2026 Minutes

DRAFT MINUTES

BIGBY PARISH COUNCIL 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

HELD ON TUESDAY, 17th MARCH 2026

CHAIR – COUNCILLOR D. COWLING

PRESENT: Councillors – H. Aukland, D. Cowling, C. Gandy, L. Mair, B. Orr

Also in attendance: -

Mrs. A. Hannath – Clerk to the Council

BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED

88 Notice convening the meeting.

Taken as read and approved

89 To Receive Apologies and Reasons for Absence

Cllr. J. Bean – LCC

Cllr. P. Morris - WLDC

 90  a) To Record any 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 the type of interest being declared.

None

b)  To Note any Dispensations given to any member of the council in respect of the Agenda Items listed below.

None

91 Police Matters

None

92 To Receive any Correspondence (for information only).

a) Email received from Ms. J. Rae regarding Smithy Lane.  The Clerk advised that following the resurfacing of Smithy Lane, the change in camber has resulted in water collecting between her home and the neighbouring cottage.  The Clerk suggested that she contacts ‘Fix My Street’.  The email has also been forwarded to Cllr.J.Bean.

b) Letter of resignation received from the Clerk.

c) Reference: TTRO/TTR015362 - Temporary traffic restriction: Bigby

This is for  AW Pipeline Project - Pipeline installation. Public right of way closure Order - Bigby PROW 57/1 (Closed North of Kettleby Beck) The period of the restriction is 13/04/2026 - 12/10/2026. (Restrictions to be implemented for 182 days as and when required during this period, signage detailing accurate dates and times will be displayed on site in advance)

Alternative route or access arrangements:  

Diversion routes and vehicular or pedestrian access arrangements will be signposted

93 To Receive the Clerk’s Report and Update on any outstanding issues.

None

94 To Receive any Questions from Members.

None notified

95 Public Question Time.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

 96  a) TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE MINUTES, AS CIRCULATED, 

OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 13th JANUARY 2026

It was resolved that the minutes of the meetings held on 13th January, having been circulated, should be taken as read and approved.

Proposed: Cllr. H. Aukland Seconded: Cllr. C. Gandy

97 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 

       a)To Receive the following Financial Report and Approve the Accounts for                                                            

       Payment: As at 28th February 2026 (Documents attached)

It was resolved that the accounts for payment listed below and the Statement of     Accounts be approved.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. B. Orr

 98   PLANNING APPLICATIONS AND DECISION NOTICES

        Members are reminded that applications can be received after the deadline for the

        publication of the agenda. The clerk will forward any further applications to you before 

        the meeting for your consideration.

Application Number: WL/2026/00252: Outline planning application to erect 18no. dwellings with all matters reserved. Land off Main Street, Bigby, DN38 6EW

The Clerk advised that the above application was received yesterday.  Given the size of the development, she suggested that a meeting be called to discuss the plans, which would give residents an opportunity to express their views.

It was resolved that the Annual Parish Meeting be brought forward to Tuesday 31st March, 2026, allowing this application to be discussed at the meeting by residents.

William Pinney, the landowner, and his Land Agent are to be invited to give a presentation on the plans.  A Parish Council meeting will take immediately afterward to determine the Parish Council’s response.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. B. Orr

99 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR MORRIS ON DISTRICT COUNCIL MATTERS 

Having given his apologies, Cllr. Morris sent the following written report;

• WLDC passed an increase of 2.97% on to the Council Tax at the budget meeting last week, this would mean £7.38 on a Band D property.

• Also, WLDC have put in a bid for the purchase of Scampton – we will see how that pans out !

100 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM COUNCILLOR BEAN ON COUNTY COUNCIL MATTERS.

Cllr. Bean was unable to attend as he had another meeting in his diary.

101 a) TO REVIEW THE MODEL STANDING ORDERS 

It was resolved that the Parish Council’s Model Standing Order are still fit for purpose for the forthcoming year.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. H. Aukland

102 a) TO RECEIVE MODEL FINANCIAL REGULATIONS.  (BASED ON THE NALC MODEL RELEASED IN APRIL 2024) 

It was resolved that the Parish Council’s Model Financial Regulations, as circulated, are still fit for purpose for the forthcoming year.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. L.Mair

b) TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL RISK ASSESSMENT 

It was resolved that the Parish Council’s Financial Risk Assessment, as circulated, is still fit for purpose for the forthcoming year

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. L.Mair

103 TO REVIEW THE RISK MANAGEMENT OF GENERAL COUNCIL FUNCTIONS 

It was resolved that the Parish Council’s Risk Management of General Council        Functions, as circulated, is still fit for purpose for the forthcoming year.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. C. Gandy

104 TO REVIEW THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS PREPARED TO FULFIL THE DEMANDS OF THE GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATIONS 

i) General Privacy Notice

ii) Privacy Notice for Staff Councillors and other Role Holders

iii) Consent Form

It was resolved that the Parish Council’s documentation to comply with GDPR, as circulated, was still fit for purpose for the forthcoming year.

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. C. Gandy

105 TO RECEIVE, REVIEW AND ADOPT THE IT POLICY 

       It was resolved that the Parish Council’s IT Policy, as circulated, should be adopted 

Proposed: Cllr. D. Cowling Seconded: Cllr. C. Gandy

106 GENERIC EMAIL ACCOUNTS

a) TO NOTE THAT EVERY AUTHORITY MUST NOW HAVE A GENERIC EMAIL ACCOUNT HOSTED ON AN AUTHORITY OWNED DOMAIN.

Noted

b) TO NOTE THE CLERK’S NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

clerk@bigbyparishcouncil.gov.uk NOTED

c) TO DISCUSS AND DETERMINE THE MERITS OF SIMILAR EMAILS FOR COUNCILLORS.

The Clerk advised that she had managed to secure the Clerk’s email free of charge.  There would be a cost implication for councillors to have similar emails.  £160.00 for the first year and £260 in subsequent years.

        It was resolved that without a legal requirement for such email addresses, given the cost, Councillors will continue to use their personal email addresses

      Proposed: Cllr. C. Gandy Seconded: Cllr. H.Aukland

107 VIKING WAY FROM A1084 TO SOMERBY.

a) TO REVIEW THE ROUTE TAKEN BY THE VIKING WAY AS IT CROSSES THE FIELD, (KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE SHEEP FIELD), FROM THE A1084 TO THE FIELD OCCUPIED BY THE MONUMENT AT SOMERBY.

It has been brought to the Clerk’s attention that the route that now crosses the field, marked out by fencing and trees is the defined route.  However, over the last 20 to 25 years, people walking the route have deviated to the right of the defined route, i.e. walking more closely to Somerby Lane.  Given that this is the ‘custom and practice’ route, there is an argument that this should be the route that the footpath now takes.  If residents feel strongly about this, there are mechanisms in place for this ‘custom and practice’ route to be reinstated.

b) TO DETERMINE IF ACTION IS REQUIRED FOLLOWING THE ABOVE REVIEW.

It was resolved that the possibility raised in item a would be brought to resident’s      attention at the Annual Parish Meeting

           Proposed: Cllr. C. Gandy Seconded: Cllr. H.Aukland

108 TO DETERMINE THE PARISH COUNCIL’S RESPONSE, TO THE   PLANNING  INSPECTORATE, REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR SCOPING OPINION FOR  THE H2EAST PIPELINE: HUMBER TO NOTTINGHAMSHIRE; THE PARISH COUNCIL HAVING BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A CONSULTATION BODY

The Clerk advised that the reports available from the Planning Inspectorate have 1085 pages in total.

The Clerk was tasked with looking into this further.

The meeting closed at 7.15 pm

Signed ……………………………………………….

Chairman

  Tuesday 5th May, 2026