2026 Minutes

Draft Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 19th May 2026 in the Village Hall

Present: Cllr L Hughes (Chair), Cllr R Brabbin, Cllr M Clayphan, Cllr M Kinning, Cllr J Oldfield, Cllr F Parish, Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr H White

In attendance: DCllr D Bellamy and Mrs S Phillips (Clerk)

26/27-1.              Election of Chairperson and signature of Declaration of Acceptance of Office Form

It was proposed by Cllr Parish to nominate Cllr Hughes as Chair, seconded by Cllr van Straubenzee with all being in favour.

26/27-2.              Election of Vice Chairperson

It was proposed by Cllr Brabbin to nominate Cllr Parish as Vice Chair, seconded by Cllr M Kinning with all being in favour.

Public Forum

None in attendance.

26/27-3.              Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr C Ashton and Cllr A White.

26/27-4.              Declarations of interest for items on the agenda

Declarations of interest were made by Cllr Kinning and Cllr Oldfield for agenda item 26/27-11 Allotment update.

26/27-5.              Reports from County/District Councillors

Apologies for absence were received from LCClllr C Vernon and DCllr B Green.

DCllr Belamy reported the following:

• AD Plant public enquiry starts on 14 July for 3 days.The representative has been asked for more information which the inspector has agreed tovan Straubenzee to attend dependant on availability.

The latest plans have a different access arrangement which means that lorries can only leave the site from the track created (which is already there).This will not stop lorries arriving from another entry.Further details will be provided when available.

• The OK Diner has put in planning to install electrical charging ports.This may only come to Colsterworth for planning recommendations.
• A planning application has been made for battery storage at Great Ponton which means they could be used for solar farming.The sub station has outline planning only, so we only have half the information.

Councillors brought up the email received from Anglian Water re Distinctive Developments application which DCllr Bellamy was not aware of.  It was felt that the parish council were unable to do anything as it is with the Secretary of State.

26/27-6.              To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7th April 2026

Minutes of the meeting held on 7th April 2026 were approved as a true and accurate record and signed as such by Cllr Hughes.

26/27-7.              Financial matters (Clerk)

• The clerk confirmed that the invoice has been sent to the funeral directors for the recent burial.
• The clerk confirmed that the green badge for the bins at the cemetery been purchased.
• Cllr van Straubenzee explained that an invoice has been received for the cutting of the closed churchyard, which is normally reimbursed twice a year.It was agreed that this would continue going forward.The clerk raised concerns that only £450.00 had been budgeted and agreed, with the invoice for 2025/26 being £1530.00.Cllrs agreed that this would be rectified in the following years budget.

• Monthly Accounts (see financial statement)

The clerk went through a summary of the accounts:

•  
• Contribution of grass cutting has been received from South Kesteven (£694.98)
• Eon (£245.05) and British Gas (£173.34) bills have been received and in line with expected expenditure.
• As of 19 May there is £31,115.71 in the main account and £17,666 in the playpark account).

• To renew insurance - £1392.18

All were in agreement to renew the insurance premium.The clerk explained that this had been set up for a 3-year period and believes this to be the final year of the agreement.

26/27-8.              Annual Governance and Accountability Return

• To approve the Annual Governance Statement for year ending 31 March 2026

Deferred until 2 June.

• To approve the Financial Statement for the year ending 31 March 2026

Deferred until 2 June.

• To approve the dates of elector’s rights to be exercised – 3 June to 14 July.

The proposed dates by the clerk were agreed.

26/27-9.              Operational matters

• Review of Councillor Responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities were updated.Updated list to be distributed by the clerk.

26/27-10.            Village Hall update (Cllr Van Straubenzee)

• PAT Testing

Cllr van Straubenzee and the clerk have chased the PAT testing with the village hall who have stated that they are trying to locate an electrician to complete the testing.Cllr Hughes is aware of a PAT tester and will provide the details.A copy of the completed testing is to go to the clerk and be filed in the folder in the village hall.Cllr v Straubenzee is also locating the previous years testing which is not in the folder.

Cllr Oldfield was asked if the emergency lighting had been tested.Cllr Oldfield confirmed the lighting is working as it is on all the time but only on the fire exits.

26/27-11.            Allotment’s update (Cllr Van Straubenzee)

• Discussion regarding a flagpole

A flagpole has been installed on an allotment plot, but it has been noted that permission is needed for the pole.The allotment holder explained the reasons for having the flagpole, and that after speaking with the other allotment holders that none had any issues with it.The parish council raised concerns that this could encourage all allotment holders to start installing poles and flags and that the pole itself was not easily removed.

The clerk requested that Cllr Kinning be removed from the meeting so that an anonymous vote could be made.Cllr Kinning left the meeting.

Cllr v Straubenzee proposed to the parish council that a flagpole could be kept at the allotment – 2 x yes, 4 x no, 1 x abstained.

It was agreed that the flagpole was to be removed.Cllr Kinning returned to the meeting.

26/27-12.            Play Areas (Cllr Hughes)

No update.

26/27-13.            Planning Matters

• Planning applications received for comments

The clerk requested that agenda items were received by Friday 22 May.

Date of next meeting – Tuesday 2 June 2026