March 2025 minutes
The Parish Council meeting was held on Monday 10th March 2025 at 7.00pm in the Jubilee Hall, High Street, Heighington.
Present:
Councillor Buckley-Jones
Councillor Catlow
Councillor Catterson
Councillor Craig
Councillor Farrington
Councillor George
Councillor Sockell (Chair)
Councillor Sowerby
Councillor Trafford
Clerk – Elaine Atkin
RFO – Nikki Briscoe
NKDC & LCC Councillor Ian Carrington
Absent:
Councillor Watkinson
NKDC Councillor Carola Goodwin
NKDC Councillor Reece Harrington
There were no members of the public present.
Public participation
There were no questions.
215/M/24 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 Catlow, seconded by Cllr Sowerby and resolved to accept these.
Apologies had also been received from NKDC Cllr Goodwin.
216/M/24 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations.
There were none.
217/M/24 To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Monday 10th February 2025 and for the chair to sign these as the agreed minutes.
It was proposed by Cllr Catterson, seconded by Cllr Buckley-Jones and resolved to approve the February minutes. These were duly signed by the Chair.
218/M/24 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only).
Cllr Carrington, shared the following highlights:
- LCC’s budget for 2025-26 has been set at 2.99% increase. This includes use of reserves and will protect current services. It also includes £24million for SEND and £1million flood reserves fund.
- Devolution is happening, with the new mayor due to be elected in May. There are ongoing discussions with proposals due to be submitted to central government.
- The flood report following Storms Babet and Henk has been published. This highlights the need for all the relevant agencies to work together.
- The hydrologists’ report on the Heighington flooding issues is expected at the end of April.
- There is still no news from central government regarding the North Hykeham relief road.
- LCC still have some free trees available.
- Following a question, Cllr Carrington confirmed that the upcoming Aardman animated film about groundwater flooding has all been centrally funded, and no Lincolnshire funds have been spent on this.
219/M/24 To note the list of correspondence and meetings since the February council meeting.
This was noted.
220/M/24 To note the resignation of Jacki Rushby and confirm feedback from NKDC regarding the vacancy.
Jacki Rushby’s resignation was noted, and she was thanked for her service to the council and the community. The clerk confirmed that no request for an election has been made to NKDC and that we are now permitted to co-opt. The co-option vacancy notice is on the website, noticeboards, up in the Jubilee Hall and on our social media.
221/M/24 To consider an additional member of Employment Committee following the resignation of Jacki Rushby and noting the membership requirements in the committee’s Terms of Reference.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved, for Cllr Catlow to join the Employment Committee.
222/M/24 To consider an amendment to standing Orders and the Co-option Policy.
Advice had been sought from LALC on options for an alternative method of voting on co-options. It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Trafford and resolved that Standing Orders, Co-option Policy and our Records Retention Policy should be updated accordingly to permit the use of secret ballot for voting each time for co-options, that this method of voting will only be permitted for co-options, that the votes will be counted by the clerk who will declare the result, and that the paper votes will be destroyed once the resolution has been made. The updated documents as above will be presented to the next Full Council meeting for noting.
Financial matters:
223/M/24 To note an additional insurance payment made (for hirer’s indemnity cover) following a detailed review of the insurance renewal documents.
The RFO confirmed that an additional £112 had now been paid, to cover the hirer’s indemnity. This was noted.
224/M/24 To approve the monthly accounts for February 2025, including List of Payments, List of Receipts, Net Position and Bank Reconciliation.
The bank reconciliation for February had been checked and signed off by Cllr Catterson prior to the meeting.
Bank balances at the end of February as presented were: Co-op (current) - £30,015.24, Unity Trust (current) - £74,084.63, Unity Trust Instant Access - £10,000, Public Sector Deposit Fund £48,000.
It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved to approve the February monthly accounts.
225/M/24 To note overtime worked in January and paid in February.
This was noted.
226/M/24 To consider opening a linked savings account to the Co-operative bank account.
The RFO confirmed that we don’t want to fall foul of the £85,000 Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) limit by having more than that amount in one bank, and that opening a Co-operative savings account would solve this. This was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved.
227/M/24 To review signatories on the council’s bank accounts.
The current bank signatories were reviewed. It was proposed by Cllr Catlow, seconded by Cllr Craig and resolved to set up Cllr George with (Authorise & View) online access to the Unity Trust and to set up Cllr Trafford as a signatory for the Unity Trust, Co-operative and Public Sector Deposit Fund (PSDF).
228/M/24 To note purchase of a replacement laptop for the RFO (planned and in the budget)
This was noted.
229/M/24 To consider replacement of two tubular backless benches in the Station Road play area, following confirmation that they cannot be repaired.
It was proposed by Cllr George, seconded by Cllr Catlow and resolved to purchase two new multi-coloured recycled plastic backless benches from Sustainable Furniture and for these to be funded from reserves.
230/M/24 To consider purchase of replacement multi-purpose bins due to corrosion of existing dog bins.
It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Farrington and resolved to purchase three Glasdon dual-use bins to replace the two corroded dog bins at the bottom of Alabala Lane and on Park Lane just before Sandy Furze Farm, and also to replace the new dog bin at Garratt Close, and for this dog bin to be retained for relocation elsewhere. The bins are to be funded from reserves.
231/M/24 To consider a request from the Heighington Christmas Market Committee for use of Station Road field for stallholder parking again this year.
It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved to allow this, subject to an assessment of the ground conditions in advance. No parking on or driving over the play area footpath will be permitted.
232/M/24 To receive feedback from investigations into the suitability of Station Road for an accessible roundabout and for council to consider options.
Following investigation, it was clarified that a completely flat surface would be required for an accessible roundabout and groundworks would be required to the designated area to ensure it would be suitable. The council would need to arrange the groundworks and there were concerns over responsibility if there were subsequent issues with the operation of the roundabout. It was proposed by Cllr Buckley-Jones, seconded by Cllr Catterson and resolved to explore what other accessible play equipment was available, and to feed this back to a future meeting.
Planning Matters and Tree Works:
233/M/24 To consider tree works applications received from NKDC (including those considered between meetings)
a. N777 2025. Notification of a provisional Tree Preservation Order (TPO) at Albert House, 6 High Street, Heighington.
Council had no comments.
234/M/24 To note tree decision notices from NKDC
None received.
235/M/24 To note the planning applications received from NKDC for consideration (including those considered between meetings).
a. 25/0019/VARCON. Application to vary condition 6 (approved plans) change of rear elevation Juliette doors to window, addition of ground floor window and door to eastern elevation and omission of window to first floor elevation, re planning permission 20/0650/HOUS (Erection of a two storey rear and side extension). 48 Park Lane, Heighington. Submission of amended plans to show change from Juliette balcony doors to a single window on the rear elevation.
Council had no comments.
226/M/24 To note planning decision notices from NKDC
a. 24/1468/PNND. Application under Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order for prior approval for change of use of an existing agricultural barn to form 1no. dwelling (C3). Barn at Blabber Hill Farm, Fen Road, Heighington. Prior approval is required and has been approved for this application.
The planning decision was noted.
The meeting closed at 7:56 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.