2026 Minutes

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Minutes of Open Spaces & Assets Committee meeting held 19:30, Monday, 14 September 2026, at The Hub, 48 Knight Street, Pinchbeck, PE11 3RU.

Present: Cllr Andrew Chamberlain, Cllr Terry Moore (Chair), Cllr Ann Savage, Cllr Phil Tweddell, Cllr Oliver Woods, Robert Smith (Clerk), Nicola Jowett (Administration Assistant), Cllr John Smith (observer), Richard Start (Longstaff), Alice Peach (Longstaff).

Absent:   Cllr James Avery, Cllr Geoff Garner, Cllr Peter Ruysen.

Actions are for the Administration Assistant unless another responsible person is specified.

26.21.Attendance and apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr James Avery, Cllr Geoff Garner, and Cllr Peter Ruysen.

26.22.Declarations of interest and dispensations

No declarations of pecuniary or other registrable interests were made and no requests for dispensation were received.

26.23.Minutes of the previous meeting

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 June 2026.

26.24.Matters arising

No additional matters arising were raised under this item.

26.25.Parks and play areas

01.Annual inspections had been completed at all three play areas. The findings included repairs requiring attention to the Rotten Row cableway and the adult chest press, together with other medium-risk items. The inspection findings would be reviewed and quotations obtained for the necessary works.

02.A redundant fixing plate with sharp edges had been removed from Rotten Row play area. A quotation for repairing a hole in the car park would be obtained for the next meeting.

26.26.Quotations for work

01.A quotation of £721.12 plus VAT from Online Playgrounds (OLP) for servicing the Rotten Row cableway was considered. The matter was deferred pending a further quotation, to be sought for consideration at the next Parish Council meeting.

02.It was RESOLVED to approve expenditure of up to £142.95 plus VAT for repairs by Sutton’s Plumbing to the Cherry Holt Lane Cemetery tap, with a lower suitable quotation to be used if received.

03.A quotation of £483 for replacing and refixing the Rotten Row entrance sign was reported. As the existing sign had been recovered undamaged, a revised price for refixing it was to be sought; no expenditure was approved at this meeting.

04.The proposed wording for Rotten Row Playing Field and Six House Bank car parks was agreed. It covered parking for users of the facilities; no overnight parking, long-term parking or vehicle storage; no vehicle display, advertising, sales or commercial use without the Council’s prior written permission; parking at owners’ risk; and the Council’s right to take appropriate action against abandoned vehicles or misuse. Quotations would be obtained for subsequent approval.

05.It was reported that arrangements were in progress for South Holland District Council to remove an abandoned vehicle from Rotten Row car park.

26.27.Future meetings and allotment management

01.It was RESOLVED that the next scheduled ordinary Committee meeting would be held at 18:00 on Monday 9 November 2026.

02.The Clerk outlined the need to review and reissue garden allotment agreements and, where practicable, regularise plot sizes. Outstanding issues, including unauthorised tree planting, would be addressed after the agricultural tenancy work. No immediate enforcement action was authorised.

26.28.Exclusion of the press and public

It was RESOLVED under section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, to exclude the press and public during the confidential business because publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of its confidential and commercially sensitive nature. Richard Start and Alice Peach were permitted to remain to advise on item 9. Cllr John Smith was permitted to remain as an observer and contribute as appropriate, without voting rights.

The meeting entered closed session at 20:00.

Public summary of business considered in closed session

26.29.Farm Business Tenancy tenders

The Committee considered agricultural tenancy tenders and received advice from the Council’s land agent under the authority delegated by Parish Council minute 26.150.05.

Further clarification of the land available for letting and preparation of a comparative assessment were required before the tenders could be determined.

No tender was rejected or selected and no tenancy award was made at this meeting.

No disposal of Council land was authorised.

Agreed: The land agent would prepare a comparative schedule and provide the supporting submissions to the Clerk by close of business on Tuesday 15 September 2026 for circulation to members. The land agent would acknowledge the offers and advise that they remained under consideration.

Agreed: An additional Committee meeting would be held at 18:00 on Monday 21 September 2026 to consider the schedule and professional advice and determine the successful tenderer or tenderers. Selection, awards and instructions for the resulting tenancy documentation were deferred to that meeting.

26.30.Tree works at St Mary’s Churchyard

Tree works at St Mary’s Churchyard were discussed. As this specific matter was not on the agenda, no Committee decision to award the work was made. The Clerk would check whether the expenditure was within the available budget and, if so, authorise the work under the Clerk’s authority. If it was not within budget, the matter would be referred to the next Parish Council meeting.

The Chair closed the meeting at 21:12.