Minutes 2025

Present:                       Cllr Lucy Robb, Cllr Hannah Weston Smith, Cllr Martin Smith, Cllr Robert Broadbent, Cllr Christopher Smith,

Also Present:               Nicky Bush (Clerk), Cllr Murray Turner (SKDC), Cllr Martin Hill (LCC)

Public Forum:              Three members of the public

Meeting started 7.00 pm

Public Forum

A resident asked about the CCTV in the pavilion and whether it was working.  This had been off due to the works needed on the electrics and had not been reset as current councillors do not know how it works.  The council will get in contact with the person who set it up to get it up and running again.

Solar streetlight is not always on – it was confirmed this is dependent on the weather as on overcast days not as much power is put into the battery

25/315 Chair’s remarks.

Cllr MS welcomed everyone

25/316 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

Cllr Kathy Farley gave apologies. It was resolved to accept the apologies.

25/317 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

None

25/318 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 18-09-25 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

It was resolved to accept the above notes as minutes.  They were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

25/319 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 11.11.25.

Bank Balances

Lloyds Treasurers account     £  3,287.81

Lloyds Savings account            £13,217.76

Natwest account                      £      991.99

It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment. 

The clerk presented the addition quotation for Audit services from V Clark and it was resolved to accept this quotation

The actual expenditure was reviewed against the budget to date with 114% income received and 106% spending. These are both over budget in part due to the grant and expenditure for the play area benches. The Pavillion is over budget, however money was previously ringfenced in anticipation of this.

The clerk presented options for laptops for the new clerk and reported that there are problems with the printer as the Magenta no longer works even though a new ink has been put in.  Currently the ink levels are low.  It was resolved to obtain a new printer and not purchase more ink, a budget of £400 being agreed.  Cllr HWS agreed to speak Claire the new clerk for her input on the laptop as she is the one going to be using it.

It was also discussed and agreed that Microsoft Office would be required as all templates are currently in that format and it also includes cloud storage.

It was also resolved that the clerk could start the process of getting Claire added to the banking system at the handover.

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments, add Claire Proudfoot to the banking system, and arrange the interim Audit with V Clark

25/310 Planning:

S25/1889 – Division of 1 no dwelling into 2no dwellings.The erection of a porch side extension and 3 x rear extensions, 16 and 18 Market Place

No comments or concerns

S25/2001 Fell Norway Spruce Tree – 1-3 Market Place

No comments or concerns

S25/1881 – Remedial work, retrospective permission for internal works and side extension – 16 and 18 Market Place

No comments or concerns

Planning Decisions

S25/1497 & 1946 – Proposed link extension and conversion of outbuilding, 12 Chapel Lane

Permission granted 05/11/25

S25/1518 – Tree works, Teal House, 6 Sleaford Road

Permission granted 17/09/25

S25/1482 – Notice of Tree works – 3 Billingborough Road

Permission granted 01/09/25

S25/0024 – Proposed glamping site – 7 Bourne Road, Folkingham

No decision as yet

Action: Clerk to pass comments onto the planning dept

25/311 Correspondence

Cllr HWS has been approached by the probation services offering unpaid work for the village, which could be tidying up paths etc.  Cllr HWS to respond and get some further information

Action: Cllr HWS to respond to probation service.

25/312 Clerks report.

Action: None

25/313 Updates from LCC/SKDC

Cllr MT reported that they had meetings today to vote on SKDC proposals for the new regime, they are proposing SKDC, NKDC and South Holland merge.

He also reported that another Flood meeting had been held in Billingborough and Cllr MH also attended.  They are talking to the relevant agencies, and they have solution to fix the current issues.  He is also liaising on the street lighting proposals and the potential extension to the conservation areas

Cllr MH fedback on the West Street resurfacing issues, nobody wants to admit anything but appears to have been a lack of communication.  LCC have engaged specialist contractors to estimate what happened/went wrong and will be producing a report by March 26.  They feel the EA could do more.  LCC will be voting on their bid regarding the new regime on Friday. 

A resident had reported a problem with Bourne Road regarding scooter access, and this has been addressed.  Highways have a lot of additional work due to drought damage on roads which may mean some other planned works may be postponed or cancelled.  Issue on the ford road were discussed, and Cllr MH will enquire as to whether a stopping up order would be feasible.

25/314  Pavilion/CCTV

Mike the electrician working on the Pavillion outlined options for the heating controls which were discussed and it was resolved that the ones currently not working would be replaced for the time being and maybe changed once we know how well it is working.  The quotation for the materials received was agreed on, Mike has offered his labour for free and will have the works completed in time for the first match on 30th November.

The quotation for the boiler works, legionella risk assessment and disinfecting of the water system was also agreed.  The contract has said he should be able to get this done by the 30th.  Cllr CC will contact him to give him the go ahead and check if he can still meet that date.

The step outside the pavilion needs to be sorted. Cllr LR will ask the contractor that did the benches for a quotation.

25/315 Playing field/Allotments

Cllr LR asked that when the allotment rent invoices are sent out that tenants are reminded that they are not allowed to have fires on the allotments. Plot 10 has given notice but the keys have not been received back as yet.  The posts have not been put in yet as Cllr RB is no longer able to do it.  It was resolved that Cllr LR will get a quotation for this to be done alongside the pavilion step.

Action: Clerk to remind tenants that fires are not allowed on the allotments

25/316 Market place resurfacing and street lighting

Covered in 25/313 above

Action: None

25/317 Christmas lights in Market place

Residents are asking that we have lights again in the Market Place.  Cllr HWS explained this had to be stopped due to H&S issues reported.  It was resolved that battery options would be looked at.  Cllr HWS offered to put the banner and lights up again outside the Old School Yard.

A tree is also to be obtained for the Christmas tree festival

Action:. Cllrs to look at the costs of lights and source a tree for the festival

25/318 Telephone Box

No further progress at present

Action:. None

25/319 Neighbourhood plan

No further progress at present due to focus on Pavillion

Action: None

25/320 Budget planning for precept 2026-27

Each line of the budget was discussed, at present there are uncertainties on costs and income for the Pavillion, and it was resolved that the precept would remain at the same level as last year

The cost of the Church clock was discussed as this has now gone over the agreed contribution of £250.  The Church to be contacted and ask that the bill goes to them in future and they then bill us for our contribution.

Action: Clerk to send the updated budget plan to Councillors and request the precept in January once the forms have been received.

25/321 Other village matters.

None

Action: None

Meeting Closed 9.05 pm

Date of next meeting:  15th January 2026 7.00 pm

Signed:                                                                                       (In the chair)