Full Council Minutes 2026

January 2026

Market Rasen Town Council Meeting

Minutes of meeting held in The Committee Room, Caistor Road, Market Rasen

Wednesday 14th January 2026 at 7pm

Councillors Present: J Pilley (Chairman & note taker)

S Bunney A Dale M Hassan D Strachan N Taylor

In Attendance: Eight members of the public present

00129. OPEN MEETING

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance.

00130. APOLOGIES

Apologies received from Cllr J Adekoya, Cllr S Edwards and Cllr K Lambie.

It was Resolved: To accept apologies with valid reason of absence from Cllr J Adekoya, Cllr S Edwards and Cllr K Lambie.

The Clerk also gave her apologies.

00131. PUBLIC FORUM

Church Street, Market Rasen: A number of residents attended the meeting to raise awareness of the ongoing problems associated with large / HGV vehicles using this route resulting in a danger to pedestrians and damage to pavements. The meeting noted that a petition had already been submitted to the Highways Authority and a response received. Cllr S Bunney, as the local member had also been consulted and he spoke about the problems being experienced at this and other locations.

00132 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None

00133. MINUTES

To receive as a correct record the draft notes of the Town Council meetings held on 12th November 2025

It was Resolved: The notes of the Town Council meeting held on 12th November 2025 be approved as the official minutes.

The next item was moved forward with the agreement of the Chairman to enable visitors to speak on the matter

00134. TO CONSIDER THE CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED FROM THE MARKET RASEN ENVIRONMENT GROUP RELATING TO THE PLANTERS SITUATED IN THE MARKET PLACE

Three members of the group attended the meeting in response to the Town Council’s earlier decision to return the planting and maintenance of the Market Place planters in-house. The previous correspondence was noted and further discussion took place. It was agreed that the Town Council would liaise further with the group.

00135. TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORTS

Cllr S Bunney reported on the following: the introduction of Food Waste collection, local policing, Shop Watch, Local Govt. Reform and the ongoing work by the Environment Agency re local flood prevention

00136. TO RECEIVE THE CLERK'S REPORT INCLUDING ITEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

The Clerk being absent it was agreed to await an update at the next meeting. It was noted, however, that the Christmas Market had been a success and thanks were offered to the staff for their hard work.

00137. TO AGREE THE FORMATION OF A WORKING GROUP FOR THE CREATION OF A 3-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN / VISION AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE EMEGENCY PLAN, REPORTING BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

Cllr Bunney presented his report on Strategic and Emergency Planning and stressed the importance of the Town Council working alongside Middle Rasen Parish Council in forming a steering group for the Combined Strategic Plan.

It was Resolved: That Cllr Mark Hassan and Cllr A Dale represent the Town Council on the steering group and that Angie Driver joins the group as Clerk.

00138. TO AGREE THE TYPE AND STYLE OF IDENTIFICATION TO BE WORN BY TOWN COUNCILLORS WHEN REPRESENTING OR ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN COUNXCIL. ONCE AGREED, TO AGREE THAT ALL ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFICATIONS HELD BY MEMBERS TO BE REUTRNED TO THE COUNCIL OFFICE

The Chairman explained the need for uniformity with regard to the identification of councillors.

It was Resolved: That the new name badges distributed would replace all other forms of identification and that any old insignia be returned to the council for disposal.

00139. TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO RENEW THE ANNUAL LALC MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION AT A

COST £837.78 FOR 2026/2027

It was Resolved: That the Annual Subscription at a cost of £837.78 be renewed for 2026/2027.

00140. TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT TO JOIN THE LALC ANNUAL TRAINING SCHEME AT A COST OF £222.00 FOR 2026/2027

It was Resolved: That the Annual Subscription at a cost of £222.00 be renewed for 2026/2027.

00141. TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL ROSPA PLAY SAFETY INSPECTION FOR FOUR SITES AT A TOTAL COST OF £649 + VAT

It was Resolved: That the Annual Rospa Inspection fee be paid at a cost of £649 plus VAT

00142. FINANCE

a. To resolve accounts for payment

b. Resolve to accept the 2025 bank reconciliation for Sept to Dec inclusive and bank balances presented

Due to the clerk’s absence items, a & b were deferred to the next meeting of the council

c. To consider and agree the budget and the precept for the financial year 2026/2027

It was Resolved (unanimously):

i. Overall budget set at £241,500 and the precept for 2026/2027 be set at £219,000. This is an equivalent to a council tax charge of £159.10 (10.1%) for a Band D property, an increase of £14.60 when compared to the previous yeThat an amount of £20,000 be transferred from current General Reserves to a Capital Improvement Ear Marked Reserve.

ii. To consider and approve the appointment of an internal auditor for 2025/2026 and 2026/2027

It was Resolved to: Appoint the current Internal Auditor for the years 2025/2026 & 2026/2027

00143. PLANNING - access applications via: https://westlindsey-publicportal.statmap.co.uk/horizoNext/publicportal

To resolve responses to new planning and tree applications received since the last meeting of the Town Council and any new applications received since the publication of the agenda.

a. Application Number: WL/2025/01185 - Proposal: Planning application for internal and external alterations to create a total of 9no. flats and a change of use-to-use classes A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services) and A5 (hot food takeaway) being variation of condition 2 of planning permission 140755 granted 14 July 2020 - revised basement remedial treatment. Location: 1 The Old Bank House, 9-10 Market Place, Market Rasen LN8 3HJ