Minutes and Agendas 2025

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

helpringhamparishcouncil@gmail.com 

helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk 

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DRAFT MINUTES FOR PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 13th August 2025 

PRESENT: 

Councillors: Geoff Hotchkin (Chair), Julie Fizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell, Chris Taylor, Mark Robinson (arrived at 8pm) 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

Cllr David East, Steve Waterfield 

TEN MINUTES PUBLIC FORUM 

No members of the public were present. 

68/26 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chairman welcomed the councillors to the meeting. 

69/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

No apologies were received. 

70/26 COUNCILLOR VACANCY 

An application for the councillor position had been received from Mr Steve Waterfield. Mr Waterfield left the room whilst this was discussed. It was unanimously resolved to co-opt him on the council. Mr Waterfield returned to the meeting and accepted the position. He duly signed the Acceptance of Office form and was given forms to complete for Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and Dispensations and GDPR Security Compliance. The clerk will email the relevant Council Guides to him and will liaise with him to organise the relevant training. 

Mr Waterfield was cordially welcomed to the council. 

There is still one vacancy to be filled and this will continue to be advertised. 

71/26 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 9th July 2025 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

72/26 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011. 

No declarations were made. 

 73/26 REPORT FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

A report had been received from District Councillor Jackson and this is attached. 

Discussions were held with Cllr East about: 

• Graffiti in the village – he will continue to push to have this removed. 

• Awareness of scammers around trying to surface driveways whilst resurfacing of roads is taking place. 

• Local Government reorganisation. 

• Police attendance at parish council meetings – Cllr East will make the necessary contact and request that a representative from the police attend at least one meeting a year. 

74/26 CLERK’S REPORT 

To note the items that had been actioned by the Clerk since the last meeting. 

Helpringham Feast – insurance documents and risk assessment for use of the green (requirement from the Parish Council’s insurer) had been received. The event had been a great success and the Parish Council extends it’s congratulations to the organiser. 

• Bin for playing field – Cllr Robinson has received this and will install it in due course. 

• Seats – Cllr Robinson has received these and will install them in due course. 

• Unity Bank – the accounts are now open. 

• SLCC registration for CiLCA – this has been done 

75/26 TRAINING 

It was recommended that Cllr Waterfield attends the online course for new councillors and the clerk will liaise with him to organise this. All future LALC training schedules will be forwarded to him so that he can see what other training is available.

76/26 COUNCIL POLICIES 

76/26.1 It was resolved to adopt the following Policies and Procedures. 

77/26 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

To discuss and comment on planning applications received and note any decision notices: 

• 25/0831/LBC Helpringham Manor Farmhouse, The Green, Helpringham – alterations and repairs to farmhouse – no comments were made, all were in support. 

• 25/0887/HOUS 16 Shepherds Lane, Helpringham – Erection of garage – no comments were made, all were in support. 

78/26 FINANCE 

78/26.1 It was resolved to accept following documents presented by the RFO for the period 1/4/25-13/8/25: 

• Cashbook and bank reconciliation 

• Actual v budget figures 

78/26.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting:

78/26.4 The following receipts since 9/7/25 were noted: 

78/26.5 The following Direct Debit payments since 9/7/25 were noted: 

78/26.6 UNITY BANK 

It was resolved that the clerk would forward the relevant forms from Unity bank to Cllr Julie Fizzell for signature thus allowing Unity bank to organise the transfer of funds from Lloyds and redirection of the current Direct Debit payments (E.ON Next, NKDC, Anglian Water, ICO). It was also resolved to authorise the clerk to move all funds from the Lloyds savings account into the Lloyds current account in preparation for this transfer. The Lloyds bank accounts will then be closed. 

79/26 HR Matters 

It was resolved that the clerk should claim the relevant back pay from 1/4/25 following receipt of the new Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2025 applicable from 1/4/25 

80/26 CEMETERY 

Cllr George Frizzell reported that since the last meeting there had been the following occurrences: 

• There has been one interment into plot H1 on the 13th Aug 25 

• The memorial on plot I35 had been erected and fees already paid 

• The Exclusive Right of Burial ERB 287 (Plot S 18) has been forwarded to the recipient by the Parish Clerk. 

• The memorial for plot I 37 was still ongoing and has yet to be erected 

81/26 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

To discuss Highway matters including: 

• Highgate junction – the documentation for the Traffic Regulation Order had been started by LCC and notices received for the noticeboard and website. 

• Vicarage Lane – notifications had been received about patching works on Vicarage Lane to be carried out by 31/3/26 and that the stretch of road infront of the new builds is scheduled for surface dressing in the 26/27. Cllr East will request further clarification of the schedule of works for this road 

• Temporary Traffic Restriction – 26/8-5/9/25 part of South Drove for fibre maintenance. 

82/26 RESERVOIR 

Anglian Water will be making a presentation on 3rd September 2025 about the proposed reservoir. It was ask that they start at 6.30pm and that the presentation lasts for an hour. The Parish Council meeting will start as soon as this session has finished. Information about this meeting will be circulated and members of the public are invited to send any question they have for Anglian Water about the reservoir to the clerk by 31/8/25. 

83/26 COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PLAN 

Cllr Julie Frizzell had been in correspondence with Lincs Fire and Rescue about the draft plan. It was agreed that the plan would only have one meeting place, this being the Memorial Hall. Cllr Robinson agreed to be the third point of contact on the plan (Cllr Julie Frizzell and Judy Pittock being the other two). 

84/26 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

To discuss correspondence received and other matters affecting the village: 

84/26.1 Village Matters: 

• Graffiti on Red Bridge and footbridge – the clerk had reported both incidents on FixMyStreet but unfortunately had the response that, as the graffiti was neither rude nor offensive, LCC had no funds available to remove it. As this is a Highways structure it is not covered by the Parish Council’s insurance. The Parish Council fully supports the village residents’ subsequent endeavours to persuade LCC to change this stance and Cllr East will also be pushing further to get the matter sorted to the benefit of the village. It was also noted that care would need to be taken when removing the graffiti due to the proximity of the water course and the delicate nature of the brickwork. 

• Warranty extension on speed signs – it was agreed that the clerk should clarify if the cost is per sign and what the servicing costs are. 

• Noticeboard – unfortunately Cllr Robinson has been unable to sort this since the last meeting. 

84/26.2 Correspondence: 

• Anglian Water – new main on North Drove – it was agreed that this is not a matter for the clerk to sort. 

• Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire brochure – noted. 

• An email had been received from Carter Jonas requesting permission to advertise the vacant allotment in Swaton in Helpringham. All agreed that they could do so. 

85/26 Date and time of the next meeting – Wednesday 3rd September 2025 commencing at 7.30pm following the Anglian Water presentation. 

The meeting closed at 8.50pm 

MEETING DATES 2025 

All meetings will be held in the Conference Room in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham 

• 3rd September 2025 commencing at 6.30pm-7.30pm (public session), Parish Council Meeting to commence at 7.30pm 

• 8th October 2025 commencing at 7.30pm 

• 12th November 2025 commencing at 7.30pm 

• 10th December 2025 commencing at 7.30pm