Lincoln bound travellers at the bus stop on Fiskerton Road LCC have advised that a shelter would not be possible outside 28 Fiskerton Road for safety reasons. A back and roof only shelter is the only style of shelter suitable for the existing bus stop, subject to various consents. A bus shelter grant is available. Action: Clerk to investigate grant.
Passageway from Station Road to Meadows Close - dead tree and fencing concerns: LCC are investigating, the matter is ongoing.
If proposed 30mph extension at Kennel Lane is implemented by LCC, consider (with approval of Lincs Road Safety Partnership), the SID location and install of repeater 30mph signs: Item deferred.
10. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
Reepham /Greetwell PF 131 - Delayed works: holding item
11. 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.
12. Amenity areas
Play Area inspections internal, play area surfaces, roundabout repainting:
Jan/Feb inspection completed with no issues.
Fencing, boundary definition at R1:
Matters are in hand to progress works on the boundary definition at R1. Action: Chair & Clerk
13. Trees/vegetation:
Vegetation behind Manor Rise, TPO mapping holding item
Request to crown lift oak tree behind 10 Manor Rise:
Cllr H Gee left the meeting for this item. Proposed by Cllr D Davies and seconded Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED to approve the request. Action: Clerk
Protection of fences etc: requires a Spring site meeting (Manor Rise)
Trees for Streets scheme consider sites to plant trees: Item deferred.
Condition of two trees in grass area on left side of Meadows Close:
The arboricultural advisor will inspect.
Railway work scheduled for 2nd Feb 2026: Noted.
14. Xmas: lights update: Cllr A Brammer will purchase these.
15. Business for next agenda: None.
16. Date of next meeting: Tuesday 31 March 2026, 7.30pm, Methodist Chapel
The meeting closed at 9.30pm
Mrs Michelle Vail, Parish Clerk/RFO 9th March 2026