March DRAFT Minutes TO BE APPROVED
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of Reepham Parish Council held on
Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 7.30pm in Reepham Methodist Chapel
Present: Cllrs D Perkins (Chair), B Wharton, A Brammer, D Davies, H Gee, Mrs M Vail (Clerk), C/Cllr & D/Cllr T Bridgwood.
Absent: Cllr J Oxby, Cllr N Ward
Five members of the public also attended.
Open session started at 7.30pm.
Community Parking Forum: No public representation.
Matters raised by members of the public:
One resident advised their attendance in respect of item 5: proposed repairs by several residents to a section of Church Lane. They explained the plans for repairs and answered a query regarding drainage. A handout as prepared by the resident had been circulated prior to the meeting, and copies were available to Councillors at the meeting.
1. Apologies: D/Cllr M Palmer
2. Declarations of Interest: None
3. Minutes of Meeting held on 24 February 2026:
To include a correction to the Action from Cllr B Wharton to Cllr D Perkins on Item 8, Goods Farm planning application, proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED that these minutes be accepted.
4. Clerk s Report:
Annual village litter pick: attended by three parish councillors and three members of the public. Only five bags of rubbish and one tyre were collected, which is testament to our village litter picker. Action: Clerk to write letter of thanks. The accumulation of rubbish around the war memorial was noted.
Email changeover: two councillors are still to confirm.
Councillor vacancies Co-option at May meeting: both vacancies are now at the co-option stage, with the aim of being filled at the May meeting.
5. Correspondence:
To note:
Police update Feb; and WLDC March newsletter.
LCC Hawthorn Road Footway Remedial Works - Road Closure: 7 April - 17 April.
Damaged bus timetable holder High Street reported to LCC.
Action Required:
Nettleham PC request to support a TRO for A158 speed reduction:
Proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED to support Nettleham Parish Council. Action: Clerk
LCC Parish grass cutting agreement for signing:
Proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to sign and return the agreement letter to LCC. Action: Clerk
Resident email - seek PC support for proposed road repairs/improvements on section of Church Lane:
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to support the residents proposals for road repairs/improvements on section of Church Lane, to include any consultation which may be issued by WLDC.
Cherry Willingham Parish Council - inviting comments on the Pre-Submission Modification Proposals for the Cherry Willingham Neighbourhood Plan.
Action: Clerk to circulate to all.
6. Financial matters
a) Presentation of Accounts for Payment (Mar/Apr):
M Vail Mar salary (paid 27/3) 256.13
PAYE Mar (paid 27/3) 64.00
Sage payroll, Mar 13.20 (inc. 2.20 VAT)
M Vail Apr salary 256.13
PAYE Apr 64.00
Sage payroll, Apr 13.20 (inc. 2.20 VAT)
M Vail, homeworking allowance, Jan- Mar 15.00
M Vail, paper/printing Nov - Mar 18.45
M Vail, expenses, Norton renewal 64.99
N Power Xmas tree lights electricity 5.69 (inc. 0.27p VAT)
Bus shelter cleaning 50.00
TOTAL 820.79 (inc 4.67 VAT)
Noted that the March salary and PAYE had already been paid to ensure that this expenditure fell within the correct financial year. Proposed by Cllr B Wharton and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED that the abovementioned accounts be paid. Action: Clerk
b) INCOME (Oct 2025 March 2026)
LCC, Grass cutting contribution 1310.33
Interest, December 171.70
Interest, March 140.43
TOTAL 1622.46
The income was noted.
c) Agree payment of Glendale s invoices for March (if any March cut takes place) and April as they arrive; provided they are as per original quote.
Proposed by Cllr A Brammer and seconded Cllr D Davies, it was RESOLVED to approve this item. Action: Clerk.
7. Planning Matters
Report from Planning Committee:
WL/2026/00044: Land to north of Moor Lane: Install a new single pole mounted transformer. Approved.
WL/2026/00069: new school entrance. Approved.
WL/2026/00086: 9 The Green: extension & alterations to dwelling: Approved. RPC comments have been taken into consideration, and all materials will be checked before commencement.
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
Noted that supporting documentation to this planning application referred to a particular drawing with specific reference number, which RPC had tried on several occasions to obtain, unsuccessfully, to help inform its response to this planning application. RPC to submit a response after a WLDC Planning Officer finally advised that the reference number had been a typo and that the drawing had a different reference number, but doubts continue.
LALC E News 6/3/26 Planning losing control on Enforcements, complete with an Ombudsman's enquiry article:
Noted that RPC has a long history of dealing with non-enforcement by WLDC, and that the article makes mention of advantage being taken if matters are not enforced.
Receipt of new planning application WL/2026/00283: 27 Fiskerton Road: extension, was noted, which is an amendment to a 2023 application which RPC had never received. Whilst this application will be dealt with separately, it did provide additional information in relation to boundary walls along Fiskerton Road that merited further representation to WLDC regarding an earlier refusal to take enforcement action in relation to a different property.
8. Roads and footways
Mellows Close to Manor Rise footpath holding item
Mellows Close yellow lines LCC proposal to introduce waiting restrictions at several junctions in the vicinity of the school:
1) advertised by LCC on 26th March, deadline for objections is 27th April. Noted
2) LCC update on additional yellow lines and signage query:
LCC will not be amending the current proposal but will keep on file RPC s suggestions including additional restrictions between the existing zig zags and Chapel Close junction.
LCC have also noted concerns raised about ongoing parking issues around Beck Hill and Chapel Close which they will review once the new restrictions are in place to determine whether any separate measures may be appropriate in the future.
Bus shelter for Lincoln bound travellers at the bus stop on Fiskerton Road grant details:
A standalone grant of 3000.00 is available from LCC. Action: Clerk to obtain quotes for bus shelters.
Passageway from Station Road to Meadows Close - dead tree and fencing concerns: No LCC feedback to date. Action: Clerk to chase.
Proposed 30mph extension at Kennel Lane:
1) advertised by LCC on 19th March 2026, deadline for objections is 23rd April: Noted.
2) if implemented by LCC, consider (with approval of Lincs Road Safety Partnership), the SID location and install of repeater 30mph signs:
Item deferred.
9. Field Footpaths and Bridleways
Reepham /Greetwell PF 131 - Delayed works: holding item
Fiskerton Airfield Solar Site - D/Cllr
T Bridgwood advised that he had spoken with someone from the nearby solar site who had advised that he would be engaging with the local parish councils in due course. To date, this person has not made contact.
10. Conservation area
Village Green project update including finances, cherry tree:
The arboricultural advisor is scheduled to visit on 1st April, weather dependent.
11. Amenity areas
Play Area inspections internal, play area surfaces, roundabout repainting:
March inspection completed with no issues. The repainting of the roundabout is
weather dependent.
Fencing, boundary definition at R1:
The Chairman has met with the residents on 30th March 2026 and, in summary:
* Although marker posts had been suggested to denote the boundary, the Deed of Variation legal documentation states that RPC has an agreement to maintain the boundary, therefore, the Chairman proposes that RPC should replace the fencing.
* Four ash trees, which appear to be self-sets, the Chairman proposes that a request to remove these is left in abeyance
* One silver birch tree, which as per RPC s Tree Policy, allows for the residents to cut back to the boundary, but would leave a tall cut-off trunk, the residents are happy to fund cutting off at stump. The Chairman proposes that this tree is removed, with the residents to pay the costs of the work.
Proposed by Cllr D Perkins and seconded Cllr A Brammer, it was RESOLVED to accept the three abovementioned proposals. Action: Clerk.
Standing Orders were suspended at 8.10pm to allow residents to speak in respect of the previous item. They advised that they did not have a fencing contractor but can get one and can send details, including prices, to the Clerk.
Standing orders resumed at 8.12pm.
12. Trees/vegetation:
Vegetation behind Manor Rise, TPO mapping holding item
Protection of fences etc requires a Spring site meeting (Manor Rise)
Trees for Streets scheme Item deferred.
Condition of two trees in grass area on left side of Mellows Close:
The arboricultural advisor will inspect.
Railway work scheduled for 2nd Feb 2026: Work not carried out. Action: Clerk
13. Car parking at the war memorial on Fiskerton Road (Cllr A Brammer):
Noted, excessive issues with litter around the war memorial from solar workers.
A query was raised regarding current, and future access to the memorial. Action: Clerk to raise matter with Fiskerton PC. Action: Cllr D Perkins
14. Business for next agenda: Insurance renewal, Audit
15. Date of next meeting:
Annual Parish Meeting - Wed 13th May 2026, 7.15pm, Methodist Chapel
Annual Meeting of the Parish Council Wed 13th May, 7.30pm, Methodist Chapel
Meeting ended at 8.20pm.
Mrs Michelle Vail, Parish Clerk/RFO 20th April 2026