2026 Minutes

MINUTES OF COLEBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON Tuesday 13th January 2026 AT THE VILLAGE HALL RECTORY ROAD COLEBY

21.21 Public Forum:

A resident reported damage to the wellhead on Blind Lane Green. This would appear to be frost damage. Clerk to contact stone mason. 

A resident reported the trip hazard created by the new driveway on Rectory Road (12A Coronation Crescent). The path is narrow and the kerbs are raised both sides of the path on the verges. In the dark these are difficult to see. Clerk to contact Highways

A resident reported an area of damaged tarmac on the Hill Rise newly resurfaced tarmac.

The culvert at the Tempest is blocked and there is water running across the road which could freeze and become hazardous.

The drains all along High Street are blocked. Clerk to report.

21.22 Declarations of Interest: Councillor Hall Item 8f) 

21.23 Present and Apologies: Councillor Robert Hall (Chair), Councillor Alan Vivian, Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Harriet Earnshaw, Councillor Andrew Long, Councillor Jens Pedersen,  County Councillor Ian Carrington, District Councillor Lance Pennell and Sue Makinson-Sanders (Clerk) 

Apologies from Councillor Quent Stott, District Councillor Matthew Cooper and District Councillor Leigh Sanders

21.24 Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 4th November 2025: Councillor Theresa Brewer proposed and Councillor Alan Vivian seconded. Councillors approved the Minutes. It was noted under Local Government reorganisation that the Parish Councils duties may be increased following reorganisation.

21.25 Clerks Reports:  Agenda sent to all on mailing list and posted on website and noticeboard

a) Sustainability: Cllr Earnshaw referred to the Coleby Parish Neighbourhood Plan which had raised areas where improvements are needed. Transport is one area and a better bus service would assist villagers and local businesses. Clerk to write to Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, and to copy in all the local councils with a precise request. The future of the school is also important. There appears to be a lack of knowledge of the existence of a school in Coleby/ Signage on the A46 and into the village may help to increase awareness. Clerk to contact Highways to request signage.

b) Budget and Precept Setting: Councillors considered the budget plan prepared by Cllr Brewer and the advice of LALC on budget setting for the 2026/2027 year. Cllr Brewer proposed and Councillor Long seconded a proposal to seek a 5% precept increase. This was voted upon with 5 councillors approving and 1 non approval. A 5% increase was approved. 

c) Neighbourhood Plan Update: Clerk to process with Steve Kemp to get the update circulated to residents.

d) Parish Council Email:  A new gov.uk domain is being purchased and with the help of Tony Shaw of LALC the new emails are being obtained. Cllr Pedersen enquired about back up for the old email. The Clerk will take this up with web maintenance at LALC.

e) Restriction for HGV vehicles Blind Lane:  Cllr Carrington to be requested to consider a weight restriction on all entrances to the village following meeting with Rowan Smith of Lincolnshire County Council Highways. Walk about with Cllr Carrington and Rowan Smith 16th February to discuss all road issues.

f) Fosse Green Energy Solar Park: The Planning Inspector held a preliminary hearing on the 6th and 7th January 2026. Written submissions relating to issues raised to be lodged by 20th January 2026. Three changes to application proposed. There will be a public meeting in March when the public will be able to speak in an open forum to give their views on the application. Representations should be site specific and not repeating earlier comments. Parish Council to respond further. Councillor Brewer to draft response for approval and submission by 20th January.

g) Street Lighting: Councillor Brewer has progressed matter and established that there are 6 old lampposts. This does not include the 4 wooden posts on which other services are also attached. Councillors agreed that there was no need to change the 3 poles from the playing fields entrance to the A607. Highways have suggested cutting down the remaining 3 poles repainting them black and attaching a lantern lamp the same as the new lamps. Councillors were concerned that repainted posts would require maintenance. Clerk to request cost of new lamp posts and lamp.  This may be more economical in the long term. Grant availability to be considered.

h) Cemetery Regulations: Councillors confirmed that these had been approved at the previous meeting.

i) Road Repairs Hill Rise: These are now complete although there is some damage to the new tarmac from fire. Clerk to report.

j) Viking Bench: The clerk has confirmed to Lincolnshire County Council that the offer of a bench for the Viking Way is accepted. Awaiting location and design.

j) Trees on Dovecote Lane: These are still a problem. Matter to be discussed with highways and Councillor Carrington on 16th Feb.

21.26 Finance Report:

a) Payments to be made:

b) Payments Received: 

     Wayleave Pole Lowfields Cemetery £8.31

c)  Payments due: None

     d)  Balance held at Co-Operative Bank at 13.01.26 £16618.83

Payments  proposed by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Brewer. Councillors   approved .

21.27 County and District Councillor Reports: 

Councillor Carrington confirmed that the County Council was not the decision maker in the Fosse Green Energy development nor is the District Council, however the County Council has carried out detailed assessments on the application with the assistance of experts in the relative fields and will be submitting comments and attending the hearings. 

All Councils have now submitted their proposals for reorganisation of Local Government. A decision should be available in the spring with Elections in 2027 and the new authority in place by 2028.

North Hykeham Relief Road is now going ahead with work to start in March and completion anticipated by Qtr1 of 2029.

The County Council budget has not yet been fixed. Cllr Carrington raised concerns that £1.3m had been cut from road repairs despite a £3m underspend this fiscal year. There will be significant cuts to come with roads and police and for Special Needs Care underfunded.

A controversial waste facility in Mablethorpe has been dropped.  Food Waste collection is coming soon.

District Councillor Lance Pennell reported no news on reorganisation other than reported by County Councillor Carrington.

North Kesteven District Council is proposing a 2.96% increase for council tax

Food Waste caddies will be delivered to households from the 19th January with the first collection scheduled for the week commencing 30th March.

Roadworks on Grantham Road Waddington/Bracebridge – the works necessitating a road closure will be completed by the weekend but there will still be single lane traffic light operated delays.

21.28 Cemeteries:

i) Lowfields Cemetery: The hedges have been trimmed and the car park strimmed of weeds. Councillors approved the design for a memorial stone for Ann Pilsworth

ii) Far Lane Cemetery: Nothing to report

21.29 Planning:

a) Tree Works 19 Blind Lane – approved

b) Tree Works Pantiles Rectory Road – pending 

c) Planning Application: Erection of Padel court with external lighting columns Manor Farm Heath Road Coleby - pending

d) Application to discharge Condition 1 (scheme for vehicle parking submitted within a time scale) and 2 (landscaping details submitted within a timescale) re planning permission APP/R2520/C/24/3341028, (Change of use of the Bell Inn from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) to single dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) - Bell Inn 3 Far Lane Coleby Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 0AH – approved

e) Tree Works 25&27 Blind Lane- approved

Councillor Hall departed the meeting. Cllr Vivian replaced him, to Chair the meeting

f) Planning Application Battery Energy Storage System Hill Rise Coleby:

Trial trenching is to take place for archaeological reports. NKDC are aware of this. Await filing of reports on archaeology and environmental issues and then respond accordingly. NESO has now grouped all the applications into one of two groups, those ready and operational for 2030 and those not ready thus giving priority to those developments that are ready to go. Unclear which group the Coleby BESS falls into. The NESO website is difficult to navigate to find out specific information.

21.30 Police Reports:

a) Police: Nothing to report

b) Neighbourhood Watch: usual scam warnings. Cold Caller alert sent out to residents.

21.31 Reports from Village Organisations:

a) All Saints Coleby family Christmas Carols was well attended as was Midnight Mass. Roof has been repaired and is now watertight. Possible date for church fundraising event at the White Hart Lincoln 15th May subject to VCC approval.

b) Village Hall:  Strong committee with a school representative on the committee. The Village hall Committee has agreed to provide the hall free of charge to the crafters who meet once a month.AGM Tuesday 3rd March 2026.

c) Coleby School:  No report. School parking to be addressed with the school and local police. 

21.32 Correspondence: None

Meeting closed 9.00pm

Date of Next Meeting: tbc