April 2026 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 13th April 2026 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Driver
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Raphael
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Watkinson
Councillor Yeates
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
LCC/NKDC Councillor Ian Carrington
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
Absent:
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
There were no members of the public present.
Public participation
There were no questions.
247/M/25 To receive and accept apologies, where valid reasons for absence have been submitted to the clerk prior to the meeting.
All councillors were present.
Apologies had been received from the RFO and from NKDC Cllr Goodwin.
248/M/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
There were none.
249/M/25 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 9th March 2026 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Trafford, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to approve the March minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
250/M/25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington gave the following update:
- There has been a high take-up on the food waste collections, with 169 tonnes collected in the first week.
- Concern over the response rate to fixing potholes.
- Concern over the lack of resources to tackle flooding issues.
- Changes planned to the LCC constitution which will remove the right for councillors to scrutinise decisions.
- Approval of the Springwell Solar Farm despite acknowledgement of the cumulative impact on the landscape and there currently being no grid connection in place.
- Cllr Carrington is due to have his ward walk with LCC Highways officer on 16th April.
A question was raised to Cllr Carrington regarding recent contact made by NKDC to an elderly resident that caused some confusion and distress. Cllr Carrington confirmed this had not been the intended outcome and would ensure that any future contact was appropriate.
A further question was raised to Cllr Carrington regarding the ongoing flood works at the school and given the large amount of earth which has been moved, whether planning permission was required. It was confirmed that planning was not required. It was noted that more communication from the school to the wider community about what was happening and why, would be useful.
251/M/25 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the March council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
252/M/25 To approve the monthly accounts for March 2026, including List of Payments, Summary of Receipts & Payments (new report) and Bank Reconciliation.
Bank Reconciliation, List of Payments and List of Receipts has been issued to Councillors. The March bank reconciliation had been checked and signed in advance by Cllr George.
The Clerk confirmed that the year-end net position was currently being worked on by the RFO and would be presented to May’s Full Council meeting for approval.
Bank balances at the end of March were: Co-op current £5,000.00, Co-op Instant Access £55,015.25, Unity Trust current £10,229.02, PSDF £48,000, Unity Trust Instant Access £40,827.90.
There were no questions, and it was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to approve the March accounts, as presented.
253/M/25 To note overtime worked in February and paid in March.
This was noted.
254/M/25 To receive an update on the Almond Avenue lease and council to decide how it wants to proceed.
Following discussion it was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to confirm we would like to go ahead with the five-year break point/six months’ notice option, as offered by NKDC’s solicitor.
255/M/25 To consider a request from the Christmas Market Committee to use Station Road for trader parking again, subject to advance ground conditions checks.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to permit the use of Station Road for Christmas Market trader parking again, subject to advance checks to ensure ground conditions were acceptable.
256/M/25 To consider the planting of more mature trees at Station Road.
It was noted that the Whitebeam planted at Station Road has not survived. Cllr Buckley-Jones suggested that planting more mature trees (in the autumn) at Station Road would give them a greater chance of surviving. It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved for Cllr Buckley-Jones to pull together a costed proposal for consideration at June’s Full Council meeting.
257/M/25 To consider whether Council has any plans for the bus shelter and if so, agree actions.
It was proposed by Cllr Driver, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to get someone to assess the structural integrity of the bus shelter first, before looking at options to potentially replace all or part of it.
258/M/25 To note the recent Legionella testing at our premises confirmed our water supply is free from Legionella bacteria.
This was noted.
259/M/25 To re-consider a request from Heighington Cricket Club to install a retractable water hose feed to the cricket square (deferred from Marsh, pending further information).
Unfortunately, the cricket club member who had been planning to attend was unable to, and so this item was further deferred to the next meeting.
260/M/25 To consider co-option application(s) for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sarah Craig.
There had been no co-option applications and so the closing date will be extended and the vacancy re-advertised.
261/M/25 To receive an update on previous actions.
The update was noted.
262/M/25 To receive an update on chafer grubs, moles and Ragwort on council land, and groundwater levels.
Cllr Trafford noted there is no Ragwort, but there is evidence of moles on the lower field at Potterhanworth Road. The trees at Potterhanworth are not budding yet and one tree at Station Road has died. Cllr Buckley-Jones confirmed the rainfall in March (34.4mm) was less than the average (36mm). Humidity is currently less than 50% and the groundwater level is at 7.7m.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
263/M/25 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. 26/0220/TCA. Notification of intended works to trees in a Conservation Area. Horse chestnut – dead/dying – Remove. Park View House, 1 High Street, Heighington.
Considered offline between meetings – Council had no comments.
b. 26/0316/TCA. Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area. T1 – Robinia pseudoaccacia, reduce in height by 2m back to the previous points. Remove the epic or mic from the main stem only wounds up to 1.5 inches at the finishing cut. Reducing the branch over the drive by at least 1m in spread over the drive in a west direction. Finally to reduce the limb going towards the house in a south direction towards the house by 2.5m. All the work requested is to keep the tree at a manageable size for its position and to prevent the crown developing so much that the trunk damages the boundary wall. As well as keeping crown aesthetically pleasing for surrounding properties. 10 Park Lane, Heighington, LN4 1RF.
Considered offline between meetings – Council had no comments.
c. 26/0219/TPO. Application of Proposed works to Trees Subject to tree Preservation Order. T2 – Beech – crown lift up to 5.2m. T3 – Sycamore – crown lift up to 5.2m. Park View House, 1 High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
d. 26/0371/TCA. Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area. T2 Maple of the submitted MWA Arboricultural Report – Remove (fell) to near ground level and treat stump to inhibit regrowth. 74 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1JS.
Council had no comments.
264/M/25 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
265/M/25 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 26/0207/FUL. Conversion of detached double garage to annexe. 6 Washingborough Road, Heighington, LN4 1RE.
Considered offline between meetings – Council had no comments.
b. 26/0284/VARCON. Application to vary condition 3 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 25/1461/HOUS to reposition and alter approved single storey side extension. Rhonadene, 2 Beck Lane, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
c. 26/0330/HOUS. Alteration and demolitions to existing dwelling and proposed 2no single storey rear extensions and 1no two storey rear extension. 1 Beck Lane, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
d. 26/0364/HOUS. Erection of single storey ground floor extension. 18 Potterhanworth Road, Heighington, LN4 1RP.
Council had no comments.
e. 26/0406/HOUS. Proposed two storey side extension and single storey rear extension. Holmleigh, Fen Road, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
f. 25/1530/OUT. Receipt of amended plans/additional information. Outline application for up to 15 dwellings with some matters reserved (means of access to be considered). Land West of Alabala, Park Lane, Heighington.
LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington confirmed that as the revised application was over 10 properties, it would be classed as major and LCC would be consulted as the flood and Highways authority.
Cllr Catterson briefly left the meeting at 8:04pm and returned at 8:05pm.
Council were concerned that the revised application would magnify the water and drainage issues already flagged up previously and the increase in potential vehicles from two to three per household, would impact traffic in an area of the village that already suffers from traffic problems.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved that council’s objections to the application still stand and for Cllr Buckley-Jones to pull together further comments, which will be shared with council before they are submitted.
246/M/25 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 26/0052/HOUS. Single storey extension to east elevation of dwellings. Park View House, 1 High Street, Heighington. Approved.
b. 26/0053/LBC. Single storey extension to east elevation of dwelling. Park View House, 1 High Street, Heighington. Approved.
c. 26/0024/HOUS. Single storey extension to rear and side, first floor extension to rear and replace all windows. 31 Fen Road, Heighington. Approved.
The decisions were noted.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8:10 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.