At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026 in Bratoft Church Room.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mrs S. Wilford; Miss H. Smithson Whitehead; Mr S. Roachford; Mr R. Currie; Mr P. Cavanagh and LCC Cllr Mrs M. Hume.
Apologies were received from Mr M. Webb.
1. Minutes of the last Meeting
It was agreed that these be signed as a correct record of the proceedings.
2. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting
Mrs Wilford stated that although some of our villages will be connected to Quickline by the end of June 26, the Villages of Firsby, Little Steeping & Great Steeping will not be fully connected until 2027.
3. County Councillor’s Report
Cllr Hume stated there she has received an additional sum of £3000 which can be used across the group. Cllr Hume suggested that some of this money could be used to employ someone to do odd jobs for the villages.
It was suggested as Great Steeping School have ignored all attempts of contact regarding the use of the school premises in the case of an emergency event, such as flooding, Cllr Hume and Mr Currie would like to make an appointment to meet with the new Headmistress to try to reach a resolution to this issue.
Cllr Hume also stated that on 4 July various county councillors are going out to clean up some areas which need attention. It was suggested that road signs need cleaning, but there are issues with health & safety where this is concerned. Another concern was the overgrown vegetation which impedes drivers’ sight on bends. Requests for the works to be sent to Cllr Hume before the 4 July.
Mrs Wilford asked Cllr Hume if the levelling out of the 11 undulations on Station Road, Little Steeping which are now over 1 metre deep, could be carried out earlier. At the last count there have been 44 reports on FixMyStreet about this section of the road. It is now becoming so dangerous especially when it rains or is icy, that the road should be closed until the repairs are done.
4. District Councillor's Report
It was agreed to ask Cllr Drury for an update about that the ongoing issue of the flies in Firsby which is getting worse. Rats are now beginning to be a problem. The current challenges are the lack of support from Environmental Health to find the source of the flies. Fly bags are up but are not being changed regularly enough by the owner.
5. Correspondence
a) Email received from David Sargeant tendering his resignation as Parish Councillor representing Little Steeping.
b) Email received from Ali Raza enclosing a Notice of Vacancy for a Parish Councillor to be displayed on the noticeboard in Little Steeping.
c) Email received from PKF Littlejohn, external auditors, acknowledging receipt of the notification of exempt status document.
d) Email received from the Minerals and Waste Policy Team regarding a consultation which starts on 15.6.26 and finishes 5pm on 31.7.26. It was agreed to send to all Councillors for completion.
e) Email received from Samantha Burgess regarding the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men's Race which is coming through Boston and ends in Skegness on 3.9.26. The route is yet to be determined.
f) Email received from Chloe Stones giving the result of the enforcement complaint from the Parish Council against Kelsey Wood Country Park. It was agreed to ask Ms Stones to inform the Parish Council if a retrospective planning application is received.
g) Verbal notification from Samuel Walton stating that there are currently no funds available to make Ivy Cottage in Bratoft water tight. There is a request for local volunteers to help make the building water tight until funds are available. If a resident would like to volunteer to do this work, please contact Miss Smithson Whitehead for further details.
6. Highways
Notification has been received of a temporary traffic restriction - road closure order for B1195 Wainfleet Road (Between Oxlands Lane and Burgh Lane), Irby in the Marsh for the period 6.7.26 - 17.7.26.
Notification has been received of a temporary traffic restriction - road closure order for Sandy Lane (Between 220m & 240m North of Old Church Lane), Great Steeping for the period of 13.7.26 - 16.7.26.
Notification has been received of a temporary traffic restriction - road closure order for Great Steeping Road (Between 380m & 430m West of Candlesby Road) Great Steeping/Monksthorpe for the period 22.7.26 - 24.7.26.
It was agreed to re-report the following matters:
Sandy Lane, Great Steeping in is an appalling state of repair.
Repairs to the middle section of Aerodrome Road still needs to be resurfaced.
Oxlands Lane, South, Irby in the Marsh, is in a terrible state of repair.
Ings Lane, Bratoft towards Fern Cottage is in a similar state of repair.
7. Review of Parish Council Policies
All policies are up to date. No further action taken.
8. Any Other Business
Mrs Wilford stated that there is a notice from LALC that from the 28 June 2026 Parish Councillors home addresses should no longer be publicly displayed on websites, newsletters or noticeboards. It was agreed that the Clerk will make the necessary amendments.
Mrs Wilford requested that contact be made with Mr Harwood, Chairman of Little Steeping Village Hall Management Committee, to arrange for the relocation of the telephone box and possible siting of it in the Village Hall carpark. Mr Heane to speak to Mr Harwood.
Miss Smithson Whitehead presented the graph showing the various speeds recorded whilst the speed monitor was positioned outside Great Steeping School. The highest speeds were recorded in the evenings. It was agreed the speed monitor be repositioned, once charged, on the B1195 in Irby in the Marsh as vehicles do speed through the village.
Miss Smithson Whitehead asked if any Councillors would like training in the use of the speed gun. Mr Cavanagh and the Chairman will be trained up in due course.
Miss Smithson Whitehead also stated that she had attended a presentation regarding EGL 5 which is coming onshore and going mainly to substations and underground.
Mr Currie stated that Spilsby Surgery is not improving. The overall appearance of the site is not welcoming and there are several signs inside which he finds derogative. It was agreed to write to the surgery and ask what the current position is as the 1 year that it was given to find replacement partners etc will be coming to an end soon.
Mr Currie also stated that he and Mr Heane will be attending the Steeping Steering Group Committee meeting on Monday 22 June and will report back at the next meeting.
The Chairman asked if any Councillors were interested in seeing the operation of biodigester at White House Farm. Dates will be arranged and sent to Councillors.
9. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Bratoft PCC for use of room £20
Bratoft PCC for Churchyard maintenance £250
Clerk's 3-month honorarium £625.