Minutes

Public Forum

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

Report from Outside Bodies.  

a) ELDC Ward Member Cllr Edward Mossop reported

i. The government decision on Local Government Reorganisation in Lincolnshire has been put on hold. The chosen proposal did not conform to the population density as mandated and was deemed to have been politically-motivated.

ii. As such, no shadow authority elections in May but there will be district elections as normal.

iii. The food waste collection is likely to start in October.

iv. The Lincolnshire Waste Recycling Centre booking system is still under consultation.  Cllr Mossop took feedback from the councillors. The general opinion was positive towards the proposal.

v. Funding for broadband access is available from Quickline,  

vi. Lincs Digital, which is a district funded charity, is available to provide workshops in the parish for those requiring help with computers and any digital issues including applications and forms, online banking and other online services.

b) LCC Division Member. Cllr Nick Hastings is away on holiday.

09/26-1 Record of Members Present and Apologies

Present: Cllr Mervyn Counter (MC) (Acting Chair) Cllr Anne McCready (AM), Cllr Nicky Gulley Brown (NGB), Cllr Angela Aylett (AA) and Cllr Ian Appleby (IA)

Also present: Councillor Edward Mossop (ELDC) and Mrs Nadine Must (Parish Clerk/RFO)

Apologies accepted: Cllr Gillian German (GG), Cllr Terry Aldridge (TA), Cllr Lesley Jackson (LJ) and Cllr Nick Hastings (LCC)

09/26-2 Declarations of Interest on any item on the agenda. It was agreed that the following parish councillors be regularly noted to have declared their interests.  Cllrs NGB, IA, LJ as committee members and trustees of Covenham Village Volunteers, Cllr NGB for being a trustee of St Barts Heritage Trust and Cllrs AM and GG for their roles with St Mary’s Church. Moreover, these councillors need not declare their interests at future meetings unless their circumstances have changed.

09/26-3 Minutes from 30 July 2026. It was resolved that the draft minutes from the meeting were accurate and was duly signed by the Chair.

P: AA; S: NGB, All in Favour

09/26-4 Council Matters

a) Chair’s Remarks.

i. Cllr MC reiterated the parish council’s as well as his own gratitude to Cllr NGB for all her hard work managing and completing the accessible toilet project.

ii. He also thanked Tony Coultas (TC) for all his work and support to the parish council and will be missed as a parish councillor.

b) Clerk’s Report.  The Clerk’s report was noted.

i. The lead flashing repair is expected to be done on 9th October.

ii. The owner of the dead tree at the end of Grange Lane/Main Road was aware but no action to be taken as tree is not rotten and won’t pose any risk or danger.

iii. The performance appraisal report was agreed for signing off.  The Clerk to print off for Chair to sign.

c) Communications Received.  This was noted.

i. Electrical Safety Fund.  The Parish Council did not need any funding support but Cllr NGB will apply for St Barts Church.

d) Cllr A Coultas resignation.  Noted and the Notice of Vacancy has been published.  The Parish Clerk to contact TC to ask if he will continue to help with the DMMO application for Covenham Reservoir Steps.

e) Emergency Plan.  The draft plan was discussed and it was resolved to streamline the whole document and only add those that were relevant to the parish.  Cllr MC volunteered to work on the document and submit at the next meeting.

P: AM; S: AA, All in Favour

f) Mobile Speed Camera.  Cllr MC circulated his cost analysis of purchasing a hand-held mobile speed device and the costs involved and number of volunteers required.  The Council was informed that neighbouring Utterby Parish Council had already decided to buy the equipment and it was therefore agreed to explore the possibility for the two Councils sharing the costs and associated equipment.

Other speed reduction measures were discussed and there was support for the erection of village gates.  Cllr IA will lead on this project and will report back with measurements and locations.

P: IA; S: NGB, All in Favour

09/26-5 Parish Rooms

a) Accessible Toilet.  Cllr NGB reported that she is still awaiting the Electrical Safety Certificate from the builder.  The outside light for the neighbour has arrived and need to be put in soonest.  The plaque from ELIF has yet to be received.

It was agreed to hold another unveiling event on Thursday, 22nd October at 2pm to acknowledge and publicise the funding received from the National Lottery Community Fund.  The Clerk has been provided with promotional materials from the funders including a plaque, buntings, large lottery cheque and banner.  Invitation to the grants team has been sent and awaiting response.

b) Land Registry.  The solicitors required a copy of the deed of sale for the outbuilding and a property plan to scale to submit to the Land Registry for the Parish Rooms to be legally registered.  Cllr NGB will forward to the Clerk the scaled plan.

c) Solar Panels. Cllr NGB reported that installation cost is around £22,000 but will generate around £5,000 per annum selling back the electricity produced.  Cllr NGB will lead on this application and will research relevant funding sources to apply for.

P: AA; S: IA, All in Favour

09/26-6 Finance and Budgets

a) Payments.  The Council approved the following payments.

P: MC; S: IA, All in Favour

Payments and receipts in between meetings were noted.

b) Latest Receipts and Payments and Bank Statements Monitoring. This was noted.

c) AGAR FY2025/26.  It was noted that the External Auditors have completed their limited assurance review and provided a certificate which concludes the audit.  Section 3 and Notice has been published on the website and on the notice board.

09/26-7 Community Amenities and Groups

a) Remembrance Sunday 8 November 2026. This has been arranged and meeting time of 10:45am at St Barts War Memorial Statue for a short service led by Cllr GG and a 2-minute silence.  Refreshments will follow in the Parish Rooms.

b) Covenham Reservoir Steps.  No further updates.  Clerk to check with Cllr N Hastings on his discussions with Anglian Water.  It was agreed that if Anglian Water was willing to have the steps reinstated but will not commit to the rebuilding costs, the parish council will seek funding from the National Grid Community Fund.  The Clerk will follow up with former parish councillor T Coultas on evidence forms completion.  

c) St Mary’s Church Tree Felling.  The preferred contractor has scheduled works for 14th October.  It was noted that the willow tree needed to be prioritised as the lower branches were deemed unsafe.

09/26-8 ELDC/LCC Services

a) Winter Salt Bag availability.  There was no need to request a bag on this occasion.  The salt bag delivered last year is still full.

09/26-9 Planning Matters

a) Update on applications.  

i. Haith Farm’s new drive access with dropped kerb.  The Clerk had chased ELDC Enforcement Team for any update but without success.  ELDC Cllr EM will follow up.

ii. There was no decision on the application 0889/26/FUL Planning Permission Land West of Bluebell Grange Newbridge Lane Covenham St Mary.

b) Applications considered. None received.  

09/26-10 Date of Next Meeting – Thursday, 26 November 2026, 7 pm in the Parish Rooms.

a) Village gates

b) Proposed Budget for FY 2027/28

The meeting closed at 8:24 pm.