7th July 2025
Minutes of meeting of Huttoft Parish Council held on Monday 7th July 2025 at Huttoft Village Hall commencing at 7:00pm
PRESENT: Cllrs. P Lapczuk (Chair), R Walker, R Ganney, C Meaker, R Ward & N Sylvester
IN ATTENDANCE: M Rudd (Clerk), Cllrs G Marsh & S Devereux (ELDC), Cllr M Beecham (LCC) & 11 members of the public
4869. WELCOME:
The Chair welcomed Councillors and members of the public to the meeting.
4870. APOLOGIES:
None.
4871. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
A resident raised concerns about the increasing traffic and noise from the Mill on Mumby Road including one morning, HGVs leaving the Mill at 2:50am. Cllr Lapczuk explained that the Mill had a licence for 5 HGVs with no restrictions, but advised the resident that they could raise the matter with the Traffic Commissioner if they wished.
4872. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS:
None.
4873. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF 10th MARCH 2025 TO BE APPROVED:
Proposed, Seconded & RESOLVED that the minutes, having been circulated and read, were approved and signed by the Chair.
4874. CLERKS REPORT ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS:
None.
4875. FINANCIAL MATTERS:
(a) Payments for Approval:
Defibrillator: Car Terrace – replacement pads - £91.42
Clerks Printing Costs - £6.49
SCIS Ltd Gov.uk email subscription - £3.96
Playing Field – Sign and Spare Key - £33.18
CR Home & Garden Services (Maintenance Contract)- £410.07
Clerk Half-Year Salary (12 May – 6 July) - £438.08
Defibrillator: Village Hall – replacement charge pack and pads - £172.80
Playing Field – Grass cutting expenses - £57.63
Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED to approve payment.
(b) HMRC VAT Reclaim 2023/24 - £672.17 received from HMRC
(c) Finance Reports to 30 June 2025 – noted by Councillors
(d) Cllrs Walker & Ganney now confirmed as additional bank signatories
4876. PLANNING MATTERS:
(a) N/089/00166/25 THE MILL, MUMBY ROAD, HUTTOFT – installation of ground mounted solar panels – ELDC Approved Application
(b) 00404/25/OUT WOLD SEA FARM, SEA LANE, HUTTOFT – change use of land – ELDC Approved Application
(c) N/110/01836/24 FORMER SANDILANDS GOLF COURSE NATURE RESERVE – amendments to plans – ELDC Approved Application
(d) 02260/25/FUL FAIRFIELDS, SEA LANE, HUTTOFT – change use of land including provision of 2 additional static caravan pitches and associated buildings – No additional comments from Parish Council
(e) 02438/25/FUL WOLD SEA FARM, SEA LANE, HUTTOFT – erection of outbuildings and demolition of existing buildings – No additional comments from Parish Council
4877. TO AGREE NEW PARISH COUNCIL POLICIES:
(a) Health and Safety Policy - Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED to adopt new policy
(b) Safeguarding Policy - Health and Safety Policy - Proposed, Seconded and RESOLVED to adopt new policy
4878. COUNCILLOR VACANCIES – RECRUITMENT PLAN:
Cllr Lapczuk confirmed that the Parish Council currently has two vacancies. The Council will advertise for new Councillors to be co-opted onto the Parish Council. The Clerk will place a vacancy notice shortly requesting expressions of interest. The Parish Council is aiming to appoint new Councillors at the September Parish Council meeting.
4879. NATIONAL GRID: GREAT GRID UPDATE – GRIMSBY TO WALPOLE STAGE 2 CONSULTATION:
Residents raised concerns about the amount of National Grid staff at the Information Event held in Huttoft. Residents felt intimidated. Some residents stated that National Grid staff gave conflicting responses and were unable to clearly answer many of the resident’s questions. Residents remain very concerned about the proposals and the impact on the community. The Parish Council and representatives from ELDC & LCC urged residents to feedback their concerns to National Grid. The Parish Council continue to strongly oppose the proposals.
4880. TO DISCUSS ROAD TRAFFIC ISSUES IN AND AROUND HUTTOFT:
Cllr Walker outlined the current concerns around speeding along A52; especially the southern entry into the village, and damage to Sea Lane caused by recent construction vehicles. Concerns remain about the volume of traffic along the coastal roads once the new National Trust site fully opens. The Parish Council will continue to work with LCC & LRSP to address these issues.
4881. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVE BODIES:
(a) East Lindsey District Council – Cllr Marsh noted that the main focus has been on the reorganisation of local government. Proposals are due shortly.
Cllr Devereux promoted the ‘funding fair’ being held in Horncastle on 9 July and urge community groups to attend to see what funding is available.
(b) Lincolnshire County Council – Cllr Beecham noted the on-going work on the local government re-organisation. Cllr Beecham had held a very successful surgery at the Village Hall and confirmed further surgeries will be held in the future.
4882. HUTTOFT PLAYING FIELD:
Cllr Lapczuk confirmed that the Parish Council had submitted a GRASSroots funding bid for the Playing Field. The new arrangements for maintaining the playing field were working well. Cllr Marsh (ELDC) noted that sports improvement grants may be available for the playing field and would contact the relevant officer for details.
The first weekend community event was held on the playing field. Some concerns were raised about motorhomes being parked on the playing field overnight without consent. The Clerk will write to the organisers to confirm no motorhomes are currently allowed to park overnight on the playing field. Cllr Lapczuk confirmed that the Parish Council will look into the option of getting a licence to park 5 motorhomes / caravans overnight on the playing field for future events.
Parish Councillors agreed to look at bringing the picnic tables, held in storage, back to the playing field for residents to use. Councillors gave permission to the landlord of the Axe & Cleaver to fill in the holes caused by animals in the playing field and treat the small matted area near the childrens play equipment with pet friendly weed killer.
4883. HUTTOFT CAR TERRACE:
Cllr Walker took Councillors through his report. The safety and defibrillator signs have now been fitted on the terrace. Traffic Enforcement continues to monitor illegal overnight parking by motorhomes. A resident raised concerns that the toilets at the café are not opened until 10am. Cllr Walker pointed out that the toilets are managed by the café and have previously suffered a lot of vandalism, hence they are now locked when the café is not open. Cllr Lapczuk noted the significant improvement in the management of the car terrace over the last 2 / 3 years.
A proposal to carry out some maintenance work at the playing field has been sent to Van Oord as part of the companies offer to carry out some work for the benefit of the local community.
4884. HUTTOFT VILLAGE HALL:
Cllr Meaker noted that the Village Hall Committee had submitted a GRASSroots funding bid for hall improvements. A further bid is being considered for improvements to the toilets.
A community event is being planned, in conjunction with St Margarets Church, for the August Bank Holiday Weekend. This will be free for all residents.
4885. FRIENDS OF ST MARGARETS CHURCH:
Cllr Ganney reported that all the building works undertaken to date at the church is now signed off. The electric heaters in the church have been condemned and replacement heaters are being sort. A structural engineers report will now be undertaken on the tower prior to a Lottery Heritage Grant Bid.
The Lincolnshire Churches Trust have requested that St Margarets Church be used as a case study which will include a presentation and tour of the work undertaken to date.
4886. ANY OTHER MATTERS:
Cllr Meaker noted some concerns regarding grass cutting in the village. Cllr Lapczuk noted the comments and asked for grass cutting to be added to the agenda for the next Parish Council meeting.
Cllr Marsh (ELDC) and Cllr Beecham (LCC) noted they will be absent at the next Parish Council meeting in September.
4887. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Monday 8th September 2025 – Parish Council Meeting at 7pm in the Village Hall.
4888. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING CLOSED AT 8:08pm