January 2026 Agenda

NOTICE OF A MEETING OF HECKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL 

Dear Sir/Madam

You are summoned to attend the Precept Meeting of Heckington Parish Council to be held in the Parish Council Chambers, St Andrews Street, Heckington on Monday 12 January 2026.

Members of the Press and Public are invited to attend.  All members of the Parish Council are summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving upon the business to be transacted at the meeting, as set out hereunder.

 

Signed: Heidi Wilson, Clerk & RFO                         Dated: 17 December 2025

 

AGENDA

The Parish Council may pass a resolution on any agenda item, even if the agenda does not specifically state ‘to resolve to approve’.  This wording ‘to resolve to approve’ in certain circumstances could be interpreted as predetermination.  The parish council have received advice from LALC in relation to this matter.

 

1. Chair’s Welcome 

 

2. Public Forum: 

Fifteen minutes will be set aside for Members of the Public to ask questions or make short statements to the Council.  The Council may choose not to answer any question; a response may instead be given in writing.  Matters raised may be added to an agenda for a future meeting.  Members of the public are welcome to stay for the Parish Council meeting after the public session but are not permitted to speak during the meeting.  If you would like to make comment during the meeting, please raise your hand if you are able to do so. 

 

3. Councillors present

 

4. Apologies

 

5. To receive any reports of member’s interest, pecuniary or otherwise in relation to the agenda and any dispensations in accordance with the Localism Act 2011

 

6. Finance

a) To review the potential a valuation for the sale of the Nilfisk mower. 

b) To review with a view to approving the draft budget for 2026/27 to include a review of reserves, income and expenditure.

 

i) Review of Reserves (item in italics added since the Finance Committee meeting on 30 October 2025 and the Parish Council meeting on 27 November 2025.

Record of ring-fenced/general reserves (as amended)

Proposed NEW figures

Capital Equipment

10,000.00* review

Elections

7,000.00

Legal Fees

10,000.00*

Chamber Maintenance

2,000.00

Memorials

0.00

Verge Maintenance

0.00

Lift

0.00

Rates

0.00

Trees

0.00

Coronation Balance

0.00

Cemetery 2025/26 Carry forward (variable)

12,515.11

Cemetery

10,000.00

Emergency Building Repairs

0.00

General Reserves

15,000.00

TOTALS

66,515.11

 

ii) Review of Income generally and in terms of cemetery fees (to include discussion about the sale of the Nilfisk mower)

 

INCOME SOURCES (excluding Precept) 2026/27

LCC Litter Picking Grant 1809.00

Cemetery Fees 3000.00*

Library LCC 5167.00

Library Fines 80.00

Fair 300.00

Room Hire 100.00

Wayleave 174.60

Interest 800.00

TOTAL 11,430.60

INCOME SOURCES (excluding Precept)

2026/27

LCC Litter Picking Grant

1809.00

Cemetery Fees

3000.00*

Library LCC

5167.00

Library Fines

80.00

Fair

300.00

Room Hire

100.00

Wayleave

174.60

Interest

800.00

TOTAL

11,430.60

CEMETERY FEES

 

 

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS OF BURIAL (TABLE 1)

Resident

Non-resident

 

2025/26

2026/27

2025/26

2026/27

For the Exclusive Right of Burial for 99 years in an earthen grave 6ft by 3 feet

210.00

221.00

363.00

381.00

For the Exclusive Right of Burial for 99 years in a cremated remains plot 3ft by 2 feet

162.00

170.00

294.00

308.00

If a larger plot is required, 2 standard grave spaces will be required (Parish Council, 31 October 2016).

INTERMENT (TABLE 2)

Resident

Non-resident

 

2025/26

2026/27

2025/26

2026/27

A still-born child whose age does not exceed one year

0

0

0

0

A child under the age of 15 years

115.00

120.75

173.00

182.00

Adults (aged 16 years and above)

187.00

196.00

317.00

333.00

Cremated remains (burial)

126.00

132.00

222.00

233.00

Cremated remains (spreading on the surface of a grave or other designated area)

80.00

84.00

145.00

162.00

The right to bury cremated remains in a grave space already having been used for a burial shall only be allowed provided the recently deceased is listed on the Exclusive Right of Burial or, a transfer of ownership will be required.

These fees exclude the digging of the grave.  This must be arranged separately or via the Funeral Director.

MEMORIALS & TABLETS (TABLE 3)

Resident

Non-resident

 

2025/26

2026/27

2025/26

2026/27

 

For the Exclusive Rights to erect a headstone for 99 years. 

Single

 

 

90.00

 

 

95.00

 

 

180.00

 

 

189.00

Double*

 

142.50

 

283.50

Kerbs*

 

50.00

 

100.00

For the Exclusive Rights to erect a tablet for 99 years

80.00

84.00

160.00

168.00

TRANSFER OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHT OF BURIAL (TABLE 4)

 

 

Administration Fee

10.00

Exclusive Right of Burial Administration Fee

10.00

Interment Application Administration Fee

10.00

Application to Erect a Memorial Administration Fee

10.00

Surrender of Exclusive Right of Burial Administration Fee

10.00

Transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial Administration Fee

25.00

Search of the Register of Burials

0.00

Chapel Hire

25.00

 (5% increase approved at the November Meeting of the Parish Council)

 

iii) Review of Expenditure (Draft Budget 2026/27 subject to change)

GENERAL

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Insurances including motor fleet

6300.00

7500.00

8000.00

Annual Subscriptions

400.00

2500.00

5250.00

Village Hall Hire

200.00

120.00

200.00

Election Costs

15,155.00

7000.00

3500.00

Speedwatch

500.00

0.00

300.00

SID

500.00

500.00

500.00

Defibrillator

600.00

500.00

1000.00

Training Courses/Subs

800.00

2000.00

1250.00

Legal Fees

9098.72

3500.00

5000.00

PWLB

3900.00

 

 

Banking Fees

200.00

100.00

150.00

Computer Maintenance

1000.00

540.00

630.00

Stationery & postage

200.00

250.00

600.00

Office Equipment

790.00

200.00

750.00

Printer Ink

 

485.00

750.00

Telephone

1000.00

120.00

200.00

Broadband

500.00

360.00

400.00

Sundries/Hospitality

350.00

 

 

Refunds

0.00

150.00

150.00

Land Purchase

0.00

 

 

Payroll

1200.00

500.00

500.00

Library/Hub

 

 

10.00

Chair’s Allowance

780.00

 

 

Internal Audit

1100.00

500.00

525.00

External Audit

 

1000.00

1000.00

Printing (external)

 

500.00

 

Councillor’s expenses

150.00

0.00

250.00

Delivery fees (newsletter)

 

1956.00

 

Portaloo

0.00

1500.00

1260.00

Office equipment (ring-fenced)

 

 

 

Chair’s Allowance

780.00

0.00

300.00*

Drainage Rates (Star Fen)

0.00

57.00

 

TOTAL

45,503.72

31,838.00

32,475.00

STAFFING

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Salaries inc PAYE and NIC

52,000.00

69,953.00

80,000.00

Locum Cover

0.00

0.00

5,000.00

Pensions

4500.00

3000.00

7,000.00

Staff Travel

125.00

540.00

0.00

TOTAL

56,625.00

73,493.00

92,000.00

CARETAKER & VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

2024/25

2025/26 (as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Business Rates (Village Green)

610.00

550.00

565.00

Village Maintenance

3700.00

3500.00

 

Village Green Electricity

 

 

500.00

Replacement Noticeboard/s

 

 

5,000.00*

Caretaker Equipment, Repairs and Servicing

6000.00

3000.00

4,600.00

Caretaker Supplies

2130.00

500.00

1000.00

Diesel

               1250.00

1500.00

0.00

Petrol

250.00

500.00

1000.00

Trees/Hedges General

4000.00

1500.00

4585.00

Other/Registered Waste Removal

 

500.00

100.00

TOTAL

17,940.00

11,550.00

17,350.00

CEMETERY

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Water

200.00

150.00

155.00

Electricity

3000.00

 

 

General Maintenance

1000.00

3000.00

3,500.00

Project Forget Me Knot

 

0.00

7,500.00

Memorial Safety Checks

0.00

3500.00

7,500.00

Pest Control

0.00

500.00

600.00

Trees/Hedges

0.00

2500.00

2,500.00

Rates

610.00

625.00

1,061.00*

Reserves

0.00

12515.11

See reserves table

Totals

4810.00

22,790.11

22,816.00

WORKSHOP

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Equipment

 

 

0.00

Electricity

3000.00

 

1,000.00

General Maintenance

 

 

2,500.00

First Aid Supplies

 

 

50.00

Inspections & testing

 

 

500.00

Totals

3,000.00

5,500.00

4,050.00

SECTION 137/GRANTS

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

TOTAL

2300.00

4,100.00

6,000.00*

CHAMBERS

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Water

400.00

0.00

500.00

Electricity

9000.00

4250.00

3,750.00

General Maintenance

7619.88

1000.00

3,500.00

Lift Servicing LOLER & Maintenance

3000.00

500.00

750.00

Window Cleaning

 

150.00

150.00

Cleaning

 

720.00

700.00

Supplies (cleaning/hygiene)

 

200.00

100.00

Chambers Equipment

 

200.00

750.00

Testing/Inspections

250.00

1820.00

7,000.00

Building Repairs (Emergency)

 

0.00

2,000.00

Rates

2,000.00

0.00

2,725.00*

TOTALS

22,269.88

8,840.00

21,925.00

PLAYGROUND

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Annual Inspections

 

 

273.00

Repairs

 

 

2677.00

Cleaning & general maintenance

 

 

50.00

TOTALS

400.00

3,000.00

3,000.00

ALLOTMENT PARISH COUNCIL

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

 

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Testing

 

 

300.00

Trees/Hedges

1,300.00

1,500.00

1,300.00

Dykes

0.00

0.00

200.00

Drainage Rates

0.00

110.00

150.00

Pest Control

0.00

450.00

550.00

TOTALS

1,300.00

2,060.00

2,500.00

EVENTS

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

TOTALS

 

400.00

500.00

PAVILION

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

Water

 

 

 

Electricity

 

 

 

Maintenance (Buildings)

1000.00

 

 

Maintenance general (to include pest control)

 

 

 

Inspections/testing

250.00

 

 

Special Projects

0.00

 

 

Other

0.00

 

 

TOTAL

1,250.00

50,000.00

20,000*

FINETURF (CIL)

2024/25

2025/26

(as amended)

2026/27

Draft Proposals

TOTALS

5288.00

3888.00

8650.00

 

TOTALS EXPENDITURE

 

2026/27

General Administration

 

32,475.00

Staffing

 

92,000.00

Caretaker & Village Maintenance

 

17,350.00

Cemetery

 

22,816.00

Workshop

 

4,050.00

S137 and Grants

 

6,000.00

Chambers

 

21,925.00

Playground

 

3,000.00

Allotment

 

2,500.00

Events

 

500.00

Pavilion

 

20,000.00

TOTALS

 

222,616.00

 

Predicted Year End Balance

30,000.00

Proposed Reserves

66,515.11

Proposed Reserves minus Year End Balance+

36,515.11

Budgeted Expenditure for 2026/27

222,616.00

Budgeted Estimated Income for 2026/27 exc. sale of Nilfisk as this is not guaranteed income

11,430.60

Precept Request 2026/27

247,700.51

c) To resolve to set the precept figure for 2026/27.

i) To review the impact of this upon the Council Tax Figure using the 2026/27 Council Tax  calculator provided by NKDC. 

 

7. Date and time of the next meeting/s

Committees

Finance Committee Meeting, TBC

Allotment Management Committee Meeting, Thursday 5 February 2026 at 7.30pm.

Staffing Committee Meeting – Not scheduled

Cemetery Committee Meeting, Thursday 26 February 2026 at 7.30pm

Pavilion Committee Meeting – Not scheduled

 

Parish Council

Monday 26 January 2026

Monday 23 February 2026

Monday 30 March 2026

Monday 27 April 2026

Monday 25 May 2026

Monday 29 June 2026

Monday 27 July 2026

Monday 28 September 2026

Monday 26 October 2026

Monday 30 November 2026

 

8. Questions from the public (if the Chair permits)

 

9. Closed Session

d) i) To resolve to approve the salary range for the role of Caretaker.