January 2026 Minutes
BISHOP NORTON & ATTERBY PARISH COUNCIL DRAFT OF MINUTES
Record of the Parish Council meeting held in the village hall on Monday 12th January 2026 at 7.30pm.
PRESENT: Councillors: Cllr Townsend (Chair,) Cllr Freeman, Cllr Thody, Cllr Dean, Cllr Guy, Cllr Suggit and Jayne Moore (Clerk.)
Public Question Time: There were 8 members of the public in attendance as well as Cllr S Bunney.
1. Apologies for absence: None received.
2a. Co-option of new Councillor: Amy Panton was co-opted and paperwork completed.
2b. Minutes of the last meeting: Minutes of the November meeting accepted as a true record. Proposed, seconded and all agreed.
3. Matters arising:
No matters arising are included in the agenda.
4. County and District Councillor report: Cllr Bunney:
WLDC – Waste/ food collection, going to circulate more information as not everyone has received theirs. Each household will receive 2 caddies, collection is every week and collected outside with other bin. A bin could be brought to the next meeting.
Garden waste – going out for signing up this coming year. Some issues around longer/ different seasons, as it stands same service as last year. Some comments made about Lincoln being cheaper but collected each week, but the cost must break even, hence the price difference.
The use of different bins will be reviewed nationally next October.
Big thing is the policing situation. They have set up in Gainsborough, a team who are looking at high level crime (violent crime,) officers are specific to that issue but are available for other crimes. They have taken out sergeants/ desk job, so support roles around anti-social behaviour is lacking/ having a negative impact on communities.
Have written a letter to the minister, a copy of which will be circulated and can be placed in noticeboards/ shared to raise more awareness of this issue.
Government reform is going through, waiting for higher decisions and consultation. We know there are no chance that Parish Council/ Town Councils will disappear overnight, but the responsibilities may be passed onto Councils more, such as grass cutting, drainage etc.
Fix my street – a lot of people complaining about reporting individual items such as potholes. The suggestion is put on a pin at the start, the end and the contents (e.g. 52 potholes between the 2 pins) for it to be then reviewed.
Clerk to send the PCs response to the planning application to Cllr Bunney to view.
Signage at the crossroads, they came out and was unsure. Possibility of additional road markings/ improvements. Cllr Bunney to continue to pursue.
Thanks was given to Cllr Bunney for his report and attendance, he left at 7.45pm. No apologies or report received from Cllr Duguid.
5. Declarations of interest; to receive any declarations of interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011:
Item 13 – Cllr Suggit/ Cllr Freeman/ Cllr Townsend
Item 14 - Clerk/ Cllr Dean
6. Dog faeces: See below.
7. Correspondence:
Letter received from Mark Williams, resident of Bishop Norton regarding concerns over dog fouling and fly tipping. Letter read aloud by chairperson.
The Chairperson had talked to the parishioner directly and put ‘What to do’ instructions on Facebook about a faeces incident and how to report it. There is a copy on the notice board and will also go in The Triangle.
Councillor discussed having clear visible signage showing legal obligations and fines.
2 councillors reported standing in faeces in the last 2 days and another councillor did call somebody out for not picking it up. Could be somebody on their phones and oblivious to their dog.
Council agreed that signage should be added and ensure that if you see any challenge and potentially obtain evidence via photographs. Cllr Suggit agreed to complete the signs.
Some villages have poo bag dispensers. The playing field often gets faeces around the edges.
In the Triangle a reminder could be put about the location of the dog waste bin.
In regards to the fly tipping, a councillor mentioned that they would not be opposed to cameras along Norton Lane. It was discussed that without an electrical feed/ internet feed this may be difficult.
Data protection issues and other regulations may arise if cameras are installed.
A councillor suggested that an alternative camera option could be purchased alongside the watch signs.
At our last meeting we had Darrell Bettany attend on behalf of the Bishop Norton Amenities Group asking whether we were interested in taking over the responsibility for the existing play area. Letter/ email read aloud. Councillor felt there should be an estimate of costing, as it may affect our precept. Included in the change may be a potential ‘dowry’ which should be clarified.
8. Planning Applications:
a) WL/2025/01227 (Land at Archer Street):
There was a previous planning applications that was passed for 2-bedroom bungalows. It was asked if it was the same person submitting the application but no one was aware.
The Chair had put together some thoughts on behalf on the Parish Council based on the Neighbourhood Plan. Main thing that think is missing, we make lots of observations, but we don’t actually state whether we object or not. Strongly object to be added. The danger of this, is you take the power from the planning officer. This notes will be amended to ‘object’.
We have based our objections on elements of the neighbourhood plan, covered things like 4 dwelling and appropriate design and scale. Highways, sewage, garden size, unacceptable impact on adjacent properties.
The Chair had read all the parishioners’ objections and felt they covered other items that the PC have not made.
A parishioner made the comment that some comments are neutral and not specific objections. Village Hall committee concerned about hedge, car park overflow and drainage. Parishioners asked if it was possible to change/ withdraw their comments- the Chair was sure it was possible.
A parishioner added that an extra 21 days have been issued due to lack of information/ signage put up about it – the Parish Council was unaware of this alteration.
Highways consultation asked developers to demonstrate 3 parking spaces per house/ dwelling. The case officer notes, felt that took on board conservation observations but granted the outline of ‘up to 4 houses.’
Have no issue with development of the area, but it needs careful and sympathetic to the surrounding area and properties.
With such a wide range of comments from several sources, it surely warrants a good looking at. Should be in line with the neighbourhood plan, ignored outlined planning permission and access point.
Anything that we should add:
- Insisting that it is mains drains.
- The 5 properties coming out of the driveway which is very close to the junction and increase in traffic.
- Bin store structure for collection has to be appropriate size. Not to be a permanent housing of bins.
- Strongest argument is density. Fairly generous houses on generous plots.
- Proposed new drive may have impacted visuals (already in the letter.)
On the PC letter the issue arising is parking, the visitor parking between 2 and 5.
Cllr Bunney suggested it might be worth for it to be called in, it goes in front of the councillors and not just the officer. Need to send a representative to support the argument where you can present a 3-minute presentation.
9. Community resilience:
a) Flooding b) Update on ammonia detectors: Nothing to report on either from Cllr Suggit.
10. Playing Field improvements/ grant:
With one hand we were excited to see the new equipment installed but the inspection report proved disappointing.
Barriers around the slide and rota web currently remain. Been in contact with Wicksteed, and the barriers are installed as we are not confident in the current state. Wicksteed is coming on Friday 16th to rectify faults.
Doubt 3rd party inspection will take place this week. If the work is completed against the report findings. Councillors agreed we should have the 3rd party inspection report before removing the barriers.
The inspection report was completed within a week after the installation so hopefully it will be the same.
After being questioned, Wicksteed tried to explain rectification, however chairperson wrote a detailed letter which demanded a more detailed response.
Councillor raised – if it doesn’t meet the statutory requirements may impact the insurance and secondly WLDC grant, we had to report back to WLDC when the money had been sent and when the site had been fitted and commissioned. We will share this information with Wicksteed the fact that WLDC will be commissioning the works.
The rings on the swings have been rectified but this will be fully inspected again. Wicksteed to provide a maintenance plan going forward.
Barriers have been supplied by Ian Moore Contracting to set up, initial cost but weekly charge going forward of £25.00 + VAT. Invoice to be sent to Wicksteed.
11. Finance update:
a) See RFO report: Presented to Councillors before the meeting. Vat refund completed.
b) Chair suggested that it would be good to see the bank statement accompanying the RFO report for transparency. Signed by Cllr Townsend.
12. Final precept 2026/27: One councillor suggested an increase in line with CPI at 3.2%. This would make the precept request at £7,036.18. All agreed.
Clerk to send in final precept paperwork.
13. Allotment Fees 2026/27:
It was agreed to remain at the same price as last year.
14. Grass cutting - 2026-27 quote including additional play park strimming:
Quote received from current contractor, at an additional cost of £8.00 (this is to cover the additional strimming of the play equipment matting.) Quote agreed: £104.75 + VAT.
Strimming around planters - £15.00 per time + VAT accepted from April 2026.
A councillor reported that new bulbs have been planted around the wall near the church, so to avoid if possible. Clerk to relay to contractor.
15. Clerk resignation/ succession:
Sadly, the Clerk has resigned and will finish as of the 5th February 2026. 5 hours per week current contract, this was agreed again but potential of looking at an annualised contract.
Look at the combination of a clerk with Glentham Parish Council possibly?
On behalf of the Parish Council Jayne was thanked. Inclusive advert to be placed in the Triangle. Cllr Thody to organise this.
16. Bank mandate:
Cllr Thody is now on the bank mandate. This will be amended again after the recruitment of a new clerk.
17. Safeguarding:
Cllr Townsend did previously give some details on basic safeguarding course that would be good practice for Councillors to attend. A reminder that if you have/ haven’t done it, Cllr Townsend can send the details again upon request.
Cllr Dean as safeguarding lead has agreed to send her safeguarding certificates in.
18. Ditch clearance –
Cllr Townsend has asked Mr Flear about this but so far unable to make communication with Mr Dickinson. Mr Flear can do it if the first option is not feasible – this will need volunteers with wheelbarrows to help.
Cllr Townsend recently called Anglian Water when water was rising and sewage noted coming from drain, AW deduced that it was nothing to do with them.
The ditch by the horse fields are still an issue and also needs to be cleared out. Cllr Townsend to continue to pursue a resolution with Mr Dickinson.
It was agreed that parishioners/ PC need to report it regularly as an environmental issue.
19. PC Website:
It was asked if any councillors had ideas on what should be posted on the website.
Gov.uk email address are being insisted upon. A point was raised that ICT can be an issue for councillors.
The clerk’s laptop will not be able to be converted to Windows 11 so an alternative will need to be sourced.
20. Meeting dates for 2026:
Monday 9th March 2026
Monday 11th May 2026
Monday 13th July 2026
Monday 14th September 2026
Monday 9th November 2026
(This is dependant upon the availability of the future clerk.)
21. Items for next meeting:
Playing field, Clerk, Ditch clearance, website, dog faeces, bank mandate.
22. Date of next Meeting: Monday 9th March 2026 at 7.30pm in the village hall.
Chairperson thanked all in attendance and meeting closed at 9.15pm.
Chairperson signed………………………………………. Date: ……………………….