Annual Town Meeting Minutes 2026
Market Rasen Annual Town Council Meeting
Minutes of meeting held in The Committee Room, Caistor Road, Market Rasen
Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 7pm
Councillors Present: J Pilley (Chairman)
S Bunney A Dale M Hassan D Strachan N Taylor
In Attendance: A Driver (Town Clerk & note taker)
One member of the public present
00166. Chairman
a) To elect a Chairman (Mayor) for the ensuing year 2026/2027
Resolved: Cllr Jo Pilley was elected for the ensuing year 2026/2027.
b) The Chairman to sign the declaration of acceptance
Declaration of acceptance of office signed.
00167. Open Meeting
The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance.
00168. APOLOGIES
Resolved: To accept apologies with valid reason of absence from Cllr J Adekoya, Cllr K Lambie.
00169. Deputy Mayor
a) To elect a Vice Chairman (Deputy Mayor) for the ensuing year 2026/2027
Resolved: Cllr Alison Dale was elected for the ensuing year 2026/2027.
b) The Vice Chairman to sign the declaration of acceptance.
Declaration of acceptance of office signed.
00170. Public Forum
None.
00171. Declarations of Interest
None.
00172. Committees of the Council
a) Finance and Assets Committee
i. Review and accept the terms of reference for the Finance and Assets Committee
Resolved: To adopt the terms of reference for the Finance and Assets Committee and for these to be uploaded to council website.
ii. Determine the frequency of the Finance and Assets Committee
Resolved: To meet bi-monthly (10th June, 14th October, 9 December and 10th February) with the exception of August where there is no meeting.
iii. Appoint members for the Finance and Assets Committee
Resolved: Cllr(s) S Bunney, M Hassan, J Pilley, D Strachan, N Taylor and one vacant seat.
iv. Appoint a chairman for the Finance and Assets Committee
Resolved: Cllr S Bunney.
b) HR Committee
i. Review and accept the terms of reference for the HR Committee
Resolved: To adopt the terms of reference for the HR Committee and for these to me uploaded to the council website
ii. Determine the frequency of the HR Committee
Resolved: To meet ad-hoc as required.
iii. Appoint members for the HR Committee
Resolved: Cllr(s) S Bunney, J Pilley and N Taylor.
iv. Appoint a chairman for the HR Committee
Resolved: Cllr S Bunney.
00173. Resolve the frequency and time for ordinary meetings of the Town Council meetings for 2026/27
Resolved: To meet bi-monthly at 7pm on the 8th July, 9th September, 11th November, 13th January and 10th March.
00174. Resolve to appoint Representatives to Council Groups and Outside Bodies
Resolved: To defer and bring back to next meeting of the council on the 8th July.
00175. To review and adopt Financial Regulations and Standing Orders
Resolved: To adopt the Financial Regulations and Standing Orders and for these to be uploaded to the council website.
00176. Minutes
To receive as a correct record the draft notes of:
a) HR Committee held 10th March 2026
Resolved: Approved as the official minutes.
b) Town Council meeting held 11th March 2026
Resolved: Approved as the official minutes.
c) Extraordinary Town Council meeting held 30th March 2026
Resolved: Approved as the official minutes.
7.28pm Cllr D Strachan left the room returned at 7.30pm.
00177. To Receive the District and County Councillor Reports
Cllr S Bunney provided a verbal update to members present on food waste, Local Government Reform, Policing, Walkability and WLDC Cultural Opportunities.
00178. To receive the Town Clerk’s update on items that have occurred since the last meeting of the council
Upcoming events 30th May Food and Drink, 6th June Gardeners Market and 13th June Wildlife in your Backyard. Go Fest is taking place on the 5th June and Councillors are encouraged to attend. The Annual ROSPA play safety inspection report has been received, undertaken on 19th February 2026.
00179. To receive the Community Meeting notes from 23rd April 2026 and accompanying presentation.
The Community Meeting notes and presentation were received and noted (appendix A)
00180. To submit a letter of intent for Community Asset Transfer from WLDC
Resolved: For the Clerk to write a letter of intent and submit to WLDC.
00181. To receive an update on Festival Hall and agree in principle to pursue external funding opportunities including WLDC
Cllr S Bunney provided a verbal update and members present agreed in principle for external funding opportunities to be pursued.
00182. To note correspondence received regarding Direct LNER service from Cleethorpes to London King's Cross via Market Rasen and Lincoln and agree an action.
Resolved: For the Clerk to write a letter in support of a direct service and submit to LNER.
00183. Co-option Application
a) To consider application received and invite applicant(s) to address the Council in support of their application.
Council members present considered one of two applications received and deferred the second to the next meeting of the council.
b) To vote and resolve co-option of applicant.
Resolved: For Moira Westley to be co-opted onto the council. Declaration of acceptance and register of interests to be completed after the meeting.
00184. Financial Matters
a) Resolve accounts for payment for the period February and March 2026
Resolved: To accept accounts for payment for February and March 2026 (appendix B).
b) Resolve to accept the bank reconciliation(s) for February 2026 to March 2026 and bank balances presented
Resolved: To accept the bank reconciliation(s) for February 2026 to March 2026 and bank balances (appendix C).
c) Resolve accounts for payment for April 2026 and any payments for May 2026.
Resolved: To defer to next meeting of the council on the 8th July.
d) Review and accept regular Direct Debits for Unity Bank accounts
Resolved: To accept direct debits for unity trust bank accounts.
e) To approve the use of BACS payments and the use of internet bank transfers
Resolved: The use of BACS payments and use of internet bank transfers.
f) To review bank mandate and signatories
Resolved: Cllr S Bunney, Cllr M Hassan, Cllr J Pilley and Cllr N Taylor.
g) To review the Asset Register
Resolved: To accept the asset register.
h) To accept the payments and receipts for the period 2025/2026
Resolved: Resolved payments and receipts for the period 2025/2026 (appendix D and appendix E).
i) To note receipt of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) £16,202.91
Resolved: Noted by members present.
j) To receive an update on the Internal Audit for 2025/2026
An internal auditor from LALC has been appointed.
k) Retrospectively resolve to remain with the existing website provider for 2026/2027, cost £250
Resolved: To remain with existing website providers for 2026/2027.
l) Retrospective approve works carried out by Ryland Design for indicative costings
Resolved: To approve works carried out for indicative costings at a net cost of £1,575.
m) To consider the hire of portable toilet: single £210 +VAT or accessible/baby changing £280 +VAT for Wildlife in your Backyard on 13th June at Bell Park
Resolved: To pay for an accessible/baby changing portable toilet.
8pm Cllr A Dale left the meeting.
00185. Planning Matters
To resolve responses to new planning and tree application received since the last meeting of the Town Council and any new applications received since the publication of the agenda.
a) Application Number: WL/2026/00354 - Proposal: Advertisement consent Replacement signage to conform to Jaguar Land River dealership requirements including 1no. building mounted internally illuminated Land Rover oval, 1no. building mounted replacement illuminated retailer name, 1no. medium single brand illuminated pylon double sided, 1no. facility sign 4m illuminated freestanding facility post sign, 1no. single sided freestanding welcome sign, 1no. double sided freestanding sign, 2no. off post mounted accessible sign freestanding, 1no. off post mounted charging point sign freestanding - Location: Racecourse Garage, Willingham Road, Market Rasen LN8 3RE
It was Resolved: No objections.
New planning application received since the publication of the agenda:
b) Application Number: WL/2026/00430 Valid Date: 13/05/2026 - Proposal: Planning application for the change of use of cafe to 5no. apartments, including alterations to roof space to form pitched dormers to front & rear - Location: 16-18 Oxford Street, Market Rasen LN8 3AL.
It was Resolved: No objections.
The meeting Closed at 8.06pm.