Draft minutes of the meeting of Folkingham Parish Council

Date: Thursday 23 July 2026
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Folkingham Village Hall

Present

Councillor Martin Smith, Councillor Lucy Robb, Councillor Hannah Weston Smith, Councillor Robert Broadbent, Councillor Christopher Smith and Councillor David Simpson.

Also present

John Kirby and Kelly Hughes, incoming Clerk.

Members of the public

Three.

The Chair opened the meeting at 7.00pm.

1. Public forum

Members of the public raised the following matters:

• outstanding work relating to the 30mph speed limit;

• vegetation obscuring the Folkingham village sign; and

• a drain on West Street that remained blocked.

The public forum was then closed.

2. Chair’s remarks and apologies for absence

The Chair acknowledged the administrative difficulties experienced by the Council while it had been without a Clerk.

Kelly Hughes was introduced and welcomed as the incoming Clerk.

No apologies for absence were received.

3. Declarations of interest and dispensations

No declarations of interest or requests for dispensations were recorded.

4. Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2026 were not ready for approval.

It was noted that the March meeting notes had been partly completed but required checking.

Action: Councillor Weston Smith to check and circulate the March meeting notes.

The preparation of the May minutes had been delayed because of holidays.

Action: Councillor Clark to prepare the May meeting notes in the required format.

5. Reports from Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council

No reports were received.

6. Clerk’s induction

No formal report was received. Kelly Hughes was welcomed and introduced to members as the incoming Clerk.

7. Correspondence

The following correspondence and updates were noted:

• The Council’s energy arrangement with Bionic was due for renewal in October.

• Information had been received concerning the Ropsley Light Railway event on 8 August 2026.

• Playground inspection correspondence had been received.

8. Planning

A resident had contacted the Council concerning retrospective planning or enforcement matter reference ENF26/0102.

Members had not previously been aware of the matter and agreed that clarification should be sought.

Action: Obtain further information about reference ENF26/0102.

9. Neighbourhood Plan

There were no updates.

10. Conservation Area

There were no updates.

11. Highways and street lighting

The Market Place works were expected to begin on 10 August 2026 and continue for approximately five weeks.

Questions were raised about the diversion arrangements and alternative parking while the Market Place was unavailable.

It was noted that the Post Office van would temporarily operate from an area near the Village Hall.

12. Environment

No separate update was recorded.

13. Playing field and pavilion

The playing field had been badly affected by the prolonged dry weather. Concerns were raised about whether its condition would be suitable and safe for football matches.

The application from a new team would not be proceeding.

Ropsley would continue to use the facilities during the forthcoming season.

Action: Councillor Simpson to contact the teams and confirm which teams would be using the facilities.

Action: Councillor Simpson to make arrangements concerning benches for the changing rooms.

Action: Councillor Weston Smith to arrange cleaning of the pavilion.

14. Play area and allotments

There was no separate update concerning the play area.

A new tenant had taken over allotment plot 3.

Councillor Broadbent reported that he had fitted new covers to the taps.

It was reported that an allotment key had been lost. The Council agreed that a replacement lock should be obtained.

RESOLVED: To replace the allotment lock.

15. Green spaces and tree management

A fallen tree in the Market Place required attention.

Action: Arrange for the fallen tree to be made safe.

16. Telephone box seed bank

There were no updates.

17. Defibrillator

The defibrillator unit at the shop was no longer operational and required replacement.

Shock Sleaford was suggested as a possible organisation to contact for advice or assistance.

Action: Councillor Weston Smith to investigate replacement options.

18. Finance

It was noted that the Council’s accounting records and outstanding payments needed to be brought up to date.

Action: Bring the accounts up to date and identify any outstanding payments.

19. Audit

No separate audit update was recorded.

20. Recruitment of a new Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer

No separate discussion or decision was recorded under this item.

Other matters noted

No decisions were made under this section.

Members thanked the organisers of the Folkingham Feastival and noted that the event had been a great success.

It was also reported that the provision of the skip had been successful.

21. Next meeting

The next meeting would be held on Thursday 17 September 2026 at 7.00pm.

There being no further business, the Chair closed the meeting at 8.02pm.

Signed: ____________________________________
Chair

Date: ______________________________________