December 2025
Notes from the public forum held on 04 December 2025
There were two members of the public. One came along to speak about the over development of the village, but understood that there is nothing the Parish Council can do although it does keep trying.
The second member of the public was attending in reply to queries regarding co-option. It was agreed that this person could join the Parish Council as there had been no other interest.
19.25pm one member of the public left the meeting
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 04 December 2025 at 7.30pm in the Youth Centre, Hall Lane
Michael Boseley signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and joined the Parish Council.
1. To accept apologies and reason for absence
Apologies were accepted from Cllrs Pritchard, Pocklington and Dist Cllr Jones. Cllr Edwards will be late.
Present: Cllrs Burton, Boseley, Hopkins, Sherriff and Jones (Chairman)
2. To receive reports from representatives on outside bodies
a. County Cllr Hume was not present.
b. Dist Cllr Jones was not present but has passed on the grant application for the new play area bins to ELDC.
c. Dist Cllr Ashton was not present.
3. To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011
a. There were no declarations of interest.
4. Notes of the meeting held on 06 November 2025 to be approved and signed as the minutes
It was proposed by Cllr Sherriff and seconded by Cllr Jones that the minutes be signed as a true record, all agreed.
5. To discuss the Christmas event and approve expenses payment
The event was very well attended, the memory tree was well used, but it was cold in Church. The lights were put up by a new team who rallied round at the last minute to help. A gift was donated for each member of this team.
For Christmas 2026 the pathway needs to be swept, ask for the heating to be on in Church and have a microphone for announcements.
£100.00 was received in donations, this has been split between the Church and the Hundleby Choir who performed for us again this year.
Expenses were approved for Cllrs Sherriff and Edwards to reimburse them for items purchased for this event.
19.40pm Cllr Edwards arrived and took the Chair
6. To receive update regarding the beech hedge in the cemetery
a. The Clerk reported that a company who gave a quote for the work for the grant application had mis-understood an email and just did the work.
b. The payment to be made will be taken into consideration when discussing the budget.
7. Clerk’s report
a. The Clerk acknowledged that emails regarding a street name had been sent to all Councillors for consideration should a formal application be received.
b. A 1 ton bag of salt/grit will be delivered to the cemetery on 12 December.
8. Chairman’s report
The Chairman reiterated the success of the Christmas event.
9. Finance report:
a. Payments approved at this meeting: £
i. Salaries (November) 1058.17
ii. Clerks expenses (November) 83.68
iii. Reconomy (Cemetery Skip - November) 46.20
iv. Bolingbroke Deanery (Dec/Jan magazine) 96.00
v. Malc Firth Landscapes (Play Area grass cutting) 63.50
vi. Haines Watts (PAYE work) 27.60
vii. Flying Imp (Paper for magazines) 62.82
viii. Festive Lights (Christmas lights and battery pack) 432.60
ix. E L Arnold (Batteries - Buyabattery) 37.73
x. E L Arnold (Batteries – Amazon) 23.99
xi. E L Arnold (Battery Packs – Festive Lights) 31.18
xii. K Sherriff (Re-imbursement for Christmas Event) 50.34
xiii. L Edwards (Re-imbursement for Christmas Event) 17.99
b. Payments to be made in January:
i. Salaries (December) 1057.97
ii. Reconomy (Skip hire – December 46.20
iii. Haines Watts (PAYE work) 27.60
iv. Malc Firth Landscapes (Cemetery tree work) TBA
v. Amboral (Play area bins x 2) 699.60
(If the Councillors Community Grant is received)
c. The balances in bank at 30 November: Current account £25.209.44
Pension account £7,389.73
10. To discuss the paving at the bench at Horbling Lane/Main Road
a. A quote to have the work done has been sought in preparation for the budget, the amount estimated is around £1280.00.
b. The paving will be ‘council’ slabs and will also be placed under the seat.
c. Following discussion and considering the length of time it has taken, it was resolved to ask the contractor to carry out this work.
11. To discuss the draft budget ready to set the precept for 2026//2027
a. The Clerk presented the new figures following the amendments made at the last meeting and the increase in expected spending to 31 March 2026.
b. It was resolved to use Cemetery Reserves to pay for the repairs to the chains around the Garden of Remembrance, which have been vandalised, and the remaining reserves will be used towards the re-surfacing of the cemetery footpath.
c. It was also resolved to have £4500 to keep in the deposit account for general reserves. The guidance is to hold up to 1½ times the amount of the annual precept in general reserves, the Parish council currently hold £10,000. This will be built up over the coming years due to coming changes at both County and District level – more jobs may be passed to the Parish Council.
d. With the above changes made it was proposed by Cllr Jones, seconded by Cllr Burton and all agreed that the precept be set at £40,000.00.
e. The paperwork will be completed when it is received in January.
12. Planning applications received
The Parish Council supported the following planning application:
03429/25/FUL - Mr & Mrs C McKinlay - Erection of a dwelling and pole barn to replace existing static caravan and shed on site at Charnwood, West Fen Lane
Objections were made regarding the following planning application:
03436/25/OUT - Mr K Holland - Outline erection of 3 properties at Land off Main Road
Concerns were raised regarding the flooding of this land and the access onto the Main Road
03612/25/RES - Mr & Mrs L Brittain - Reserved matters relating to the erection of 2 dwellings
(outline permission S/169/00087/23) at Land rear of Longfields, Main Road
Flooding is an existing issue on this site, conditions are required to take this into consideration.
13. To report planning decisions received from ELDC
The appeal against the refusal of planning ref S/169/00145/25 at The Beeches, Main Road has been dismissed.
14. To discuss over-hanging tree at the War Memorial
a. The yew trees are overhanging the War Memorial.
b. Following discussion it was resolved to ask Malc Firth Landscapes to cut these trees back.
15. To receive update regarding gov.uk email addresses
a. The Clerk reported that there is an issue with the Microsoft account and this has to be resolved before any further work can be done regarding the email addresses.
b. The problem arose after completion of the work to get the gov.uk email addresses.
16. To discuss proposed cycle route from Stickney to Sibsey Northlands
County Cllr Hume has been given two copies of the proposed cycle route as requested nothing has been heard since.
17. Highways:
a. To discuss the Community Speed Watch Scheme
Letters have been sent to the volunteers asking for them to contact the Clerk, nothing has been received.
b. Any other highways issues
i. The works to the footways at Horbling Lane are creating vehicles to churn up the grass verges on the opposite side of the road.
ii. The glass has not been replaced in the defibrillator box.
iii. Parking on the footpath and the grass verges at Main Road is an issue.
18. Play area report
a. To receive Play Area report
i. There are no issues with the equipment at this time.
ii. The litter needs to be collected and moved to the cemetery skip/bins. ELDC used to empty the bins, but no longer seem to do this.
b. To receive update regarding new bins
An email was received today regarding the Councillors Community Grant application
completed in October stating a finish date for the project as being the end of November. ELDC have been advised that the bins will be purchased and sited when the grant has been received.
19. To discuss having a handyman – duties to perform and hours
a. The Handyman will be self-employed and hold public liability insurance.
b. Duties to be performed include:
i. Emptying the play area bins and checking play area equipment
ii. Keeping the cemetery and churchyard tidy and sweeping the Church footpath
iii. Moving the 30mph signs when required
iv. Other tasks in agreement with the Parish Council
v. Reporting any issues to the Clerk
c. The hours will be two hours per week and remuneration will be discussed with the applicants
d. Applications will be to the clerk via email.
20. Correspondence received for this meeting
There was no correspondence received for this meeting
21. Matters for the next agenda
There were no matters for the next agenda
22. Date of next meeting
05 February 202 at 7.30pm – Parish Council Meeting with a Public Forum from 7.15pm at the Youth Centre, Hall Lane
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.55pm