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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Approved Minutes for Meeting held on WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH 2024 

PRESENT 

Parish Councillors: Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), George Frizzell (Cemetery Officer), Robert Spencer, Will Watts. 

Clerk: Judy Pittock . 

NOT PRESENT 

Parish Councillors: Julie Frizzell, Chris Taylor. 

Councillor Russell Jackson - District Councillor NKDC. 

Councillor Andrew Key – Lincoln County Council. 

TEN MINUTE 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 for absence were received from Councillor Julie Frizzell and District Councillor Russell Jackson. 

3.0 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 14th February 2024 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

4.0 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES 

It was resolved to purchase a new tree to replace the dead tree. It was agreed that this should be a native English tree and Councillor Taylor will be asked to source it. 

5.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

Councillor Watts declared a pecuniary interest in any planning applications received with reference to the proposed reservoir. 

 6.0 REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

Councillor Russell Jackson submitted a report which is attached to the Minutes and can be viewed here. 

7.0 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

7.1 23/1472/FUL 3-4 Swaton Road, Thorpe Latimer – The planning application had been determined and it had been resolved to approve the application. 

7.2 23/1063/HOUS The Old Manor, 3 George Street, Helpringham – it was resolved to support this application. 

8.0 FINANCE 

8.1 The financial report and bank reconciliation presented by the Clerk were accepted. 

8.2 To following payments were approved: 

8.3 The Parish Council had received notification that the charges for the Conference Room at Memorial Hall were to be increased from £6 to £7 per hour. It was unanimously resolved to accept this increase. 

8.4 The initial insurance renewal documents had been received from Gallagher. It was resolved to return these and obtain a renewal quote from Gallagher. It was also resolved that a second quote from an alternative company should also be sort. 

8.5 Grants had been received from three organisations and after discussion it was resolved to award the following; 

 Heckington Voluntary Car - £500.00 for ongoing support of the service. It was also agreed that the Clerk should request information about how many journeys had been for Helpringham residents in the past year. 

 Helpringham Feast - £500.00 to support the running of the Feast for 2024. The Parish Council will require a full breakdown of how this grant is spent. 

 Citizens Advice - £100.00 for the purchase of new reference books for their advisors. 

8.6 AGAR preparation – it was resolved that SA Accounts should be used for the 2023/24 internal accounts audit and that a full systems plus accounts audit will be carried out for the 2024/25 financial year. It was agreed that the Clerk could make changes to the layout of the Asset Register. 

8.7 After discussion it was resolved that £5000.00 should be moved to Reserves and marked for future land purchases within the village, and for cemetery footpath improvements. 

8.8 The Clerk informed the Council that online banking facilities had finally been set up. 

9.0 CEMETERY AND CONSERVATION AREA 

 Cemetery Officer Cllr G. Frizzell reported that there had been no internments during the past month and that Memorials U18 and V18 were still ongoing. 

 The first grass cut of the year had taken place except around the pond which will be done once it is not so wet. 

 Complaints had been received about the pond overflowing across the road. The cause had been identified as a blocked overflow and this had been reported on FixMyStreet and also pointed out to Rowan Smith from Highways during his recent visit to the village who stated that the drain could be jetted to clean it out. It was agreed that the Clerk should chase this work up. 

10.0 PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE 

10.1 Councillor G Frizzell reported that the Parish Council website was up to date. 

11.0 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

11.1 Speed Camera Report - Councillor G Frizzell reported the following figures for March: 

 Hale Road – top speed coming into the village was 40mph and going out was 44mph; 

 Highgate – top speed coming into the village was 50mph and going out was 79mph; 

 Station Road – top speed coming into the village was 58mph and going out was 75mph. 

Councillor Robinson asked it further information regarding timings for these top speeds could be indicated and this information will be brought to the next meeting. 

11.2 To discuss other Highways issues. 

 FixMyStreet – 19/1/24 Ref 489638 – Potholes on Scredington Rd, Helpringham to Burton Road turning. Update 20/2/24 – work complete. 

 FixMyStreet – 9/2/24 Ref: 492776 - Blocked drain near Blotoft Crossing. Update 29/2/24 – Works issued. 

 FixMyStreet – 13/2/24 Ref: 493535 – Bollards on Station Road. Update 13/2/24 – work issued to delivery gang. 

 FixMyStreet – 26/2/24 Ref: 496100 – Blocked overflow for village pond. Update 5/3/24 – work issued to delivery gang. 

 FixMyStreet – 26/2/24 Ref: 496101 – Pothole on North Drove by Walnut Tree Farm Update – awaiting assessment. 

 Annual roadsweep and path clearance – the Clerk had contacted both Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council and was awaiting a reply. However it was noted that only kerbed roads will be cleaned. Councillor Watts noted that the path to Thorpe Latimer needs clearing as it is becoming overgrown. The Clerk will contact the relevant authority to report this. 

 Vicarage Lane surface works and drain issues – it was noted that this has become so bad that a disabled resident can no longer get out in her wheelchair. It was agreed that the Clerk should draw this to the attention of the Highways department. 

 It was noted that two road closure signs had been put up – on George Street and Station Road. However no notices had been received about these. The Clerk is to chase the Road Closures department about these. 

11.3 Meeting with Rowan Smith, 7th March 2024. Councillors Hotchkin, G Frizzell and C Taylor met with Rowan Smith and discussed the following: 

 Station Road near Ambler House and Knott Hall – the issue of flooding in the road at this location was identified as being due to a blocked dyke and the need for a grip to be maintained into the dyke. This is not a Highways issue but the adjacent landowner has agreed to deal with the problem privately. 

 Red Bridge damage following car accident – Highways have this in hand but have not given a date for the repair. 

 Road from Little Hale to Burton Pedwardine - the Parish Councillors were informed that every pothole needs to be reported individually. They stated that this was impossible as there are now well over 40 potholes on this stretch of road and that the FixMyStreet needs an option to highlight an area that needs repairing. 

 Bollards on Station Road – these are on the Highways schedule to replace/repair. 

 The road through Burton Pedwardine to the A17 – no date has yet been given for improvements to this road. 

 The Fen roads – Rowan Smith did not look at these on this occasion. The Clerk agreed to continue reporting potholes to FixMyStreet. 

12.0 LINCOLNSHIRE RESERVOIR 

The next meeting of the Liaison group is due to be held on 27th March 2024. 

13.0 BEACON FEN ENERGY PARK 

Councillor Hotchkin had attended the local exhibition and reported that is has no direct effect on the village. 

14.0 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

14.1 Village Noticeboard refurbishment – this has now been completed, is in place but awaiting a new header board. 

14.2 Dog waste – 5 x ‘We are Watching You’ signs have been ordered. 

14.3 Community Resilience Plan (flooding) – unfortunately the meeting for 13th March 2024 had to be postponed. A new dated has not yet been set. It was agreed that the Clerk would circulate the template for the Plan to all Councillors and that she would contact all the adjacent Parish Councils to try and establish easier lines of communication in particular with regards to road closures due to flooding. 

14.4 Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council – it was confirmed that these would be held on Wednesday 8th May 2024. 

15.0 CHURCH CLOCK 

 Councillor G Frizzell had corrected the clock so that is it now running to time. 

 An email had been received from the Church Warden stating that the PCC had offered to maintain the Parish Clock once the current maintenance contract ends. It was resolved that this offer should be accepted. 

16.0 The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 10th April 2024 at 7.30pm. 

The meeting closed at 9.20pm.