May 2026
MIDDLE RASEN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council on 19/05/2026
Present:- Cllr M Stamp, Cllr D Pattison, Cllr G Dennis, Cllr D Dawson, Cllr M O’Connor, Cllr J Padley, Cllr A Miller, and Cllr P Thomas
Also Present: Mrs A Harrison (Clerk)
Visitors:- Cllr S Bunney (WLDC)
1. Election of Chairman
Proposed by Cllr Dawson and seconded by Cllr Thomas
Resolved: Cllr M Stamp be elected as Chairman.
Cllr Stamp thanked the Councillors.
2. Election of Vice Chairman
Proposed by Cllr Stamp and seconded by Cllr Miller
Resolved: Cllr D Pattison be elected as Vice Chairman.
3. To receive Acceptance of Office Forms
Chair’s and Vice Chair’s acceptance forms received.
4. Apologies for Absence – none
5. To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the 2011 Localism Act:-
6. Agree to WLDC Code of Conduct
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That WLDC Code of Conduct be utilised by Parish Council.
7. To review Standing Orders
Updated to allow meetings to commence at 7:20pm if no public comments
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That Standing Orders be approved and adopted as agreed.
8. To review Financial Regulations
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That Financial Regulations be approved and adopted.
9. To discuss and resolve renewal of annual insurance policy
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That Insurance policy to be accepted
10. To review arrangements (including Legal Agreements) with other Local Authorities, not-for profit bodies, and business
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That Arrangements with grass cutting and snow clearance contractors are appropriate.
11. To review Council’s/Employees representation on or work with external bodies and arrangements for reporting back
Mr P Dawson, Mr D Pattison & Mrs G Dennis – John Wilkinson Trust and Middle Rasen Community Fund (not to be reported back on)
It was proposed, seconded and
- That Representatives as noted above are to report back at next appropriate Council meeting following attendance at meetings excluding John Wilkinson Trust and Middle Rasen Community Fund
12. Review of Council/Staff subscriptions to other bodies
LALC & NALC via LALC.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Current subscriptions are appropriate.
13. To make arrangements with a view to the Council becoming eligible to exercise the general power
of competence in the future
The Clerk informed the Council that eligibility would require a Certificate in Local Council Administration to be held by Clerk.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: That this will be reviewed annually, agreement that it is not necessary at the current time.
14. To review Parish Council Risk Assessment/Management
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Risk Assessment/Management documents appropriate for Council use. Cllr Pattison to continue as Finance Councillor.
The Chair thanked Cllr Pattison for his service as Finance Councillor.
15. To review inventory of land and assets
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Asset Register approved as correct.
16. To review Complaints Procedure
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Complaint Procedure to be adopted as presented.
17. To review Council’s Policies, procedures, and practices in respect of its obligations under FOI and Data Protection
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: FOI and Data Protection Policies and Forms be adopted as presented.
18. To review Council’s Policy for dealing with Press/Media
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: The Council continues to adopt an open-door policy for the Media, and Communications Policy as presented be adopted.
19. To review Council’s Employment Policies and procedures
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Discipline, Capability and Grievance Arrangements (NALC advised) be adopted.
20. To review Council Expenditure incurred under S137 of the Local Government Act 1972
Council spends for 25-26 - £1,997.05
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Expenditure for 2025-26 was appropriate and in line with Council agreement.
21. Notes of last meeting on 21st April 2026 to be approved as minutes:-
- Notes be signed as a true record.
22. Chair and Council’s Comments:-
- Cllr Stamp thanked Cllrs Miller, Pattison and Dawson for their hard work and time spent on the repairing the bus shelters on Gainsborough Road. Cllr Stamp also thanked Rase Steel for gifting the Parish four weather strips for the bus shelters
- Cllr Stamp welcomed and thanked Cllr Bunney for his continued support and attendance at the Parish Meetings
- Cllr Dawson let the Council know that the bench down Gainsborough Road has become overgrown again and not suitable for sitting on – Clerk to find options for moving the bench away from the hedge and quotes for the work involved.
23. Reports from District and County Councillors:-
WLDC Matters:
- Cllr Bunney stated that the new food waste collections were going well and that there maybe changes to the plastics bin collection including the ability to put soft plastics in
LCC Matters:
- Cllr Bunney mentioned that the flood works were currently going on around the village
- Policing numbers have increase by one and there may be an increase of two in Community Officers
- We have elections next year on May 27th. This will involve a parish forum in the area by end of July 26
24. Crime and Vandalism: -
- Crime updates received from Inspector Head and Lincs Alert
- Issues of anti-social behaviour conducted around the village by a particular group of youths, has been reported to the Local Policing Team. Issue includes setting fires on the Village Hall field and harassing the local shop owner. Clerk to send letter to shop owners to show support
25. Clerks Report on Matters Outstanding:-
- Potholes on North Street reported again to Highways Department including far end after Low Church Road junction
- Reply sent to parishioner regarding concerns over the unofficial layby on Lincoln Lane
- Request sent to LCC Highways Department to look at removing the hard standing on Lincoln Lane which is being used as an unofficial layby
- Contacted WLDC to clear fly tipping in the dyke behind the hard standing on Lincoln Lane – a team to investigate
- Standing Orders updated to allow Parish Meetings to commence at 7:20pm if no comments in public forum
- Damage to wooden fence on bridge on Church Street reported to LCC Highway Asset Team with a request to check all the bridges in the village
- A letter has been sent to the owners of Holly Holme on Church Street, requesting that the land be cleared.
26. Planning:-
PL/0030/26 – Middle Rasen Priamary School
To vary condition 1 (five-year limit) of planning permission 143038 - application for a new detached mobile classroom block with associated ramps and footpaths - (granted by 136482 and as previously amended by 143038) – no comments
WL/2026/00393 – Chantry Park Site Frontage, Land off Caistor Road
Application for advertisement consent for 6no. flags, 2no. signs, 1no. V-board sign and 4no. double sided signs – no comments
Planning Granted:- None
27. Correspondence:-
LCC Town and Parish Council April Newsletter
TTRO - Skinners Lane 06 – 12 July 2026
WLDC Parish Newsletter – May Issue
LALC E-news 24/04 and 08/05
CLLP Consultation on Proposed Updates to Local Validation Lists for Central Lincolnshire
Clerks and Councils Direct May Issue
28. Finance and Accounts for Payment
Income:-
WLDC £ 8060.88
MRPCC - £ 84.00
Leake’s Masonry (Crow) - £ 75.00
Leake’s Masonry (Reading) - £ 75.00
Burial Fees (Hazell) - £ 275.00
Expenditure:- SES Business Water - £ 6.73
Lincolnshire Landscapes - £ 741.00
Green Grass Contracting - £ 75.00
Cassells Limited - £ 120.00
Zurich Insurance - £ 301.25
A Miller - £ 44.07
Rasen Hardware - £ 6.99
A Harrison - £ 728.57
Resolved: All Invoices be passed for payment.
29. Annual Return for the year ended 31st March 26
a) Execute review of effectiveness of internal audit
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Internal auditor’s report approved by the Council.
b) Execute Annual Governance Statement
It was proposed, seconded and
- Annual Governance Statement executed.
c) To approve Statement of Accounts
It was proposed, seconded and
- Council approved Statement of Accounts and Chair and RFO signed documentation.
30. To appoint Internal Auditor for 2026-27 Financial Year
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: Cassells be appointed as Internal Auditor for 2026-27 financial year.
31. Reports from meetings: See item 32
32. To Discuss the Progress of the Village Plan Sub Committee
Cllr Thomas provided the following report:
- Market Rasen and Middle Rasen Strategic Plan – The joint working group is currently pulling together the first draft on the strategic plan which should be ready for the July/possibly June meeting. Both Parish Councils will receive a copy of the first draft of the plan and will be asked for comments before the public consultation stage is commenced. The working Vision Statement that we are recommending is:
- We aim to provide an attractive area, in which residents and visitors can live, shop, relish regular activities and relax, while supporting the health and well-being of residents and celebrating the character and unique heritage of our community for current and future generations.
- History – The plan will open with a description of the history of the two communities. Material for this will be obtained from existing reports, publications, etc.
- Geographic Area – In writing the plan the working group has consciously concentrated on two distinct but linked areas. Middle Rasen Village centred on an axis from Mill Lane, the Village Shop via Church Street/Low Church Road to the Church – the Middle Rasen Built Up Area. We recommend that these two distinct areas are separated by a green wedge.
The Plan will be organised around the following Five Strategic Priorities. So far around 60 main action points have been identified. The working group are currently working on consolidating these into a smaller, more manageable number – although each main action will contain several sub points:
- Leisure, Sport, and Culture
- Health and Wellbeing
- Clean, Green and Safe Communities
- Housing, Business Enterprise, The Visitor Economy, and Heritage
- Transport and Access
Proposed by Cllr Stamp and Seconded by Cllr Dennis and
Resolved: that Cllr Thomas continue to update the Parish Council at the next meeting
33. Items for next meeting:
- Discuss and resolve on options for bench on Gainsborough Road
- Discuss the progress of the Village Plan Sub Committee
There being no other business the meeting closed at 8:27pm.