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 14th AUGUST 2024 

PRESENT: 

Councillors Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), Julie Frizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell, Rob Spencer, Mark Robinson 

Clerk: Judy Pittock 

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM 

Aimee Walker, organiser of the Helpringham Feast was present and thanked the Parish Council for the financial support it gave to the Feast this year which enabled the provision of inflatable toys for children in the Memorial Hall. The event was a great success with visitors from other local villages aswell as Helpringham. A total of £1100 was raised which is to be distributed to local organisations. 

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 Cllrs Will Watts and Chris Taylor, County Councillor Andrew Key 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 10th July 2024 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

4.0 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES 

There were no matters arising from the Minutes. 

5.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

Cllr Mark Robinson declared and interest in Planning Application Ref: 24/0896/VARCON. 

 6.0 REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

No reports were presented. 

7.0 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

7.1 Application Ref: 24/0797/HOUS 18 The Green Helpringham – erection of single storey flat room extension to side and rear. No comments were made about this application. 

7.2 Application Ref: 24/0896/VARCON 16 Shepherds Lane, Helpringham – Remove condition 4 (annexe occupation) of planning permission 18/0973/HOUS to allow occupation as a separate dwelling. Cllr Mark Robinson left the room whilst this application was discussed. No comments were made. 

8.0 FINANCE 

8.1 It was resolved to accept the financial report and bank reconciliation. 

The financial report included a review of the current electricity charges for the lighting of the War Memorial. The RFO had obtained two alternative tariff quotes as the current with Scottish Power was due to end on 30/8/24. It was resolved to accept the quote from EON-NEXT for a 3 year contract at the tariffs shown below. This will more than halve the annual cost of the electricity supply. 

Current Supplier – Scottish Power tariff: Day unit charge £0.269, Night unit charge £0.237, Standing Charge £1.34/day 

New Supplier from 1/9/24 - EON-NEXT tariff: Day unit charge £0.395, Night unit charge £0.295, Standing Charge £0.56/day 

8.2 It was resolved to approve the following payments:

8.3 It was resolved that the Clerk and RFO should be assigned as a bank signatory and that the Parish Council Financial Regulations should be amended to reflect this. The Clerk will draft the necessary paragraph for approval at the next Parish Council meeting. 

8.4 It was resolved to accept cost of £107.25 (plus VAT) for the inspection of 39 trees by NKDC Arboricultural Technician. 

8.5 Semata accounts package for Parish Councils. It was agreed that this was not required as the current system of accounting used by the RFO is sufficient for the size of the Council. 

9.0 CEMETERY AND CONSERVATION AREA 

9.1 To receive the cemetery report from the Cemetery Officer Cllr G. Frizzell – it was reported that there had been no internments or memorial requests during the previous month. However there had been an application to reserve Plot J20. Although this is not currently in sequence with the rest of the plots it was unanimously agreed to allow the reservation on this occasion. 

9.2 To receive the conservation area report from the Cemetery Officer Cllr G. Frizzell – it was reported that the cemetery hedges would be cut in the next couple of weeks. The rose bushes had not yet been purchased and this has now been put back until October. The pond area will undergo a tidying up once the grass cutting season has ended. 

9.3 It was agreed that no work could be carried out on the trees in the Conservation Area until the recommendations of the NKDC tree inspection had been received. 

10.0 PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE 

10.1 To receive the report for the Parish Council Website – it was reported that the website and it’s Facebook link seemed to be working well with plenty of relevant information being shared with the Parish. It was agreed that this no longer needs to be an Agenda item. 

10.2 Grant Application Form – it was agreed that the Clerk should make any necessary amendments to the form and also clarify the correct procedures for awarding grants. It was noted that any grants awarded should be for the benefit of some or all of the parishioners 

11.0 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

11.1 The latest speed camera reports were discussed and will be made available on the Parish Council website here. Although average speeds in and out of the village are within the regulatory limits, it was noted that excessive speeds are still achieved on occasion, particularly at night. It was agreed that the Clerk should see if a member of the police will attend a future meeting to discuss this. 

11.2 Various parts of the village have had road repairs. Part of Vicarage Lane has been top dressed but this work was carried out prior to potholes being filled. The Clerk will inform Highways of this and also that the specific area that required improvement for disabled access has not been done. 

11.3 FixMyStreet ref 492776 – drain near Blotoft Crossing – 14/7/24 reported that this has not been sorted and grass is now growing out of the drain. Update 15/7/24 work completed. 

FixMyStreet ref 2812483 – reported 16/7/24 - bollards on Station Road. Update 22/7/24 – works planned. Work still not completed. 

FixMyStreet ref 2809432 – Wheelwright Lane, pothole and overgrown trees and hedge. Update 7/8/24 work completed. It was noted that pothole had been filled by the overgrown trees and hedges are still a problem. • Public Rights of Way – third annual cut will be w/c 12th August 2024 

• Email from Lincolnshire County Council re a survey for landowners, farmers and land managers re the first Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Greater Lincolnshire. It was agreed that this was not relevant to the Parish Council. 

• Letter received from NKDC re the resignation of the Chief Executive. 11.4 Red Bridge – this has now been repaired. 

11.5 Temporary Road Closure TTRO/TTR007768 12-16/8/24 South Drove – carriageway repairs. 

12.0 LINCOLNSHIRE RESERVOIR 

12.1 Phase Two Consultation – Helpringham 21st June 2024. It was noted that some of the consultation dates had been moved and did not enable people to attend outside of working hours. 

12.2 Correspondence received re reservoir will be included on the village website. 

13.0 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

13.1 To discuss correspondence received: 

13.2 Mervyn Head, Climate Change Engagement Member – proposed presentation at September meeting. It was agreed that this should be delayed. 

14.0 Date and time of the next meeting 11th September 2024. 

The meeting closed at 8.40pm.