September 2025

Meeting Minutes – 17th September 2025

19:00 in St. Bartholomew’s Church

Present

Cllr Michael Priestley  (Chairman)      Cllr James Pask (Vice-Chairman)                    Cllr Gill Ikin

Cllr Jonathan Fisher                            Cllr Alan Gilbert

Cllr Sarah Trotter (SKDC)

In Attendance 

Roel van Aken (Clerk)

1. Apologies for Absence

Cllr Martin Hill (LCC)

2. Confirmation of eligibility, quorum and Declaration of interest

All councilors present are eligible, the meeting was quorate and no declaration of interests declared.

3. Public Representations

The public were allowed to be in attendance, but on this occasion no parishioners attended. Note that both Mr Christopher Dennett and Mr David Wallis had been formally invited to attend so they could explain and substantiate their comments made in regards to WPC allegedly having received money to favour solar farm developments around Welby. Neither attended nor did they provide any further details or any evidence to back up their claims which means that all allegations made by Mr Christopher Dennett and Mr David Wallis are completely false and baseless.

4. Minutes of previous meeting

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting dated 9th July 2025 were an accurate record of the parish council meeting and were signed off by The Chair.

5. Flooding Issues

• LCC plan of works: these have started.

• Welby Emergency Plan: The Emergency Box has now been located in the Church. The replacement weather station needs a sturdy mounting pole and is waiting to be in stalled.

6. Solar Farm Proposals

WPC is aware of the following 4 proposals:

• S23/0587 – S24/0360: Church Lane: planning permission refused but appeal had been lodged. Planning permission was approved on 15 January 2025 by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.
• S23/2235: ASH Tree Solar Farm: planning permission refused however an appeal has been lodged.
• S24/1040: Pasture Farm, Welby: approved by SKDC.
• S25/0972 – S25/1194: Glebe Farm Solar Farm: SKDC decision that an EIA Screening Opinion is not required. A full planning application has now been submitted and WPC has submitted comments. An allegation was raised by Mr David Wallis, a resident of Welby, that WPC had been “offered a large sum of money to downplay the affect these solar schemes”. Furthermore Mr Christopher Dennett, also a resident of Welby, submitted comments in response to the Glebe Farm Solar Application on the SKDC website which included allegations stating “Why spread the unsightly industrial plant around and increased expense to the shareholder when it can be dumped around the unsuspecting sleepy village of Welby. Who appear to have a very weak and compliant Parish Council (more to be said on that subject) Lets just say 'grease and palms' “. After raising a complaint with SKDC this last comment has now been removed. WPC has been in discussion with SKDC about possible actions to counter these baseless allegations. It should be noted that WPC had already lodged its response to the Glebe Farm Solar application listing many reasons to reject this application prior to the email from Mr David Wallis and the planning application response from Mr Christopher Dennett. Discussions with SKDC about possible future actions are ongoing.

7.   Reducing speeding through Welby

• Speed watch: no sessions have taken place.

• SID: results are now available for a full 6 months period and are quite revealing. On an annual basis the total number of cars in both directions on Main Street is around 310,000 which is very significant. Also a significant portion of the recorded speeds is well above the legal limit. The results have been shared with Road Safety and Lincolnshire Police and the police have allocated extra resources so that extra speed checks will be carried out including in Welby.

8. County and District Councillor Reports (if Councillors present at meeting)

• Update from County Councillor Martin Hill on Lincolnshire County Council matters: no update available.

• Update from the District Councillor Sarah Trotter on South Kesteven District Council matters:
  • Anti-social behaviour / unregistered car problems in Welby: these are being dealt with by SKDC and the DVLA.
  • The new bin collection scheme has started. Food waste collection is expected to start next year.
  • There is concern about potential misuse of HMO housing in Grantham.
• Cllr Mike Priestley attended an on-line meeting with the Lincolnshire Police Superintendent setting out his priorities for the whole of the Lincs Police area: Reduce Crime, Safer Communities and Protect those in need from harm. Key issues impacting on the Police are:
  • Staffing levels and budget shortage impacting on recruitment. Rise in number of 999 calls - the Force is below the target for number of calls answered within 10 seconds - they have seen huge rises in the number of calls to both 999 and 101 - Grantham area has approx. 1,300 999 calls per month and at its peak in the summer there had been 15,000 calls to 101.
  • Rise in level of anti social behaviour and Shop Lifting: they are undertaking a hot spot policing initiative to reduce issues in known areas of challenge.
  • Speeding features as a growing concern in virtually every area.
  • They encourage people to complete the Policing Public priority survey to help them track issues of concern in specific areas ( can be accessed from Lincs Police website).

9. Correspondences

To receive a report from The Clerk on relevant correspondences received and action taken since last meeting.

10. Planning Applications: 

Planning applications to consider with the following planning applications received:

11. Highways

Update from The Clerk on highway faults including those reported by WPC to LCC Highways and SKDC.

12. Village Matters

a. park bench near bus stop: is in the process of being repainted.

b. Fallen tree Walnut Cottage: trees have been cleared from the village green – fence has been repaired. LCC are in contact with the land owner about any remaining tree clearance required on Blacksmith’s Lane.

13. Finance

Current bank balance stands at £2.470.35.

Since last meeting the following income has been received:

Since last meeting payments made from bank account:

The Chairman signed off Cashbooks as a true record after agreement from Councillors that both bank statement and cash books were accurate.

14. Urgent business

To consider any urgent business.

Please note if it is “urgent” only because it was not notified in time to appear on the agenda, it should be left till the next meeting. If it is genuinely “urgent”, that is it was too late for the agenda and it will be too late for action if left till the next ordinary meeting The Chairman and The Clerk need to decide whether an additional meeting should be called or actioned during this meeting.

15. Decide next meeting of the parish council.

The next ordinary meeting of Welby Parish Council will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2025 at 19:00 in St. Bartholomew’s Church.

Signed: ……………………………………………………………..   Chair

Dated:………………………………………………………………..