2025 Minutes

Great Hale Parish Council

Notes taken at the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on

Monday, 12th May 2025 at 7.30pm at Hale Magna Village Hall

Present:        Councillor N Turner    (Chairman)
                     Councillor G Cooke MBE (Vice-Chairman)
                     Councillor M Barnatt        
                     Councillor J Cope
                     Councillor N Dady
                     Councillor L Mountain

                     District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District Council)
                        
Apologies:        Councillor A Broom
                         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 wished to bring up the ongoing flooding issue and the lack of communication between all the authorities to future proof the properties in the area.  He said that he is being interviewed by the BBC on Thursday regarding the issue.

He further wished to ask about the grass cutting on 3 patches on Orchard Close.
    
Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.19pm

Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.19pm

Official Business of the Council

1.    To elect Chair and Vice Chair and sign the declaration of acceptance of office (25/21)  

It was proposed, seconded and unanimously resolved for Cllr Nicholas Turner to remain as Chair and for Cllr Grahame Cooke to remain as Vice-Chair. Acceptance forms of office were signed.

Action:  Clerk to file acceptance forms.

2.    Apologies (25/22)

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Broom. Absence was noted from DC Tarry.

3    Previous meeting held on Monday 7th April 2024 (25/23)

It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 7th April 2025 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.

4    Clerk’s Report (25/24)

    Internal audit completed
    AGAR form completed
    Election information placed on boards and website 
    Email communication with Highways regarding grass cutting
    Communication with Churchyard tree contractor
    Filed previous years Parish business
    Set up new file for 2025/26
    Letter to resident as per April’s meeting
    Wicksteed park inspection booked (no date yet)
    Attended the Town and Parish meeting at NKDC with Cllr Cooke
    Asset register updated and new figure on the AGAR form
    Communication regarding trim trail and lottery funding

5.    To receive declarations of interests under the localism act 2011 (25/25)
    
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Item 9

6.    To receive reports from County and District councillors (25/26)
    
DC Collard was in attendance and gave an Anglian Water Reservoir update.  The pre application phase has been extended by 2 years. 
Currently, the survey programme is now commencing, this includes ecology and ground surveys.  There will be further ongoing liaison with landlords.  There should be minimal disturbance and the works compound is on Mareham Lane.  The working team will use SUVs with trailers.  There are further consultations planned for 2026/7 with submission of plans in 2028 and this will be discussed at the next Community Group Meeting.

WW2 Veterans Lunch on Monday 23rd June 2025
NKDC have made an ‘Invitation to Lunch’ for WW2 Veterans.  Also, they are requesting any person who does not already have a forces ‘Veterans Badge’ to apply before Friday 16th May and this will be presented at the Veterans Lunch.  Closing date for individuals who served in WW2 and would like to attend the lunch only is Friday 6th June and Veterans may take one guest in attendance.  Further information can be obtained from: 015259 414155 or email the Partnership team on armed forces@n-kesteven.gov.uk

Flooding – Orchard Close
Cllr Turner asked DC Collard about the flooding report that had been received from the Environment Agency regarding the closure of the Boston Pumping Station and its effect on flooding in local areas. DC Collard said that she had received a different document and would be sending it to the Clerk.
    
7    Planning Applications (25/27)

(7.1)    Planning Application Reference: 

    Town and country planning general permitted development order 1995, Schedule 2, parts 6 and 7 – Application for prior notification of agricultural or forestry development
    Proposal: Extension to existing grain store in the yard
    Location: Rookery Farm, Leas Road, Great Hale

There were no objections from any Councillors on these planning applications.

8.    To review and amend where necessary the Councils’ Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and other policies.

These had been sent out to Councillors to read prior to the meeting. There are no changes to be made to the policies other than the date. Cllr Turner proposed that the Standing orders, Financial Regulations and other polices are all re-adopted.  Cllr Dady seconded this and it was unanimously agreed.

Action: Clerk to update the dates.  To put onto the website.
    
9    Finance matters 

(9.1)    To approve the April 2025 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (25/28)
    
Council approved the April 2025 bank reconciliation and acknowledged the spend to date.

(9.2)    To approve accounts for payment (25/29)
    
It was unanimously resolved to approve all accounts for payment.

(9.3)    To review the internal auditors’ comments (25/30)
Cllr Turner read these. The auditor said that ‘the books are in good order and that she has no concerns’

(9.4)    To complete via vote the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 (Section 1) of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (25/31)

    The Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 (section 1) of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return were read out and signed where appropriate.

    
(9.5)    To approve the Accounting Statements 2024/25 (Section 2) of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return and the end of year bank reconciliation (25/32)

    The Accounting Statements 2024/25 (section 2) of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return and the end of year bank reconciliation were completed and were unanimously approved and agreed.
 
Action: Clerk to scan the AGAR forms, redact the signatures and submit to the external auditor..  Clerk to place forms on the website and boards.

10    Highway matters for discussion and resolution 

(10.1)    Portable speed sign (25/33)

Cllr Cooke downloaded all the data from the speed sign.  He said that where the sign faces the traffic, speeds are much lower.  With the current traffic lights on Little Hale Road, speeds are good at the moment.

(10.2)    Highways – any other issues (25/34)

    Cllr Cooke addressed the question raised by the Member of the Public in the public open forum.  The three areas of grass on Orchard Close had been looked at by the Clerk and Cllr Cooke.  It is an area of Parish Council responsibility and the grass cutter has been asked to cut these areas, which he has now done.  2 local residents were informed.
    
11.    Orchard Green for discussion and resolution 
    
(11.1)    To receive update on Orchard Green inspections (25/35)

    Cllr Barnatt undertook this inspections. The field is good and it is being used by the children to play football.  Cllr Barnatt said he had mended the wire fence a number of times but it is constantly being taken down by individuals retrieving footballs.  Today was the worst for litter but it has been generally good.  We will keep monitoring the fence situation and mending where appropriate.
    
Action:  Cllr Cope to undertake park inspections this month

(11.2)     Siting for new trim trail (25/36)

The funding for the Trim Trail has been received from the National Lottery.  The Trim Trail is in production at the moment.  We now need to plan where the Trim trail is to go in the park.

Action:  To find out the size and then arrange a site meeting with Councillors.

12    Other matters for discussion and resolution (25/37)
 
(12.1)  Churchyard tidy up (25/38)

A date for Councillors to undertake their annual ‘tidy up’ of the Churchyard was discussed.  The first available date for Councillors was Saturday 14th June.This date was provisionally booked. 

    Action: Clerk to liaise with Churchwarden

(12.2)     Insurance – policy renewal (25/39)

The Insurance renewal has been received.  There is a small increase on last year’s premium.  It was unanimously agreed to renew the policy.

Action: Clerk to renew the policy.

(12.3) Trim trail siting (25/40)

    As 11.2

(12.4) Bench for park (25/41)

The Parish Council currently has one bench available for siting.  It was suggested to replace the Millenium bench on the green as this is covered in tree sap and lichen.  Alternatively, it could be sited in the Park.

Action: Clerk and Cllr Cooke to look at the Millenium bench to assess the condition. 
    
(12.5) Wicksteed inspection (25/42)

The Clerk has booked a park inspection with Wicksteed.  Prior to the inspection there are some repairs that need to be undertaken.  It was suggested that these repairs are undertaken on 14th June (provisionally)

13    Future Agenda Items (25/43)

(13.1)    Trim Trail siting
(13.2)    Churchyard tidy up
(13.3)  Spare bench
     
14    Date and place of next meeting (25/44)

Monday 2nd June 2025 @ 7pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.

The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.11pm