December DRAFT Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 1st December 2025 at 7pm at Hale Magna Village Hall
Present: Councillor N Turner (Chairman)
Councillor G Cooke MBE (Vice-Chairman)
Councillor M Barnatt
Councillor A Broom
Councillor N Dady
Councillor L Mountain
District Councillor S Tarry (North Kesteven District Council)
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies: County Councillor D East (Lincolnshire County Council)
In attendance: Mrs Tracy Cooke – (Parish Clerk & RFO)
Public Forum
The Public Forum Opened at 7.01pm
There was 1 member of the public present.
The member of the public updated the Parish Council regarding the Gables drains. He said it looks as though the drainage and soakaways have been installed correctly. He continued to say that planning can pass laws but it can’t be checked up on as the Building Control checking is a private enterprise. CC East had a meeting with the County Council and Anglian Water on 5th Dec. He has written to our MP who will be writing to the Head of LCC.
He passed his Christmas greetings to us!
The Chair thanked the Member of the Public for his efforts over the year and for his attendance at the monthly Parish Council meetings.
The Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.04pm
The Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.04pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (25/144)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance. He said it has been a busy month attending the Heckington Area Voluntary Car Service (HAVCS) AGM and a meeting with Cllr Mountain regarding hedges in the churchyard. He also met with the Churchwarden and the grass cutter. He met with Clerk regarding draft budget proposals. He has booked onto a Chair’s workshop.
He welcomed representatives from Great Hale and Little Hale Burial Board.
2. Apologies (25/145)
Apologies were noted from CC East.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 3rd November 2025 (25/146)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 3rd November 2025 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4. To receive declarations of interests (25/147)
Cllr Cooke - Item 10
Cllrs Broom & Barnatt – Item 5
5. Burial Board – to receive an update regarding the Burial Board constitution
In attendance:
Cllr Broom, as Chair of the Great Hale and Little Hale Burial Board,
Debbie Scott – Clerk to Little Hale PC and also the Burial Board.
Steve – Vice Chair Litte Hale PC
Debbie Scott started by giving a brief history of the Burial Board.
Cllr Broom continued. The Parish Council have responsibility for burials supported by both PCs. Funding has been lower recently. They have taken to regularise the situation due to litigation threats, which would fall to trustees. There are 4 trustees from each Parish. Burial Board land is not registered with land registry. The land belongs to both PCs respectively.
The proposal is to design a terms of reference for both PCs which both PCs will need to agree to. These should be ready by 12th Dec. The Burial Board has never had a constitution. It will have no effect on PCs; it will still have 4 parishioners from each village and the Clerk remains. It will have 2 meetings a year which the public can attend.
Cllr Dady asked if the Parish Councils would have liability. Burial Board Clerk–Burial Board has its own insurance.
Cllr Turner – If it becomes a committee, who employs the Clerk? Burial Board Clerk – the Clerk continues to be employed by the joint Burial Board
Cllr Turner asked if we need Legal advice – Burial Board Clerk says that the LALC have advised to go down the joint Burial Board committee route rather than legal.
Draft constitution – The Burial Board Clerk is taking it back to LALC and LALC are seeking advice from NALC
Burial Board Clerk – would like to get constitution passed in January’s meeting or March before new Financial Year.
6 Clerk’s Report (25/148)
Sign ordered and received for park
Cost of 2 x litter bins and call with NKDC re installation
Researching grants for church wall
Emails to resident re hedge
Discussion with grass cutter re hedge trimming
Attended Clerk’s meeting
Attended the Town and Parish Council forum at NKDC with Cllr Cooke
Meeting with Chair re budget
Fencing quotes requested
VAT refund submitted
7. To receive reports from County and District councillors (25/149)
Cllr Tarry – SK /NK LGR proposal has been submitted. Now waiting.
NKDC – changed their reception opening times – Mon-Fri 9-3, no lunchtime closures.
Anglian Water liaison group - reservoir– 2026 – non statutory group. 2027 – statutory meeting.
Lincs Police and Crime commissioner – survey on their website
Cllr Collard – there will be free parking every Saturday during December in Sleaford.
The Sleaford Constitution Management Plan is out for consultation and the document plus a questionnaire is currently on the NKDC website and any comments can be sent to planning@n-kesteven.gov.uk
23/1419/FUL Mareham Lane Solar Array
Following information recently given to the Parish Councils, this plan had been refused by NKDC, was understood to go to appeal in February 2026, as the Planning Inspectorate had determined a ‘Public Inquiry’ would be held.
However, the appellant submitted additional documentation, and those documents were accepted by the Council Planning Committee meeting on 18th November. Therefore, there has been a procedural change from a public inquiry to a written representation. This change has been instigated by the Planning Inspectorate and not NKDC.
As a result, questions / queries or concerns need to be addressed directly to the Planning Inspectorate by the 26th December 2026 via https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk quoting ref: APP/R2520/W/25/3373351(23/1419/FUL)
Cllr Broom asked about the light in the corner of Hall Road / Leas Road. He sent an email to Rowan Smith. The email stated that the streetlight is an NKDC light and this repair will be put on hold. The streetlights are being upgraded but funding is being sought and a repair
Cllr Broom asked - Why is lighting a separate item on the Council tax bill?
8 Planning Applications (25/150)
(8.1) Planning Application Reference:
None received
9 Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Highways – Update on Leas Road footpath (25/151)
The County Councillor was not present. However, he had emailed on the 3rd November copying the Clerk into an email sent to Highways regarding the footpath. No further updates have been received.
(9.2) Highways - any other issues (25/152)
Streetlight – Leas Road / Hall Road
Bedlam Lane – Cllr Turner took some photographs. Queens Road – hedges
Fix my Street
Church Walk – The Church have received a letter from Highways saying that they will take enforcement against the Church for the overgrown hedge. It’s not Church hedge.
The end of the church boundary – is ours.
Cllr Turner – spoken to grass cutter who can address the hedge, but not this side of Christmas. It was proposed and agreed that a small working party would cut back a small area by the gate.
Cllr Barnatt added that potholes on the Fen Road were still a problem.
Action: Working party to address the end of the hedge.
10 Finance matters
(10.1) To approve the November 2025 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (25/153)
Council approved the November 2025 bank reconciliations and acknowledged the spend to date.
(10.2) To approve accounts for payment (25/154)
It was unanimously resolved to approve all accounts for payment.
11 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
(11.1) To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (25/155)
Cllr Turner said that everything is fine. A bin lid flew off, which he replaced. The grass is a little long but the weather too bad and the grass cutter’s machinery is in for servicing.
Action: Next month – Cllr Turner
12 Other matters
(12.1) The Gables Drainage (25/156)
As per open forum
Action:
(12.2) HAVCS Grant application (25/157)
The Clerk has received a Grant application from HAVCS. Cllr Turner also attended the HAVCS AGM recently.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed to grant £250
Action: To display the HAVCS poster on FB and pay the grant.
(12.3) Budget / Precept (25/158)
The Clerk and Chair met last week to look at the 2026/27 budget. The Clerk had printed the relevant spreadsheet page. Each line was gone through and agreed with Councillors.
(12.4) Hedges in the Churchyard (25/159)
Cllrs Turner and Mountain met with the resident adjoining the Churchyard last week regarding the boundary on the NE is the end of the Church wall. Cllr Turner met with the Parish Council grass cutter today. There is a lot of growth on the Churchyard side. The cutter can cut back the hedge line but can’t do the larger work.
Cllr Mountain proposed getting the work done fully in one go. Cllr Cooke agreed.
Action: Clerk to contact tree surgeons to obtain quotes.
(12.5) Litter Bins (25/160)
The Clerk is waiting to hear back from NKDC regarding concrete and installation of the new bins. She had a missed call from then when out last week and will ring again.
Action: Clerk to contact NKDC
(12.6) Councillor Co-option (25/161)
Cllr Broom has been approached by a Parishioner who may be interested in becoming a Parish Councillor. He has told the Parishioner to contact with the Clerk via email.
(12.7) Emergency planning – working with neighbouring parishes (25/162)
The Clerk attended a meeting of local Clerks.
Cllr Turner attended an emergency planning meeting in Lincoln. It is currently voluntary but we are encouraged to work together.
Action: Clerk to feedback from Clerk’s group.
12 Future agenda items (25/163)
(12.1) HR Committee
(12.2) Parish resilience
(12.3) Budget / precept
(12.4) Donation to St Barnabus Hospice / Marie Curie in memory of Cllr John Cope
13 Date and place of next meeting (25/164)
Monday 5th January 2026 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and wished everyone a happy Christmas and New Year. He closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.44pm