2026 Minutes

THESE ARE DRAFT NOTES OF THE MEETING AND WILL BE RATIFIED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

DRAFT Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 13 January 2026 at 7.00pm at North Thoresby Village Hall, The Square, North Thoresby, DN36 5QL

Present:                              Chair                                Cllr Colin Goodwin

                                                                                      Cllr Keith Butters

                                                                                      Cllr Emily Bakes

                                                                                      Cllr Terry Aldridge (appointed)

Also Present:                    Acting Clerk                   Mrs Binal Sawjani

                                             Members of Public      7

                                             District/County             Cllr Terry Aldridge

                                             Apologises:                    Cllr Paul Rickett

                                                                                      Cllr Alex McGonigle

Item 0725/59 Welcome to the meeting: Chair opened meeting at 18.59 and welcomed councillors, public and district councillor. Council.

Meeting opened to the public:

• Parishioner reported that a sign has been knocked on Campion Lane.
• Plus, a sign in the square needs replacing
  • Chair explained that both should be reported to fixmystreet.com and they could use photos to make the points

Public Session 19.04

Chair invited Cllr Alridge to speak

• Reported that Cllr has attended Holten Le Clay meeting and a Fraud Prevention presentation was excellent and recommended as a parish
• Cllr attended the planning meeting nothing to report
• Cllr attended the ‘Pop-in’ event at the village hall where potholes was mentioned

Chair invited Cllr Ricketts to speak:

Explained that he had attended the planning meeting and had used Beanlands as an example of how solar panels are needed to be used to reduce electric costs for buyers panels would be considered. The exercise was for the district so see if we could not have big solar farms. Would like the proposal to be that if you wish to have a new build in East Lindsey then you add solar panels to your plan.

Meeting commenced 19.10

Item 0725/60 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to consider any requests for dispensations: None

Item 0725/61 Coopt new councillors: Chair explained that we are actively seeking new councillors and if any of our parishioners are interested, please email the chair or clerk. There is some interest from the community, and this will remain as an agenda item

Item 0725/62 Apologies for absence: Cllr Rickett and Cllr McGonigle accepted

Item 0725/63 To approve the draft notes as minutes of the last meeting held on the 1 December 2025: RESOLVED to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes. They were dated and signed by the Chair.

Item 0725/64 Chair’s Report:

1. Bridge update – still awaiting approval from the landowner. Finance is in place
2. Tractor run over the festive season was well attended. Thank you to Jill Goodwin who served refreshments . The event raised £21,018
3. The young parishioners that wrote to the parish last meeting the chair senting them an letter on behalf of the council acknowledging the request
4. Solar farm planning consultation is regarding the environmental impact assessment, comments to be made as a council
5. Phone box in village asked to be listed by  that we asked to be listed by Historic England is unable to take your application further as they have now carefully considered the contents of your application and the current circumstances of K6 telephone box, The Square, North Thoresby do not fall into any of the three categories used by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to prioritise designation resources on those sites that are most in need of protection. Those categories are:  

Threat: any building or site under serious threat of demolition or major alteration

Strategic Priority: any building or site that is within the remit of one of our strategic listing priorities.

Significance: any building or site that has very strong potential for inclusion on the National Heritage List for England

Item 0725/65 Training:  Training available to all Staff and elected Members and clerk recommends councillors to view training schedule. No training taken

Item 0725/66 Parish Matters To receive updates from in respect of: and item k bought forward

1. Village Hall – the urinal has been removed from the gents toilets
2. Community Room – the project is progressing very well. Project will be in budget and £2,500 is left from the grant and from  which a donation has been given t a local artist for the mural on the village outside wall
3. Community Neighbourhood scheme and emergency plan – defer to the next meeting
4. Grant application update –
   1. Playpark – National Lottery application has been return as they need further information
   2. YMCA – grant for the Youth club in the village has been unsuccessful – the committee felt that they are nor getting value for money
   3. North Thoresby Events Committee – they have received part of this grant. The committee has also received £1,000 from the district councillors budget
5. Cyden homes update published on website

We plan to continue with the storm swale drainage as the pumps go to work to allow us to drain the foul lines so we can then move forward on that.

The 278 (Road Works) is due to start on the 26th as planned so far, we will begin remediation to the road alongside IUS (the Electrical Supply Contractors) as they install the new cables into site.

Anglian water will also be collaborating with us within the same closure to pull water services into site.

Just before we broke up for the Holidays, I had success getting through to Anglian water and finding/addressing the existing drainage issues that have caused flooding problems in the town for the past 15 years. We have been successful rectifying the issues and the flooding hasn’t happened since, we have had some happy locals passing comments and if the issue arises again in the future at least, we know what causes it and where so it can be a quick fix.

The 278 works will last around 12 weeks and once complete, a new road surface will be down accompanied by a new bus stop, point of connection for the site foul system will be completed onto the existing sewer on Ludborough Road.

We hope to be moving towards road construction on site within the next couple of months and completing the pump station compound.

The substation foundation on site is complete and ready for the wall construction

6. AGAR Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2024/25 is outstanding as the year before has unresolved objections. Clerk has chased and no update. Account will start on 2025/26 AGAR and proposed that internal auditor will be appointed via the LALC pool.

Precept Budget – much discussion around this. Clerk has produced the budget from the costs of the parish from the previous year which amounts to £41, 834 Clerk recommends 5% increase as costs have increased across the board. Proposed £39,900 with 5% seconded and RESOLVED which means that for a band D home cost to the parishioner is £8.36 which equates to £2.09 per week. An increase of 0.16 per week.

7. Highways – There is a blind spot on Dickinson Lane and council would like us to report to Highways for any solutions. Ongoing issues with Ludborough Road.
8. Memorial Bench – parishioner requested to have a bench in the memorial garden – discussion was around the logistics how would we accommodate all other residents in the village. After much discussion proposed we have a bench paid for by the parish with different plaques of other residents which are paid for by each family, seconded and RESOLVED. The war memorial bench was left for veterans and to find a spot in the village for a bench for the use of other families that would like to commemorate their loved ones. Cllr Bakes to report back at the next meeting.
9. Named beneficiary will ongoing matter; defer to next meeting.

Item 0725/67 Correspondence: To receive and dispose of correspondence received since the last meeting:

• Update from LALC webmaster council has 7 hours and 22 minutes remaining as website support. Clerk has taken over this work and does not envisage any expenditure in this area.
• Post Office Service Re-Opening North Thoresby Post Office at The Square all services will be restored 3 February
• Updated event programme for the History Group and will continue to do so regularly
• Road closure Order - Ludborough Road (Between A16 & Campions Lane)

Period of restriction: 26/01/2026 - 03/04/2026 (Restrictions to be implemented for 68 days as and when required during this period, signage detailing accurate dates and times will be displayed on site in advance)
Alternative route or access arrangements:  Diversion routes and vehicular or pedestrian access arrangements will be signposted

• Two parishioners have emailed the council about the Ludborough Road issues
• Cyden Homes update is on website and the minutes
• Correspondence regarding precept as discussed in parish matters point f
• Parishioner emailed regarding the bridge as discussed in Chairs report point a
• Lincolnshire Association of Local Council renewal of membership and training is due ratify next meeting

Bike is padlocked to the sign at the new development with a QR code – Chair will report back at the next meeting

Item 0725/68 Dates of next meeting: To note the date of the next meeting: Propose 9 February, 3 March, 7 April. Annual Parish meeting to be decided. Clerk explained that we may not need February meeting as the January one was late in the month. Will inform parishioners via noticeboard and website. Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED.

Item 0725/69 Financial matters:

1. To note bank balances on bank statements as of January 2026 £33,438.36
2. To note income – none
3. To authorise the signing of orders for payment for previous months

Public meeting ended 20.40