2026 Minutes

February 2026 Minutes

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE WOODHALL SPA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 17th FEBRUARY 2026 AT 7.00PM AT THE COUNCIL OFFICE.
 
Public Forum
Two members of the public addressed the Council. A prospective new Councillor addressed the meeting and explained why they would like to be considered and what they could offer. A representative from Woodhall Spa Croquet Club addressed the Council with regard to a grant application they had made.
In Attendance
Chairman Councillor Richard Brown, Marcus Williams, Roger Etches, Patricia Bradwell and Rod Williams
 
Also present: 
Karen Handley, Parish Clerk
ELDC Councillor Craig Leyland 
ELDC Councillor Thomas Kemp (left 20.35 p.m.)
 
FC/1/02/26 Opening comments from the Chair 
The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and informed the meeting that Dave Mullenger from the Royal British Legion had sadly passed away. Details of funeral arrangements had been on social media. The Chair expressed his wish to attend.
FC/2/02/26 Apologies for absence with reason given 
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Charles, Cllr Scarborough, Cllr Gammage and after a failed Teams connection, Cllr Watts.
Apologies were received from LCC Natalie Oliver.
FC/3/02/26 To consider applicant for co-option onto the parish council and resolve to co-opt.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to co-opt Ian Hunt onto Woodhall Spa Parish Council. He duly signed his Declaration of Acceptance.
FC/4/02/26 Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011
(Disclosure by all members present of disclosable pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda that have not already been declared on their Declarations of Interests form or put in writing to the Monitoring Officer at East Lindsey District Council)
Cllr R Williams declared an interest in item 21 on the agenda.
FC/5/02/26 To consider requests from members for a dispensation on any items on the agenda (In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 the Parish Council has the authority to grant any members present a dispensation on their disclosable pecuniary interest so that they may take place in the debate and vote)
None
FC/6/02/26 To receive the draft notes from the Full Council Meeting Tuesday 20th January 2026 to be approved as the minutes
It was proposed, seconded, and unanimously resolved to accept the notes as the minutes.
FC/7/02/26 To receive a report from Lincolnshire County Council & East Lindsey District Council
ELDC- Councillor Leyland explained that information regarding the proposed Local Government reform was on the ELDC website. A decision should have been made by the Government by the end of March. As seen on the news a u turn has been made by the Government with regard to Local Elections and they will be going ahead in May. 
ELDC are setting the budget and Council Tax is set to rise by 2.9%. Councillor Leyland reminded the meeting that 65% of revenue raised does go to the Witham Internal Drainage Board. £10 million will go to the ELIF2 grant fund and there is an event on 25th February at the Hub for Community groups to attend regarding available funding.
The public toilets are scheduled to be refurbished, hopefully, by the summer.
Councillor Leyland also reported that the Ripon Home Developers had gone bankrupt, but ELDC were taking on responsibility for ensuring that were there no adverse drainage issues which would affect the development.
LCC- Councillor Oliver had sent her apologies.
 
FC/8/02/26 To approve automated, retrospective, and future payments to be made
a) It was proposed, seconded, and unanimously resolved to approve the payments listed below.

Person/Company to be paid

Invoice No.

Details

Amount

£

TalkTalk Business

2526/198

Office phone and broadband

36.18

Woodhall in Bloom

2526/199

Community Grant

1500.00

Wave

2526/200

Royal Square Water

0.82

Business Waste

2526/201

Office Waste

12.01

Richard Brown

2526/202

Hard protective case/rubber grommets

43.33

TalkTalk Business

2526/203

Office phone and broadband

36.18

YU Energy

2526/204

Office Electricity

81.73

YU Energy

2526/205

Royal Square Electricity

51.69

Wave

2526/206

Office water

84.53

Business Waste

2526/207

Office waste

12.01

J Ward/T Gibbons

2526/208

Royal Square Maintenance Contract

1060.00

Welton Garden Services

2526/209

Kirkby Lane Cemetery/St Andrew’s Churchyard

1020.00

LALC

2526/210

Councillor Training

21.00

Pink Marigold Cleaning

2526/211

Office Cleaning

120.00

Cuttlefish Multimedia Ltd

2526/212

Email accounts

504.00

Stephen Long Gardening Services

2526/213

Gardening contract St Andrew’s Churchyard/Chapman’s Corner

610.00

Payroo

2526/214

Payroll

6.00

British Gas

2526/215

ATM electricity

21.15

JT Ward Joinery Ltd

2526/216

Victorian shop signage and picket fence

11,760.07

K Handley/HMRC/LCC Pensions

2526/217

Staff costs

1717.91

Mr Muir

2526/218

Refund of EROB (cemetery)

170.00

EDF

2526/219

Office Gas

441.38

Wave

2526/220

Royal Square Water

0.82

Tony Gibbons

2526/221

Village Maintenance/Cemetery

297.00
 
b) To note the bank reconciliation
The bank reconciliation of £87,162,58 as of 29/01/2026 was noted.
 
 
FC/09/02/26 To consider a grant application from:
• St Peter’s playgroup £457.00- it was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to award the grant.
• Woodhall Spa Croquet Club for £950. The funds remaining in the Community Grant Fund, after the grant awarded to St Peter’s was £768. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to award the remainder of the fund to the Croquet Club. The remainder of the funds would be awarded in the new financial year on receipt of a new grant application.
FC/10/02/26 Planning Matters
To consider and respond to Planning Applications
00020/26/FUL Extension and alterations to existing dwelling to provide additional living accommodation
Location: The Paddocks, 194 Witham Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, LN10 6QX
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to support this application.
Section 73 application to remove condition 7 boundary fencing previously imposed on planning permission ref. no.02556/25/FUL for the extension and alteration to existing mixed-use dwelling and day nursery.
Location: 9 Spa Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire LN10 6PZ
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to object to this application on the grounds of residential amenity impact, safeguarding concerns, and potential adverse implications (via future applications/amendments) for adjacent properties and protected trees.
Full Planning
None received
Tree Work Notification
Noted by Councillors
EZY/005/26/TCA T1 Holly -removal, T2 Ash-removal, T3 Holly-removal G1 Group incl Ash and Pear- removal.
T1 Holly to be replaced with hedgerow of native species, Blackthorn and Hawthorn.
G1 group incl Ash and Pear-to be replaced with hedgerow of native species, Blackthorn and Hawthorn.
Location: Seven Oaks, 63, Stixwould Road, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6QG
EZY/001/26/TPA T1 Oak Tree-Reducing the lateral branches by approx..3,5m
Location: 34, St Leonards Close, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6SX
T1 Oak Tree-Clear the overhang of the property/conservatory. Branches also hit the roof of the property.
 
FC/11/02/26 To receive an update on Royal Square Development
• Meeting with representatives from the National Lottery Heritage Fund-Cllr Etches, Cllr Charles and the Clerk had met with two representatives and took them to Royal Square to look at the proposals. Unfortunately, the comments received on the 17th February stated that they don’t think they are the right funder as the project wouldn’t align strongly enough with their four investment principles.
• Comments from Heritage Committee regarding design plans-received by the Council and it was noted that the Committee hoped that the Heritage Trail can be extended to near Sainsburys. The committee also commented that they would suggest Royal Square Gardens and omit the word Memorial as it is important to celebrate the Edwardian heritage of the village.
 
FC/12/02/26 To consider the dates for the Union flags to be put in place and resolve further action and to adopt the Village Flag policy
Cllr Etches and Charles had met and a list of dates were proposed as to when the flags should be flown; Saint’s Days, VE and VJ Day, Arnhem Day, King’s official birthday and Remembrance Day. At the moment the Council have 25 usable flags and it was suggested that the 1940’s committee had Commonwealth flags which could be used as well. The Council do intend to replace the 25 flags that were unusable.  It was also proposed that the flags should go up on the 26th February and stay up until 29th November when they would be replaced by Christmas trees and garlands.
Both were proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved by the Council.
 
FC/13/02/26 To consider Highway issues and resolve further action.
• TRO regarding the alteration of the ‘no waiting area’ on Witham Road
Cllr Etches reported back on the meeting which was held on Friday 30th January with Cllr Natalie Oliver and representatives from Highways. He reiterated the point that the Parish Council had not asked for the ‘no wating area’ to be extended as far as it had been. Highways will look at this again.
• The condition of Arnhem Way-Cllr Oliver and Highways visited Arnhem Way due to the high number of complaints received. This will be a priority to repair the damaged manhole and fill potholes. 
• Complaint received regarding the state of Monument Road and Stixwould Road-this will be passed onto Cllr Oliver to refer to Highways.
 
FC/14/02/26 To receive an update on the Victorian signage replacement.        Cllr Charles had circulated a report prior to the meeting. All was going to schedule, and the scaffolding was due to go up the first week of March.
FC/15/02/26 To consider the information received regarding flood monitoring devices and proposed location and resolve any further action.                       The Council had no additions to make and were happy with the proposed locations.
FC/16/02/26 To consider replacing the Dambuster floodlights and resolve further action                                                                                                                The Clerk had been informed that one of the floodlights was not working. One quote had been received. It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to ask another contractor to quote for a replacement.
FC/17/02/26 To note the report regarding Royal Square car park lights           The Chair had investigated and reported that both lights were working so no further action was required.
FC/18/02/26 To note the information regarding the wording on the Blue Plaques from the Heritage Committee                                                                  The proposed wording for the Blue Plaque had been circulated and the Chair explained that once approval from the business owner had been granted then the plaque could be erected. The Clerk reiterated that our contractor did need that permission before he could erect the plaque.
FC/19/02/26 To note the information regarding the Arnhem Day events on 23rd April 2026                                                                                                                            The Chair explained what was happening on the day and when asked, he informed the Council that all was in order. He did say that he would personally purchase a number of flags to hand to the visiting Arnhem representatives.
FC/20/02/26 To note the addition of Public Footpath 1145 Woodhall Definitive map modification order 2025 (path through the Golf Club car park)                This was noted by the Council.
FC/21/02/26 To consider the Rotary Flag policy and resolve action                      It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved to accept the Rotary Flag policy.
FC/22/02/26 To confirm the date of the March Full Council meeting as the 17th March 2026 at 7.00 p.m
The date was confirmed.
Meeting closed at 8.39 p.m.