2026 Minutes

Councillors present:  Paul Bakker, Alan Bowling, Carol Markwell, Richard Keeler, Paul Bavin, Linda Page, Geoff Parnham, Avril Gregory and Yolanda Martin. Cllr A Bowling took the Chair. 10 members attended. Our LCC Councillors Carl Edgoose-Zagorskiy & Cain Parkinson plus SKDC Cllr E Stooke & SKDC Cllr Richard Litchfield were in attendance. Cllr C Noon the ward Cllr for Harrowby Ward was also in attendance. One parishioner was also present.

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Apologies: Roland Wright and Scott McGrane both sent their apologies, these were accepted.

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Declarations of Interest; None

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Casual Vacancies: We have two vacancies these were advertised in the Newsletter from which we got one person interested. Ms Laura Harrison had completed the necessary paperwork to enable her to be co-opted in her absence, C Markwell well proposed that she be co-opted and this was seconded by G Parnham this was agreed unan.

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New Councillor to Sign Papers: As Ms Harrison was not present, the Clerk will contact her ASAP to get the paperwork all signed and off to SKDC.

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Notes of the 14th of January 2026 Meeting: These were agreed and signed as a true record, proposed by P Bakker sec G Parnham Unan.

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Clerks Progress Report: Everything covered under this agenda.

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Finance Report No 5 2025-26: Councillors as usual had received the reports taken off the Scribe system prior to the meeting. The Clerk went through the report in the detail explaining all the payments. Salaries Clerk/Community Cleaner two months £1958.09 HMRC £71.00.

Office: Lebara Sim Card £1.00 Contract 2 months @£4.50 = £9.00. Bank Charges £9.50, Printer Ink £34.61 VAT £5.77 Clerks Annual Expenses for Telephone, Internet and Home Working £350

Newsletter: £1193.00, Stamps £54.99, Envelopes £4.47 VAT .75p,

S137 Belmont Tree: Tree £53.48, VAT £8.91, Collection Petrol £30.00 VAT £5.00

Speed Indicator Devices: £5614.78 VAT £935.80

Repairs: Gate £100, Roundabout surface £80, Goalposts £50 Orchard Fence £500.

Gazebo £259.99 VAT £43.33. Working Party Refreshments: £6.25

Income: National Grid £81.32, NatWest Interest £52.49

To be paid prior to next meeting: Insurance, LALC, Salaries, Scribe, ParishOnline, Office, Grass Cutting.

An Application for a Grant towards the toilets for this years “Sunnifest” has been received, cost Approx £280 including VAT it was proposed by G Parnham & seconded by A Gregory that we pay this from our S137 fund.

Proposal to accept by R Keeler sec Y Martin, Cllrs P Bavin & R Keeler signed off the accounts.

The Clerk indicated that the accounts this year will nearly match income versus expenditure.

This will mainly be because we have had grants to cover some of the works done allowing the Project Fund to remain untouched.

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Leisure & Outdoor:

a) Playground Safety Report: No major issues, awaiting the inspection to be done possibly late this month when the Inspector does two others in this area. Works ongoing as per when weather allows.

b) Londonthorpe Amenity Area: hedging was supplemented by planting 40 Hawthorn Whips. The Planters look marvellous with the show of daffodils etc. thanks again to the volunteers.

c) Bridge End Grove: nothing major done during the winter.

d) Withambrook: All tasks were delayed due to not being able to take vehicles onto the area due to the weather. Vandalised Gate was though repaired. The work on the Roundabout and the Community Orchard Fence, plus Goal posts were done on the 2nd March.  Community Orchard, all the trees look to have survived the winter well with some breaking bud already.

e) Hills & Hollows: Working party to burn brash and remove unwanted plastic tree guards will be on Wednesday 18th March at 9:30. Fly-tipping by one of the horse owners reported to SKDC and Ropsley Farms. Motorcycles again a problem not just on our land but on the farmers fields. Please report to Police. They have been seen approaching from Hall Lane and Tennyson Ave area.

f) Blessed High More Site:  A full discussion took place on the results gleaned from the consultation done by the Clerk with all members. Unfortunately, a couple failed to submit any replies, but we did have over 80% who did so a good representation of our views. The clerks notes of the result of the consultation had been made available to all including the District/County Cllrs present. They were allowed by the Chair to make their comments during the discussion which proved very helpful.

The main things of contention in the SKDC plan would be the density of planting, areas of planting, Species to be used. We want more dense planting in the known wet areas. Plus, the blocking of the access route from Scotney Dr for the servicing by the planned planting areas. The clerk will put together an amended document to be forwarded to SKDC by the 18th March. It will be sent to members for agreement prior to sending.

g) Jubilee Mount: Although the works have had a great effect on the water running down the path, we have not been able to control the Springwater Outlet, this may need further consideration. Water has been dispersed further down the track and now comes over the top nearer our seat. This is to be monitored before further work is considered.

h) Millennium Garden: School Gardening Club to start soon (23RD) and they will again undertake the planting work. The Belmont Schools 50th Anniversary tree was planted by the “Schools Council Members” and the head teacher, ably assisted by the Clerk, G Parnham and P Bakker.

         They have thanked us for the donation of the tree, a plaque is to be made, and Cllr              Bakker will make a backing for it when we know the size.

i) Working Parties: WT last working party for this season was held on the 1st March on a bright sunny day, quite different to most this winter. Thanks to all those who volunteered. H & H working party all being well a midweek meeting on the 18th, volunteers welcome!

j) Belfry: work to chop down overhanging bushes was stopped due to the fence posts being rotten. We need to establish whose they are? The entrance gate was reported broken, this has been passed on to our contractor who will repair it this week.

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 Planning Applications: Solar Farms nothing new heard from any of them and no work seen on the sites!

 Bloor’s Homes: last meeting held in Jan, since then we have seen the works done to alleviate the flooding from the blocked dyke. This flooding of the road was caused by the fact that the connection to the roadside gulley grains were blocked. Work was done under traffic lights to clear this. We had support on this from many quarters including Cllrs: Stooke, Parkinson. Edgoose and Morgan. We thank them for their support.

No 205 are as far as we knew were still pursuing their claims against Bloor’s for the damage done to their property. This is a civil matter! LCC Flood team have been dealing with them also. We were informed that Bloor’s have been working with them to stop further problems.

We are due another meeting with Bloor’s shortly. I’m still waiting for the details of the acoustic fence from Bloor’s. we do know they have already started putting up the wooden section.

Outstanding applications include:

S26/0098 for single storey at Harrowby Hall: There appears to be some misunderstandings on this application, with some for it and others against. It should be remembered that no new builds have been allowed in Harrowby since the closure of the Land Settlement Association. We have even just recently objected to one new build only yards away on the old Farmstead site. We will be putting in our objections to SKDC when the clerk receives all the replies from the councillors allocated to this application. Proposed By P Bakker Sec G Parnham this was agreed.

S26/0266 Londonthorpe Greenhouse and Store No Problems. S26/0006 warehouse extension no problems

BLOORS Amendments to affordable homes layout

S25/2453 Spinney tree works, no problems work welcomed and pleased to see replacement trees being planted. Noted proper upkeep required.

Spittlegate Garden Village Meeting notes of this meeting were forwarded to all. Noted that some housing now to be out of our parish as commercial land not now all being taken up!

An Enforcement Request was made to SKDC about the A52 High Dyke triangle as many more than the planning approval caravans are on site (13 at the last count). No reply received to be chased up.

Members were reminded that when replying to any email, especially Planning Applications please only reply to the Clerk in the first instance. This gives everyone the chance to make an unbiased comment!

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Highways Etc. Highway Matters: The two SID’s have arrived we now await the installation of the posts. These are for Londonthorpe, Belton Lane an extra post is being put in on Alma Park Road.  We have been informed the Alma Park one has been done but the other two have not. This to be chased up.

The usual pothole problems have been evident around the parish, Cllrs Stooke and Parkinson have been pushing for the works to be done especially the stretch outside the Belmont School. A meeting has been arranged with Highways by Cllr Stooke and we hope to attend.

We recommend that you report any highway problems on the LCC Fixmystreet.

Work to GSRR: propel bridge into place now started at centimetres per hour!

Details of the A52 Green Corridor have been passed to all; this is part of the planning for the new developments on Somerby Hill/Spittlegate. This will make it one way except for buses etc.

We cannot support this as we can see the problems that will arise with the extra traffic being sent in other directions especially at school drop off times. This will cause many extra journeys when the new schools open, the extra traffic will have to go round by the new link road and then down South Parade or push further traffic down Harrowby Lane and Londonthorpe.

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Emergency Planning Team: nothing new to report.

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Community Engagement: Newsletter all delivered Clerk as taken a few calls about different subjects including the possible new Cllr. I also passed on a new volunteer for the “Toad Patrol” thanks to all our faithful deliverers!

Belton Community Festival: as agreed previously we will be attending this on the first weekend in September, on the 5th and 6th. The gazebo has been purchased at the winter discounted price and delivered.

New Telephone number now in use, (07345-075486) the public are using it to contact me!

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 Local Government Reorganisation: No new information received we await the Government Inspectors decision! Will inform you all as soon as possible. Online Consultation doc received 6/2/26 passed to all. Alan attended this online event and reported there was nothing new.

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Policies: Grants/Donations and Lone Working Policies renewed to 2029.

We are though still working through the requirements for when the clerk retires and the possible working conditions etc for a new incumbent. This will entail changes to the Clerks Contract and Working Conditions etc for a future incumbent. Looking at other job descriptions by other councils to build up our own.

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Allocated Councillors: Y Martin raised the question about the state that the Harrowby Hall Triangle had been left in by the council work. Cllr Stooke will take this up for us.   P Bakker asked about Blood Bags for our Defibrillators.  R Keeler asked if we could top up our daffodils around the parish for next year. Photos of what we have now to be taken for reference.

Cllr E Stooke is to take up the Fly Tipping with SKDC, and try to arrange the next Police Neighbourhood meeting. Cllr Parkinson brought us up to date on the neighbouring Harrowby Playing Field Plans. Cllr Litchfield said he would like to join us at the H&H Working Party

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Correspondence: All covered within the agenda or forwarded to councillors as received.

Except an email from the Belmont head re the 50th anniversary which be in the Newsletter.

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Matters for the 13th of May 2026 Agenda: None