Minutes and Agendas 2025

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

helpringhamparishcouncil@gmail.com 

helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk 

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PRESENT: 

Councillors: Geoff Hotchkin (Chair), Julie Frizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell, Chris Taylor, Mark Robinson (arrived at 7.40pm). 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM 

No members of the public were present. 

AGENDA 

52/26 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chairman welcomed the councillors to the meeting. 

53/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

No apologies for absence were received. 

54/26 COUNCILLOR VACANCY 

It was noted that Cllr Will Watts had resigned from his position on the Parish Council. The Clerk will inform NKDC Elections Team. 

At 7.32pm it was resolved to move into closed session to consider confidential matters in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. In accordance with regulations any public and press are required to leave the meeting at this stage. 

54/26.1 Councillor Vacancy – one application had been received to fill the current vacancy. It was resolved to invite the applicant to the August meeting. 

54/26.2 Unity Bank – it was agreed to move this Agenda item forward from 66/26.6. It was resolved that the allocated cheque signatories would sign the relevant Submission documents and that they Clerk/RFO be delegated with the authority to make the required funds movements to facilitate the change of banks. 

The meeting came out of closed session at 7.45pm 

55/26 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 10th June 2025 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

56/26 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011. 

There were no declarations. 

57/26 REPORT FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

Reports had been received from Cllr East (here) and Cllr Jackson (here) and these are attached. 

58/26 CLERK’S REPORT 

• The litter bin for the playing field had been ordered from Glasdon. Delivery will be around the middle of July. The invoice will be received once the bin has been despatched. 
• The two replacement benches have been ordered from TDP Ltd. No delivery date has been received but the invoice has been submitted for payment.
• Highways: the clerk had corresponded with Rowan Smith of Lincs Highways and Cllr David East about the issues caused by multiple road closures. 
• The AGAR Certificate of Exemption had been submitted and confirmation of receipt received. 

59/26 COUNCIL POLICIES 

Following a meeting between Cllr Julie Frizzell and the Clerk, a new layout of the Council Policies and Procedures for the website was discussed to make it clearer to navigate. It was resolved to instigate this and to adopt the updated Policies and Procedures. The Clerk will work with Cllr George Frizzell to ensure all new and updated policies are uploaded to the Parish Council website. It was also resolved that the Clerk would review 2 or 3 policies each month to ensure everything was kept in line with legislation. 

It was also noted that the current NALC Contract of Employment has changed since the Clerk was appointed. This will be reviewed and discussed at the next meeting. 

60/26 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

The following decision notice was noted: 

• 24/0494/FUL Erection of 1no dwelling on site of barn previously on land adjacent to 21 High Street, Helpringham – notice of decision – approved. 

61/26 INTERNAL AUDIT and AGAR 

• It was resolved to accept the Internal Auditors report and this will be uploaded to the Parish Council website here. 

62/26 FINANCE 

62/26.1 It was resolved to accept following documents presented by the RFO for the period 1/4/25-9/7/25: 

• Cashbook and bank reconciliation 
• Actual v budget figures 

62/26.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting: 

62/26.3 There had been no receipts since 10/6/25: 

62/26.4 The following Direct Debit payments since 10/6/25 were noted: 

62/26.5 To resolve to sign the Submission Form for the application to Unity Bank to set up Parish Council bank accounts – this item was brought forward and dealt with under 54/26.2 

63/26 CEMETERY 

Cllr George Frizzell reported that there had been no interments since the last meeting. The memorial for plot I37 is still ongoing. The hedges around the Hale Road Cemetery had been trimmed (following a thorough check for bird nest). 

64/26 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

To discuss Highway matters including: 

• Highgate junction – request for concave mirror at junction and been refused by LCC Highways as they do not support these. 
• Highgate junction – a site meeting was held with LCC Highways and Cllr David East to discuss the issues caused by vehicles parked near to this junction. The LCC Highways representative agreed that there was a need for ‘junction protection’ and were therefore willing to proceed with the Council’t request for double yellow lines. They will however require photographic evidence of problems experienced by road users. The process will take at least 6months due to statutory and public consultations and advertising. 
• Temporary Traffic Regulation Order TTRO011823 South Fen Road, Helpringham 29/7-4/8/25. 
• Footpath behind 24 George Street, Helpringham – a resident had raised an issue with the state of this footpath. Although maintenance of this footpath does not fall to the Parish Council, the Clerk made enquiries and with the help of Cllr East, received a reply from the LCC Countryside Officer which will be forwarded on. Residents are reminded that FixMyStreet can be used for a whole variety of issues including those regarding footpaths. 
• Cllr George Frizzell proposed that a councillor takes on responsibility for checking that the footpaths in the village are kept clear. It was resolved that Cllr Robinson would do this. 
• Vicarage Lane – Cllr Robinson requested that the Clerk contact LCC Highways to once again ask when Vicarage Lane will be resurfaced as the development has now been completed for over a year. 

65/26 TRAINING 

It was resolved to agree that the Clerk should register with SLCC to complete the CiLCA qualification and to cover the cost of £450.00 

66/26 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

To discuss correspondence received and other matters affecting the village: 

66/26.1 Village Matters: 

• Helpringham Feast – it was resolved to grant permission for the Helpringham Feast to be held on the village green on 9th and 10th August 2025. However the Parish Council will require a copy relevant insurance documents. 
• Reservoir – it was agreed to ask Anglian Water to attend the Parish Council meeting on 3rd September 2025 to give a briefing about the reservoir. 
• Noticeboard – Cllr Robinson will ensure the final maintenance to the noticeboard is carried out. 
• Food waste bins – these will be rolled out in March 2025. Further information can be seen on Cllr Jackson’s report which is attached or on the LCC website here. 
• New waste collection vehicles – from w/c 23/6/25 some parts of the village will be moved to smaller, 16t collection vehicles. Households affected should have been informed. More information can be found on Cllr Jackson’s report. 

66/26.2 Correspondence: 

• NKDC – consultation re Licensing Act 2003: Statement of Licensing Policy - noted 
• Lincolnshire Police & Parish Council Briefing Session 16/9/25 - noted 
• LALC Annual Report 2024-25 - noted 

67/26 Date and time of the next meeting – 13th August 2025 at 7.30pm. 

It was also agreed to change the date of the September meeting to 3/9/25 commencing at 7pm. 

The meeting closed at 8.15pm.