2026 Full Council Minutes

Minutes of the Full Council Meeting of the Bardney Group Parish Council held on Wednesday, 15 April 2026 at 7pm in Bardney Village Hall

Public Forum
There were two members of the public present.
MOP1    Concern was expressed by the safety along Silver Street for children walking to school. Cllr Bridgwood had been contacted for possible solutions from Highways as traffic control is a county responsibility.
Cllr Corbould pointed out that this was an item agenda for the meeting.
MOP2    It was pointed out that there is now a second entrance to the school which may help congestion at the school.
It was requested that when the public and press are asked to leave the meeting, that they be permitted to wait outside the main hall in the foyer. No objections raised.
Clarification of the date of the next meeting was sought. It was confirmed that the Annual Electors’ Meeting was to be held on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 6pm.

Present    Cllr Corbould (Chairman
Cllr Clarke
Cllr Darby
Cllr Waddington    Cllr Fleetwood
Cllr Lintin
Cllr Percival
Cllr Bates
    
26-68    Appointment of Minute Taker
In the absence of a Clerk, Cllr Clarke volunteered to take the Minutes.
    
26-69    Election of Vice-Chair
Cllr Fleetwood had previously been nominated by Cllr Percival, but he had declined.
Action: deferred to next meeting.
    
26-70    Fire Safety Announcement
No fire practices were planned.
    
26-71    Apologies for Absence
Cllr Bridgwood (County Councillor)     Cllr McTernan’s absence was noted.
Cllr Hare (via Cllr Darby)
    
26-72    Declarations of Interest
None received. 
Cllr Waddington asked about the recent form he had received. Cllr Corbould explained that all Councillors had been asked to update their Declarations of Interest for the upcoming Internal Audit.
    
26-73    Exclusion of Press and Public
No agenda items required exclusion of press and public.
    
26-74    Minutes of Previous Meetings
Council was asked to approve the Minutes of the following meetings:
a)    Full Council Meeting held on 18 March 2926
Proposed by Cllr Percival, seconded by Cllr Lintin. Approved unanimously.
b)    Personnel and Review Committee held on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
Cllr Fleetwood questioned point 29-28PR re the handyman, and asked it if it had been agreed, or whether there was an agenda item to discuss if we were going to employ a handyman, or if we would use contractors. He suggested it could be discussed later when P & R matters were considered. Agreed. (Unfortunately this was not discussed at point 26-81 and would be deferred.) Agreement to accept the Minutes of the P & R Meeting of 25 February 2026 were proposed by Cllr Clarke, seconded by Cllr Waddington, and approved unanimously.
    
26-78    Chairman’s Remarks
Cllr Corbould thanked Cllr Fleetwood for his assistance over the last few weeks.  She has spent time on the allotment records, and invoices for the year have been sent out.                                                                                                                                                                   The grass cutting contract with LCC has been returned, and it was agreed that BGPC would continue to cut the grass around the parish using our contractor, for which we would be paid by LCC. In addition, our insurance allows use by those given permission to use our own lawnmower to do so.                                                                                We have agreed to pay the Village Hall for the office rent by Direct Debit.                                      Silver Spoon has contacted BGPC to suggest candidates who would appreciate making a cake for a celebration. They will make 5 baking kits available to each of the following organisations: the Bardney Food Bank, the Primary School, the residential home on Station Road, and the Parish Council. Ideas were welcomed for recipients. Stainfield and Apley Village Hall Committee would receive one to celebrate their success in obtaining grant funding for improvements to the hall. Photos of celebrations and cakes would be sought for possible promotion purposes.                                                             To promote Bardney and the surrounding villages, BGPC has been approached by Nottingham University for inclusion in a Lincolnshire Folk Tale Trail, to be one of about 25 locations chosen for interest for inclusion in the project. This would be in addition to special promotion of the Viking Way path this year which goes through the area. Together with the National Cycle path Route 1, we will be appealing to various groups of people outside the immediate area.                                                              As a follow-through to that, we need to make sure that Bardney looks good to visitors, and as there is no handyman (or equivalent) she wondered whether volunteers could help keep the flower beds tidy.                                                                            Steps need to be taken to advertise the Annual Electors meeting widely. 
As it was not possible to include an item on the meeting’s agenda for co-options to the Council to be discussed, it was thought necessary to hold an EGM immediately before the Annual Meeting (ie after the Electors’ Meeting) to discuss this. The EGM would be advertised in the usual way. At Cllr Fleetwood’s suggestion, grass cutting should also be discussed at the EGM as a decision about it was needed quickly.
    
 26-76     County and District Councillors’ Reports
Cllr Bridgwood sent a written Report which included
•    Surface dressing would take place on Horncastle Road on 27 April
•    Efforts had been made by Highways to slow traffic down through Stainfield
•    Bardney school road hazards: points raised by a parishioner would be considered in an effort to make the journey to school safer
Cllr Fleetwood said that because of impending roadworks around Cherry Willingham, it might to better to approach Lincoln via the Causeway until they are complete.                                                                                                                                                              He reported that he had been in talks with the grants sector at WLDC for potential work in Bardney, particularly to look at the heating in the Village Hall, and the installation of CCTV around the Playpark. Information on grants was available on WLDA website.
    
26-77    Finance
a)    To receive the account balances to 31 March 2026. It was recognised that not all councillors could access Excel spreadsheets, and the matter would be looked at. A VAT reclaim is being prepared.                                                               Current and deposit account balances: £73.944                                                                Precept of £90,133 has been received for 2026-27.                                                                                  Vote to accept these figures proposed by Cllr Corbould, seconded by Cllr Bates, and agreed unanimously
b)    Council to approve payment of invoices (report prepared by Cllr Fleetwood in the absence of RFO)
c)    Council to approve bank reconciliation to 31 March 2026 (report prepared by Cllr Fleetwood in the absence of RFO)
d)    Council to approve the current financial position
Points b, c, and d proposed by Cllr Clarke, seconded by Cllr Bates and agreed unanimously.
    
26-78    Internal Audit
Concern was expressed by Cllr Waddington that having an audit at this time with no Clerk in post would be difficult. However, it was felt that the exercise would in itself be a useful training experience, and the new clerk would receive assistance in the task. LALC would carry out the audit. Acceptance of the audit was proposed by Cllr Corbould, seconded by Cllr Fleetwood, and agreed unanimously.
    
26-79    To plan the Annual Meeting of Electors
It was confirmed that the Annual Meeting of the Electors would be held on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 6pm in the Village Hall.  Various awards will be made, including the Roger’s Shield and certificates of commendation. Cllr Corbould asked for further nominations for these awards. The Electors meeting is the opportunity for parishioners to bring forward their ideas for what they would like in the village.
    
26-80    Planning Applications
There were no planning applications to consider.
    
26-81    Staff Update
The Chair of the P & R Committee, Cllr Clarke, reported that after interviewing a strong field of candidates Ms Hannah Woodruff was successful. Cllr Clarke proposed that she be appointed Clerk/RFO, to start work on 5 May 2026, seconded by Cllr Percival, and this was agreed unanimously. We look forward to welcoming her and working with her as she fits into her new role. 
    
26-82    Ward Reports
Cllr Darby observed that the Police Liaison had attended a meeting in the village a week ago. He asked if they could be more pro-active in contacting us prior to such meetings so we could advertise them via our website and on social media.
Cllr Waddington raised concerns over speeding vehicles through the village. Cllr Corbould wondered if the Police Speed Team Camera Team could attend Station Road to take speed readings. Cllr Fleetwood said that the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership should be contacted, but warned they had a long waiting list. Cllr Waddington also approached by a learner rider on an electric motorbike along the river path, which he reported to the police.                                                                                        Cllr Percival had been approached regarding the state of the paths and hedges which were overgrown. Cllr Fleetwood advised that these were matters for Highways and County Council responsibilities, and recommended they be reported via Fix My Street.
Cllr Clarke had observed several people riding bicycles on paths along Station Road. Again, this is a police matter. There are no dual use footpaths in Bardney.           Cllr Fleetwood drew attention to the Coffee Morning to be held at Stainfield and Apley Village Hall on 25 April 2026 where the results of recent grant funding would be on show.
    
26-83    Bardney School Road Hazards
Concern had been raised by a parent that traffic was heavy along Silver Street and no speed calming measures were in place. Various suggestions were discussed, together with Cllr Bridgwood’s comments referred to earlier in the meeting. Cllr Darby proposed that the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership be approached to suggest additional signage and to provide evidence from speed monitoring radars. This was seconded by Cllr Waddington and agreed unanimously. 
    
26-84    Lincolnshire Folk Tale Trail
Cllr Corbould suggested we meet with the team leader on this project to explore the implications for the village. This was agreed.
    
26-85    Removal of Wreaths
Cllr Fleetwood proposed that Remembrance Day wreaths should be removed from council memorials on 1 April each year. This was seconded by Cllr Clarke and agreed unanimously.
    
26-86    Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Bardney Group Parish Council would be the Annual Meeting to follow the Annual Electors’ Meeting which would be a 6pm in the Village Hall. There would also be a short EGM before the Annual Meeting for business which falls outside the remit of the Annual Meeting.

Signature:          

Printed Name:

Date: