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 10th JUNE 2026 in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham 

PRESENT: 

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

Clerk/RFO: Judy Pittock 

District Councillor Russell Jackson 

PUBLIC FORUM 

There were no members of the public present. 

The meeting commenced at 7.30pm 

38/27 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

39/27 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

There were no apologies for absence. 

40/27 SIGNING OF THE MINUTES 

It was resolved to accept the Clerk’s notes of the last Parish Council Meeting held on 13th May 2026. 

41/27 DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTEREST & DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 

The following interests were declared: 

• Item 49/27 - Cllr John Pittock; 
• Item 44/27 – Planning application 26/0639/PNND – Cllr Mark Robinson 

42/27 REPORTS FROM COUNTY and DISTRICT COUNCILLORS 

No report was received from Cllr East. The report from District Councillor Jackson is attached here. 

43/27 CLERK and COUNCILLOR’S REPORTS ON OUTSTANDING MATTERS 

The following items were updated: 

Digital Hub 

The Clerk and Cllr Pittock had attended the NKDC Hub in Sleaford and got the following feedback: 

• Uptake is good. 
• The Hubs are well received by local communities. 
• Regular repeat attendance. 
• People find the technology intimidating - this needs to be factored in when initially helping people. 
• Most issues are simple to solve. 
• Volunteers do not need a great degree of expertise, just competency. 
• NKDC can help with promotion. 

Following discussion it was resolved that the best location for the Helpringham Hub would currently be in the Community Café. The Clerk will therefore arrange a meeting with NKDC, the Community Café and current volunteers to discuss the next steps. The Clerk will also find the cost of having a Parish Council 4g WiFi dongle. 

Bank signatories 

The additional signatories are now set up and have access to online banking. 

Pond area 

Extensive discussion was held about tidying the pond area. It was resolved to obtain 3 quotes for tidying the trees around the pond to help resolve the issue highlighted about bird mess on the bench near the pond. 

44/27 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

The following application was discussed: 

• 26/0639/PNND Fulforth Farm, South Drove Helpringham – prior approval for change of use from agricultural barn to 3, two-storey dwelling with associated garden amenity space. It was resolved to support the application. 

45/27 FINANCE 

• Bank Reconcilliation
• Actual v Budget Figures

Cllr Julie Frizzell proposed that as an extra internal control, two signatories should log into the bank every month to check the balances. All were in agreement and it was resolved that this should be done commencing immediately. 

45/27.2 It was resolved to approve payments presented at the meeting totalling £1358.10 and payment was processed. 

45/27.3 The following Direct Debit payments since 13/5/26 were noted: 

45/27.5 The following receipts since 13/5/26 were noted: 

45/27.6 CIL FUNDING ALLOCATION 

It was resolved that the village should be consulted about what the funding could be used, noting that it could only be spent on infrastructure that benefited the community. 

46/27 CEMETERY 

Cllr George Frizzell reported since the last meeting: 

• There had been no interments; 
• Plot K42 – interment due on 17/6/26; 
• Plots J12 and J13 – additional inscription to existing memorial has been approved; 
• Plot I33 – a new headstone is due to be put in place. 
• Topple test – started and ongoing. 

Cllr Frizzell also informed the Council that the Parish Council website accessibility had been reviewed and tested. 

47/27 HIGHWAY MATTERS 

Extensive discussion was held on the following: 

Proposed 30mph limit extension on Station Road 

A letter had been received from LCC Minor Works and Traffic Team showing that the proposed speed reduction would only be extended by a few yards rather than to the other side of the railway bridge. It was resolved that Cllr Pittock would write a letter requesting a site visit prior to the decision being made so that the Parish Council could understand the criteria that had been used to determine the extent of the proposed extension. 

B1394 adjacent to the beck 

It was resolved that all correspondence should be shared with Little Hale Parish Council as the road actually falls within their parish, and to ask them to support the campaign to get the road repaired properly. 

Misuse of Powers by LCC Highways 

Correspondence with LCC Highways had highlighted that they had been misusing their powers by: 

Not upholding their duties under the Highways Act by failing to repair the collapsing B1394 and failing to keep proper written records ascertaining to the safety of the road. 

Using powers incorrectly under Section 52 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. 

It was resolved that Cllr Pittock would initially write to Cllr David East informing him of the correspondence which was due to be sent to the Monitoring Officer, Ombudsman, NALC and LCC Chief Executive. 

FixMyStreet 

The following reports that had been made on FixMyStreet were noted. It was resolved that the clerk would contact Network Rail about the overgrown hedges on Station Road bridge and that issue of flooding outside Knott Hall Gardens would be discussed at the next meeting. 

48/27 LONGSTANDING SERVICE 

It was resolved to move this item to the end of the meeting. 

49/27 HR MATTERS 

This matter will be carried over to the July meeting. 

50/27 TRAINING 

It was resolved that the Clerk could undertake a four part course on GDPR and FOI. 

51/27 MATTERS AFFECTING THE VILLAGE/CORRESPONDENCE 

The following matters were discussed 

• Accessibility – to discuss the issue of hedges and vegetation encroaching on footpaths – this matter will be carried over to the July meeting. 
• Reservoir – Liaison Committee Meeting 25/6/26 7pm, Scredington Community Centre – it was noted that Cllrs Hotchkin and Pittock will be attending. 
• School book store – the Parish Council supports this but it is out of the jurisdiction of the Parish Council to give permission for it to be located outside the school fence. The Parish Council can however offer a grant to help fund the project should it be required. 
• Speed sign maintenance – none needed 

Correspondence: 

• 19/5/26 PSTN switch-off 2027 – the clerk has produced a document for the website, Facebook and noticeboard giving information about this. 
• 21/5/26 NKDC Parish and Town Council Forum, 30/6/26 10am-12noon, NKDC Offices, Sleaford – Cllr Hotchkin will attend. 
• 26/5/26 Information about the Lincolnshire Carers Service – the clerk has produced a document for the website, Facebook and noticeboard giving information about this. 

52/27 Items for inclusion on next agenda. 

• George Street junction 
• Volunteer groups 
• Email addresses 
• Speed awareness data 

Cllr Hotchkin left the meeting at 9.10pm. 

48/27 LONGSTANDING SERVICE 

Discussion was held about recognising the former Chairman’s contribution to the community. 

53/27 Date and time of the next meeting –Wednesday 8/7/2026 commencing at 7.00pm. All meetings will be held in the Memorial Hall, Helpringham.

The meeting closed at 9.20pm. 

A printable version of the minutes can be found here