May 2026 Draft Minutes
The MINUTES OF COLEBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON Wednesday 27 May 2026 AT THE VILLAGE HALL RECTORY ROAD COLEBY
21.56 Public Forum: No issues raised.
21.57 Declarations of Interest: Councillor Hall Item 8g
21.58 Present and Apologies: Councillor Robert Hall (Chair), Councillor Alan Vivian (Vice Chair), Councillor Theresa Brewer, Councillor Angela Kidd, Councillor Quent Stott, County Councillor Ian Carrington, District Councillor Lance Pennell, and Sue Makinson-Sanders (Clerk)
Apologies from Councillor Andrew Long and Councillor Jens Pedersen
21.59 Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 3 March 2026: Councillor Theresa Brewer proposed and Councillor Quent Stott seconded. Councillors approved the Minutes.
21.60 Clerks Reports: Agenda sent to all on mailing list and posted on website and noticeboard
a) Co-Option of New Councillor and Welcome: Councillor Angela Kidd was welcomed to the Parish Council following her co-option.
b) Parish Council Audit:
i) Approval of Certificate of Exemption: The clerk reported that as the income and expenditure of the Parish Council in the year to 31 March 2026 has exceeded £25,000.00 this is no longer relevant and an external audit will be carried out by PKF Littlejohn.
ii) Approval of Annual Governance Statement: Councillor Stott proposed and Councillor Hall seconded approval of the Annual Governance Statement. Councillors approved the statement.
iii) Approval of Accounting Statements: Councillor Stott proposed and Councillor Hall seconded approval of the Annual Governance Statement. Councillors approved the statement.
c) Neighbourhood Plan Update: Councillor Brewer and the clerk are working with some help from David O’Connor and should have documentation for the council by the next meeting (July).
Cllr Vivian pointed out that everyone should be using Fix My Street to report issues on the Highways as this means there is a record and they will respond.
d) Fosse Green Energy Solar Park and Navenby Sub Station: Item moved to Planning see below.
e) Viking Way 50th Anniversary Bench: A site has been agreed between Lincolnshire County Council and the landowner for the bench to be sited on the Hill Top between Coleby and Boothby. It is expected to be in situ in the autumn.
f) Wellhead Repairs: The conservation officer attended to view the repairs required and approved the works proposed by MJ Green (Navenby) Ltd for the repairs. A Heritage Grant Application instigated by the Conservation Officer has been approved and funds are awaited. Work is anticipated to commence in or about September. Clerk to follow up with contractor.
g) Renewal of Annual Parish Council Insurance with Zurich: The Parish Council is in a three year fixed term with Zurich. The annual renewal premium of £640.37 is now due. Councillors approved the renewal premium.
h) Sustainability feedback/Buses: Nothing to report except that Waddington Parish Council support our request but can’t assist in as much as they have later buses already. Clerk to maintain contact with the Mayor.
i) Planning Applications Confirmation of Councillors commenting outside of regular meetings: The clerk reported to the meeting that because planning applications may come in between the bi-monthly parish council meetings, requiring a response within 21 days, Councillors have previously approved that they may deal with comments on applications at times not in a council meeting. Councillors approved this ongoing practice.
j) Annual Village Clean Up Day: Councillors agreed this was a good idea. Clerk to set date.
k) Consultations Electricity Market (0206026) and Local Validation List review (070626): Councillor Kidd had had a look at both these consultations and will draft a response for Councillors to combine the response of the CVSAG. The clerk to circulate and to submit within time limits. The reforms to the electricity market consultation is heavily targeted at energy companies and is very technical but the Parish Council may wish to comment on the proposal to set limits on the extent of development. Councillors to respond to enable Clerk to reply to the CVSAG by the Saturday deadline and to submit replies within Consultation time limits.
l) Highways Session at LALC 2026 Consultation: The Parish Council does not wish to respond.
21.61 Finance Report:
a) Payments to be made:
Item Payee Amount Vat Total
Coleby Village Hall Hire 27 May 2026 Meeting Coleby Village Hall Committee 28.00 0.00 £28.00
Clerk’s Salary May 2026 S Makinson-Sanders 290.07 0.00 £290.07
Clerk’s Salary June 2026 S Makinson-Sanders tbc 0.00
HMRC PAYE May 2026 HMRC 71.80 0.00 £71.80
HMRC PAYE June 2026 HMRC tbc 0.00
Anglian Water (Wave) May 2026 Lowfields Cemetery Anglian Water 9.00 0.00 £9.00
Anglian Water (Wave) June 2026 Lowfields Cemetery Anglian Water 9.00 0.00 £9.00
Anglian Water (Wave) Jane/April 2026 Far Lane Cemetery Anglian Water 18.12 0.00 £18.12
Litter Picking May/June/July 2026 D West 90.00 0.00 £90.00
Annual Insurance Zurich Municipal 640.37 0.00 £640.37
Audit Fee Mrs Andrea Smith 36.00 0.00 £36.00
Grasscutting April 2026 Bdg mowing contractors 420.00 84.00 £504.00
Grasscutting May 2026 Bdg mowing contractors 420.00 84.00 £504.00
Donation for Church Lighting for 2025 and 2026 All Saints Church Coleby 200.00 0.00 £200.00
b) Payments Received: Precept NKDC £13919.00
VAT Reclaim £ 577.70
c) Payments due: Heritage Grant for Wellhead repairs
d) Balance held at Co-Operative Bank as at 27.05.26 £28,370.41
Payments proposed by Councillor Hall and seconded by Councillor Vivian. Councillors approved the payments.
21.62 County and District Councillor Reports:
Councillor Carrington: Councillor Carrington reported that Lincolnshire County Council are seeking permission to have a Judicial Review of the Springwell Solar Development Approval. This will be a long process. There are planning issues in particular the weight and value given to the adverse impact on the nature of the countryside. This is undulating rolling countryside either side of the A15 and the solar panels will be clearly visible. It is also using 500 hectares of the best and most versatile land. Councillor Carrington will provide details to the clerk. He will also provide a copy of a very recent decision which relates to a BESS Appeal which was dismissed. The Parish Council can then consider whether there is anything it may use relating to the Coleby BESS.
Local Government Re-Organisation is ongoing with a decision anticipated this summer probably by 16th July.
Cuts to spending are continuing with cuts to funding for a Special Educational Needs School in Sleaford and closure of a Respite Care Centre.
It is proving difficult to get timely repairs to roads. Work is underway on the North Hykeham Relief Road. So far it is on time and in budget.
There are changes coming to how planning works which will kick in in September 2026 and will limit Parish Councils’ voices.
District Councillor Lance Pennell: Councillor Pennell reported that there will be disruption throughout the period of the North Hykeham Relief Road project. There will be work being done all along the route at the same time with the rock cut from the cliff being used to form the base of the road and access ways.
North Kesteven District Council held its Annual meeting last week with Councillor Christine Collard taking up the role of Chairman. Councillor Matt Cooper is the new Vice Chairman. Councillor Pennell continues as Chairman of the Planning Committee and Vice Chairman of the Licensing Committee.
Subject to planning there is to be a new 4 screen cinema at Sleaford.
Armed Forces week commences on the 22nd June 2026.
The government is limiting the size of planning committees. The ability for District Councillors to call for matters to come before committee will be removed.
Licensing: Martyn’s Law is now in place and there will be safety procedures to follow for places with a capacity of more than 100. The government is also consulting on making Taxi and private Hire Vehicle Licensing a higher tier authority responsibility, but no details are known yet.
21.63 Cemeteries:
i) Lowfields Cemetery: There is to be a burial into a reserved plot.
ii) Far Lane Cemetery: Nothing to report
21.64 Planning:
New process on Tree Works Applications from 5th May 2026. Parish Councils will be notified of new tree works applications in conservation areas but will not be consulted. If Parish Councils wish to comment they may still do so but no time limit will be set for receipt of comments. If an application relates to a tree with a TPO then the current consultation system will remain.
a) Tree Works Application 26/0090/TCA Harvest Cottage Church Lane Coleby – approved
b) Tree Works Application 26/0099/TCA Ovington House Far Lane Coleby - approved
c) Planning Application Change of Use of Garage to Catering Kitchen 26/0240/FUL Owls Hoot Blind Lane – approved
d) Planning Application Installation of 2 Velux Windows 26/0451/HOUS 2 Dovecote Lane- pending
e) Tree Works Application 2 Dovecote Lane 26/0592/TCA– pending
f) Planning Application Erection of two porches to the front elevation and replacement of existing upvc windows with new upvc bay windows (retrospective) 26/0512/HOUS 9 & 10 Avenue Villas – pending
g) Planning Application Battery Energy Storage System Hill Rise Coleby and Fosse Green E nergy (4d)):
Coleby BESS was not discussed as there has been no known change since the last PC meeting.
Fosse Green Energy: The Planning Inspectorate has decided that a 3rd round of hearings is not necessary. A full unaccompanied tour of the area has been undertaken by the Planning Inspector. A fuel pipe which runs parallel and to the east of the A607 is causing issues. High Voltage Power lines can affect the cathodic protection on the pipeline and this needs to be addressed.
Navenby Sub Station: There is a possibility that the substation at Navenby may be extended on completion of the present projected phase. This is where capacity thresholds become important. The planning application for the Navenby Substation is evidently currently being validated by NKDC.
21.65
Police Reports:
a) Police: There have been 3 reported break ins in the village and the police are investigating. Residents advised to be security conscious. There is some evidence that a group of criminals have been carrying out countrywide break ins taking cash and jewellery and high end clothing from properties with high end cars evident.
b) Neighbourhood Watch: usual scam warnings.
21.66 Reports from Village Organisations:
a) All Saints: There is a talk by the Reverend Stuart on the 5th June Upstairs Downstairs at Belvoir Castle, tickets from Sue or Beth. Also, a Mama Mia event on the 15th of September. A faculty application has been submitted for repairs to the clock.
b) Village Hall: Next meeting 15th July. Autumn Carousal Party date 10th October 2026. One Step booked. This will be an indoors event. Fireworks 7th November 5pm for 6.30 fireworks. Next car boot is the 7th June. These have got off to a slow start but the April Boot raised £964.08 and the May Boot £525.13.
c) Coleby School: No report. School parking to be addressed with the school especially during current works at the school and road width restrictions.
21.67 Correspondence: None
Date of Next Meetings:
Tuesday 7th July 2026 7.30pm
Tuesday 1st September 2026 7.30pm
Tuesday 3rd November 2026 7.30pm
Tuesday 5th January 2027 7.30pm
Tuesday 2nd March 2027 7.30pm
Tuesday 4th May 2027 APM AM PCM 7.00pm
Sue Makinson-Sanders
Clerk to Coleby Parish Council Tel: 01522 810509