September 2026 Minutes
The minutes of Deeping St James Parish Council meeting held in the meeting room at The Institute 38 Church Street Deeping St James PE6 8HD on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 7.00pm.
Present: Councillors Bowell, Dilks (County and District), Fowler, Hosking, Nickerson, Shinkins-Hoppe, Stevens and Townsin.
Open Forum/Public Participation
No members of the public were present
27.48 To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
Apologies had been received and accepted from Councillors Burdock, Gilbert, Halls, Neville, Rose and Smith
27.49 To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Members’ Register of Interests.
None declared.
27.50 To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 18 August 2026.
Agreed and signed.
27.51 To receive the Clerks report and receive an update on matters arising from previous minutes.
Councillor Neville and the Parish Clerk attended the Market Deeping Fire Station on Wednesday 02 September to provide them with refreshments and biscuits as a thank you for their service at all times but especially during the dry summer
27.52 To receive reports from the District Councillors and County Councillor.
As Councillor Dilks was had advised he was going to be late it was RESOLVED to defer this item to later on in the agenda
27.53 Financial matters:
1. To receive the minutes and any recommendations from the extra ordinary Finance Policy and Personnel committee meeting held on Thursday 10 September 2026
In the absence of Councillor Gilbert, Councillor Bowell introduced the minutes of this meeting form which there was one recommendation. The committee agreed to recommend to the Parish Council that the National Joint Council pay scale spinal column points attached to the roles of Parish Clerk/Responsible Financial Officer and Assistant Clerk should be increased in accordance with the recommendations within the recently completed job evaluation report undertaken by the Local Council Consultancy. Seconded and RESOLVED
2. To approve the expenditure for September 2026.
Councillors Stevens and Townsin confirmed that they had checked the paperwork.
Payments totalling £6007.28 were proposed seconded and RESOLVED
It was noted that the Clerk would input the staffing costs once they had been finalised by the payroll provider, and request two Councillors authorise the payments.
3. To note the income for September 2026.
Income totalling £4840.99 was noted.
4. To consider the grant application from the Priory Church of Deeping St James
Councillor Stevens proposed a figure of £500 and Councillor Bowell made a counter-proposal of £750. There was no seconder for the counter-proposal, Councillor Townsin seconded the proposal for £500. A grant of £500 was RESOLVED.
27.54 Planning matters:
1. To receive the minutes and any recommendations from the Planning and Transport committee meeting held on Tuesday 01 September 2026
In the absence of Councillor Smith, Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe introduced the minutes of the meeting from which there were no recommendations.
2. To consider the following planning applications –
S26/1352 | External repairs and internal refurbishment works to the main building and associated outbuilding. | Caterpillar Day Nursery 100 Bridge Street Deeping St James Lincolnshire PE6 8EH
S26/1353 | External repairs and internal refurbishment works to the main building and associated outbuilding. | Caterpillar Day Nursery 100 Bridge Street Deeping St James Lincolnshire PE6 8EH
Having considered these applications Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe proposed that no objections or comments should be made. It was noted that this was an important listed building from which a much-needed business was running. Seconded and RESOLVED
S26/1356 | Submission of details reserved by BNG condition and conditions 3 (Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan), 4 (surface water drainage scheme), 5 (SuDS management plan) and 6 (Construction Management Plan) of planning permission S25/2366 - Erection of a free range egg production unit with associated infrastructure. | Land At Stowgate Fen Road North Deeping St Nicholas Spalding PE11 3DP
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe introduced this application advising moderate improvements would be achieved with all the listed changes one of which was a belt of native deciduous woodland trees to be planted around the perimeter of the site. Due to climate change she questioned whether native deciduous trees were appropriate. It was RESOLVED to make a comment about using climate aware drought resistant trees rather than native deciduous trees which are struggling with the change in climate
27.55 To consider the following correspondence.
1. South Kesteven District Council – Consultation about the Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2027/28. https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/CTaxSupportSurvey
Deadline for response 30 September 2026
This was noted and the Clerk was requested to respond.
2. Campaign to Protect Rural England – Further information about membership benefits and cost Become a member - CPRE
It was proposed seconded and RESOLVED to make a donation of £60 per year to become a member. Councillor Bowell voted against this motion.
3. Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils – Councillor recruitment campaign survey prior to May 2027 elections
All Councillors were encouraged to complete this consultation.
4. Society of Local Council Clerks – Article encouraging Parish and Town Councils to consider the “growing importance of food resilience and the role of local Councils in strengthening community food systems” as “food security is being threatened by the effects of the climate crisis”.
National Emergency Briefing on climate & nature
Be informed about hazards - Prepare
National security assessment - global biodiversity loss ecosystem collapse and national security
Councillor Hosking opened this item for discussion following which it was noted that Deeping St James Parish Council had Allotments and an Orchard and that there was also the charity The Deepings Pantry offering food support in the community. It was acknowledged that should the Parish Council become aware of a solar farm planning application where arable land would be lost objections should.
5. Member of the public – requesting repair to the fencing located on a piece of land between 29 and 32 Pendlebury Drive, a piece of land that is included in the Jubilee Park transfer which was completed in September 2024
The Clerk confirmed that one of the maintenance staff had completed the repair and several neighbours had thanked them personally as well as one emailing the office as well
6. Lincolnshire Alert – An invitation to complete the Lincolnshire Priority Survey because “our confidential feedback has been used to influence policing decisions and has genuinely helped us to focus our priorities. It has been some time since you provided your valuable input so this email is a request for your updated opinion. It is important that we know if anything has changed in your opinion or even that you have no current issues.”
Lincolnshire Priority Survey
It was agreed that the Clerk should respond to the survey on behalf of the Parish Council advising that the main issues of concern were illegal electric scooters on public highways and local parks, speeding traffic across the parish and anti-social behaviour (graffiti, damage to property, door knocking and egg throwing)
7. Deepings Patient Participation Group – advising that the Deepings Practice are dealing with the request for a meeting with them and availability will be forwarded shortly.
Noted
8. PKF Littlejohn LLP - Closure letter confirming completion of the limited assurance review for the year ended 31 March 2026
Noted. The Clerk, as Responsible Financial Officer, was thanked for her work on completing this.
27.56 To receive reports and minutes from committees, advisory committees, meetings, seminars, training and events or meetings of external bodies attended on the Council’s behalf and consider any recommendations from them:
1. General Practice improvements working party meeting held in the Institute at 6.30pm on Tuesday 01 September 2026.
The Assistant Clerk, Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens along with Market Deeping Town Councillors Bird and Steel had met and 10 questions to put to the Deepings Practice had been agreed. Via the Patient Participation Group, the Deepings Practice had invited the working party to meet at the Health Centre at 10am on Wednesday 07 October 2026.
2.The Local Government Reorganisation public meeting held in the Deepings Community Centre at 7pm on Friday 04 September 2026.
The Clerk, Councillors Bowell, Neville, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith and Stevens attended this meeting and heard from the Leader of South Kesteven District Council and the MP for South Holland and the Deepings He then advised that on Monday 07 September 2026 the Minister for housing communities and local government had announced a pause in LGR to review the decisions following receiving up to date legal advice.
3. Deepings Lions Duck Race and Street Fair on the River Welland Bridge Street Deeping St James held from 12 noon on Sunday 06 September 2026.
Councillor Neville opened this event and Councillors Bowell, Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens acted as volunteer Stewards at this annual community event which the Parish Council also financially supported
4. Cemetery committee meeting held at 7pm on Tuesday 08 September 2026.
This meeting did not go ahead as it was not quorate however the Clerk along with Councillors Shinkins-Hoppe and Stevens did consider the current year’s budget from which it was agreed that the Clerk should approach a contractor to obtain a quotation for the re-painting of the railings around the Cemetery.
5. Recreation and open spaces committee meeting at 8pm on Tuesday 08 September 2026.
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe introduced the minutes from this meeting from which there were no recommendations but a number of actions.
6. Allotments committee meeting at the Institute at 8pm on Thursday 10 September 2026.
Councillor Bowell introduced the minutes of this meeting from which there were no recommendations.
7. Age Concern Annual General Meeting held in the Oddfellows Hall Church Street Market Deeping at 7pm on Monday 14 September 2026.
The date for this meeting was listed incorrectly. It will take place on Monday 21 September 2026
Councillor Dilks joined the meeting.
27.52 To receive reports from the District Councillors and County Councillor.
Councillor Dilks thanked the Parish Council for supporting the meeting which was held on Friday 04 September 2026. He then advised that on Monday 07 September 2026 the Minister for housing communities and local government had announced a pause in LGR to review the decisions following receiving up to date legal advice. South Kesteven District Council had written a letter threatening a judicial review, whilst other had commenced action. The letter stated that the LGR decision for Lincolnshire was unlawful as any changes to a County’s boundaries should not split the current District boundaries. The letter also suggested a compromise solution – to divide the proposed rural Lincolnshire Unitary Authority into two, a North and South Lincolnshire, so along with the City of Lincoln Unitary there were 3 similar in population size, rather than 2 very different in population size. With LGR now postponed the South Kesteven District Councils will take place in May 2027
Councillor Dilks also advised that LCC are looking at the speed limit on the A15 from Langtoft to Bourne.
He also advised that he had been lobbying Lincolnshire County Council to financially support the summer reading challenge at the Community Libraries such as the Deepings Community Library and representatives from the County Council had visited the Library to discuss this. Councillor Stevens advised that the Summer reading Challenge had continued to grow and this year had included a number of adults as well as children signing up to take part
27.57 Parish Pump - items for information or inclusion on future agendas.
Councillor Stevens advised that the Children’s area in the Library was to be re-painted.
Councillor Dilks invited everyone to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Deepings Age Concern at 7pm on Monday 21 September 2026 to be held at the Oddfellows Hall on Church Street Market Deeping
Councillor Dilks also invited everyone to attend the Langtoft, the Deepings and District Royal British Legion branch’s annual visit to the war graves in the local parishes which will take place on Sunday 01 November 2026
Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe advised that she had attended a teams meeting about developing the Lincolnshire Cycling and Walking infrastructure Plans for 7 areas, including the Deepings.
Meeting finished at 20.10pm
Signed …………………………………………………………………………………………
Dated …………………………………………………………………………………………..