May 2026 Minutes
Minutes of the Annual Utterby Parish Council Meeting held at Utterby Village Hall on Tuesday 12th May 2026 at 7.00PM
Present: Cllrs: Traves (Chairman) Buckley, Bryan, Clifford, Lashbrooke-Small and Newton.
In attendance: The Parish Clerk, Cllr Hastings and six members of the public.
01:05/26 To elect a Chair
a) To elect a Chair for the year 2026/2027. The elected Member shall sign a declaration of acceptance of office, witnessed by the Proper Officer.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Traves be elected as Chair for the year 2026/2027.
b) To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the year 2026/2027.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Buckley be appointed as Vice-Chair for the year 2026/2027.
02:05/26 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.
Cllr Bryan and Cllr Lashbrooke-Small declared an interest in agenda item 15.
b) To note dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the agenda items listed below.
None
03:05/26 Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies from Members not able to attend the meeting.
All councillors were present.
04:05/26 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 raised concern over the maintenance of a proposed development site. Tarmac footpath connecting Grange Lane and Jacobs Close is unsafe due to overgrowth – query ownership with LCC and ELDC planning.
A member of the public raised the issue of long grass and brambles on a meadow behind their property.
A member of the public asked a question about the Community Speed Watch repeater signs.
b) To receive reports from County and District Councillors.
Cllr Hastings reported that parishes in the Alvingham area had noticed an increase in burglaries.
05:05/26 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.
06:05/26 Committee Membership
To appoint 3 members to the Personnel Committee.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Buckley, Cllr Clifford and Cllr Lashbrooke-Small be appointed to the Personnel Committee.
07:05/26 Meeting Dates
To agree dates for meetings 2026/2027
Tuesday 9th June 2026
Tuesday 14th July 2026
No meeting in August
Tuesday 8th September 2026
Tuesday 13th October 2026
Tuesday 10th November 2026
Tuesday 8th December 2026
Tuesday 12th January 2027
No meeting in February
Tuesday 9th March 2027
Tuesday 13th April 2027
Tuesday 11th May 2027 – Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.
RESOLVED: That the dates be approved.
08:05/26 Finance & Governance
a) To approve payment of accounts
RESOLVED: That the following payments be approved: -
|
T Kuzemczak |
Wages Month 1 |
£XXX |
|
T Kuzemczak |
WFH Allowance Month 1 |
£26.00 |
|
T Kuzemczak |
Mileage Apr 26 |
£9.00 |
|
Dave Skells |
Grass Cutting |
£204.00 |
|
HMRC |
Tax NI |
£157.00 |
|
o2 |
Monthly Phone Bill |
£15.00 |
|
Unity Trust Bank |
Bank Charge May 26 |
£7.00 |
|
DW Gibbs |
Bus Shelter Cleaning May 26 |
£30.00 |
|
Cllr A Lashbrooke-Small |
Parish Meeting Leaflet Printing |
£8.20 |
b) To review Council’s subscriptions: -
• LALC – Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils
RESOLVED: That the subscription to LALC be approved.
c) To review direct debits: -
• HMRC – tax and national insurance
• O2 – mobile phone bills
• Information Commissioners Office – annual subscription
RESOLVED: That the direct debits be approved.
d) To review council assets and inventory.
RESOLVED: That the asset register be approved.
e) To review delegation arrangements.
RESOLVED: That the Scheme of Delegation be approved.
f) To review Standing Orders and Financial Regulations.
RESOLVED: That Standing Orders and Financial Regulations be approved.
g) To review the Council’s employment policies and procedures.
RESOLVED: That the Disciplinary and Grievance Policies be approved.
h) To review the Council’s policies, procedures and practices in respect of its obligations under freedom of information and data protection legislation.
RESOLVED: That the Data Protection Policy be approved.
i) To review of the Council’s complaints procedure and Code of Conduct.
RESOLVED: That the Complaints Procedure be approved.
j) To review of the Council’s policy for dealing with the press/media.
RESOLVED: That the Media Policy be approved.
k) To review arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insurable risks and to receive quotations for insurance renewal.
RESOLVED: That a quotation of £501.85 from Zurich Municipal be approved.
l) To review the Council’s financial risk assessment.
RESOLVED: That the financial risk assessment be approved.
m) To approve year end accounts 2025-2026.
RESOLVED: That the year-end accounts 2025-2026 be approved.
n) To receive the internal audit.
RESOLVED: That the internal audit report be noted.
o) To approve the Annual Governance Statement 2025-2026 (AGAR Section 1).
RESOLVED: That the Annual Governance Statement 2025-2026 (AGAR Section 1) be approved.
p) To approve the Accounting Statements 2025-2026 (AGAR Section 2).
RESOLVED: That the Accounting Statements 2025-2026 (AGAR Section 2) be approved.
q) To approve the Certificate of Exemption.
RESOLVED: That the Certificate of Exemption be approved.
r) To note the dates for the exercise of public rights – 3rd June 2026 – 14 July 2026
RESOLVED: That the dates be noted.
09:05/26 Planning
a) To note the following planning decisions received from ELDC: -
None received.
b) To consider any comment on the following planning application(s): -
i) Application No: 00688/26/FUL
Eastern Green Link 3 (EGL 3) and Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL 4) and Grimsby to Walpole - Targeted Statutory Consultation under Section 42 of the Planning Act 2008
RESOLVED: That Utterby Parish Council objects to this application on grounds of the proposed pylons causing a detriment to visual amenity in an area of outstanding natural beauty, close proximity to the village, light pollution, concerns over health issues and disruption to the surrounding area during the construction phase.
ii) Application reference 00444/26/FUL has been received and is now being considered. Your observations are requested no later than 11th May 2026.
Planning Permission - Installation of a photovoltaic solar energy farm with associated infrastructure, including erection of a substation, construction of a vehicular access and internal access roads, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.
Land North and South of Lincoln Gate Ludborough Lincolnshire
RESOLVED: That Utterby Parish Council objects to this application on the following grounds: - The proposed development site is on agricultural land in open countryside close to residential homes. The development may lead to construction traffic travelling through the village as the A16 is often used as a diversionary route if the A18 is closed. The construction and traffic movements will cause a disturbance to the local school over several years. Visual amenity will be adversely affected by the view of the proposed development and the panels will be visible from the Lincolnshire Area of Outstanding Beauty.
10:05/26 Highways & Drainage
To consider any action in relation to the 40mph speed limit works.
RESOLVED: That the Clerk shall contact LCC regarding delays to the signs being installed.
11:05/26 Village Newsletter
To agree publication dates for 2026-2027.
RESOLVED: That the 2026-27 newsletters be published in September 2026 and March 2027.
12:05/26 Bus Shelters
a) To note that the LCC Bus Shelter Grant Scheme has no deadline/end date.
RESOLVED: That the information be noted.
b) To receive quotations for timber bus shelters.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Lashbrooke-Small and Cllr Traves shall inspect the bus shelters and make a list of any repair work required.
13:05/26 Benches Maintenance
To note that the benches were last oiled/painted in 2024, and to agree any action.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Lashbrooke-Small and Cllr Traves shall inspect the benches and make a list of any repair work required.
14:05/26 Anglian Water – Water Testing
To consider a response from Anglian Water and agree any action.
RESOLVED: That Cllr Traves and Cllr Newton shall contact Anglian Water.
15:05/26 Parish Council Grants
To receive and consider the following applications for Section 137 grant funding from the Parish Council.
a) Utterby Village Hall – £500 towards the installation of outdoor electrical sockets to the front and rear of the building.
RESOLVED: That a grant of £500 approved.
b) St. Andrews Church - £500 – churchyard grounds maintenance.
RESOLVED: That a grant of £500 be approved.
16:05/26 New Projects
To consider any actions needed in relation to Community Speedwatch and creation of a Village Plan.
The Council has completed a consultation exercise at the Annual Parish Meeting to gather feedback.
RESOLVED: That promotion of the Community Speedwatch Scheme shall be publicised at the next large event at the village hall – 31st May Craft Fair. The Village Plan shall be included on the agenda for the next meeting.
17:05/26 Future Dates
a) Next Parish Council Meeting – Tuesday 9th June 2026 at 7PM – Utterby Village Hall.
The date was noted.
Matters for discussion and inclusion on the next meeting agenda.
Facebook page
Apologies from Cllr Lashbrooke-Small for June.
The meeting closed at 8.22PM