2025 Minutes

Draft minutes subject to approval at the next meeting.

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Minutes of Pinchbeck Parish Council meeting held at 19:30 hrs on Monday, 08 December 2025, at The Hub, 48 Knight Street, Pinchbeck, PE11 3RU.

Present: Cllr Ann Savage (Chair), Cllr James Avery (Vice-Chair), Cllr Emma Beavis, Cllr Andy Chamberlain, Cllr Geoff Garner, Cllr Samantha Jeffery, Cllr Peter Ruysen, Cllr John Smith, Cllr Phil Tweddell, Cllr Oliver Wood, Mr Robert Smith (Clerk), Mrs Nicola Jowett (Administration Assistant), Dist. Cllr Elizabeth Sneath, Coun. Cllr. Ingrid Sheard, four members of the public.

Absent:   Cllr Audrey Gregory, Cllr Terry Moore.

Unless otherwise stated, actions to be undertaken by the Clerk.

25.153.Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Gregory, Cllr Moore and District Cllr Slade.

25.154.No declarations of disclosable interests or requests for dispensation were received.

25.155.There were no representations from the public.

25.156.It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 29 September 2025.

25.157.It was resolved to adopt the co-option policy dated 8 December 2025.

25.158.Co-option of new parish councillors

01.Three casual vacancies existed for councillors representing the Pinchbeck Ward. Seven applications had been received and circulated to members. Two applicants were unable to attend and had submitted apologies.

02.The Chair invited the five applicants present to give a short presentation outlining their applications and reasons for wishing to join the Parish Council.

03.It was resolved to enter closed session in accordance with section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

04.Four members of the public and the District and County Councillors then left the meeting.

05.The Chair called for the vote, with members indicating support for each of the seven applicants by a show of hands.

06.In accordance with the Co-option Policy, three candidates achieved an absolute majority of votes from members present. It was resolved to co-opt the following to serve as Parish Councillors for the Pinchbeck Ward:

·Mr David Bent

·Mr Toby Hughes

·Dist. Cllr Elizabeth Sneath

07.It was resolved to re-enter open session.

08.Four members of the public and the District and County Councillors returned to the meeting.

09.The Chair declared Mr Bent, Mr Hughes and Cllr Sneath duly appointed.

10.Two members of the public left the meeting at 19:47hrs.

11.Witnessed by the Clerk, the three new councillors signed their Declarations of Acceptance of Office and took their seats for the remainder of the meeting.

12.The new councillors would be issued with the Code of Conduct and a Notification of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests form for completion and return to the Clerk. Under the Localism Act 2011, the Clerk must lodge the completed disclosable interest forms with the District Council’s Monitoring Officer within 28 days of co-option.

13.The councillors were provided with copies of the Council’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.

25.159.Clerk’s report / matters arising.

01.Planning comments had been submitted to the District Council (SHDC), as resolved.

02.Remembrance Day Parade on 9 November passed off without any significant incidents and the new Traffic Management Company worked well.

03.The Christmas tree had been put up outside the school. Sausage Rolls had been provided to volunteers and attendees on the day. Thanks to all those involved.

04.Parish Council land on Six House Bank had been cleared and tidied and added to the asset register.

05.The Knight Street bus shelter had been replaced. The other Parish Council bus shelters had been cleaned. Structural survey reports on Knight Street and Surfleet Road bus shelters were awaited.

06.Following considerable delays from the supplier, a deadline had been set for the installation of the new noticeboard as Wednesday 10 December. If this didn’t proceed on this timescale a refund of deposit paid by the Parish Council was to be provided.

07.The VAT Return had been submitted and paid up to 30 September 2025.

08.QGIS mapping software had been introduced to support the investigation work at Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery, and it was intended to expand its use for the wider management and mapping of Parish Council assets.

09.Work on the internal audit for y/e 31 March 2026 had commenced.

10.The last day of office working for the year was planned for Monday 22nd December returning to work Monday 5th January 2026.

25.160.Financial matters.

01.It was resolved to approve the November 2025 bank reconciliation and cash book (appendix 1).

02.It was resolved to ratify approval of payments made up to 30 November 2025 (appendix 2).

03.It was resolved to delegate approval of December payments to the Chair and Vice-chair, or another councillor in either of their absences.

04.It was resolved to approve the Salaries Budget 2026-27 (Rev.1), as recommended by the Personal Committee.

05.It was resolved to approve the report on financial position to 30 November 2025.

06.Consideration of the Financial Budget 2026–27 and the setting of the precept was deferred to the next meeting, pending further review by the Finance Committee.

25.161.Correspondence.

01.It was resolved to support a request for a memorial bench at Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery.

02.A request for a bench at Six House Bank had been re-submitted. Due to budgetary constraints, this was to be reconsidered for affordability as spending within next year’s budget became clearer.

03.Following a donation request, it was resolved to donate the proceeds from a future Saturday Cake Sale at the Hub to the ALIVES first responder charity.

04.The Parish Council expressed its thanks and congratulation to all those involved in Pinchbeck Hub winning a National Award for wellbeing.

05.Proposals for South & East Lincolnshire Council’s partnership for north and south Lincolnshire Unity Authorities were received. Councillors were welcome to submit their own comments..

06.Information on warm homes grant was noted

07.A letter of thanks was received from the Royal British Legion for the Poppy appeal and Parish Council help with the Remembrance Day Parade.

25.162.Planning applications.

01.H14-1038-25: land off Elsoms Way, TFP Ventures Ltd. Proposed warehouse with associated buildings approved under H14-0062-23. Modification of Condition. It was resolved to make no comment.

02.H14-1093-25: J O SIMS LTD, Pudding Lane.External loading dock and relocation of buildings. It was resolved to support as it would help to sustain local employment.

03.H14-1124-25: 5 Holwood Drive, Gazebo – retrospective. It was resolved to make no comment.

04.H14-1132-25: Rose Villa 91 Six House Bank. Rear extension and porch. It was resolved to support as it was in keeping with the street scene.

05.H14-1133-25: Land to North of Fengate Road. Conditions modifications of conditions. It was resolved to make no comment.

25.163.The Council noted the following South Holland planning decisions.

01.H14-1125-25: Forbes Avenue, PE11 5AW. Nonmaterial amendment. Approved.

02.H14-0973-25: Whitebeams, 1 Money Bridge Lane, PE11 3QB. Condition Compliance. Approved.

03.H14-0977-25: 12 Wayet Road, PE11 3RR. TPO Tree Works. Approved.

04.H14-0952-25: land off Elsoms Way, PE11 3JG. Nonmaterial amendment. Refusal.

05.H14-0908-25: 9 Bear Lane, PE11 3XA. Tree works in conservation area. Approved.

06.H14-0904-25: Middledene House, Surfleet Road, PE11 4AG. Pilates Studio. Approved.

07.H14-0892-25: Marriott Farm, Black Hole Drove, PE11 3QL. Condition compliance. Approved.

08.H14-0873-25: Otway Farm, Spalding Road, PE11 3UD. Portacabin. Approved.

09.H14-0836-25: Wardentree Lane, PE11 3UG. Alterations to create 5 business units. Approved.

25.164.Highways matters.

01.Regarding waiting restrictions on Knight Street, it was resolved to defer comment pending new LCC proposals as reported by Cllr Sheard.

02.Following a request by Cllr Moore to relinquish his previous responsibilities, Cllr. Wood and Cllr. Bent agreed to take over the relocation of Speed Indicator devices and the collection of data.

03.Cllr Smith said that he would arrange a meeting after Christmas with a view to relaunching speed watch. It was noted that one of the Parish Council’s speed detectors remained on loan to Donington Parish Council.

04.Regarding the reported forthcoming closure of Surfleet Road for a period of 9 weeks due to infrastructure works for the new residential development, the clerk was to respond to a request for comment from the Press. Cllr Sheard stated that she would be in contact with LCC to address resident’s concerns.

25.165.Committee Reports and Recommendations.

01.Cemetery Committee

i.The minutes of the last meeting were received.

ii.It was resolved to approve the Committee’s terms of reference.

02.Hub & Library matters.

i.It was resolved to approve the constitution for the All Kinds of Everything Fund as circulated, delegating authority to approve expenditure from the fund to Cllr John Smith and the chair of the council (or in their absence, the vice-chair), such authority to operate within financial regulations and subject to the expenditure limit of £1,000.00 per item.

25.166.It was resolved to enter closed session in accordance with section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960.

20:35hrs Coun. Cllr Ingrid left the meeting.

25.167.Quotes for works.

01.It was resolved to approve quote from Ilumi electrical to install floodlight at the rear of the Hub @ £278.45.

02.Quote for works at Blue Gowt Cemetery were referred to the Finance Committee.

03.Play equipment.

i.Quotes for remedial works following quarterly inspections to be reviewed by the Open Spaces Committee.

ii.Alternative arrangements for the management of the Council’s play areas were being investigated by Cllr Smith and would be reported at a future meeting.

04.War Memorial

i.Following requests received from the Royal British Legion and Cllr Moore, quotes were to be obtained for cleaning the war memorial and resurfacing the path.

ii.Quotes for the chain-linked fence at the War Memorial were to be revisited.

25.168.Parish Council land.

01.PlayZone

i.It was resolved to approve the revised location for the proposed PlayZone.

02.The Glebe Field

i.The Parish Council noted the letter dated 19 November 2025 from the Parish Council’s solicitors to Pinchbeck United Football Club, as circulated.

ii.It was resolved to ratify the actions taken to date in relation to the Glebe Field matter.

iii.Further reports would be received as matters progressed.

03.Leaveslake Drove

i.A response was still awaited from Spalding United Football Club regarding the final signing of the lease and licence on Leaveslake Drove field.

04.Sale of land on Starlode Drove

i.A letter had been sent to the prospective buyer setting out the Parish Council’s purchase requirements as previously resolved. No response had been received. Longstaff & Co had been asked to chase.

05.The Parish Council noted that notices to quit and a notice for rent review had been issued in relation to the Council’s Farm Business Tenancies, as previously resolved.

25.169.Cemetery matters.

01.Ashes held by the Parish Council on behalf of the family were to be scattered on Wednesday 10 December at Blue Gowt Cemetery & Field, at the instruction of family members. A memorial plaque for the bench at Leaveslake Drove Field was to be organised by Cllr Smith.

02.It was resolved to authorise the Clerk to contact the Ministry of Justice in relation to the ongoing grave investigations.

25.170.Staffing and Administration

01.It was resolved to approve the minutes from the Personnel meeting and ratify its resolutions.

02.The Clerk and Administration Assistant left the meeting 21.22hrs.

03.It was resolved to approve payment of the Clerk’s Time off in lieu (TOIL), as recommended by the Personnel Committee.

The meeting closed at 21:34hrs.