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 THURSDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2025

PRESENT:

Councillors:  Geoff Hotchkin (Chair), Julie Frizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell, Chris Taylor, Steve Waterfield

County Councillor David East

NOT PRESENT:

Cllr Mark Robinson

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM

No members of the public were present.

100/26  WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and expressed the Council’s condolences following the recent passing of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.

101/26  APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies for absence were received.

102/26  COUNCILLOR VACANCY

No expressions of interest had been received to fill the current vacancy.  It was resolved that a further appeal should be put out inviting village residents to consider joining the Council.  The position involves attending one meeting a month with an option to take on other duties if and as required.  The Parish Council is made up of a great team and the associated workload is very small.

103/26  SIGNING OF THE MINUTES

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 3rd September 2025 as true and correct minutes of the meeting.

104/26  DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011.

None were received.

105/26  REPORT FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

Cllr Jackson had submitted a report which is attached here.

Discussion was held with Cllr East about the proposed Greater Lincolnshire Devolution; Resilience training – this is associated with the Draft Community Resilience Plan which the Parish Council has completed; Graffiti – Cllr East urged that all incidents are reported to the police.

106/26  CHAIRMAN’S REPORT on LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION

Cllr Hotchkin had attended a recent exhibition at Sleaford library.  The County Council is currently proposing that there is one council for the whole of Lincolnshire which excludes north and north east Lincolnshire.  The District Council are proposing that Lincolnshire is split into two areas, North and South.  Whichever proposal is taken up will hopefully mean there is less bureaucracy to contend with.  The Councillors extended their thanks to Cllr Hotchkin for attending the exhibition.

107/26  CLERK’S REPORT

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

• It was resolved that the Clerk should sign and submit the Elan City Warranty Extension contract.
• 9/9/25 – confirmation that Cllr Waterfield’s Register of Member Interests have been sent to NKDC and their records updated - noted
• CIL Report for 2024/25 has been submitted - noted
• VAT126  Return has been submitted with a claim for £1258.69 - noted
• Correspondence had been received from the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector stating that Local police attendance at PC meetings was not an option due to insufficient officers being available.  It was resolved that the Parish Council would start to attend the bi-annual online event that the police organise.

108/26  POLICIES FOR REVIEW

It was resolved adopt the following policies:

109/26  PLANNING APPLICATIONS

• 25/1122/PNAGR Agricultural building on land south of North Drove, Helpringham Fen – no comments were made.
• 25/0908/VARCON 25 Station Road, Helpringham – decision notice, application approved.
• 25/0887/HOUS 16 Shepherds Lane, Helpringham – decision notice, application approved.
• New street numbering scheme re 35 George Street, Helpringham – noted.

110/26  FINANCE

110/26.1  It was resolved to accept following documents presented by the RFO for the period 1/4/25-2/10/25:

110/26.2  Unity Bank – it was resolved that the clerk/RFO should transfer funds from the current account to the savings account to the same value as had been transferred out of the Lloyds savings account.

110/26.3  It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting:

110/26.4  The following receipts since 3/9/25 were noted:

110/26.5   The following Direct Debit payments since 3/9/25 were noted:

111/26  CEMETERY

Cemetery Officer Cllr G. Frizzell reported that there had been no interments since the last meeting.  Memorial on plot I37 is ongoing.  Plot I38 has been levelled and the request for a memorial for the plot has been approved and an invoice issued.

It was resolved that if all the contracted grass cuts were not used for the year then the associated funds would be used to have the contractor cut back and tidy the edges of the paths in the Hale Road cemetery.

The Council extends its gratitude to the very kind parishioner who has painted the single gates at the Hale Road cemetery.

112/26  HIGHWAY MATTERS

To discuss Highway matters including:

• FixMyStreet ref 2853416 24/8/25 – Bollards on Station Road.  16/9/25 update – work issued to delivery gang – work still outstanding
• FixMyStreet ref 2854706 4/9/25 - Pothole near Knott Hall, Station Road.  8/9/25 update – work issued to delivery gang – this has now been filled.
• Proposed TRO Highgate/Station Road junction – LCC had received a request for a slight extension to the Proposed No Waiting at Any Time restriction.  The proposal will now be advertised in a local newspaper on 21/10/25 and objections or representations received by 14/11/25.
• It was noted that the hedges alongside the railway bridge on Station Road are protruding into the road.  It was agreed that Cllr Taylor would take pictures for the clerk so it could be reported this on FixMyStreet.

113/26  MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE

113/26.1  Village Matters:

• Graffiti on Red Bridge and footbridge – the Parish Council extended it grateful thanks to Cllr East for the support he gave in delivering the restoration of the Red Bridge.  Thanks was also given to Cllr Waterfield for his research into the heritage and listing information about the bridge which helped facilitate the positive outcome.
• Speed awareness – Cllr Waterfield will be taking on responsibility for downloading and analysing the statistics from the speed awareness monitors. This information will then be published on the Parish Council website again.
• Reservoir – notes from the recent Anglian Water presentation and the September Liaison Committee had been received and are available on the Parish Council website. Thanks was extended to Will Watts for continuing to keep the Parish Council informed about the Liaison Committee meetings.

• Christmas tree PAT test – carry over.
• Following a request from a resident about village volunteer opportunities, the various options were discussed and the clerk will forward these on.
• It was resolved that Cllr Julie Frizzell should order a poppy wreath for Remembrance Day.

113/26.2  Correspondence:

12/9/25 LCC consultation re Integrated Lifestyle Services – feedback form available to complete.

18/9/25 LCC - winter salt bag – unfortunately there is nowhere to store this. 

19/9/25 LCC Local Government Reorganisation – questionnaire and virtual event on 26/9/25.

19/9/25 Lincs Police – Neighbourhood Policing Survey.

26/9/25  NKDC re Food Waste Scheme – literature has been received.  A poster has been put on the noticeboard and leaflets and posters will be put in appropriate places in the village.

6/11/25 10am-12pm NKDC Parish and Town Council Forum at NKDC Offices, Sleaford – the clerk will register Cllr Hotchkin to attend this.

114/26  Date and time of the next meeting – Wednesday 12th November commencing at 7.30pm.  The meeting dates for 2026 were agreed – these will continue to be on the second Wednesday of every month but are subject to change if required.

The meeting closed at 8.36pm.

MEETING DATES

All meetings will be held in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham commencing at 7.30pm.

• 11th December 2025
• 14th January 2025
• 11th February 2025