Parish Council Minutes of Meetings 2026

Notes of the Meeting of

Harmston Parish Council

at The Memorial Hall, Harmston

on Tuesday 17th FEBRUARY 2026 at 7.30 pm

OPEN FORUM – 15 minutes held before meeting commenced.

There were 5 residents in attendance.

▪ The couple who has submitted 25/1549/FUL introduced themselves as a local family, and were happy to answer any questions. They explained the pre-fabricated pods and hot tubs would be looking towards the airfield, and due to the nature of their construction it would mean no long lasting changes to the land (as no foundations were required.

▪ Who is responsible for the footpaths? Church walk and Hill top are overgrown and reducing the area of the footpath (Highways have cut back the hedges). End of Chapel Lane ivy is growing through fence and onto paths. There is a tree that needs removing. There is currently a yellow dot. on it that shows it’s been assessed. ACTION: Report paths to LCC (check with BS)

▪ Harmston resident introduced himself and explained he is shortly going to submit a planning application. He is hoping to build a single dwelling which will be carbon zero and their family home.

1/2 APOLOGIES AND REASONS FOR ABSENCE

Councillor Roberston sent her apologies which were accepted.

County Councillor Carrington sent his apologies.

(Councillor Hamilton sent his apologies via email just before the meeting which were not accessed until after the meeting)

2/2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA

Full list is available to view on https://democracy.n-kesteven.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?ID=350&LS=2

None were declared.

3/2 REPORTS OF REPRESENTATIVES

a) Local Police No report was received.

b) County Councillor Report Cllr Pennell shared some points on Cllr Carrington’s behalf. Cllr Carrington carried out a ward walk yesterday and covered all the points we raised. They don’t believe a pedestrian crossing near the church is possible, but discussed local government reorganisation. Ideas have been submitted. Between February and March there will be additional consultation, with elections planned for May 2027. New authority will take over in May 2028.  By-pass starts this March. Projected end – 2029. There will be an effect on Bracebridge Heath and Waddington whilst it is being built. Hopefully only some impact on Harmston, with the exception of road closures and diversions. Bypass posters re consultations are being distributed. c) District Councillor Reports Cllr cooper shared details of the Health Awareness event in Sleaford. There will be a bi-election as sadly Cllr Meres has passed away. Cllr Pennell explained that the consultation for greater Lincolnshire local government reorganisation has begun. HPC can comment as a council. ACTION: clerk to add consultation to March 2026 agenda, T/D: 9/3/26 Food waste collections start end of March. Graden waste scheme is starting again. £50.00 for 1st bin (was £45), £30 thereafter (was £8), and an additional bin will cost £49 (was £47)

4/2 PARISH COUNCILLOR UPDATE

Cllr P Chapman has been removed from the website following his resignation (and as per protocol). ACTION: Clerk to write to Cllr Chapman thanking him for his contributions. T/D: 1/3/26

5/2 CO-OPT

a) To discuss new applicants and vote It was RESOLVED: That Steve Chapman be unanimously elected onto Harmston Parish Council. The Chair welcomed Steve to HPC.

b) Newly elected candidates to complete mandatory forms - forms were completed and signed, ensuring Cllr Chapman could fully join the meeting and vote where needed. ACTION: Clerk to submit SC’s paperwork to NKDC, T/D: 3/3/26 ACTION: Clerk to check procedure for period of time after resignation before adverting vacancy, T/D: 1/3/26 ACTION: Clerk to share vacancy once rules have been checked, T/D: 10/3/26

6/2 TO APPROVE THE NOTES OF THE LAST MEETING

It was RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Tuesday 20th January 2026 were approved, and signed by the Chair.

7/2 CLERKS REPORT

1. Fosse Green response submitted on 20.1.26

2. Planning portal checked and up to date – extension to submit response after Feb meeting requested and agreed re 25/1549/FUL

3. Forms for new Cllr Robertson submitted to NKDC

4. Forms sent to new Cllr ahead of Feb meeting

5. Resignation of Councillor Chapman submitted to NKDC

6. List of concerns sent to Cllr Carrington ahead of his ward walk with Highways on 17.2.26

7. Cllr Hamilton asked to investigate if the defibrillator has had its annual check – it has – there were no expenses this year

8. Precept Form submitted ahead of closing date

9. Bench purchased and received

10. Alternative measures organised to remove and dispose of old bench and installation of new

11. Cllr Robertson’s details registered with LALC for updates

12. New councillor training booked for Cllr Robertson

13. Meeting dates for 2026-27 organised and checked with HMH

14. Recent forms received regarding streetlights on Thorold Way and Crescent Mews completed and returned asap

15. Articles written and submitted to HMH, Graffoe Link and Heathcliff View

16. Business survey completed

17. Assessment for new location for an additional grit bin has been chased – awaiting a response

18. All January meeting actions completed (with the exception of paying LALC fee – this is scheduled for beginning of new financial year)

19. Litter picking grant chased

20. Invitation from Balfour Beatty Construction regarding the North Hykeham Relief Road received and responded to. Meeting suggested for 17.3.26. Date confirmed.

NB: Please remember this report only lists some of the main actions, and not all actions carried out by the Clerk

There were no issues with the report. Clerk shared an update on the Thorold Way/Crescent Mews lighting – paperwork has all been submitted and invoice requested from LCC. Once the invoice has been received the clerk can pay the fee and then the lights will be switched back on at the next scheduled service (this option was selected as considerably cheaper than the alternative). ACTION: Clerk to chase LCC regarding position of new salt bin, T/D: 10/2/26

8/2 FINANCIAL MATTERS

a) To consider the Financial Overview to date for 2025-2026 (emailed) It was RESOLVED: That the Financial Overview be accepted.

b) To consider the VAT report to date It was RESOLVED: that the VAT Report for 2025-2026 to date, be accepted Appendices 3

c) To consider the Financial Report A for February 2026 It was RESOLVED: that the Financial Report for February 2026, Part A be accepted Appendices 1

d) To consider the Financial Report B for February 2026 It was RESOLVED: that the Financial Report, Part B for February 2026, be accepted and for the Clerk to make these payments Appendices 2

e) Financial File to be checked and finances monitoring log to be completed Cllr Harrison agreed to carry out this check and took the file home for checking ACTION: DH to return file to HJ by the end of the week

9/2 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

a) TREE WORKS

26/0091/TCA East Lodge, Church Lane - It was RESOLVED that a comment of no objection be added to the planning portal.

26/0148/TPO 35 Harmston Park Avenue - It was RESOLVED that a comment of no objection be added to the planning portal. New application for 10 Thorold Way received after publication of agenda. ACTION: Clerk request extension for comment submission deadline, T/D: asap ACTION: Clerk submit comments for relevant planning applications, T/D: as per deadlines

b) PLANNING 25/1549/FUL Land north of Vicarage Lane (Glamping Pods) There are only 2 public comments – both in support of the application, no emails regarding this have been received by the clerk. It was RESOLVED that the clerk submit “HPC supports the application and has no objection” to the planning portal. ACTION: Clerk to ask for extension to 18/2/26 for planning application received today to allow HPC to submit a response after the planned meeting on 17/2/26, T/D: 10/2/26

c) BESS 25/0533/FUL proposed energy storage at Coleby update no response as yet. Next planning meeting 10/2/26 – the agenda will be released one week before. There have been further agricultural digs. No further updates to date.

d) Fosse Green 23/0325/NSIP proposed solar farm and energy storage Dates arranged for on site meetings in March. Main meeting end of the same week – residents can apply to attend.

10 MEETINGS DATES 2026-2027

a) Review and approve proposed dates for 2026-2027

Dates have been approved by Harmston Memorial Hall. It was RESOLVED that the meeting dates be accepted for 2026-2027 ACTION: Clerk to share dates with all councillors, district and county councillors related to HPC, T/D: 1/3/26

Harmston Parish Council MEETING DATES FOR 2026 – 2027

Meetings will be held at Harmston Memorial Hall.

11 VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

a) Resignation of handyman It was agreed that an advert should be shared for a replacement.

b) Discuss next steps in securing a new Maintenance Person to replace our handyman Agreed that what needs to be put in place for a new maintenance person – 3rd party insurance and risk assessment etc needs researching, or should these be put in place when a maintenance person is appointed? CLERK: research points as listed, T/D: 17/3/26

12/2 PLAY AREA

a) Update on bench

The old picnic bench has been removed and disposed of and the new picnic bench has been installed.

b) Update on works ACTION: Monitor to see how the ground below the table weathers over time, T/D: ongoing

13/2 ROAD SAFETY

a) Crossing the A607 safely Following an accident at the lights, some residents have been requesting a crossing. There were thankfully no injuries sustained in the incident. HPC do not have the powers to install a crossing. ACTION: Clerk to ask Highways how many accidents there have been at the lights in the past 3 years to date, T/D; 17/3/26 ACTION: Clerk to add to website a request for residents to email her with concerns regarding this crossing, explaining that we need proof of concerns regarding child safety as evidence to requests crossing measures. T/D: 17/3/26

14/2 DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on: Tuesday 17th March 2026, to be held at The Memorial Hall, Harmston.

Prior this at 7.00pm the Parish Council have a meeting with a representative from Balfour Beatty regarding the next phase of the Relief Road.

There being no further agenda matters to discuss the meeting was closed by the Chairman at 8.47pm

Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes.