Minutes

Uffington Parish Council

Unapproved Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Tuesday 19th May 2026 at 7.15pm

Present: Cllr Graeme Hepburn (Chair), Cllr Carr, Cllr Barratt and Cllr Vanessa Smith
Clerk: Mrs. K. Turner

1.1/27 – Election of Chairman

Cllr Graeme Hepburn was nominated for the position of Chairman for the 2026/27 municipal year.

Proposed: Cllr Carr          Seconded: Cllr Barratt – Resolved

There being no further nominations, Cllr Hepburn was unanimously elected Chairman for 2026/27.

2.2/27 – Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Baxter.

3.3/27 – Approval of Minutes – 30 March 2026

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2026 were reviewed and approved as a correct record.

Proposed: Cllr Carr          Seconded: Cllr Barratt – Resolved

4.4/27 – Public Open Forum

There were no members of the public present and therefore no matters were raised for discussion.

5.5/27 – Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest were received.

6.6/27 – Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) 2025/26

The following documents and reports were considered:

The Certificate of Exemption was unanimously adopted and signed by the Chairman and Clerk

The Annual Governance Statement (AGAR) 2025/26 was unanimously adopted and signed by the Chairman and Clerk. Section 1 part 10 to be reviewed for suitable IT management. Uffington Parish Council members to be migrated from gmail accounts to gov.uk accounts.

7.7/27 – Annual Accounts & Internal Audit Review 2025/2026

The Annual Internal Auditor’s Report 2025/26 was received and noted.

The Accounting Statements for 2025/26 were unanimously adopted and signed by the Chairman.

The Bank Reconciliation for 2025/26 was received and noted.

The Explanation of Variances was received and noted.

The audited accounts were formally received and adopted.

Proposed: Cllr Carr          Seconded: Cllr Barratt – Resolved

8.8/27 – Confirmation of the dates of the period for the exercise of public rights - The period for the exercise of public rights was agreed as Tuesday 3 June 2026 to Monday 14 July 2026.

9.9/27 – Accounts and Insurance

The accounts for the period March to May 2026 were presented. Income and expenditure were reviewed and agreed by members.

The annual insurance policy for 2026/27 was considered and approved.

Proposed: Cllr Carr Seconded: Cllr Barratt – Resolved

10.10/27 – Outside Reports – Cllr Vanessa Smith gave the following report

Food waste: No issues have been raised regarding the roll out of the new food waste bins

Outline application for 283 houses at Baston: s26/0710. Public consultation closes on 6th June 2026: I am opposed to this application because of its sheer size. It will have a tremendous impact on our local community. I do not think that any associated infrastructure put in place to support this development will be sufficient to mitigate its impact, particularly on the already congested A15.  Furthermore, recent updates to the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (LMWLP) just a few meters from a proposed new quarry.  It will affect Greatford residents due to traffic impacts and I would encourage residents and the parish council to comment.

Community Engagement evening outlining funding opportunities as supported by SKDC:  This took place at Baston last week.  Discussions held with regards - funds available per single application have been increased https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/communityfund. Small grant funds up to £2,000.  Large grant funds up to £20,000

County Council Issues: Highways: Notes from meeting held with LCC Highways Officer 8.5.26

"Uffington, Casewick Lane, I have just received photos demonstrating the problem parking. I have therefore submitted a forward programme brief for this to be assessed by our Traffic Team. Ref 4578509.
·Uffington, requesting improvements to footway to Stamford, at present we do not have the facility to promote such improvements and we do not consider the request for a reduced speed limit would meet the current criteria.”

Quarries

Lincolnshire County Council is developing their new LMWLP to 2041.  It has been through the Regulation 18 process and amendments have been made.  These have included dropping the site at West Deeping SG17.  To pick up the shortfall the recently approved quarry at Thetford Farm, Baston for 2.4 million tonnes (which was not previously in the draft local plan) has now been included. Furthermore, an extension to this site, estimated to produce 2.3mt, will be included.  Additionally, the site at Greatford, where planning was granted in 2022 before lapsing last year has also been included.  This is estimated to produce 3.0mt.  In the papers the LCC officers stated that King Street needed to be increased to a width of 5.5m to permit development.  The original Section 106 necessitated a widening to 6m not 5.5m and I have asked that this error is corrected.  It is also worth noting that the original S106 required widening to the Stowe Crossroads.  Personally, I think that should an application for this site come forward again I would push for widening to 6m for the entire permitted in and out route (to West Deeping) not just the Stowe crossroads. Furthermore, given the proximity of this site to the planned housing at Baston I would question the viability of the site.  The public will be given an opportunity to comment on these plans during the regulation 19 consultation which is due to commence next month and will run for 6 weeks.  After this consultation is complete it is anticipated that the plans will be sent to the Secretary of State for final sign off.

When these draft plans were discussed at the LCC Environment last Friday Cllr Baxter kindly asked the LCCs to define cumulative impact.  Officers were unable to give a clear answer to this question.  The draft plans states that quarrying at both of these sites will have no cumulative impact.  I believe that proposing two quarries, either side of Baston, just 1.5 miles apart will result in an unacceptable cumulative impact for Baston residents.

I would encourage everyone to comment on the draft LMWLP when the regulation 19 consultation is launched next month

Other items discussed at Uffington Parish meeting were

Cyclist knocked off bike before Christmas on A1175 and asking LCC, police, MP to support with this and a request for improved lighting & a reduced speed limit

Public access towards Shillingthorpe, raised by horse riders regarding Bridlepath

Possible parking solutions along Casewick Lane to reduce congestion and deterioration to the grass verge were put forward of Cones or a kerb – Cllr Smith to raise points with Graham Simpson at LCC Highways

11.11/27 – Planning

There were no planning applications or notices for discussion.

12.12/27 – Correspondence

There was no correspondence requiring consideration by the Council.

13.13/27 – Any Other Business

There were no items of business raised for discussion at future meetings.

The meeting closed at 8.10pm.

Next meeting to be held at 7pm in Uffington Village Hall on Monday 27th July 2026