July 2025 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 14th July 2025 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catlow
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Raphael
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Watkinson
Councillor Yeates
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
Absent:
Councillor Catterson
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC & LCC Councillor Ian Carrington
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
There was 1 member of the public present.
Public participation
There were no questions.
062/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 Cllr Catterson. 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.
063/M/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
Cllr Trafford declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 9 (minute 070/M/25).
For transparency purposes, the Clerk declared an interest in agenda item 8 (minute 069/M/25) as a LALC employee.
064/M/25 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 9th June 2025 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved to approve the June minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
065/M/25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
NKDC Cllr Goodwin shared details of a £500 grant available for community groups for VJ celebrations (15th August). Closing date for applications is 21st July.
There were no comments or questions.
066/M/25 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the June council meeting.
This was noted.
Financial matters:
067/M/25 To approve the monthly accounts for June 2025, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Bank Reconciliation and Net Position.
The June bank reconciliation had been checked and signed in advance by Cllr Sockell.
Bank balances at the end of June were: Co-op current £30,015.24, Unity Trust current £80,671.48, PSDF £48,000, Unity Trust Instant Access £30,228.55.
The RFO had confirmed that £666 had been moved from CIL funds to Station Road & Potterhanworth Road Projects (lines 8 & 12, £333 each) for the new Captains seats to be installed as per minute 049/M/25. Also, that £2550 has been transferred from Designated reserves to Station Road Projects (line 8) for the sensory boards that have been installed as per minute 214/M/24.
It was proposed by Cllr Watkinson, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to approve the June accounts.
068/M/25 To note overtime worked in May and paid in June.
This was noted.
069/M/25 To consider continuing with the LALC internal audit service for 2025-26.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved to continue with the LALC internal audit service.
Cllr Trafford left the meeting (7:10pm).
070/M/25 To review the 2025-26 grant applications received and agree grants to be awarded, as per our Grant Awarding Policy.
The Clerk confirmed that £2,000 is allocated in the budget for grants and that the grant availability and application process had been widely publicised. Two applications had been received, from the Garrett’s Charity and the Heighington Christmas Market Committee. It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to award a grant of £1,000 to the Garrett’s Charity and £100 to the Heighington Christmas Market Committee, subject to clarification that the Market donation would be used towards a specific cost such as traffic management.
The member of public left and Cllr Trafford returned to the meeting (7:20pm).
071/M/25 To review the following:
a. Councillor – Officer Protocol.
b. Tree Management Policy.
It was proposed by Cllr Raphael, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to approve both documents.
072/M/25 To review the u3a railway group agreement for use of Station Road pavilion.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Watkinson and resolved to arrange a meeting with the railway group to discuss further.
073/M/25 To note the litter pick report for April – June 2025.
This was noted.
074/M/25 To note LALC advice regarding checking of the Potterhanworth Road floodlights, and agree actions required.
It was proposed by Cllr Raphael, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to arrange a meeting with HBW United to discuss responsibilities and action required
075/M/25 To receive an update on previous actions.
This was noted.
076/M/25 To receive an update on chafer grubs and moles on council land.
Cllr Trafford confirmed that there are no issues with chafer grubs at this time of year. There are a few new mole hills at Potterhanworth Road. There is ragwort on the bottom field, where the grass it long. This which will need cutting as soon as possible and the ragwort will potentially need digging up in the spring.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
077/M/25 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. 25/0674/TCA. Notification of intended works to trees in a conservation area. Prunus Avium – fell. Prunus Cerasifera – fell. Walnut – 3m reduction on all sides of the walnut tree – this is to help reduce the weight/strain on the bulge, ears/cracks that has formed in the base of the trunk. Craiglands, 67 High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
b. 25/0793/TCA. Notification of intended works to trees in a conservation area. Removal of 4 fir trees located in the rear garden. 1 Beck Lane, Heighington, LN4 1JU.
Council had no comments.
c. 25/0810/TPO. Proposed tree works subject to a Tree Preservation Order. T1 Oak – I the corner of number 11 next to 10 Lindrick Close – we are requesting the removal of this tree. We are requesting to reduce the height of T2, T3 and T4 by at least 5 metres of their existing height. We are requesting to reduce the width of the trees by at least 2 metres. 11 Lindrick Close, Heighington, LN4 1TN.
Council has no comments.
078/M/25 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
a. TPO N777 Heighington (Albert House, High Street). Tree Preservation Order confirmed without modification.
Noted.
079/M/25 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 25/0623/VARCON. Application to vary condition 2 (approved materials) of planning permission 23/1292/HOUS – Erection of 2 storey side extension, first floor side extension and single storey rear extension together with widening of existing access and new pedestrian gate – change external finish of side gable to cream/off white render. Whitegates, Back Lane, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
b. 25/0689/PNMAT. Application for a non-material amendment (Final Drainage Run Proposal with the addition of Drainage Pump Location and Supporting Kiosk) following grant of planning application 21/0332/FUL – Erection of three residential dwellings with associated access road and landscaping and including alterations to 45 Washingborough Road (Resubmission of 20/1654/FUL).
Council had no comments.
c. 25/0708/HOUS. Demolition of existing garage and single storey rear extension and erection of single storey and 2storey side extensions and single storey rear extension. 7 Lintin Close, Heighington, LN4 1RW.
Council had no comments.
080/M/25 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 22/0977/FUL. Planning appeal APP/R2520/W/24. Proposed site at Land at Holmleigh, Fen Road, Heighington. Planning appeal dismissed. Council noted that NKDC considers Newcot Lane to be the curtilage of the village.
b. 25/0558/HOUS. Single storey rear extension and alterations to existing house. 9 Wentworth Close, Heighington. Application approved.
The planning decisions were noted.
The Chair closed the meeting at 7:47 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.