April 2025 Minutes (EOM)
Billingborough Parish Council Meeting
Minutes of the meeting of Billingborough Parish Council held on 8 April 2025 in the Sports Pavilion at the Recreation ground.
Present: Cllrs C Woodhead (Chairman), C Williamson, H Middlebrook, J Tweddle, J Green, A Sharpe, M Turner.
In Attendance: H Beaver (Clerk).
The Chairman opened the meeting at 6.45 pm.
Agenda
1. Chairman’s opening remarks
01. The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the extra meeting.
2. Apologies for absence – none received.
3. Receive any new declarations of interest and consider any requests for a dispensation on any items on the agenda, including voting rights – none received.
4. Approve minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2025
02. It was RESOLVED to accept the minutes as circulated as a true record. The Chairman signed the minutes.
5. Planning Applications.
03. Application 25/0448, the submission of details reserved by conditions 6, 7 and 8 of planning permission S23/0511 regarding the installation of a solar farm at Washdyke Farm, Folkingham, was discussed. It was RESOLVED to make representation reinforcing the original objection and highlighting the cause for concern about the archaeological findings and the damage that would be caused to the chosen delivery route.
6. Clerk’s report, correspondence and matters arising.
04. The Clerk reported that as of 31/3/25, the total balance in both accounts was £55,921.87, that the new management folder for the pavilion was now ready for use and it was agreed that it should be kept in the umpire’s room. The Council was advised that the repairs to the allotment fence were almost complete, but that an area had been left open, confirmation was being sought that this was being completed. Also, that 2 bags of sand and 200 sand bags had been ordered and that there was a change to the Practitioners Guide for the F/Y 26-27, asking that Council emails were run by a privately owned domaine.
7. Financial Matters:
a) To resolve to approve the accts up to 31 March, as circulated.
05. It was RESOLVED to accept the accounts to 31/3/2025 as circulated.
b) To resolve to approve payment of invoices on Appendix C.
06. It was RESOLVED that all invoices on the schedule, appendix C, should be authorised except for the payment to Playdale that it was decided should not be progressed.
c) To receive a report from Cllr Turner regarding financial checks to 31/3/25 - deferred
8. The Pavilion and Recreation Ground.
a) To receive a report from Cllr Tweddle on the outcome of the legionella testing and assets inspected, both in the pavilion and the pavilion itself for the asset register.
07.Cllr Tweddle reported that there was a query about the efficiency of one of the showers, it was agreed that this should be isolated and a notice erected stating it was out of order. Also, that she needed to liaise with the Cricket Club Chairman to clarify a query regarding the bibtap, and other plumbing issues which she would do as soon as possible and report back at the next meeting. When checking the pavilion for the asset register check, Cllr Tweddle reported that in her opinion the roller shutters required maintenance, and the front door and the bowling green door needed replacing.
b) To receive a report from Cllr Sharpe following on from the annual inspection of the play equipment and assets inspected for the annual inspection of the asset register.
08 Cllr Sharpe reported that the play park was overdue a clean in all areas and that some of the equipment required a touch up with paint. Aside from the cradle swing seat that was broken, (replacement for this was planned and expenditure had been authorised) and a few trip hazard areas, there were no high risk areas that needed rectifying. The new gate needed adjustment to remain compliant and a new sign was needed for the play park and an update required for the MUGA. The constant need to re-position the kickboards that run along the base of the wire fencing of the tennis courts was discussed. Cllr Sharpe also stated that net of the baseball hoops were either missing or needed re-positioning. Regarding other items on the asset register at the recreation ground, he reported that all benches and bins were in either good or adequate order, but again would benefit from a clean.
9. The Way Forward:
a) To consider and discuss comments raised from the reports at 8a
09. It was generally felt that allowances made in the budget would be sufficient to rectify the maintenance issues raised; to rectify the areas of concern relating to the legionella testing and also to replace the front door with a pvc fire door with no glazing, and a side door also of pvc, half glazed with an emergency push bar inside and lockable from the outside, assuming grant funding for part of the latter could be obtained.
b) To consider and discuss comments raised from the reports at 8b.
10.Again, it was generally felt that allowances made in the budget would be sufficient to rectify the issues raised and Cllr Middlebrook offered to liaise with the Scouts and Cadets to organise a clean. Cllr Green offered to help with re-painting areas that required touching up.
c) To formulate a time framed master plan for the maintenance and development of the recreation ground to include all areas including the pavilion.
11.All maintenance issues would be rectified over the spring/summer season. Regarding the proposed development, it was decided to look at the grant funding requirements, in order to ascertain if the requirements could be met.
There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 8.14pm
Next meeting: Tuesday 13 May 6pm ANNUAL PARISH MEETING followed by the ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL at the Pavilion, Recreation Ground.