Full Council Minutes

Minutes of the Meeting of Billinghay Parish Council held at Billinghay Methodist Church, Victoria Street on Monday 1 December 2025 at 7.00pm.

Present: Cllr Catlett – Chair, Miller (RM) Cottrell (SC) Greetham (RG) Vipond (AV) Ledger (JL)

County Councillor East (DE)

Parish Clerk Helen Key (HK)

Public Session

7 members of the public present

1 member with an interest of co-option

6 members of the public attended to update the Council on the progress of the reopening of Billinghay Swimming Pool. A new committee was voted in on 24 November 2025 at the EGM. They are currently fund raising to reopen the pool in April 2026, several events are being organised, a crowd fundraising page has been set up, and they attended the meeting to seek help from the Parish Council. It had been brought to their attention that funding was available from a development site within the village. They asked why this had all been given to the Village Hall playing fields. It was reported that funds were available from a development. These are to be used only for recreational purposes; no facilities are to be placed on that development site. It was confirmed to the group that this had not been given to the village hall playing fields. The council will look at including the pool in its considerations as this matter had already been placed on this meeting’s agenda.

Minutes of the Council Meeting

1.To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Liles

It was proposed by RM, seconded by RG, and agreed unanimously to accept these apologies.

2.  To receive Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary or other registerable interests in agenda items not previously recorded on members’ Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Registerable Interests' declaration.

None declared.

3. To receive reports from County and District Councillors.

County Councillor East reported that there was not much news presently, other than Let’s Talk Lincolnshire and the Permit Scheme surveys were taking place. Food waste collections will be coming in 2026.

The ongoing matter of trailers in Queen Street, is being monitored and any complaints are to be forwarded to the anti-social behaviour team.

County Councillor East mentioned the Councillor Volunteering Scheme. This could be a possible way that help could be given to the swimming pool. Billinghay Parish Council can request help from contractors of Lincolnshire County Council to provide manpower for projects within the village. (Details will be forwarded by County Councillor East and distributed to Council asap).

No District Councillors attended.

4. To accept the notes from the meeting of 3 November 2025 as minutes and a true record.

It was proposed by SC, seconded by JL, and agreed unanimously that they be accepted.

4a. To accept the notes from the Annual Finance meeting of 17 November 2025 as minutes and a true record.

It was proposed by AV, seconded by SC, and agreed unanimously that they be accepted.

5. Clerk’s Report. (Details forwarded prior to the meeting).

Points that arose:

No response was received from the Flood Resilience Team. The Clerk will chase.

It was reported that Mrs Beryl Gilbert had sadly passed away on the 12 November and her funeral will be on the 10 December at 11am at Lincoln Crematorium. Mrs Gilbert had for many years kindly arranged the flowers on the War memorial.

6. Correspondence

Items forwarded: NALC bulletins, LALC bulletins, CCLA market update, LCC permit scheme consultation, Billinghay swimming pool EGM poster, University of Lincoln research request, NK Parish & Town forum update, Stayingalive Archer Survey results and findings, LCC Town & Parish news, Community resilience news, NKDC Town & Parish newsletter, LCC Your thoughts on Lincolnshire County Council survey.

Points that arose:

No points arose.

7. Finance

a. To approve the payments made during November 2025 (list circulated to Cllrs prior to the meeting). See Appendix A

It was proposed by SC, seconded by JL, and agreed unanimously to approve the payments.

b. To consider the Insurance liability cover to be adequate for renewal of the policy (details forwarded to councillors prior to the meeting).

It was discussed and found the Speed Indicator Devices were not covered and the Clerk will add these to the policy.

8. Planning Applications to consider as a Statutory Consultee (as detailed below, may include those received which required a decision before this meeting or arrived after the close of the agenda).

None received.

Planning other:

Street Naming Land off Park Lane Teaky Close adopted by planning services. The family of the Late Mr Richard Wood have been informed of this decision.

25/1408/TCA Tree works St Michael’s Churchyard Removal of various trees comment forwarded to NKDC Fully support in order to meet our health and safety obligations.

9. LCC Highways updates

TTRO/TTR013643 Carriageway Patching Twenty Foot Bank 05/01/2025 – 09/01/2025

10. To report on risk assessments/safety checks. Report from Cllrs where applicable.

AV reported that a streetlight on High Street was not working, the Clerk informed her this has been reported along with several others around the village and updates are that they out for repair by a contractor asap.

It was mentioned that these matters can be placed on FixMyStreet by members of the public.

11. To receive updates on the arrangements for the Christmas Tree Lighting Event.

RM reported that the tree had been erected today and asked for the helpers to be thanked. The clerk will do this asap.

The clerk reported that she had been contacted by a guide leader who had asked if the girls could make their promise in front of the tree following the blessing service. This was thought to be an excellent idea.

12. To consider the quotes for the works required in the cemetery to cut back neighbouring overhang (details forwarded prior to the meeting).

The chair and clerk met with an arborist at the cemetery and the advice given was to take back the overhang to the boundary fence. If only a few feet of overhang were cut back the trees would not grow and would look unsightly as well as posing a hazard.

It was proposed by AC, seconded by JL, and agreed unanimously to accept the quote of £850 + VAT by P&P French.

The clerk was asked to arrange the work and to write to the neighbour to inform them this work will be taking place.

13. To consider and approve the cost of the work to correct the leaning gravestones in St Michael’s Churchyard (details forwarded prior to the meeting).

It was proposed by AV, seconded by RG, and agreed unanimously to accept the estimate of £4000 + VAT from William Kent memorials subject to permission being granted as is, by the Diocese of Lincoln, their next meeting is 10 December 2025. Should any conditions be imposed by the Diocese this matter will be reassessed.

14. To consider the swimming pool funding.

This matter was discussed in length following the points raised by the public attendance at the start of this meeting.

It was proposed by SC, seconded by RM, and agreed unanimously to ask the pool committee to submit a delayed grant application which would then be considered (at the time of the grant submissions the pool was closed).

It was proposed by AC, seconded by JL, to continue to submit the planning application for area 2 of the proposed play equipment for the village hall playing field and to ask the pool committee to forward quotes and detailed works required to reopen the pool asap. These can be put forward for consideration by North Kesteven District Council for use of the S106 funding.

The clerk was asked to contact the chair of the swimming pool committee.

15. Reports from Councillors and any agenda items for the next meeting.

No reports from Councillors.

The clerk asked if it would be acceptable to close the office between Christmas and the New Year.

Appendix A

Meeting Closed at 8.27pm           

Signed

Date