July 2025

Minutes - Full Council - 01 July 2025

Minutes of Bracebridge Heath Parish Council held at The Heath: Village Hall and Library on 1st July 2025 at 7pm  

 

Present: Councillors P Adey, C Barr, C Broad, C Callan, S Manders, J Moran, S Neilson and K Trought

In attendance: Clerk to Council, Mrs S Knowles, Deputy Clerk to Council, Mrs R Fraser

District Councillor Nash was in attendance.

No members of the public were present

 

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

REPORT FROM LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCILLOR  - Apologies received from Cllr Cawrey

REPORT FROM NORTH KESTEVEN DISTRICT COUNCILLORS– Apologies received from Cllr Cawrey. Cllr Nash reported on his first meetings at North Kesteven District Council.

QUESTIONS OR POINTS RAISED BY RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC - Nil

 

COUNCIL SESSION  

Code of conduct reminders

Nolan Principles

Members were reminded of the Nolan Principles which underpin the Council’s Code of Conduct - Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty & leadership.

Register of interests

The Chairman reminded members that they should submit to the Monitoring Officer at North Kesteven District Council any changes to the content of their Register of Member Interest forms. Interests should be declared in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

 

25094.    TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE - It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Marde.

It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Emes.

It was RESOLVED: That apologies for absence be accepted from Cllr Watkinson

 

25095.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

a. TO RECEIVE MEMBERS’ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT – Cllr Manders declared an interest in the grant application from the Friends of School – the interest would not prevent Cllr Manders from participating or voting in the item.

 

b. TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER MEMBERS’ REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDING ORDERS – Nil

 

25096.         TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING 3rd June 2025 - It was RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd June 2025 be approved and signed as a true record by the chairman.

 

25097.         FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE

a. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON PAYMENTS BETWEEN MEETINGS - Direct debit payments for June 2025, payments made using delegated authority including the return of deposits to facility hirers.

All reports can be downloaded  https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/68/meeting-reports---july-2025

 

b. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS - It was RESOLVED: That payment of accounts as presented at report 25097b. All reports can be downloaded - https://bracebridge-heath.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/68/meeting-reports---july-2025.

It was RESOLVED: That the clerk be authorised to make a cash payment of £25 to the Navenby Art Group for hire of display boards and reclaim this as an expense.

 

c. TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS – Bank reconciliations for May 2025 were deferred as Cllr Moran has not had an opportunity to review them.

 

d. TO REVIEW BUDGET, INCOME AND EXPENDITURE – A written report was given. No concerns raised.

 

e. TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL’S BANK ACCOUNT WITH NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL - It was RESOLVED: That Cllr Natalie Watkinson be added to the bank account.

 

25098.         TO RECEIVE THE CLERK’S REPORT ON CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS

Correspondence regarding: planning enforcement at St John’s Hospital, verges on Canwick Avenue following the construction of a roundabout, cleaning of bus shelters and thanks were given to St John’s Primary Academy for their support in raising money for the Wombles.

 

25099.         TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT A REPORT ON DECISIONS MADE USING DELEGATED AUTHORITY –

  • Payments made as reported at minute 25097
  • Credit card statements

 

25100.        PLANNING

  1. TO CONSIDER PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

25 0720 TPO – 58A London Road

It was RESOLVED: That Bracebridge Heath Parish Council objects to the proposed felling of four cherry trees. The trees on this site, including the four cherry trees on the driveway entrance to the Cricket Ground, provide public visual amenity and this is one of the reasons for their protection under a Tree Preservation Order. The council does not consider that any valid reasons have been given for the felling of the trees such as health and safety risks, the trees’ health or potential or actual damage to the neighbouring properties. The visual amenity of the trees is referenced in a previous application for works in 2023 (23/0623/TPO).

 

  1.   TO RECEIVE A REPORT ON PLANNING DECISIONS – A written report was received. Th council also noted the response from Taylor Wimpey regarding Parish Council’s comments on the planning application for phase 1 of the South East Quadrant.

 

25101.         TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE AND CONSIDER ANY RECOMMENDATIONS - Draft notes from the meeting were circulated.

                       

25102.         TO REVIEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

a. FINANCIAL RESERVES – It was RESOLVED: That the Financial Reserves policy v1.3 be adopted. The name of the practitioner’s guide would be updated

b. GRANT AWARDING – It was RESOLVED: That the Grant Awarding policy v3.0 is adopted.

c. OUTDOOR ADVERTISING POLICY  – It was RESOLVED: That the Outdoor Advertising policy v5.2 is adopted.

d. TREE MANAGEMENT POLICY -  It was RESOLVED: That the Tree Management policy v1.0 be adopted.  

 

25102.         TO CONSIDER QUOTES FOR PARISH COUNCIL INSURANCE - It was RESOLVED: That officers seek a quote from Clear Councils for a 3 year long term agreement and are authorised to accept this if it is more competitive than the quote for a single year. Otherwise, officers are to accept the quote from Clear Councils for a single year at a cost of £3449.14.

 

25103.         TO CONSIDER HIRE RATES FOR THE HEATH CAR PARK AND OTHER AD-HOC RATES AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF HIRE FOR FACILITIES

It was RESOLVED: That hire rates for The Heath car park are altered to: £10 for the first hour, £20 for up to 4 hours and £40 for up to 8 hours.

It was RESOLVED: That the revised Terms of Hire document be adopted subject to a minor change relating to 12hr/24hr clock.

It was RESOLVED: That officers be authorised to determine ad-hoc rates of hire for the recreation ground at their discretion.

 

25104.         TO ACCEPT THE RENEWAL QUOTE FROM F1 GROUP FOR MICROSOFT 365 PACKAGES FOR STAFF AND MEMBERS – It was RESOLVED: That the quote from F1 Group is accepted and the clerk is authorised to accept future quotations from F1 Group for the council’s Microsoft accounts on an annual basis.

 

25105.         TO CONSIDER A MICROSOFT BACK UP FUNCTION FOR COUNCIL’S RECORDS – The item was deferred pending more information.

 

25106.         TO CONSIDER AN EXPENDITURE LIMIT TO SUPPORT THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HEATH COMMUNITY LIBRARY - It was RESOLVED: That a budget of up to £150 be set for the event from the council’s events budget header; officers being permitted to purchase refreshments and decorations as needed.

 

25107.         TO CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR PARISH COUNCIL GRANTS –

             It was RESOLVED: That a grant of £500 be awarded to the Bracebridge Heath Pre-school for play equipment.

It was RESOLVED: That a grant of £100 be awarded to the Bracebridge Heath Women’s Institute for a party in the park. The Council also agreed to give pavilion hire free of charge for the event.

It was RESOLVED: That a grant of £250 be awarded to the Bracebridge Heath Rainbows for a club event.

It was RESOLVED: That £500 be awarded to the Bracebridge Heath Friendship Club for a day trip for members.

It was RESOLVED: That the Clerk write to the Friends of the School to request a revised application. Subject to officer approval

 

25108.         TO CONSIDER CO-OPTION TO COUNCIL VACANCIES – It was RESOLVED: That David Nash be co-opted to Bracebridge Heath Parish Council.

 

25109.         TO CONSIDER ITEMS FOR INCLUSION ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING – Nil

 

ITEMS OF A CONFIDENTIAL NATURE TO BE DEBATED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC, UNDER THE PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960 (DUE TO THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF BUSINESS)

 

25110.         TO CONSIDER QUOTES FOR REPLACEMENT MAIN DOORS FOR THE HEATH: VILLAGE HALL & LIBRARY – The item was deferred pending further information.

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 20:35    

 

 

 

Signed___________________________Chairman                                                                                                                                                                       01 July 2025