Notes from Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 26th March 2026 held at Belchford Church.
(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), J Newby (JN), P Thompson (PT), J Smith (JS), J Fixter (JF), M Brown (MB), P Barnes (PB) and 2 members 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 thank you for the card, plaque and Tree planted in Fulletby Glebe Field in memory of former Councillor Kris Skalka.
Parish Council meeting commenced at 7.35 pm
AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence and reasons given – P Morris, K Hockham and N Sorenti have sent apologies, all for work reasons, which were all accepted.
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 advised that the volunteer litter picker has completed their Duke of Edinburgh volunteer time but was happy to continue. The clerk needs to arrange for litter bags to be delivered to the litter picking team and also meet with PB to handover the RFO responsibility and documents.
4. To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd January 2026 – it was proposed, seconded, voted and RESOLVED unanimously that the official minutes of the last meetings having been previously circulated and amended were accepted as a true and accurate record of the minutes, Chairman signed and dated. It was also noted that there are amendments to the November minutes to be made.
5. To receive reports from the Clerk and Councillors on matters outstanding:
a. Change of May meeting date – 14th May is preferred and the clerk will speak with the village hall secretary.
b. Maintenance of Grass Triangle, Fulletby – JS and IG to take action on this matter.
c. Street Safety – help with this matter is to be sought from our County Councillor, a change of school bus stop to the Pig Hanging Tree.
d. LCC bench/seat – A bench has been offered and permission is being sought from the land owner. The clerk will write to Mrs J Wattam.
e. Defibs – one quote has been received for £135 per Defib and a second quote is being sought.
6. Belchford Public Purposes Charity – The funds requested are to pay for the village hall hire. It was proposed that £60 will be contributed, JN will action.
7. IT Policy – The clerk will take action on this as soon as possible.
8. To review all Policies - All policies are on the website and available for review.
9. To receive reports from District and County Councillors (if available) –District Councillor Simpson advised that the new community grant scheme will commence in May 20206, there is no more information on Local Government Reform. The Local Plan reform is no further on. JS asked about the considerable funds that ELDC hold and Cllr Simpson advised that legacy projects are being sought from the leadership of ELDC.
10. To receive an update from the Village Green Committee: The new village green chairman gave a report outlining the events planned for 2026, including a table top sale, village picnic and Tractor Run. There will be a QR code for residents to use to vote for what they want and a GoFundMe option for people to make financial contributions. Volunteers are need to help with all these planned events. Permission was sought to use a neighbouring field for the Tractor Run and this was granted. Promotional posters are to be designed by NS. JS advised that there is Government funding for play areas. Contact email address for the Village Green committee is bfvillagegreen@gmail.com A donation of a mud kitchen was offered and will be installed.
11. Request for change of location for Belchford Defib – a request has been made to move it to the village hall as this is a more visible and central position. The village hall committee and the hall landlady are in support of this move. There would be a cost for moving this and a budget was approved of £250. JN will talk to S Murfin about moving it and the potential costs.
12. Community Woodland – JS and PT confirmed that over 50 trees and a hedge pack have been planted this winter. A plan is to be drawn up of the planted areas acknowledging where the donations have come from or who has grant funded planting etc. The grant funding from LWCS has not yet been received for the creation of the pond.
13. Water Tower Proposal – JS provided an update on this matter.
14. Planning Matters:
a. 03586/25/FUL Application has been approved.
15. Highways Matters – JS has concerns for areas Nab hill to Fulletby, Oxcombe Road. D Cllr Simpson advised that Balfour Beatty are the only contractors who have the capacity to do works and this can only be done in good weather. How does it get earmarked. PB advised using fix my street on a regular basis.
16. To consider correspondence received since the last meeting:
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 prior to the meeting. There are numerous cheques to be signed.
a) Digital banking should be in place before the next meeting.
b) To receive an updated bank reconciliation form, a spreadsheet was provided, as circulated prior to the meeting.
c) To consider and resolve payments since the last meeting, cheques signed this evening for HMRC, the clerk, A W Smith, N Sorenti, P Thompson, T P Jones.
18. To agree agenda items for the May 2026 meeting. PB has a new email address which is to be circulated. Bus shelter funding.
There being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.03 pm.
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FINANCE UPDATE
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Prepared by Mrs K M Elliott, Clerk & RFO Dated 13 March 2026
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Note: Payments in the year to 31 March 2026 are cheques written up to then but not cleared
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Balance per bank statement as at 1 March 2026
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HSBC Current account
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£ 8,099.84
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Less: any un-presented cheques at 1 January
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Net bank balance as at 1 April 2025
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£ 6,913.46
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The net balance reconciles to the Cash Book (receipts and payments account) for the year to date, as follows
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CASH BOOK
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Opening Balance 01 Apr 25
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£ 6,913.46
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Add: Receipts in the year up to 1 January
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£ 4,556.00
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Less: Payments in the year to 22 January
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£ 6,245.75
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Less: Payments in the year to 31 March 2024 (from 2023/24)
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£91.40
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Closing balance per cash book [receipts and payments book] as at 13032026
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£5,042.51
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PAYMENTS IN
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Precept
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£4,000
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Lane Letting 2025
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£232.00
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ELDC Grant 07/11/2025
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£164.00
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ELDC Grant 19/01/26
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£160.00
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TOTAL
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£4,556
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PAYMENTS OUT
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Bank Charges April 25
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£5.00
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Bank Charges May 25
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£5.00
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Clear Insurance 100461 16/6/25
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£665.10
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LALC ATS & Subscription16/6/25 100462
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£302.20
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Village Hall Hire 100463 16/6/25
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£51.00
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HMRC 100464 16/6/25
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£145.20
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Clerks Salary 16/6/25 100465
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£581.24
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T P Jones & Co 100466 16/6/25
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£73.92
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Mrs J Newby Paint 100467 16/6/25
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£102.12
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E Goodall Furniture 100468 17/7/25
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£362.64
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Mrs J Newby Printing 100469 17/7/25
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£44.01
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LALC website hours 100470 17/7/25
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£108.00
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Clerks Expenses 17/7/25 100471
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£10.72
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Clerks Salary 18/9/25 100472
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£290.62
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HMRC18/9/25 100473
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£72.60
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Bank charges June 25
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£5.00
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Bank Charges July 25
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£7.00
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Bank Charges August 25
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£2.00
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Bank Charges Sept 25
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£0.40
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Bank Charges Oct 25
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£0.40
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N Sorenti NDP Expenses 100474 20/11/25
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£245.03
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E Goodall Planters 20/11/25 100475
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£129.50
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J Newby newsletters 20/11/25 100476
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£32.12
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Belchford Village Hall 20/11/25 100477
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£39.00
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Safelincs Defib service 22/1/26 100478
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£120.00
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HMRC 22/1/26 100479
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£134.40
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Clerks Salary 100480 22/1/26
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£538.48
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Welton Aggregates 22/1/26 100481
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£1,800.00
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LALC Subs & ATS 22/1/26 100482
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£326.06
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Planting Box 22/1/26 100483
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£46.99
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Belchford Village Hall 22/1/26 100484
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£21.00
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19/3/26 LIVES Defib pads 100485
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£140.40
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19/3/26 N Sorenti Newsletters 100486
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£32.12
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26/3/26 K M Elliott Salary 100487
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£290.62
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26/3/26 HMRC 100488
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£72.60
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22/2/26 bank charges
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£0.40
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TOTAL
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£6,802.89
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