At the Meeting of Firsby Group Parish Council held at 7.00 pm on Wednesday 18 March 2026 in Bratoft Church Room.
Apologies were received from Miss H. Smithson Whitehead and Mr P. Cavanagh.
Present: Mr R. Kidd, who took the Chair;
Mr R. Heane; Mrs S. Wilford; Mr S. Roachford; Mr R. Currie; Miss K. Nettle; Mr D. Sargeant; Mr M. Webb.
1. Minutes of the last Meeting
With an amendment to paragraph 8 it was agreed that these be signed as a correct record of the proceedings.
2. Matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting
Miss Nettle stated that Wednesday 6 May, 7pm to 9pm, has been agreed with Kimberley Pickett, the Community Resilience Officer, to hold a session for residents and councillors to attend in Irby & Bratoft Village Hall. Details of the event will be placed in the 5 Parishes Newsletter.
3. Police matters
It was agreed to notify the police that children have been walking from the Church in Little Steeping and then onto the railway track to Thorpe Bank.
4. County Councillor's Report
Cllr Hume was not present at the meeting but it was agreed to ask Cllr Hume once again if she could liaise with Highways and the Drainage Board about the repair to the dangerous dip in the road on the B1195 (Wainfleet Road). If the road collapses it will block the drain, which will cause problems to residents who live nearby.
It was also agreed to ask Cllr Hume once again to challenge the Education Department to allow Great Steeping School to be used as a safe place in the event of an emergency. Requests so far have not been answered.
5. District Councillor's Report
Cllr Drury was not present at the meeting but it was agreed to ask Cllr Drury once again for an update on the fly infestation in Firsby as a matter of urgency.
6. Correspondence
a) Email received from Louise King regarding the nameplate for Mill Lane, Irby. A new street nameplate is in the process of being ordered.
b) Email received from Kelly Innes regarding the Post Office Van. It will not be possible for it to attend Irby & Firsby as it is already at full capacity.
c) Email received from Roseannah Ferguson regarding the location of a toddler group in Firsby. An email was sent directing Ms Ferguson to Great Steeping School.
d) Community Update leaflet from National Grid regarding proposals for Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL 3) and Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL 4).
7. Plans
Application No 00105/26/FUL By G Oliver for Planning Permission - Change of use, conversion of and alterations to existing vehicle repair workshop to form a dwelling and alterations to existing vehicular access at G and S Oliver, Ings Lane, Little Steeping. It was agreed to support this application.
Full Planning Permission has been granted on conditions - Extension and alterations to existing dwelling to provide additional living accommodation at Home Farm, Ings Lane, Little Steeping.
8. Highways
It was agreed to report the following matters to Highways:
A large pothole is hidden in the water that is running down the hill on the B1195 Halton Holegate towards Halton Stone Bridge. The water in the edge by the drains should have dried up but still appears to be running down the road.
9. Any Other Business
The issue of the repair to middle part of Airfield Road was discussed in detail. Councillors were reminded that in 2024 when Highways tested various ways of filling potholes that there would be a review in 2 years. Potholes are being left unfilled despite many FixMyStreet entries. It now transpires that the road will not be resurfaced until 2027-8. This is totally unacceptable and it was agreed that letter of complaint will be sent to Highways.
Mrs Wilford stated that the rent monies from the 2 pieces of land in Little Steeping should be placed in a separate account to be kept in Trust for the educational needs of children in that village.
It was agreed that the poor funds that are held in Trust in other villages need to be looked at and protected for the future.
10. Accounts
It was agreed to pass the following accounts for payment:
Bratoft PCC for use of room £20
Bolingbroke Deanery Printing of Apr/May Newsletter £140
LALC Subscription £312.76
Clerk's 3 month honorarium £625.