Minutes and Agendas 2026

HELPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL 

clerk@helpringhamparishcouncil.gov.uk 

helpringham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk 

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NOTES OF MEETING HELD on WEDNESDAY 8th APRIL 2026 in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham 

PRESENT: 

Councillors: Geoff Hotchkin (Chairman), Julie Frizzell (Vice-Chair), George Frizzell, Mark Robinson, John Pittock, Adam Young. 

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

County Councillor David East, District Councillor Russell Jackson 

NOT PRESENT: Councillor Steve Waterfield 

Meeting commenced at 7.30pm. 

TEN MINUTE PUBLIC FORUM - No members of the public were present. 

01/27 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting. 

02/27 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

Apologies were received from Cllr Steve Waterfield and it was resolved to accept them. 

03/27 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on 12th March 2026. 

04/27 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011. 

No declarations were received. 

05/27 REPORTS FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

• A written report from District Cllr Jackson was noted and is attached here. 
• County Cllr David East informed the Parish Council about the Councillor Volunteer Scheme and a small grant scheme for awards of under £200 to Parish Councils. There was no update on the Local Government Review. 

06/27 CLERK and COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS 

Maintenance and Village Assets 

• Remembrance Memorial plaques – Cllr Pittock agreed that he would carry out an annual clean. 
• Repairs to the Little Hale Road Cemetery gates and Old Cemetery railings. Quotes still awaited, item deferred until they have been received. 
• Installation replacement seats by the school. Cllr Robinson confirmed that he would install the seats and the playing field bin by the end of the week. 
• Noticeboard repair – Cllr Pittock now has the plywood and will proceed with the rest of the refurbishment. 

Tree Works 

• The cherry tree from the Circle of Trees Project has now been planted on the East Street/Hale Road junction. 

Contracts and Agreements 

• Pinfold Agreement – deferred

 Village Projects 

• Christmas Tree - It was resolved to accept the quote received of £45.00 delivered for a rooted 6ft Norway Spruce and that an order would be placed for a tree to be delivered in the autumn. 
• Digital Hub – the clerk informed the Councillors that NKDC cannot provide any funding they will give as much support for the project as possible. It was resolved that a short survey should be distributed for residents to complete to gain interest. The clerk is to approach the Memorial Hall about installing WiFi in the Hall using the 
• Quickline community QHub, which is a free service. The clerk and Cllr Julie Frizzell will arrange to attend one of the NKDC Digital Hubs to gain more information. 
• Dog Waste bins – it was resolved that the clerk should go ahead and purchase the bins for Vicarage Lane and South Drove. The third bin for Thorpe Latimer will be deferred until a suitable location is agreed. 

Purchases and Admin 

• Fireproof bags have been purchased. Laptop, laptop software, and cloud storage deferred. 
• Bank signatories – waiting for further information to support application. 

07/27 FINANCE 

07/27.1 Final accounts for year ending 31/3/26 - It was resolved to accept the final accounts for the year ended 31/3/26 including the Actual v budget figures, bank reconciliation, payments over £100. 

07/27.2 It was resolved to accept following documents presented by the RFO for the period 1/4-8/4/26: 

• Bank Reconcilliation
• Actual v Budget Figures

07/27.3 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting, totalling £1744.48: 

07/27.4 The following Direct Debit payments since 12/3/26 were noted: 

07/27.5 The following receipts since 12/3/26 were noted: 

08/27 ASSET REGISTER – It was resolved to adopt the asset register for year ended 31/3/26 as presented by the clerk. 

09/27 CEMETERY and GRASSCUTTING 

Cllr George Frizzell reported the following: 

• Interments in plots S18 and I30. 
• Topple test will be carried out in May in the Hale Road and High Street cemeteries. 
• Two grass cuts had been carried out to the usual good standard. 

10/27 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

To discuss Highway matters including: 

• Request for extension of the 30mph on Station Road to the railway bridge – deferred as no update had been received. 
• B1394 road damage and letter of complaint sent to Gareth Davies MP, Mayor of Lincolnshire and LCC Chief Executive – a response had been received from the LCC Chief Executive. It was agreed that the replied were unsatisfactory and that Cllr Pittock should reply. 
• Update on FixMyStreet issues: 

11/27 AGENDA ITEMS FOR ANNUAL PARISH MEETING and ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

Annual Parish Council Meeting agenda items to include: 

• Reports from HAVCS and Citizens Advice Bureau following successful bids for grants. 
• Reports from village clubs and societies 
• Community Emergency Plan 
• Finance – transfers between bank accounts 
• Policies – HR following Employment legislation changes. 

12/27 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

The following correspondence received was noted: 

• Cllr Volunteering Schemes 
• NKDC – Empty Homes Project 

13/27 Date and time of the next meeting – ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday 13/5/26 2026 commencing at 7.30pm. All meetings will be held in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham. 

The meeting closed at 8.35pm 

A printable copy of the minutes can be found here