Annual Parish Meeting and Parish Council Meeting 17th March 2026
East Stockwith Annual Parish Meeting
17th March 2026 at 7.00pm Venue, Grosvenor House
Minutes
Present: Cllr D Forington – Chairman
In attendance: Cllr W Forington - Vice Chairman, Cllr C Bainborough,Cllr J Barratt, Cllr A Harris, Cllr J Scott, J Barnett Clerk.
Apologies:There were none.
1. Annual report – Chairman
May 2025 - Given the enhancements to the memorial area, Cllrs agreed to trim/tidy the grass around the notice board area. LCC confirmed the increase in deer herd. Cllrs agreed erecting warning signs is not currently necessary as there have been no reported accidents. LALC recommended that Parish Councillors move to a gov.uk.email. Cllrs agreed to resist the move until this is mandatory. The Greater Lincolnshire combined authority mayoral election results were noted as was Government Reorganisation.
July 2025 - East Stockwith and Walkerith Village Hall Trust reimbursed £420 for plants for the memorial area. Broadband speeds and mobile phone signals were noted. A10% inflationary uplift was applied to the Clerk’s salary in recognition that no uplift had been applied for four years. Cllrs agreed to an annual salary review in line with LALC. Policies were reviewed by the Clerk.
September 2025 - The Church graveyard maintenance programme was reviewed.Helping Hands quoted £1,400 to include grass cutting, strimming around headstones, every two weeks from March to the end of October and cutting the hedge twice a year. Cllr Bainborough proposed erecting a 30 foot flagpole flying a 2.5 yard Union Jack, adjacent to the memorial .Runthrough scheduled the Morton 10K and half Marathon race on Remembrance Sunday which completely isolated several villages along the Trent bank for the entirety of the Sunday morning. Cllr Reeves supported the concerns and assurances were required that the race is no longer held on a Remembrance Sunday.
November 2025 - Helping Hands will carry out grass trimming/hedge cutting in St Peter’s Churchyard at the normal annual cost plus £100 contingency and costs for additional hedge cutting and/or strimming around headstones as required. This replaces the £1,400 quote. St Peter’s Church insurance/public liability was questioned. The Clerk is following up with Lincoln Diocese. Cllrs requested adequate consultation regarding the annual Gainsborough & Morton 10k Race. Cllr Bainsborough presented plans on the proposed flagpole. Proposed costs are around £2,000. Subject to planning permission, the Parish Council will request a contribution from East Stockwith and Walkerith Village Hall Trust. A proposal to Lincolnshire County Council Highways to install 20mph road signs in Little Walk was supported, (although unsuccessful). The Archer Survey in Little Walk, August 2025, showed that criteria for either fixed or mobile speed camera enforcement was not met. The Memorial Service was well attended, around 35 attendees. The Precept for 2026/27 was agreed at £5,000.
January 2026 - No response from Lincoln Diocese had been received about St Peter’s Church insurance/public liability. Cllr Bainsborough updated the Council regarding the proposal to erect a flagpole.. Further plans had come to light through a formal connection with Australian Parish Councils and connecting to RAF Blyton. Pre-planning advice is available at West Lindsey District Council. The Clerk followed up on FixMyStreet regarding the leaf collection in Little Walk where the accumulation of fallen leaves posed a hazard.The financial position at the bank was presented with the financial forecast position at year end £10,592.
2. Annual Parish Meeting closed at 7.20pm.
East Stockwith Parish Council Meeting
17th March 2026 at 7.20pm Venue, Grosvenor House
Minutes
Present: Cllr D Forington – Chairman, Cllr W Forington - Vice Chairman, Cllr C Bainborough, Cllr J Barratt, Cllr A Harris, Cllr J Scott, In attendance: J Barnett Clerk.
Apologies:There were none.
1. Parish Council Meeting 13th January 2026, draft minutes
Proposed: Cllr Bainborough Seconded: Cllr D Forington
2. Matters arising from the minutes
The Clerk is still waiting for a response from the Lincoln Diocese regarding St Peter’s Church insurance/public liability. The Clerk to seek support from Cllr Reeves. There are similar situations across the district. Cllr Bainborough to progress the planning application for the proposed flagpole. The Clerk had followed up with RunThrough on adequate consultation regarding the annual Gainsborough & Morton 10k Race but no communication had been received and the Clerk to follow up further. The Clerk to contact Cllr Reeves regarding a voluntary application for a 20mph speed sign in Little Walk. The accumulation of fallen leaves in Little Walk are still posing a hazard. Cllr Bainborough asked for clarity on the costs for Helping Hands annual grass trimming/hedge cutting in St Peter’s Churchyard. This was agreed at the normal annual cost plus an additional £100 contingency and costs for additional hedge cutting and/or strimming around headstones as required. However all agreed that inflation and adequate contingency needs to be built into the cost plus payment for additional work such as the cutting of the village verges.
3. Adjournment for public participation
No members of the public present.
4. Planning applications
On behalf of the Cllrs, the Clerk submitted support for planning application WL/2026/00138 to WLDC.
5. Resident request for commemorative plaque.
Cllrs agreed to the request from a resident for a commemorative plaque to be placed on the riverbank bench. The Clerk to follow up.
6. Finances
Financial position to date, £11,217.42. Year end position, £10,582.42. It was noted the tidying of the memorial area had yet to be paid for. Payments, Clerk’s salary and HMRC.
7. AOB
Parking at the Ferry House Pub during the Christmas period was noted. Ravensfleet pumping station update was provided.
8. Meeting close
The meeting closed at 8.15pm .
9. Date of the Annual Parish Council Meeting, 26th May 2026 at 7.00pm. Venue,
Grosvenor House. Members of the public welcome