2026 Minutes

Billingborough Parish Council Meeting

 

Minutes of the meeting of Billingborough Parish Council held on 10 Feb 2026 in St Andrew’s Church Billingborough.

 

Present: Cllrs C Woodhead (Chairman), H Middleton, J Tweddle, M Turner, A Volanakis.

In attendance: H Beaver, Clerk. C Cllr Hill (6.30pm – 7.22pm). A Member of the public (6.42-7.22pm).

 

There being no members of the public present, the Chairman opened the meeting at 18.30. The member of the public who attended arrived late as he was unaware of the change of location. As the Chairman had already opened the meeting, he was invited to speak at 7.03pm. He advised that he was concerned about the level of the water in the Spring Wells and that he felt it was affecting adjacent property. He asked the Council to consider investigating the design of the sluice gate that had been fitted after a severe blockage in the drain occurred some years ago, as he felt this could be a factor that was making things worse. Councillors offered to look at this again and try to establish the history of the project.

 

1. Chairman’s opening Remarks

080.The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting

2. Apologies for absence – none received.

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 13 Jan 2026

081. It was pointed out that there was an error at point 166, the amount of increase for the Parish share of the new Council Tax would be 4.46p and not 2.32p as circulated. The Chairman altered this and signed the alteration. It was then RESOLVED to accept the minutes as circulated with the amendment.

6. Receive any external reports.

082. C Cllr Hill was aware of a request to fix a streetlight, to have additional streetlights and to have an extended speed restriction along Pointon Road. Cllr Hill said he would submit these requests but said it would be helpful to request an Archer speed survey (Clerk to action). Cllr Hill was also asked if he knew when the already agreed extension to the speed restriction on Birthorpe Rd would be put in place. He was unable to provide a time frame. He was also asked if the agreed resurfacing of the pavements could be expediated. He suggested that as many Fixmystreet complaints be submitted as possible to highlight the condition of the pavements. He reported that the County Council budget increase had currently been decreased to +2.99%.

083. D Cllr Turner reported that the Local Government Reorganisation preferences had been submitted, an answer was not expected for another 7 weeks and in the meantime he encouraged everyone to take part in the Government survey about the topic. He also reported on behalf of B’Boro Flood Grp that representatives from LCC Highways had found blockages near the station bridge between Station and Folkingham Rds and also that Anglian Water had reported that the repairs required on Vine St and Low St could not be fixed currently due to a lack of funds. When asked if there was any development with regards responsibility for the SUDS system from Barley Fields, Cllr Turner stated that documents had been found that indicated LCC had agreed to accept responsibility for maintenance in 2005. C Cllr Hill agreed to look in to this.

084. D Cllr Turner reported that management from the Fortescue Arms had been promised by the owners a while ago that works would start on the roof. As yet no works had commenced and no planning applications had been received to do so.

7. Receive any Community groups or Organisation reports – See above.

8. Clerk’s Report. 

085. The Clerk reported that total monies across both bank accounts as at 31/01/2026 was £50,034.02. Although income was due just before year end, it would be necessary to transfer monies from the reserve account in order to pay invoices. The issue with the CCTV has been resolved. Chairs to replace the broken ones at the pavilion had been sourced from the village hall. The VH Committee had kindly agreed to donate some that were no longer required, Cllr Middlebrook offered to take any chairs away that needed disposing of. The Clerk advised that vermin had been in the pavilion and the Council had been advised to cement along the roof under the tiles. The Clerk also advised that the lack of heating in conjunction with the building being closed over winter was causing deterioration of the building in general. One of the external toilet doors was letting water in and members of the Cricket Club had offered to fix it temporarily to stop the water ingress. She also advised that the protocol of turning the water off in winter was a change to the procedure adopted in the previous year, the Legionella management plan would need altering to reflect this change and the annual risk assessment would also need to take this in to account. The Council was informed that a new induction leaflet was being planned and was to be presented at the March meeting.

9. Finance Matters:

a) To resolve to approve the accounts up to 31 Jan 2026. 

086. It was RESOLVED to accept the accounts as circulated to 31/01/2026

b) To resolve to agree to the payment of invoices on the list of transactions for approval. 

087. It was RESOLVED to authorise the payments as listed.

c) To agree the purchase of materials for re-decoration of the pavilion toilets, kitchen area and changing rooms- already agreed at point 9b.

d) To consider maintenance works being carried out on the currently unused external toilet doors.

088. It was RESOLVED to accept the offer from the Cricket Club to temporarily repair one external toilet door as mentioned in agenda item 8.

e) To discuss mitigation requirements following both a burst pipe and the discovery of pest activity at the pavilion, and to agree spend if necessary.

089. It was RESOLVED to purchase poison and step ladders. Quotes to be presented at the next meeting, and also to continue turning the water off over winter.

f) To discuss the ongoing location for PC meetings and to authorise any spend required.

090. It was RESOLVED to ask the PCC for permission to hold meetings in the church during winter months and to continue meeting in the pavilion from May to September.

g) To discuss renewal of the brown tourist sign and if agreed resolve to authorise the £100 charge.

091. It was RESOLVED to re-apply for the sign for another 5 years.

h) To approve the proposed provider of, and associated charge, if any, for the change of email provider to a Gov.uk domain.

092. The Clerk’s email was in the application process for a gov.uk domain provided by Parish on Line at no charge for 5 years.

i) To receive a report of the recently completed electrical inspection and review any recommendations.

093. The report had been received and all was in order. There were however recommendations that were not mandatory that would cost approx. £1k to have done. It was RESOLVED not to go ahead with the recommendations.

j) To discuss repairs required to the planter outside the recreation ground and to set a budget for repair or renewal.

094. After discussion it was decided that the planter could be repaired initially but this needed to be evaluated when setting the budget for F/Y 27/28

10. Admin:

a) To review the Cemetery Caretaker’s contract and resolve on any amendments or additions.

095. It was RESOLVED that no amendments were required.

b) To review the BAGS agreement and resolve on any amendments or additions

096. It was RESOLVED that no amendments were required.

c) To review the Cricket Club agreement and resolve on any amendments or additions.

097. It was RESOLVED that no amendments were required but a request was made that the Cricket Club be reminded of its obligation to adhere to points 5,9 and 13. 

11. To review the outcome of the memorial inspection that has taken place at the cemetery and resolve on any action and amount of budgetary spend, if either required.

098. After discussion it was decided that before any relatives were contacted a repeat test should be done in June, in dry weather, to evaluate any difference.

12. To review the pavilion Legionella and Fire Health and Safety risk assessments if available. To resolve on any action needed and agree budgetary spend if required-

Deferred to next meeting.

13. To receive any update or further discuss the proposed project at the recreation ground.

099. Cllr Volanakis reported that he had arranged meetings with those companies that had quoted previously. A discussion around the design followed.

14. To receive any update or further discuss proposed new gates at the cemetery - no update available.

15. To discuss, if required any matters relating to flood/drainage issues ongoing in the village and the Emergency Plan - no update.

16. Co-option – not required.

 

 

 APPENDIX A: Payments from 1 JAN- 31 JAN 2026

DATE	PAYEE	AMOUNT
08/01/26	K E Davey Brown	89.00
08/01/26	Clerk	980.20
08/01/26	Clerk	25.00
08/01/26	Glendale	2177.47
08/01/26	Your Local Lincs	36.00
12/01/26	ICO	47.00
15/01/26	LALC	108.00
15/01/26	LALC	42.00
16/01/26	Smartest Energy	50.00
20/01/26	HMRC	253.44
21/01/26	SKDC	60.17
28/01/26	Starboard Systems Ltd	414.72
29/01/26	EE Ltd	10.80
30/01/26	Caretaker	200.00
30/01/26	Caretaker	150.00
30/01/26	Community Cleaner	433.32
30/01/26	Clerk	980.20
30/01/26	Clerk	25.00
31/01/26	Unity Bank	6.00

 

APPENDIX B: RECEIPTS RECEIVED  1 JAN– 31 JAN 2026

DATE	FROM	AMOUNT
08/01/26	National Grid	3.45

APPENDIX C: Transactions for authorisation on 10 Feb 2026

PAYEE	DESCRIPTION	AMOUNT
Billingborough PC	Transfer from reserve acct	7000.00
A Priestley	Pest Control	120.00
CLERK	Feb Office Allowance	25.00
CLERK	Feb Salary	980.20
HuwGrays	Materials	200.00

 

SIGNED:  Cllr Volanakis

 

SIGNED: Cllr Tweddle

 

 

NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 10 MARCH AT ST ANDREW’S CHURCH BILLINGBOROUGH.