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 11th DECEMBER 2024 

PRESENT: 

Councillors Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), Julie Frizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell, Rob Spencer, Will Watts, Chris Taylor 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

NOT PRESENT: 

Councillor Mark Robinson. 

County Councillor Andrew Key, District Councillor Russell Jackson 

TEN MINUTES PUBLIC FORUM 

No members of the public were present. 

1.0 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chairman welcomed the councillors to the meeting 

2.0 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

Apologies had been received from Cllr Mark Robinson, County Councillor Andrew Key and District Councillor Russell Jackson. It was resolved to accept these apologies. 

3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

No declarations of interest or dispensations in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 were received. 

4.0 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

To was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 13th November 2024 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. It was also resolved to amend the minutes for the meeting held on Thursday 10th October 2024 to include the clerk as being present. 

 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 The clerk was informed that all the grit bins were only half full and that the she should request that they are topped up. 

6.2 The power supply for Christmas tree had been repaired and the tree had been put up and lights illuminated. 

The Councillors suggested that it may be more sustainable to plant a Christmas tree on the green for future years and would welcome a grant application from the relevant committee to help fund this. 

7.0 The Council resolved to move into closed session to consider the following confidential staffing matter in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. The clerk left the room whilst discussions took place. 

7.1 The Council discussed the Clerk’s pay rate, and having taken into account confidential information of a personal nature, and in accordance with the National Joint Council for Local Government Services for Local Government rates of pay, resolved to award the clerk the backdated increase due from 1st April 2024, and to award a rise of 2 spinal points on the scale from 1st April 2025. 

The Council came out of closed session and the clerk returned to the room. 

8.0 FINANCE 

8.1 It was resolved accept the financial report and bank reconciliation. The bank reconciliation showed that the current account would stand at £5,882.00 once outstanding cheques have been presented and the savings account stands at £20,447.06. It was noted that the savings account can legally be maintained at a level equal to the precept to ensure that the council has sufficient funds to cover operating costs in the event of an unexpected drop in funding. 

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

8.3 The following Direct Debit payment was noted:

8.4 No payments had been received, however the following invoice had been raised: 

Invoice 052 £75.00 – interment. 

It was noted that Invoice 048 £100.00 is still outstanding. 

8.5 The Council resolved discuss the Grass Cutting Contract before the Budget and move into closed session to consider the confidential correspondence received accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. Following discussion the Council resolved to accept the quote received from CJP Garden Services and award the grass cutting contract to them for two years, commencing 1st March 2025, with the option to extend for a third year. 

The Council came out of closed session. 

8.6 The Council discussed the Budget that has been presented by the Clerk/RFO and resolved to carry this forward to finalise at the January 2025 meeting when further required information and Precept figures should have been received. 

8.7 Two grant applications has been received, these being from Heckington Area Voluntary Car Service and Citizens Advice. It was agreed in principle that these would be awarded but the figures will be agreed at the January meeting once the budget has been finalised. 

9.0 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

9.1 Application 24/1331/DISCON – 16 Shepherd’s Lane, Helpringham. Notice of withdrawn application was noted. 

10.0 TREES 

10.1 A lengthy discussion was held about the work required on the trees in the village and it was acknowledged that due to the likely cost of the work it would need to be done over more than one financial year. It was agreed that the clerk should obtain quotes for the January 2025 meeting to allow the costs to be included in the Budget. 

10.2 Application 24/1326/TCA – Notification of Intended Works to Trees in a Conservation Area, Church Cottage, 1 High Street, Helpringham. The tree inspector had replied to the Council’s query and confirmed that the tree is suffering with ash die back which makes the work necessary. 

11.0 CEMETERY 

11.1 Cemetery Officer Cllr George Frizzell reported that there had been no interments or memorial applications during the month but there would be one burial on 30th December 2024. 

Cllr Frizzell also reported that CJP Garden Services had tidied up around the pond area including strimming the hedge line. They will be doing further tidying works along School Lane in the next month. The Parish Council would like to extend their thanks to Chris Pell for generously cutting the village green free of charge prior to Remembrance Sunday. 

12 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

12.1 To discuss village highway matters including: 

• B1394 Helpringham to Little Hale – road adjacent to the Beck – the Parish Council has ongoing correspondence with Cllr Andrew Key to try and get structural improvements carried out to this stretch of road as it is deemed hazardous to road users. 
• Vicarage Lane – the Parish Council has ongoing correspondence with Cllr Andrew Key and LCC Highways re the resurfacing of the road. 
• HIGHGATE temporary road closure – a lengthy discussion was held about the lack of prior notice received for this work and the significant issues caused to local residents by the road closure. It was agreed that the clerk should write to LCC Highways acknowledging the Parish Council’s appreciation for the work carried out but highlighting the problems that were caused by the road closure itself and the lack of advance warning. At the same time the clerk will ask whether improvements works to the road from Burton Pedwardine to the A17 have now been scheduled. 

13.0 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

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

• A letter had been received from NKDC informing the Parish Council that dog fouling signage has been put up on East Street by NKDC following a number of complaints about the amount of dog waste that was not being picked up. 
• NKDC had sent their Active Travel Strategy. The Parish Council is to query how this is expected to work in rural villages. 
• Community Speedwatch Newsletter – the contents of this were noted and a discussion was held about the speed camera kit and community speed watch safety equipment that the council holds. It was agreed that this will not be used again so the council will consider selling it. 

14.0 Date and time of the next meeting 8th January 2025. 

The meeting closed at 8.25pm.