2025-26 Minutes

Potterhanworth Parish Council

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Potterhanworth Parish Council held at The Pavilion, Queensway, Potterhanworth, LN4 2EA on Monday 27 July 2026.

Present:  Chair:  Sarah Copsey

Councillors:  Grant Collier, Lee Davis, John Giles, Sam Ingall and Martin Ott

Also in attendance:  Cty Cllr Ian Carrington and NKDC Cllr Peter Lundgren

In attendance:  Mr Eddie Findlay, Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer

14 members of the public were in attendance.

At 07:00 pm the Chair welcomed everybody to the meeting.  With the majority of those attending being there to possibly comment on the Hanworth Country Park Planning application 26/0736/FUL, she asked that everybody recognise that even though other people may have a different opinion, they should all be listened to, and spoken to, with respect for each other.

She then opened the Public Forum up to the members of the public.

All of the members of the public were given the opportunity to speak of their concerns or agreements with the application.

Sewerage and the fact that the treatment facility at the end of Barff Road was not able to cope with the current capacity and the possibility of an additional 35 dwellings, in this application alone, was a great worry.  One resident detailed that the facility was created in the early 1970s, for around 100 dwellings.  The number of properties was now in the region of 300, with the system already ‘backing up’.  A number of instances had been reported, after properties along Barff Road had had sewerage overflowing back into the properties.  In these instances, the facility had had to be assisted by taking ‘overflow’ away on lorries.

The biodiversity plan was questioned, and the loss of wildlife habitat was a major concern for some and that a number of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (CLLP) policies were being ignored.  The filling and the sustaining of water levels in the two new ponds was questioned.  The ponds were for fishing etc and with the current climate and potential for the long hot dry spells becoming the norm would aid further strain of maintaining the ponds at safe and satisfactory levels.

The fact that there had already been 25 previous planning applications and that no ‘endgame’ was evident and there just seemed to be ‘mission creep’, trying to squeeze the maximum profit out of the land with little or no thought to the community affected.

A number of people enjoyed the site as it is, feeling welcome and able to walk round the grounds, experiencing nature and feared this expansion would limit access and prevent continued enjoyment, especially if the increase of ‘events’ were to take place as these also add to noise concerns.

The Park Manager was in attendance and gave a verbal update on the financial viability of the current park and assured people that permanent occupancy which is not allowed at present would remain extant.

D/Cllr Lundgren gave a little background on how the application would be reviewed and if ‘called in’ what would happen.

Cty Cllr Carrington spoke briefly on the material considerations that should be used if in support, or more so if submitting objections.  “I don’t like it” is not a consideration that would be taken into account.

The Chair declared the meeting open at 7:50 pm.

30.  To receive apologies for absence and reasons given, i.a.w. Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
Cllr Blake was unable to attend and their reasons were made known to the Council.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the reasons for absence from Cllr Blake.
Proposed by Cllr Giles, seconded by Cllr Copsey and approved unanimously.

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31.  To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
None declared at this time.

32.  Consider the approval of notes from the Parish Council ordinary meeting held at the Pavillion, Queensway, on Monday 22 June 2026 as Minutes.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the notes from the Parish Council ordinary meeting held at the Pavillion, Queensway, on Monday 22 June 2026 as Minutes.
Proposed by Cllr Giles, seconded by Cllr Collier and approved unanimously.

33.  Receive a report from the Chair.
The Chair wished to thank all the village volunteers who make Potterhanworth such a lovely and vibrant place to live.
The recent Beer Festival was another success, well attended and blessed with glorious weather.  New volunteers would be most welcome to enable the continued success of this venture.
Thanks also to Christs Hospital for their grant towards the Children’s Hulu Hoop event, planned for Wednesday 19 August 2026, to tie in with the Community Cuppa event.
The pergola was taking shape and would soon have the whole roof tiled, then it would be the final touches of an electrical supply.
More on the MUGA later, but thanks from the Chair, to Cllr Grant Collier for all his efforts in getting the project installed.

34.  Receive reports from the Councillors and Clerk in relation to the minutes, other Council matters and Police Reports.
No resolutions may be passed under this item but requests for matters to be placed on the next agenda can be made.

Councillors
Nothing from the Councillors present.

Clerk
Still no profiles on the website for Cllr Ingall, nor Cllr Davis.
The Clerk was happy to report that zero Police incidents are showing for May 2026.

35.  Receive reports from the County and District Councillors.
Both Cty Cllr Carrington and D/Cllr Lundgren gave details on the recently released Local Government Reorganisation outcome.
Whilst the outcome was not what they preferred this is what has been approved by Central Government.  Shadow elections would take place in May 2027.  These elected representatives would shadow the current Councillors until May 2028 when NKDC and Lincolnshire County Council would cease.

36.  Financial Matters.
a.  Consider the payment required for the Council contribution towards the Callo MUGA.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the payment, subject to the minor snagging list being resolved.
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Ott and approved unanimously.

b.  Consider the cost to purchase signs for the MUGA gates.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the purchase of th2 two signs as required by FCC and two additional signs to request the gates are kept closed at a cost of no more than £500.00 (ex-VAT).
Proposed by Cllr Giles, seconded by Cllr Copsey and approved unanimously.

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c.  Approve payments made since the last meeting.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the Payments made since the last meeting.
Proposed by Cllr Ingall, seconded by Cllr Collier and approved unanimously.

d.  Approve the payments of invoices etc. as listed on the Payments to be Authorised sheet.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the Payments to be Authorised.
Proposed by Cllr Giles, seconded by Cllr Davis and approved unanimously.

e.  Approve the bank reconciliation for June 2026.
The bank accounts had been reconciled for the month ending 30-Jun-2026, which now stood at £47,990.18 from the following accounts; £96.24 (TSB), £1,741.64 (Unity Trust Current) and £46,152.30 (Unity Trust Savings).
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliations for June 2026.
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Ingall and approved unanimously.

f.  Consider quotes received regarding the moving of the Pavilion roadway street-lights electrical box, when National Grid move main meter box.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the quote from Harland Electrical, at a cost of no more than £1,000.00.
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Ott and approved unanimously.

g.  Consider the Trustees of Potterhanworth Playing Fields Renewal Quote from Gallagher.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the annual insurance fee from Gallagher for £1,014.71.
Proposed by Cllr Collier, seconded by Cllr Copsey and approved unanimously.
At 9:00 pm, the Chair proposed suspending Standing Order 3.x. t extend the meeting time beyond the stipulated 2 hours.  Seconded by Cllr Davis and approved unanimously.

37.  Planning Matters.
a.  26/0736/FUL – siting of 35 holiday lodges, the excavation of 2 fishing ponds and construction of internal access road at Hanworth Country Park.  Comments required by 07-Aug-2026 (extension granted).
Action:  Council RESOLVED to submit objections to the applications using the points raised during the public forum and the consolidated reported circulated on behalf of Cllr Ott.  A final version would be circulated to all Councillors for approval before sending to NKDC.
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Collier and approved unanimously.

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b.  Consider a course of action with regard to a potential planning application that may require access along the Pavilion access road and through the car park.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to create a working party, with Cllr Ott leading, to review historical documentation with regard to ownership of the land relating to playing field, the Pavilion, the roadway and the Playing Field Trustees responsibilities.
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Collier and approved unanimously.

38.  Correspondence.
a.  NKDC Planning, notice of approved application 26/0523/VARCON.  The Old Rectory.  Circulated 24-Jun-2026.
b.  LALC eNews 26-Jun-2026.  Circulated 03-Jul-2026.
c.  NKDC Corporate Civic – Cllr home address redaction.  Circulated 03-Jul-2026.
d.  NKDC Planning - 26/0736/FUL for the siting of 35 holiday lodges, the excavation of 2 fishing ponds and construction of internal access road at Hanworth Country Park.  Circulated 06-Jul-2026.
e.  NKDC Planning, x 3 Nocton applications, 26/0649/HOUS, 26/0514/LBC and 26/0807/HOUS.  Circulated 15-Jul-2026.
f.  HW Lincs/Active Lincolnshire.  Circulated 15-Jul-2026.
g.  LCC improvements for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).  Circulated 15-Jul-2026.
h.  NKDC Local Government Reorganisation Announcement.  Circulated 16-Jul-2026.
i.  NKDC eNewsNK.  Circulated 17-Jul-2026.
j.  LALC eNews 24-Jul-2026.  Circulated 27-Jul-2026.

39.  Pavilion/playing field facilities.
a.  Receive an update on the MUGA.
Work was now completed.  A few minor snags had been reported and Cllr Collier was in discussion with Caloo and their operatives to resolve the issues raised.

b.  Consider changes to the Pavilion entrance porch area.
Action:  Due to time constraints, Council RESOLVED to defer this item until the next scheduled meeting, (87-Sep-2026).
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Giles and approved unanimously.

40.  Working Groups updates.
a.  Receive a report on behalf of the POTCOM Working Group.
Action:  Due to time constraints, Council RESOLVED to defer this item until the next scheduled meeting, (28-Sep-2026).
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Giles and approved unanimously.

41.  Village Planters.
a.  Consider a course of action with regard to the Village Planters on Station Road, The Green near to the Church, The Park end of the village and any others.
Action:  Due to time constraints, Council RESOLVED to defer this item until the next scheduled meeting, (28-Sep-2026).
Proposed by Cllr Copsey, seconded by Cllr Giles and approved unanimously.

42.  Meeting Dates.
a.  Confirm the date of the next Council Meeting.
The next meeting of the Parish Council was planned for Monday 28 September 2026.

The meeting closed at 9:30 pm.

Signature:  Original Signed
Printed Name:  Cllr Sarah Copsey
Date:  24 August 2026

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