March 2026 DRAFT Minutes
OSBOURNBY PARISH COUNCIL
Notes of meeting held on Wednesday 4th March 2026 in the Village Hall
Public forum: 2 members of the public were present but no questions were asked.
97 Apologies received from Cllrs Baldwin, Dixon and Bide.
98. In attendance: Cllrs Jackson (Chair) North and Wright. County Councillor Whitaker and Mrs King (Clerk)
99. Notes of the last meeting held on 21st January, already circulated, were agreed. Proposed Cllr Wright and seconded Cllr North.
100. Co-option of new councillor. Mr Robert Lamb attended the meeting as he had been approached and was interested in becoming a councillor. Mr Lamb told the meeting that he had lived in the UK all his life and has now lived in Osbournby Village for 7 years. He enjoys living in the village and has become involved in the community at social events and also assists the Parish Council with Community Speed Watch and The Hub. Mr Lamb is looking forward to working well with everybody.
Cllr Jackson welcomed Mr Lamb to Osbournby Parish Council and advised that training for him as a new councillor will be looked into.
101. Chairman’s/District Council Report: Cllr Jackson had sent his report to councillors earlier and it is attached to these minutes. He advised the meeting that the food caddy collections will commence w/c March 30th and will be collected on a weekly basis.
102. County Council Report: Cllr Whitaker reported that LCC will only be increasing Council Tax by 2.9%. £4 million has been set aside to repair potholes and they will be changing from cold fill to hot box fill using Tar McAdam. They also have the pothole probe machine. Grantham Road in Sleaford will be resurfaced from July this year, from the roundabout on the A15 to the level crossing and up to Aldi and beyond the level crossing to the Monument. A new Puffin Crossing will also be installed. Policing has received an extra £12 million by Government and Lincolnshire will be employing an additional 22 officers. LCC is working in partnership the Woodland Trust to plant 750,000 trees.
103. Clerk’s Report: Bank Reconcilation:
Parish Council Account - £3,632.05
Cemetery Account - £8,280.22
New Account: Fixed Term Deposit Account transferring £25,000 from Cemetery Account to this account will give £500 interest at the end of the term.
To date this year grass cutting in the cemetery has cost £950 and we can apply for a VAT refund of £130. Precept of £6,200 has been requested.
Len Baker was a signatory on the bank account so it would be useful to have another signatory.
An additional charge of 50p is made for cheque transactions. However the only cheque used is for Mrs King’s salary so will incur a cost of £2 per annum.
Mrs King asked if Cllrs North and Wright had received their electoral role which she applied for after the last meeting. These have not been received so she will chase NKDC. Cllr Dixon is currently in hospital following a knee operation which has had complications.
104. Village Hall Open Evening: As discussed at the last meeting the village hall will be hosting an open evening on Monday 16th March from 6.30 to 8.30. This is to showcase the events that happen regularly at the village hall, e.g. pilates, spinners and weavers and also to showcase work that the Parish Council carries out, e.g. Community Speed Watch, the Hub. It is also to show the village hall for and to potential bookings. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served. Cllr North offered to serve the tea. Flyers will be going out this weekend and it is hoped that there will be interest from the community and beyond. An advert is in Local Lincs.
105. Land next to the new development on The Drove. As the Aswarby Estate say that they do not know who owns the land, Mrs King has applied to the Land Registry for proof of ownership. As payment could only be made by card, Mrs King has paid for this and will reclaim the money £49.75 with her next salary payment. Still awaiting information from the Land Registry.
106. Defibrillator: As advised at the last meeting batteries are no longer available for the defibrillator. Mrs King has applied for a grant from the BHF and is waiting to hear. Currently the defibrillator is not working due to the batteries having expired. Best cost to date if a new defibrillator needs to be purchased is £800. The sum of £174 that had been paid for new batteries (which are not available) will be refunded this week.
107. The Hub: Cllr Lamb reported that since the school half term closure there have been new attendees at the Hub with 9 people this week. Cllr Jackson reported that the wifi has been upgraded and those logging on have to agree to T&Cs, the log on lasts for 4 hours.
108. Proposed New Bus Stop: Cllr Jackson has had meetings with LCC and the proposed bus stop would be in the Square on the piece of grass where the phone box is. If a bus stop were to be erected the seat would have to be moved. As the proposed site is in a conservation area there are regulations as to what type of bus stop could be placed there. The representative from LCC is to look into this. The cost of a new bus stop is in the region of £7,000+, a grant is available for up to £3K. The old bus stop is listed and will remain.
109. Community Resilience & Emergency Plan: Cllr Bide is leading on this so no information for the meeting.
110. Update from Aswarby Estate: No report or update received from the estate. With regards to the pub there have been viewings but no news to date.
111. Village Tidy Day: Dates that are available for the village hall for the customary bacon butties and coffee in the village hall are 11th and 18th April and 9th and 23rd May. Mrs King to email those who are involved asking for the best day. Work will also include removal of the overgrown bramble in the cemetery.
112. Payments since last meeting:
4th February: Osbournby Village Hall : £18.00
2 payments for bank charges, 1 for £4.25 and 1 for £4.75.
113. Planning Matters: Trees 31 High Street. No objections
114. Donations: No requests for donations have been received.
115. Correspondence: No correspondence received which has not been discussed.
116. Dates of next meetings:
6th May (to include annual meeting)
1st July
2nd September
4th November
There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.43 p.m.