2026 Minutes

BICKER PARISH COUNCIL

DRAFT Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday, 8th January 2026 at 7pm

In the Gedney Room, Bicker Village Hall

Present: 

Cllr Bateson - Chair

Borough Councillor Cantwell

Cllr Carrott

Cllr Kelly

Cllr Mountain

Cllr Pell – Vice Chair

Clerk – Alison Delaney

PUBLIC FORUM: 

No one attended the Public Forum. Therefore, the Parish Council meeting started at 7pm.

104/25 Chair’s Welcome and Remarks:

The Chair wished everyone a Happy New Year and thanked them for attending.

105/25 To receive apologies for absence and acceptance of any reasons given: 

APOLOGIES - were received from County Cllr Lock who had a work meeting. The meeting resolved to accept the reason for absence. 

106/25 To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011:

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

Councillor Carrott – Bicker United Charity and Windfarm Trust

Councillor Mountain – Bicker United Charity 

Councillor Cantwell – Full time Employment APMG International, member of the Conservative and Unionist Party, Director of Black Sluice Drainage Board.

107/25 To receive updates from Borough and County Councillors

Borough Councillor Cantwell provided the following update:

 - I will be continuing my regular public meetings I hold in my ward village halls. 10 are booked in for this year with two in each village.

- Winter Hubs I am happy to announce that a scheme of daytime social events will be commencing in the coming months. These will have hot food and drink, which is being funded by a donation of my Vice Chair of Audit and Governance Committee allowance as I promised. Importantly they will also have advice teams from Age UK, the Council Warm Homes team and Lincs Digital for folks to talk to. I will share a poster shortly about what these teams can advise on and thank you to the village halls/ social clubs in my Ward for working with me on this. 

- The Lancaster Memorial. I am working with the Lincolnshire Aircraft Recovery Group to install some information boards near the Memorial Stone about the airmen and the incident.

- Boston Borough Council and I are reaching out to Energy Projects building on the Fen to raise many of the concerns you have raised with me, this is an ongoing process. 

- I have called in a planning application from AGR Energy who are looking to vary the roads they come down with loaded HGVs. This will be discussed at the February Planning Committee 

- Some of you on the St Swithins Estate contacted me concerned about the road closure around there requested by the building site next door. I raised this with the County, but I have not heard any more about it since the applicants withdrew the closure request. I will keep an eye on it. 

- David Brown and I were happy to donate £200 out of our Councillor Allowance to a new bench purchased by the Parish Council for the village.

108/25 To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies:

Village Hall – Cllr Kelly reported that the committee were considering updating the toilets, but this depended on funds. 

Bicker United Charity – No meeting had been held since Christmas. The charity donations had been collected by those over 65 who lived in the village. There was feedback that some people had not known about it being a collection this year. It had been advertised on Facebook and on the village notice boards. 

109/25 Notes of the last meeting held on 13th November 2025 were accepted and approved as the Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Pell, seconded by Cllr Kelly. The Minutes were signed as a true copy by the Chair. 

110/25 Clerk’s report on matters outstanding:

FixMyStreet 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. Update: Notified on 26.06.25 that the issue is not LCC but BCC, so Clerk reported the issue to BCC who informed Clerk signs were responsibility of LCC. Clerk chased Highways Lincs on 10.11.25 and got directed back to FixMyStreet! Same issue applies to the missing High Street Sign. Clerk will see if any of her contacts at BCC can point her in the right direction.

FixMyStreet report – broken drain on High Street that carries water into the dyke. First reported on 02.05.25. Update on 08.06.25 – work issued to one of their delivery gangs. Clerk requested a progress update on 06.07.25. No further action has been taken on this report since that time. Clerk cannot find the report any more online.  If the issue still remains, Clerk will need to report again.

FixMyStreet report – 10.11.25 Clerk reported water collecting on the bridge opposite the Post Office. Response 14.11.25 – CLOSED. We've inspected and acknowledge that this gully/system is blocked, but because it is not causing a serious highway safety or property flooding issue, we will not be ordering work at this time.

FixMyStreet report – 21.10.25 Clerk has requested that LCC fills up the green salt bins near BT telephone box, war memorial, at the junction of Donington Road and Drury Lane and on the verge outside St Swithin’s Church. COMPLETED 19.11.25.

FixMyStreet report – 12.12.25 reported streetlight near Corner Cottage and the school not working. Update 15.12.25 Investigating.

FixMyStreet report – Bridge at junction of Cemetery Road and Back Lane. Update: 4.12.25 – work issued to one of the delivery gangs.

FixMyStreet report – 04.12.25 reported drain outside Cranfields on School Lane. Update 10.12.25 - Upon inspection on 5th December there was no standing water. We cleaned this areas drains in the last year and our last inspection showed that they are working well. It’s worth noting though that at times of extreme weather even well-maintained drains like these can be overwhelmed. If the problem happens again but in less extreme conditions then please report this to us and we will investigate the issue again. Boston Borough Council are responsible for street cleansing so you may wish to contact them to request a sweep of the carriageway.  No further action.

FixMyStreet report – 04.12.25 – Road surface at Lowgate Avenue. Closed 09.12.25 - we’ve assessed the road condition and – whilst it has deteriorated it does not yet require further action. If the fault deteriorates significantly then please report this again to us and we will investigate further. 

School Lane parking situation – resident reported reduced visibility and a potential accident black spot on FixMyStreet, was told they needed to contact the PC about a Traffic Regulation Order to impose parking restrictions. Clerk forwarded the information to Cllr Lock who emailed Highways, they have agreed to check on the situation in September when the school starts up. Clerk has notified the resident. Awaiting update from Councillor Lock as to whether the Highways assessment has taken place, he has chased for a response.

Cemetery grass cutting – As per the agreement no visits have been made since the end of October. Visits will recommence in March 2026. Quotation received which was circulated at the last meeting for an annual fee spread over 12 months at £325 per month (current rate is £224). Quotation includes additional items requested of strimming once a month and pruning of trees and shrubs along the front of the cemetery and along the middle pathway. Contractor confirmed this would be done “as and when needed. Pruning normally would take place in the Autumn or when a tree/shrub may need some attention i.e. broken branches.” Councillors agreed to accept the revised quotation which would come into effect from 1st April 2026 Proposed by Cllr Carrott, seconded by Cllr Pell.

Malc Firth: No further park or highways visits until March 2026.

Cemetery tap – Contractor will complete the work on 15th/16th January. 

Lancaster memorial bank account – Clerk has yet to speak to the bank about changing this account to a savings one.

Allotments: A further plot has been rented for the remainder of this year. One and a half plots remain vacant.

Supreme Hotel: 31.10.25 Clerk spoke to the manager, who said they had arranged for a contractor to collect the rubbish in the car park in the next few weeks. She was looking for someone to take the broken sign away. Agreed that Clerk would call back in a couple of weeks to check on progress. Clerk drove past on 09.11.25 and rubbish was still there. Clerk checked prior to Christmas and the rubbish had been removed. The basketball net and broken sign were still there. Clerk has spoken to the manager again who has been unable to source anyone to carry out the work. 

Repairs to play equipment – Clerk has not been able to progress this matter since the last meeting.

Replacement bench next to the pump: The old bench has been taken away and the replacement installed.

Metal sign outside the School Lane entrance to the playground: The metal sign has been removed from the fence by the entrance. Councillors agreed to purchase a replacement sign using the same wording as the one at the Low Gate Lane entrance to the park. The cost of the two signs in 2023 was £170. ACTION: Clerk to obtain a price for a white metal sign with a red border and black writing.

111/25 To Receive Finance Report  

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

b) To consider and approve the draft budget for 2026/27 The draft budget for 2026/27 had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting. They noted that the Parish Council was in a satisfactory financial position with a suitable surplus. Clerk had received a draft invoice from Boston for the street lighting of £5,315.22 which was considerably less than the last two years. Councillors agreed to a 2% increase in the Precept for 2026/27 making a total of £40,576. This was proposed by Cllr Cantwell and seconded by Cllr Mountain.

112/25 To Discuss Planning Applications Received Since Last Meeting: None received.

113/25 Lancaster Memorial event – confirmation of date and arrangements: Councillors agreed that the event would be held on Saturday, 11th April 2026 at 11am and afterwards at the Methodist Church Hall. It was agreed that £100 donation would be made to the Methodist Church for providing the refreshments and any donations received would also go to the Methodist Church. ACTION: Clerk to notify the relevant parties and make the arrangements.

114/25 EE Developer Fund – Four Councillors and the Clerk had a Teams meeting on 6th January with representatives from EE’s legal, communications and finance departments. EE are in agreement that the PC can create a dedicated charity body to manage applications/receive funds for the Developer Contribution Fund. They would need to satisfy themselves that the charity was constituted correct, but that would be up to the charity to obtain the necessary legal advice. They do not agree that we can use any of the funds to pay for the administration associated with the fund. All of the fund needs to go to the good causes. They propose that the administration their end is carried out by the Communications Manager. The charity would be responsible for inviting applications, reviewing and assessing the applications, selecting the preferred applications and notifying EE. Councillors felt the charity may be able to obtain funding to pay for someone to carry out the administration or find someone who would volunteer to do the work. It was noted that the agreement allows for EE to pay the money directly to the applicant, the charity or the contractor carrying out the work, this would be at EE’s discretion. It was also noted that the money paid would be minus VAT and it would be up to the applicant or the charity to claim back the VAT element. EE are waiting for the Commercial Operation Date, which is the date the money will become available. They would be looking for the agreement to be signed asap after that and the money distributed within a couple of years. Councillors agreed to the setting up of the charity. Cllr Cantwell volunteered to look into how this should be done and to bring a proposal back to Councillors at the next meeting. It was agreed that the PC would pay a start up fund of £2,500 to the charity, once established, to pay for any necessary fees and for someone to administer the start up. Councillor Cantwell will see if he can find someone who is willing to be the Secretary/Administrator. Councillors Cantwell, Carrott and Kelly volunteered to be on the Charity board. Councillors to think of a name for the charity. Clerk to notify EE of the decision.

115/25 To Receive Correspondence: None

116/25 To Receive Members Reports:

Councillors noted that although the trees at the entrance to Mill Lane had been cut back a bit in response to a recent FixMyStreet request, the trees along the A52 coming to and from that junction were very overgrown and blocked the view of the turning signs until you were almost at the turning. ACTION: Clerk to report again.

Councillors asked if we could get the speed limit along the A52 lowered to 40 by the three entrances to Bicker. ACTION: Clerk to speak to Cllr Lock to find out how we could go about this.

White fencing in the village is looking in need of repair. The Chair said he had spoken to a local contractor who was going to provide a quotation and the work could be done in the spring.

Councillors asked about the temporary “No access to construction traffic” signs. Who is responsible for putting them back up if they fall down? Could we have permanent signs saying something like “No through route for HGVs to the Solar Farm.” ACTION: Clerk to find out and report back at the next meeting.

Councillor Pell said that she would be retiring when her term as Vice Chair ended in May. The Chair thanked her on behalf of the other Councillors and residents for her many years of service and said that she would be greatly missed.

117/25 Date of next meeting – this was confirmed as Thursday, 12th February 2026.

118/25 Any Other Business: 

There being no further business, the meeting ended at 20.25.

Signed:  …………………………………………………

Name: …………………………………………………

Date: …………………………………………………