2025 Parish Council Meetings

Notes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 4th November 2025 at 7.30 pm.

Present: Parish Cllrs S Poulton, J Stapleton, P Ireland, E Hill and S Jenkins and Cllr D East -LCC-, Cllrs S Tarry and C Collard -NKDC-, two members of the public and Mrs D Scott -Clerk-.

In the Public Forum, prior to the business of the meeting, two members of the public expressed their concerns about new fences that had been erected near the corner of Fen Road. The land ownership issue was a concern, although not a matter for the Parish Council or District Council, but a risk of obstructing vehicles, especially wider agricultural vehicles and HGVs, negotiating the corner and the potential for damage to the fence and/or vehicles was noted. The residents had reported the matter on FixMyStreet.

104/25 Welcome – Cllr Poulton welcomed everyone to the meeting.

105/25 Apologies for absence – none

106/25 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

107/25 Notes of the Meeting held on 2nd September 2025 – approved and signed.  

108/25 Finance 2025-26

1. Mrs Scott had shared the updated financial statements noting payments made since the last meeting, including the payment of £50 to LCC for the Community Speedwatch Membership, as previously agreed, bank charges and receipts of interest on the IA account. The balance in the current account was £618.61 and Savings Account £4709.61
2. Payments including Clerk £304.36 -September and October, including expenses -reimbursement of travel, stationery etc-, HMRC £73.00 -mth 7 due 19/11/25- and Little Hale Chapel £60.00 -invoice not yet received- were approved.
3. Banking – It was noted that Cllr Poulton had been upgraded to a Full Authorised Signatory with online access.
4. Cybersecurity – Mrs Scott shared details of 8 quotes received for the .gov.uk email and domain names. After discussion it was agreed that the free service offered by Parish Online to provide a clerk@ email and domain was the most cost-effective and would ensure that the Parish Council was compliant with the current Practitioners’ Guidance -Assertion 10 on the 2026 AGAR-. It was noted that the current website, provided by LCC, was already compliant. Mrs Scott to make the arrangements with Parish Online.
5. Budget 2026-27. Mrs Scott had shared an early draft of estimated expenditure for the current year and 2026-27, for discussion at the January meeting

109/25 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.

1. Newsletters from LALC, LCC, NKDC, EA - noted
2. Updates from Cllrs Tarry and Collard – Mareham Lane Solar Ltd’s application -23/1419/FUL- had been refused by NKDC but was now at the Planning Inspectorate for an Appeal, with a Hearing set for 3rd February 2026 at NKDC offices. Attendance could be registered through NKDC and further comments could be submitted by 18th November; Local Government Reorganisation – NKDC’s survey had 5.5k responses, thanks to all that took part; Council Tax Support – annual consultation was ongoing; Travellers on Little Hale Fen – ongoing, Cllrs questioned whether the delay was acceptable. See below.

Cllrs Tarry and Collard left the meeting.

3. Updates from Cllr East – LCC survey on Lincs Recycling Centres is ongoing, along with other surveys see LetsTalkLincolnshire; North Hykeham bypass has been signed off by the government; Heckington Ward Parish Clerks’ WhatsApp group – details shared with Mrs Scott.
4. NKDC Town and Parish Councils’ briefing 6th November – Mrs Scott to attend
5. NKDC Community Champion Awards - noted
6. LCC Winter Salt Offer – Cllr Ireland to check condition of current stock with Mrs Rooke.
7. Updates from HealthWatch Lincs – noted.
8. Citizens Advice Mid Lincs – Donation request declined.
9. Root-Power – approach re Solar Farm – Mrs Scott explained that the company believed the land was in the Parish Council’s ownership. Mrs Scott to forward email to Cllr Ireland to check the site location. No response had been received from the Charities.
10. Lloyds Bank Statements - noted.

110/25 Policy Reviews – deferred to the next meeting.

111/25 Policing Update –The recording of the NSK Policing Team meeting on 16th September had been shared.

112/25 Highways Matters

1. Flooding – the effectiveness of recent works had not yet been fully tested.
2. FixMyStreet – recent reports regarding the drain by the entrance to 26 Main Road not being recognised by the LCC drain cleaning team were still awaiting an acceptable response. Cllr East kindly agreed to follow up with Highways.
3. Speeding – Cllr Jenkins advised that the LRSP team installing speed-check devices had assured him that now the fee had been paid the 30 mph passive signs requested would be delivered to his home within the next few days.
4. Fencing on Fen Road – the Parish Council’s concerns about the risks to the fencing and vehicles negotiating the corner were noted.

113/25 Streetlights – no problems were reported.

114/25 Planning Matters

1. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – as above. Cllr Poulton agreed to call the Enforcement officer for an update.
2. Planning Application 25/0809/HOUS Loft conversion to provide first floor living accommodation with associated new window to the northern elevation, a new French door with Juliette balcony to southern elevation and rooflights to eastern elevation -part retrospective- Cornerstones 29B Fen Road NG34 9BD – approved by NKDC 4th September - noted
3. Planning Application 25/0839/FUL Proposed single storey custom self-build dwelling. Land Adjacent To 2 Fen Road NG34 9BD – approved by NKDC 16th September - noted
4. Planning Application 25/0914/BGS To establish Biodiversity Gain Site -without Planning permission- to create orchard and other neutral grassland. Land To The North Of Little Hale Drove NG34 9BG – decision awaited.
5. Planning Application Reserved matters application for the erection of 1no dwelling -appearance, landscaping, layout & scale- pursuant to outline consent 23/0587/OUT – Outline application for a proposed dwelling with landscaping for consideration. Land Adj 21 Chapel Lane Little Hale NG34 9BE – already withdrawn – noted
6. Little Hale Fen Solar Farm – noted that the land appeared to have been grassed.

115/25 Planning Inspectorate

1. Anglian Water – proposed Reservoir – it was noted that a public meeting was planned for 27th November at Scredington, more information was being sought.
2. Beacon Fen Solar Farm – Development Consent application ongoing https://www.beaconfenenergypark.co.uk/the-project/

https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010151 - noted.

116/25 CIL Funded Projects  - Gateway signs – Cllr Poulton reported that he and Cllrs Ireland and Stapleton had measured up the two potential sites and confirmed that ‘gates’ up to 4ft wide would fit. He would go back to the supplier and ask for a definite quote. He would also follow up with the Highways Team about the regulations. It was noted that a utilities search would be required to check locations of underground cable etc. In answer to questions Mrs Scott explained that the insurance company would need to be informed but there was unlikely to be extra premium to pay.

117/25 Defibrillator – Training – the date of Saturday 10th January was agreed, either morning or afternoon, depending on the Chapel’s availability. Cllr Hill to check and, when confirmed, the event to be promoted on facebook, the website and the Notice Board.

118/25 Pump Lane - Cllr Poulton agreed to reprint the signage; there had been a good crop of apples.

119/25 Bus Shelter Working Party – a date was not set.

120/25 Parish Council Communications - Website – statistics noted

121/25 Burial Board – Mrs Scott updated the meeting on the current constitution discussions and added that a member of the public had stepped forward to fill the vacancy created by Mr Needham’s resignation.

122/25 Matters for the next meeting – usual annual standing items, Policies for approval Draft Budget for 2026-27, Fence on Fen Road, Burial Board

123/25 The Dates of Meetings for 2025-26, as agreed, 6th January 2026, 3rd March, 5th May at 7.45 pm, with Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30 pm                                         

The meeting closed at 8.40 pm.