2026 Minutes

Morton and Hanthorpe Parish Council

5, The Paddock, Morton, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 0NY

      Telephone: 07547171357    Email: mhpc.clerk@btinternet.com

 Draft Minutes of the Morton & Hanthorpe Annual Parish Council Meeting,  Tuesday 5th May 2026

In attendance: Cllrs: R. Wells (Chair) B. Hyde, W. Lawrance, S. Reynolds, C. Walker, M. Tuohy, R. Carlton, A. Morris, F. Barker, K. Morris

Also in attendance:    C. & D. Cllr. S. Woolley, C. Cllr. M. Hill, N. Walker (R.F.O. & Clerk)                                                                                                                                    

7.15pm PUBLIC FORUM

7.30pm ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL MEETING (or at the conclusion of Public Forum)

1. ELECTION OF CHAIR PERSON.

Cllr. Richard Wells was nominated for Chair Person. Proposed by Cllr. B. Hyde, seconded by 

Cllr. A. Morris. The Council approved the nomination and Cllr. R. Wells was duly elected.

2. CHAIR PERSON’S DECLARATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE.

Cllr. R. Wells signed the Declaration of Office to Chair Person, witnessed by N. Walker, Proper Officer of Morton & Hanthorpe.

3. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR PERSON & ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE.

Cllr. Brian Hyde was nominated as Vice-Chair Person. Proposed by Cllr. W. Lawrance, seconded by Cllr. C. Walker. The Council approved the nomination and Cllr. B. Hyde was elected as Vice-Chair Person and duly signed the Declaration of Office, witnessed by N. Walker, Proper Officer of Morton & Hanthorpe.

4. TO CONSIDER APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.    

Cllr. M. Harris

5. TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

None raised.

6. TO CONSIDER CLERK’S NOTES OF MEETING HELD ON 31st MARCH 2026 FOR APPROVAL AS MINUTES.

Following a proposal by Cllr. S. Reynolds, seconded by Cllr. M. Tuohy, the Clerk’s Notes of  the meeting of 31st March 2026 were approved as Minutes & duly signed by the Chair Person, Cllr. R. Wells.   

7. ANNUAL CHAIR PERSON’S REPORT (2025/26)                                                           

See attached:

8. CLERK’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED.

Report:

Accounts circulated for subsequent review at this meeting.

Independent auditor approached and in place to undertake formal review.

VAT Refund claim submitted.

HMRC P60’s created and issued.

Precept (£16,000 pay-in notice received – tbc on receipt of April bank statement).

Station Rd. play equipment painting to commence this week.

Anglian Water inspection of cemetery carried out – pass – certificate issued.

Chairman’s end-of-year internal audit undertaken – in-order and signed off.

Public liability insurance renewed.

Correspondance: 

Notified of a concern regarding accumulated rubbish at a property near the church. Private residence. Spoke with SKDC – life choice! Will only be able to respond should it ne considered an environmental hazard.

9. TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH BUDGET:

 Payments:

                                                                  Total payments in period=         £     4,406.12

Following a proposal by Cllr. B. Hyde, seconded by Cllr. F. Barker, the Council approved the payments.

 Receipts:

           Total receipts in period =           £        610.51  

     Note: Although notification of the precept payment has been received it is not visible until receipt of the April bank statement (approx. 10th May).

10. TO CONSIDER PLANNING MATTERS:                                                                       

        Applications:

        S26/0590  The Cedars, Station Rd. Morton. Reduce cedar tree, cotoneaster and confer tree heights by approx. 3m. (4 trees).

        The above application was reviewed by consultation with available Councillors due to required Planning Dept. response dates. No objections or comments raised.

        S26/0527   27 Edenham Rd. Hanthorpe. Demolish rear conservatory, erect rear extension, change flat roof to crown roof, add porch to entrance and add wood frame double garage to front drive.

        The above application was reviewed by consultation with available Councillors due to required Planning Dept. response date. A number of complaints have been                          made previously regarding the overgrown hedge / lack of visibility on this corner. letters have been posted to the address by this Council. Highways were seeking action. The Council has formally commented accordingly.

        Decisions:

        S26/0104   Forty Foot Farm, 6 South Fen, Morton. Reserved details regarding biodiversity gain re: application S25/0596                                                                      Acceptable

        S26/0223   Grove House, The Grove, Hanthorpe. Erection of garage/store/greenhouse.  Granted

        S26/0272   14 East Lane, Morton. Section 73. – variation to approved floor layout.        Granted

        S26/0278   Church Barns, 8A Station Rd. Morton. Re-build wall, gable end & roof.       Granted

        S26/0279   Church Barns, 8A Station Rd. Morton. Damaged timbers renewed where required. Stable reformed on a like-for-like basis.                                                          Granted

11. TO CARRY OUT ANNUAL REVIEWS AS FOLLOWS:

                    a) Cemetery Charges. (Increased last year). 

                          b) Minimum Amounts for Tenders. (Currently £750.oo) Amended 2022.

                          c) Parish Land Rents.   

                                      - Hanthorpe / Stainfield field – new let from October last year.

                                      - A15 Field – increases 3% each year.  

                          d) Risk Register (Amended 01/26 to reflect Church Hall location & option impacts)

                          e) Financial Regulations

Following a proposal by Cllr. A. Morris, seconded by Cllr. C. Walker, no changes were identified to the current documentation.

12. TO CONSIDER PARISH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR FINANCIAL YEAR: 2025/6

Following a proposal by Cllr. B. Hyde, seconded by Cllr. F. Barker, the accounts were approved and duly signed by the Chair Person, Cllr. R. Wells.

13. TO CONSIDER ANNUAL GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY RETURN (AGAR) FOR 2025/6

- Certificate of Exemption: 

- Annual Governance Statement:

- Annual Accounting statement:

Following a proposal by Cllr. B. Hyde, seconded by Cllr. R. Carlton, the above certificates and formal statements were approved and duly signed by the Chair Person, Cllr. R. Wells.

14. TO CONFIRM THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING:                                                   

 (Annual Parish Meeting + Parish Council Meeting) – TUESDAY 23rd JUNE 2026

15. TO RECEIVE REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES.

C. Cllr. M. Hill: 

Raise awareness of the Oil Support Scheme – home heating – a Government scheme to assist households in the current situation. Strict qualification requirements apply, successful applications could receive a £300 assistance payment.

Highways are trialling a Pothole-Pro machine. Initial trials are that it works but is big & slow.

There was a proposal raised to de-metal certain roads (remove tarmac etc.) but this has now been abandoned.

Question raised regarding removal of old bus pull-in in Hanthorpe (by green triangle). It had been noticed that vehicles parking there during adjacent building works. Council do not see an ongoing issue so propose to leave as is.

C. & D. Cllr. S. Woolley:

In conversation with our MP, Gareth Davies, he continues to support the need for a controlled pedestrian crossing at the A15/High St./Hanthorpe Rd. junction.

First month of food waste scheme collected 950 tons; generating enough electricity to power 1900 homes. The remaining waste by product (800 tons) converts to fertiliser.

Parishioner raised a concern over the new field bridge at Hanthorpe. The effective steps are not conducive to mobility impaired persons. 

OTHER MATTERS:

Grass cutting on The Crescent Playing Field is very poor (SKDC responsibility). Cllr. Woolley to raise with SKDC.

Parish Grass cutting. Strips missed on Hanthorpe Bank (lines). East Lane entrance to Station Rd. playing field missed. Clerk to convey issue to contractor.

Playing field discussion requested to be on next meeting agenda. The three ‘clumps’ of bushes at the east end of the field are being misused. Also, northern & western boundary issues (hedges/overgrowth).

Cllr. Barker raised a parishioner’s concern over the state of the pumping station at the south-east end of Station Rd. The clerk has contacted Anglian Water and a response is awaited.

There being no further business the meeting ended at: 8.25pm

Signed:………………………………………….(Chair Person)

Date:…………………………………………….