July 2026 Minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 13th July 2026 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catterson
Councillor George
Councillor Raphael
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Watkinson
Councillor Yeates
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
LCC/NKDC Councillor Ian Carrington (arrived 7:15pm)
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
Absent:
Councillor Farrington
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
There were 6 members of the public present.
Public participation
There were no questions.
074/M/26 To receive and accept apologies, where valid reasons for absence have been submitted to the clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies and valid reasons for absence had been received from Cllr Farrington. It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Watkinson and resolved to accept this.
075/M/26 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
Cllrs Buckley-Jones, George, Trafford and Yeates all declared pecuniary interests in agenda item 9 (minute 082/M/26).
076/M/26 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 8th June 2026 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Yeates, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved to approve the June minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
077/M/26 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
NKDC Cllr Goodwin provided the following update:
- NKDC would like parishes to help raise awareness of assisted bin collections.
- Hot weather advice has been issued.
- Anglian Water hosepipe ban is now in force.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin was thanked for the update.
078/M/26 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the June council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
079/M/26 To approve the monthly accounts for June 2026, including List of Payments, Summary of Receipts and Payments and Bank Reconciliation.
The bank reconciliation had been checked and signed in advance by Cllr Sockell.
Bank balances at the end of June were: Co-op current £5,000.00, Co-op Instant Access £55,241.12, Unity Trust current £54,047.81, PSDF £48,000, Unity Trust Instant Access £41,026.29.
There were no questions, and it was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Raphael and resolved to approve the accounts, as presented.
080/M/26 To note the quarterly reserves report.
This was noted.
081/M/26 To note overtime worked in May and paid in June.
This was noted.
Cllrs George, Trafford, Buckley-Jones and Yeates left the meeting (7:10pm).
082/M/26 To consider grant applications received.
It was confirmed that council had £2,000 budgeted for grants for this financial year.
Five grant applications had been received, from A Good Yarn, Garrett’s Charity, Heighington Cricket Club, Millfield School PTA and Heighington Christmas Market Committee. There were representatives from some of these groups in attendance and the Chair permitted them to clarify details of their applications.
LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington arrived (7:15pm).
Following clarification from the PTA that the new proposed outdoor classrooms would become school assets and that these would not be available for the wider community to use, other than at public events, it was deemed that this application does not fit with the criteria of the council’s Grant Policy. It was however clarified that the PTA were welcome to apply for a grant in future years for items that fitted within our Policy constraints.
Two members of the public left the meeting (7:35pm).
Following further discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Raphael and resolved to award: £250 to A Good Yarn, £500 to the Heighington Christmas Market Committee, £625 to Garrett’s Charity and £625 to Heighington Cricket Club.
Two members of the public left the meeting (7:40pm).
Cllrs George, Trafford, Buckley-Jones and Yeates returned to the meeting (7:41pm).
At this point the Chair asked LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington if he had any further updates to add under agenda item 4 (minute 077/M/26). Cllr Carrington gave the following update:
- Local Government Reorganisation announcement is expected this week.
- The budget for the Project Groundwater team expires at the end of March and he is trying to apply pressure to retain the team for longer.
- LCC are looking to reintroduce a Councillors’ grant fund. This will be £3,000 per councillor per division per annum. There will also be a total funding pot of £269,000 available for bigger projects. Formal applications will need to be made, and officers will decide, based on set criteria.
- Cllr Carrington also gave an update on the Alabala planning application following a meeting with NKDC planners. The developers are currently working on a drainage strategy, and the application will then go out for re-consultation.
Cllr Carrington was thanked for the update.
083/M/26 To consider the annual play inspection reports and action required.
A summary of the annual play inspection findings for each site had been shared. Some of the actions can be picked up by our Caretaker/Handyperson and others may need a maintenance contractor. Almond Avenue play area will need prioritising, specifically potential replacement of the see saw and spinner bowl, plus repair of safety surfaces. As per the Almond Avenue lease we will be required to notify the landlord of any equipment removal or replacement. Once NKDC have signed the lease we have been assured that we will receive the appropriate contact details.
It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved to revisit this at September’s meeting.
084/M/26 To review a new Lithium-ion Battery Safety Policy (recommended in the recent Fire Risk Assessment).
The new Policy was reviewed. It was confirmed that we should not allow the charging of e-bikes on our premises. It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Raphael and resolved to approve the policy. This will need to be shared with our regular and ad-hoc hirers.
085/M/26 To review the bus shelter structural survey report and agree action required.
The Clerk confirmed that this was a visual survey only however we have been back to the contractor and asked if they are able to perform further intrusive tests to determine the state of the lintel (and what’s behind it) which couldn’t be examined visually. We are currently waiting for feedback on this.
Dependent on the results of the further investigation, there may be time to plan ahead and build up a reserve to fund the work required.
Once council has determined whether it wants to repair or replace the bus stop, NKDC Cllr Carrington is happy to facilitate an informal discussion with NKDC Conservation Officer to determine what planning permission would be required. Cllr Carrington asked for sight of the previous NKDC Conservation Area report that specifically mentioned the bus shelter.
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to revisit this at September’s meeting.
086/M/26 To consider the potential impact of the proposed cricket covers at Potterhanworth Road sports ground.
The Clerk confirmed that an enquiry had been put through to LALC and we were waiting for a response from their Health & Safety experts. A representative of the Cricket Club confirmed that wicket covers have to be inspected as required by the league. The perimeter fence around the wicket had now been extended to take in the covers and the three covers will be locked together. The Club will also complete a Risk Assessment for the covers and will comply with any other Health & Safety requirements that the council asks for.
It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to accept the measure being put into place.
Two members of the public left the meeting (8:24pm).
NKDC Cllr Goodwin left the meeting (8:25pm).
087/M/26 To consider u3a Railway Group ongoing use of Station Road pavilion and consider a request for additional electrical socket(s) and door lock.
Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr George and resolved that:
- A formal agreement with the Railway Group should be put in place, to be reviewed annually, and including strict criteria relating to the use of the room, storage of equipment and materials, and responsibilities for maintaining a clean and safe environment.
- Additional electrical socket(s) can be installed, but this must be by the Council’s choice of contractor, subject to an assessment on the impact on the consumer unit and to be funded by the Railway Group.
There was no clear resolution regarding the request for a door lock, and this will be revisited at the next meeting.
088/M/26 To receive feedback on potential phone box funding (as per minute 057/M/26) and agree any action required.
Cllr George confirmed he had tried to contact the parish council in Yorkshire, who had produced a case study on their phone box regeneration but despite trying several times, had no been able to contact anyone.
It was further confirmed that contact would be made with Scamblesby who have turned their phone box into a book swap. LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington confirmed that Canwick had refurbished their phone box themselves, including shot-blasting the box in situ, and would send through further details.
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to revisit this item at September’s meeting.
089/M/26 To receive feedback on potential funding for mature trees (as per minute 058/M/26) and agree any action required.
Cllrs Sockell and Buckley-Jones have submitted a funding application to the Tree Council, and we are awaiting a response.
The feedback was noted.
090/M/26 To consider a request from a group of parents for access to Station Road recreation ground for an ice cream van at the end of school term.
The Clerk confirmed that the ice cream van was expected to be on site for approximately an hour and one of the parents has agreed to be responsible for unlocking the gate and securing it afterwards.
It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to approve this request.
091/M/26 To review the format and type of speed sign data we are able to get from our solar speed sign and consider publishing it.
The Clerk had shared an example report we can get from our solar speed sign. It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to publish selected visual information quarterly, in Sheepwash and on our website.
092/M/26 To consider co-option application(s) for the current vacancy.
One co-option application had been received and this was considered. It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Sockell and resolved to co-opt Adam McCaig onto the council. Adam unfortunately wasn’t able to make the meeting, but the Clerk will arrange for him to sign his Declaration of Acceptance of Office, after which he will formally become a councillor.
The Clerk confirmed that there was still one vacancy to be filled.
093/M/26 To receive an update on previous actions.
This was noted.
094/M/26 To receive an update on chafer grubs, moles and Ragwort on council land, and groundwater levels.
Cllr Trafford reported that all the grass surfaces are brown and bone dry. The rubber matting at the entrance to Station Road recreation ground has lifted, possibly due to the recent heat, and this will need sorting out.
Cllr Buckley-Jones reported that the groundwater level was at 4.01m. Rainfall for the village in June was 61.6mm (whilst Waddington only recorded 44mm). Average for the month is 60mm. Year to date rainfall is 277.4mm (mainly due to a wet January and February).
The updates were noted.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
095/M/26 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. 26/0776/TCA. Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area. T1 – Hornbeam, reduce by 2m the lateral growth growing towards the house in a south direction to keep the foliage from getting too close to the property. Crown reduce the rest of the tree by 3m all round to maintain the size of the tree from out growing its position close to the property. As well as reducing the amount of foliage overhanding the garden. Crown lift the north west side to match up the rest of the crown by at least 2m to keep the crown from overhanging the drive of the care home next door. Beckfield Lodge, Station Road, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
096/M/26 To note tree decision notices from NKDC.
None received.
097/M/26 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 26/0783/HOUS. Erection of detached garage. Stamford Lodge, Chapel Lane, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
098/M/26 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
None received.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8:58pm.
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of Council proceedings until they are approved and signed at the next meeting.