2025-26 Minutes

Timberland and Thorpe Tilney Parish Council Meeting Minutes (Draft)

Date Monday 23rd March, 2026

Start time: 19:00

Close: 20:49

Meeting Location Timberland Village Hall

Attendees:

PC Councillors Lenton (Chair), Audis, Thompson-Ayerst, Slater, Ayerst, Clements

Apologies for Absence: Clerk – K Harvey

Cllr Nash, District Councillor A Whittle, District Councillor S Lawrence

1. Parishioner open forum

Two parishioners attended the meeting.

One parishioner highlighted the shocking state of littering and dog fouling that is occurring on Fen Road.  A request was made that the PC install a litter or dog waste bin on Fen Road to try and encourage parishioners to take personal responsibility for the maintenance of a clean and tidy parish by disposing of litter responsibly.  The PC agreed to install a dog refuse bin which can be sourced for around £150.

Proposed: Cllr Audis, Second: Cllr Ayerst.  All agreed.

The parishioner also highlighted the poor state of the church owned land (The Glebe) located on Fen Road.  The managing agents have been contacted and details are awaited on how the land will be tidied and cleared.  The parishioner requested that the PC consider how the land could be used for the benefit of the parish.  The PC will consider options for this.

The second parishioner highlighted that they were organising a farm visit educational day for Walcott school children.  A request was made for a donation to support the costs of the day. The PC agreed that a £200 donation will be made to support the event.  

Proposed: Cllr Ayerst, Second: Cllr Clements.  All agreed.

2. Apologies for absence

Clerk – K Harvey

Cllr Nash, District Councillor A Whittle, District Councillor S Lawrence.

3. Declarations of interest

Nothing to declare.

4. Minutes of previous meeting

Minutes of meeting held on Monday 19th January 2026 were approved.

Proposed: Cllr Thompson-Ayerst, Seconded: Cllr Slater.  All agreed.

5. District & County Councillor remarks

No district or county councillors were present at the meeting.

6. Planning

Cllr Slater highlighted that a recent new build is not “in keeping” with the general architecture of the village, and that the PC should review its current planning guidelines when considering how to respond to future planning applications.

Action: All councillors to read the planning guidelines to understand the current PC position and to recommend any changes for discussion.

During the planning policy discussion, Cllr Thompson-Ayerst requested that a full review of PC documentation, policies and committee staffing is undertaken to ensure that they are fit for purpose and that any committees have representation from recently elected councillors.

Action: Cllr Lenton to propose how the review will take place.

7. Highways

• Clerk has contacted highways regarding the path between Timberland and Martin and how narrow it is.  No response yet.

Action: Clerk to contact Highways again to see if any response regarding footpath to Martin.

• The PC have noted that parking is increased on some dangerous corners around the village hall and the Penny Farthing.   It was agreed by majority that a proposal will be sent to Cllr Kenrick with a request to have yellow lines painted where blind corners are being blocked by parked cars.  Cllr Kendrick agreed to act when the request was received.  

Action: Clerk to contact Cllr Kendrick with a map of the village and where the PC feels yellow lines should be painted.  Action carried forward.

• Cllr Thompson-Ayerst raised the issue of potholes on Church Lane.  It was agreed that the road is in poor condition and needed attention to improve the surface.

Action:  Clerk to contact Cllr Kendrick and Rowan Smith to obtain status and progress regarding fixing Church Lane.

8 Standing Parish items

8.1 Timberland Green

• A number of suggestions for the replacement of the village green shelter were considered.  The PC agreed unanimously that the most cost-efficient and best option would be a bench seat with a cover as proposed by Cllr Slater at a cost of £620 from Rover Dyas.  This seat will be delivered flat-pack and will require building.  The associated action is closed.

Action: Clerk to investigate the purchase of the bench from Rober Dyas and report back on cost, method of payment, delivery and installation before purchasing.

• Cllr Nash has planed the gate between the church yard and the village green so it opens more easily.  Action is complete.

• The ROSPA report has recommended that rubber buffers be installed on all village green gates to minimise the chance of parishioners trapping fingers between gate and post.  Cllr Lenton reported that rubber buffers for village green gates could be purchased for a price of under £10.  All councillors agreed that this could be done.

Action Cllr Lendon to purchase and install rubber buffers on village green gates.

Cllr Audis reported that a tree has fallen beside the village green and will be removed by a local farmer.

8.2 Timberland Village Hall

• Cllr Lenton reported to the PC that he had investigated the responsibilities of the PC and VHC regarding the maintenance and cost ownership of Timberland Village Hall.  In summary, all responsibilities for the maintenance and upkeep payments of the village hall rest with the VHC.  The PC agreed to continue paying for broadband and any insurance costs for the VH, and will review the situation annually.  The associated action on this matter is closed.

Action:  Cllr Lenton to contact chair of VHC to ensure alignment on the above.

8.3 Family fun Day 2026

• Cllr Thompson-Ayerst provided an update on the preparations for the FFD.  All is progressing well and activities are under control.  Dyson has provided a vacuum raffle prize, and a flypast has been requested.

8.4 Grounds & dyke maintenance

• The flood team are carrying out ongoing investigations and recently have tried to put a camera down the drain to see what the ongoing issue is, they were unable to get further from a certain point. They are going to contact the Clerk with updates as and when they have them.

Action: Clerk to chase Rob Kendrick / flood team for an update.

8.5 Emergency Planning

• Cllr Slater reported that the online Emergency Plan has been re-registered.

8.6 Social Media

• Councillors should continue to pass any suggestions for improving and updating the PC website to the clerk for actioning.

8.7 Parish Council

• Clerk is looking at relevant training courses for new councillor.

Action: Clerk to send dates of the training courses to new PC when they have been released.

8.8 Human Resources

Nothing to discuss.

8.9 Correspondence

• The Clerk has received an email from a concerned parishioner regarding the ongoing speeding issue, that the road from Timberland to Martin is getting worse and that the speeds coming out of the village are increasing and dangerous.

Action: Clerk to respond to the correspondent.

9 Finance Status Update

9.1 Accounts Status / Finance update

Bank Balances on 23-Mar-2026 as follows:

9.2 Payments for Approval

The following payments were discussed and agreed by the PC.

Proposed Cllr Ayerst, Seconded Cllr Slater.  All agreed.

9.3 Precept

The clerk has applied for the precept and has received an acknowledgment that the request has been received.  The precept is due to be received into the PC bankaccount on 01st April.  The associated action has been closed.

10 Supplementary Items

10.1 Bus Service

• Cllr Thompson-Ayerst provided a verbal update on progress into reestablishing a bus service for Timberland.  The following summary note was subsequently provided for inclusion in the minutes.

Following research via Facebook and community events, I gathered just under 200 responses from parishioners. The main demand is for routes to Lincoln and Sleaford, with some interest in Boston.

I’ve also been working with a resident from Woodhall Spa who is leading a similar initiative for a route to Horncastle. After attending their Parish Council meeting, I learned they’ve already engaged with Lincolnshire County Council and CallConnect. A proposed route is being explored linking Horncastle → Coningsby → Billinghay → Martin → Woodhall Spa.

I’ve since contacted Mike Reed (Head of Transport at Lincolnshire County Council) and received positive initial feedback about potentially incorporating Timberland into this route, or exploring alternative options.

The aim is to connect Timberland into nearby main routes:

• Via Martin for access to Lincoln/Boston (B5)

• Via Billinghay for access to Sleaford (B5)

We’re awaiting further confirmation, but the outlook is positive. While Woodhall Spa are aiming for a regular service, even 1–2 days per week for Timberland would be a great outcome.

Please note any service would likely start as a trial and depend on demand.

Cllr Thompson-Ayerst will continue work on this initiative.  All previous actions are complete.

10.2 PC calendar of events

• The calendar of events has been shared to all councillors, and it was agreed that it will be updated and maintained as required.  Outstanding actions are complete.

10.3 Wooden Mushroom

• It was agreed that the wooden mushroom can be removed and disposed of.

11 Meeting Close

Meeting closed at 20:49