August 2025 Minutes
Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 12th August 2025
Present: Cllr D Waite (Chair), Cllr S March (Vice Chair), Cllr J Slater, Cllr J Waite and Cllr E Horstwood
In attendance: Cllr J Bean (LCC) and Cllr P Morris (WLDC)
Members of public present: None
Parish Clerk – Mandy Coote
Note: All documents referenced in the Minutes will be made available on the Council’s website https://north-kelsey.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Minutes
Minute Ref Item
079/2526 Welcome from the Chair and Public Questions
No members of the public present
080/2526 Apologies
Apologies for absence Cllr P Bryan Cllr J Cundill and Cllr M Williams, accepted
081/2526 Declarations of interest
Declarations of interest were received from
Cllr J Slater in North Kelsey Youth Club
082/2526 Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 8th July 2025.
Proposed:- Cllr.S.March Seconded:- Cllr.J.Slater All in favour who were in attendance at the meeting
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting be accepted as a true and proper record
083/2526 Police and Crime update
NC09 area report received and circulated. Noted still increases in violence & sexual offences plus ASB. LWL Parish Council Briefing Session to be held 25th September 2025, Cllr S March will attend if able
084/2526 District and County Council update
For information only. Any items raised for decision will appear on the agenda for the next meeting.
Cllr.P.Morris (WLDC)
Discord in the ranks, an agreed coalition of parties has been proposed
Cllr.J.Bean (LCC)
Devolution plans in Greater Lincolnshire would mean fewer councils, instead of having a county council, two unitary councils, and seven district councils meaning more efficient arrangements for local government. Drop in meetings have been organised, details to be published
Details recently received for ongoing issues being addressed:-
West street flooding, back of Alexandra Court clearing ditches owned by LCC, they need further detail of the exact location.
Street Signs repairs:- Mill Lane – Not easy to read, Patrick Close – broke in half - ongoing
Speed signs and speeding survey to investigate moving 30 speed signs further out village on
Grange Lane out towards South Kelsey. - ongoing
Queries on a number of planning applications - ongoing
Horse Riding Warning Signs, Carr Road and Southfield Road have more than 60 horses using these roads. - ongoing
Flooding on West Street – photo to be taken and sent
085/2526 Chairman’s update
All points covered in agenda
086/2526 Parish Councillor updates
Cllr S March:- Vandalism to the woodland at the playing field, fires have been started and a den has been made from the loose fence rails and other rails have been vandalised with saw being found. Contractor for trees is commencing work 13/09, and fence repairs are required as soon as possible. Fires being lit in the present weather conditions could cause serious damage, poster to this effect to be published. There is a survey with QR code at the playing field to encourage people to give ideas of what they would like us to offer, hoping young adults will have their input.
Cllr G Harris:- non-attendance and no apologies given for 6 consecutive months, disqualification as a councillor actioned
087/2526 To consider updates from Working Groups
Communications:-
Includes newsletter, website, noticeboards and facebook all of which are active and updated frequently but no meeting has yet taken place.
Questionnaire using QR code at play park, with details regarding purpose of their visit, how many visitors, how satisfied with facilities, how could we improve, 4 responses at present.
Cllr R Hunt now retired, removed from working group
Strategic:-
Need to organise a meeting as budget planning needs reviewing prior to precept. Cllr J Waite to organise.
Environment:-
meeting monthly, tree works starting 13/08, fence continues to be taken down for planters to be made, wood chips quote for 3-4cm just over £1245.00 net.
Cllr R Hunt now retired, removed from working group, Cllr E Horstwood to join working group
Monthly Asset Inspection Updates:-
Cllr.S.March Playing Field see above report 086/2526
Cllr.P.Bryan Cemetery, Hedges are booked in for August
Cllr.J.Slater Village Green, all ok
088/2526 Clerk’s report
A Greater Lincolnshire for All - Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire teams meeting to attend and feedback 20/08/25
WLDC Community Facilities Fund Grant:- CG25-26 085, reviewing application
089/2526 Parish Matters Updates
War Memorial lettering painting, completed
Report on Village Fair, awaiting more detailed report
Tree work to begin 13/08/25
Solar Farm, invite to other neighbouring town/parish councils zoom meeting arranged, 2 attendees. Site is on low quality farm land, they are not installing batteries, proposed filling of gaps in hedges and grassed in between solar panels which will promote wildlife. A similar site near Bath completed now, their experience of European energy was a positive one, good communications, relationship manager, grant management process, website up to date, solicitor agreement were included and understanding checked. Proposed site effects 3 parishes, the vast majority 70% + North Kelsey and North Kelsey Moor, with Grasby and Caistor. Now, awaiting formal planning application.
Burglaries NKM no update available
Business Items - Motions Requiring Written Notice
090/2526 Payments for approval & Bank Reconciliation
Council to approve the schedule of payments from 08/07/2025 – 12/08/2025
Proposed:- Cllr D Waite Seconded:- Cllr E Horstwood All in favour
RESOLVED:
to approve the following payments and monitoring reports be received.
Invoice Date Supplier/Payee Details Cost
£ VAT
£ Total
Payment
£
31/07/25 JM Coote Clerk Salary July 25 425.24 425.24
31/07/25 HMRC PAYE July 25 £106.20 National Insurance £17.17 123.37 123.37
31/07/25 JM Coote Clerk Working From Home July 25 26.00 26.00
31/07/25 Unity Bank Charges 6.00 6.00
25/07/25 MKS Groundcare Grass Cutting & Verges 924.58 184.92 1,109.50
31/07/25 Clerk Postage/mileage 21.25 21.25
30/06/25 SR Thompson Mole Control 200.00 200.00
11/08/25 PKF Littlejohn LLP External Audit 210.00 42.00 252.00
Totals 1,936.44 226.92 2,163.36
Receipts Description
14/07/25 HMRC VAT refund 1,417.41
23/07/25 NS&I Council Savings 6,103.89
23/07/25 NS&I Youth Club 1,747.21
Bank Balances @ 31-07-25:- Unity Current £16,624.40 Unity Instant Saver £55,243.43
091/2526 Bank reconciliation and statements
A member other than the Chair or authorised signatory to verify bank reconciliations
Cllr E Horstwood checked and signed
092/2526 National Pay Awards Agreed
Proposed:- Cllr D Waite Seconded:- Cllr S March All in favour
RESOLVED:
To accept new rates under green book rules and back date pay to April 2025
093/2526 NS & I
Parish Council amount received £6,103.89
Youth Club Account amount received £1,747.21
Proposed:- Cllr S March Seconded:- Cllr J Waite Abstain:- Cllr J Slater All others in favour
RESOLVED:
To dissolve the Trust and send monies to the Youth Club for their use
094/2526 Annual Governance Audit Report
Internal Audit completed. Any notary items addressed
PKF“Notice of conclusion of external audit”
11 August 2025 which contained an ‘other’ matter in relation to the correct information not published on the website. We have now received evidence to confirm that the website does hold the correct information, accordingly this ‘other matter’ is not required. As a result, the smaller authority does not need to answer ‘No’ to Assertion 4 of the Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26 as detailed in the report
Rights of inspection, in line with the statutory requirements to be published along with the certified AGAR (Sections 1, 2 & 3) from 13th August to 30th August 2025
Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the published AGAR to remain available for public access for a period of not less than 5 years from the date of publication.
095/2526 Land Registry Documents
Car Park land registry documents signed by Clerk and witnessed by Cllr.D.Waite
096/2526 Council Policies and Procedures
Proposed:- Cllr J Waite Seconded:- Cllr S March All in favour
RESOLVED:
To approve/adopt policies and procedures for 2025-26 as per below
• Information and Technology (new)
• Abusive, Persistent & Vexatious
• Communications
• Social Media Policy
• Disciplinary
• Grievance
• Data Protection
• Health and Safety
• GDPR Privacy
• Lone/Homeworking
• Community Engagement
• Member and Officer Protocol
• Complaints Procedure
• Dignity at Work
• Grievance
• Internal Control System
• Reserves
• Scheme of Publication
• Tree and Green Space Management (new)
• Freedom of Information (new)
• Planning Applications (new)
• Co-option (new)
• Records Management (new)
097/2526 Mortuary Chapel
Review quotes received for works required to windows and doors
Ongoing
098/2526 Playing field replacement drainage pipe
Quote received Net Price £2,750.00
Site visit to be arranged to discuss options
099/2526 Planning applications
WL/2025/00727 Rohan Cottage :- Prior approval for two additional storeys to 9.05 metres to highest point of the enlarged part of dwellinghouse.
WL/2025/00728 Rohan Cottage :- Prior approval for two additional storeys to 11.83 metres to highest point of the enlarged part of dwellinghouse.
Objection the height is not in keeping with other buildings in the area
Planning breaches on Southfield Road, investigation into these matters is still ongoing.
Next Ordinary Meeting
100/2526 Items for inclusion on the next Ordinary Meeting agenda
Council is requested to use this opportunity to raise items for future Ordinary Meeting agendas.
Detailed report on Village Fair
Replacement drainage pipe
Mortuary Chapel Repairs
Burglaries NKM
Bark Chippings
Budget Planning
Communication Working Group
101/2526 Date and time of the next Ordinary Meeting
To confirm date and time of the next Ordinary Parish Council Meeting, is set for Tuesday 9th September 2025 @ 7.15pm
The Meeting started at 7.15pm and closed at 8.51pm