February 2026 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 9th February 2026 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Craig
Councillor George
Councillor Raphael
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Yeates
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin (arrived 7:02pm)
Absent:
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Driver
Councillor Farrington
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Watkinson
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
LCC/NKDC Councillor Ian Carrington
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
There were no members of the public present.
Public participation
There were no questions or comments.
205/M/25 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 Cllrs Catterson, Driver, Farrington, Trafford and Watkinson. It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to accept these.
Apologies had also been received from the RFO and from LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington.
206/M/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
There were none.
207/M/25 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 12th January 2026 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Raphael, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to approve the January minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin arrived (7:02pm).
208/M/25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington had sent in the following update:
- He had a Teams meeting with the NKDC planning officer about the Alabala outline application, and (without any pre-judgement) made them aware of some of the local details about flood and drainage which they might not have known and which the FRA didn’t seem to be aware of. He will stay in touch with them on the application and keep us posted.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin gave the following update:
- Government consultation now open on the Lincolnshire Local Government Reorganisation proposals.
- Upcoming Snowdrop Event on 22nd February at Whisby Natural World, in aid of Child Bereavement UK.
- Food caddies now being delivered. These should not be used until w/c 23rd March, with collections commencing w/c 30th March.
209/M/25 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the January council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
210/M/25 To approve the monthly accounts for January 2026, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Bank Reconciliation and Net Position.
The January bank reconciliation had been checked and signed in advance by Cllr Buckley-Jones.
Bank balances at the end of January were: Co-op current £5,000.00, Co-op Instant Access £55,015.25, Unity Trust current £41,930.95, PSDF £48,000, Unity Trust Instant Access £40,618.31.
There were no questions, and it was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Craig and resolved to approve the January accounts.
211/M/25 To note the increase in Unity Trust bank charges.
It was confirmed that this was covered in the budget. The increase was noted.
212/M/25 To note overtime worked in December and paid in January.
This was noted.
213/M/25 To review the example financial Summary of Receipts and Payments Report (as agreed at January’s meeting), decide if it meets councillors’ information requirements and if so, agree whether it can replace existing report(s).
Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr Yeates, seconded by Cllr Raphael and resolved that the Summary of Receipts and Payments Report will be adopted from April, and that the Net Position report and List of Receipts report would no longer be required from April. The Bank Reconciliation and List of Payments reports would continue to be produced.
214/M/25 To consider the insurance renewal (due 21 February) and confirm that there will be an adequate level of cover.
The insurance renewal documents had been thoroughly reviewed and clarification sought from the insurer on a few matters. Whilst alternative insurers had been identified, there had been insufficient time to obtain detailed comparative quotes.
Following discussion, it was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Craig and resolved to go with the 3-year agreement with Clear Councils (Ecclesiastical) and confirmed that there will be an adequate level of cover in place.
215/M/25 To consider a resident request to site a padel court in the village.
It was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to ask the resident for more details and invite them to attend the next meeting to share their ideas.
216/M/25 To receive an update on previous actions.
The update was noted.
217/M/25 To receive an update on chafer grubs, moles and Ragwort on council land, and groundwater levels.
There was no update on chafer grubs, moles and Ragwort. Cllr Buckley-Jones confirmed that there had been 113.6mm of rainfall in January, more than twice the average for the month. Generally, it had been steady rainfall with only a few sharp deluges. In February so far, we’ve already had 50% of the average rainfall for the month. Groundwater levels were holding steady at 9.5m.
The update was noted.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
218/M/25 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. 26/0113/TCA. Notification of intended tree works in a Conservation Area. A. Apple – 10m high – reduce by no more than 2m all over. B. Beech stand – 10m – reduce by nor more than 2m all over. C. Small beech stand – 5m – reduce by no more than 1.5m all over. D. Oak -8m – reduce by no more than 1.5m all over. E. Apple – 10m – reduce by no more than 2m all over. F. 3 x Hornbeam – 8m – reduce by no more than 1.5m all over. G. Fig – 10m – reduce by no more than 2m all over. The Rookery, Chapel Lane, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
219/M/25 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
220/M/25 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 25/1569/FUL. Change of use of domestic barn to use as a wedding venue and upgrading of access way. Claremont Lodge, The Moors, Branston.
Considered by Council offline between meetings – No comments.
b. 25//1619/HOUS. First floor extension over existing triple garage to form self-contained annexe, addition of balcony and internal alterations to existing layout.
Considered by Council offline between meetings - No comments.
c. 26/0053/LBC. Single storey extension to east elevation of dwelling. Park View House, 1 High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
d. 26/0052/HOUS. Single storey extension to east elevation of dwelling. Park View House, 1 High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
221/M/25 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 25/1461/HOUS. Single storey side extension. Rhonadene, 2 Beck Lane. Heighington.
Application approved.
The decision was noted.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin left the meeting (7:36pm).
222/M/25 CLOSED SESSION. To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 for the following items on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to move into closed session.
223/M/25 To consider further information gathered in relation to the quotes for destratification fans (as per January’s meeting).
Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr Yeates, seconded by Cllr Raphael and resolved not to progress the destratification fans at the moment and to reassess the situation following installation and a period of running with the Hive thermostat.
The Chair closed the meeting at 7:43 pm.
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.