2026 Agendas (Full Council)

NOTICE OF A MEETING OF HECKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL 

Dear Sir/Madam

You are summoned to attend the meeting of Heckington Parish Council to be held in the Parish Council Chambers, St Andrews Street, Heckington on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 7.30pm. 

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: 10 September 2026

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 Opening Remarks

2. Co-option

To note an email from Elections at North Kesteven District Council dated 21 August 2026 confirming that there had been no valid request for an election to fill the seat arising from the resignation of Councillor Garlick. The Parish Council may proceed with co-option. 

3. 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.  

4. Councillors present

5. Apologies 

6. 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

7. Report from the County and District Councillors

8. Minutes 

a) To resolve to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 27 July 2026.

b) To resolve to approve the minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on Thursday 27 August 2026. 

9. General 

a) To receive an update from the Parish Council in relation to the transfer of the Pavilion to the Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Heckington Pavilion and Playing Fields.

i) To review the actions required for the Disposal of land for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1972 section 127. 

• To resolve to approve the placement of a statutory notice in Sleaford Standard for a 2-week consecutive period commencing on a date to be agreed at a cost of £1420.12 exclusive of VAT. 

• To agree a date for receipt of objections. 

ii) General Disposal Consent 2003.

• To resolve to ratify the cost (£700.00) of a valuation of the Pavilion and Playing fields by Pygott and Crone as required by the General Disposal Consent 2003 in order to determine whether consent is required from the Secretary of State to lease the Pavilion and Playing Fields to the CIO for a period of 30-years. 

• To establish whether the lease represents the best consideration reasonably obtainable or whether the General Disposal Consent 2003 applies further to advice from LALC.  

iii) To determine the management of the financial transition arrangements with the CIO. 

iv) To note the updated Constitution. 

v) To review the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) further to a review by the Finance Committee on 7 September 2026 with a view to making recommendations to the CIO for amendments. 

vi) To resolve to approve a publication date for the joint statement if there are no objections to the proposal (to prevent any unnecessary delays).

vii) To ratify the wording for the letter to the CIO re the MUGA. 

b) To receive an update from the Clerk in relation to East Heckington service provision (Defibrillator, handrails, War Memorial (PC), grass cutting (verges), noticeboard and waste bin). 

c) To resolve to approve the removal of the Clerk’s office hours who will henceforth be available by appointment only. 

d) Health & Safety 

To note the following:

i) The annual RoSPA Playground Inspection of Mayflower Park was completed on 1 September 2026.

ii) The six monthly fire alarm service, Pavilion was completed on 12 August 2026.  

iii) The lift service (Chambers) was carried out on 2 September 2026. 

iv) The fire extinguisher servicing Workshop and Chapel has been booked for 5 October 2026. 

v) The legionella risk assessment for the Chambers is scheduled for 22 October 2026. 

e) Ratifications :

To ratify:

• The appointment of Councillor Young to the Staffing and Cemetery Committees.

• The appointment of Councillor Tucker to the Finance Committee.

• The appointment of a new cleaning service at £18.00 per hour (1.5 hours per week) per recommendations from the Finance Committee.

• The purchase of Hammerite metal paint at a maximum cost of £59.99 inclusive of VAT.

• The review of amendments to the lease by Chattertons. 

• The purchase of play grade rubber matting for repairs to surfacing beneath the carousel at the Mayflower playground (off Mayflower Drive) at a cost of £151.38 exclusive of VAT further to a previous resolution dated August 2025 and the purchase of rubber tubing for repairs to the slide at a cost of £16.66 exclusive of VAT.

• The purchase of an Allen wrench set and a pliers set at a cost of £8.32 and £24.99 exclusive of VAT. 

• The purchase of additional storage for the Clerk’s email address at a cost of £14.99 exclusive of VAT. 

• The purchase of wreaths, wood crosses and lamp post poppies for Rem1embrance using Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 at a cost of £177.50 exclusive of VAT. 

• The approval of proofs for signage for the Chambers and Cemetery. 

• The use of portable floodlights at the Pavilion (pending approval from NK Planning)

• The scheduling of the legionella risk assessment for the Chambers at a cost of £330.00 plus VAT. 

• Repairs to the Caretaker’s mobile phone at an approximate cost of £40.00 inclusive of VAT. 

10. Committees

The Staffing Committee is the only Committee that has not met since the last meeting of the Parish Council.

a) To receive an update from the Chair of the Finance Committee further to their meeting on 7 September 2026. 

i) To resolve to approve the Clerk’s attendance at a SLCC training event in Leeds on 17 November 2026 in relation to upcoming changes to Smaller Authorities Proper Practices.  The course is free of charge but mileage and accommodation may be applicable. 

b) Cemetery Committee

i) To receive an update from the Chair of the Cemetery Committee further to their meeting on 1 September 2026.

ii) To receive a proposal from the Cemetery Committee to ring-fence all cemetery income until such time as the cemetery meets the desired health and safety and design standards.  

c) To note that the events working group will be meeting in a publicly convened meeting on 6 October 2026. 

i) To resolve to approve the expenditure for additional Christmas lights from Blanchere Illuminations at a cost of £2,394.00 exclusive of VAT. 

ii) To discuss fundraising options. 

iii) To note that the Christmas Tree has been ordered from Asgarby Estates (thanks to County Councillor East for £200 divisional grant funding towards the cost of the Christmas Tree). 

11. Planning Matters

a) Members to note the new/amended or registered planning applications including proposed works on trees subject to TPOs, awaiting decision.

b) Members to note the following planning matters awaiting decision or where a decision has been received since the Parish Council meeting on 27 July 2026 and 31 August 2026.

c) To note the Parish Council’s request planning reference 26/0903/TCA to lift the lower branches of six lime trees at the Village Green by 1m and three trees along Church Street to allow clearance has been approved (dated 28 August 2026).

12. Finance

a)    Members to note the bank balances as of 4 September 2026. 

b) Members to note the income received between 21 July 2026 and 4 September 2026.

c) To resolve to approve the expenditure, including expenditure to be ratified, from 21 July 2026 to 4 September 2026.   The following is an extract from the cashbook edited for confidentiality. 

e) To resolve to approve LALC as the internal auditor for 2026/27 per the agreement.

f) To resolve to approve the independence of LALC as internal auditors for 2026/27.

g) To ratify amendments to the AGAR 2025/26 and the year end bank reconciliation in relation to the recording of fees paid to Mr Wright during his time as the locum caretaker to Heckington Parish Council which was incorrectly recorded in salaries. 

h) To note that the Parish Council are still waiting to hear whether the £250 excess is recoverable from the third party further to the RTI at the Pavilion (recovery is still on-going with the third party). 

i) To ratify the following transfers:

j) To note that the Local Government Association acting on behalf of the National Joint Council for Local Government Services has reached an agreement for the 2026 pay award for local government employees – 3.3% increase in pay rates and allowances with effect from 1 April 2026.  To resolve to approve the 3.3% increases for employees. 

k) Budget 2027/28

13. Correspondence 

a) To note the email from NK – TalkPlanning dated 3 September 2026 in relation to the review of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.  The correspondence provides a link to the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) which forms part of the evidence base for the emerging Central Lincolnshire Local Plan and assesses sites that have been submitted by landowners, developers or other interested parties to the Council for consideration for potential residential, employment, or mixed-use development in the local plan review. Enquiries should be directed to talkplanning@central-lincs.org.uk.  Circulated by email to Councillors on 4 September 2026. 

b) To note the email from the Smaller Authorities’ Audit Appointments Ltd (SAAA) dated 24 July 2026 re the new Digital Agar Portal.  Submission via the portal for 2027 will be voluntary with the expectation that it become mandatory by 2029.  Authorities using the portal in 2027 are expected to received discounted fees.  

c) To note an email from Peter Rogers, Environmental Protection Team Leader dated 29 July 2026.  They have not been able to establish a statutory nuisance to take enforcement action.  They are monitoring the situation on an almost daily basis and work with the Roasting Company when they receive complaints.  They need evidence that it is causing a nuisance. 

d) To note an email from the Corporate and Civic Team at North Kesteven District Council dated 10 August 2026.  An invitation to Chairman Councillor Collard’s Civic Service of Dedication on Sunday 27 September 2026 at 3.00pm. 

e) To note the email from Planning Support at NK dated 28 August 2026 in relation to the proposed erection and development of a biogas plant  in Anwick.  

14. Date and time of the next meeting/s

Committees

Finance Committee Meeting – TBC

Staffing Committee Meeting – Tuesday 13 October 2026 at 6pm

Cemetery Committee Meeting - TBC

Events Working Group – Tuesday 6 October 2026 at 6pm.

Parish Council

2026

Monday 26 October 2026

Monday 30 November 2026

Monday 11 January 2027 (Precept and Budget Setting Meeting)

2027

Monday 25 January 2027

Monday 22 February 2027

Monday 22 March 2027

Monday 26 April 2027

Monday 24 May 2027

Monday 28 June 2027

Monday 26 July 2027

AUGUST TBC

Monday 27 September 2027

Monday 25 October 2027

Monday 29 November 2027

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

16. Closed Session 

To discuss a complaint received from the Monitoring Officer about Councillor’s behaviour at the April meeting of the Parish Council.