Minutes 2025

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

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

Public Forum:              Three residents

One resident raised concerns about the cutting on the village green and the condition afterwards, it was confirmed that this is in part due to the uneven surface of the area and there was a slight delay in this cut taking place.  Another resident asked about the Big Clean up requested at the last meeting, the clerk confirmed that she had been in touch with SKDC and they are no longer able to afford to do this and that responsibility lies with LCC. The clerk has contacted LCC and they logged it on Fix my street, so this is in progress

Meeting started 7.10 pm

25/282 Chair’s remarks.

Cllr MS welcome new councillor Kathy Farley to her first meeting

25/283 Apologies for absence and reasons given.

None. It was resolved to accept the apologies.

25/284 To receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.

25/285 Draft minutes of the meeting held on 22-05-25 to be confirmed and signed as minutes.

Spelling error on 25/273 corrected and chair on header updated to Cllr M Smith

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

25/286 Financial matters: Accounts for payment and budget figures, including report, up to 04.07.25.

The clerk confirmed that the insurance quotation has also been paid with clear insurance as the quotation from Zurich was more expensive.  A transfer has also been made from the instant access account to the community account to enable the insurance payment to be made.

Invoices have also now been received from JK Cutting services for a grass cut on 9th July for £148.50, and LALC internal Audit £264.00

It was resolved to accept the accounts for payment including the two additional invoices. 

A letter has been received from EON next to say our current plan expires on 7th September – Clerk to research best quotations.

Bank Balances

Lloyds Community account                              £       509.20

Lloyds Instant access savings account            £  21,020.99

Natwest account                                                 £       991.99

The actual expenditure was reviewed against the budget to date with 93% income received and 51% spending.

Action: Clerk to make outstanding payments and research for quotations for Pavillion electricity

25/287 Planning:

S24/0024 – Use of land as a glamping site, 8 Bourne Road

Comments submitted, concerns regarding setting a precedent for future development, site access onto narrow road, development in a medium flood risk area, environmental impact relating to waste and sewerage/drainage and noise on the local residents

S25/1039 – New render colour and external signage – New Inn, West Street

Comment made regarding the sign saying Sleaford rather than Folkingham and to ensure light fittings appropriate for Heritage site

Removal of Mareham Lane Footbridge

Resolved that this would be left to Lincs County Council to make the decision.

S25/0768 – Prior approval for Farm Barn for tool and machine storage, Toll House Farm, Farm land adjacent to Toll House Cottage

Comments that this may have already been built and could give rise to this then being converted to a residential building

Action: Clerk to pass comments onto the planning dept

25/288 Correspondence

Following discussion regarding the resident asking to use the shops current advertising, it was resolved that perhaps this could be a sign promoting both the pub and low farm.

Action: Clerk to respond to resident and the pub also be approached.

25/289 Clerks report.

Clerk vacancy has now been advertised on DWP Job centre website, one application has been received, however it appears they may not live in the UK.  It was resolved to use the paid advertising option with LALC of £80 which would also share it on LCC website.  Clerk to also investigate further the cost of advertising on INDEED, as it is not clear on their website.

Action: Clerk to advertise with LALC and investigate INDEED

25/290 Updates from LCC/SKDC

Cllr M Turner

Local government – In May 27 District Council elections there will now be a shadow election for the new regime.  SKDC councillors will stay on until March 28 when the new councillors have the knowledge to then take over.

The engineering site that was bought in Stamford by the previous councillors is now being developed with 400 houses and a social care home.

New waste depot in Grantham is now moving forward at pace.  There will soon be a food waste collection as directed by central government.

Phone box – reapply for funding and get a reference no

Cllr M Hill

Flooding meeting held in Billingborough, Stantec are now going to investigate the courses and look at what could be done in the long and short term and Folkingham is now going to be included in this.  The Section 19 reports from January 25 flooding are due to be published soon

The new administration in the County Council have abolished the previous Flood committee with no explanation but they say the environment department will now include this.

Central government will issue the spending review soon and with Defence and the NHS protected, local government will likely be squeezed for the next 3 years.

Resurfacing of the Market Square is timetabled for next year and they will need to know soon what the Parish would like to be done. This will be formalised at the September meeting.

25/291  Pavilion/CCTV –

Cllr LR reported that the locksmith is coming out to look at the locks as at present we are only able to get into the kitchen area.  Once we can get in, we can see what the cleaning situation is.  It has also come to light that the EICR was a failure, which was never mentioned when it was passed over.  It was resolved that the clerk would contact Mike at Low Farm as he is an electrician to see if he could give us a quote for the remedial works.

Action: Clerk to request quotation for electrical repairs.

25/292 Playing field/Allotments

The benches have now arrived, and installation will begin on Tuesday 15th July 25. The annual inspection will be carried out by ROSPA in August 25

Allotments 1 and 6 have now been cleared however no work has been done on no 9.  The 30 day notice ends 11-07-25.  If nothing is done by then the resident will be notified that the keys must be handed back and a working party will go down and attempt to clear the plot on 20th July 25

Cllr RB has assessed the posts and obtained a quotation for the materials at a cost of £291 including VAT, with the addition costs of them being installed.  It was resolved that the materials be purchased and the cost of fitting them.

Action: Clerk to notify resident of the allotment that it is being taken back. Cllr RB to arrange purchase of materials.

25/293 Telephone box

Cllr KF presented proposals for the use of the phone box as a seed swap area.  It was resolved that this could be incorporated with the proposal for it to be a heritage

Action: New application to be put in to SKDC for the combined proposal

25/294 Neighbourhood plan

No further progress at present, Cllr KF expressed an interest in supporting Cllr MS with this

Action:. None

25/295 UKSPF Parish and Community funding

Cllr KF presented a mock up of proposals for funding for the Parish with regards to this.  The deadline for this year has passed but is was resolved that this is something that can be worked on throughout the year in preparation for next year’s funding

Action:

25/296 Other village matters.

Cllr CC put forward that the profile of the village be raised.  Cllr MS is currently trying to do this via the Love Folkingham, but the Council needs to see how else they can promote the village

Cllr CC raised this recent issue we had with regards to who has keys and access to both the noticeboards and the pavilion suggesting that we have a lockbox as they do at the village hall so that there is access when keyholders are not available.

Action: Clerk to add these items on to the agenda for the next meeting

25/297 Date of next meeting:  18 September 2025 7.00 pm

To resolve on whether the Council will move into closed session to consider the following two confidential staffing and legal matters in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

It was resolved to move to a closed session and the public were asked to leave the meeting

25/297 Clerks appraisal

The Clerks appraisal took place with Cllr MS on 3rd July 6.30pm.  A copy of the completed appraisal had been sent out to all Councillors.  It was resolved to accept the appraisal and agreed that the clerk’s pay would increase from pay scale 21 to 22.

Meeting Closed 9.15 pm

Signed:                                                                                                    (In the chair)