2026 Minutes

25th February 2026

Thorpe on the Hill Parish Council
Minutes of the meeting held 25th February 2026 at 19:00 at The Oliver Roper Village Hall
26.02.01 Councillor Lyons welcomed everyone to the meeting.
 
26.02.02 Public Time
3 members of the public were present.
A member of the public referred back to a previous meeting when County Councillor Woodruff had discussed the difficulties of gaining approval for a one-way traffic system. The member of the public asked the Parish Council when they intended to debate this and stressed that they were not in favour and was advised that there is no plan to debate this and that trial traffic calming measures are being looked at for the period when the A46 relief road will effect traffic through Thorpe on the Hill with an aim to look at more permanent measures should the trials be successful, when at this point a full consultation process with take place.
 
26.02.03 District/County Council Updates
North Kesteven District Council
District Councillor Peter Overton thanked Councillor Lyons for his continued efforts in the fight against the Fosse Green Energy project and reiterated the details for the next set of public hearings. Week commencing 10th March 2026, there will be 4 days of public hearings. An accompanied site visit is also taking place on 10th March 2026 with prior registration essential. There will also be an Open Floor Hearing (OFH1) at the LNER Stadium, Sincil Bank, Lincoln, LN5 8LD on Wednesday 11th March at 17:00 and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
Councillor Overton asked the Parish Council if they had any concerns about the planning application for the construction of a satellite feedstock storage clamp site facility at Haddington Lane, Haddington. Councillor Lyons responded that the Parish Council has not been consulted on this application as it is outside the Parish boundary, however due to the number of concerns raised, a letter of support should be sent to the planning department in support of our neighbours Aubourn and Haddington Parish Council in their objection to the application. Action Parish Clerk.
The district council are about to set the budget for the next financial year, and expectations are that there will be a rise of just short of 3%.
Apologies were received from District Councillor Mitch Elliot.
Lincolnshire County Council
Apologies were received from County Councillor Alan Woodruff.
 
26.02.04 Formal session commenced at 19:20.
 
26.02.05 Parish Council. Members, present, apologies for absence, declarations of interest, declarations of gifts/hospitality, training.
1. Membership: Councillors (Cllrs) Jason Bramford (Vice Chair), Zoe Ives, Carl Koenen, Nick Lyons (Chair), Charlotte Owen, Bob Sheldon MBE, Neville Williams.
2. Present: Jason Bramford (Vice Chair), Zoe Ives, Carl Koenen, Nick Lyons (Chair), Bob Sheldon MBE, Neville Williams.
3. Apologies: Apologies were received and accepted from Councillor Owen.
4. Declaration of interest: None
5. Declaration of gifts and hospitality over £25: None
 
26.02.06 - The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 14th January 2026 were unanimously agreed as a true record by the members and signed by the Chair.
 
26.02.07 - To consider whether the Council will move any items on the agenda to the closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 as per Standing Order 7h.
No items proposed to be heard in closed session.
Councillor Lyons proposed moving agenda item 13 Lincoln and Witham Valley Landscape Recovery Project to the next item. This was unanimously agreed.
 
26.02.08 Lincoln and Witham Valley Landscape Recovery Project
Councillor Lyons introduced Alex Olviant, who is a member of the team working on the application for funding to DEFRA for the Lincoln and Witham Valley Landscape Recovery Project.
Alex gave a presentation and explained that the aim of the project is to join up, enhance and expand the space for nature by creating nature-friendly corridors to create links between green spaces and nature-rich wildlife sites, country parks, woodland and commons and to encourage farming in a more nature-friendly way.
The Eric East lake is included in the project and with the project development stage close to an end, the Parish Council now need to confirm if they wished to continue with the project, which is not a formal commitment at this stage.
Should the application be successful, a formal commitment will be required at the next stage when contracts will be signed and the point where the Parish Council are locked in. This should be in Autumn/Winter.
Councillor Lyons closed the formal meeting at 19:45 and opened the floor to allow members of the public the opportunity to also ask questions.
The formal session recommenced at 20:25.
Councillor Lyons proposed that the Parish Council agreed to continue with the project which was agreed unanimously.
The Parish Council thanked Alex for her presentation.
 
26.02.09 Financial matters
9.1. The list of payments and income were authorised and noted. Appendix A
9.2. The financial report for the financial year to date was noted. Appendix B
 
26.02.10. Discuss and review the Parish Clerk report on ongoing/outstanding actions. Appendix C
 
26.02.11 Planning Applications.
i. Application 26/0101/FUL Mark Phillips Motorcycle Clothing Newark Road Aubourn Lincoln
ii. Application 26/0102/ADV Mark Phillips Motorcycle Clothing Newark Road Aubourn Lincoln
No comments will be submitted on either application.
26.02.12. Caretaker Job Specification.
The revised job description was agreed unanimously as was delegation to the Parish Clerk to advertise the upcoming vacancy. Action Parish Clerk
 
26.02.12. To approve the Health and Safety Policy.
Agreed unanimously.
 
26.02.13. Village Hall.
i. To discuss the current fee’s and decide if any increases should be considered.
ii. To discuss the general upkeep of the facilities.
It was unanimously agreed to delegate the task of discussing both items to Councillors Bramford, Ives and Koenen.
26.02.14. Speed indicator devices. To discuss requests for the current devices to be relocated.
It was agreed that this will be revisited following the A46 relief road project.
 
26.02.15. Correspondence received that has not been circulated to the wider Parish or is not on the agenda.
None.
 
26.02.16 Verbal updates from portfolio holders .
Allotments – Cllr Lyons
Finance – Cllr Bramford
Lake Management Committee – Cllr’s Bramford, Lyons, Sheldon MBE
Oliver Roper playpark & tennis courts– Cllr Koenen
Planning – Cllrs Koenen, Lyons and Williams
Staffing Committee – Cllr’s Ives, Lyons and Sheldon MBE
Whisby Quarry Liaison meeting – Cllrs Lyons
Whisby Nature Park Steering Board – Cllr Sheldon MBE
Wildlife – Cllr Lyons
Village Hall – Cllrs Lyons, Ives and Owen
Oliver Roper playpark & tennis courts – Councillor Koenen offered to take over the duty of the weekly playground inspections once the current caretaker has retired if a replacement has not been found at that time. This was agreed and also that Councillor Koenen should take over the portfolio for the playpark and tennis courts. Action Parish Clerk to arrange training.
 

Appendix A

Date

Payer/payee

Details

 Amount

Expenditure

 

 

 

12.01.2026

Lloyds Corporate Credit Card

Lloyds monthly fee + mobile phone top up

-                 28.00

20.01.2026

EDF

Electricity

-               285.75

20.01.2026

LCC Pension Fund

Pension

-               315.82

20.01.2026

HMRC

Tax/National Insurance

-               137.58

20.01.2026

I Elms

Salary

-                 32.72

20.01.2026

J Burden

Salary

-               181.40

20.01.2026

Ms K Vickers

Salary

-               880.58

20.01.2026

Henry Window Clean

VH windows

-                 15.00

31.01.2026

Unity Trust

Service charge

-                   6.00

09.02.2026

BT Group

Broadband

-                 49.14

09.02.2026

Lloyds Corporate Credit Card

Wildlife bulbs; cleaning products; monthly fee

-                 80.99

09.02.2026

TOTH Church

Grass cutting grant

-               800.00

09.02.2026

NKDC

Tree survey

-               260.40

17.02.2026

EDF

Electricity

-               492.41

17.02.2026

Henry Window Clean

VH windows

-                 15.00

17.02.2026

UK Alternate Heating

Heat pump service

-               210.00

17.02.2026

Thornton Landscaping

Block paving removal and replacement

-            3,270.00

 

 

 

-            7,060.79

 

 

 

 

Income

 

 

 

06.01.2026

Umbrella's - 1040

Hall hire

                   28.00

06.01.2026

Umbrella's - 1046

Hall hire

                   28.00

13.01.2026

Scouts - 1038

Hall hire

                 184.00

13.01.2026

Scouts - 1045

Hall hire

                 138.00

19.01.2026

Duckering - 1048

Hall hire

                   35.00

29.01.2026

Maphy Healthcare Ltd - 1055a

Hall hire + deposit

                 330.00

02.02.2026

B Bond - 1049

Hall hire

                   40.00

02.02.2026

Lincoln Featherbenders - 1050

Hall hire

                   30.00

03.02.2026

Magri Anthony - 1057

Hall hire

                   80.00

03.02.2026

Scouts - 1052

Hall hire

                 162.00

04.02.2026

Horry - 1055

Hall hire

                   30.00

04.02.2026

A Different Angle Ltd - 1056

Hall hire

                   60.00

05.02.2026

Mrs A R Peacock - 1054

Hall hire

                   60.00

13.02.2026

OFGEM RHI

Feed in tariff

                 102.99

 

 

 

              1,307.99

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix B

Income

Budget

Actual

Precept

24,350.00

24,350.00

VAT Refund

1,500.00

1,713.53

Allotments

200.00

360.00

Lake

1,000.00

1,251.00

Village hall bookings

5,000.00

6,243.46

Grants

1,500.00

1,197.23

Interest from Skipton BC

2,000.00

2,267.40

Interest from Unity Trust

1,000.00

785.58

 

 

 

Salaries

22,000.00

(15,850.10)

Insurance

2,100.00

(1,740.25)

Audit

650.00

(1,098.00)

Expenses, training

150.00

0.00

Subscriptions

400.00

(381.07)

Eric East Lake - repairs/maintenance

1,000.00

(839.43)

Repairs & maintenance of other assets

2,000.00

(1,240.40)

ORPMR recreational site - repairs/maintenance

6,000.00

(12,491.67)

Stationery/office running costs

250.00

(117.93)

Grants

2,000.00

(1,850.00)

 

 

 

Total Expenditure

36,550.00

(35,608.85)

 

 

 

Campaigning/planning issues

4,000.00

 

Election

4,000.00

 

Purchase of additional/replacement play equipment

30,000.00

 

Provision of additional recreational equipment

30,000.00

 

 

 

 

General reserves

30,000.00

 
     

Balance Sheet

    

1.Balance Carried Forward

  

1,868.95

2.Precept

  

24,350.00

3. Other receipts

  

10,765.22

Transfer from Unity Trust Instant Access

  

5,000.00

4. Staff costs

  

(15,850.10)

6. Other Payments

  

(19,758.75)

7. Carry Forward

  

6,375.32
   

 

Unity Bank Current Account

 

6,375.32

Unity Trust Instant Access

 

18000.27

Skipton BS

  

80284.22

Total

  

104,659.81

 

 

 

 

Date raised 

Item

Position

Person/s responsible 

July 2025

Bench on Clay Lane

Councillor Sheldon has identified the landowner and will put a request forward to them when the opportunity arises.

Councillor Sheldon

July 2025

Bowls Club water tank

Councillor Lyons advised that he has received a quote to install a concrete base for the tank.  It was agreed to go ahead with the quote once the club has removed the old tank as previously agreed by the club.

Councillor Lyons

Parish Clerk

July 2025

Traffic calming

Work on the A46 relief road is due to commence in early May 2026 however work to Pennels roundabout is not due to commence until early 2027.

The project managers have agreed to notify the Parish Council when traffic calming proposals updates are available.

All

 

 

 

 

 
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Parish Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as
official minutes of Council proceedings until approved and signed at the next meeting.