Annual Parish Meetings

The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Little Hale held at the Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale, on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 7.30 pm.

Present: Parish Cllrs S Poulton, S Jenkins, P Ireland, J Stapleton, NKDC Cllr C Collard, LCC Cllr D East, five members of the public and Mrs D Scott (Clerk)

1. Councillor Poulton, as Chairman of the Parish Council, welcomed all to the Annual Parish Meeting. Apologies had been received from Cllr E Hill, NKDC Cllr S Tarry.

2. The minutes of the last Annual Parish Meeting, held on 6th May 2025. It was proposed by Cllr Ireland, seconded by Cllr Stapleton and agreed unanimously, that the minutes were an accurate record and were duly signed.

3. Poor Gardens and Land Charities Report

Mrs Nickols presented the report on behalf of the Charities.

LH Land Rents – the Charity had an opening balance of £1562.57 with rent received of £430 during the year. Donations of £75 each had been made to the Chapel and Great Hale Church. Book tokens worth £40 had been given to students.  Other expenditure included the new £4.25 monthly bank charges now imposed by Lloyds.

Poor Gardens – Mrs Nickols explained that the Charity’s opening balance of £9386.38 before rent received of £1574. Distributions during the year were £100 each of four University students, £200 to a Sixth Form Student for travel costs. In December 2025, the annual distribution of £40 each to 18 pensioners had been made at the Coffee Morning. Four further donations of £350 to help with households’ cost of living, especially fuel costs, had been made.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Nickols and the Trustees for their continued support for parishioners.

4. Great Hale and Little Hale Joint Burial Committee

Mr Nickols, as Vice-Chair of the Burial Board and Chair for 2025-26, presented the report. He reminded the meeting that 2025-26 had been very busy for the Trustees, working on re-constituting as a formal Joint Burial Committee. He thanked both Parish Councils for their support and especially Little Hale Parish Council for taking on the lead role. The process was now complete with the exception of the formal registration of the Cemetery grounds with the Land Registry which Chattertons solicitors had in hand.

During the year the Trustees had lost three members, Mr Rooke, Mr R Needham and Mr J Cope but gained three new members, Mr Jenkins and Mr Bennett from Little Hale and Mr A Cope from Great Hale.

There had been three burials, one new plot reservation and two memorial approvals. Income had exceeded costs during the year by approximately £400 with end of year balances being healthy.

The grass cutting contract with Sleaford Town Council had worked well under the dry conditions and had been renegotiated at the same price for the 2026 season. Trustees (now members of the joint Burial Committee) would continue to hold work parties to keep the Cemetery tidy and maintain the trees and shrubs.

He added that urgent work in the cemetery had necessitated a temporary closure recently to reduce damage by rabbits.

It was noted that the Charity now existed as a separate entity with Mr Nickols, Mr H Needham and Mr Bennett as Trustees to manage the Benjamin Ward legacy - £4,305.77 currently held in the Cambridge and County Bank.

Mr Nickols thanked the Parish Council for its support.

5. Parish Council Chairman’s Report.

Cllr Poulton thanked Mrs Nickols and Mr Nickols for their reports. He presented his report, thanking fellow Councillors and the Clerk for their support during the year. He noted that the Parish Council continued to operate on a shoestring, but had been pleased to be able to continue to support parishioners with responding to Planning Applications, and communicating with NKDC and LCC, through the Ward Councillors, on streetlights, flooding and other Highways issues. Councillors present thanked Cllr Poulton for his efforts as Chair.

6. Matters Raised.

There were no matters brought to the meeting.

The meeting closed at 7.38 pm.

The Annual Parish Meeting

of Little Hale will be held at the Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale, on Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 7.30 pm.

All Councillors and residents of the Parish are welcome to attend.

Electors are eligible to vote on matters discussed.

Agenda

1. Welcome and Apologies for Absence

2. To approve the minutes of the last Annual Parish Meeting, held on 6th May 2025

3. To receive the Poor Gardens and Charities Report

4. To receive the Hale Magna and Hale Parva Joint Burial Committee Report and update on the new Joint Burial Committee

5. To receive the report of the Chairman of the Parish Council

6. To discuss any matters raised by Councillors or members of the public including proposals for projects during 2026-27

Steve Poulton

Councillor Steve Poulton, Chairman, Little Hale Parish Council

26th April 2026

ALL WELCOME