May 2026 Agenda
Members of the public are invited and welcome to attend the whole meeting, except for items where their presence is prejudicial to the public interest, and are permitted to make representations to the Council, answer questions and give evidence (up to 3 mins per person/subject) in respect of any item of public business listed on the agenda during the public session, which is normally 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. The meeting may only consider the business on the agenda; the Agenda and Minutes for the Parish Council Meetings are available from the Clerk, or on the website, together with the schedule of future dates and the Public Participation in Meetings Procedure - see http://parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/NorthSomercotes. Meetings of the Council may be recorded.
18/5/26-1 Appointment of Chairman and Vice Chairman, signing Declaration of Office
a. Appointment of Chairman – to receive nominations for the position of Chair and resolve to appoint to the position followed by signing of Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Chair
b. Appointment of Vice Chairman - to receive nominations for the appointment of Vice Chair and resolve to appoint to the position followed by signing of declaration of Acceptance of Office as Vice Chair
Suspension of Standing Orders while public session takes place
Public Session
a. Any comments from District Cllrs Rickett/McNally
b. Any comments from County Cllr Robinson
c. Comments from members of the Public on agenda items or issues for consideration for future agenda:
i. Adult Antisocial Behaviour/physical and verbal abuse – Common Lane 9-5-26 reported to Police and ELDC ASB Officer
Closure of public session and recommencement of formal meeting
Annual General Meeting and Monthly Meeting
18/5/26-2 a. Present
b. Apologies for Absence – to RESOLVE whether or not to accept councillor absence/reasons
18/5/26-3 To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest on any item on the agenda in accordance with the Localism Act and the Council’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders
18/5/26-4 General Power of Competence – to note that having met the conditions of eligibility in 2024, as defined in the Localism Act 2011 and SI 965 The Parish Councils (General Power of Competence) (Prescribed Conditions) Order 2012, that the Parish Council still has the power to use the General Power of Competence until the next relevant Annual Meeting of the Council, which will be following the next elections in 2027.
18/5/26-5 Appointment of Councillors as representatives on Village Organisations/Committees/Working Groups:
a. Playing Fields Association - b. Police Panel -
c. Emergency/Flood Planning - d. Village Hall Committee –
e. DTE Wildlife Group - f. Youth Club –
g. Cemetery Committee (all Councillors) h. Footpaths/Bridleways – 2026 reviews
18/5/26-6 Current Status of Parish Council Policies, Procedures, Rules, and Regulations – see list
a. Code of Conduct – Adopted May 2023, still extant, still under review nationally
b. Standing Orders – reviewed and adopted January 2026
c. Financial Regulations and Investment Strategy – reviewed and adopted January 2026
Arrangements for variable direct debits for water & electricity for the toilets & cemetery, confirmed as satisfactory
d. Freedom of Information Policy Statement and Publication Scheme – reviewed and adopted January 2026
e. General Data Protection Regulations/Data Protection Policy – pending review
f. Emergency /Flood Planning – outstanding project
g. Donations and Grants Policy and Procedure – reviewed and adopted May 24, pending review
h. Health and Safety Policy – reviewed and adopted April 2026
i. Information and Communication Technology Policy – created and adopted March 2026
j. CCTV Policy – in draft
18/5/26-7 Cemetery
a. Cemetery Fees – to review proposed changes and RESOLVE the way forward
b. Cemetery Rules & Regulations – to review proposed changes and RESOLVE the way forward
c. Biodiversity Duty, and Action Plan – Biodiversity Plan adopted April 2024, Action Plan pending
d. Cemetery Management and Waste Plan – pending
c. to agree July date for Annual Cemetery Meeting – starting time of 10 or 10.30 am.
18/5/26-8 Review of Pay for Parish Council Employees additional tasks and RESOLVE the way forward
• rate of pay for standby duties, interment of caskets and installation of plaques (NB - rates of pay for litter picker, Chapel/Toilet cleaners and village/cemetery maintenance are subject to minimum wage rate so have been increased on 1 April 2026 to £12.71 pr hr). The Parish Clerk is also on national rates of pay, updated each April.
18/5/26-9 Parish Council Donations 2026/27 – Budget of £500 (section 137 monies) and £2,000 other monies
a. To note previous year’s donations and consider any requests/proposed donations and resolve the way forward:
eg. 25/26: - Communication Magazine £250 – CAB £100 – LIVES £100 – Lindsey Blind Society £200. Other – Youth Club £1K – available for specific projects/needs, ANPR £1200, Christmas Tree £100.
End of Annual General Meeting agenda items
Monthly Meeting
18/5/26-10 Minutes of 27th April 2026 Meeting – to RESOLVE to adopt and sign the notes as accurate minutes.
18/5/26-11 Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding – for information only
a. Cemetery Chapel Doors – awaiting second door b. Cemetery Statutory Records digitisation and mapping – ongoing – now using the web based version c. Cemetery old, damaged Memorials - need to identify location for those currently against chapel walls and get quote for repair/reinstatement d. Quinquennial Inspection -to be arranged once second door replaced. e. Cemetery – hedge removed and wildflowers planted/sown. Fencing to be obtained/erected to designate different area f. Cemetery Biodiversity Audit/Action Plan – to be updated with input from LWT g. Orchard area – grass to be mown h. Policies and Procedures updates - ongoing i. Records Management - archiving and retention or shredding – ongoing j. Defib Training – dates to be organised in summer holiday
k. Chapel Field Future Use/Disposal – see 20 below l. 25/26 Audit – submitted on 8 May 26 m. Static caravans on land at Common Lane - see item 13e below n. Static caravan on Marsh Lane – see 13e below o. Speed Indicator Device – installation of poles 12/5 p. Bleed Control Kit – see below. v. Concerns re dogs at Warrenside – incident with walker being aggressive with police involved w. Insurance Renewal – increase in premium owing to Grade II status of Chapels. Issue re Cyber-attack cover – see 10 below x. Advertising on the highway – information forwarded to Cllr Walmsley y. Oil Scheme – suspended at present z. Antisocial behaviour – as noted in the public session problems are continuing and the Clerk has been liaising with the police regarding the various issues, especially the setting fire to paper towels and trying to set fire to the grass outside the public toilets.
18/5/26-12 Annual Parish Meeting – to discuss and RESOLVE the way forward on any issues arising
18/5/26-13 To consider any Planning applications received and RESOLVE the way forward on these and other Planning matters
a. Planning applications for consideration:
00555/26/FUL - Planning Permission - Erection of 1 no. dwelling – The Chantry, Jubilee Road
b. To note planning applications approved:
03825/Outline Dwelling for vulnerable person – South Road
c. To note planning applications refused:
03824/Caravan Site – South Road
d. Planning Applications appealed: none
e. Enforcement Issues/Actions: Any update on reported issues:
i. Static Caravans on land/stables on Common Lane -
ii. Static caravan on Marsh Lane -
f. Any other urgent planning matters/applications:
18/5/26-14 Highways, Paths and Lighting:
a. verbal update on problem log/outstanding issues which have been queried with LCC Highways, including:
i. Warren Rd drainage - Oasis side/Corner of School Lane – update on scheduling awaited from Cllr Robinson
ii. Request for Double yellow lines at School Lane/Warren Rd/Keeling St junction and extension of 30mph around Church Lane/End –update on application for these matters awaited from Cllr Robinson
iii. Speed Indicator Device – instal poles 12/5
iv. Cloddy Gate – awaiting an update on scheduling
v. The Bungalow, Keeling St – waiting to receive confirmation of works done and problem resolved/scheduling
vi. Hazeldene –T-bar insufficient, nuisance parking contact details provided
vii. Travellers Joy – T-bar insufficient, nuisance contact details provided
viii. Harmitchker house – overgrown hedge – work now done, letter to thank
ix. Evison Way – overgrown hedge – to be checked
b. any additional issues/other urgent matters to be reported
18/5/26-15 To receive reports from councillors who are representatives on Village Organisations/Committees
a. Playing Fields Association - Cllr Walmsley b. Police Panel – Cllr Newman
c. Emergency/Flood Planning – Cllr Newman/Clerk d. Village Hall Committee – Cllr Plater
e. DTE Wildlife Group – Cllr Newman f. Youth Club – Cllr Walmsley
18/5/26-16 Finance
a) to receive and note the bank reconciliations for May 2025
b) to receive and RESOLVE to approve the schedule of receipts and payments for May 2025
c) Any other/urgent financial matters
18/5/26-17 25/26 Audit
To confirm that the Annual Audit papers have been submitted to the external auditor, and the Notice displayed explaining rights to inspect the account between 3 June and 14 July 2026.
18/5/26-18 To receive/note general Correspondence for May, Website Updates and Communication
18/5/26-19 Agenda items for the meeting to be held on 22nd June 2026 in the Village Hall
Agenda for Cemetery Annual Inspection, Chapel Field, CCTV Policy, Recruitment
18/5/26-20 - Confidential Property Matters - to RESOLVE on whether the Council will move into closed session by reason of the confidential property matters to be transacted – if this resolution is passed any members of the public/press present will be required to leave the meeting at this point.
a. Chape Field
b. Clerk Recruitment
Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
11 May 2025