Agendas and Minutes 2026

Public Forum

1 member of the public attended.

No comments were made but AT offered his thanks from the Long Bennington Patients Participation Group for the Parish Clerks support in obtaining £2,000 to enable the dementia group to continue meeting for the next 2 years.

Meeting commenced at 7.02pm

Present

Mark Newton (MN) Chair, Geoff Fearn GF (Vice Chair), David Kelly (DK), John Leventhall (JL), Martin Rose (MR), Steven Maxwell (SM), Mick Walker (MW), Paul Wood (PW), Daryl Walton (DW), Andy Taylor (AT) and Carole Lee (CL).  Martin Wright (Clerk).  Cllr Ken Bamford joined the meeting until he had completed his report (26/063)

26/060

Apologies for Absence

None

26/061

Declarations of Interest.

To receive Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in accordance with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012. 

None

26/062

Minutes & Matters Arising from Previous Meeting 2nd February 2026

Matters Arising

24/186 CCTV investigations still pending. Covered under 26/077

24/225 Witham Meadow. The sourcing of a shed/ building is still pending referred to in Witham Meadows report also. Covered under 26/078/ Witham Meadows Project Report

It was RESOLVED that the minutes be signed as a true record.

26/063

County Council Report

Written report for April provided by Cllr Bamford as Hough ward County Councillor.

County reorganization still awaiting government response for LCC.

Looking to create a more advance Fix my Street portal to allow better monitoring and raising of issues.  County Councillors will have better visibility and aim to give access to Parish Councils in due course.

Agreed 9.30am on 8 May for  Village Walk, to identify LCC repair work required.  Meet Ken and Rowan at Village Hall.  MN raised the issue of yellow line restrictions near the school, which LCC had bought into and notices were up in the village.  Nothing has happened yet, so Ken asked to follow up.

LCC looking to be more proactive on road repairs.  Repair properly, not walk away from nearby pot holes not reported and aim for good progress by the summer.  Cllr Bamford keen we highlight dangerous ones direct to him.

26/064

District Councillor Report

Food waste collections started this week across SKDC.  Government were covering some of the costs.

Cllrs were advised that the proposals for local government reorganisation were with the government and 6 locations had received instructions or had case deferred.  Essex was to be split into 5 councils and Norfolk 3 for example.  Lincolnshire still await government ruling but are not expecting significant delays.  Unclear how this will impact elections which are due in 2027.

A lack of street lighting on part of Church Street was referred to the District Councillor previously and SKDC have indicated a willingness to add to the existing telegraph pole.  Parish Council need to ensure residents in the location are happy with this.  ACTION CLERK

26/065

Planning

Applications –

S26/2174 Solar panels at Hangar 7-7a, Roseland Business Park.  No objections

Planning Approvals –

- s26/0081 Mr P Knight – Conversion of barn to one dwelling – Willow Tree Farm, Fen Lane

- s26/0070 Mr and Mrs J&L Hemming – Ground floor side extension – 23 The Pastures   

- s26/0359 Mr J Bramhall – work on trees at 6 Hardwick Gardens

- s26/0249 Reeves- Outdoor building to house gym/ simulator

Planning Refusals –

• S26/0042 Blackburn – Extensions to Witham House, Back Lane

Planning Appeals/Withdrawals – none

Other planning issues –

s24/2214 – 50 house site at south end of the village.  JL provided update on discussions regarding drainage.  JL advised developer re-examining drainage options but no promises.   LCC indicated they have responsibility for the dykes but awaiting written confirmation.  JL remains unclear having chased AWA what capacity there is in the village drainage.

JL also reported ongoing work on the registration of the title for the small hall with the land registry.  Land registry will not amalgamate the 4 titles but paperwork to ensure small hall registered as owned by CIO posted.  Main Hall still in old trust name, but JL trying to get sorted.

MN mentioned and provided high level plans for an 18 bungalow development opposite the surgery on Valley Lane.  Mick Potts ahead provided details to MN and just wanted a view from Councillors, nothing formal.  Believed to be in line with needs Parish Council identified in the Neighbourhood plan.  Only to be sold/ rented to people 55+ and some units will be via HA/ on affordable rents.  Village meeting in due course for developer to explain more.

PW did not engage in discussions given position on SKDC planning committee.

Other councillors broadly supportive.  Mention of warden support, but felt unlikely given scale of development.  Other points – access/ footpath into village/ lighting.

MN mentioned the note we had provided at Barkston PC request with regard to objection/ reservations over impact of a 90 unit development in Barkston which could impact Long Bennington via River Witham flooding and our own drainage.

PW advised that SKDC were doing a new development plan but currently do not have 5 year residential land bank of projects therefore there was a balance in favour of approvals on suitable developments.

26/066

Update re meeting with Anglian Water / Sewage Capacity

Covered under planning above

26/067

Parish Council Improved Communications – to update on discussions.

Still in pilot with 64 people signed up.  Facebook is getting the most new sign ups.

We are putting invites to sign up on social media every 2 weeks.

First quarterly newsletter to go out soon.

Like to see 100+ residents signed up.

Suggested that the school are approached to try and bring to parents attention. 

26/068

Speed Cameras and Community Speed Watch

Now have 7 fully trained volunteers following training on 27/3.

Starting up in the village again shortly.

26/069

Project Groundwater Flood Sensors Onboarding

Following councillors joining an on line meeting with the people behind the scheme a number of us are now signed up on a portal to receive alerts of flood events in the locality.

The team organizing the scheme are to hold a drop in session on 18 May at the Village Hall to encourage residents to sign up for the alerts and to explain how the system works.

26/070

Bus Shelter Grant Funding

Grants of up to £3,000 available for new or refurbishing bus shelters.  We have the one on Church Street and maybe that could be enhanced.  ACTION CLERK – visit and report back

26/071

Save a Life Session – Adult CPR and Defibrillator Training

Booked in the main village hall on evening of 19 May.  Maximum 16 attendees and runs from 6.30 until 9pm.  Training provided by Leisure SK.  ACTION CLERK - publicise

26/072

New Battery and Electrode pads for Pavillion Defib

The battery for the Pavillion defib is down to a single bar and the pads are out of date.  Councillors authorized the Clerk to order new ones from BHF at a net of VAT cost of £305.  ACTION CLERK

26/073

AI Training course via LALC

LALC training for AI available over three sessions.  Cost of £40+VAT per session or £80+VAT for all three.  Councillors agreed the Clerk could sign up and feedback as appropriate.  ACTION CLERK

26/074

DPI and Acceptance of office

Reminder provided of the need to keep DPI up to date if any additional assets within the parish are acquired.  Also reminded AoO need completing for chair and Vice at Annual Parish Council Meeting.  Both Mark and Geoff indicated intention to stand again for a further 12 months.

26/075

Annual Parish Meeting and Annual Parish Council Meeting

Reminder that it takes place on 11 May.  Plan to start at 7pm with the APM.  Aim to try something new this year and have an outside speaker. MR is liaising with RAF/ ex RAF contacts for a suitable presenter.  The Chairs report would therefore just be a handout and village groups given a few minutes to update after the speaker.

WI have kindly agreed to do the refreshments.

APCM to follow the APM

26/076

Chairman’s and Clerk’s Report

Chairman – no report

Clerks report as previously circulated.  Councillors confirmed acceptance of Steve Rowley’s kind offer to include a small grass area at the entrance to Drury Park in the village contract at no extra cost.

26/077

Finance

Councillors were referred to the attached schedule of invoices for payment totalling £7,743.09 plus a postage expense for JL of £5.95.

RESOLVED – to pay the invoices. ACTION Clerk to arrange payment.

Monthly financial reports were provided – no questions raised.

Resolved to approve Community Cleaner hours worked and payment.

Ground Maintenance for Village Hall Gardens for 2026 – contractor confirmed desire to continue, quoting £350.00 for the year.  ACTION CLERK – confirm acceptance

Following discussions with the PFMC the installers of the CCTV system at the playing fields have offered an annual maintenance and support service for the system at a cost of £150.  We have a camera offline and fixing this will be included in the cost.  Councillors approved.  ACTION CLERK – confirm back to Allsecure.

26/078

Reports

Playing Fields Management Committee – AGM this week at the Pavillion.  Some dog fouling and vandalism has occurred and CCTV footage to be reviewed.  Notices up already.  MN to advise the Housing Association whose properties back onto the fields that no dogs allowed and CCTV is being monitored.

Village Hall Management Committee – AGM last week.  All key positions re-elected.  A few vacancies and Jim taking a bit of a step back from his role.  The open day on 11 April was between 10 and midday, but few visitors.  Victor and Albert sold well with 100 tickets sold and £600 surplus made.  The request for a memorial bench in the grounds of the village hall was noted but left to the parish council to opine on.  Councillors approved.  ACTION CLERK – advise the parents and liaise with them/ Bennington Ironworks on location.

Emergency Planning Group – one new member.  Hoping to get more support with trialling emergency procedures.

Road Safety – no report

Police Report – no report

Footpaths & Streetlights – Ongoing positive feedback relating to the redoing of the paths on Church Street.  LCC have been reminded of the need to reinstate verges on Church Lane and Acklands Lane.

Witham Meadow – The River Trust have cleared the vegetation beside the river and the remnants need removing.  SM has discussed the container being brought to the site with the school.  They are excited about the prospect and mentioned some fundraising.  The school are also keen to be involved in painting the container once in place.  Via the LCC volunteer scheme Balfour Beatty have visited the site and agreed to provide manpower and tools to install the concrete pads for the container to sit on at no costs – we just need to fund materials.  They also agreed to provide barriers on site when the container is being brought in to keep children residents safe.  SM has identified a 20’ container supplier in Farnsfield and the supplier is keen to help – SM to visit site to view type of container.  Councillors agreed we could commit to a purchase at £1,800 to £1,900 and SM hoping to persuade the supplier to apply a base coat on the container.  MR and MW met RAF representatives at the site and they are positive above using the movement of the container as a training exercise for a Chinook crew and their ground support team.  Needs senior sign off.  It was agreed that SM and MR could get the processes moving – Balfour Beaty on site/ order container and aim for 21/22 July for the move.  Plan to move container direct from Farnsfield to Witham Meadows but RAF are reviewing and have alternatives.  Once all agreed we need to communicate with nearby residents, to ensure all informed and people kept safe.

GF agreed to organise a cut of key areas of Witham Meadows that are becoming overgrown with brambles etc.  Aim then for parish council to employ a contractor for regular maintenance in the growing season.  SM to meet Steve Rowley at Witham Meadows.

MR expressed his thanks to SKDC and the actors who performed at Witham Meadows on 11 April in Robin Hoodie.  Well received by the few who attended but only c 10 of the 30 who had tickets turned up.

26/079

Correspondence

Councillors referred to attached list of correspondence received during the last month.

No further comments raised.

26/080

Items for next agenda and Parish News Report.

Events in May to be publicised and continue pushing on the communication project.

26/081

Date of next meeting – 11 May 2026

Meeting Closed 8.45pm

Signed………………………………….  Designation ……………………        

Date ……………………