February 2026 Minutes
Minutes of the Utterby Parish Council Meeting held at Utterby Village Hall on Tuesday 10th February 2026 at 7.00PM
Present: Cllrs: Buckley (Chairman) Bryan, Marfleet and Traves
In attendance: The Parish Clerk, LCC Cllr Hastings and ELDC Cllr Mossop
With the Chairman of the Parish Council absent from the meeting, Cllr Buckley took the Chair.
01:02/26 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
02:02/26 Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies from Members not able to attend the meeting.
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Clifford, Lashbrooke-Small and Newton.
03:02/26 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 addressed the Parish Council regarding a public health concern regarding drinking water supply and potential soil contamination.
A member of the public spoke about the same issue.
A member of the public addressed the Parish Council regarding the road surface on Grange Lane at the entrance from the A16.
A member of the public spoke about a pending planning application.
b) To receive reports from County and District Councillors.
Cllr Hastings reported that he will make some enquiries regarding matters raised in Open Forum.
Cllr Mossop spoke about the current planning environment and increasing pressure from the Government-set housing targets. The proposal for a poultry unit on Pear Tree Lane is currently with the Environment Agency prior to being submitted to ELDC Planning.
04:02/26 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.
05:02/26 Finance & Governance
a) To approve payment of accounts.
|
T Kuzemczak |
Wages Month 9 |
£XXX |
|
T Kuzemczak |
Wages Month 10 |
£XXX |
|
T Kuzemczak |
WFH Allowance Month 9 |
£26.00 |
|
T Kuzemczak |
WFH Allowance Month 10 |
£26.00 |
|
T Kuzemczak |
Mileage Dec 25 |
£4.50 |
|
HMRC |
Tax NI |
£157.00 |
|
o2 |
Monthly Phone Bill |
£13.20 |
|
o2 |
Monthly Phone Bill |
£13.20 |
|
o2 |
Monthly Phone Bill |
£13.20 |
|
Utterby Village Hall |
Hall Hire 25-26 Q3 & £30 Christmas Tree |
£111.00 |
|
Unity Trust Bank |
Bank Charge Dec 25 |
£6.00 |
|
Unity Trust Bank |
Bank Charge Jan 25 |
£6.00 |
|
DW Gibbs |
Bus Shelter Cleaning Dec 25 |
£30.00 |
|
DW Gibbs |
Bus Shelter Cleaning Jan 26 |
£30.00 |
|
ICO |
Annual Membership Mar 26 |
£47.00 |
|
LALC |
Annual Membership |
£105.94 |
|
Waller Tree Consultancy |
Tree Survey |
£300.00 |
|
Platers |
Kissing Gate Church Lane |
£1,236.00 |
b) To note that the Quarter 3 bank reconciliations and bank statements have been signed by the nominated councillor (Cllr Marfleet as substitute for Cllr Lashbrooke-Small).
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
c) To receive a finance report to the end of Jan 26.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
d) To note that the precept request for 2026-27 has been submitted and to receive an update from the Clerk.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
e) To consider membership of the LALC Training Scheme.
RESOLVED: That the Council will continue with the ‘pay per training session’ option.
f) To note that on 18 January 2026, a completed re-declaration of compliance for UTTERBY PARISH COUNCIL was submitted and received by The Pensions Regulator under the Pensions Act 2008 (or, for Northern Ireland, the Pensions Order 2008).
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
g) To note that the interest rates for the Unity Trust Bank Instant Access (savings) account are reducing with effect from 23 March 2025 from 2.10% / 2.12% to 1.95% / 1.96% (Gross rate/AER)
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
h) To appoint an internal auditor for the year ending 31st March 2026.
RESOLVED: That Steve Fletcher be appointed as the internal auditor for 25-26.
06:02/26 Planning
a) To note the following planning decisions received from ELDC: -
i) PROPOSAL: Planning Permission - Change of use of existing farm building to form a holiday cottage and associated works. LOCATION: Barn At Grove Farm, Holywell Lane, Utterby, Lincolnshire.
You recently contacted me about the application shown above. The application was Approved on 26/11/2025.
b) To consider any comment on the following planning application(s): -
None received.
07:02/26 Highways & Drainage
i) To receive a resident’s concerns regarding the footpath along the A16, from the Police House down to KRN House Plants.
A resident had emailed the Parish Council to request that the footpath along the A16, from the Police House down to KRN House plants is cleared. The resident reported that the grass has spread over the tarmac and there is tree debris, making it difficult to walk as a pedestrian.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall report on Fix my Street.
ii) To resolve any action in relation to flooding near the school and in the main areas of the village.
There are some outstanding measures by LCC that were agreed in 2025.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall contact LCC regarding the outstanding measures.
iii) To note that the 30mph advisory signs have been delivered and agree next steps.
RESOLVED: That the signs may be able to be installed by volunteers at the Community Litter Pick.
08:02/26 Bus Shelters
To consider a proposal from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC). LCC has secured funding for upgrading the Bus Infrastructure in the county to replace/install new bus shelters. The proposal is to replace the all 4 shelters on Main Road (owned and maintained by the Parish Council) at no cost to the Parish Council.
Lincolnshire County Council would be responsible for the installation, ongoing cleaning and maintenance costs.
The Parish Council discussed the pros and cons of the existing bus shelters versus accepting the proposed LCC shelters. There was a discussion around the modern design of the proposed shelters and the openness to the elements.
RESOLVED: That the Parish Council shall retain the existing bus shelters.
09:02/26 Millenium Bench
To receive an update on the new base for the Millenium bench.
The Clerk advised that an application to Lincolnshire County Council had been made for consent to make changes to a third-party structure (the Millenium Bench). This had been necessary as the grass verge belongs to LCC.
RESOLVED: That the information be noted.
10:02/26 Church Lane Public Footpath Gates
To receive an update on works to the gates on Church Lane.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Buckley will meet the contractor on site.
11:02/26 Packhorse Bridge Sign
To receive an email from LCC re the sign at the Packhorse Bridge.
The Parish Council had received a response from Lincolnshire County Council’s Historic Places Manager regarding the offer of a site visit.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Marfleet will meet the LCC Officer on site.
12:02/26 Tree Survey
a) To receive the tree report
RESOLVED: That the report was noted.
b) To consider works recommended
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall obtain a quotation for the work.
c) To receive an estimate for an interim inspection.
RESOLVED: That a quotation of £150 for an interim survey be approved.
13:02/26 Grass Cutting & Grounds Maintenance Contracts
To agree arrangements from 1st April 2026 for verge and village green grass cutting, village green hedge trimming and public right of way clearing.
RESOLVED: That the existing grounds contractors shall be offered an extension for 12 months, whilst the specification is reviewed ahead of the next tender.
14:02/26 National Highways & Transport (NHT) survey
To consider any response to the survey from the Parish Council.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Traves shall submit the response based on the Parish Council’s previous response.
15:02/26 North Ray Solar
To receive correspondence from North Ray Solar.
The Parish Council had received an invitation from North Ray Solar to a meeting to discuss the proposed solar farm project and the establishment of the Community Liaison Group (CLG) on the evening of Wednesday, 18 February,
RESOLVED: That representatives of the Parish Council shall attend the meeting as well as a joint parish councils meeting.
16:02/26 Newsletter
To agree any action regarding the recent and next newsletter.
The Clerk advised that the latest newsletter was at the printers. An additional twenty copies had been requested.
RESOLVED: That the next newsletter publication date shall be during September 2027.
17:02/26 Motion from Member
To consider a motion from Cllr Traves to consider the creation of a village plan.
The idea was discussed and it was decided to roll the agenda
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.
18:02/26 Motion from Member
To consider a motion from Cllr Lashbrooke-Small to consider creation of a development plan for the Village Green.
RESOLVED: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.
19:02/26 Future Dates
a) Next Parish Council Meeting – Tuesday 10th March 2026 at 7PM – Utterby Village Hall.
RESOLVED: That the date be noted.
b) Matters for discussion and inclusion on the next meeting agenda.
None raised.
Item 20 was skipped therefore press and public remained.
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.
20:02/26 Personnel
To receive an update on annual leave.
The meeting closed at 8.20PM