2026 Parish Council Minutes

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF TETNEY PARISH COUNCIL
Held at St. John's Methodist Chapel schoolroom on the 15th April 2026.
Present: -    
Councillors:   S. McMillan (Chair)          R. Lukehurst       Y. Fletcher    R. Coles       T. Evans     M. Anderson
                                   
Clerk: S. Booth        
Public: 1

29/26 CHAIR'S WELCOME
Cllr McMillan welcomed everyone to the meeting. He explained the building was a no smoking venue and where the fire exits were located. He explained that the March meeting had to cancelled at short notice due to a power cut that affected the whole village. A minute's silence was held for the late Mr Barry Gee who was a former Parish Council Chairman, long standing member of Tetney Playing Field & Village Hall Association and our community.
                                             
30/26 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received in advance from Cllrs Winslow, Kerman and Moorby due to other commitments and from County Cllr Robinson. Proposed to accept apologies by Cllr Lukehurst, seconded by Cllr Fletcher. All in favour of accepting the apologies. Resolved: To accept apologies.

31/26 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
a) To record declarations of interest by any member of the Council in respect of the agenda items
listed below. Members declaring interests should identify the agenda item and type of interest being declared. None.
b) To note dispensations given to any member of the Council in respect of the agenda items  
listed below. None

32/26 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING held on 12th February 2026.
Had been previously circulated. Proposed by Cllr Coles and seconded by Cllr Lukehurst to accept the Minutes. All in favour. Resolved: To accept minutes. 
"These be adopted as a true record".

33/26 OPEN FORUM 
A resident gave an update on possible development on Golf Club land - the attenuation pond has been dredged and considerably widened, the driver was made aware of wildfowl on the pond. The proposed site has now been seeded with a crop. Cllr Robinson has spoken with LCC Highways and with the development management team about the potential development.
An acknowledgement has been received from LCC Highways about the state of the overgrown dyke on Station Rd - Clerk informed the Council that Cllr Coles and the Clerk had also spoken with Highways about ownership and maintenance, Clerk to chase up.

34/26 TO RECEIVE EXTERNAL REPORTS
a) ELDC - The 2026/27 Councillor community grant is available to apply for now. ELDC have invested £1 million in grant form to The Woodland Trust to help purchase Harrison's Wood near Louth. It is 482 acres of ancient woodland which is home to regionally rare butterflies and 1 of only 4 nesting pairs ravens in the county. The wood is open to the public.
Heating Oil support scheme is available to residents who meet the criteria and can be applied for via the Lincolnshire Community Foundation website.
Field 51b off Humberston Rd has been approved for sale to developers by ELDC executive board and will now go to full council in May for final approval. 
b) LCC - No report.
c) Outside representatives – Tetney Dog Show on Saturday 25th April 2026, in aid of St. John's Chapel, 10.30 entry - 11am judging starts. 20 classes sponsored by local businesses. Refreshments, raffle, tombola and dog photographer. All welcome.
It was noted that the church bells had been heard ringing on various days for the first time in many years. 
New head teacher at the school will start after Easter break.

35/26 PARISH COUNCIL MATTERS.
a) Christmas fair format change - Clerk has booked hall for Saturday 28th November 2026. Emails have been sent to school and FOTPS to ask about supporting the event. Cllr Evans to chase up. 
b) Roadside planter locations and purchase of plants update. - Planters have been delivered and are awaiting transfer to the crossroads and Threeways junctions. Clerk applied for and has received approval for 3 more locations (Thoresby Rd, Jubilee Gardens and Holton Rd). Plants to be sourced from KRN nurseries at Utterby. Cllr McMillan proposed spending upto £400 on bedding plants, seconded by Cllr Coles. All in favour. Resolved: To spend max. £400.
c) To discuss and approve the open forum format change and to adopt the "meeting protocol" and "public participation" at meetings policies (as previously circulated). Cllr Fletcher proposed, seconded by Cllr Evans to accept the meeting format change of holding the public open forum at 7.20pm with the council meeting starting at 7.30pm. Agenda notice will be adapted to reflect the change. All in favour. Cllr McMillan proposed to accept meeting protocol policy, seconded by Cllr Coles. All in favour. Cllr Fletcher proposed accepting the Public participation at meeting policy, seconded by Cllr Anderson. All in favour. Resolved: To accept changing the open forum to before the council meeting starts, the meeting protocol policy and public participation at meetings policy.
d) To discuss the moving of meetings - General discussion undertaken, agreed to confirm and set new date for any rearranged meetings at earliest convenience.
e) To update on dog waste stickers and logo stickers - Cllr Coles has put both sets of stickers on all litter bins and logo stickers on all parish owned assets except for the grit bins which the stickers wouldn't fix to.
f) To discuss making s137 donation to "Canoe cleaner" charity for work completed at Tetney Lock. - Cllr Coles/Clerk to contact canoe cleaner about available grants in acknowledgement of work carried out at Tetney Lock.
g) To discuss purchase of fire proof bags (for cemetery documents, books and archives) and external hard drive for cemetery. - Cllr Anderson proposed, seconded by Cllr Fletcher to purchase  fire proof bags and hard drive. To research cloud storage costs as further back up.
h) To consider the road name "Old Paddock Grove" for the development on the land south of Beck View. - Alternative suggestions of "Paddock Grove", "The Pastures", "Waithe Close", "Blow Well Close". Clerk to send suggestions to ELDC.
i) To approve the annual parish council report. - Report previously circulated. Proposed to accept by Cllr Lukehurst, seconded by Cllr McMillan. All in favour. Resolved: To accept the parish report. Clerk to put on website.

36/26 FINANCIAL REPORT
Expenses for March/April 26

Receipts for Feb/Mar/Apr 26

Bank balances as at 7/4/26        

Proposed to accept finances by Cllr Coles, seconded by Cllr Anderson, all in favour. Resolved: To accept finances.            

37/26 Planning applications received & decisions received.

38/26    EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS      (for information purposes only)    
Annual Parish (Village) meeting to be held in the Chapel with Chapel refreshments being used. Cllr McMillan proposed a donation of £10 to cover costs, seconded by Cllr Evans. All in favour. Resolved: To donate £10 to Chapel for refreshment provision.

39/26   NEXT AGENDA ITEMS
Parish insurance, bank account/moving reserve funds.

40/26    FUTURE DATES,
Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Annual Parish Meeting, 7pm
Thursday 14th May 2026 (+ ACM)
Thursday 11th June 2026
Thursday 9th July 2026, in the Chapel school room at 7.30pm.                    

41/26    To resolve on whether the Council will move into closed session - The Council decided not to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960.
            
Meeting closed at 9.35pm.