Minutes of the Council Meeting Held in Lindsey Village Hall

Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Wednesday 12^th November 2025 in Lindsey Village Hall, Church Road, Lindsey which commenced at 7.35pm.

In attendance: Cllrs. C Arthey (in Chair), R Corcoran, M Hainsworth, B Howe, J Moore and A Sturgeon, County Councillor J Finch (in part), District Councillor L Jamieson (in part) and Mrs V Waples, Parish Clerk.

1. Opening and Welcome

The Chair, Cllr. Arthey, opened the meeting and thanked all for attending. The statement on reporting at meetings of the parish council was read by the Clerk. The Chair opened the meeting and thanked all for attending.

2. Apologies of Absence

To receive apologies of absence – there were no applicable apologies of absence as all were present.
Apologies of absence were noted from County Cllr. Finch.

3. Declaration of Members Interest

To receive declarations of registrable, other and non-registerable interests as detailed in Appendix B of the LGA Model Code of Conduct Model Code of Conduct 2020 – Cllr. Moore declared a pecuniary for agenda item 9i. There were no further declarations of interests submitted.
There were no declarations of gifts of hospitality received exceeding £50.
There were no requests for dispensations for the agenda under discussion.

4. Minutes of Previous Meetings

To approve the minutes of the following Council Meeting:

Council Meeting of 10^th September 2025 - the meeting resolved that the circulated minutes were a true and accurate record of the meeting that took place, and resolved for the Chair to sign the minutes, which was undertaken in accordance with prevailing legislation, aif.

5. Public Forum

(maximum 10 minutes)

To receive a report from County Councillor James Finch – Cllr. Finch was invited to submit his report in which he commented or drew the meeting’s attention to the following: a copy of the written report submitted can be seen at Appendix A
- Report based on what has been happening over the past six months – LGR and Devolution and Mayoral Elections.
- Tim Passmore was noted as the Conservative candidate for the Mayoral elections.
There were no questions / issues raised by Councillors for onward submission.
To receive a report from District Councillor Leigh Jamieson – Cllr. Jamieson was invited to submit his report in which he commented or drew the meeting’s attention to the following: a copy of the written report submitted can be seen at Appendix B.
- Listed Building Consent orders to allow Grade II listed buildings to add secondary glazing to existing windows but changing a single pane for double glazing is still not permitted.
- Community Governance Review.
- Call for sites 2025-2026 due to the review of the Joint Local Plan.
To receive comments from the public on the agenda as published – the clerk confirmed that no matters had been raised by the public.

6. Parish Matters

Climate Awareness / climate emergency – to receive an update / information on climate related issue coming forth – community energy plan with generation owned and utilised by the community. Use of electricity was expected to triple in the imminent future. Project would be a low cost source of energy free from price volatility. Wind, solar and battery storage could provide up to 80% of energy required. A site on the end of the village has been identified as being most suitable. Projected performance was said to be encouraging both in terms of installation costs and energy costs. Communities local to generation sites would be able to plug into the energy produced with savings on standing charges. Main issue would be the overall height of the turbine in close proximity to airfields and neighbouring properties. 40mtrs. is the height of the turbine with 60mtrs. being the overall height to the tip of the blade. Issues relating to the impact on birds and noise for the community were matters that would need to be explored further. 30mtr. towers rising to 45mtrs. have been reviewed but the energy generated was not cost effective. It was emphasized that this would be a community project overseen by a community interest company. Heating Bildeston are also reviewing similar projects and have access to advice and fundings streams. Discussion followed over whether solar farms would be more preferable to the community. Cllr. Sturgeon was asked to progress this matter further.
To receive a progress report on matters relating to:
- Traffic calming and appropriate signage on the A1141 in the vicinity of Canada Cottages and Hollow Trees Farm Shop – it was noted that a survey was first undertaken 15 years ago and that this had now been repeated at the end of October. Cllr. Finch was still awaiting those results prior to commenting further.
- Traffic calming on C720 between Church Road to Lindsey Tye – it was noted that Cllr. Finch was still to discuss this matter further with the relevant Highways Officer. A speed survey would need to be undertaken and dependent upon the results further consideration could be given to either the deployment of vehicle activated signs or whether there were other traffic calming measures that could be introduced in this area.

7. Statutory Matters

Casual Vacancy – council noted that BMSDC have confirmed that they have not received any requests for an election for the casual vacancy, so the Parish Council is able to fill the vacancy by co-option.
To consider applications from persons interested in filling the casual vacancy – there were no applications coming forward at this point in time.
Babergh District Council – Notice of Community Governance Review – council resolved that it did not wish to propose changes to parish arrangements for effective future governance.

8. Planning Matters

To consider the following planning applications:
- DC/25/03914 Proposal: Application for Listed Building Consent - Extension to dwellinghouse and alterations to existing dog kennel. Location: The Long House, Folly Farm, Waldingfield Road – all noted the less than substantial harm comment from the Heritage Officer. It was resolved to support the proposal as there would be no detrimental impact on the listed building or its setting.
- DC/25/03909 Proposal: Householder Application - Extension to dwellinghouse and alterations to existing dog kennel. Location: The Long House, Folly Farm, Waldingfield Road – it was resolved that, as the impact on residential amenities and street scene was considered to be negligible, the council would support the application as written.
To note the following planning applications determined by the local planning authority:
- DC/25/02699 – Planning permission for the erection of two-storey and single-storey extensions and alterations. Change of use of part of agricultural land to residential curtilage. Location Seagers Cottage, Kersey Road.
BMSDC - Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Review: Publication of the Draft Babergh and Mid Suffolk Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and Forthcoming Call for Sites – all noted the publication of the SHLAA and the forthcoming call for sites.
BMSDC - Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Call for Sites 2025 and Babergh and Mid Suffolk Draft Five-Year Housing Land Supply Position Statements – all noted that it was for landowners to submit sites under the Call for Sites and that there would be the opportunity for the council to comment on site submitted at a later stage. Council had no comment to submit on the Housing Land Supply position.

9. Correspondence: To Consider / Note the Following

Devolution – to note correspondence on this matter from SALC, Suffolk County Council and Babergh District Council – all noted correspondence on this matter.
SALC – Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Bulletin – October 2025 – all noted correspondence on this matter.
BMSDC – Town and Parish Updates – council confirmed all monthly updates are emailed to Councillors for their perusal.
SALC – to note all weekly news bulletins are emailed to Councillors for their perusal. Councillors to contact the Clerk if there are any items of interest / training courses they wish to attend.

10. Financial Matters

To consider schedule of receipts received and payments made since the last meeting – Paper A – all confirmed receipt of Paper A (details can be seen at Appendix D) noting that there were no receipts allocated into the account since the last meeting. Payments that had been made between meetings as shown on Paper A (details can be seen in Appendix D) covered the direct debit to HMRC (£249.20) for 2^nd quarter of 2025-2026 PAYE due.
To consider and approve the verified items awaiting authorization as per the schedule submitted – Paper B - all confirmed receipt of Paper B (details can be seen at Appendix D) - having reviewed the paper submitted, it was resolved to approve the payment awaiting authorisation for settlement via online transfer.
To consider the Council's financial position to date – Paper C – Council noted the reconciled position of £8,269.90 once the accounts awaiting payment had been settled, aif. Councillors Corcoran and Hainsworth confirmed that they had verified the position against the bank statements and cashbook. (Details can be found at Appendix D).
To consider the council budget versus actual statement to end of November 2025 – Paper D – all reviewed the submitted paper noting the slight underspend for the year, in the main due to decreased administrative costs.
To consider the first draft of the budget for the year 1^st April 2026 to 31^st March 2027 – all confirmed receipt of the illustrative draft which would be formally debated at the next meeting once the tax base had been received. Council resolved to be minded to set the budget at £6,514 for the year commencing 1st April 2026.

11. Clerk’s Report

To discuss further remedial works to the village sign – a local artist, Suzanne Perry of Brett Gallery had been approached by the Chair and she had agreed to inspect the sign and provide the council with a price. The work to be undertaken would include the application of 3 coats of yacht varnish applied over the repainted sign for enhanced protection. It was noted that the Chair had agreed that the council would be responsible for the removal of the sign and transportation to and from the artist. It was resolved that, given the difficulty in sourcing someone to carry out the work, the Chair and Clerk would observe the council’s financial regulations in seeking to obtain value for money as opposed to formal estimates prior to placing a firm order.

12. Parish Councillors’ Reports

Elm Cottage – it was queried as to whether it was the responsibility as a parish council to progress the matter of the building being non weather tight to the planning department. All were in agreement that the property should not be left in this state of disrepair and all efforts should be made to bring this back into housing stock.
Issue with deliveries and housing names – it was asked as to whether there was a map of Lindsey with all dwellings located upon it. It was suggested that the “what3words” app was an appropriate app for precise location.
Hedgerow at White Rose – the hedgerow had been trimmed but it was apparent that further work was required. Discussion had also been had over how the hedgerow could be pulled back from the roadside.

13. Date of Next Meeting

All meetings will take place in the Village Hall, Church Road, Lindsey.

To note the next meeting is scheduled as 21^st January 2026 – all noted the confirmed date. Post meeting note – changed to Wednesday 28^th January 2026.

14. Close of Meeting

There being no other business the Chairman declared the meeting closed 9.15pm.