March 2026 Minutes
Minutes of the Grainthorpe Parish Council Meeting held at Grainthorpe Methodist Chapel Schoolroom, High Street, Grainthorpe LN11 7JA, on Wednesday 11th March 2026 at 7.00 PM
Present: Councillors: Cllr Crabtree (Chairman), Ensor and Hibberd.
In attendance: The Parish Clerk, District Cllr Rickett and County Cllr Robinson.
01:03/26 Declarations of Interest
a) 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.
None
b) To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below.
None
02:03/26 Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies sent to the Clerk from Members not able to attend the meeting.
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Jackson and Warrilow.
03:03/26 Open Forum
a) Members of the public may make representations in respect of the business on the agenda.
No members of the public were present.
b) To receive reports from County and District Councillors.
Parish Councillors raised the issue of pot holes with Cllr Robinson. Cllr Robinson explained the programme of patching and repairs. Cllr Rickett updated that the Council on an incident involving a missing person located in Grainthorpe, and spoke about the ELDC housing targets and concerns regarding potential over-development of the A16 corridor.
04:03/26 Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s)
To approve the minutes of the previous meeting(s).
RESOLVED: That the minutes be approved as a true record.
05:03/26 Planning
a) Planning Decisions:
To note any planning decisions received since the previous meeting.
PROPOSAL: Planning Permission - Erection of 1no. dwelling and detached garage. LOCATION: Land At the Paddocks, High Street, Grainthorpe, Lincolnshire, you recently contacted me about the application shown above. The application was Approved on 13/02/2026.
b) Planning Applications:
None received.
06:03/26 Finance & Governance
a) To approve payment of accounts: -
RESOLVED: That the following payments be approved: -
T Kuzemczak Wages Month 10 £XXX
T Kuzemczak Wages Month 11 £XXX
T Kuzemczak WFH Allowance Month 10 £7.50
T Kuzemczak WFH Allowance Month 11 £7.50
HMRC Quarterly Tax 159.40
O2 Telephone Bill £13.20
O2 Telephone Bill £13.20
Ionos Email Services £9.00
Ionos Email Services £9.00
ICO Annual Registration £47.00
Unity Trust Bank Monthly Fee £6.00
Unity Trust Bank Monthly Fee £6.00
Grainthorpe PCC Grass Cutting Donation (s137) £150.00
b) To receive a bank account and budget report.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
c) To note receipt of ELDC Councillor Community Grant of £972 towards a village noticeboard.
RESOLVED: That the grant be noted.
d) To appoint an internal auditor for the year end 2025-26.
RESOLVED: That Anthony Shaw be appointed as the internal auditor for 2025-26.
e) To adopt the draft IT Policy.
RESOLVED: That the IT Policy be adopted.
f) To adopt the draft Sexual and General Harassment Policy.
RESOLVED: That the Sexual and General Harassment Policy be adopted.
g) To receive thanks from Grainthorpe PCC for the £150.00 donation to help with grass cutting in the churchyard.
RESOLVED: That the correspondence be noted.
07:03/26 Highways & Public Rights of Way
a) To receive an update on a damaged grit bin.
The Clerk had reported a grit bin at Austen Fen full of rubbish. The following response had been received ‘Thanks for getting in touch with us. In this case, we’re not responsible for this issue. This is not a Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) Grit Bin. It is the responsibility of the grit bin owner to fill and maintain it. Unfortunately, LCC is unaware who this grit bin belongs too, but are aware that the area of land the grit bin is on is not maintainable by LCC’
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall report to the Council any updates.
b) To receive any other reports from councillors of highways issues.
Cllr Warrilow reported that the 40mph signs that had been replaced belonged to the Parish Council. The Clerk had emailed LCC to ask for the return of the signs. The response was ‘signs removed’. The Clerk advise she had therefore emailed again to ask for the return of the signs.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall update the Council with any updates.
08:03/26 Grass Verge Cutting
To agree arrangements for the verge cutting contract for 2026-27.
RESOLVED: That the existing contract shall be extended for one year 2026-27.
09:03/26 Noticeboard
To finalise the order and agree expenditure of £1025+VAT plus £65.00 delivery – supplier- the Parish Noticeboard Company.
RESOLVED: That the quotation of £1025+VAT plus £65.00 delivery from the Parish Noticeboard Company.
10:03/26 Large Poppies
To consider purchase of lamppost poppies – cost £5 each – delivery free over £40 or £4.50 under £40.
RESOLVED: That the purchase of 10 poppies be approved at a cost of £50.00.
11:03/26 Allotments
To receive any responses regarding allotments in the village.
RESOLVED: That it be noted that there are currently no allotments in the village.
12:03/26 Village Signs
To receive an update in the village entrance signs project and agree any action.
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.
13:03/26 Next Meeting
a) To report to the Clerk any agenda items for the next meeting.
None reported.
b) To agree the date of the next meeting - Wednesday 13th May 2026.
6.45PM Annual Parish Meeting
7.00PM Annual Meeting of the Parish Council
RESOLVED: That the dates be noted.
Resolution to exclude the Public and Press:
To consider passing a resolution in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, that public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.
RESOLVED: That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.
14:03/26 Personnel:
To agree contractual annual pay point increase for the Clerk from 1st April 2026 from NJC SCP 22 £17.47 per hour to NJC SCP 23 £17.85 per hour.
RESOLVED: That a pay point increase for the Clerk from 1st April 2026 from NJC SCP 22 £17.47 per hour to NJC SCP 23 £17.85 per hour be approved.
The meeting closed at 7.55PM