2026 Minutes

Clerk’s Contact Details:

Village Hall, Brookside, Scopwick. LN4 3PA.

07872 943179 | clerkscopwick@gmail.com

Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council

https://scopwick.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk/

The minutes of the full Council meeting of Scopwick and Kirkby Green Parish Council, held on Tuesday 13th January 2026 at 7:00 pm. The meeting was held in Holy Cross Church, Scopwick. These are notes of the meeting until approved by the Council as a true record.

Present: Cllrs M Williams (Chair), J Flett (Vice-Chair), O Davies, P Frost, C Kerrigan and D Nelson; and Parish Clerk - J Sargent. 

Public Forum

There were no members of the public in attendance.

North Kesteven District Councillor

Cllr A Bailey was not in attendance and no written report was provided. 

Lincolnshire County Councillor

Cllr R Kendrick provided a monthly report circulated with Councillors via email. 

With no further matters, it was resolved unanimously to move into formal session.

88. Welcome from the Chair of the Parish Council

Cllr Williams opened the meeting welcoming everyone, thanked Councillors for their attendance, reminded Councillors to turn phone off or on silent and of emergency exits.

89. Apologies for absence.

It was resolved unanimously to accept apologies from Cllr P Baumber.

90. Declarations of Interest.

None received.

91. To approve as a correct record the minutes of the full Council meeting held on Tuesday 25th November 2025.

Cllr Kerrigan mentioned a missing word on minute reference 78, the Clerk to amend. With no further matters, it was resolved unanimously to accept the minutes as a true and accurate record.

92. To approve the record of accounts for:

a. November

b. December

With no matters arising, it was resolved unanimously to accept the accounts submitted for consideration. A copy of the Accounts Report included as an attachment to the minutes. 

93. To receive the bank reconciliation for:

a. November

b. December

The Clerk provided the bank reconciliation to keep Councillors up to date with the financial status of the Council, for information purposes only. A copy of the bank reconciliation is included as an attachment to the minutes.

94. To receive an Income and Expenditure Summary for the third quarter of the financial year for:

a. Treasurers Account

b. Reserves Account. 

c. Combined Accounts

The Clerk provided a summary of the Treasurers and Reserve Accounts for the third quarter of the 2025-26 financial year, for information purposes only. No questions were raised. A copy of the summary is included as an attachment to the minutes.

95. To receive a Budget Review for the third quarter of the financial year.  

The Clerk provided a budget review for the third quarter of the financial year to keep Councillors up to date with where funds are allocated within the budget, for information purposes only. No questions were put to the Clerk. A copy of the budget review is included as an attachment to the minutes.

96. Financial Planning 2026-27, to consider:

a. A draft budget.

b. Precept request.

c. Draft earmarked reserves budget.

The Clerk recommended reviewing each allocation. Grass cutting cost are as per the agreed contract, however, provision tree works and extra works is for general maintenance; the quote for extensive maintenance in the conservation area was not included in the budget due to the high cost. Allocations to training, audit, defibrillator, insurance, subscriptions, website maintenance, general maintenance, play area inspection and salary allocations were agreed; the Chair’s allowance was removed. The Christmas tree allocation remained but Councillors asked to look for a different supplier in November 2026. 

Following extensive discussion on affordability, considering previous contribution and alternative funding options such as requesting help from the Church, the cemetery donation was lowered to £1,200.00 and the village hall donation remained at £1,500.00 to go towards hosting Council meetings, insurance and website costs. 

For the Earmarked Reserves, the Clerk advised keeping a general contingency reserve allocation in line with financial regulations 6-9 months’ expenditure, a reserve for an election and a small reserve for emergency maintenance, totalling £19,000.00.

For comparison, the Clerk provided a list of precept requests from parishes of a similar size within NKDC. It was resolved unanimously to request a precept of £20,000.00, which will be an annual increase of £6.44 for a band D property. The Clerk to submit the request to NKDC.

97. To receive reports: 

a. Village Hall Committee 

Cllr Flett reported that the Christmas warm-up raised £220.00 for Cancer Research UK, an electrician attended to repair a broken socket and emergency lighting in the lobby, the VHMC intend to carry out a survey about use of the village and will be looking to get a quote for new soffits and windows. 

Daffodil weekend is usually in the second weekend of March and will be before the next Parish Council meeting. Last year it was moved to the third weekend of March. If it was moved again to the third weekend this year, it would coincide with National Village Hall Week. No objections were raised to move Daffodil weekend. Cllr Flett confirmed that the new daffodil bulbs have been planted.

Cllr Flett asked for ideas for tasks for a young volunteer who would like to carry out jobs around the village as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Cllr Flett has offered to be the volunteers signatory. 

b. Playing Field Committee 

Cllr Nelson confirmed that weekly inspections are ongoing, with some weeding being done. Cllr Nelson confirmed receiving a quote for repairs to the equipment and would like to apply to Heath Farm for grant funding for the repairs. The Clerk to liaise with Cllr Nelson on the grant application. 

County Cllr R Kenrick arrived at 8:12pm.

It was resolved unanimously to suspend Standing Orders to hear Cllr Kendrick’s report. 

Lincolnshire County Councillor’s Report

Cllr Kendrick advised the County Council are reviewing their options regarding the budget which includes a proposed 4.99% Council tax increase, however, there is an ongoing consultation which all residents can respond to. Cllr Kendrick advised that some proposed projects might not be going ahead such a new fire station in Leverton due to proposed funding cuts.

Cllr Kendrick advised that the LCC Highways volunteer projects is still open to applicants and that the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership are setting up a new initiative for speed detection. 

Cllr Kendrick advised that there are serious concerns at the County level with drug and alcohol abuse, and discussions were ongoing regarding the provision of resources to help.

It was resolved unanimously to reinstate Standing Orders.

c. Community Speed Watch

Cllr Frost advised that LCC have not yet reconsidered the speed limit in Scopwick and will write to the Chair of the Committee to request that it is on the next agenda. Cllr Frost has bought additional items required to install the new speed sign and the Clerk brought to the meeting the new 30mph repeater signs for Main Street.

d. Environmental Report

Cllr Davies advised refuse vehicles continue to drive over the green. 

Cllr Kerrigan removed some debris from a grate near the pumping station on Main Street and suggested this would require some ongoing maintenance, especially in the autumn. 

Cllr Flett advised of a streetlight at the end of Church Row is being blocked by a tree. Cllr Nelson suggested reporting to NKDC’s Tree Officer. 

e. The Chair

Cllr Williams reported being active regarding the solar farms and associated proposals. 

f. The Clerk

District Cllr A Bailey appealed for issues to be discussed with the Chief Executive for NKDC via email. The Clerk reported replying with a request for support to update the Local Government Act 1972 to accurately reflect the modern-day demographic and not give preferential financial treatment to religious groups, however, stressed that this was not a request from the Parish Council.

Cllr Kerrigan asked if LCC had returned a plaque from a bench that was dismantled on Springfield Close, to be relocated on a bench in the playing field. The Clerk to follow up. 

98. To receive notification of any planning permissions, refusals, withdrawals, or amendments.

a. Application 24/0959/FUL | Land Off Cuckoo Lane Scopwick

The Clerk confirmed all planning notifications had been circulated via email, with responses where relevant sent to NKDC. 

99. To receive a record of previous resolutions and action points.

The Clerk provided a record of previous resolutions and action points that were ongoing and complete.

100. To confirm the date of the next meetings as Tuesday 31st March 2026.

It was resolved unanimously to hold the next Full Council meeting on Tuesday 31st March 2026, in the Village Hall. 

101. To receive and update on:

a. Solar Farm Proposals including: Springwell Solar Farm, Fosse Green Energy, Leoda and Coleby.

b. Navenby Substation.

c. Battery Storage, near Navenby.

Cllr Williams advised that the Secretary of State now has 3 months to deliberate on the Springwell Solar Farm submission from the Planning Inspector. 

The Fosse Green application is ongoing and following a similar process to the Springwell Solar Farm application, with public meetings being held in January 2026, in Lincoln. 

The application for Navenby substation has still not been submitted to NKDC. Cllr Williams suggested that that the solar farms would be unable to move forward without the substation and thought there could be more solar farms proposals if the substation is approved. 

Cllr Flett queried whether the Inspector’s report would be published regarding Springwell Solar Farm. Cllr Williams advised that the report would be published after the decision from the Secretary of State and there would be time to challenge the decision. 

Cllr Williams closed the meeting at 8:45pm.