Minutes and Agendas 2025

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

helpringhamparishcouncil@gmail.com 

Eau End Farm, Helpringham Fen, Sleaford NG34 0BS 

helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk 

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DRAFT MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD ON 12th FEBRUARY 2025 

PRESENT: 

Councillors: Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), Rob Spencer, Will Watts, Mark Robinson 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

County Councillor Andrew Key 

District Councillor Russell Jackson 

NOT PRESENT: 

Councillors: Julie Frizzell, George Frizzell, Chris Taylor 

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM 

No members of the public were present. 

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 Julie Frizzell, George Frizzell and Chris Taylor 

3.0 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS 

Cllr Mark Robinson declared an interest in the planning application 24/1363/RESM 16 Shepherds Lane. 

4.0 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 8th January 2025 were amended to correct the payee name of Richard H Crawford to Robert H Crawford and it was then resolved to accept them as true and correct minutes of the meeting. 

 5.0 REPORT FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

County Councillor Andrew Key reported that Lincolnshire County Council Executive have recommended increasing the Council Tax by 2.99% for 2025/26, this will be decided at the full Council Meeting on 21st February 2025. This was their lowest option. Although there will be a deficit in the budget there are sufficient reserves to cover this. 

Discussion was then held about devolution in Lincolnshire. 

District Councillor Russell Jackson submitted a report which is included in the minutes here. He also recommended that the Parish Council express an interest in the new flood warning service. 

6.0 CLERK’S REPORT ON MATTERS OUTSTANDING 

6.1 The clerk informed the councillors that the village grit bins had now been refilled. 

6.2 The clerk confirmed that the precept had been submitted on 13/1/25 

7.0 TREES 

7.1 Two quotes had been received for the work that the recent tree inspection had recommended be carried out on various trees in the village. After some discussion it was resolved that P&P Tree Services be appointed and that all the work, both essential and desirable be carried out. 

8.0 FINANCE 

8.1 It was resolved to accept the financial report and bank reconciliation presented by the clerk. The bank reconciliation showed that the current account would stand at £4,914.37 once outstanding cheques have been presented. The savings account stands at £20,482.37, of this £5000.00 has been reserved for future cemetery land purchases. The VAT reclaim of £592.11 had been received.

8.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting: 

8.3 It was noted that the following Direct Debit payments that have been made since 8/1/25: 

8.4 It was noted that ICO has been renewed and certificated downloaded. 

8.5 It was resolved that the Parish Council would purchase a memorial from the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) to commemorate the VE Day 80th anniversary. Cllr Mark Robinson suggested that this be placed in the Memorial Hall. This will be included on the March 2025 Agenda. 

9.0 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 9.2 24/1278/OUT – it was noted that the planning has been passed. 

9.1 24/1363/RESM 16 Shepherds Lane – having declared an interest, Cllr Mark Robinson did not take part in the discussions. It was resolved that no comments would be made about the application. 

10.0 CEMETERY 

10.1 In the absence of the Cemetery Officer Cllr G. Frizzell, the clerk reported that there had been one application to erect a memorial on Plot I 35. The invoice had been issued and the clerk reported that a remittance advice for payment had been received. 

11.0 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

11.1 An email had been received from the LCC Footways and Surface Treatments Programme Leader apologising the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of Highgate in December 2024. This is attached. The same stretch of road is due to be surface dressed later in the year. 

11.2 B1394 Helpringham to Little Hale – discussion was held about the correspondence the clerk has had with LCC Highways, the Environment Agency (EA) and Black Sluice IDB about the gradual collapsing of this stretch of road and the likely danger to road users should the road give way completely. LCC Highways have stated that they will do monthly visual inspections and the EA stated that the bank does not currently pose a risk of flooding to property so they too will only monitor the situation. Following discussion which included input from Cllr Andrew Key, it was resolved that the clerk should continue to keep the pressure on all the relevant agencies to try and get substantial reparative works carried out. 

11.3 Vicarage Lane – road resurfacing – Cllr Andrew Key reported that this was currently being discussed by the LCC Assets Team but he unfortunately had not heard the outcome prior to the meeting. He will inform the clerk once he has more information. 

11.4 Two other Highway matters were discussed: 

• Highgate junction – problems caused to school buses, agricultural vehicles and HGVs by parked cars. It was resolved that the clerk would email Cllr Andrew Key with a request that double yellow lines be put at the junction and he would forward this to the relevant department. 
• Road Closure and other signage left on verges by contractors – these should be reported on FixMyStreet and they should then be collected. 

12.0 FLOODING 

12.1 The Clerk had attended the Billingborough Flooding Meeting on 22/1/25, a report is attached. 

12.2 It was resolved that the Clerk should go ahead and try and get an EA, Black Sluice and Anglian Water engagement session organised along with neighboroughing parishes. 

12.3 The sewerage issues experienced on Vicarage Lane during flooding were discussed. Unfortunately it was agreed that little could be done to alleviate this as there is nowhere to divert the water to. 

12.4 It was agreed that all flooding should be reported on FixMyStreet in future as this could trigger an LCC Section 19 report which would hopefully investigate ways of stopping the village becoming isolated during times of flooding. 

13.0 EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CONTINGENCY PLANS 

13.1 Village Resilience Group update – the Clerk reported that two volunteers had now come forward. 

13.2 Village Resilience Plan (currently at draft stage) – carried over to the next meeting. 

13.3 The support that can be given to residents during flooding was discussed. It was resolved that Cllr Mark Robinson would see if he could get a stock of sandbags stored in the village. 

13.4 Community Engagement – it was resolved that having a regular presence in the community café would not go ahead for now. 

14.0 LINCOLNSHIRE RESERVOIR 

14.1 Anglian Water – Reservoir Phase 2 Consultation Summary and Winter 2025 Newsletter have been published on the Parish Council website. The current government have given the green light for this to go ahead. 

15.0 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

15.1 The following general correspondence was noted. 

13/1/25 NKDC Snowdrop Event 22/2/25 

13/1/25 NKDC Heritage Strategy 

15/1/25 LCC – National Highways & Transport survey – this needs to be completed by the end of February and anyone can do so. It can be accessed here: https://www.nhtnetwork.co.uk/isolated/data/scorecard/new/bespoke/1214 

17/1/25 NKDC Parish and Town Council Newsletter Jan25 

28/1/25 Rural Services Bulletin – article on Efforts to Improve Mobile Coverage in Rural Areas the Clerk had asked Cllr Andrew Key if LCC could also use Norfolk County Council’s strategy to gather data about mobile phone signal black spots. He had passed the query on to the relevant department. 

16.0 Date and time of the next meeting 12th March 2025. 

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.