2026-27 Minutes

Open Forum

The Chair Cllr Daines welcomed all who were present and explained that legally the Council cannot make a decision or hold a formal debate in the open forum about any topic that has not officially published on the agenda beforehand. At my discretion I am willing to give each person 2 minutes to talk as per our Standing Orders but please be aware that the council cannot enter into a substantive debate or make any official comments, on non-agenda matters mentioned.

Yvonne Scott said that she wanted to address the Council regarding her concerns about speeding traffic on The Green and Crown Lane. She had written to Highways to explain her fears that there would be a serious accident as people travel in vehicles from Crown Lane but do not stop at the junction with The Green, despite there being broken white lines painted on the road. She is able to view the cars from her house . Unfortunately , the reply from Highways was unhelpful and it seemed they did not fully understand the problem. This would be discussed under Item 40. Pete Aldridge was also present to confirm the problem of parking in Crown Lane as he found it difficult to exit from his driveway

Pippa Atkin was present to talk about Neighbourhood Watch. She lived in Northorpe and was always surprised and annoyed when cold callers came to her house trying to sell products. She Had been on the Neighbourhood Watch website and understood that there were 7 groups within the village, but she did not know how up to date the information was. On one occasion she called the Police and for once they were pro-active, but she wanted to bring this matter to the attention of the Council as she was concerned about vulnerable people who might feel frightened by the cold callers. She was informed that this matter was on the agenda and would be discussed later.

Lindsay Taylor, Donna Digby and John Digby wanted to address the response made by the Parish Council to the planning application discussed at the Special Meeting on 21 May 2026. Mrs Taylor said that she was not opposed to the application but was concerned about aspects of the application that needed to be looked into and resolved. She felt disappointed at our response but simply saying the Council had no objections but only mentioned 2 concerns but the other matters raised as concerns were not addressed. John Digby said that he and many others he had spoken to about the letter said that it was ambiguous as it seemed that the council and the residents were of the same opinion, in that there were no objections. Cllr Daines pointed out that what the Council could or could not comment on when deciding planning applications. Comments regarding private civil matters will be disregarded. Parish councils should not raise issues concerning:

•           Boundary disputes, covenants, or private rights of way.

•           The perceived loss of a private view.

•           Potential impact on property values.

•           The personal character or morals of the applicant

As explained, we could not enter into a debate regarding these matters as we had lodged our comments, but all residents were advised to make their own representations to the Planning Officer.

The meeting was formally opened at 19.50

29.

Apologies for absence, acceptance of Apologies & noting of resignations received

29.1

Apologies were received from B Gunner,(personal) Resolved that the apologies be accepted.  

30.

Declaration of Interest – To receive Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests, as set out in Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 and the nature of those interests relating to any Agenda item

30.1

No one declared any Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests on any matter on the agenda.  

31.

Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Parish Council held on the 21 May 2026 (Min26-02)

31.1

Resolved: That the minutes of the special meeting held on the 21 May 2026 be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

32.

To receive a report from the County and District Councillors on matters relating to Thurlby

32.1

County Councillor Redfern gave a short report as follows:

• He had been advised that each County Councillor could be allocated up to £3000 which could be given to a Parish Council to help pay towards a project. He said that if we wanted that money or a part of it, we should put forward what we wanted and why. It was agreed that this matter would be placed on the July agenda.
• Cllr Bill pointed out that he understood Cllr Redfern had met with the Clerk to talk about highway matters. The suggestion of a post being erected in Crown Lane opposite No 6 was not feasible as the reactive sign could be damaged by a high sided vehicle going past. As for the sign being erected on Swallow Hill it was considered that the suggestion that it be sited at the end of the footpath by the last house on the right-hand side of Swallow Hill was not the suitable position. He considered that it should be placed in front of the third house from the end on the properties on the right-hand side as you travel up Swallow Hill.
• He was asked by Cllr Daines if he had, had any contact with the Housing Association about the barriers at the end of the footpath from Northorpe to Beck Way. She had been in touch with them, but they were no longer responding to her emails. It was suggested and agreed that we would write to the housing association stating that we would be removing the barriers (Beck Way end) on a specific date and if they wanted to object then they should let us have those objections on a specific  date before the barriers would be removed. Cllr Redfern agreed to this suggestion.

32.2

District Councillor Dobson had sent a report as follows:

1. The question of the resident who came to the Council meeting in April has not progressed further. I wrote to the Cllr Ken Redfern concerning the issue of the kerb stones leading off the A15 into Fen Road. The kerb needs to be lowered which I am told is a must at all junctions to avoid awkward passage from one side to the next for mobility reasons. Until this is done, there is no point laying a footpath. I am awaiting Cllr Redfern’s reply.

2. More fly tipping; this time at the collapsed building halfway up Long Drove. This is interesting in the fact that alongside a Bosch strimmer was a rather unusual print which you can see in the photograph below. As a council, we are not so interested to whom this once belonged, but who put it there. Please let me know if you have any clues as to the owner who will need to tell us whom they confided in disposing of this.

3. I attended the meeting with parishioners subsequent to the recent meeting prior to the finance committee meeting of the TPC. I followed this up with conversations with residents and with planning officers.

4. The state-of-the-art Depot in Grantham has now been officially opened. I along with fellow councillors was given a tour of the site. It is a vast improvement.

33.

Clerk’s Report and correspondence received

33.1

The Clerks Report had been circulated and explained that he had received various emails from NALC, ICCM and various playground equipment providers but if anyone wished to see copies, they can be forwarded on. The Clerk said that he wanted to mention 2 emails received which are:

1. An email from S Holland regarding the updating of the Neighbourhood Plan. It was agreed as this matter needed to be resolved it was agreed this would be put onto the July agenda.

2. An email from a resident saying he did not understand why we had written to the Planning Officer to say we had no objection to the planning application  for the hotel. This matter was dealt with under the Public Forum

34.

Planning applications: 

34.1

To consider any Planning Applications received – none to approve

34.2

To note Planning Applications approved: none to note

34.3

To note any Planning Applications refused or withdrawn: none to note

34.4

To note any Application appealed or any decision made regarding an appeal:  none to note

35.

To confirm Expenditure

£40.00 – B M Champness (use of home as office)
£574.26– B M Champness (salary)

£34.80 – Elaine Reynolds (salary)

£52.74 – BT (broadband charges) (DD)
£39.09 – Bluecom Services (monthly charges)

£244.80 – Bourne Skip Hire (weekly bin collection charges x 4)

£114.50 – Thurlby PCC (insert in Village Link)
£420.00 – D Thornburn (Internal Audit Fee)

[ ] denotes those payments paid between meetings, which have been approved by the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Parish Council or at a previous meeting but not listed

35.1

Resolved: that the payments be approved.

35.2

Three invoices had been received  since the agenda was posted and these were for
£65.00 – C.S.Harris (grass cutting in cemetery)

£3.99- ]- R Bill (new lock for reactive sign)

£3.30 – B M Champness (postage)

Resolved: that this payment be paid as well

36.

To discuss the accounts for May and for the bank reconciliation to be signed as a correct record

36.1

The Clerk has prepared bank reconciliation for May 2026 which had been circulated in advance. He also sent reports from Scribe showing what money had been spent or received as well as a budget report. Resolved: that the bank reconciliation be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

37.

To discuss a request from the Odd’Uns for financial support.

37.1

A resident on behalf of the Odd’uns had written requesting financial support from the Parish Council. She explained that they had monthly tea party meetings and wondered if we could help with this cost. They would also like support for the purchase of birthday cards , photocopying as well as helping towards outings which they organise. No information was given as to their finances or how much they were looking for. The Clerk did ask Mary Trumble is this lady was the right person to ask for help as a request made the other year was from someone else. Mary confirmed she was the right person. It was agreed that before we could proceed the Clerk would try and obtain more information as to what they needed and the costs. If they wanted indoor and outdoor games perhaps, they should place an advert in the Village Link asking if anyone had toys to donate to the group.

38.

To discuss matters raised by residents at the Refresh Café, to  include:

1. The village being a 'no cold calling' area. This matter was discussed at length together with the item about the Neighbourhood Scheme. It was suggested the Clerk write to the Police advising we were looking into both matters and would ask them what they would suggest and to give some help in getting both matters within the village. This item to be added to the July agenda.

38.1.1

The possibility of an active neighbourhood watch team within the village. See above

38.1.2

For a Village Magazine to be published  as previously so as to record the activities of the council including the financial aspects. It was agreed that for the next item to be inserted within the Village Link would be one page as a condensed breakdown as to what happened at this meeting and another page dealing only with the financial aspects of what we received and spent during the last financial year ending 31 March 2026

38.1.3

To discuss if we should apply for the village to be a 'Community Protection Order' so we can enforce dog fouling and for people can be fined. Whilst it was considered to be an appropriate measure to pursue the Clerk was to write to SKDC asking about the involvement of the Dog Warden, if there was still one, and asking how we could go about to obtain a PSPO.

38.1.4

Whether there could be a bus service to Stamford that came through the village and up Swallow Hill to Stamford. This matter had been discussed many times in recent years and each time Delaine Buses said that they would not supply a bus to go through the village. It was neither financially viable and it would have a massive impact on the bus timetable as it would be envisioned that the bus would need to go through Baston and Langtoft as well.

39.

To consider the data received from the reactive sign

39.1

Cllr Bill had submitted before the meeting the data he had obtained from the Reactive Sign

During May the Radar unit was positioned on the A15 at Thurlby recording traffic in a Southbound direction.

Compared with the previous results, April 2025, the overall daily count is 5% down on last year with comparable reduction in peak counts. The AM peak time remains unchanged at 07.00 - 08.00hrs while the PM has changed to 15.00 -16.00hrs.

The average speed has slightly reduced to 33.00mph with the average speed for those above the limit very similar to last year at 45.87 & 45.90mph with those travelling at these speeds down 43% at 4.52 and 5.06%, for the 5 & 7day periods. A maximum speed of 81mph recorded at 00.40 hrs. is also down slightly from 90.00mph.

The southbound data last month also indicated a reduction in traffic, and this may be the result of increased fuel cost, however, some 236,970 southbound vehicles were recorded during the 4-week May period and 227,003 northbound during April equivalent to approximately 16,600 vehicles per day use the A15 at Thurlby.

.

Further details can be found on the Parish Council Website.

Thanks to be recorded to Cllr Bill for undertaking this task every month.

39.1

Cllr Bill explained that Baston PC had donated two reactive signs one of which was working and the other needed repairing. He had charged the battery on the working one and it was placed in High Street for him to keep an eye on. The other sign he had again recharged the battery, but he could not switch the machine on. He felt that we should discuss this at the July meeting so we could decide if we wanted to have the machine repaired and if so, how the three signs could be used around the village. It was suggested that he takes the sign to the next Repair Café on the 28 June to see it anything could be done to fix the sign. The matter to be placed on the July agenda.

40.

To receive an update on speeding and parking on Swallow Hill, Crown Lane and The Green

40.1

This matter was discussed under Item 32.1, and the Clerk was now to write to Highways in line with what was discussed at the Annual Meeting on 6 May 2026

41.

To receive an update on the Cemetery to include grass cutting, maintenance and burial fees as well as a request to sow wildflowers onto a grave of a relative

41.1

Cllr Thomas said that all was in order and he had nothing to report.

The Clerk explained that he had received an email from a relative of a person who had been buried in the cemetery. He wanted to sow wildflower seeds on the grave. The email had been circulated in advance. After discussion it was resolved that we would not allow this to happen but if they wanted to plant tulip and or daffodil bulbs then there would be no objections.

It was suggested that as we missed the meeting in the cemetery last year, we met at 7 p.m. before the next meeting on 1 July 2026. This was agreed to

42.

For any Councillor to produce a written report of any meeting that he/she has attended as a representative of the Parish Council

42.1

Cllrs Daines and Broadbent both attended the Refresh Café on 10 May 2026 . They reported:

Our presence was gratefully received. Residents were keen to take the 'Do Not Knock' stickers and thanked us for them.

Several residents talked with us about certain matters -

1. A couple of people questioned the area being a 'no cold calling' area. They asked for clarity over whether we are registered as one or not.

2. A resident spoke about being keen to initiate an active neighbourhood watch team within the village. She may well attend open forum at the next PC meeting. 

3. We were shown copies of the village newsletter from 2017/18 and were informed this is what Mr Rose would like to see once per year, following on from his request about the precept etc. 

4. A resident spoke of her concern regarding dog fouling in the footpath from Northorpe through to the back of the fields. There is a litter bin at the end of the footpath, but endless piles of dog poo end up left there. Apparently if we apply for the village to be a 'Community Protection Order' we can enforce dog fouling and people can be fined. She said we can enquire through SKDC to see if we can register for it. 

5. A lady that lives in the Station Road area expressed sadness and upset at not being able to get a bus to Stamford without walking a mile to the A15. She is over 90 years old and has reduced mobility. 

43.

Members Questions - reminder only questions given to the clerk a week in advance will be answered.

43.1

Cllr Haley said that there were overhanging bushes in High Street. He was advised that he should report these on FixMyStreet with photographic evidence.

43.2

There being no other business the meeting was duly closed at 21.20

44.

The date of the next meeting – to be held on Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 7.30 p.m. in the Lawrance Park Social Room, Thurlby with us meeting at 7 p.m. at the Cemetery