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 TUESDAY 10th June 2025 

PRESENT: 

Councillors: Geoff Hotchin, Julie Frizzell, George Frizzell, Chris Taylor (arrived at 6.15pm) 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

NOT PRESENT: 

Councillors: Mark Robinson and Will Watts. 

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM 

No members of the public were present 

37/26 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chairman welcomed the councillors to the meeting and extended also welcomed County Councillor David East to his first meeting with the Parish Council. 

38/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Will Watts and Mark Robinson who both had work commitments. 

39/26 COUNCILLOR VACANCY 

No applications had yet been received for the vacancy so it was resolved to re-issue the vacancy notices. 

40/26 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 15th May 2025 as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

41/26 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011. 

No declarations were made. 

42/26 REPORT FROM DISTRICT and COUNTY COUNCILLORS 

Discussion was held with Councillor East about highways, planning matters and the reservoir. It was agreed that the Clerk should email Cllr East with the Parish Council’s concerns about the lack of prior information re road closures, in particular Heckington and Old Forty Foot Bank where no correspondence had been received. 

43/26 CLERK’S REPORT 

The Clerk reported on work carried out during the month which included: 

• Correspondence with LCC Highways re putting a concave mirror at Highgate junction to improve visibility for exiting traffic; 
• Correspondence with LCC Traffic Regulation Order department re Highgate junction; 
• Replacement pinboard for noticeboard had been received and passed on to Cllr Robinson for installation; 
• Litter bin for playing field and replacement seats had not yet been ordered as clarification was required re whether fixings were required. 
• CIL – annual CIL report had been prepared and was ready for submission with £826.37 having been received for the 2024/25 year. These funds would go towards the purchase of the litter bin for the playing field and the replacement seats. 

44/26 COUNCIL POLICIES 

Thanks was extended to the Clerk for the work carried out on updating the Standing Orders and drawing up new policies as highlighted by the annual audit. Cllr Julie Frizzell had looked through the documentation and proposed that she and the Clerk discuss the documents further to remove any duplications between the Standing Orders, policies and the Clerk’s Contract of Employment. All were in agreement. 

44/26.1 It was resolved to carry over the adoption of updated the Standing Orders to the July 2025 meeting.

44/26.2 It was resolved to carry over the adoption the following new policies to the July 2025 meeting: 

45/26 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

• 25/0260/FUL The Brass Windmill, 2 The Green – Notice of Decision – approved – noted. 
• Beacon Fen Energy Park Project, Heckington – it was resolved not to make any comment as there is no direct impact on the Parish. 
• 25/044/VARCON The Maltings, Station Road, Helpringham – this application was received after the publication of the Agenda. It was resolved not the make any comment. 

46/26 INTERNAL AUDIT and AGAR 

• The Internal Auditors report was reviewed and Councillors requested that the Clerk seek clarification about it being marked as an interim report as it was actually the final audit. 

It was resolved to complete where required and sign the following documents. 

• AGAR 2024/25 Certificate of Exemption. 
• AGAR 2024/25 Annual Internal Audit Report. 
• AGAR 2024/25 Annual Governance Statement 
• 2024/25 Accounting Statement 
• AGAR 2024/25 Explanation of Variances 

The Clerk will submit the Certificate of Exemption and the documentation will be displayed on the Parish Council website here. It was agreed that the dates for the Notice of Public Rights and Publication of AGAR would be set at 24/6/25-4/8/25 – notices will be displayed on the website and noticeboard. 

47/26 FINANCE 

47/26.1 It was resolved to accept following documents presented by the RFO for the period 1/4/25-10/6/25: 

• Cashbook and bank reconciliation (attached) 
• Actual v budget figures (attached) 

47/26.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting: 

47/26.4 The following receipts since 15/5/25 were: 

47/26.5 The following Direct Debit payments since 15/5/25 were noted: 

48/26 CEMETERY 

Cllr George Frizzell reported that there had been no interments since the previous meeting. The memorial for I37 is still ongoing. The headstone for J34 is now back in place with the new inscription. ERB287 has been signed off and payment received. This will now be issued. Cllr Hotchkin queried whether the gates to the cemetery were sagging, Cllr Frizzell agreed to investigate. 

49/26 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

• Temporary Traffic Regulation Order TTRO11455 – Swaton/Helpringham 29/6/2025 – this was noted. 
• Highgate junction – the issues experienced by vehicles being parked too close to the junction and not in accordance with Highway Code regulations, were discussed with Cllr East. It was agreed that the Clerk would forward correspondence to date and any pictures of the problems to Cllr East so that he could investigate the matter further and discuss it with the relevant LCC departments. 
• Temporary road closure Old Forty Foot Bank 23/6-26/6/25. The Clerk informed Councillors that she had personally received notification of this closure for road resurfacing but had not received any information to the Parish Council. 

50/26 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

50/26.1 Village Matters: 

• Parish Council website – Cllr George Frizzell confirmed that this is up to date. 
• Conservation Area – Cllr George Frizzell that this area has now been cut following ‘No mow May’. 
• Helpringham Feast – correspondence had been received confirming that the Feast would be going ahead this year. The Clerk will write to the organisers to confirm that they need permission from the Parish Council to use the Green what insurance they will have in place. This item will be carried over to the July 2025 meeting. 
• Reservoir – there were no new developments to discuss. 

50/26.2 Correspondence: 

• Parish and Town Council Forum 10/7/25 – Cllr Hotchkin will attend. 
• HAVCS – letter of confirming receipt and thanks for grant awarded had been received. 
• Citizen’s Advice – email confirming receipt and thanks for grant awarded had been received. 

51/26 Date and time of the next meeting 9th July 2025 commencing at 7.30pm.