2025 Minutes

Notes from Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 18th September 2025 held at Belchford Village Hall

(These notes are a record of the meeting and are not accepted as formal minutes until duly signed on behalf of the Parish Council)

Present in person: Councillors: I Goodall (IG), K Skalka (KS), J Newby (JN), P Thompson (PT), M Brown (MB), P Barnes (PB), N Sorenti (NS) and 1 member of the public, D Cllr Simpson and the clerk Mrs K M Elliott.

 

The public forum began at 7.30 pm

Public Forum:  The public session started with a request for funds from Belchford Public Purposes Charity for the Mothers & Toddlers group.  It was also noted that the gully down into the beck has been filled in, clerk to investigate.

 

Parish Council meeting commenced at 7.45 pm

 

AGENDA

 

1. Apologies for absence and reasons given – P Morris & J Smith have sent apologies.

 

2. Declaration of interests and requests for dispensations - To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider granting dispensation(s), as per written requests received by the proper officer, to councillors under section 22 of the Act.  There were none.

 

3. Chairman’s remarks – JN thanked PT for doing the lane letting at which £232 was raised which will help to pay for work required to village assets/furniture.  Thank you for getting back to JN with tasks and also to K Hockham for agreeing to be co-opted back to the parish council.

 

4. To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17th July 2025 – it was proposed, seconded, voted and RESOLVED unanimously that the official minutes of the last meetings having been previously circulated were accepted as a true and accurate record of the minutes, Chairman signed and dated.

 

5. To co-opt one person on to the parish council – Katy Hockham has expressed an interest in being co-opted on to the parish council and it was resolved to co-opt Katy as a Parish Councillor.

 

6. To receive reports from the Clerk and Councillors on matters outstanding:  a request to Lincs Police for Speeding monitoring / enforcement has been made and we await their visit.  The clerk will speak with Mr Barnes about RFO position when all current banking is up to date.

a. Maintenance of Grass Triangle, Fulletby – The clerk has contacted LCC about ideas for improvement to the grass triangle.  LCC have said they will raise a works order to repaint the give way lines.  A proposal was put forward to put down some grass seed.  IG and PB will organise this.

b. NDP update – IG advised the NDP had been to Planning Policy and Executive Board at ELDC and the final round of consultation.  Another planning policy committee tonight followed by Executive Board next week.  Cllr Simpson advised that it had been supported at ELDC this evening.  Then the referendum is next.  There are invoices to be submitted for in the region of £200

 

7. Staffing Committee: met earlier this evening to carry out the clerks’ appraisal.

 

8. Defibrillators: LIVES have advised that they are not in a position to continue with SLA for defibs.  It is noted that the electricity keeps tripping out to the Fulletby defib.  This is to be investigated separately.  PB and clerk to resolve.

 

9. To receive reports from District and County Councillors (if available) –District Councillor advised that there is not a lot to report on other than our NDP.  Grant opportunities are all listed on the ELDC website.  Possible boundary changes are based on a population of 550,000 with a deadline of 28th September.  The Government want to reduce the number of councillors to under 100.  JN suggested that we could apply for a grant to smarten up / repaint or replace the village planters, a quote is to be obtained.  No County Councillor present.

 

10. To receive an update from the Village Green Committee: PT and JN have met with Simon Miller and the chairmanship of the committee is to be taken over by James Hallam.  There is £4,012.86 in the bank.  B & F PC pay the public liability insurance for the space.  Thank you letters are to be sent to the people who cut the grass at the village green and donate the fuel for the mower, JN & clerk to action.  The AGM is to be held and the parish council will be invited to attend.  It was proposed that subject to the agreement of the village green committee the parish council put in a planning application for play equipment / change of use and this will move the situation forward.  D Cllr Simpson suggested that we contact ELDC first to see if planning application is required.

 

11. Maintenance of Village Signs & Furniture – JN suggested that the planting boxes could be a suitable use for Belchford Public Purposes funds.  IG raised the other items which need attention – noticeboard, bench etc.  Photographs are required to be able to get quotes for this work.  It is noted that the notice board originally came from Ketsby Saw Mill.

 

12. Water Tower Proposal – JS is in contact with Anglian Water who are considering the proposal.

 

13. Proposal for Bike Racks: The clerk has contacted LCC about this proposal and we are waiting for a response.

 

14. Planning Matters: It is noted that the planning application for Ryehill has received Full Planning Permission.

 

15. Highways Matters – The definitive maps modification order to change status of Ings Lane to a Bridleway (DMMO11 & 42) has been ongoing for over 30 years.  The clerk was requested to write to C Cllr for an update and also contact Helen Gamble. 

 

16. To consider correspondence received since the last meeting:

 

a. Henry Neave Charity – June and Barbara have agreed to take over the Henry Neave Charity which provides food parcels for the elderly, all documents are to be forwarded to them.

b. Belchford Public Purposes Charity – Distribution of funds: who would we like to share the funds between?  It was agreed that we should focus on volunteer led groups rather than commercial ones.  We have already received a request from the Parents and Toddlers group and it was agreed to given them £200.  Should we establish a need / want for funds and groups should be invited to bid for funds.  KH and JN to coordinate this task.

c. CSW Scheme – it was resolved not to join this scheme.

 

17. Financial matters: to authorise the signing of cheques and to note the income for this period.  The RFO, has provided a financial report, which has been circulated to all.

 

a) To receive an updated bank reconciliation form, a spreadsheet was provided, as circulated. 

b) To consider and resolve payments since the last meeting, cheques signed this evening for £290.62 clerk’s salary and HMRC £72.60.

 

18. To agree agenda items for the November 2025 meeting.   Belchford Public Purposes Charity, Gov.uk email addresses, Defibrillators.

 

There being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.15 pm.