Folkingham Parish Council

Draft reconstructed minutes of meetings held on Thursday 28 May 2026

Status: This draft record has been reconstructed from the surviving notes and published agendas. Attendance, meeting times and any unrecorded resolutions must be confirmed by the members who attended before the minutes are approved.

Annual Meeting of Folkingham Parish Council

Scheduled time: 7.00pm
Venue: Folkingham Village Hall
Councillors present: To be confirmed
Also present: To be confirmed
Members of the public: To be confirmed

1. Election of Chair

The surviving notes record that Councillor Martin Smith was willing to continue as Chair. No formal vote or resolution is recorded, and this must be confirmed by the members present.

2. Chair’s declaration of acceptance of office

No record is available confirming receipt of the Chair’s declaration of acceptance of office.

3. Election of Vice-Chair

No record of an election or resolution is available.

4. Vice-Chair’s declaration of acceptance of office

No record is available confirming receipt of a declaration of acceptance of office.

5. Apologies for absence

An apology was received from Councillor David Simpson. It was noted that his alternating evening work pattern could be considered when future meeting dates were arranged.

6. Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026

The accounts were not available because the Council did not have a Clerk. Consideration and approval were therefore deferred.

7. Appointment of councillor representatives

The following arrangements were recorded:

• Planning and environment: Councillor Martin Smith would continue to oversee this area.

• Neighbourhood Plan, conservation area, highways, street lighting and environment: Councillor Martin Smith would continue to oversee matters arising.

• Playing field and pavilion: Councillor David Simpson would continue to oversee teams and bookings.

• Allotments: Councillor Lucy Robb would continue, supported by Councillor Robert Broadbent on practical matters.

• Green spaces and tree management: No individual representative was appointed. Members would share responsibility pending recruitment of further councillors.

• Telephone box and seed bank: The project would be paused following Councillor Kathy Farley’s resignation.

• Defibrillators: Replacement of one or possibly both units was being progressed.

8. Standing Orders

No formal review or adoption is recorded in the surviving notes.

9. Financial Regulations

No formal review or adoption is recorded in the surviving notes.

10. Asset register

No formal review of the asset register is recorded in the surviving notes.

11. Insurance

It was reported that major matters, including insurance and the Council’s legal responsibilities, were in hand. No formal resolution confirming the adequacy of the insurance arrangements is recorded.

Ordinary Meeting of Folkingham Parish Council

Scheduled time: 7.30pm
Venue: Folkingham Village Hall
Chair: Councillor Martin Smith
Councillors present: To be confirmed
Also present: Councillor Martin Hill, Lincolnshire County Council; others to be confirmed
Members of the public: To be confirmed

1. Public forum

The Chair opened the public forum. No representations or questions were received. The public forum was then closed.

2. Chair’s remarks and apologies for absence

An apology was received from Councillor David Simpson. It was noted that his alternating evening work pattern could be considered when future meeting dates were arranged.

3. Declarations of interest and dispensations

No declarations of interest or requests for dispensations were recorded.

4. Minutes of the previous meeting

No previous minutes were available because the Council did not have a Clerk. Approval was therefore deferred.

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

Councillor Martin Hill reported that tenders had been received for planned village works. The works were expected to take place in the autumn in accordance with the existing plans.

Further work to investigate and reduce flooding in the village was expected to proceed.

Updates were provided concerning a licensing matter at Low Farm, major energy and infrastructure proposals in Lincolnshire, and the possible effects of local government reorganisation.

Councillor Hill had reported problems with the resurfacing of Billingborough Road and hoped that the outstanding issues would be addressed. He wished the Council well with its recruitment.

6. Clerk’s report and induction

The planned induction could not proceed following the resignations. Recruitment of a new Clerk would be considered later in the meeting.

7. Correspondence

Following the Clerk’s departure, the Council had not been able to respond promptly to emails. Access to the email account had now been recovered.

Councillor Smith had reviewed the inbox and responded to matters that appeared urgent. Any outstanding invoices would be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.

The published agenda included a request for a £500 grant towards the Feastival. No decision on that application is recorded in the surviving notes.

8. Planning

No planning applications or decisions are recorded in the surviving notes.

9. Neighbourhood Plan

No separate update is recorded. Councillor Smith would continue to oversee matters arising.

10. Conservation Area

No separate update is recorded. Councillor Smith would continue to oversee matters arising.

11. Highways and street lighting

No separate update is recorded beyond the report from Councillor Hill. Councillor Smith would continue to oversee matters arising.

12. Environment

No separate update is recorded. Councillor Smith would continue to oversee matters arising.

13. Playing field and pavilion

Councillor David Simpson would continue to oversee team use and bookings.

14. Play area and allotments

Councillor Lucy Robb would continue to oversee the allotments, supported by Councillor Robert Broadbent on practical matters. No separate play-area update is recorded.

15. Green spaces and tree management

No individual representative was appointed. Members would share responsibility while councillor vacancies remained.

16. Telephone box seed bank

The project would be paused following Councillor Kathy Farley’s resignation.

17. Defibrillators

The Council had contacted the relevant service provider. Replacement of one or possibly both defibrillator units was being progressed.

18. Finance

No finance report or year-end accounts were available because the Council did not have a Clerk. Outstanding invoices would be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.

19. Audit

No audit report was available. The accounting records and year-end position would need to be brought up to date once clerking support was in place.

20. Recruitment

Recruitment of a new Clerk and additional councillors was identified as the Council’s main priority.

21. Next meeting

The next ordinary meeting was scheduled for Thursday 23 July 2026 at 7.00pm at Folkingham Village Hall.

The time at which the meeting closed was not recorded.

Signed by the Chair: ______________________________

Date: ______________________________