3rd September 2025
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting on 3rd September 2025
at 7.00pm at Thimbleby Village Hall.
Present
Councillors Cllr P.Buckingham (Chair), Cllrs C.Bachrati, A.Doody. Cllr S.Buckley and E.Buckley joined from minute 101/25.
Not Present: All Present
In attendance The Clerk, A. Everard.
Members of public present: Five
There were no matters raised during the public participation period at 6.45pm.
89/25. Welcome statement by the Chair of the Parish Council
Cllr Buckingham welcomed all to the meeting.
90/25. Apologies for absence to be approved if appropriate.
None.
91/25. Declarations of Interest and consideration of any requested dispensations.
None
92/25. To adopt the draft minutes from the Parish Council meeting held on 2nd July 2025.
Proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt and the Chair signed them.
93/25. To consider any matters arising from the previous meeting 30th June 2025 and 2nd July 2025 not already on this agenda including Clerk’s Report and actions taken.
Minute 69/25 The Clerk reported that the Notice of Annual Public Inspection had been published and the External Audit was expected to be completed by 30th September 2025. Minute 56/25 Councillors reported that Thimbleby’s red phone box was now padlocked and out of use. Members asked if the Clerk would produce an Action Plan to track progress on items. He advised this was possible but it could not replace the agenda and minutes.
94/25. To receive any written or verbal reports from District or County Councillors.
ELDC Cllr Martin confirmed that the ELDC Community Grant of £350 had been approved and paid. ELDC had been promoting their Greater Lincolnshire proposals online and in-person and the Chair had attended a briefing about it. There are expected to be five or six proposals for Greater Lincolnshire submitted to the Secretary of State to consider by late-November. Cllr Martin confirmed that, if approved, the new unitary council would come into existence from 1st April 2028.
LCC Cllr Oliver attended for the first time since election and reported that siding work would go ahead on the footpath from Church Corner. Full footpath reconstruction was provisionally planned during 2027/28 financial year but a full survey would be completed first to inform the planning for this. Cllr Oliver also advised about the various grants now available. Parish Council wanted to add details to their planned Newsletter. Parish Council raised the issue about poor connectivity through broadband and mobile data for the village.
95/25. Correspondence Received
Parish Council noted receipt of the following; LALC E-News (two-weekly); LALC Training Bulletin (monthly); ELDC and LCC Town and Parish News; ELDC Social Media and Useful information emails; various emails from residents, CSW Newsletter 3, Devolution proposals, UKSPF GRASSroots grant funding, ELDC Community Leaders Briefing - 21st October 2025 noon.
i. Parish Councillors wished to promote to residents availability of trees from the Woodland Trust as locations need to be identified.
ii. No Councillors were available for the Community Leaders event on 21st October.
96/25. Planning
a) Application reference S/181/01013/23 and S/181/01014/23 Planning Permission - Change of use, conversion of, extension and alterations of existing barn which is a listed building to form a dwelling - VILLAGE FARM, MAIN ROAD, THIMBLEBY, HORNCASTLE, LN9 5RE
The new plans were noted.
b) Application reference S/181/00034/24 | Planning Permission - Erection of 13 no. detached dwelling and a public community open space, existing buildings on site to be demolished. | HALLGARTH FARM, MAIN ROAD, THIMBLEBY, HORNCASTLE, LN9 5RE
This application had been outstanding for two years an update still awaited.
c) Application Reference 02917/25/FUL Planning Permission – Construction of a vehicular access - 2 HOME CLOSE MAIN ROAD THIMBLEBY LINCOLNSHIRE LN9 5RF - NEW
Thimbleby Parish Council had No Objection.
d) Application Reference 02577/25/FUL Planning Permission - Planning Permission - Extension and alterations to existing dwelling to provide additional living accommodation, erection of perimeter fencing and the construction of access gates (works started) - Elmlea Farm Elmhirst Road Thimbleby, LN9 5LX - NEW
Parish Council considered that ELDC had already approved this. No comment.
97/25. A) To consider any highways, footpath and related issues and agree actions to be taken.
Councillors debated the various issues including LCC Cllr Oliver in the debate regarding the LCC proposal to complete the sidings work along the Church Corner footpath imminently and the need to reconstruct it to solve the drainage, narrowing and uneven nature of the footpath. Councillors welcomed the proposed work but needed dates as soon as available to be assured that work would take place.
Other issues needing LCC to follow up is the risk of surface water drainage flooding coming off Dyson Farm’s land near Green Lane and regular drain blocking along Main Road, Thimbleby during leaf fall and potential tree root damage. The Clerk advised that most of that was raised in the Lincolnshire County Council’s S19 Flood Investigation Report after the last floods and will circulate it to Parish Councillors.
Other matters included noting that LCC did not approve a resident’s proposed and enacted garden area near the Church Corner bench. Also correspondence had been received suggesting that Green Lane was not litter-picked but, in fact, a volunteer walking that way litter picks at least every couple of weeks and deposits the litter found for the next refuse collection at the Chair’s home.
97/25 B). To consider the Thimbleby Hill area to be street-named.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED that the Clerk will write to ELDC to get a response.
98/25. To consider an update relating to the Village Pump and other external Council assets.
The Chair has weeded the area around the Village Pump. Minute 98/25 resolved to apply for a £350 grant from ELDC. The application was successful and the sum paid to the Parish Council. The contractor has been instructed to get the work to the Village Pump walls completed as soon as possible (weather permitting).
99/25. Finance
a) To approve the payment of bills paid between meetings and bills to pay on the payment schedule.
It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the payment of salaries for £270.83.
b) To note the bank reconciliation and account balance.
Current account balance was £10,570.06 as at August 12th. There were no uncashed payments.
c) To consider update on bank signatories amendments.
It was noted that the signatories on the account were up to date and online banking access was activated.
d) To note the amended NJC salary payscales effective 1/4/2025.
It was RESOLVED to adopt the new pay scales effective from 1/4/2025.
100/25. To consider potential co-option applicants to be invited to apply for consideration.
Two applicants were present and introduced themselves. The Clerk confirmed they were eligible and no disqualifications had been declared. It was proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to co-opt E.Buckley and S.Buckley who joined the meeting. Declarations of Acceptance of Office were signed.
101/25. To approve any bookings for training.
New Councillors to be added to next mutually convenient New Councillors course.
102/25. To note arrangements for the Clerk’s appraisal 2025.
Proposed, seconded that Cllrs Doody and Bachrati were to conduct this and the Village Hall was to be booked.
103/25. To consider items and publication of the parish council newsletter
Items were debated and the Clerk will draft it with input from Councillors where needed.
104/25. To consider Assertion 10 for AGAR 2026
Councillors noted the changes starting from 2025-25 financial year and apart from an IT Policy most items were in place.
105/25. To consider a Noticeboard Policy.
The draft policy was debated and Political and campaigning material will be added to the policy. Proposed, seconded and unanimously RESOLVED to adopt the Noticeboard Policy.
106/25. To consider any items to be proposed for the next meeting agenda on 5th November 2025.
Items will be submitted to the Clerk prior to the production of the next agenda.
Meeting ended 9.30pm.