October 2025 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 13th October 2025 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Raphael
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Trafford (Vice Chair)
Councillor Yeates
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
Absent:
Councillor Watkinson
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.
106/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 Watkinson. It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to accept these.
Apologies had also been received from LCC/NKDC Cllr Carrington.
107/M/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
There were none.
108/M/25 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 9th September 2025 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Yeates, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to approve the September minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin arrived (7:02pm).
109/M/25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
NKDC Cllr Goodwin gave the following update:
- NKDC website now includes Q&A with Anglian Water.
- Halloween activities in Sleaford – 25th October.
110/M/25 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the September council meeting.
This was noted.
111/M/25 To note the resignation of Steve Catlow and the vacancy process now in progress with NKDC.
Thanks were given to Steve for his time on the council. NKDC have confirmed we are now permitted to co-opt to this vacancy and the vacancy notice has gone out on our website, social media and noticeboards. Further information and an application form can be found on our website. The closing date is 3rd November, with applications received due to be considered at the Full Council meeting on 10th November.
112/M/25 To appoint another councillor to sit on the Employment Committee, following the resignation of Steve Catlow.
It was proposed by Cllr Farrington, seconded by Cllr George and resolved that Cllr Catterson is appointed to join the Employment Committee.
Financial matters:
113/M/25 To approve the monthly accounts for September 2025, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Bank Reconciliation and Net Position.
The September bank reconciliation had been checked and signed in advance by Cllr Yeates.
The RFO confirmed that we received the second half of our precept (£55,974.94) from NKDC on 30th September.
The Net Position show us at halfway through the financial year and the RFO has no concerns to raise.
Bank balances at the end of September were: Co-op current £30,015.24, Co-op Instant Access £0, Unity Trust current £116,298.74, PSDF £48,000, Unity Trust Instant Access £30,399.98.
It was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved to approve the September accounts.
114/M/25 To note overtime worked in August and paid in September.
This was noted.
115/M/25 To retrospectively agree a decision to sign up for the LALC internal audit service for two years (having already agreed to this service for 2025-26, as per minute 069/M/25).
Retrospective approval was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved.
116/M/25 To retrospectively approve purchase of a replacement fridge/freezer for the Jubilee Hall at £265.83 plus VAT (authorised under delegated powers to Clerk/RFO as per Financial Regulation 5.15).
Retrospective approval of this expenditure was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones, and resolved.
117/M/25 To consider a more environmentally friendly option by making a donation to the Royal British Legion, and to re-use the wreath obtained last year.
It was confirmed that there will still always be one Parish Council wreath in the chapel and one in the memorial garden. It was proposed by Cllr Yeates, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to obtain a new wreath every other year, but still make the donation to the Royal British Legion each year.
118/M/25 To approve an Investment Strategy for financial year 2025-26 (as required by the Practitioner’s Guide, when an authority has bank balances in excess of £100,000).
This was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved.
119/M/25 Regular review of the Council’s Risk Management register.
This Risk Management Register was reviewed. This was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Raphael and resolved.
120/M/25 To approve the following updated documents:
a. CCTV Policy.
A query was raised as to whether it is possible to obscure faces on the footage if a legitimate request is made for the data and there are others on the footage. It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to approve the policy.
b. Records Retention Policy.
It was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved to approve the policy.
121/M/25 To note a concern raised by a resident regarding the speed limit on the B1190 (part within Heighington parish) and agree how the Council can help escalate this.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved to support a resident request to reduce the speed limit on the specific stretch of the B1190, and for this to be raised with LCC Cllr Carrington and Washingborough Parish Council respectively.
122/M/25 To note the latest litter-picking report from our volunteer litter-picker.
This was noted. The next community litter pick will be held on Saturday 8th November, 10:00 – 12:00.
123/M/25 To receive feedback from further investigation into a film night and agree any actions as required.
After considerations of the findings, options available and constraints to be considered, it was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved that we cannot progress this at the moment.
124/M/25 To receive an update on previous actions.
This was noted. A request was made to progress publicity of the ‘check your speed’ stickers that can be put on wheelie bins.
125/M/25 To receive an update on chafer grubs and moles on council land.
Cllr Trafford confirmed that the Ragwort has now been removed, there are very few moles and no evidence of chafer grub damage yet. The update was noted.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
126/M/25 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. 25/1191/TCA. Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area. T1 – Western Red Cedar – crown lift to approximately 12ft of the height of the drive all round, from 5ft to allow more vehicle access over the drive and the one-way lane alongside the property. Ashley House, 58A High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
127/M/25 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
128/M/25 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 25/1128/LBC. Proposed internal alterations – new kitchen arrangement, replacement of rotting skirting boards, levelling of garage floor using a self-levelling screed & installation of kitchen units in annexe forming a new kitchenette. 3 High Street, Heighington, LN4 1RG.
Council had no comments.
129/M/25 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
None received.
NKDC Cllr Goodwin left the meeting (7:55pm).
130/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 item 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 Yeates, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to move into closed session.
131/M/25 To consider quotes for PAT testing and confirm the supplier for 2025-26.
It was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr George and resolved to commission Lincs PAT Testing for 2025-26.
132/M/25 To consider a staff recommendation from Employment Committee.
It was proposed by Cllr Craig, seconded by Cllr Yeates and resolved to adopt a new job title (Administrative Assistant), job description, salary range (SCP 6 – 9), and approve 1 SCP increment, backdated to June 2025.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8:00 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.