Minutes and Agendas 2024

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

helpringhamparishcouncil@gmail.com 

Eau End Farm, Helpringham Fen, Sleaford NG34 0BS 

helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk 

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DRAFT MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2024 

PRESENT: 

Councillors Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), Rob Spencer, Mark Robinson, Chris Taylor 

Judy Pittock (Clerk/RFO) 

District Councillor Russell Jackson 

NOT PRESENT: 

Councillors Julie Frizzell, George Frizzell and Will Watts 

County Councillor Andrew Key 

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM 

No members of the public were present. 

1.0 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

1.1 The Chairman welcomed the councillors to the meeting. 

2.0 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

Apologies had been received from Julie Frizzell, George Frizzell and Will Watts. 

3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

Cllr Robinson declared an interest in Planning Application 24/1278/OUT. 

4.0 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 10th October 2024 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

5.0 REPORT FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

A report was received from District Councillor Russell Jackson and this is attached here. 

 6.0 CLERK’S REPORT ON MATTERS OUTSTANDING 

6.1 To check whether the village grit bins required filling – carry over to next meeting. 

6.2 It was resolved to accept the revised Fixed Asset Register. 

6.3 It was resolved to invite PCC Marc Jones to attend the February 2025 or March 2025 Parish Council meeting to discuss speeding issues . 

7.0 FINANCE 

7.1 It was resolved accept the financial report and bank reconciliation. The bank reconciliation showed that the current account would stand at £6,365.90 once outstanding cheques have been presented and the savings account stands at £20,431.39. 

7.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting:

7.3 To note Direct Debit payments that have been made since 10/10/24: 28/10/24

7.4 Payments received:

Outstanding receipts: Invoice 048 £100.00. 

7.5 It was resolved to accept the revised Financial Regulations. These will now be published on the Parish Council website. 

8.0 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

24/1278/OUT – Outline application for erection of 2no custom self-build detached single storey dwellings on land rear of 16 Shepherds Lane, Helpringham. Cllr Robinson left the meeting whilst this application was discussed. No observations were made by the councillors and it was agreed to support the application. 

9.0 Trees 

9.1 Update following receipt of Tree Survey – carry over to the December meeting. 

9.2 Application 24/1275/TCA – Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area, Willow House, Orchard Close, Helpringham. No observations were made and it was agreed to support the application 

9.3 Application received after agenda had been published - Application 24/1326/TCA – Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area, Church Cottage, 1 High Street, Helpringham. The Parish Council queried whether the tree has been affected by ash die back or whether the roots have been affected on one side by it’s proximity to the road. 

10.0 CEMETERY AND CONSERVATION AREA 10.1 Cemetery Officer Cllr George Frizzell had forwarded the following report: 

There had been no interments since the previous meeting. Payment re burial plot J20 is still outstanding and Cllr George Frizzell will be chasing this. Memorial for plot Z4 has now been erected so this item is now closed 

10.2 The Conservation Area will be tidied up during the closed grass cutting season. 

11.0 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

11.1 The following matters were noted: 

• FixMyStreet ref 2812483 – reported 16/7/24 - bollards on Station Road. 
• FixMyStreet ref 2820888 – reported 16/10/24 – trees on junction of George St and Orchard Close (these trees have TPOs). Update: after inspection the trees are deemed not to cause an immediate issue as they are not within the highway. No further action will be taken. 
• FixMyStreet ref 2820889 – reported 16/10/24 - tree outside Hale Road Cemetery. Update: LCC require more information. 
• FixMyStreet ref 2818725 – reported 24/9/24 – update: white lines have been painted. Road studs are deemed no longer required as per CC Highways Guidance Document no 4.7. It was resolved that the Clerk should contact Highways as the stretch of road adjacent to the Beck is deemed dangerous, particularly for motorcyclists. 
• Vicarage Lane – the development is now finished and the road surface is still badly potholed. It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Highways and request that resurfacing works are now carried out. 
• Speed camera reports – the speed stats have been put on the Parish Council website here. Cllr George Frizzell reported that a new volunteer will be required to take responsibility for the speed stats in future as Aaron Walker is stepping down. The Parish Council would like to extend their thanks to Aaron for his commitment and the help he has given to the Parish Council over the past couple of years with getting the speed awareness project up and running 

12.1 Correspondence received re reservoir has now been uploaded to the Parish Council website. 

13.0 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

13.1 It was agreed that meetings would continue to be held on every second Wednesday of the month. Dates will be published on the Parish Council website and village noticeboard. 

13.2 To note the following general correspondence received and discuss as required: 

• Quickline re their broadband rollout under Project Gigabit, they have confirmed that 10 properties (43.48%) on Helpringham Fen are due to be included. This project was discussed with District Councillor Russell Jackson who, along with the clerk, will continue to try and find out from Quickline when the rest of the fen will be included in the project. 
• Free Trees for community from Woodland Trust, details at: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/ The councillors agreed that the village does not currently require any more trees but the offer is open to any other community group. 
• NKDC – Operation Bridge update. The update was duly noted. 
• NSK Parish Council Engagement Session (online) – 21st January 2024. No one is currently attending this. 
• Power for village Christmas tree. Cllr Robinson informed the council that the power supply on the green would be repaired before the end of November. However any future users of this facility must take full responsibility when using it and make good any damage caused. 

Correspondence had also been received from Lloyds Bank after the Agenda had been published. This was information about their intention to change the type of bank account now available to Parish Councils and that bank charges would now been levied. It was resolved that the Parish Council should remain with Lloyds despite these changes. 

14.0 To resolve on whether the Council will move into closed session to consider the following confidential staffing matter in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. 

Should this resolution be passed the public and press will be required to leave the meeting at this stage 

14.1 To resolve to agree the clerk’s annual pay rise following the receipt of the National Joint Council for Local Government Services rates of pay applicable from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025. 

It was agreed that this matter should be carried over to the December 2024 meeting. 

15.0 Date and time of the next meeting 11th December 2024 commencing at 7pm. 

The meeting closed at 8.20pm.