January 2026 Minutes
Page 24 25/26 Action notes
SOUTH HYKEHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the meeting of South Hykeham Parish Council’s Finance and General Purposes Committee which took place on Tuesday 13th January 2026 at 6.30pm at South Hykeham Community Primary School, Wath Lane.
Present: Cllr Southam (Chair) Cllr Graham (acting clerk/ note-taker) Cllr Whittaker, Cllr Wakeling, Cllr Rowson
1.. To receive apologies for absence and to resolve to accept the reason for absence.- None
2. To resolve to receive any declaration of Interests in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and to consider member’s written dispensation requests.- Cllrs Southam, Whittaker and Wakeling all declared an interest in 3c) due to membership of the Village Hall Committee.
3. Finance
a) To consider budget provision for additional staffing costs in order to support business continuity &
b) To consider the proposed costings for a 6 hour per week assistant clerk post and equipment required.
-All present agreed additional staffing a necessary cost to allow for business continuity. Cllr Southam provided the Committee with costings for additional staffing and related costs for the 2026/27 financial year, based on 6 hours per week. Costings to be delivered to full council for approval.
c) To consider the application for grant support from South Hykeham Village Hall for installation of solar panels and batteries.- Due to three attendees having declared an interest in this item there were insufficient remaining members to be quorate. Application to go before full council.
d) To propose the Chairman’s Allowance for the forthcoming financial year & to recommend an amount- Agreed that expenditure needs to me kept to essential items next financial year due to increasing costs and potential for high outlay for elections. Proposal to full Council that Chairmans Allowance be put on hold for the 2026/27 period
e) To make budgetary provision for the house keeping for the Annual Parish meeting.- Committee discussed provision of refreshments for the event and agreed that this would constitute an unnecessary expense.
f) To make budgetary provision for the Community Awards. Engraving costs and a replacement trophy for each award and gift certificate for the recipients of each award. – Cllr Whittaker has £160 remaining of the 2025/26 Chairmans Allowance. Proposal to go to full council that the remainder of the fund cover the cost of replacement awards and engraving costs.
7. Budget 2026/2027 recommendation to full council.
a) To discuss suggested projects and to review items to be included in the budget 2026/27.- Non-essential spend to be suspended for the 2026/27 financial year. Projects already accounted for in ringfenced reserves to be progressed
b) To consider the purchase of a new Memorial bench to commemorate the crew of the Manchester Bomber and any other suggestions for a suitable memorial- Clarity to be sought around which part of the budget this has been allocated to. If the Memorial was due to come from precept funds, project to be put on hold for 2026/27 financial year. If from ringfenced SIL or other funds can proceed. Update top be received at full council meeting following site visit.
c) To receive the budget report to 31st December 2025. – Councillors read through and noted contents of budget report
d) To resolve to ratify the renewal of the annual Data Protection registration. Proposed that Data Protection registration renewed. To be recommended to full council
e) To resolve to renew the annual subscription to SLCC for Clerk’s membership 2026/27. Proposed that subscription renewed for next financial year. To be recommended to full council.
f) To resolve to renew the Website Maintenance Service for 2026/27. Proposed that Website Maintenance Service renewed. Noted that next financial year a hosting charge will be in place for the website which needs to be included in budget. To be put forward to full council
g) To approve the venue and housekeeping arrangements for Parish Council meetings.- Proposed that Council continue with current arrangements at South Hykeham Primary School. To be put forward to full council
8. Recommendation to full council for the precept 2026/27 to be requested in accordance with the letter from NKDC.- Following discussion around necessary expenditure and need to budget heavily for next financial year, councillors present agreed to recommend 4.99% increase to precept to full council.
9. Chairman’s report. No Report
10. Clerk’s report. – No Report
11.To consider moving into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to meetings) Act 1960 as amended by section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 for confidential items.- No relevant items for this agenda item
Meeting closed at 19:05
Signed ………………………………………………………………………………………………..Chairman
Date……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Next meeting of Finance and General Purposes Committee Tues 10th March 2026 6.30pm