March 2026 Minutes
Minutes of the Utterby Parish Council Meeting held at Utterby Village Hall on Tuesday 10th March 2026 at 7.00PM
Present: Cllrs: Traves (Chairman) Clifford, Lashbrooke-Small, and Newton.
In attendance: The Parish Clerk and six members of the public.
01:03/26 Election of Chair
To elect a Chair for the remainder of 2025-26.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Traves be appointed as Chair for the remainder of 2025-26.
02:03/26 Declarations of Interest
a) To record declarations of interest by any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below. Members declaring interests should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared.
None
b) To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below.
None
03:03/26 Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies from Members not able to attend the meeting.
Apologies had been received from Cllr Bryan, Buckley and Marfleet.
County Cllr Hastings and District Cllr Mossop had sent apologies.
04:03/26 Open Forum
STANDING ORDER NO. 3
a) Members of the public may make representations, answer questions, and give evidence at a meeting which they are entitled to attend in respect of the business on the agenda.
A member of the public asked for information on a pending planning decision. A member of the public requested an update on Benson Court. The Clerk shall enquire.
b) To receive reports from County and District Councillors.
The councillors were not present
05:03/26 Minutes of the Previous Meeting(s)
To approve the minutes of the previous meeting(s).
RESOLVED: That the minutes be approved as a true record.
06:03/26 Finance & Governance
a) To approve payment of accounts.
RESOLVED: That the following payments be approved: -
|
Cloud Next |
Email Hosting |
£119.98 |
|
T Kuzemczak |
Wages Month 11 |
£XXX |
|
T Kuzemczak |
WFH Allowance Month 11 |
£26.00 |
|
T Kuzemczak |
Mileage Month 11 |
£4.50 |
|
o2 |
Monthly Phone Bill |
£13.20 |
|
Unity Trust Bank |
Bank Charge Feb 25 |
£6.00 |
|
Unity Trust Bank |
Bank Charge Mar 25 |
£7.00 |
|
DW Gibbs |
Bus Shelter Cleaning Feb 26 |
£30.00 |
|
LALC |
5 Hrs Webmaster Service |
£108.00 |
|
Marie Claret |
Utterby Voice Feb 26 Design & Print |
£330.20 |
b) To receive a budget report to end February 2026.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
c) To receive an end of year projection to 31 March 2026.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
d) To adopt the draft IT Policy (Assertion 10).
RESOLVED: That the IT Policy be adopted with an addition specifying the appeal process.
e) To adopt the draft Sexual and General Harassment Policy.
RESOLVED: That the Sexual and General Harassment Policy be adopted.
f) To receive information on the new AGAR Assertion 10.
RESOLVED: That the information be noted.
07:03/26 Planning
a) To note the following planning decisions received from ELDC: -
None received
b) To consider any comment on the following planning application(s): -
None received.
08:03/26 Highways & Drainage
a) To receive any updates on highways issues reported to LCC.
The Clerk reported that no response had been received to the request to clear the footpath along the A16, from the Police House down to KRN House Plants.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Clifford shall check to see if this work has been completed.
b) To receive an email from a resident regarding flooding.
A resident had emailed to ask if the Parish Council could confirm: the adoption status of the road serving the development; the type of surface water drainage system installed (for example infiltration to ground via tanks beneath the road for each individual dwelling and the identity of the party responsible for the ongoing management and maintenance of that system.
The Parish Council noted that, following the jetting that had been done, flooding around the village green had been less this year in comparison to previous years. Flooding at the end of Church Lane had been reported.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall write to ELDC planning to ask for a list of developers that have built on Jacobs Close, along with a plan of which properties were built by which developers.
c) To note road closure:
Nature and location of restriction:
Road closure Order - Ings Lane (Between 100m & 350m East of A16)
Period of restriction:
06/04/2026 - 10/04/2026
(Restrictions to be implemented for 5 days as and when required during this period, signage detailing accurate dates and times will be displayed on site in advance)
The Order was noted.
09:03/26 Millenium Bench
To receive an update and agree any action.
Permission to work on the adopted highway had been granted by LCC, and the contractor will start the work on 30th March.
RESOLVED: That payment of the invoice be delegated to the Clerk after councillors had inspected the work.
10:03/26 Public Right of Way Fencing – Church Lane
To receive a quotation for additional fencing adjacent to the kissing gates.
A quotation of £575.20 + VAT had been received from Platers Fencing to extend the contract to include the following: 9.5m of 3 rail softwood timber post & rail fencing using 47x100mm rails onto 100x100mm timber posts concreted into the ground. All timbers treated
RESOLVED: That the quotation of £575.20 +VAT from Platers Fencing be approved.
11:03/26 Tree Works
To receive a quotation for tree works recommended in the recent tree survey.
The Council suspended the Financial Regulation to allow the work to be awarded to the contractor as Council agreed with the quoted price and there were recommended timeframes to adhere to.
RESOLVED: That a quotation from Cherry Tree Landscape and Tree Services of £800 be approved.
12:03/26 Packhorse Bridge Sign
To receive any updates.
Cllr Marfleet had met the LCC Historic Places Manager, who agreed that the sign was in a poor state, but advised that it would be a while before any funds where available due to increased spending in other areas.
RESOLVED: That the Council shall follow up in 3 months.
13:03/26 Grass Cutting Contract
To receive a quotation for the grass cutting contract 2026-27.
A quotation had been received from Dave Skells Traffic Management Ltd to extend the grass cutting contract for one year.
A quotation had been received from D Buckley for hedge cutting and footpath strimming.
It was decided that, as LCC are strimming the public right of way, the Parish Council would not commission the work, but would monitor the path.
Work on the next specification shall start in November 2026.
RESOLVED: That a quotation of £2,217.25 + VAT from Dave Skells Traffic Management Ltd be approved for 13 cuts of the verges and village green, and that a quotation of £90 from D Buckley per hedge cut be approved.
14:03/26 North Ray Solar Farm Community Liaison Group
To receive the notes and a report of the meeting held at North Thoresby Village Hall on 18th February 2026
Cllr Traves provided a report on the meeting that he attended at North Thoresby Village Hall. Attending the Community Liaison Group meetings is not an indication that the parish councils involved support the project. A community fund of £70,000 per year is proposed to be donated to the local communities affected by the solar farm, should the development go ahead.
RESOLVED: That the Parish Council shall continue attendance at the Community Liaison Group meetings and report back to the Parish Council meetings, that are held in public.
15:03/26 Community Speedwatch
To receive any updates.
An article had been placed in the latest edition of the newsletter asking for anyone interested in volunteering for the Community Speedwatch Scheme to contact the Council.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall gather contact details of any volunteers to establish if there are sufficient volunteers to set up a scheme.
17:03/26 Grant Application – Churchyard Maintenance
To receive a request from St Andrew’s Church for a grant towards grounds maintenance of the churchyard.
RESOLVED: That the agenda item be deferred to the new financial year and ask for further details.
18:03/26 Litter Pick
To consider any updates.
North Thoresby Parish Council had kindly agreed to loan litter picking equipment.
RESOLVED: That that Clerk shall bring the litter picking equipment from North Thoresby to the April meeting.
19:03/26 Anglian Water Quality
To receive a response to the Parish Council’s enquiry.
A response had been received to advise that Anglian Water carries out around 140,000 tests on drinking water samples taken from customer taps each year to ensure that the water we provide meets all the legal limits. A review of the data since October 2025 to date indicated that there have been no regulatory sample breaches.
Included in the email was the following information on testing.
Lead: If you live in a house built before 1970, you may have lead pipework. If you think you may have lead pipework, call our Lead Advice Line on 0345 070 3445 to arrange for a free lead test.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall ask Anglian Water if nominated properties can be tested, or whether tests can be done in this area.
20:03/26 ELDC Planning – Soil Testing
To receive a response to the Parish Council’s enquiry.
A response had been received from ELDC Planning to advise that soil tests are not usually required for planning permissions, but can be requested at a later date if further information is required after the consultation period.
RESOLVED: That
21:03/26 Village Hall
a) To receive the first edition of the Village Hall Hirers’ Newsletter.
RESOLVED: That the newsletter was welcomed.
b) To complete the ELIF GRASSroots Grant Survey.
RESOLVED: That individual councillors shall complete the form.
c) To note an invitation to councillors - an ELIF plaque unveiling ceremony and coffee morning on Fri 24 April 10am - 12pm.
RESOLVED: That councillors that are available shall attend.
22:03/26 Motion from Member
To consider a motion from Cllr Traves – that the Parish Council creates a village plan.
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the next meeting due to a number of members being absent from the meeting.
23:03/26 Motion from Member
To consider a motion from Cllr Lashbrooke-Small – that the Parish Council creates a development plan for the Village Green.
It was discussed that this could be part of the proposed village plan.
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.
24:03/26 Future Dates
a) Next Parish Council Meeting – Tuesday 14th April 2026 at 7PM – Utterby Village Hall.
RESOLVED: That the date be noted.
b) Matters for discussion and inclusion on the next meeting agenda.
• Mole damage withing the village
• Village planters
Exclusion of Press and Public: To consider passing a resolution in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, that public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.
RESOLVED: That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the matters set out below on the grounds that it could involve the likely disclosure of private and confidential information.
25:03/26 Personnel
a) To receive an update on annual leave and working hours.
The Clerk provided an update.
b) To agree an increase in the Clerk’s pay point from NJC SCP 18 to NJC SCP 19 with effect from 01 April 2026 in line with contractual obligations.
RESOLVED: That increase in the Clerk’s pay point from NJC SCP 18 to NJC SCP 19 with effect from 01 April 2026 be approved.
The meeting closed at 9.05PM