Minutes and Agendas 2026

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

clerk@helpringhamparishcouncil.gov.uk 

helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk 

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NOTES for MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 21 October 2026 in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham 

PRESENT: 

Councillors: Julie Frizzell (Chair), Geoff Hotchkin (Vice-Chairman), George Frizzell, Steve Waterfield, John Pittock, Adam Young 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

County Councillor David East 

Two members of the public 

NOT PRESENT: 

Councillor Mark Robinson 

PUBLIC FORUM 

Discussion was held during the public forum about the following: 

Planning Application 26/0774/FUL HTS Vehicle Sales, Station Road – Concern was raised by the two members of public present, about ongoing noise and bright lights from the site and that these would get worse should the site be extended. It was recommended that they contact NKDC Planning Department and Environmental Health and the clerk will forward the email address for the Parish’s District Councillor for NKDC. The matter will be included on the November agenda for further discussion. 

Flooding on Station Road ownership of the land adjacent to the road outside Knott Hall Gardens was discussed and this was continued later in the meeting as the subject was already on the agenda 

The Public Forum ended at 7.55pm and the meeting was then opened. 

102/27 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

103/27 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

No apologies for absence were received. 

104/27 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on 9 September 2026. 

105/27 DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 

There were no declarations of interest. 

106/27 REPORTS FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

No report had been received from Cllr Jackson. 

Cllr David East reported that the bollards had been replaced again on Station Road. He confirmed that LCC Highways had agreed to carry out a one-off clearance of the dyke adjacent to Station Road by Knott Hall Gardens, however no date has yet been set for the work. B1394 adjacent to the beck – 40mph speed limit is now in place. The road is being monitored and all agreed that it is getting worse. Cllr East stated that the County needs extra Government funding to repair such roads and this is likely to be pursued by LCC. Station Road will be closed from 26-28 October 2026 for Anglian Water works and George Street will be closed from 2 November-22 December 2026 for National Grid works. 

107/27 CLERK and COUNCILLORS REPORTS ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS 

Cloud storage – this had now been purchased. 

Councillor email addresses – ParishOnline provide 20 gov.uk named email boxes for £260 + VAT per year. It was agreed that the clerk would provide further information about how these can be administered especially if a councillor leaves. It was resolved that the council would subscribe from 1 January 2027. The Standing Orders and IT Policy will consequently require updating.

Green waste disposal from pond area tidy up – a price of £245 + VAT had been obtained for skip hire for removal of the green waste. It was resolved that Cllr George Frizzell would liaise with CJP Garden Services about the tidy up which will include cutting vegetation around the pond to water level. Once this has been done the issue of overhanging trees will be revisited. 

Digital Hub – two sessions had been held but attendance had been minimal. Further advertising/promotion is required to heightened awareness of the Hub. NKDC will provide posters and leaflets free of charge including all artwork. It was resolved that the clerk could spend up to £150.00 on a laminated A1 board showing that the Hub is open, this would be placed outside the church when the Hub was in session. It was also suggested that a village maildrop could be carried out and the Hub advertised in the County News. 

White gates for village – awaiting quotes, carry over to November meeting. 

Village Noticeboard - thanks was extended to Cllr Pittock and the clerk for revarnishing and repairing the board. 

108/27 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

To discuss any planning applications/decisions received including: 

• 26/0639/PNND Fulforth Farm, South Drove – the decision notice was noted – application approved. 
• 26/1229/FUL Devonport Farm, North Drove – change of use and extension of agricultural building to form a dwelling house – no observations were made. 
• 26/1016/FUL 16 Shepherds Lane – erection of 1no detached bungalow – the decision notice was noted – application approved. 

109/27 POLICIES FOR REVIEW 

It was agreed to carry over the review of the Standing Orders to the November meeting. 

110/27 FINANCE 

110/27.1 It was resolved to accept documents presented by the RFO including: 

• Bank Reconcilliation
• Actual v Budget Figures
• Cashflow

110/27.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting totalling £1873.88. Payments were processed online at the meeting: 

110/27.3 The following Direct Debit payments since 9/9/26 were noted: 

110/27.4 The following receipts since 9/9/26 were noted. 

110/27.5 CIL Funding 

CIL Funding for first half of 2026/27 of £220.80 had been received giving a total of £4624.49 now in the CIL fund. Discussion was held about how this could best be spent to benefit the village. It was agreed that the clerk would obtain prices for two seats (one to replace an old seat by the school, a second for the cemetery), speed awareness indicator for George Street, dog waste bins for the Red Bridge and Ladbroke Close. 

110/27.6 S137 Payments 

It was resolved to approve the purchase of the annual Remembrance Day wreath and agreed that Cllr Hotchkin would continue to present this on Remembrance Day. 

110/27.7 Cllrs Julie Frizzell and Adam Young confirmed that they had carried out bank checks since the last meeting. 

111/27 BUDGET 

The draft budget was presented to the council and duly discussed. No amendments were made except for the addition of an explanatory note against Misc Asset Purchases. It was resolved that this should be carried over to the January 2027 meeting for final approval by which time the Precept 2027/28 Tax Base figures should have been received. 

112/27 TRAINING 

It was resolved to approve the clerk’s attendance of the online briefing about Digital AGAR 4/3/27 - cost £40.00 

113/27 GRASS CUTTING CONTRACT 

It was resolved to accept the extension to the current contract with CJP Garden Services to 31/10/27. Cllr George Frizzell will organise signature of the contracts. 

114/27 CEMETERY/IT/SPEED AWARENESS 

Cllr George Frizzell reported: 

• Cemetery – there had been no interments or memorial requests since the last meeting. 
• IT – the website is uptodate. 
• SPEED AWARENESS – the figures for September 2026 were discussed (report attached). These show that there are no frequent speed issues in the village. 

115/27 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

To discuss Highway matters including: 

• Request for extension of the 30mph on Station Road to the railway bridge – it was resolved not to pursue this as LCC Policy dictates that they will not move the signs to the other side of the railway bridge, and there is no benefit to public safety to only move the limit by a few metres. 
• Overview of legal and B1394 correspondence – no further update although LCC have now acknowledged that there is a safety issue along the B1394, hence the Temporary Traffic Regulation Order restricting the speed on the road to 40mph. 
• Ongoing flooding issue on Station Road by Knott Hall Gardens – LCC have agreed to carry out a one-off clearance of the dyke, the clerk will ask Highways when this will be done. Clerk will also email LCC Countryside Access team to clarify whether a footpath runs along this stretch. Cllr East agreed to chase about the responsibilities for maintenance of this land by of Black Sluice and adjacent landowners. 
• Ladbroke Close footpath – an email had been received from a resident expressing concern about overhanging trees. The clerk had reported the issue on FixMyStreet – LCC replied that there was not currently an issue to warrant them carrying out any work, however adjacent residents do have the common law remedy of the right to self-abatement and could therefore cut back any vegetation to the boundary line or cut behind this to limit contact with and damage to boundary features that they own. The clerk will reply to the resident accordingly and also try and find out who is responsible to the verge maintenance. 

 Update on Fix My Street Issues

116/27 LINCOLNSHIRE RESERVOIR 

• A meeting had been hosted by Anglian Water on 14/10/26 to update Councils but little new information was given. 
• The next Anglian Water Community Engagements, one will be held in Helpringham Memorial Hall on 4/11/26 2pm-7pm. It is recommended that residents look at the new plans that have now been released online. 

117/27 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

To discuss correspondence received and other matters affecting the village including: 

NKDC Parish and Town Council Forum 20/10/26 – Cllr Hotchkin attended the Forum and reported that there had been four presentations: 

• Local Government Reorganisation – this has been put on hold whilst legalities of the process are being checked. 
• Reservoir – it was noted that there is now a plan to bring stone in via rail which would require the installation of a new siding. 
• Planning from 31/10/26 new regulations will come into place stating that small and routine developments will be decided entirely by planning officers and not go to committee. This includes residential projects of less than 10 homes and householder applications (extension, loft conversions) 
• Closed cemeteries – this does not affect Helpringham as neither of the cemeteries are closed. 

Village Christmas Tree – the clerk has now received confirmation that they tree will be covered by the Council’s Public Liability Insurance once it has been installed. The clerk will write to the committee to let them know. 

Local bus service – discussion was held about whether additional bus services are required in the village. This needs input from residents. It was agreed that the Call Connect service would benefit from better explanation as to how it works. 

Anglian Water re local pipe replacement work Nov26-Mar27 – it was noted that various local roads will be closed during this process. 

NKDC Consultation on new Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 22/10-3/12/26. This will be discussed at the November meeting. 

118/27 ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON NEXT AGENDA 

• Parishioner views on HTS planning. 
• Review of Standing Orders and IT Policy. 
• Grants. 
• CIL funding distribution. 
• Digital Hub. 
• White gates for village 

119/27 DATES FOR NEXT MEETINGS 

All meetings will be held in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham. 

The meeting closed at 9.12pm. 

A printable version of these notes can be found here