Annual Parish Meetings

The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting of Little Hale held at the Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale, on Tuesday 6th May 2025 at 7.32 pm.

Present: Parish Cllrs S Poulton, P Ireland, J Stapleton, E Hill, S Jenkins, NKDC Cllrs S Tarry and C Collard, four 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.

2. The minutes of the last Annual Parish Meeting, held on 7th May 2024. It was proposed by Cllr Ireland, seconded by Cllr Poulton 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 – Two rents of £215 had been received during the year as usual and donations of £75 each made to the Chapel, Great Hale Church and Parva House. Two £75 book tokens had been given to students.

Poor Gardens – Mrs Nickols explained that two rental incomes of £1574 had been received and distributions had been made in May 2024 to four University students. In December 2024, the annual distribution of £30 each to pensioners had been made at the Coffee Morning. Four further donations of £330 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 Broom, as a Trustee of the Burial Board and Chair for 2024-25, presented the report. He reminded the meeting of the background to the original Burial Board,  the Joint Burial Committee, having taken on the responsibility in the late 1800s of setting up and maintaining the cemetery on behalf of the two parishes. In recent years the Board had been operating as a Registered Charity, but seemingly without a formal constitution. He reported that during the previous year the Trustees had been investigating the formalisation of the Board and, at their last meeting, the Trustees had agreed to establish a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. During the year three Burials had taken place, six memorials approved and one plot reserved for a future burial. The main challenge in 2024 had been the grass cutting, following the resignation at short notice of the then contractor. Since May 2024 the Trustees themselves had been working hard to deliver the grass cutting as well as holding regular practical work parties, but an agreement had now been reached with Sleaford Town Council for the 2025 season. As agreed with the Parish Councils earlier this year, Sleaford Town Council would be invoicing the Parish Councils proportionately and the Burial Board would make a donation to each Parish Council from its income, again proportionately to the number of electors. Trustees would continue to hold work parties to keep the Cemetery tidy and maintain the trees and shrubs. In answer to questions, Mr Broom confirmed that the agreement with Sleaford Town Council was for one year initially, to be re-negotiated from 2025.

Mr Broom thanked the Parish Council for its support.

5. Parish Council Chairman’s Report.

Cllr Poulton thanked Mrs Nickols and Mr Broom for their reports. He presented his report, thanking fellow Councillors and the Clerk for their support during the year. He particularly thanked Cllr Ireland for representing the Parish at the NKDC Planning Meeting about the proposed Solar Farm. The Parish Council would continue to represent the Parish on matters concerning local planning and national infrastructure projects which impact on the Parish and also work with LCC Highways to ensure a fair deal for the Parish, on projects such as the resurfacing of Fen Road, completed earlier this year. Flooding has continued to be an issue and the Parish Council is grateful for local residents, especially Mr Pocklington, for their initiatives to help mitigate the impact of the heavy rain. He pledged that the Parish Council was committed to challenge when challenge was needed, object when objection was required and speak up, when necessary, on behalf of the community, without fear or favour.

6. Matters Raised.

There were no matters brought to the meeting.

The meeting closed at 7.40 pm.

(to be agreed at the next Annual Parish Meeting, May 2026)

The Annual Parish Meeting of Little Hale will be held at the Methodist Chapel, Chapel Lane, Little Hale, on Tuesday 6th May 2025 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 7th May 2024

3. To receive the Poor Gardens and Charities Report

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

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 2025-26

Steve Poulton

Councillor Steve Poulton, Chairman, Little Hale Parish Council

24th April 2025

ALL WELCOME