July 2025 Minutes
Minutes of a meeting of Cowbit Parish Council held on Monday the 14th of July at 7:30pm in Cowbit Village Hall, Barrier Bank, Cowbit.
Present
Members: Trevor Tyrrell (Chair), Eric Fragale (Vice Chair), Chris Elliott, Peter Simpson, Janet Barnes and
Jake Mason
Clerk: Angela Harrison
District Cllrs: Anthony Casson
County Cllr: Raymond Condell
Parishioners: 1
23. Chairman’s welcome and Public Forum.
The Chairman welcomed everyone and Cllr Condell to his first meeting.
A question was raised regarding whether the PC would be reinstating the dog poo bags.
Members responded to state that it wasn’t likely, as when they did provide the bags, certain individuals would empty the dispensers leaving none for anyone else.
• Cllr Casson added that the enforcement contractors, Kingdom, can stop anyone with a dog and fine them £100 if they don’t pick up their dog’s mess or don’t have bags on them in which to do so.
24. To receive and approve apologies for absence.
Apologies were approved for Peter Simpson and Daniel Sandhu.
District Cllrs Andrew Woolf and Thomas Sneath had also given their apologies.
25. To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations.
There were none.
26. Minutes of the May meeting to be approved and signed as a correct record.
CE moved and EF seconded the Minutes and the Chair signed them as a true record.
27. Matters arising from the Minutes, (not covered on this agenda).
There were none.
28. Clerk’s Report: to receive the report on matters outstanding.
Welcome Gates
The Clerk had emailed Cllr Condell on the 26th of June to request permission to install additional signs and for a quote to supply them so that they matched the ones already in situ.
Cllr Condell asked that the email be re-sent as he couldn’t locate it.
ACTION: Clerk
Playing Field/Pavilion
The Clerk confirmed that all requested documents have been forwarded to Tim Wall Leisure to support the funding applications for improvements to the field and Pavilion.
New litter bin for memorial bench
The Clerk advised that SHDC will no longer supply new bins.
The PC will need to purchase a bin and a copy of the invoice sent to the District Cllrs so that they can donate some of their Ward budgets towards the cost.
SHDC will need to give permission for the bin to be installed and advise whether it can be maintained by them.
• Cllr Casson advised that the Clerk contact Matt Fisher at SHDC to discuss the situation.
ACTION: Clerk
29. Cow installation for A16 roundabout: to discuss options and designs.
The Chair and Vice Chair met with Dan from Laserfab, Spalding to discuss designs.
Looking at three sculptures; a mother cow with two calves.
• Cllr Condell asked whether permission has been sought to erect the sculptures on the roundabout.
TT confirmed that permission had been granted by Maxine Stukins.
TT asked the Clerk what the spend limit was before needing to put out to tender.
• The Clerk advised that she would find out, but that this project has not been budgeted for in the current financial year and that another option might be to ask local businesses to sponsor the sculptures.
TT advised that the PC would need to arrange the unloading and erection of the sculptures upon delivery.
ACTION: TT/EF to get a quote for the sculptures.
Clerk to find out the total spend allowed before putting out to tender.
Clerk to speak with Cllr Jack Tyrrell to find out how he managed to get a boat onto the roundabout at Long Sutton.
Finance Matters: to receive Bank Reconciliations for May and June.
The Bank Reconciliations were received and signed by the Chair.
a. To receive the Budget Report.
The budget report was received and the Clerk advised that she had transferred £5,700 from the Treasurers to the Reserves account in order to earn interest and to ensure there was match-funding available for the field and pavilion project.
b. Payments: to approve invoices for payment received since the last meeting.
CE moved to approve the payments, JB seconded and all agreed.
30. Police matters: to receive the online Police report.
There were a total of 7 crimes recorded for April 2025, as follows.
On or near New River Drove (other side of the New River Drain)
1 x Antisocial Behaviour
1 x Violence and Sexual Offence
On or near Brownlow’s Drove, (opposite side of Barrier Bank)
1 x Burglary
On or near Clarkson Avenue
2 x Violence and Sexual Offence
On or near Croft Close
1 x Criminal Damage and Arson
On or near The Pastures
1 x Criminal Damage and Arson
31. Highways Matters: to discuss any issues and to receive the CSW report.
The CSW report from June and July was read out by the Chair.
30.05.2025
Barrier Bank 40mph 23 checked zero over limit
04.06.2025
Stonegate 30mph 10 checked 1 over limit 41mph
13.06.2025
Barrier Bank 40mph 11 checked 1 over limit 52mph
20.06.2025
Backgate 30mph 18 checked 2 over limit fastest 45mph
26.06.2025
Barrier Bank 40mph 20 checked 1 over limit 58mph
It was agreed by all that the CSW is working well, as the report shows far fewer vehicles being caught speeding.
Cllr Condell advised that white lines on Barrier Bank are to be implemented during this quarter.
He also intimated that a roundabout may be necessary at the radar junction of the A16 by Crowland.
TT advised Cllr Condell that if the large vehicles proposed to bring in the materials for the Meridian Solar Farm, were to use the Whipchicken junction, it would not only be a more direct route, but would prevent them from using Backgate and Stonegate.
• Cllr Condell advised that the County Council have objected to the land being used for Solar Panels, especially as it is Grade 1 Agricultural. However, should the project go ahead, there is £20M available to the affected Parishes over the next 10 years.
Cllr Condell also advised that at a recent meeting with Richard Tice, a bypass for Boston, duelling of the A16 and a Spalding to Boston railway line were discussed. Although there is no money available at present, the projects are being looked into.
TT requested that Cllr Condell look into the issue of clearing out the dykes along the A16.
32. Planning Matters: to agree a response to any new applications.
There was only one new application to be considered, since the last meeting.
Reference: H01-0593-25
Status: Undecided
Proposal: Erection of a detached dwelling
Location: Land at Stamford House Farm 24 Peak Hill Cowbit Spalding PE12 6AW
Received: 18-06-25
Decision By: 13-08-25
Applicant: Executors of Mr H Sharman c/o Robert Doughty Consultancy Ltd 32 High Street Helpringham Sleaford NG34 0RA
Members agreed that with no objections, the PC support this application.
ACTION: Clerk
33. Playing Field and Pavilion: to discuss playing field usage and future plans.
EF advised that the pavilion had been broken into and that new locks will be fitted.
Caroline from the SEN football and the school have keys.
TT advised that sadly, one of the new trees that were recently planted has died.
EF agreed to chase up the dog walker signs.
34. Items to be included on the next meeting’s agenda.
Road Signs.
35. To confirm the date of the next meeting, provisionally set as Monday the 15th of September.
The date was confirmed and the meeting ended at 8.45pm