2025 Minutes

BICKER PARISH COUNCIL

 

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting

held on Thursday, 12th June 2025 at 7pm

In the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall

 

Present: 

Cllr Bateson - Chair

Cllr Kelly

Cllr Mountain

Cllr Pell – Vice Chair

Clerk – Alison Delaney

Borough Councillor Cantwell

 

PUBLIC FORUM: 

 

Two representatives from JDM Food Group, Bicker attended the public forum – the Health Safety and Environment Manager and Communications Manager. 

 

The Clerk thanked them for clearing up the rubbish that had been reported near their site in February. The H&S Manager said that they tried to be good neighbours to the village and would be supporting Bicker Seniors with their next party. 

 

Councillors asked if anything could be done about the garlic smells. H&S Manager said that when they roast garlic, it is very smelly. They change the carbon filters as quickly as they can after. They have a plan in next year’s budget to improve the process. The company processes fresh garlic and purees it as well for suppliers. The Communications Manager said they will be having a display in their newly built centre explaining the work they conduct.

 

Councillors asked if there were any vacancies for local workers? The Communications Manager explained they are looking at ways of working competitively and efficiently. This may not mean more workers, but their vacancies are advertised locally, and anyone can apply for them.

 

A representative from Bicker Fen Action Group attended the public forum. They wished to speak about planning application reference B/25/0224. The representative highlighted the scale of the BESS in the plans; it is massive at 25 hectares. The action group have spoken to Boston Borough Council planning and will continue to offer their thoughts. When the parish council considers the application later, they should look at all the roads affected, including those outside of the village settlement. Councillors said that they do consider all the affected roads. They considered the road off the A52 is usable again, although the landowner’s solicitor had informed councillors that they could not go down it to inspect it. The representative asked that when the parish council comments on the application, they mention by name the roads that the construction traffic should not use – Fendike Lane, Fore Lane, Longhedge Drove etc. The representative attended a Teams meeting yesterday with National Grid about traffic management. The representative appreciated the parish council’s empathy and was keeping Richard Tice MP and Borough Councillor Cantwell appraised of the situation.

 

The three individuals who had attended the public form left the meeting.

 

29/25 Chair/s Welcome and Remarks:

 

The Chair thanked everyone for attending.

 

30/25 To receive updates from Borough and County Councillors

 

Borough Councillor Cantwell reported the following:

 

Councillor Paul Lock is the newly elected representative for Boston Rural. ACTION: Clerk to email Cllr Lock to invite him to the Parish Council meetings.

 

A leaving celebration for Cllr Mike Brookes will take place at the Thatched Cottage on 14th June at 1pm.

 

BBC have agreed the purchase of pod recycling vehicles so food waste can be collected from April 2026.

 

Resilience Group – funding for emergency bags obtained. Confirmed it is not mandatory to join a group. Risk walks are being carried out in Sutterton and Fosdyke.

 

31/25 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011:

 

Councillor Mountain – Parish Council representative on Bicker United Charity

Councillor Kelly – Parish Council representative on Village Hall Committee and Member of Bicker United Charity.

 

32/25 To receive apologies for absence and acceptance of any reasons given: 

 

APOLOGIES - were received from Cllr Brown who was unwell and Cllr Carrott who was on holiday. The meeting resolved to accept the reasons for absence. 

 

33/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies:

 

There was nothing to report in relation to the Village Hall.

 

In relation to the Bicker United Charity. Cllr Mountain reported that the Christmas donation vouchers for those residents over 65 will need to be collected this year. £25 for those over 65 and £45 for those over 80. Information will be circulated nearer the time.

 

34/25 Notes of the last meeting held on 8th May 2025 were accepted and approved as the Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Pell, seconded by Cllr Mountain. The Minutes were signed as a true copy by the Chair. 

 

35/25 Clerk’s report on matters outstanding:

 

Fix My Street report – Graffiti on Playground and School Signs in School Lane. Update received on 05.06.25 – COMPLETED. However, Clerk checked and nothing has changed, so has reported the issue again on 10.06.25

 

Fix My Street reports – white railings broken at 3 locations (Morley Lane, Donington Road and Fore Lane). Updated 27.04.25 - SCHEDULED

 

Fix My Street report – dumped tyres near solar farm. Reported 03.05.25. Update on 07.05.25 Status changed to FIXED

 

Fix My Street Report - Vine House, Red Lion Street – damaged pavement and overgrown hedge blocking the footpath. Clerk has reported to the LCC Streetworks Team for advice on next steps.

 

Cemetery grass cutting – It was agreed that the contractor can use weed killer down the cemetery paths. Chair and Vice Chair to meet contractor when they are next at the cemetery to discuss the standard of work. ACTION: Clerk to arrange a meeting date.

 

Malc Firth: Carried out grass cutting of verges and the playing field on 2nd June. Councillors approved the 30.04.25 invoice which was received on 12.06.25 at a total of £666.64 which included an 8% increase that had been previously advised and agreed.

 

Moles in the cemetery: Malc Firth’s pest control sub-contractor set the traps and returned on 22.04.25 to check them, two moles were caught. Invoice has not yet been issued for this work.

 

Cemetery tap and paving around the war memorial – Quotation received for the cemetery tap was approved by Councillors. Proposed by Cllr Pell and seconded by Cllr Mountain. ACTION: Clerk to notify contractor and confirm start date.

 

Councillors had some questions about the quote for the work around the war memorial. ACTION: Clerk to arrange for Chair to meet with the contractor to discuss further.

 

30mph speed limit –Lincolnshire County Council have begun a consultation to extend the 30mph zone beyond St Swithin’s Close along Ing Drove. The closing date for any comments is 13th June. Councillors have been sent the email with the letter and plan.

 

White railings around the village: 24.04.25 - Clerk contacted the gentleman who had painted the play equipment in the park for us previously. He carried out a survey and will meet with the Chair. Clerk awaiting quotation.

 

AGAR: Clerk informed Councillors that there were some errors in the 31.03.24 figures input into section 2, accounting statements on page 5 of the AGAR which in turn meant the variances document was incorrect. Clerk spoke to the external auditor, PKF Littlejohn and was advised to make the amendments, get Councillors approval and re-submit the amended sections. Councillors reviewed the amended sections and approved them for re-submission.

 

36/25 To Receive Finance Report  

 

a) To approve May and June payments: The Schedule of payments for approval at the June meeting was approved. Proposed and signed by Cllr Kelly. Seconded and signed by Cllr Mountain.

 

37/25 To Discuss Planning Applications Received Since Last Meeting:

 

a) B/25/0224 – Land East of Bicker Fen substation, Bicker Fen, Boston

 

Cllr Cantwell said he is concerned at the number of sites and the loss of agricultural land. The government says renewable energy sites are justified. He will speak to our MP about the latest planning application. This one is connected to the sub-station then back out to the BESS. The Parish Council noted there were 8 objections from residents as of this morning. Councillors agreed that construction traffic should not use any of the village roads. It was agreed that the Parish Council would object to the application for the village and the parish. ACTION: Clerk to put together some suitable wording for an objection for Councillors to approve.

 

b) B/22/0356/NMA2 – Land to the West of Cowbridge Road, Bicker Fen, Boston

 

Councillors objected to this amendment. The Viking Link route is the only one that should be used, as the other roads are not suitable for construction traffic. Condition 7 should remain in place and checks should be made by the Borough Council to ensure the condition is enforced as residents are informing us that it is not being followed currently. ACTION: Clerk to upload the objection to the planning website.

 

c) B/25/0225 – Beacon Fen Energy Park

 

Cllrs Mountain and Kelly excused themselves from the discussion, as the application goes over Bicker United Charity land. The Parish Council were therefore unable to make a comment, as there were only two members remaining at the meeting.

 

 

38/25 Confidential item – to carry out an annual review of the Clerk’s Pay and Conditions

 

The Clerk left the meeting whilst Councillors discussed this item.

The Clerk was asked to return to the meeting and was informed by the Chair that Councillors had approved a pay increase and that it would be backdated to April 2025. It had been proposed by Cllr Mountain and seconded by Cllr Pell. The Clerk thanked Councillors for the increase.

 

39/25 To Receive Correspondence:

 

There was no correspondence to discuss at this meeting.

 

40/25 To Receive Members Reports:

 

Councillor reported that the broken pipe opposite Chestnuts on the High Street had not been fixed. ACTION: Clerk to report to FixMyStreet.

 

Councillors requested two new galvanised watering cans for the cemetery. ACTION: Clerk to order two.

 

A resident had informed a Councillor that the wooden heritage road name post for Gauntlet Road opposite the post office was rotten. Previously, this had been painted by Bicker Buds but they were unable to carry out that work now. ACTION: Clerk to ask BBC if this is something they can do.

 

Councillors thought there might be funding available to repaint/replace the white fencing in the village – UKSPF Grass Roots Fund. ACTION: Clerk to investigate further.

 

41/25 Any Other Business: There being no further business, the meeting ended at 8.40pm.

 

42/25 Date of Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Thursday, 10th July 2025 at 7pm at the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall.

 

 

 

Signed:  …………………………………………………

 

Name: …………………………………………………

 

Date: …………………………………………………