2026 Parish Council Meetings

Tuesday 5th May 2026 - Annual Meeting - Draft Minutes

Notes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 7.45 pm.

Present: Cllrs S Poulton, S Jenkins, P Ireland, J Stapleton, NKDC Cllr C Collard, LCC Cllr D East, two members of the public and Mrs D Scott (Clerk).

There were no comments or questions from the public.

41/26 The Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Cllr Poulton explained that he was unable to stand again as Chair due to work commitments.

It was proposed that Cllr Jenkins be elected Chairman, this was agreed unanimously. Cllr Jenkins signed his declaration of acceptance of office and took the Chair.

It was proposed that Cllr Ireland be elected Vice-Chairman, this was agreed unanimously.

42/26 Apologies for absence – Cllr E Hill and Cllr Tarry (NKDC)

43/26 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

44/26 Notes of the previous meeting, 3rd March 2026 – approved and signed.

45/26 Finance 2025-26 - AGAR

  1. Internal Auditor’s Report – Mrs Gascoyne had reported that the books were in excellent order.
  2. Exemption Certificate 2026-27, for submission to the External Auditor – With an income of £3,487 and gross expenditure of £3,767, both being under the £25,000 threshold, the Exemption Certificate was approved and signed for submission.
  3. Statement of Governance for the year ending 31st March 2026 – approved and signed.
  4. Statement of Parish Council Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2026 – approved and signed.
  5. The statement of variations and bank reconciliation were noted.
  6. Mrs Scott to submit the Exemption Certificate to the Auditors and publish the set of statements and the Notice of Public Rights as required.

46/26 Finance 2026-27

  1. Cemetery Financial arrangements. Mrs Scott explained that she had opened a new interest-bearing Commercial Instant Access Account with Lloyds and transferred the balances from the Burial Board, totalling £7,072.91 into it. It was noted that future income from the Cemetery (including the interest on the NS&I Income Bond, £8445.72) would be paid direct to that account and while all Cemetery payments would be made from the Parish Council’s current account, the current account would be re-imbursed by transfers from the Cemetery IA account.  In answer to questions, Mrs Scott explained that opening a second current account would incur another set of monthly bank charges. All transactions would be clearly identified on the accounting sheets. The funds held in the CCBank (£10,000 Cemetery and £8,445.72 Charity) would continue to be managed by the Charity until the end of the five year term, and interest transferred to the Cemetery account pro rata either directly or as a donation from the Charity under the terms of the Benjamin Ward legacy. Mrs Scott added that there would be implications for VAT and she would be attending a course later in May to check that VAT was not charged on cemetery ‘sales’. Insurance – Mrs Scott had spoken to Zurich and confirmed that taking on the Cemetery would not cause an increase in premiums, apart from the additional premium to insure the War Memorial. Zurich had kindly waived any increase in premium for April. She had contacted Wm Kent for a rebuild valuation and was awaiting a response. (Post-meeting note – the valuation of between £25,000 to £30,000 had been received that day)
  2. Mrs Scott shared the financial statement. It was noted that the Precept of £3,700 had been received on 1st April. A VAT claim of £82.19 had been submitted and received before the year end. The total balance was £30,023.37 (including Cemetery Funds). Mrs Scott explained that, of that, £22,502.40 was restricted to specific projects. Deductions of monthly charges by Lloyds continued. Councillors checked the statement against the bank statement.
  3. Payments – Mrs Scott explained that some payments had been committed by the Burial Board, i.e., Sleaford Town Council, £1800.00 (inc VAT) Grass Cutting 2026, and Chattertons £200 Land Registry Legals. These and other payments due, Clerk £441.73 (March and April, including expenses  (reimbursement of travel, and NI employer contributions 2025-26, etc), HMRC £122.92 (mth 2 due 19/6/25), Mrs Gascoyne £65 (Internal Audit), LALC Annual Training Scheme subscription (£144 inc VAT) were approved. Mrs Scott added that the Zurich Insurance premium quote had been received, £285.55. It was agreed that this be paid when the final figure was known.

Mrs Scott explained the issue with Employers’ NI contributions and it was agreed that she should be paid monthly from May onwards.

47/26 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.

  1. Updates from Cllrs Tarry and Collard. Cllr Collard shared information on the Armed Forces Day commemorations being organised by NKDC
  2. Updates from Cllr East – Cllr East reported that work was going on behind the scenes, looking at the whole drainage system in the village; the Helpringham Road subsidence was being monitored and a temporary speed limit may be considered; he reminded the meeting about the Council’s Volunteer Scheme and congratulated Cllrs Jenkins and Irelad on their new roles. He advised Councillors to keep reporting issues on FixMyStreet until they were resolved. Mrs Scott added that Rowan Smith was also looking into the damage to the old drain near 11 Chapel Lane.

(Cllr Collard and Cllr East left the meeting at 8.26 pm)

  1. Updates from HealthWatch Lincs - noted
  2. Local Government Reorganisation – Government consultation open - noted.
  3. Lloyds Bank Statements – noted.

48/26 Cemetery

  1. Draft minutes of the meeting of the Joint Burial Committee, 20th April 2026 - noted
  2. Recommendations for approval, payments from Cemetery funds
  1. Clerk’s Salary (in closed session) - deferred to end of meeting
  2. Cemetery Fees with effect from 1st January 2027 – agreed no increase, as recommended by the JBC
  3. Reimbursement of costs of materials for Rabbit works – agreed up to £80, as recommended by the JBC.

49/26 Policing Update – None

50/26 Highways Matters

  1. Flooding – As noted above. It was also agreed to convene a Working Party on 31st May at 10.00 am to clear the ditches between 8 Fen Road and 21 Chapel Lane. Event to be advertised on Facebook nearer the time.
  2. Speeding - Community Speed Watch – It was noted that the new signs were highly visible, especially on bin-days.
  3. Pavements – it was noted that pavement improvements had been made in neighbouring villages. All pavement defects to be reported again on FixMyStreet.
  4. Footpath Diversion – Little Hale 5/1. It was noted that the temporary closure to allow work on the new solar farm had been superseded by a draft diversion to reroute it around the field boundaries – no objection.
  5. Helpringham Road – as in Cllr East’s report.
  6. Chapel Lane drains – as above, Cllr Stapleton added that a new manhole cover had now been installed, but it was not clear if this was connected to the damaged drain.

51/26 Planning Matters

  1. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – Mr White, NKDC, had advised that a new court date of 21st May had been set.
  2. Planning Application 25/0914/BGS To establish Biodiversity Gain Site (without Planning permission) to create orchard and other neutral grassland. Land To The North Of Little Hale Drove NG34 9BG – agreed remove from agenda.
  3. 25/1572/DISCON (tbc), 25/1570/DISCON (tbc), 25/1541/DISCON(tbc),  ), 26/0023/DISCON (tbc) applications to discharge various conditions, attached to planning permission 23/1021/FUL - allowed following appeal ref: APP/R2520/W/25/3363027 - Proposed Development of a Photovoltaic Solar Array, Grid Connection, Access Improvements and Ancillary Development  Land South Of Little Hale Drove Little Hale Fen Sleaford Lincs - noted
  4. 26/0068/OHL Land Between Little Hale Fen Solar Scheme And Bicker Fen Substation - Application pursuant to Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 (Section 37) for consent to construct three sections of overhead power lines which will form part of the grid connection from the approved Little Hale Fen solar scheme to National Grids Bicker Fen substation off Vicarage Drove, Boston Lincolnshire – to note NKDC raised no objections and approved by DESNZ 22nd April 2026 - noted
  5. 26/0160/FUL Land To The South East Of Sleaford Retention of 45 monitoring Boreholes and their associated headworks - noted
  6. 26/0282/RESM Land Adjacent 21 Chapel Lane NG34 9BE Reserved matters application for the erection of 1no dwelling with access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale to be considered pursuant to planning application 23/0587/OUT as amended by 25/1334/VARCON – informal comments submitted 7th April. Comment to be re-submitted.
  7. 26/0293/HOUS Land Adjacent To 2 Fen Road NG34 9BD Erection of proposed outbuilding/garage - awaiting decision by NKDC - noted
  8. 26/0446/HOUS Walmley House 25 Fen Road NG34 9BD Erection of front porch|- it was agreed that commenting would be best left to individuals  directly affected.

52/26 Planning Inspectorate

  1. Anglian Water – proposed Reservoir – Next consultation planned for Autumn 2026 - noted
  2. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – Examination complete, report due by 23rd May - noted
  3. Ossian Transmission Infrastructure - withdrawn - noted

53/26 CIL Funded Projects – Gateway signs – It was reluctantly noted that the CIL funding was insufficient to cover the costs of these. It was agreed that the project be pended and other uses for the funding be considered.

54/26 Pump Lane – It was noted that the Parish Council’s claim dated back to 2019. Mrs Scott agreed to check the requirements of a claim for adverse possession.  

55/26 Bus Shelter Working Party and Spring Litter Pick – Councillors reported that this had gone well, until returning to find the box of kit had been stolen. Cllr Poulton to enquire about replacement kit. It was also noted that an overgrown hedge on Fen Road had been dealt with by a neighbour.

56/26 Parish Council Communications - Website – It was noted that statistics showed a regular pattern of use, as usual.

57/26 Matters for the next meeting – usual annual standing items

58/26 The Dates of Meetings for 2026-27 – were agreed as 6th July, 1st September, 3rd November, 5th January 2027, 1st March, 11th May (later than usual because of the Elections) at 7.45 pm, with Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30 pm

59/26 Exclusion of Press and Public - Further to the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 the exclusion of the press and public from certain agenda items due to the confidential nature of the items to be discussed was agreed. Members of the public left.

60/26 Joint Burial Committee Clerking – the matter was agreed as recommended by the JBC.  

The meeting closed at 9.30 pm.