13th February 2026
Minutes of Mareham le Fen Parish Council meeting 13th February 2026 at 4.30pm held at Mareham le Fen Community Centre
Present: Cllrs D.Walby (Chair), H.Poulton, M.Walby, O.Marshall, N.Marshall
Not Present: Cllr M.Rodgers, C. Robinson.
Clerk: A. Everard
Members of Public present: One
8/26. Election of Chair of Mareham le Fen Parish Council and signing of the Declaration of Office (to serve the period until the 2026 Annual Parish Council meeting in May)
The retiring Chair Cllr M.Foster presided. Proposed Cllr O.Marshall, seconded Cllr Poulton RESOLVED unanimously to elect Cllr D.Walby. Cllr Walby signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office witnessed by the Clerk.
9/26. Election of Vice Chair of Mareham le Fen Parish Council.
Proposed Cllr Poulton, seconded Cllr O.Marshall unanimously RESOLVED to elect Cllr Poulton.
10/26. Apologies for absence with reason given
Noted Cllr Robinson’s apology.
11/26. Declaration of Members’ interests in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and requests for dispensations.
None
12/26. To receive the draft minutes to be approved as the minutes of the meeting held on 25th June 2025 and 15th October 2025 Finance and General Purposes Committee.
Item deferred.
13/26. Matters arising from the minutes of 25th June and 15th October and Clerk’s updates not already on this agenda.
Item deferred.
14/26. ELDC and LCC councillors invited by the Chair to make verbal or written reports on local matters.
ELDC District Councillor M.Foster reported;
• ELDC draft budget and precept is being prepared.
• The weekly food waste collections would start in the District from October 2026. Bins will be delivered by the end of Summer.
• Green waste collections will continue and subscriptions are due now.
15/26. To adopt the Council’s Standing Orders and the Financial Regulations and IT Policy.
Item deferred.
16/26. Planning matters
a) 03529/25/FUL |Planning Permission - Change of use of existing building to form a day nursery.
Gantspeed Engineering Chapel Lane Mareham Le Fen Lincolnshire PE22 7PZ.
– Council noted this application has been withdrawn.
b) 02040/25/FED - Diversion of public footpath no. 178.
Footpath From Birkwood Development Site and along Main Street Mareham Le Fen Lincolnshire
Item deferred.
10. Highway, footpath, and drainage matters affecting the parish.
a) Clerk’s report on the recent Highway Officer’s visit to Mareham le Fen
The Clerk reported that he had accompanied LCC Councillor Roberts and the Highways Officer around parts of the village and recent concerns had been noted for investigation.
b) To note the proposed LCC drainage work to be completed on Chapel Lane in Spring.
Council noted the works and the Clerk will publish details on the website and Facebook page.
c) To approve LCC Highways Parish Agreement.
Item deferred.
d) To consider locations of new local flood warning monitors.
Item deferred.
11. Financial Matters
a) To consider payments on the payments schedule
Item deferred.
b) To consider changes to the bank account signatories
Proposed Cllr D.Walby, seconded H.Poulton unanimously RESOLVED to add Cllr D.Walby, H.Poulton and O.Marshall.
c) To note bank balances and bank reconciliation.
Item deferred.
d) To appoint internal auditor for 2025-26.
Proposed Cllr N.Marshall, seconded Cllr M.Walby RESOLVED unanimously to appoint LALC internal auditor service for two years.
12. Cemetery Matters
a) To consider applications for memorials and inscriptions
Proposed Cllr Poulton, Cllr N.Marshall unanimously RESOLVED to approve the two memorial applications in respect of Blacoe and Turner.
13. Training Bookings to be approved.
The Clerk was requested to arrange face to face New Councillor training locally.
Chairs Workshop 28th April 6pm – Cllr D. Walby, Cllr Poulton, Cllr O.Marshall.
14. To consider items to be added to the next meeting agendas on Monday 23rd February and Wednesday 18th March 2026.
Councillors agreed to hold an extra meeting on 23rd February. Items will include deferred items and Grant Funds, nomination to the Community Centre Trustees.
The Chair thanked everyone for their contributions. Meeting closed 6.03pm.