2025 Minutes

Waddingham Parish Council

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 2nd July 2025, 7pm at Jubilee Hall

Present:  Cllrs L Williams (Chair),  P Williams, C Jones, A White, G Thacker & J Thacker, Cllr S Kirman

 

Cllr S Bunney

The Clerk

11  members of the public                                           

 

A number of members of the public attended the meeting to show support for a request for allotments in the village.  The Chair has taken advice from the National Allotment Society and the Parish Council are looking for suitable areas of land.

 

A member of the public raised concerns regarding the state of the road at Brandy Wharf.  This has been reported numerous times on fixmystree.com and will be reported again.  Highways have advised that repairs will not take place yet as it requires major work and  will be a large project undertaken in the future.

 

79/25 Apologies for Absence  - Cllr  B Tiley & Cllr E Law

 

80/25 Declaration of Interest 

To record declarations of interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below. Members declaring interests should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared. To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed. – Cllrs Thacker declared an interest in item 16 on the agenda- Letting of roadside herbage.

 

81/25 Minutes of Previous Meeting to be approved and signed- The minutes from Wednesday 7th May 2025 were signed as a true and accurate record.

 

82/25 Matters arising - none

 

83/25 County and District Councillors report -County Councillor Bunney reported that WLDC now have further grant funding available for communities and advised the parish council look into what is available.

District Councillor Duguid was not in attendance.

 

84/25 Police Report- Cllr White reported that he had attended the recent training and the police are looking at ways to improve their communications with parishes.

 

84/25 Clerk’s report- All items covered on the agenda.

 

85/25 Finance

(a) Schedule of payments and receipts:

 

(i) C. Wright, salary June- £293 

(ii) C. Wright, salary July- £293

(iii) C Wright, expenses June and July- £33.50

(iv) AJ Williams, grass cutting- £324 

(v) AJ Williams, grass cutting, £324

(vi) Village Hall, room hire- £120

(vii) Payment received- Village Hall ground rent £20

 

Current Account Balance- £9378

Reserve account balance- £5878

 

86/25 Correspondence for discussion or information

(a) Discussion- Litter on the Village Green- a letter had been received regarding litter being left on the Village Green.  Cllr L Williams had investigated and the bin was full.  Clerk to contact Simon Smoothey at WLDC to report and check what the schedule is for emptying.  Another bin may be purchased in the future if necessary.  The school have also reminded children to take their litter home of the bin is full.

(b) Discussion- Request for allotments.  More than 6 parishioners have now requested allotments.  Cllr L Williams has contacted the National Allotment Society for advice.  Cllr C Jones has been looking for suitable land in the village and contacted a number of land owners.  Currently no suitable site has been found.  It was resolved that Cllr C Jones can contact the land registry to find who owns land which may be suitable.  The parish council will also put out a call for land in the Triangle magazine and write to the Poor Close Trust and James Thompson Trust to see if they have any land which they may consider allowing the council to rent for the purpose of providing allotments.  Cllr S Bunney suggested that it may be worth considering setting up a community garden as they can be easier to establish than allotments.  Further suggestions of reaching out to Bishop Norton Council may also be considered.  

 

87/25 Emergency Plan Update- nothing to report at this meeting,  Item to remain on the agenda.

ACTION: Cllr Tiley

 

88/25 Flood relief scheme and beck cleaning matters including concerns raised about erosion- It was reported that the flood relief scheme is all working well.  Cllr White to send map of area which is overgrown to the clerk so she can contact the landowner and request that it is cleared as per their riparian rights.

 

Areas of the beck bank are eroding.    Cllr White has met with Ian Moore to discuss a plan of how the bank can be improved using sandbanks to reinforce the bank and remove sand from the centre of the beck to improve the flow.  The quote has not yet been received.

It was reported that areas of the beck are overgrown with weeds.  Clerk to contact Environment Agency to report. The bank at the Redbourne Road/ Kirton Road junction has been damaged by heavy vehicles.  Council to report to Highways.

ACTION: Cllr White & Clerk

 

89/25 Play Area- Cllr P Willaims has continued to inspect the equipment regularly and confirmed it is all in good condition.  ROSPA have confirmed they will undertake the annual safety check in August or September.

 

90/25 Constable Ings Trust- The clerk reported that the Land Agent contacted at Perkins George Mawer confirmed that as a protected tenant the rent the parish council receives for the Constable Ings land is reasonable.  Cllr L Williams to speak to the current tenant to see if he wishes to continue to rent the land.  The Constable Ings bank account balance is £8939.57

ACTION: Clerk 

 

91/25 North Ramper update-No further update.

 

92/25 Letting of roadside herbage- Resolve to sign the agreement for Brandywharf Leisure Park to rent the land.

 

93/25 Highways Matters to include any issues that arise- Brandywharf Road to be reported again and the bank on the village beck which is the responsibility of LCC Highways to be reported.

ACTION: Cllr L Williams

 

94/25 Planning Matters to include any issues that arise after distribution of the agenda but before the meeting- planning appeal WL/2024/0056, Land off Common Road- no action needed, planning inspector will contact the Parish Council if considered necessary.

 

95/25 Streetlighting update- It was reported that householders do not wish to reinstate streetlights on their homes.  Cllr Bunney suggested investigating solar streetlights.

 

96/25 Confirmation of date and time of next meeting  2025 3rd September- Jubilee Hall 7pm 

 

97/25 Additional Items for the November agenda- none

 

Meeting closed at 20.21