2026 Minutes

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Fenton & Torksey Lock Parish Council, held on September 21st 2026 at The White Swan, Torksey Lock

Present:
Parish Councillors: L Davies, D Canning-Hall, P Smith, L Nemeth, A Woods, T Davies

Clerk: Diane Semley

Public Forum: Three members of the public present including:

County Councillor: Cllr. Wilmhurst

Issues surrounding the position of the speed indicator device on the northbound A157 at Torksey Lock were raised. The Clerk, who had gone out with The Lincolnshire Road Partnership to survey to positions for the devices, informed the meeting that there had been little option for the positioning of the device on the northbound carriageway.

Cllr. Wilmhurst informed the Council about a couple of grants available from LCC. A Community grant of £15,000 and the Councillor grant of up to £2,000.

Item: 

83. CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME – Cllr Davies welcomed all to the meeting

84. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Cllr. Jupp. It was RESOLVED to accept their reason for absence.

85. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND DISPENSATION REQUESTS – None in relation to matters on the agenda

86. MINUTES – It was RESOLVED to accept the minutes of the July Ordinary meeting as a true and accurate record.

87. CLERK UPDATES – The Clerk reminded Councillors about their obligations in regard to their Standing Orders and how they should conduct themselves during debate.

88. BUSINESS MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION – To consider and review:

i. Torksey Lock Car Boot – The Clerk has spoken to WLDC Planning  - No Planning application for change of use of land or re-positioning of entrance has been received by WLDC.

WLDC advise the Council to report any issues or concerns via the WLDC Planning portal. 

It was RESOLVED to report issues with the lack of pedestrian access to the new entrance and the site of the new entrance in relation to the bend and the 60mph zone. 

There were also concerns over the ‘Marshalls’ on the road who are effectively closing the road to some road users.

ii. Footpath - Torksey Lock to Fenton – It was RESOLVED that the Clerk and Cllr. Nemeth would meet to look at the route of the old footpath and explore the issues further.

iii. Meeting Room - The Clerk informed the meeting that she had approached both the Golf Club and the Scout Camp to see if they had any rooms that the Council could hire. The Gold club could only offer their bar area which would leave the Council with the same issues surrounding licenced premisses. To date the Clerk has not received any response to emails from the Scout Camp.

The Clerk has also tried to contact Kettlethorpe Village Hall but the telephone number is unavailable and emails have gone unanswered. 

The meeting was informed that Kettlethorpe Village Hall was about to go into new management. 

It was RESOLVED that the Clerk is to speak to the Chair of Kettlethorpe Parish Council to try and ascertain the current situation. 

It was further RESOLVED that the clerk would make enquires into the availability and cost of hiring Kettlethorpe Village Hall for Fenton & Torksey Lock Parish Council meetings going forward.

It was RESOLVED that the next meeting be held in the White Swan, Torksey Lock.

iv. Training – The Clerk has sent round the latest training bulletin from LALC and encouraged Councillors to consider attending training to improve their knowledge and understanding.

It was RESOLVED to fund the Clerk attendance at training for the digital AGAR which is required for the 2026/27 submission. Cost £30.

v. Clerk Salary - It was RESOLVED to award the Clerk a 3.5% pay rise in line with the agree pay awarded to employees by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services Employees. 

89. FINANCIAL REPORTS – To receive the financial report and approve payments

i. RFO Report 31/08/2026

ii.    Bank Reconciliation:

iii. Approve payments as on payment approval form – The following invoices had been paid during recess under powers given to the Clerk and were retrospectively approved:

• Krinkles - Grass cutting May – £499.20 - (VAT £83.20)
• Krinkles - Grass Cutting June – £249.60 - (VAT £41.60)
• Krinkles - Grass Cutting July- £249.60 - (VAT £41.60)
• L Davies - Expenses, Padlocks for SIDs - £13.98 - (VAT £2.33)

iv. Original invoices from LCC for the installation of posts for the SIDs were sent to wrong email address. The clerk has chased up and invoices now received and paid in full. Will show on September RFO report at October meeting.

The Clerk is still updating contact details where they are found to be outdated.

90. PLANNING MATTERS – To consider applications and responses to planning matters – circulated prior to meeting. – None Currently

91. CORRESPONDENCE – circulated prior to meeting – Nothing of note to report.

92. ONGOING MINOR ITEMS AND AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

Blowing off of arisings from grass cutting.

2027/28 Budget 

Speeding over bridge & Fenton to Torksey Lock

Speedwatch equipment and organisation

40mph around Scout camp

93. DATE OF NEXT MEETING - To resolve to note the date of the next Ordinary meeting as Tuesday 26th October 2026 at the White Swan, Torksey Lock

Meeting Closed: 20.04