April 2026 Minutes
Present: Cllr Broughton (Chairman) Cllr Mrs Jones
Cllr Dr Byrd Cllr Mrs Steel
Cllr Hanson Cllr Wey
Cllr Guerge Cllr Ms Reed
Cllr Mrs Banks
Cllr Gamble
The Clerk and the Deputy clerk was in attendance.
The Chairman welcomed the members of public to the meeting. The residents were concerned that parking outside their homes on Stamford Road continues to be a problem. The residents would like residential parking only by permit.
The residents were informed that they would need to contact Lincolnshire County Council as this falls within their remit.
Cllr Wey arrived at 7.35pm.
Cllr Dr Byrd as SKDC councillor informed that food caddies will be collected next week and every week thereafter.
Cllr Dr Byrd informed that as part of SKDC’s walking festival, Market Deeping Town Council has organised a walk which will start from the Town Hall on Saturday 18 April at 10.00am. There are a number of walks taking place in the district and information can be found by the QR code on SKDC’s poster which are located on the noticeboards and on SKDC’s website.
190. Chairman’s Welcome and Introductions
The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting.
191. To note apologies and accept valid reason for Absence
Apologies of absence were received and accepted from Cllr Neilson, Cllr Hughes and Cllr Mrs Sked prior to the meeting.
192. Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011
There were no declarations of interest.
193. Acceptance of the minutes of a meeting held on 11 March 2026
Cllr Broughton asked members if they were to accept the minutes of the meeting of 11 March 2026 and it was RESOLVED unanimously to accept the notes of the meetings as a true and accurate record. The Chairman signed the minutes.
194. Reports: Including reports from Committees: Planning and Highways, Deepings Neighbourhood Plan, Amenities and Open Spaces, Finance and Personnel, Mayor’s diary and the Clerk’s report.
Planning & Highways
Cllr Dr Byrd informed that planning applications had reduced over recent months and at the meeting on 1 April there were no applications to consider.
Cllr Byrd informed that enforcement action was being taken by SKDC regarding signage within the conservation area. The signage is not in keeping with the area.
Deepings Neighbourhood Plan (DNP)
Cllr Dr Byrd informed that the AGM is taking place on Monday 13 April. The group has now appointed admin support. A community drop in event is taking place on Saturday 25 April, from 2.30 – 4.30pm at the Deepings Community Centre. The event will provide residents the opportunity to help influence how the Deepings area develops for the next generation.
Amenities and Open Spaces
There were no queries raised.
Finance and Personnel
The Clerk reported that the year end is now being finalised and will be reviewed by external auditors.
Mayor attended the following:
Friday 13th March, South Kesteven District Council, The Pavilion, Arena UK, Grantham
Saturday 21st March, Sleaford’s Charity Quiz Night, St Deny’s Church Hall, Sleaford
Friday 27th March, Civic Dinner, The Black Horse, Baston
Saturday 28th March, Newark Town Council’s Charity Ball, The Ballroom, Newark
Deputy Mayor attended the following:
Friday 13th March, South Kesteven District Council, The Pavilion, Arena UK, Grantham
Saturday 21st March, Sleaford’s Charity Quiz Night, St Deny’s Church Hall, Sleaford
Friday 27th March, Civic Dinner, The Black Horse, Baston.
Saturday 28th March, Newark Town Council’s Charity Ball, The Ballroom, Newark.
Clerk’s Report – 8th April 2026
Comment
The transfer from Persimmon is being vigorously chased by Cllr Jones. The transfer form has been signed and was returned to our solicitors on 2.2.26. Cllr Mrs Jones reported that there are two easements, one has completed and the second one is nearly complete.
Lincolnshire County Council continues to work on the borehole; drilling has been completed and there has been no noise disruption to the Town Hall. Cllr Jones and Cllr Broughton have received updates from Lincolnshire which has been circulated online. Cllr Mrs Jones reported that the borehole has been filled. Lincolnshire County Council will arrange for the car park blocks to be re-laid and are awaiting the schedule.
The Christmas tree was removed on Monday 30 March as intended. The tree had brightened up the town centre during the winter months. The tree had received some media interest. Noted.
On 26 March the Council had a Health and Safety inspection. All 17 actions to achieve compliance had been carried out. Thank you to the Clerks for this piece of work.
The Mayor’s Civic Dinner took place on Friday 27 March. It was a lovely occasion with representatives from neighbouring councils attending. Thank you to the Clerks for organising this event.
195. Correspondence to be noted and resolved upon
Correspondence to be Noted – Received up to 8 April 2026
No. Received from Date Received Subject Committee Response
1. RSN 11.3.26 Newsletter to 11.3.26 Noted.
2. SKDC 12.3.26 SKDC Community awards request for nominations Noted.
3. Deepings River Action Group 13.03.26 Newsletter no. 7 March 2026 Sent to all Cllrs
4. SKDC 16.03.26 Notice of Draft Design Code Engagement – Online Workshop Sent to all Cllrs. DNP had participated in the online workshop.
5. LALC 20.03.26 LALC eNews Sent to all Cllrs
6. BBC Look North 26.03.26 Media enquiry asking why the Christmas tree had not been removed.
Chairman issued statement informing that after receiving a number of compliments on social media, it was decided to leave the tree up until just before Easter as it brightened up the town centre during the winter months. The tree is a Norwegian Spruce and does not shed its needles and was left up by popular request. The tree is scheduled to be removed just before Easter. It is the council’s intention to remove the tree prior to Easter. Noted.
7. Greatest Hits Radio Lincolnshire 27.03.26 Media enquiry asking when the Christmas tree would be removed.
The above response was provided and also informed that the tree had been removed on 30 March as planned. Noted.
8. Environment Agency 30.03.26 Maxey cut banks refurbishment – drop-in event on Wednesday 22 April 2026 from 1.30-3.30pm at Glinton Village Hall. Noted.
9. Lincolnshire County Council 30.03.26 Recently installed hyper-local telemetry devices in the area to help improve LCC’s understanding of groundwater behaviour and provide early alarms for rising floodwaters. LCC offering a short remote onboarding session to provide an overview of the sensors and how they operate. Email sent to Cllr Broughton and Cllr Mrs Jones as lead coordinators for emergency planning and flooding.
Correspondence to be Acted Upon – Received up to 8 April 2026
No. Received from Date Received Subject Committee Response
1. Round Table 01.4.2026 A request has been received to place a recycled plastic bench in Welland Gardens in memory of a local resident who passed away recently. It was requested that this matter is referred to Amenities and Open Spaces Committee to consider.
2. Request for an outdoor table tennis table 30.03.26 A resident has written following her request at last year’s Annual Town meeting for an outdoor table to be situated in Market Deeping. It was requested that this matter is referred to Amenities and Open Spaces Committee to consider. It was reported that a recently installed table tennis facility in a neighbouring parish was not used.
3. Lights around the tree 07.04.26 The lights needed for the tree in the roundabout are estimated to be 100m - FG Cllr Broughton and Cllr Guerge confirmed that 100m of lights is required. Cllr Guerge will obtain a price for colour changing connectable lights. Cllr Jones informed that a local business is potentially happy to fund the new lights.
It was agreed a thank you letter should be sent to the resident for their colourful knitting display on the post box in the centre of Deeping.
196. Council Finances
a) For members to receive and accept income and expenditure by cost centre
Members had received a copy of the Council Finances and Omega report prior to the meeting. Cllr Broughton asked if there were any questions. There were none.
b) For members to review and accept accounts to be paid for April 2026
It was RESOLVED that the council pay its bills for April 2026. See appendix A.
c) For members to review and accept Council Finances to 31.03.26
Members had no comments and accepted the report. The total income at 31.03.26.2.26 was £854,035.
d) For members to review and accept the internal auditor’s report for February 2026
Members accepted the report.
e) For members to review detailed income and expenditure to 31.03.26
Members had no comments and accepted the report.
f) For members to review Ear Marked Reserves
Members were provided with a reconciliation of the EMRs to 31.3.26.
It was RESOLVED to spend £1167.07 from EMR 324 – Town Hall on the curtains for the chambers with the other 50% also to be spent from 324 in due course.
It was RESOLVED to transfer £30,000 to EMR 356 – Wayfinding Project and that once this had been done to spend £9,000 from it in March 26 to cover the 30% deposit (paid on 13.3.26).
It was RESOLVED to transfer £4,500 from Cemetery land purchase (4901/120) to EMR 320- CEMETERY
The total Ear Marked Reserves at 31.3.26 after the above adjustments was stated as being £628,025.05
g) For members to review the asset register
The value of all assets at 31.3.26 was accepted as £437,792
h) For members to review Section 137 payments for 2025/26
The total S137 expenditure (4090/100) for 2025/26 was £1580
The total other budget spend (4091/100) for 2025/26 was £4,300
Members accepted the report.
197. For members to consider year end closedown and projected underspend for 2025/26
It was RESOLVED to transfer £30,000 to EMR 356 – Wayfinding Project and that once this had been done to spend £9,000 from it in March 26 to cover the 30% deposit (paid on 13.3.26).
It was RESOLVED to transfer £4,500 from Cemetery land purchase (4901/120) to EMR 320- CEMETERY
Members will be provided with more details next month following the RFO’s meeting with the auditor.
198. For members to consider an application for Grant Aid from Deepings Raft Race
It was RESOLVED unanimously to provide a grant of £400.
199. For members to consider a new HR provider
It was RESOLVED unanimously to use LALC for HR support. Members noted that routine HR issues will be dealt with by LALC, more detailed matters should the issue arise will be outsourced by LALC to seek professional advice.
200. For members to receive an update on sports facilities (PH)
Cllr Hanson informed that Deeping St James owns the astroturf and the cost to replace the astroturf is in the region of £600k.
201. For members to consider arrangements for forthcoming events: Annual Town Meeting on 21 April 2026 and Christmas Fayre on 29 November 2026
Annual Town Meeting on 21 April will be chaired by Cllr Mrs Jones, Deputy Mayor in the absence of the Mayor, Cllr Broughton.
Christmas Fayre, 29 November – a number of Councillors would like to assist in the planning stages of the Christmas Market. Clerks to contact members with a date and time and as agreed would be the same night as a scheduled meeting.
202. For members to consider and discuss any points raised in the public session
Members of public were advised to contact Lincolnshire County Council who would consider their request for parking permits for residents only on Stamford Road.
203. Personnel Matters: Consideration to go into Closed Session to discuss: Staff Issues
There were no matters to discuss.
204. To consider items for inclusion on the agenda for next meeting of the Town Council, to be held at The Town Hall, Market Deeping on Wednesday 13 May 2026.
• Wayfinding Project (PB)
The Chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.30pm.