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 Monday 27 April 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: 22 April 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 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.  

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. Report from the County and District Councillors

7. Minutes 

a) To resolve to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 23 March 2026.

8. General 

a) To resolve to approve the amended Tree Policy (version 1.2) circulated 22 April 2026.

b) To discuss the email received from a member of the public dated 29 March 2026 in relation to services provided to East Heckington circulated via email on 8 April 2026.  

c) To resolve to approve an update to Financial Regulations to make clear that the Clerk has delegated power under Section Number of the Local Government Act 1972 to dispose of any equipment with an estimated value of less than £500.00 if deemed appropriate to do so by the Parish Council and for reasons relating to health and safety (see Financial Regulations, 14. Assets, properties and estates, paragraph 14.5).

i) To consider the delegation of spending powers under Section 101 of the LGA 1972 up to the value of £50.00 for the Caretaker for small items of expenditure in the absence of the Clerk.

ii) To consider the delegation of powers under Section 101 of the LGA 1972 to allow the Caretaker to schedule emergency callouts in the event of mechanical breakdown in the absence of the Clerk. 

d) To discuss a communication strategy. Councillor Davison

e) To discuss the Parish Council website along with management of the website to ensure that it is kept as up to date as reasonably practicable. Councillor Davison

f) To note the Freedom of Information request dated 1 April 2026 and follow up letter dated 12 April 2026 (response provided on 9 April 2026, documents circulated on 8 and 13 April 2026).

g) To receive an update from Councillor Sexton further to his examination of the Workshop and Chapel brickwork in relation to two quotations received (previously circulated)  

i) To resolve to appoint a contractor if deemed appropriate (quotes ranging from £2,900.00 and £6,943.12).  

h) To receive an update from the Chair in relation to progress with the CIO. 

• To resolve to approve buildings insurance coverage to remain with the Parish Council for the duration of the lease with the CIO. 

i) To resolve to approve the purchase of a John Deere x590 at a cost of £8692.00 plus VAT for grass cutting throughout the village to be paid for using the capital reserves fund.  Councillors Sexton and Cox.

j) To review the quote received from SKU electrical in relation to the repairs to five emergency lights at the Pavilion at a cost of £450.00 inclusive of VAT. 

k) To note that the Section 106 request has been granted for the MUGA further to approval of the planning application submitted by the Parish Council (£27,185.44).

l) To resolve to purchase six 30mph signs from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership at a cost of £20 per sign.  Delivery fees may be applied. 

m) Ratifications:

10. Health & Safety

a) To review the findings of the Fire Risk Assessment, Workshop.

b) To review the findings of the Fire Risk Assessment, Chambers.

i) To note that a fire suppression system is deemed to be disproportionate to the building usage. 

ii) To resolve to approve the installation of a commercial fire alarm system at a cost of £4,718.21.

iii) To resolve to approve the annual maintenance charge for the fire alarm system at a cost of £331.75.  

11. Committees

a) Allotment

i) Matters arising from the Allotment Association meeting dated 19 March 2026 reported on by Councillor Connor at the March meeting of the Parish Council.

• To resolve to approve a 5-year lease with the Allotment Association from 1 April 2027. 
• To resolve to approve the Caretaker’s continued maintenance of the communal plot, field and access ways. 
• To resolve to approve the Clerk’s assistance with financial management until 1 April 2027 to be charged at the Clerk’s hourly rate. 
• To resolve to affirm the Parish Council’s responsibilities at the allotments to pest control, mandatory testing, dyke clearance and the maintenance of perimeter hedges and trees. 

ii) To receive a recommendation from the Clerk in relation to approvals for Allotment Management expenditure. 

iii) To resolve to approve pest control for 2026/27 at a cost of £900.00 per year.

b) Cemetery 

i) To resolve to approve the continued use of Set in Stone Memorials up to the budgeted amount for memorial repairs at a cost of £878.00 per day for two memorial masons plus the cost of materials. 

12. Planning Matters

a) Members to note the new/amended or registered planning applications 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 23 March 2026. 

13. FINANCE 2025/26 YEAR END 

a)    Members to note the bank balances as of 31 March 2026 per bank statements and the bank reconciliation. This will be the brought forward balance in the accounting statements on the AGAR. 

b) Members to note the income received between 13 March 2026 and 31 March 2026. 

c) To resolve to approve the expenditure, including expenditure to be ratified, from 13 March 2026 to 31 March 2026.   The following is an extract from the cashbook edited for confidentiality. 

e) To resolve to approve the year end accounts (cashbook to be signed and dated by the Chair and RFO).  The Cashbook is the definitive list of all income and expenditure and although this is listed in minutes, the redacted version can be found on the Parish Council website. 

f) To note the amount of the claim for the VAT126 for the financial year 2025/26.

g) To note the date set for the internal audit. 

h) To note the dates set for the exercise of public rights pertaining to the accounts for the year ending 31 March 2026. 

i) Budget Review 2025/26.

j) To resolve to approve an amendment to the 2026/27 general budget heading.  £500.00 to be diverted into the training budget sub-heading.

k) To ratify the following transfers:

14. FINANCE – NEW FINANCIAL YEAR

a)    Members to note the bank balances as of 16 April 2026. 

b) Members to note the income received between 1 April and 16 April 2026.

c) To resolve to approve the expenditure, including expenditure to be ratified, from 1 April to 16 April 2026.   The following is an extract from the cashbook edited for confidentiality. 

e) To ratify the following transfers:

15. Correspondence 

a) To note the email from PC Battersby dated 7 April 2026 in relation to the investigation into circumstances surrounding the purchase of Star Fen.

b) To note a number of emails from members of the public in relation to the precept increase as reflected on their Council Tax invoices from NK received between 16 March and 8 April 2026. 

c) To note the email from NK dated 27 March 2026 in relation to the formatting issue of the Council Tax invoices for 2026/27.

d) To note the email from Richard Littlewood at LCC dated 25 March 2026 in relation to future tree planting in the village further to the siting of a sapling on the corner of Cowgate. 

e) To note the email from Councillor East dated 18 March 2026 in relation to the Councillor Volunteer Scheme.  

f) To note a request from residents of Alison Road dated 17 April 2026 to support their cause to have recently installed signage removed by North Kesteven District Council. 

g) To note the email from SRP dated 21 April 2026 in relation to price increases. 

15. Date and time of the next meeting/s

Committees

Finance Committee Meeting – Thursday 11 June 2026 (subject to change)

Staffing Committee Meeting – TBC

Cemetery Committee Meeting TBC

Pavilion Committee Meeting – TBC

Parish Council

Monday 18 May 2026

Monday 29 June 2026

Monday 27 July 2026

August TBC

Monday 28 September 2026

Monday 26 October 2026

Monday 30 November 2026

Annual Parish Meeting

May – Thursday 28 May 2026, Heckington Village Hall (venue TBC)

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

17. Closed Session

To review the email from Mr Bradbury dated 5 April 2026 in relation to his employment with the Parish Council and maintenance of the land on Miller’s Way.