November 2025 Minutes
DRAFT MINUTES
BIGBY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY, 18th NOVEMBER 2025
CHAIR – COUNCILLOR D. COWLING
PRESENT: Councillors – H. Aukland, D. Cowling, C. Gandy, L. Mair, B. Orr and W. Pinney
Also in attendance: -
Mrs. A. Hannath – Clerk to the Council
Cllr. J. Bean – LLC
BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED
58 Notice convening the meeting.
Taken as read and approved
59 To Receive Apologies and Reasons for Absence
Cllr. P. Morris - WLDC
60 a) To Record any 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 the type of interest being declared.
None
b) To Note any Dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the Agenda Items listed below.
None
61 TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR CO-OPTION TO THE COUNCIL.
None
62 Police Matters
No correspondence received.
63 To Receive any Correspondence (for information only).
None
64 To Receive the Clerk’s Report and Update on any outstanding issues.
WLDC Street Cleaning Team have cleared the gutters. Unfortunately, they did not go to Bigby Green as requested. The Clerk will ask them to attend again as the gutters are now full of leaves and specify once again that Bigby Green is also cleaned.
65 To Receive any Questions from Members.
None notified
66 Public Question Time.
There were no members of the public present.
67 a) TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE MINUTES, AS CIRCULATED,
OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON TUESDAY, 9th SEPTEMBER, 2025 AND WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER, 2025
It was resolved that the minutes of the meetings held on 9th September, 2025 and 8th October, having been circulated should be taken as read and approved.
Proposed: Cllr. B. Orr Seconded: Cllr. H. Aukland
67 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
a) To Receive the following Financial Report and Approve the Accounts for Payment: as at 1st November 2025 (Statement of accounts enclosed)
Appendix 1 – Schedule of Payments
PAYEE AMOUNT VAT TOTAL
25/09/2025 A Hannath- wages 273.48 273.48
04/10/2025 AJ Williams-grasscutting 480.00 96.00 576.00
06/10/2025 HMRC-PAYE 9.20 9.20
21/10/2025 SLCC-Membership 80.00 80.00
21/10/2025 McAfee 104.16 20.83 124.99
25/10/2025 A Hannath-wages 239.80 239.80
28/10/2025 A Hannath- Homeworking Allowance 30.00 30.00
06/11/2025 HMRC-PAYE/NI 1.40 1.40
06/11/2025 Petty Cash Top up no. 1 42.21 8.85 51.06
17/11/2025 Bigby VH - Crown Lift (Earmarked Reserves) 485.00 485.00
25/11/2025 A Hannath- wages 236.54 236.54
06/12/2025 HMRC-PAYE 0.80 0.80
*Added since publication of the agenda
It was resolved that the accounts for payment listed below and the Statement of Accounts be approved.
Proposed: Cllr. L. Mair Seconded: Cllr. D. Cowling
b) To Undertake a Quarterly Review of the Accounts. (Documents attached)
It was resolved that the Review of the Accounts for the second quarter be accepted
Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. W. Pinney
69 PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND DECISION NOTICES
Members are reminded that applications can be received after the deadline for the publication of the agenda. The clerk will forward any further applications to you before the meeting for your consideration.
Reference WL/2025/00925: Application for prior notification to erect an agricultural building for machinery, hay and animal feed storage. Land off Bigby Hill, Bigby
REFUSED
70 TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM MS. HEATHER SUGDEN, OWNER OF THE SHEEP FIELD, FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH AN ORCHARD ON THE SITE.
The following request was received from Ms. Sugden
‘As you may know Lincolnshire County Council Trees & Woodland Creation are in full support of stock control and the linking of wildlife habitats.
With this in mind they are also in favour of providing fruit trees for the formation of an Orchard on the land there. This is however dependent in some
way on the interest and support of the local community?
Whilst it would seem unlikely that anyone in the Parish of Somerby would be
in favour of 'any' proposal, I wonder if there are any groups locally that would be interested in fruit picking or jam making.
As there is no longer a primary school in Bigby we would be happy to involve any children’s groups, mum's, dad's on the basis of gardening for mental health. Perhaps we could approach Grasby Primary School?
If you have any ideas or know of anyone that may be interested to get on board,
could you please let me know.’
The Clerk advised that she had sent an initial response to Ms. Sugden, stating that there is already an Orchard to the rear of the Village Hall, which was established 6 years ago. The trees have born a sizeable amount of fruit for the first time this year. However, judging by the timescales involved, it may be hard to make a commitment from local residents for the types of activities she suggested.
It was resolved that Ms. Sugden be thanked for her suggestion. However, as the Clerk intimated in her initial response, the Parish Council believes that it will take a long time for the orchard to bear fruit and to be able to be used for the activities suggested. Therefore, at this point, the Parish Council cannot make a commitment on behalf of the residents. Furthermore, the Parish Council would like to see the existing orchard utilised more by residents.
Proposed: Cllr. B. Orr Seconded: Cllr. C. Gandy
71 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR BEAN ON COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS
Cllr. Bean advised that:-
• Despite his best efforts, he was unable to get Main Street added to the gritting route this year. He will keep pursuing this for future years
• Smithy Lane is due for resurfacing in March 2026 - concerns were again raised by councillors about the underlying problems that are causing the break up of the road. Cllr. W. Pinney advised that he believes that there are land drains flowing under Smithy Lane, but they are difficult to locate due to the houses that have been built over the years. (Old maps do provide some clues as to the locations.) Cllr. Bean said he will try to investigate this further.
• The gullies were cleared in the village and down Smithy Lane on 14 October.
• The establishment of a sand quarry in Caistor has been approved.
72 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR MORRIS ON DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS
Having proffered his apologies, Cllr. Morris advised that:-
‘The only thing of note that I have to report is that WLDC have decided that they will not take a position on Local Government Reform and will not join with any other councils and make a preference to which group to join - quite simply all the other bigger players would not provide us with information for us to make a balanced decision. We will await the Government views in the New Year.’
Cllr. J. Bean advised that WLDC will be introducing a waste food recycling scheme in March, 2026. Residents will be provided with a small work top bin in addition to a kerb side bin for collection by the refuse collectors. The frequency and date of collections is to be confirmed. (The kerb side bin is not as big as the other bins, so residents can be assured that the storage of them should not be an issue.)
73 PRECEPT REQUIREMENTS – FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027
(The Clerk will provide figures for discussion at the meeting)
a) To Consider the Budget Proposals prepared by the Clerk.
b) To Determine the Precept to be levied for the Fiscal Year 2026/2027.
It was resolved that a precept of £7500 be set.
Proposed: H. Aukland Seconded: Cllr. D. Cowling
The Clerk advised that the final figure does not need to be submitted until
23rd January2026. Therefore, she suggested that the figure above be sent as the estimate due by 21st November, allowing for any changes that may be necessary between now and the final deadline.
The meeting closed at 7.30 pm
Signed ……………………………………………….
Chairman
Tuesday 13th January, 2026