September 2025 DRAFT Minutes
FALDINGWORTH PARISH COUNCIL
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MINUTES OF THE FALDINGWORTH PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Memorial Hall Faldingworth
Wednesday 17 September 2025
Present: D. Waine (Chair) Debbie Whelan (Clerk), Cllrs W. Green, Cllr D. Dickinson, and Cllr. P Sandford
Two members of the public were present
25/09/01. To receive apologies and reasons for absence
Apologies were received from Cllr. Buck and Cllr. Land. There was no response from Cllr. Bradbury.
25/09/02. Declaration of items of interest.
There were no declarations of interest raised.
25/09/03. To resolve to suspend the meeting to allow no more than 15 minutes of public forum
It was RESOLVED to suspend the meeting to allow for 15 minutes of public forum.
A Parishioner raised the initiative a neighbourhood plan.
Neighbourhood Plans give communities like ours real power in shaping how development happens locally. They’re not just advisory—they become part of the statutory planning framework. That means when planning applications are submitted, our Neighbourhood Plan would carry legal weight alongside the district’s Local Plan. It allows us to say where development should happen, what it should look like, and what we want to protect.
This is especially important for villages like Faldingworth, where we want to preserve our rural character, heritage, and sense of community. Without a plan, we’re largely reacting to proposals. With one, we can be proactive - setting out a shared vision for the next 10, 15, or even 20 years.
We don’t have to look far for inspiration. Spridlington has already gone through this process. Their Neighbourhood Plan includes policies to:
• Protect green spaces and agricultural land
• Guide the design of new housing to reflect the village’s character
• Support small-scale, sustainable development that meets local needs
• Preserve key views and heritage assets
They’ve shown that it can be done - and that it can make a real difference.
GOV.UK website notes that there are three qualifying bodies, Parish/Town Council, Neighbourhood Council,
It was AGREED that the Clerk post a notice on the Faldingworth Parish Council Facebook Group to see if any support from the Parish would be forthcoming. Interested parties would contact the applicant directly.
A second Parishioner raised the issues about the playpark. The dry summer and wet winter has impacted on the wear and tear of the playpark. These all impact on the Health and Safety of the playpark. It was AGREED that the Parishioner email the list of Health and Safety challenges to the Clerk and the Clerk will follow up with the inspection contractors as far as the intended date of inspection is likely to be.
The Parishioner also raised the condition of the pavement travelling into Lincoln, between Boundary Walk and the Council Houses. It was AGREED that the Clerk raise this issue.
25/09/04. Confirmation of Parish Council Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting of the 30 July 2025 were APPROVED.
25/09/05. Updates from outside bodies
There were no updates from any outside bodies.
25/09/06. Resident Issues, taking any required action
A complaint was received by a Parishioner about a rapidly growing horse-chestnut tree in Jubilee Avenue backing onto a shared ownership residence. This has been reported.
25/09/07. Financial Matters, taking any required action
• Payments for the period were APPROVED
• Bank Reconciliation for the period was APPROVED
• The Unity Bank Account has been set up. The funds now need to be transferred from HSBC to the new account.
• The next priority is setting up the investment account with Hampshire Bank.
DD Bank Charges to 3 July £ 9.00
DD Bank Charges to 3 August £ 2.00
Cheque 101271 Glendale July Grass cutting £ 332.90
Transfer L. County Council Road Safety Goods £ 400.00
Transfer Clerk Salary August/September £ 217.12
Transfer WFH A/S; Cloud Next, deposit, battery £ 139.99
Transfer PAYE Clerk August and September £ 144.80
Transfer Glendale August Grass Cutting £ 237.49
A total of £ 1483.30 was spent. There was no income received
The Clerk indicated that the VAT paid on the Speed Device was not included in the VAT return and that they have followed this up with HMRC.
The Current Account reflects a balance of £ 19 429.74
The Business Money Manager Account reflects a balance of £ 31 549.83
The proposed budget was circulated and it was AGREED it will serve as a draft for the November budget discussion.
25/09/08. Speedwatch
• Cllr Land needs to send battery details for the old Speed Indicator to the Clerk for it to be replaced.
• The solar power speed indicator has been moved to the new pole. However, this needs to be tilted in order to capture the correct speed.
• It was suggested that a speed indicator which captures the actual speed be purchased. This needs to be put onto the budget next year.
• Cllrs. Sandford, Land and Buck and put together a strategy to assemble the Community Speedwatch initiative.
25/09/09. Playing Field issues, taking any required action
None were raised.
25/09/10. Planning matters
No planning matters were received.
25/09/11. Correspondence
Correspondence was received from Dawn Osko from RAF Ingham recording interest in the Church and also the activities at the Polish Bomber Memorial. This correspondence was NOTED.
25/09/12. Playground inspection
The Clerk has established that an accompanied visit will cost an additional fee and has instructed the company to go-ahead with the inspection on the original quotation. The Clerk is in the process of establishing a timeline for inspection. This will inform a strategy for repairs and/or replacement which will be subject to budgetary processes.
25/09/13. LALC and LALC training Scheme
• The funds left in for website maintenance are still adequate but will need topping up for the next meeting.
• The Clerk contacted LALC with respect to using gmail addresses and was advised that the next audit would specifically mention protected email forms and that it was advisable to persevere with the GOV.UK addresses. The Clerk has resolved most of the issues. Councillors are receiving emails on the GOV.UK email addresses.
• The Clerk forwarded the list of LALC training to all Councillors. Cllr. Sandford registered for a number of courses, however the agency sent confirmation directly to their GOV.UK address. In future, the Clerk is to alert LALC to ensuring that they are copied in to the confirmation.
• Cllr. Sandford has completed the Social Media course. The Clerk needs to make Cllr. Sandford an admin so that the social media and messages can be centralised.
25/09/14. West Lindsey funding opportunities
The Clerk has sourced quotes for the uPVC gates to submit for the funding application. The two quotations came in were
JACS: Production and Delivery £2880 excl VAT (but install)
Glasdon: Production and Delivery £2516.72, excl. VAT. (they do not install).
It was RESOLVED that the Clerk apply for funding, based on the Glasdon quotation and use the guideline of the JACS installation costs to submit the quotation for WLDC funding.
25/09/15. Outstanding issues from the audit.
Feedback over outstanding items from audit.
• Items over £100 on the Website – a simple, end of year document.
• Adoption of updated Standing Orders
• Adoption of updated Financial Regulations
• Adoption of standard Code of Conduct
• Adoption of standard Risk Management Policy
Cllr. Waine noted that the Standing Orders that were on the Website were those adopted in 2021. The Clerk is to check this and resolve with the 2024 Standing Orders.
25/09/16. Urgent Items not on the Agenda
• Follow up on Urgent Items 30th July 2025
-Tree on Village Green: Reported – needs re reporting
- Hedge on A46: Needs flagging on the Council Facebook Group
- Bench on Spridlington Road: Repaired by Cllr Dickinson.
- Whatsapp Group: Formed by Cllr Sandford. The Clerk reports that this has been very supportive.
- Facebook Group: Set up as one way communication
- Dropped BT access point: Reported and repairs in process
- Blocked Drain Spridlington Road: Reported but needs monitoring.
- Collapsed fence on Public Right of Way: Reported and inspection in process
- Dog Bin for Playground: Reported, request for new dog bin submitted. It appears that any communication around dog fouling needs close monitoring.
The Chair reported that the fence at back of Village Hall needs repair. A tree on the Village Hall side needs to be cut back as it is impacting the fence which needs to be painted very soon. It was RESOLVED that Cllr. Green purchase linseed oil so that this can be addressed. Once the oil is in hand then arrangements can be made for painting.
25/09/17. Remembrance Day
- Poppies in village
Cllr. Sandford to email URL for the purchase of large poppies from the RBL to the Clerk for purchase.
Clerk to contact John Fountain re purchase of the wreath.
- Kisimul communication
The Clerk is to contact Kisumul and inform them as to the Remembrance Day commemoration on 9th November 2025.
25/10/18. Urgent items not on the Agenda
No items were raised.
25/07/19. Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on 19 November 2025 at 7.30pm.
The meeting closed at 21.15pm.