2025 Parish Council Meetings

Tuesday 6th May 2025 - Annual Meeting Draft Minutes

Notes of the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held in the Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale on Tuesday 6th May 2025 at 7.45 pm.

Present: Parish Cllrs S Poulton, J Stapleton, P Ireland, E Hill and S Jenkins, and one member of the public and Mrs D Scott - Clerk.

There were no comments or questions from the public.

43/25 The Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman.

It was proposed that Cllr Poulton be elected Chairman, this was agreed unanimously.

It was proposed that Cllr Jenkins be elected Vice-Chairman, this was agreed unanimously.

44/25 Apologies for absence – none

45/25 Declarations of Interest and Applications for Dispensation – none

46/25 Notes of the previous meeting, 4th March 2025 – approved and signed.

47/25 Finance 2024-25 - AGAR

  1. Internal Auditor’s Report – Mrs Gascoyne had reported that the accounts and governance were in good order.
  2. Exemption Certificate 2024-25, for submission to the External Auditor – With an income of £3,047 and gross expenditure of £2,756, both being under the £25,000 threshold, the Exemption Certificate was approved and signed for submission.
  3. Statement of Governance for the year ending 31st March 2025 – approved and signed.
  4. Statement of Parish Council Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2025 – approved and signed.
  5. The statement of variations and bank reconciliation were noted.
  6. Mrs Scott to submit the Exemption Certificate to the Auditors and publish the set of statements and the Notice of Public Rights as required.

48/25 Finance 2025-26

  1. Mrs Scott shared the financial statement. It was noted that the Precept of £3,300 had been received on 1st April and the contribution of £84 towards grass cutting had been made by the Burial Board on 6th May. The balance in the bank was £7,752.11. Mrs Scott explained that, of that, £2,063.94 was restricted to specific projects. Deductions of two monthly charges had now been made by Lloyds. Cllr Poulton checked the statement against the bank statement and signed off the reconciliation.
  2. Payments including Clerk £445.71  - March and April, including expenses - reimbursement of travel, poo bags etc, HMRC £100.20 mth 2 due 19/6/25, Mrs Gascoyne £60 - Internal Audit, Sleaford Town Council £376.80 inc VAT - share of Cemetery Grass Cutting, were approved. Mrs Scott added that the Zurich Insurance premium quote had been received £251.33. It was agreed that this be paid.
  3. Banking
  • Online Mandate Changes – Mrs Scott confirmed that Lloyds had advised that the changes had now been made. Cllr Jenkins had already received his online details from Lloyds in respect of the first change and other Councillors could expect theirs over the next few weeks
  1. Cyber Security. Mrs Scott explained that the 2025-26 AGAR would include a question confirming the use of .gov.uk email addresses. She had approached one company for a quote for setting this up and suggested that the cost of nearly £300 per annum was excessive. She would research further.

49/25 Clerk’s Report and Correspondence, previously shared by email.

  1. Newsletters from LALC, LCC, NKDC, EA – noted.
  2. Updates from Cllrs Tarry and Collard – Cllr Tarry had shared updates on local Policing priorities, NKDC’s Armed Forces Veterans badges and the Lincolnshire Farm Support Programme. Cllr Collard reported on recent updates on the AW Reservoir project and the extension of the pre-application consultation phase, the start of the land ownership, ecology and ground surveys and the potential community benefit fund. She added that the practical survey work would not involve any HGV movements and landowners’ permissions would be sought. Cllr Collard had also attended the Pathfinder consultation event at Swineshead
  3. NKDC – invitation to attend Town and Parish Council Forum 10th April – Mrs Scott to attend
  4. Lloyds Bank Statements – Mr Poulton checked and signed off the statement.

50/25 Policing Update – It was agreed that the link shared by Cllr Tarry should be shared on Facebook.

51/25 Highways Matters

  1. Flooding – It was noted that the report from Section 19 inspection in February to assess the impact of the flooding was not yet available. The website showed the October 2023 investigation as complete but January 2025 as ongoing.
  2. There was no update on the proposed re-commissioning of the Black Sluice Pumps
  3. The dyke at the rear of Parva House had been cleared. Unfortunately attempts to burn the material removed had led to complaints across the village about the smoke from the bonfire.
  4. Speeding - Community Speed Watch – Mrs Scott had shared details of the membership scheme, which for an initial joining fee of £50 would entitle the parish to free passive signage and 30mph stickers, and potentially speed indicator signage or handheld radar speed detection devices, if agreed in future. It was agreed that the Parish Council join the scheme and Mrs Scott was authorised to pay the joining fee
  5. Speeding – In addition to the above it was suggested that the local policing team be asked to carry out a speed check on the road. Mrs Scott to contact Sgt Stuart Mumby-Croft.

52/25 Streetlights – Mrs Scott reported that there had still been no response to the request for the Fen Road lamppost to be re-instated. Cllr Tarry had agreed to investigate.

53/25 Planning Matters

  1. Travellers on Little Hale Fen – it was noted that no action had been taken yet. Proceedings were expected.
  2. Planning Application 24/1265/FUL Erection of 99MW Battery Energy Storage System BESS and associated infrastructure Land Lying to The South of Little Hale Drove Little Hale Fen Sleaford NG34 9BG – It was noted that the application had been approved by NKDC on 14th March
  3. Planning Application 25/0172/FUL Conversion and extension of existing outbuilding to form a single storey self-build dwelling Land Adjacent To 2 Fen Road – it was noted that this was awaiting decision by NKDC

54/25 Planning Inspectorate

  1. Ecotricity, Heckington Fen - Solar Park – it was understood that the approved project was now looking for new owners.
  2. Anglian Water – proposed Reservoir – as discussed above.
  3. Beacon Fen North Solar Farm – no update
  4. Pathfinder Clean Energy (PACE) solar farm and battery energy storage system BESS “Gauntlet Solar Farm & BESS” on land at Swineshead PE20 3PQ – as above
  5. Ossian Transmission – Mrs Scott had attended a webinar.

55/25 CIL Funded Projects – Gateway signs - Cllr Poulton reported that he had found a company to supply suitable ‘gates’, he agreed to contact LCC Highways for information on potential locations and permissions. Mrs Scott had researched potential approved contractors, Cllr Ireland to contact Mr Robinson.

56/25 Defibrillator – New Defib on the Fen – Mrs Scott reported that the Defib had been installed that week by Shock Sleaford on Mr Nickols’ farm building on the Fen.

57/25 Pump Lane – Cllr Stapleton reported that he had carried out a cut using Cllr Jenkins’ mower but rubble had damaged the blade. He asked whether the Parish Council could pay for a replacement blade. This was agreed and Cllr Stapleton would purchase the part on behalf of the Parish Council and be reimbursed.

58/25 Bus Shelter Working Party – It was suggested that a date for this could be agreed during the VE event preparations

59/25 VE Day Event – it was noted that the Tea Party event, on the Chapel drive, taking place on Saturday 10th May, had been publicised and around 38-40 people were expected. Cllr Poulton had purchased bunting and signs and various offers of food, tables, etc had been received. It was noted that Chapel rules meant that no alcohol could be brought on site. It was also noted that the restricted events fund of £17.74 could be used to cover some of the costs.

60/25 Parish Council Communications - Website – It was noted that statistics showed a regular pattern of use, albeit not enormous.

61/25 Matters for the next meeting – usual annual standing items

62/25 The Dates of Meetings for 2025-26 – were agreed as 1st July, 2nd September, 4th November, 6th January 2026, 3rd March, 5th May at 7.45pm, with Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm                                                           

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm.