May 2026 Annual Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 12th May 2026
Present: Cllr D Waite, Cllr S March, Cllr P Bryan, Cllr J Slater, and Cllr E Horstwood  
In attendance: None 
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
024/2627    Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair, signing Declaration of Office and completion of Declaration of Interests forms if change in circumstances
a) Election for the Chair of the Parish Council
The Parish Council elected the Chair of the Parish Council for the 2026/27 municipal year.
Proposed: Cllr.S.March Seconded: Cllr.J.Slater All in favour
RESOLVED:
Elect that Councillor D Waite as Chair for the ensuing year. Declaration of Office signed
b) Election for the Vice-Chair of the Parish Council
The Parish Council elected the Vice-Chair to the Parish Council for the 2026/27 municipal year
Proposed: Cllr P Bryan Seconded: Cllr D Waite All in favour
RESOLVED:
Elect that Councillor S March be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing year. Declaration of Office signed
c) Co-option 
RESOLVED:
To enact the co-option policy in order to fill any remaining councillor vacancies on the Parish Council
Councillors have no change in circumstances
025/2627    Welcome from the Chair and Public Questions
Welcome given, no member of public present 
026/2627    Apologies 
To receive and accept apologies and reasons for absence
Cllr J Waite Cllr p Morris (WLDC) and Cllr J Bean (LCC)
027/2627    Declarations of interest
Declarations of interest received from
Cllr P Bryan in account payments 
028/2627    Minutes of the Ordinary Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 14th April 2026.
Council to consider approving the minutes as a true and proper record.
Proposed:- Cllr.P.Bryan  Seconded:- Cllr.E.Horstwood  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
029/2627    Police and Crime update
March 2026, the majority of reported crime was in the Caistor (27) area followed by Brookenby (16).
With (1) reported crimes in North Kelsey and (1) in North Kelsey Moor.
Violence and Sexual Offences x 1 – Halls Lane North Kelsey
Anti-social behaviour x 1 – Crn Caistor Rd and Grasby Rd North Kelsey Moor
Unreported incidents - April 2026. 
Noted by North Kelsey Parish Council that throughout the month of April 2026 there were 6 unreported incidents.
Vandalism x 4 – North Kelsey Playing Field
Anti-social behaviour x 1 – North Kelsey Playing Field
Fly tipping x 1 – North Kelsey Playing Field 
030/2627    District and County Council update
No reports received 
031/2627    Chair’s update
Nothing not already covered 
032/2627    Parish Councillor updates 
Cllr John Cundill resignation 04-05-26
Councillors requested to water saplings at cemetery 
033/2627    To consider updates from Working Groups
Communications
Newsletter, next issue is ready to print and then be distributed
Strategic
Internal audit report received, no issues
Environment
Working group met via teams 11/05/26. Outstanding work for May/June includes varnishing the noticeboards, planters to be moved to site, playing field routine checks continue and plan for improvements. 
Monthly Asset Inspection Updates:- 
Cllr.S.March:- Playing Field, gate post broken, Cllr D Waite will look at this 
Cllr.P.Bryan:- Cemetery, Doors have been repaired and weather boarded, need old paint removed, sanding and painting. Spare gravel has been placed but additional bags needed, next meeting agenda item
Cllr.J.Slater:- Village Green, no concerns, flowers blooming nicely
034/2627    Clerk’s report
Community fund lottery Monkey Challenge can take up to 12 weeks approx. 12/08/2026
Temporary Traffic Order Railway 15-06-26/16-06-26
035/2627    Parish Matters Updates
Flooding and Riparian obligations for Alexander Court:- LCC flooding officer James Hawke BSc (Hons) still no update on inspection of the area on 10/03/26 
NKM Road Traffic VAS stats-0500D8478FB0145D.dbz1
    Reviews
036/2627    Review of arrangements including any charters with other local authorities and review of contributions made to expenditure incurred by other local authorities
LCC Parish Grass Cutting Agreement
Total area of highway grass: 7421 sq metres, Current contribution rate: £0.1815, Contribution figure: £1346.91, Proposal for 2026-27 accepted
037/2627    Review and confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insured risks
Proposed:- Cllr D Waite Seconded:- Cllr.S.March  All in favour 
RESOLVED:
Council confirmed continued insurance arrangements with Ansvar – current renewal price £821.66
038/2627    Review of the Council’s and the Clerk’s memberships of other bodies
The Parish Council is currently a member of the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC), membership runs from April 2026 to April 2027. Information Commissioners Office annual registration renews 21/11/2026
039/2627    Review of Standing Orders and Financial Regulations
Proposed:- Cllr D Waite Seconded:- Cllr.S.March  All in favour 
RESOLVED:
To approve Standing Orders and Financial Regulations 2026-27
040/2627    Review of inventory of land and assets
Council reviewed asset register and noted the list of land and assets of the Parish Council
041/2627    Review of the Council’s Complaints Procedure
Council to review and consider the Complaints Procedure
042/2627    Review of the Council’s Procedures for Handling Requests Made Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and General Data Protection Regulations
Council to review and consider the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the General Data Protection Regulations and the publication scheme.
•    GDPR Polices 
Freedom of Information
043/2627
    Review of Existing Council Policies and Procedures
Proposed:- Cllr D Waite Seconded:- Cllr.S.March  All in favour 
RESOLVED:
To approve policies and procedures for 2026-27 and adopt new volunteers policy
•    Social Media Policy
•    Planning Policy
•    Code of Conduct 
•    Disciplinary 
•    Grievance 
•    Data Protection 
•    Health and Safety 
•    Records Management 
•    Risk Management
•    Grant Award Policy
•    Lone/Homeworking 
•    Community Engagement
•    Co-option Policy
•    Tree Management
•    Communications
•    Abuse and Vexatious 
•    Dignity at Work
•    Member and Officer Protocol
•    Internal Control
•    Information Technology
•    Reserves
•    Scheme of Publication
•    Training and Development
•    Scheme of Delegation
TOR’S
•    Personnel Committee TOR
•    Working Groups TOR
New 
•    Volunteers Policy 
044/2627    Review of Committee Membership
RESOLVED:
Personnel Committee membership review for the 2026/27 municipal year as follows:
•    Cllr S. March (Chair)
•    Cllr J Slater 
•    Cllr P Bryan
•    Cllr E Horstwood
Council to note that at their first meeting in the 2026/27 municipal year, 14/04/26 elected their chair
045/2627    Review of Working Group Membership
Environment:- Cllr P Bryan, Cllr J Slater, Cllr S March, Cllr E Horstwood 
Strategic:- Cllr J Waite 
Communication:- Cllr P Bryan, Cllr J Waite, Cllr E Horstwood (elected)    
046/2627    Councillor Training undertaken
Record for all councillor training 2025/26 completed 
047/2627    Review of Councillor and Staff Training Needs
Council considered the training needs of councillors and staff in the 2026/27 municipal year, subscribed to LALC training scheme
    Finance
048/2627    Payments for approval & Bank Reconciliation
Council to approve the schedule of payments from 13/04/2026-12/05/2026 and to receive bank reconciliation statements
Proposed:- Cllr D Waite Seconded:- Cllr S March  All in favour 
RESOLVED:
to approve the following payments and monitoring reports be received.    
Invoice Date    Supplier/Payee    Details    Cost
£    VAT
£    Total 
Payment
£
30/04/26    JM Coote Clerk    Salary April 26    438.83        438.83
30/04/26    HMRC    PAYE April 26    129.31        129.31
30/04/26    JM Coote Clerk    Working From Home  April 26    26.00        26.00
30/04/26    Unity     Bank Charges    7.00        7.00
30/04/26    JM Coote Clerk    Expenses April 26 (mileage)    10.80        10.80
25/04/26    MKS Groundcare    Grass Cutting    924.58    184.92    1109.50
13/04/26    Tony Shaw    Finance Workbook 26-27    15.00        15.00
24/04/26    Thomas Bell    Compost    6.63    1.32    7.95
30/04/26    WG Joinery    Mortuary Chael Windows and Doors Deposit    1823.75    364.75    2188.50
Totals            3381.90    550.99    3932.89
Receipts    Description            
28/04/26    WLDC Grant for Mortuary Chapel    £2000.00        
21/04/26    Northern Power Grid Wayleave 7-17293/01 Carr Road    15.89        
Transfers    From    To    Amount    Date            
Precept     Current    Reserves    £18000.00    23/04/26            
Bank Balances @ 30/04/2026:- Unity Current £5,518.84 Unity Instant Saver £62,932.21 
049/2627    Unity Bank
Additional Bank Signatory and Removal of Bank Signatory
Proposed:- Cllr J Slater Seconded:- Cllr.S.March  All in favour 
RESOLVED:
To add Cllr E Horstwood as additional signatory and remove Cllr.M.Williams (resigned councillor) Application papers signed 
050/2627    School Playing Field
Investiagation into ownership is ongoing
051/2627    Bins
Due to the existing bins quickly filling additional or bigger bins at the park entrance has been requested from WLDC. Still awaiting response from WLDC 
052/2627    Planning Applications
Updates
WL/2025/00777 Agricultural Workers, Pending 
WL/2026/00159 Church Farm Listed building consent, Approved
WL/2026/180 Solar Farm, Pending
July 2025 Enquiry re no planning for containers, sheds, and a log cabin erected on the field WLDC:- Following our investigation, I can now advise that the council is satisfied that the containers are used for agricultural purposes and no further action will be taken on this matter, and the case will be closed. I have nevertheless advised the landowner that that there should be no further containers or buildings/touring caravans or anything located on the land and there should be no further increase of non-agricultural storage on the land.  Furthermore, I have also advised that anything that the landowner does on the land other than agricultural purpose is likely to need planning permission.
    Next Ordinary Meeting
053/2627    Items for inclusion on the next Ordinary Meeting agenda
Council is requested to use this opportunity to raise items for future Ordinary Meeting agendas.
NK Bowls Grant application
Gravel for cemetery
Ratify costs of Osmo oil and playing field gate repairs
054/2627    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 June 2026 7.15pm
    To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to sensitive commercial information for the following item.
055/2627    Clerk/RFO Appraisal 
Proposed:- Cllr.S. March Seconded:- Cllr.J.Slater All in favour
RESOLVED:
To approve recommendations of the Personnel Committee following clerk’s appraisal

The Meeting started at 7.45pm and closed at 8.48pm