2025 Minutes

Billingborough Parish Council  Meeting

Minutes of the meeting of Billingborough Parish Council held on 11 March 2025 in the Sports Pavilion at the Recreation ground.

Present: Cllrs C Woodhead (Chairman), C Williamson, H Middlebrook, J Tweddle, J Green, A Sharpe.

  In Attendance: H Beaver (Clerk). C. Cllr M Hill (until  7.00pm) 

There being no members of the public present, the Chairman opened the Council meeting at 6.30 pm.

1. Chairman’s opening Remarks

214. The Chairman welcomed all to the meeting and reminded Councillors of the need to read and answer emails promptly.

2. Apologies for absence.

215. Cllr Turner had sent his apologies, it was RESOLVED to accept the reason for his absence.

3. Receive any new declarations of interest – None received.

4. To consider any requests from Members for a dispensation on any items on the agenda. To agree, or not, by resolution to any dispensations, including voting rights – None received.

5. Approve draft minutes of the meeting held 11 Feb 2025 

216. It was RESOLVED to accept the draft minutes as circulated as a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes.

6. Receive any external reports, and ask for an update from C Cllr Hill if present regarding the allotment fencing, the broken gate and the new Aveland early entry licence and to ask any questions pertaining to the reports received about the impact of storms Babet and Henk and the Section 19 report if received. To establish if there is any update regarding the repairs required to the drains in the car park on West Rd. the gate had been mended. The new Entry Licence should be received shortly as all details had been agreed.

217. C Cllr Hill reiterated that the allotment fencing was currently being mended and the gate had been fixed, and that the Aveland licence had been agreed so should be ready for signing shortly. He noted that Anglian Water had been in the village surveying the drains with a camera and hoped that the Company would share its findings soon. He had chased the EA regarding its’ report and the EA had assured him it would be released soon. The County Council had agreed to replicate a previous Government scheme, which would mean that every property that had reported being flooded would be eligible for a £5k grant, owners would be contacted directly. He confirmed there was no further update from The Toller Trust.

7. Receive any Community groups or Organisation reports including from Cllrs Turner, Middlebrook and Green to report on any feedback from the flood committee. Also from Cllr Turner regarding an update from the Fortescue Arms Group.

218. Cllr Middlebrook reported that the drone mapping carried out by the Lincs Resilience Forum had been very useful, all the information has been sent to the relevant authorities. Further mapping, to cover Folkingham and Horbling  is to be done on April 7. They had also met with the Reform Mayoral candidate who had been in some of the flooded properties.

219. Cllr Woodhead reported that she had been informed that some monies had been made available for property repairs at The Fortescue Arms. She also informed the meeting about the Poppy Appeal that was being arranged for Remembrance Day at the church, as many knitted or crocheted poppies as possible were being collected to make a display.

8. Clerk’s Report. 

220. The Clerk reported that the bank balance as of 28/02/2025 was £52,232.35.

Cllrs were asked for suggestions for the next Policing Priorities submission form, Cllrs raised the problem of possible drug deals being transacted near some jitties in the village and around disused farm buildings, Cllrs requested an increased police presence. The problem of parking on zigzag lines outside the school was raised, Cllrs were asked to report this on LCC website as this was not a Police matter. It was reported that the entrance planters were in need of repair, that the Fields In Trust sign had been vandalised, as had the AW plant in the recreation ground. A new lock had been fitted to the grit bin at the cemetery, the broken external light at the pavilion had also been repaired. Cllrs were reminded of the Design Plan workshops being run by SKDC, of notification to comment on the draft Public Rights of Way plan and an update to the Local Development Scheme, and the proposal to extend the 30mph limit on Birthorpe Rd. The Clerk reported that in the media and information currently circulating there was much talk about Parish Councils working collaboratively and taking on more responsibilities, also that particularly regarding the flooding issues, neighbouring villages were enquiring about working together. She also advised that the dykes along the Blackmiles had been dug out in many places. The BAGS Agreement, Cricket Club, Cem’ C’taker’s and cemetery field rental agreement should all be signed well in time for the new F/Y.

9. Finance Matters:

a) To resolve to approve the accounts up to 28 Feb 2025.

221. It was RESOLVED to accept the accounts to 28/2/25

b) To resolve to agree to the payment of invoices on the list of transactions for approval, including the rise in the printing cost of the newsletter. 

222. It was RESOLVED to agree to the £5 increase in printing costs of the newsletter to £80 per print by KP Printing, and to purchase a further 5 hours of website maintenance time in this F/Y at a cost of £108.00. All other listed payments were agreed. See Appendix C.

c) To consider if any works are required under the responsibility of riparian rights for any council land, to allocate tasks and set budgets to organise if so.

223. Cllr Middlebrook said she had been unable to contact the farmer, but would do so for the next meeting.

d) To resolve on the reply to the offer from SKDC of purchasing flood defence equipment and allocate budget.

224. It was agreed that as advised by SKDC, it was probably better to keep with one type of defence, and as 150 sandbags had recently been obtained from SKDC, it was better to order more of the same. It was suggested that the Flood Group could ask that sandbags be stored inside if possible, to prolong their usefulness, and that unused ones be returned for re-distribution. Cllr Middlebrook was asked to feedback approximate quantities used so far to enable order quantities to be assessed. The information to be fed back by the end of March, but a recommendation of purchasing 200 further sandbags at an approximate cost of £240 was agreed.

e) To ratify the agreement to accept £500 towards the grass cutting for the next financial year in recompense for the damage done to the patio at the pavilion.

225. It was RESOLVED to accept the offer from Glendale of a £500 allowance against the grass cutting for F/Y 25-26 in recompense of the damage done to the patio.

f) To consider any grant funding that may be available for works required at the pavilion.

226. After discussion it was RESOLVED to hold an EGM meeting on Tuesday April 8 to discuss works required at the recreation ground as a whole.

g) To consider quotes received for the replacement of the front door of the pavilion and replacement tables and chairs - deferred

h) To discuss whether to accept the quote for materials only from Huws Gray for £1887.46 to replace the patio and accept the offer from the members of the CC  to carry out the works FOC, or to consider a repair only.

227. It was RESOLVED to accept the quote for materials as above and accept the offer of FOC labour from the Cricket Club. It was requested that the CC be asked to complete the painting of the containers at some point during the season.

i) To get an update on the heaters in the pavilion now that a new meter has been fitted and resolve as to whether or not to replace the current heating system - 

Deferred.

10. ADMIN MATTERS

a) To review the Cricket Club Agreement and agree any amendments. 

228. It was RESOLVED to delete point 11 as it is no longer applicable, and to delete point 12 as it is duplicated at point 5.

b) To review and resolve on any amendments to all Council policies, any recommendations or updates circulated previously.

      229. It was RESOLVED that as from April 1 2025, the cemetery regulations should be amended to state that an ERoB needs to be purchased in order for a memorial to be laid.

d) To consider any planning applications or Statutory consultation letter.

      230. There were no planning applications that required discussion, the statutory consultation letter was discussed and it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council had no comment to make.

      12. VILLAGE MATTERS

            a)    Commemorative plaque.

                  231. After consultation with the agreed supplier, he had confirmed that in order

                  to keep the words as chosen, the plaque would be too small. An alternative

                  plaque from a different supplier had been sourced and an illustration given. It was 

                   RESOLVED to purchase the second larger plaque from Majestic Metals Ltd at a

                    cost of £310 + VAT with a delivery charge of £4

b) To discuss the organisation of an Emergency Plan and agree a date for a Public Presentation – deferred.

c) To discuss any flood related issues if not raised previously in any agenda point.

d) Cemetery – General discussion to plan for the way forward, and to consider any quotes obtained. 

232. Two quotes were presented, one for a low brick wall with railings on top, and one for railings only. Due to the considerable difference in price, it was RESOLVED to replace the current gates with railings only. Two further quotes to be sought before any decision on supplier and cost could be made. As Councillors had visited the cemetery and raised some concerns regarding housekeeping issues relating to the field, these were discussed and the Clerk asked to write to the tenant suggesting how this could be improved. It was generally thought that the driveway would need repair in a couple of years. It was also felt that there was no necessity to make plans regarding any extension at this time and it should be re-assessed in 3 years when planning for budget for F/Y 2028/9.

e) To resolve on how to best manage the soil pile at the cemetery.

233. It was decided that as the soil was not of good quality, in the first instance, Cllr Middlebrook was asked to contact a farmer regarding its removal.

f) To consider and allocate tasks and budget for any works required following receipt of the annual recreation ground inspection. Report not received.

g) Potential new project at recreation ground.

 234. Although another meeting had taken place with a supplier, no written information had been received to consider.

h) Biodiversity project – no update.

i) Sponsorship of planters

235. Although a possible sponsor had been sourced it was agreed that in hindsight this could detract from the new village signs and as many of the plants were donated anyway, it was RESOLVED not to go ahead with this. 

j) Co-option – No applications received.

NEXT MEETING: EGM APRIL 8, STARTING AT 6.30PM. 

THE  ANNUAL PARISH MEETING AND  ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL FOLLOW ON  TUESDAY 13 MAY AT THE PAVILION, RECREATION GROUND STARTING AT 6PM

            APPENDIX A: Payments from 1/2 to  28/2/25

DATE	PAYEE	AMOUNT
17/02/25	SMARTEST ENERGY DD	27.00
17/02/25	B’BORO VILLAGE HALL	120.00
17/02/25	CLLR WOODHEAD	81.44
21/02/25	SKDC (DD)	58.00
25/02/25	GLENDALE	1439.82
25/02/25	H BEAVER	949.52
25/02/25	H BEAVER	103.34
28/02/25	UNITY BANK	6.00

 

APPENDIX B: RECEIPTS RECEIVED  1/2-28/2/25

DATE	FROM	AMOUNT
10/02/2025	SKDC – BIODIVERSITY GRANT	1992.42
12/02/2025	JE SEVERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS	825.00
14/02/2025	HORBLING PARISH COUNCIL	1200.00

 

APPENDIX C: Transactions for authorisation on 11 MARCH 2025

PAYEE	DESCRIPTION	AMOUNT
CLERK	MARCH SALARY	949.52
CLERK	OFFICE ALLOWANCE  EXP’S	.85+25.00
YOUR LOCAL LINCS	NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION	30.00
KR PRINTING	PRINTING OF NEWSLETTER	80.00
COMPLETE WEED CONTROL	VILLAGE MAINTENANCE	516.00
HERITAGE PROPERTY SERV’S	PATIO	1887.46
REC CARETAKER	FEB/MARCH	570.00
SPRINGWELLS CARETAKER	FEB/MARCH	192.00
CEMETERY CARETAKER	FEB/MARCH	192.00
COMMUNITY CLEANER	FEB/MARCH	416.04
CLLR WOODHEAD	PRINTER INK/MILEAGE/PADLOCK/LIGHT	52.53
LALC	WEBSITE HOURS	108.00

SIGNED: Cllr J Tweddle.

SIGNED: Cllr C Williamson.