March 2026 DRAFT Minutes
Coningsby Town Council Meeting
March 26th, 2026, at 7:30pm in Coningsby Community Hall
In attendance: With Councillor Kevin Moorhouse as Chair, Cllrs: Chris Waites, Mary Walker, Paddy Donnellan, Amanda Bowen, Tabbi Bannister, Derek Mulholland and Glyn Olive.
District Cllr Martin Foster.
Clerk – Sarah-Louise Kulwicki
Presentation of the Rickard Trophy- To be done at the Annual Parish Meeting.
Public forum – 5 members of public in attendance.
One member of public made the Council aware of her concerns with the erection of flags on the high street. She asked that the council strongly consider pushing LCC to remove the flags which are on the lamp posts.
Cllr Moorhouse read the following statement from Cllr Sean Matthews:
The Councils would rather people didn’t put anything on street furniture, but like many other signs and appendages we will not be removing them until the routine maintenance schedule allows it.
For information, flags put up on streetlights are the property of another person, and without the permission of the owner, it may be considered theft to appropriate them, and should not be removed by members of the public, as they are flown from Council-owned street furniture we can remove them legitimately.
The act of putting them up and removing them is very dangerous and I urge people to consider the risk involved before engaging in such activities.
25/26- 133. Welcome from Chairman
The Chairman welcomed all present and thanked them for coming. He told all that the Council had written to the Sub-Postmaster after the concerns raised at the last Council meeting regarding parking outside the Post Office. The Sub-Postmaster had responded and asked all delivery drivers not to park at the front of the shop and to use the rear parking available. He did inform the Clerk that the drivers regularly change so it may not resolve it fully.
Cllr Moorhouse also told the meeting that the hedge owner on the A153 had been written to, to ask if they will cut it back. It was also discussed at the meeting with Highways and they will step in once it encroaches on the highway.
25/26- 134. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Town Clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies received from Cllr Evison, Cllr Sharples and County Cllr Sean Matthews.
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept these apologies.
25/26- 135. To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests and any written requests for dispensation.
None.
25/26- 136. Reports from County Councillor & District Councillors if in attendance.
Cllr Foster told the Council that they have made contact with the person on site at Hawthorn Hill and they are applying for a retrospective application. He will update the Clerk as needed.
25/26- 137. Notes previously circulated from February 26th, 2026, meeting – to resolve as a correct record
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the minutes.
25/26- 138. Notes previously circulated from HR and Finance meeting March 12th, 2026, meeting – to resolve as correct record
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the HR and Finance minutes.
25/26- 139. Youth Group – update from Cllr Bowen, award evening completed.
Cllr Bowen held the bronze award evening for the DIVSS youth club on Thursday 19th March. She thanked Cllr Foster for attending this event along with the DofE representative and Platform housing. She was pleased to report all who have done their bronze award want to do silver. This means this year there are 20 children doing bronze and 8 completing silver.
25/26- 140. Finances - To consider and approve payments as listed record
payments, March 2026 – list with Councillors and February 2026 bank reconciliation x 5 a/c
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the payments for March.
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation for February.
25/26- 141. Intermediate report received from LALC – circulated to all
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to accept the report from LALC. The Clerk was thanked for all her hard work.
25/26- 142. Planning applications and decisions
1. EC/02276/25 – Hawthorn Hill, Coningsby. Investigation ongoing. See District Cllr report.
25/26- 143. Highways - Feedback from meeting with Highways Officer – circulated:
Main issue: Hawthorn Hill
Discussed issues and concerns. Local Highways will continue to respond to FixMyStreet reports and inspect and repair areas as required.
1. Orchard Way and the regular complaints about parking issues and access for emergency vehicles - The Council working with LCC and ELDC Councillors have sent a letter to all residents but is there anything they can do from their end?
Determined that no further action can be taken with this challenging situation at this time.
2. War Memorial Layby - Poor surfacing condition, pot holes reported under ref: 2877649 some actioned but still poor condition
No apparent issues at the time of our visit, but some recent repairs have been completed.
3. Hedge on the A153, What can the Town Council do in order to get this Hedge trimmed? The Council has written to the land owner but if nothing is done will HW step in?
Discussed on site. At this time, no safety issue, but Local Highways will monitor this through the year and if any safety concerns become apparent, we will respond accordingly.
4. Bollard out of ground on Silver Street, (next to row of cottages and village planter, opposite Cherries) reported previously on Fix My Street one re-installed but this was has been missed
This will be repaired just as the other one recently has been too.
5. Can another planter be placed on High street outside Couplands as people still parking on the path a knocking planters into the road
This would need to be requested as a Community Asset in the Highway via this email address: BSPlaceHighways@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Once the application has been received, an officer will assess the location from a highway safety perspective and the location should be approved if no concerns are found.
6. Request for Tree to be reinstalled outside Katies pet services as one is missing? In front of village notice board seating area.
We will look into this request and keep you updated on the outcome.
7. 6 trees planted in War Memorial Layby, will there be some put in the other village layby near the Allan Barker?
We will look into this and keep you updated on the outcome.
8. Drainage issues on Highstreet, opposite Goodwins. Reported at many other meetings with Highways have these works to the road drains been done?
This work is due to take place in May and June. There have been challenging traffic management issues to overcome to be able to programme these works in, however we will be able to commence work now during these months and two drainage improvement jobs will be taking place during that time.
9. Pothole/trip hazard in path outside Goodwins car park entry point. Need attention. Not yet reported online.
We have reported this on your behalf, on report number: 4577308
25/26- 144. To adopt the Council’s Biodiversity Policy
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to adopt the Council’s Biodiversity Policy.
25/26- 145. To adopt the Council’s Dignity At Work Policy
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to adopt the Council's Dignity At Work Policy.
25/26- 146. Council to confirm all necessary criteria are in place for Bronze Award Quality Status
Proposed, seconded and RESOLVED to confirm all criteria have been met for Bronze Status the Council can now submit the application and supporting evidence.
25/26- 147. Clerk’s report
1. Lease for Hall car park, Custodian Trustee docs now signed with Solicitor, awaiting update.
2. Helping hands AGM – Cllr volunteer needed to chair the meeting. Councillor Waites will chair this meeting.
3. Wombles Thank you event – 28th March at 10am in the pavilion. The Clerk asked as many Councillors to attend as possible.
The meeting closed at 8:00pm