MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF SCAMPTON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2026 AT BSA HALL, AISTHORPE
ATTENDANCE: Cllrs. Bulteel (In the Chair), Sneath, Newham, Quincey, Patterson and Thompson together with Brian Elliott (Parish Clerk) and 4 members of the public.
APOLOGIES - Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Somerville.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS’ INTEREST – No interests were declared.
03.05-01 OPEN FORUM – No points were raised.
03.05-02 MINUTES – Councillors Newham and Sneath proposed and seconded ratification of the previous meeting's minutes, which were approved for signature.
03.05-03 HIGHWAYS AND SPEED AWARENESS – Speed recording data was noted. A resident's request for speed checks at the Sturton-by-Stow end of Tillbridge Lane will go to Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) together with progress chasers on outstanding highway matters. However, the Scampton Cliff grit bin and bollard issues are resolved.
LCC's payment proposals for grass cutting on their behalf were accepted. Following a tender exercise, the Parish Council’s contract for grass cutting in Scampton Village and parts of Scampton Cliff was awarded to Freddie Allen Gardens & Landscapes at £4,104 (proposed by Cllr Bulteel, seconded by Cllr Patterson).
03.05-04 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM – The Council decided not to participate in the current consultation exercise on Unitary Authorities.
03.05-05 LITTER PICKS – Despite the much appreciated help of a couple of residents, the Scampton Cliff Litter Pick on 1 March was not well supported - but it was hoped for a better response for the next one (on 10 May).
03.05-06 WEB PAGES & SOCIAL MEDIA, BARNES WALLIS CENTRE, HEALTH & SAFETY and COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT: Nothing to report.
03.05-07 INFORMATION SYSTEMS: Work on systems to meet an additional Audit requirement on data compliance was noted. In addition, it was agreed to replace the Council’s colour printer, and the Clerk should identify three options costing up to £180 so that a decision can be made before the next meeting.
03.05-08 ENERGY: Since the electricity market was currently very unpredictable, any decision on a new contract was deferred until nearer the expiry of the current arrangement in December. Meanwhile, pressure was being exerted to have redundant lamp standards at Scampton Cliff removed - but the lighting at Trenchard Square is now working acceptably.
03.05-09 FUTURE OF SCAMPTON – Bidding for the former RAF site remains under way but, in respect of the residential part of the site, the Parish Council is still seeking prices for conveyancing work on its potential acquisition of amenity land.
03.05-10 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – The working group created to oversee progress and public consultations on a “Whole Parish” Neighbourhood Plan would have its first meeting on19 March.
03.05-11 DEFIBRILLATORS – Approval and costings for this work were still awaited but Councillors did accept a West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) offer of training on defibrillator use in the spring.
03.05-12 COMMUNITY SOCIAL EVENTS – Arrangements seem well in hand for the May fete on 16 May.
03.05-13 QUEEN’S CANOPY – Further delays in landowners’ approval meant that this project should be deferred until the autumn.
03.05-14 POLICIES – Policies on Bullying, Donations & Grants & Freedom of Information were all reviewed, but no changes were needed.
03.05-15 FUTURE PLANS – All was in hand for the community skips on 7 April and authority was given for the necessary payments to be made.
03.05-16 AIR CREW STATUES – Prices for installation from several suppliers were considered and a tender of £1376 from Gelder Group was accepted - proposed by Cllr Patterson and seconded by Cllr Sneath. Acquisition of the statues should also proceed but all this activity would need to be classified as Section 137 expenditure.
03.05-17 DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORT – Cllr Patterson reported on the results of WLDC deliberations on the 2026-27 Budget.
03.05-18 CORRESPONDENCE – Apart from the usual regular newsletters, the main correspondence centred on (a) the Police report including on staffing levels and recruitment, (b) LCC’s Bus Shelter Grants and (c) an invitation to attend consultation meetings about Cadent’s Hydrogen Pipeline from the Humber to Nottinghamshire.
Items (a) and (b) were noted with individual Councillors free to follow up item (c).
03.05-19 FINANCE – On a proposal by Cllr Bulteel (seconded by Cllr Sneath), the expenditure in the Schedule was approved but any decision on the LALC Training fee was deferred until the take up on courses was clear.
03.05-20 PLANNING – Assuming that there are no purely localised concerns raised with planners by adjacent residents, the Parish Council had no objections to the changes to the approved extension at 33 High Street.
03.05-21 NEXT MEETING – The next meeting will be on Thursday 2 April 2026 at the usual venue and will include the standard agenda items listed below - with the addition of the annual Audit formalities but deletion of Queens Canopy.
Standing Agenda items: Approval of minutes; Speed awareness and highways issues; Web page and social media; Energy Report; Future of Scampton; Neighbourhood Plan; Information technology; Health and safety; Scampton Cliff defibrillator; Community events; Policies; Future plans; Queen’s canopy; Tommy statues and benches; District Councillors report; County Councillors report; Correspondence; Finance and Planning.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.20pm.
SCHEDULE
