November 2025 Minutes
Digby Parish Council
Notes of the PARISH COUNCIL MEETING held on Wednesday 12th November 2025 at 7pm, in Digby War Memorial Hall.
PRESENT – Cllrs K Groves (KG), Chairman; A Barnham (AB); G Garton (GG), D Green (DG); M Lewington (ML) and H Snowden (HS)
In attendance – A McDonald, Clerk and Proper Officer.
Public Forum
There 4 members of the public present.
Concern was expressed about constant noise from a dog barking all day, it was explained this needs to be passed to the NKDC Environmental Health.
The new manger of the newly formed Digby United came to introduce himself and requested if a framework can be connected to the goalposts for the nets. This is to be discussed during the meeting and he will be notified of the answer.
Questions were asked about the Resilience Flood Forum public drop-in session, it was explained the parish council have no additional information, they just booked the hall for the team.
An update on the situation of the Springwell Solar Farm application was given. All the evidence is now being studied by the planning inspectorate. A verbal invite to the thank you meeting on Monday 1st Dec at Scopwick from the Scopwick and Kirkby Green Solar Action Group was given.
,
District & County Councillors' Matters
Apologies were received from Cllr Kendrick and Cllr Bailey
1.Chairman’s Opening Remarks. (25/175)
a) Welcome.
The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies for Absence (25/176)
a) Apologies.
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr J Bourne (JB) due to a previous family commitment.
3. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest & Applications of Dispensation (25/177)
a) Declarations of Interest.
There were no declarations of interest.
4. Signing of the Minutes (25/178)
a) It was proposed by AB, seconded by HS and resolved to accept the notes of the
Extraordinary Parish Council Meeting held on Monday 27th October 2025 as a true and accurate record. The Chairman signed the minutes.
5. Planning Matters (25/179)
a) Planning Applications Received.
25/0304/FUL – The Pony Paddock, The Pinfold, - For information only
NKDC Planning informs that the metric and BNG report have been submitted.
b) Decision Notice Received.
Nil to date.
6. General Parish Matters (25/180)
a) Update on the Gov.UK domain.
The council is now signed up and the new email address for the council is Clerk@digbyparishcouncil.gov.uk. The councillors are in the process of setting up their individual email addresses. The Clerk will start to notify the authorities of the change of email address.
The Clerk stated it was a time-consuming task and took over 8 hours to set up.
Action: The Clerk to start informing al, the regular contacts of the change of email address.
7. Highways (25/181)
a) Highways issues.
An area of subsidence was reported outside No.3 Beck Street. GG agreed to report it.
Further issues of branches overhanging the road along Beck Street were reported and this will now be passed onto LCC Highways.
8. The Village Hall (25/182)
a) Minutes from the latest Meeting of the Committee.
There are no minutes due to latest meeting not taking place due to not enough members attending. The meeting is to be re-arranged.
b) Update on the Garden Maintenance.
As there is still work in the garden needed to tidy up for the winter and prepare for the spring it was proposed by ML, seconded by DG and the majority agreed, the gardener should continue at 4hrs a month until end of March.
Action: The Clerk to notify the gardener of the decision.
9. Drainage (25/183)
a) Response from LCC Flood Risk Manager.
A detailed response has been received from the LCC Flood Risk Manager in answer to the correspondence sent to our MP, LCC Chief Executive, Head of the County Council and our local County Councillor. It basically stated there is little hope of any further financial help available to the village since the construction of the flood alleviation channel.
All were in agreement that Digby should not be dismissed from receiving any further flood prevention initiatives just because the flood relief channel was built. This only answered half of the water surface issues. There is still surface water entering the village from the west and south that needs controlling. It was agreed to write back and stress this second project needs investigation as properties are still being flooded.
Action: The Clerk will produce a letter for the council to approve before sending, stating a second project is still needed.
b) Update for cutting the Beck next year.
Lamyman Grange Contractors have confirmed they are happy to commence the work in the spring on our instructions.
The correspondence from the LCC Flood Risk Manager stated the IDB will be continuing the maintenance work on the Beck even though the Environment Agency have no budget to pay for it. It was agreed to contact the IDB to find out what the maintenance schedule will be so we are not duplicating any work.
Action: The Clerk to contact the IDB and request information.
c) Flood Resilience Team - Public Drop -In Event 24th Nov.
A public drop-in event has been called by the Flood Resilience Programme Co-ordinator. It will be to introduce the new flood information service to the residents of the village. The hall has been booked by the parish council at £26.00 and the limited publicity provided for the event has been distributed on Facebook, the council website and posters have been placed in the noticeboards. The Digby Emergency Team leader has been informed of the short notice of the event. The Resilience Team have stated they will be contacting direct the residents that have been flooded recently, and inviting them to the drop-in session.
10. Playing Field, Play Areas and Village General (25/184)
a) Monthly Inspection of Play Equipment and Update on the Equipment Repairs.
The inspection has been carried out by HS. She reported a dog bin almost full and a litter bin with no liner. Since the last meeting Mr Bradshaw has been engaged to remove the five-a-side goal post and carry out minor repairs on the toddlers multi-play tower.
Action: The clerk to the bin issues the NKDC Environmental Health
b) Update on the Funding Application
The application for funding for the new play equipment project has been completed and submitted to FCC Communities Foundation. The application is to be reviewed by the grant committee and the final award decision will be made by the board on the 11th March 2026. Notification of whether the application was successful will be made within 2 weeks after the board meeting. The project must be completed within 12months of the notification or the funding will be withdrawn.
AB took the opportunity to congratulate KG and HS for all the work they have done to complete the application.
c) Results of the 3 yearly Tree Inspection
A total of 71 trees were inspected within the playing field. The detailed report detailing the works recommended to be carried out on the trees has been forwarded to the councillors prior to the meeting. The works are categorised into essential works and desirable works. There are 10 items of essential works and 13 desirable works required from the inspection. It was proposed by ML, seconded by DG and all agreed 3 quotes should be obtained for the essential work to be completed first.
Action: The Clerk to obtain the quotations for the next meeting.
d) Pest Control
As the existing contractor is no longer providing a service, the clerk has obtained information and prices from other companies. The cost of a contract versus the cost of individual call outs were considered. It was proposed by HS, seconded by AB and all agreed to go for the individual call out. This can be monitored to assist with budgeting in the future.
There are currently moles around the play equipment.
Action: The Clerk to call the Pest Control and book a visit.
e) Football Pitch - new Digby Team.
A new Digby team has started up. The manager has been in contact about frames for behind the goal mouths and portable lighting. The grass cutting around the areas of the goals was discussed. The manager confirmed they will keep these areas cut. It was agreed to permit the framework to be connected to the goals. It will be monitored that the grass is kept cut and any issues will result in the frames being requested to be removed. A decision on the portable lighting will be made when more information on the type/style of lights are known.
Action: The Clerk to notify the manager of the decision.
11. Allotments (25/185)
a) Updates from the Allotment Committee.
There were no updates available at the time of the meeting.
12. Finance (25/186)
a) Bank Balances and Approval of the Bank Reconciliation.
The bank balances were reported as :-
PC General Account 22,969.65
Allotment Account 7,516.68
Mary Gressewell Trust 5.58
The bank reconciliation was approved.
b) Income.
Income received since the last meeting.
NKDC Litter picking grant 186.62
Play Equipment Fund Raising – Raffle 26.00
c) Approval of Payments.
It was proposed by KG, seconded by AB and all agreed the following payments are made.
Salaries/Expenses 992.62
Lloyds bank charges 4.25
Greensleeves 71.00
Village hall garden – plants 94.92
P&P French – Tree works 912.00
Village Hall Rental – Apr to Oct 120.00
d) Update on Signatories for the Bank Account.
The mandate has been completed and HS is now fully signed up as a signatory.
It was agreed the Clerk should look into the system of 2 councillors logging into the bank to approve the payments as a further control on the councils finances. This protects both the Clerk and the council.
Action: The Clerk to contact the bank to arrange setting up the new system.
e) Items for the 2026-27 Budget.
The following items will need to be added to the budget planning for 2026-27 - Cutting of the Greendyke and The Beck, replacing the defibrillator, cutting of the field side of the bowls club hedge and an increase in garden maintenance hours.
A meeting of the finance group to discuss and plan the budget will take place on 26th Nov. The results of this meeting will be presented at the December meeting for consideration of the full council.
13. Correspondence (25/187)
a) LALC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors.
b) NKDC Newsletter - Distributed to all councillors
c) Request to hold Digby Dogfest 2026 on 22nd Aug on the playing field. All agreed There were no objections.
d) Scopwick and Kirkby Green Solar Action Group – Notification of a Thank you meeting, 1st Dec 7pm, all councillors invited.
e) NK – Flourishing Communities Grant – Details forwarded to the councillors
f) Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire – Donation Request. It was agreed there is not the finances to donate to organisations outside of the village, at this time.
g) Correspondence – Response to fallen stump – Greendykes. The council acknowledge receipt of the message and are pleased the stump is to be removed.
14. Dates of Future Meetings (25/188)
Parish Council Meetings for 2025 – Second Wednesday of the month – 10th Dec
Parish Council Meetings for 2026 – Second Wednesday of the month – 14th Jan, 11th Feb, 11th Mar, 8th Apr, 13th May,10th Jun, 8th Jul, 12th Aug, 9th Sep, 7th Oct, 11th Nov, 9th Dec.
Annual Parish Meeting 22nd April 2026.
15. Any Business to Note for the Next Agenda (24/189)
Setting the budget.
Feed back on local fund raising event
16. Closed Session (25/190)
For confidential items in accordance with the Public Bodies Act 1960, if required.
This item was not required.
20.50hrs - There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed.