May 2026 Minutes
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE BEONNA ON MONDAY 18th MAY 2026 following the Parish Council Annual Meeting.
PRESENT:
Parish Councillors K Pinner (Chairman, T Fenwick, G Gostelow and J Grant
Boston Borough Councillors P Bedford and D Broughton
1 member of the Public
Mrs J Barnes (Clerk)
1 APOLOGIES were received from Parish Councillor R Bell, and Boston Borough Councillors P Bedford and D Broughton.
2 MINUTES
The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 13th April 2026 having been previously circulated were approved and signed by the Chairman.
3 NO MATTERS ARISING
4 NO DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
5 PLANNING
5.1 B/26/0180 - The application for a construction of a replacement detached garage, store and annexe accommodation building at Glebe Farm House, Spicers Lane for Mr D Limb was discussed. No objections were made but with a condition that it does not become a second dwelling.
5.2 B/26/0204 - The application for a proposed single storey rear extension at West Virginia, West End Road for Mrs K Dawson was discussed with no objections. (The council went into closed session for this item as the applicant was present)
6 PARISH MATTERS
6.1 Highways - Notification had been received and forwarded to all councillors of the Anglian Water work on Lowfields Road between 1st June, and 3rd June 2026.
The Speed Sign on Hall Lane had now been repaired.
Several pot holes were still being reported on Fix My Street.
A drain cover near the Bus Shelter was reported to be broken, Councillor Grant stated he would deal with this.
6.2 Playing Field - An up-to-date quote for the fencing had been received and was now on file, still waiting for funding.
Nothing more had been heard from the Boston School of Sport regarding usage.
6.3 Annual Playground Repairs - Councillor Pinner reported that we were still waiting for a reply from Komplan with the Insurance Claim on hold.
6.4 Solar Powered Speed Signs - Councillors Pinner and Grant had had a site meeting with Graeme Butler from Lincolnshire County Council and the site now agreed. The cost of the posts which they would install would be £200 each. It was agreed that the solar signs would be ordered after installation.
6.5 Bus Shelter Grant Scheme - Councillor Grant had arranged for a quote from Mark Skipworth, with the design being similar to the other side the road, together with the small branding signs for a total of £5,175.00 plus VAT. Details now on file.
After discussion it was agreed that Councillor Grant submit an application for a grant to Lincolnshire.
6.6 Risk Register - The Clerk confirmed that the Village Sign had been added, but the item covering Business Continuity (Item 22) would need to be reviewed when a new Clerk was in place.
7 CORRESPONDENCE
7.1 Several emails including those from Boston Borough Council and Lincolnshire County Council, had been forwarded to all councillors.
7.2 The May issue of Clerks and Councils Direct was handed to Councillor Pinner.
8 FINANCE
8.1 Annual Audit - The clerk reported that the internal auditor had completed the internal audit for the year ending 31st March 2026 with no issues. The clerk stated that to comply with regulations the documents would now go on the website and the Certificate of Exemption would be forwarded to the external auditor in due course.
8.2 The Clerk presented the up-to-date accounts. The first half of the precept (less the lighting) had now been received. The annual insurance premium had been paid together with the final payment to the Clerk.
8.3 The following payments were authorised accordingly.
Amount VAT Payment Method
I Partridge (litter) £100.00 BACS
Hire of Beonna £36.00 £6.00 BACS
E Sands (internal auditor) £280.00 BACS
8.4 Following discussion it was agreed that it was possible that the precept would have to be increased next financial year.
The Councillors fully agreed that the expense for both the Solar Powered Speed Signs (£5,000 plus VAT, with a further £400 for the posts) and the Bus Shelter (£5,175 plus VAT – less any grant available) would come from the reserves, as neither had been precepted for. At the end of the 2025/26 financial year £12,514 was available in reserves, originally set aside for the Playing Field. It was agreed that this was more of a community expense.
9 NEXT MEETING
9.1 The next meeting was arranged for 6th July 2026, at The Beonna, at 7.00pm.
10 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
10.1 Mention of a Seat in the village centre was to be added to the next Agenda.
10.2 Mention was made regarding the attendance of some of the councillors.
10.3 Thanks were recorded to Joan for her service, and it was noted that interviews for the position of Parish Clerk were taken place shortly. The handover of all documents would be on the 30th June 2026.
There being no further business the Chairman thanked those in attendance and closed the meeting at 8.15 pm.
Signed: (Chairman)
6th July 2026