October DRAFT Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 6th October 2025 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall
Present: Councillor G Cooke MBE (Vice-Chairman)
Councillor M Barnatt
Councillor A Broom
Councillor N Dady
Councillor L Mountain
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies: Councillor N Turner (Chairman)
County Councillor D East (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
In attendance: Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk & RFO)
Public Forum
The Public Forum Opened at 7.00pm
There was 1 member of the public present.
The member of the public said that he had been in contact with NKDC regarding fitting flapper valves to the pipes leading into the beck.
NKDC Planning said that plans had been signed off by private company and not NKDC planning / building control.
Black Sluice scythed and exposed the drain and found that the Orchard Close drains are good. The Gables drains have been installed poorly in that the drain comes out at the bottom of the beck and not half way up, which would give the water more space before it backfilled.
Anglian Water will not do anything without LCC adopting the road, and this isn’t likely to happen soon.
The member of the public has submitted a FOI regarding The Copse and the drainage from this new estate.
The Vice-Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.07pm
The Vice-Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.07pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (25/102)
The Vice-Chairman in the Chairman’s absence welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies (25/103)
Apologies were received from Cllr Turner and noted from CC East and DC Tarry.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 1st September 2024 (25/104)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 1st September 2025 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4 Clerk’s Report (25/105)
Correspondence with CC East
CiLCA Assignments
Telephone conversation with resident re hedge
Meeting with Contractor re park fence
Emails re Climbing Wall repairs
Phone calls re new Trim Trail
Email to resident with planning details
Phone call with Jenny Bailey – NKDC re grass cutting QE Gardens
Emails to Planning / enforcement / DCs and CC re the Gables
Emails and liaison with NKDC Monitoring
5. To receive declarations of interests (25/106)
Cllr Cooke declared Item 8
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (25/107)
On September 17th NKDCs ‘Flourishing Communities’ Committee had a very productive meeting with Senior Executives from Anglian Water and the Internal Drainage Board – Black Sluice, attending. Subjects raised concerned planning and drain maintenance, and how the companies are dealing with the issues in ‘At Risk’ areas in the District.
Following flooding at the Red Bridge – Helpringham Eau and over 200 acres across Helpringham Fen, caused by the overtop of Cliffe Beck, North Beck and South Beck – South of Handley Chase, an extensive programme of vegetation clearance, culvert and bank repairs, has been completed. Great Hale Pumping Station has been awarded £30,000 for refurbishment during 2025/26.
All slides from the meeting are currently online through the NKDC website, with minutes from the meeting to follow soon.
D/Cllr Collards continued to say that with a new estate, the drains are the responsibility of the developer until they are adopted. There is no law for the developer to maintain the drains. Following their meeting, it was a unanimous decision to write to Westminster to create a law making developers responsible.
Cllr Broom said that the local Planning Department appear to have very limited powers, with plans being passed and then not enforced when things aren’t right.
7 Planning Applications (25/108)
(7.1) Planning Application Reference:
None Received
8 Finance matters
(8.1) To approve the September 2025 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (25/109)
Council approved the September 2025 bank reconciliations and acknowledged the spend to date.
(8.2) To approve accounts for payment (25/110)
It was unanimously resolved to approve all accounts for payment.
9 Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Highways – any other issues (25/111)
(9.2) Update on Leas Road footpath (25/112)
Following advice from Highways and the County Councillor, the Clerk wrote a letter to the resident who owns the land on the corner of Leas Road and Grove Street asking for them to cut the hedge back to allow pedestrians to walk more safely. The Clerk spoke to the resident who said that they had cut the hedge but didn’t feel that it had made a significant difference. The resident said that the hedge could be flailed but wanted everyone to be aware that this is a messy job and that she had already received complaints from a local resident regarding the part that they had dug up previously.
Action: Clerk to contact the landowner and to thank them for their efforts.
10 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
(10.1) To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (25/113)
Cllr Mountain undertook this month’s park inspections. The back fence has been broken again. She further noted:
Football area – hole in the ground needs filling and re seeding.
Swings – spikes gone from the top
A resident living opposite the park– complained that youths were climbing on the shelter and playing football after 9pm. He asked for us to display notices asking people not to climb on the shelter or play football later in the evening.
Action: Clerk to investigate a metal sign asking park users to be respectful of residents.
Cllr Broom has installed the new bench at the end of the Park with the help of a Great Hale resident – Mr P Pocklington. The Council wished to extend their thanks to Mr Pocklington for his help.
Action: Next month’s inspections: Cllr Dady. Clerk to write to Mr Pocklington to thank him for his help. Clerk to research a metal sign to be put up in the park with a £100 cap.
11 Other matters
(11.1) The Gables Drainage (25/114)
The Clerk has been in communication with many agencies regarding The Gables drainage including – Black Sluice, Planning and enforcement at NKDC and the County Councillor – who has been proactive in speaking with Black Sluice and Anglian Water.
Cllr Mountain said that no drains had been dug across the playing field from The Copse and that this could further be impacting the drains on Orchard Close.
Action: To find out where the drains from the Copse go to. To find out who should be fitting the flapper valves.
(11.2) Council Email Addresses (25/115)
The Clerk has been discussing this issue with other Clerks and the LALC. Whilst the LALC and the NALC are stating that .gov and .org email addresses are the way ahead, many Councils are saying that they conform to the new Assertion 10 on the 2025/26 AGAR with their council specific gmail addresses.
Action: To leave gmail address at the moment.
(11.3) New policies (25/116)
3 new policies have been drafted by the Clerk on the advice of the LALC. These are a: Publication Policy, Freedom of Information and an IT Policy. These were discussed and it was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed for the policies to be adopted.
Action: Clerk to send to Webmaster for the website.
(11.4) Hedges in the Churchyard (25/117)
A resident neighbouring the Churchyard has written to the Clerk stating that hedges are overgrown and are quite high. He is happy to cut his side and the top but said that the churchyard side needed attention.
Cllr Barnatt questioned who owned the hedge and thinks that it might be the resident.
Action: Clerk – to investigate ownership of hedge
(11.5) Remembrance Wreath or equivalent (25/118)
Last year we purchased a wreath to be laid in Great Hale Church on Remembrance Day. The Wreath is still at the Church and can be re-used without buying a duplicate. However, Councillors still wished to donate to the RBL but without the additional plastic.
Action: To send £25 donation to RBL
(11.6) Litter Bins (25/119)
Cllr Broom said that there are not enough litter bins in the village and rubbish accumulates particularly on Leas Road and Bedlam Lane. It was proposed to investigate the price of 2 additional bins too be placed at the top of Chapel Lane / Leas Road and at the end of Bedlam Lane / Heckington Road.
Action: Clerk to research the cost of bins and contact NKDC re collections.
(11.7) Councillor Resignation (25/120)
Following the resignation of Cllr Cope, Councillors were unanimous in their wish for him to be thanked formally for his work with the Parish Council over many years. The Vice-Chairman asked the Clerk to write a thank you letter for the Chairman to sign.
Action: Clerk to draft a letter for the Chairman.
12 Future agenda items (25/121)
(12.1) Motorbikes
(12.2)
(12.3)
13 Date and place of next meeting (25/122)
Monday 3rd November 2025 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.14pm