Alvingham Parish Council
Minutes of Annual Parish Council Meeting
Held on 26th May 2026 @ 7.30pm
Present: Councillor N Ashley (NA)
Councillor G Cummings (GC)
Councillor A Graves (AG)
Councillor S Shucksmith (SS)
Councillor V Stratford (TS)
In Attendance: Councillor E Mossop (EM)
Clerk: Mrs T Bradshaw (TB)
Apologies Councillor N Hastings (NH)
Cllr Ashley extended a warm welcome to Grant & Beth from Northolme Farm, and to Toby Barnes from the North Cockerington Parish Meet who were all in attendance.
Election of Officers
Nominations were invited for the Chairperson of Alvingham Parish Council. Cllr Cummings nominated Cllr Ashley for the role and this was seconded by Cllr Graves. Cllr Ashley accepted the role.
Nominations were invited for the role of Treasurer of Alvingham Parish Council. Cllr Ashley proposed Cllr Cummings for the role and this was seconded by Cllr Shucksmith. Cllr Cummings advised he was happy to continue as Treasurer, and accepted the role for another year.
Minutes of meeting held on 10th February
The minutes from the previous meeting on 10th February 2026 were read and Cllr Graves proposed they be approved as an accurate account of the meeting, and Cllr Shucksmith seconded this. Cllr Ashley signed them as a true copy.
Treasurer’s Report
Cllr Cummings confirmed the bank balance as £4,195.03 at the end of the financial year, and that the Precept of £2,725.00 had been received for this coming year. Funds had been spent on consumables for the Defibrillator, decorations for the village Christmas Tree, RBL ‘lamp post poppies’ for remembrance, flowers to fill the village planters, the Clerk’s remuneration, insurance, and hire of the Community Hall. Thanks were given to Cllr Shucksmith & Ian Whittington for organising, collecting and erecting the Christmas Tree once again, which has now hopefully begun a much loved annual Alvingham tradition. Thanks were also extended to the Community Hall for the use of electric to light to the tree, and also for allowing the siting of and powering the Defibrillator. The annual AGAR form was completed & signed by the Chair, Treasurer and Clerk in readiness for audit by David Hayward, before being submitted as required.
Chairman’s Report
Welcome to the 226 Alvingham Annual Parish Council Meeting. The last 12 months have seen many old issues reappear, of which many will no doubt continue to be discussed at future meetings. The state of our roads for one – basically what were farm tracks of yesteryear, and never designed to carry the volume or the weight of modern vehicles and machinery, have become todays roads. The best we can do is try to make the inadequate carriageways carry the load, which is only going to be an even greater problem with the passage of time.
Drainage hasn’t been without it’s issues too. Again, all we can do is keep biting the councils ankles. The main problem seems to be the reorganisation of water authorities, i.e. Drainage Boards and Environment Agency - it just doesn’t seem to work as well as the original system. We still have major problems in the village at the west end of Highbridge Road. Also, the drainage system a bit further east down Highbridge Road is far from satisfactory, but all we can do is persist. Which of course, we will. We thank Cllr Cummings for championing the cause. Good luck!
Planning has been reasonably quiet this year. The development down Highbridge seems to be making slow progress – there has been a change in ownership and amendments to the plans. The perhaps controversial planning application is that for Silverwell Cottage, opposite the Pinfold bungalows. A dangerous access, and seemingly overdevelopment for such a small site. As a Parish Council, we try to do what is best for the village, but the pressure seems to be on to permit OTT building as long as this increases the housing stock throughout the County.
The village in general has been brightened up this year with planters positioned at specific locations, and with the old telephone box being given a much needed makeover. A big thankyou to all concerned. The village gardening competition has again kicked off, encouraging everyone to tidy up and give Alvingham that kerb appeal once more.
In the main, as a Parish Council, we have done the best we can to celebrate and commemorate various national events – we have an excellent team in the Community Hall, with all parties combining to make every event successful. I’d just like to say a big “thank you” to all concerned. Your efforts are very much appreciated, and regularly commented on, and in fact, envied, by people from neighbouring villages. Well done everyone!
Clerk’s Report
Alvingham Parish Council has seen 6 meetings throughout the year, with all meetings being very well attended, achieving a full house of councillors at a least half of the meets. Public attendance has unfortunately been non-existent, so either we are doing everything right, or we need to do more to encourage parishioners to attend. On the planning front, 5 applications have been received, two of which relate to the same property (extending the existing dwelling, plus adding 2 new dwellings), a retrospective change of use, a minor change to an already agreed original application, and a new dwelling on a plot on Highbridge Road. All of which have been agreed. Pipelines and pylons have gone very quiet, but we are always prepared to respond to the next consultation.
Highlights from this year
- Cllr Nick Hastings’ Open Surgeries, which welcome parishioners & allow them to feel heard
- the village planters which have brightened every corner of the village
- the Christmas Tree lights & decorations paid for by the Parish Council
- new consumables for the Defibrillator ensuring it remains active & available
And lowlights…
- potholes! The state of the village roads remains a concern, as it does to most villages and towns these days, but hopefully, we’ve made a bit of a breakthrough, with work being scheduled to commence
Matters Arising
Pot Holes – Cllr Hastings has been raising the matter on a regular basis with the relevant departments at LCC, which has resulted in George Cartwright from Highways visiting Alvingham and meeting with Cllrs Ashley & Cummings to discuss the issues. He explained the different repair techniques available and the rationale behind the use of each of them, their guidelines and requirements, budgets, etc. This has resulted in the following, some of which has already been carried out:
- Proposal for a in-situ recycle and relay carriageway surfacing scheme for Highbridge Road (section from jnc of Abbey Road to the farm and High Bridge House).
- Some larger patch repairs along the above section. – namely near Highbridge Farm Cottages (nr the AW crossing point) and nr the jnc of Abbey Road.
- Carriageway improvement works ( re-establish road width and re-profile camber) on Abbey Road near the speed limit change signs.
- Carriageway improvement works (insertion of gully and reprofile carriageway) on Highbridge Road nr Garden Cottage.
- Pothole repairs on Highbridge Road nr Aylsham.
- Relining of all Give Way markings throughout the village.
Obviously, some of these larger repairs will involve road closures, but we will be given notice of works in advance, and expect any disruption caused to be worth the minor inconvenience to have driveable roads. Parishioners are urged to continue reporting any issues via ‘Fix My Street’, so everything is logged and recorded.
Cllr Mossop confirmed that LCC have a regime of road inspections to identify issues. A & B roads are supposed to be inspected annually, with other roads inspected every two years, but in the current climate, it appears they are operating on a ‘reactive’ basis, rather than on inspections. Surface dressing of roads used to be a regular occurrence, which helped postpone delamination and potholes, but nobody can remember it last being done.
Insurance – the annual insurance policy has been renewed with effect from 1st June at a cost of £179.73
AGAR Return – the required Certificate of Exemption annual return regarding accounts and audit has been completed by Cllr Cummings and signed by the Chairman & Clerk in preparation for auditing. Once complete, this will be submitted & published accordingly.
Flood Diary – A record of all evidence relating to surface water / sewerage flooding within the village is to be complied, together with information on poorly maintained ditches and drains. The aim being to share it with all relevant agencies so any planning decisions affecting sewerage or surface water can be assessed using factual information, and to put pressure on Anglian Water to ensure works are scheduled when required.
Louth Canal – Cllr Shucksmith advised that the Environment Agency had now carried out significant works along the canal bank, opening up previously impeded areas, allowing a much better rate of water flow.
Treasurers Report
Cllr Cummings confirmed that the current balance in the account stands at £6,656.45. Cheques have been raised for the hire of the community hall for the coming year, the clerks remuneration, and the insurance renewal.
Correspondence
Nothing to report
Any Other Business
Cllr Cummings proposed the purchase of compost and bedding plants to the value of £100 to refill the village planters. This was seconded by Cllr Ashley. Additional planters to be placed under the village name signs. Clerk to organise.
Next Meeting Tuesday 7th July 2026 @ 7.30pm
Cllr Ashley thanked everyone for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9pm