August 2025 Minutes
Minutes taken by The Clerk (Locum) Mrs. Laura Forman
for the Parish Council meeting at Wyberton Parish Council, which was held on
Wednesday 13th August 2025 at 7.00pm at Wyberton Community Centre
(These minutes will be checked at the next meeting before the council amends/approves them as a correct record)
Present: Cllr David Williams (Chair), Cllr Mike Sharp (Vice Chair), Cllr Maxine Stones, Cllr Richard Austin, Cllr Christabelle Horner and the Locum Clerk Laura Forman.
Also present: Cllr Barry Daish – Lincolnshire County Councillor
Cllr Alison Austin – Boston Borough Councillor for St Thomas’ Ward
One members of the public.
The meeting was called to order at 19:00pm
1. Chairman to open the Monthly Parish Council Meeting.
Hello, and welcome to the meeting.
2. Co-opting
i. To consider the applications for the casual vacancy on the council & co-opt a new councillor.
• Cllr David Williams Proposed and Cllr Richard Austin seconded, to co-opt Christabelle Horner as Councillor.
ii. To receive the signed acceptance of office from the newly co-opted councillor.
• Cllr Christabelle Horner signed the necessary paperwork.
3. Apologies for absence: To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have
been given to the Locum Clerk prior to the meeting.
· Cllr Allan Fryer – Illness.
· Cllr Jason Stevenson – Work Commitment.
4. Public Forum To resolve to suspend the meeting for a maximum of 10 minutes to allow members of the public to ask questions or make short statements to the council.
- One member of the public was present.
- Cllr Alison Austin Borough Councillor for St Thomas’ ward mentioned that some residents of Sir Isaac Newton Drive are not covered by BTAC as they should be and this is therefore causing confusion. It is hoped that this anomaly should be rectified when the Boundary commission conducts a review following reunification. Cllr David Williams stated that this issue will be added to the agenda of the next meeting for discussion.
5. Flood Resilience Program Co-ordinator of Lincolnshire County Council.
The Flood Resilience Program Co-ordinator of Lincolnshire County Council Brett Jones presented to the Parish Council details of the work that has been conducted on ‘Project Groundwater’ a Defra funded grant scheme which will be in place for four years. The scheme aims to install a minimum of two telemetry monitors within each Parish which will collate and report information directly to the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) to aid emergency planning. Each monitor will be in place for ten years, fully maintained at no cost to the Parish council or Lincolnshire County council and will provide readings at 15-minute intervals. Warnings will be issued to alert the parish council of rising water levels, but the system will not be able to prevent the flow of water. Cllr David Williams thanked Mr. Brett Jones for his presentation and requested information on how the Parish council could gain access to the readings. Cllr Mike Sharp added that the Parish Council make every effort on emergency planning issues and stated that this system could be a vital source of information.
6. Declarations of interest (if any): To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests
- None declared.
7. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 11th June 2025 – To resolved as a correct record and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes.
· Proposed by Mike Sharp, seconded by Cllr Maxine Stones.
· Cllr David Williams (Chair) agreed and signed the minutes.
8. Lincolnshire County and Boston Borough Councillors.
1. - Cllr Mr. Barry Daish
Cllr Barry Daish informed the council that South End Road running through the Quadrant is to be adopted by Lincolnshire County Council on 26th August 2025, however it is not known if it is to be made a clearway.
2. - Cllr Mr. Richard Austin
Cllr Richard Austin commented on the Main focus of the Borough Council is currently on the issue of reunification. Boston Borough, East Lindsay and South Holland councils are all still working on their proposals which are to be presented to the Government by November 2025.
3. - Cllr Mr. Chris Mountain – Not in attendance.
9. Clerks Report – Ongoing issues
9.1 Noticeboard – Update
Cllr Allan Fryer has arranged for a local contractor to install the new noticeboard. The Noticeboard was kindly installed free of charge by Focus Bathrooms and Buildings, as they wished to give back to the community. Cllr Allan Fryer has requested that a letter of thanks be sent to Focus Bathrooms and Buildings. The Clerk has contacted the solicitors regarding planning and waiting for a response.
Resolved- Follow discussion, all agreed to send a letter of thanks to Focus Buildings and Bathrooms for the installation of the new noticeboard. The Clerk to chase a response from the Solicitors regarding planning query.
9.2 Additional works to the Fire Alarm system - Update
The Clerk and Locum Clerk are reviewing the Independent Fire Risk Assessment for the Community Centre and will present the results of the assessment to the Community Centre Committee and then the full Council. The assessment stated that a new Fire Alarm system was not required and that the existing system is adequate, once some remedial work has been carried out - Ongoing.
9.3 Drainage works at the Community Centre - Update
The Clerk has consulted with the Insurance provider regarding cover for the additional drainage works – the original Account manager has now moved to another department. The Clerk to contact the new Account Manager to seek advise and provide an update when available - Ongoing.
9.4 Resident request for Salt/Grit bin- Update.
The Clerk has received a response from Lincolnshire County Council (Ref 4204987) rejecting the request for an additional grit bin. The Clerk has contacted the resident to relay the decision and has not received any further response.
Resolved- Item to be removed from the agenda.
9.5 Chairman’s Regalia – Update
The Clerk has collected the regalia and will take to Hutson’s signs to request engraving – Ongoing.
9.6 PGS Chairs - Update
The new chairs for the Prince George Suite have been ordered and received. Cllr David Williams confirmed that the initial response to the new chairs has been favourable. The Clerk to arrange for the old chairs to be collected by Boston Borough Council for disposal.- Ongoing.
9.7 Replacement Picnic Benches to Wybert’s Park. - Update
The benches donated by Boston Borough Council have arrived at the Community Centre Committee but require some cleaning and painting before that can be sited at Wybert’s Park. Cllr Allan Fryer to arrange for the works to be carried out – Ongoing.
9.8 Grass Cutting- Update
The Clerk has asked the Warden to investigate the overgrown areas reported. The Clerk contacted Boston Borough Council to request a map of their area of responsibility for grass cutting and received a response to state that they do not cut any grass in Wyberton. The Clerk has also contacted Lincolnshire Housing Partnership (LHP) and Lincolnshire County Council – awaiting a response- Ongoing.
9.9 Email from resident regarding a litter bin, Granville Avenue - Update.
The Clerk to find out who is responsible for this. -Ongoing.
9.10 Streetlights – Update
The Clerk has been in contact with Boston Borough Council to chase the works to change the streetlights to LED – Update to be provided when available.
9.11 Land Parthian Avenue- Update
The Clerk has submitted the signed paperwork to Chattertons Solicitors- Awaiting a response as to when the land will be signed over to Wyberton Parish Council.- Ongoing.
10. Councillors update on previous agenda items – To Note / To discuss and resolve
10.1 Speeding and Traffic / Radar signs – Meeting Update – Cllr Allan Fryer.
· The Clerk has forwarded the email response from Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership to Cllr Allan Fryer.
· Resolved – All agreed that as Cllr Allan Fryer is not in attendance – an update to be provided at the next meeting.
10.2 East Coast Community Fund – Grant Application – Cllr D. Williams
· Cllr David Williams has confirmed that the grant application has been submitted to East Coast Community Fund for consideration. A response has been received to request further information to support the application which has been provided.
· Cllr David Williams advised that a decision on the application would be received in October 2025.
· Resolved - All agreed - Cllr David Williams to provide an update when further information is available.
11. Councillors to discuss and resolve the following items:
11.1 To consider a GP surgery at The Quadrant– Cllr David Williams.
- Cllr David Williams stated that the Clerk had contacted the Quadrant regarding suggestions of a proposed GP surgery. Cllr Mike Sharp noted that a planning application had been submitted by a private company (approximately two years ago) for a GP surgery with additional services to be sited off London Road but the Parish Council had submitted an objection as the location was considered to be too dangerous.
Resolved – All agreed for the Clerk to find information on the previous planning application and the outcome.
11.2 Mission statement to be adopted.
- Following the Internal audit, the Auditor advised that the Parish council should have a mission statement to be adopted by the full council.
- Discussion held regarding a draft mission statement sent to all councillors for review.
- Resolved – All agreed that the first two points of the mission statement were agreeable but that amendments were required to points 3- 6. Item to be added to the agenda of the next meeting for discussion with proposed amendments.
11.3 Advanced notice regarding the Village warden.
- Resolved - Cllr David Williams advised that council that the current Village warden is due to retire in September 2025 and provided advanced warning that the Staffing committee were to begin the process of arranging a replacement at the next Staffing committee meeting.
12: Finance
12.1: Approve Payments of Accounts
· Resolved – All Councillors approved, and Cllr David Williams to sign the payment list.
· Payments to be made August 2025 - £9,801.25
· Payments made in between meetings - £2,668.74
· Receipts received from 10th July 2025 – 13th August 2025 - £1,768.25
12.2: Bank statements – 13th August 2025
· Treasurers Balance - £6,608.18
· Business Bank Insta - £23,808.76
13: Planning matters: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - To consider and make observations on all planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints and appeal decisions advised by the Borough Council – The parish clerk has delegated authority to respond to planning applications, in consultation with the Councillors via email.
To include those received between the day of posting this notice and the day of the meeting
· B/25/0311 Application under s73 for the variation of Condition 15 (Acoustic Fence) of permission B/24/0173 – The Firs, West End Road, Wyberton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 7LL.
· Mike Sharp commented on the changes to the planning application relating to The Firs on West End Road. A request has been submitted to no longer erect acoustic fencing. Following discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Richard Austion, seconded by Cllr Mike Sharp that the Parish council submit an objection to the request – All agreed.
14: Any Other Business:
• Cllr David Williams wished to add a discussion concerning the brown signs beside the Football stadium to the agenda of the next meeting.
• Cllr David Williams asked if anyone would be willing to volunteer to take minutes at the next meeting.
Next Meeting: Wednesday 10th September 2025 at 19.00 pm
With no other matters, the meeting closed at 20:02 pm
Signed:
Date: