September DRAFT Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 1st September 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
Apologies: Councillor J Cope
County Councillor D East (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District 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 were 2 members of the public present.
One Member of the Public (MoP) spoke about the Orchard Close flooding. He said he had sought a FOI regarding Building Control, NKDC. He said that the Gables had been signed off but the County Council has yet to adopt the road. He has submitted a FOI request to LCC as well.
He further stated that LCC don’t know where the drains are. CC East verified that there should be a drain from the gate to the field. Anglian Water have yet to inspect with CCTV.
CC East stated that Ian Kane from Place had walked the site and says that the site does not comply. The Member of the Public is upset with Planning.as they appear to be going round in circles. MoP has met with a resident of The Gables to discuss getting a group together to hasten LCC to adopt the road.
Alan Oliver, Area Planning Officer at NKDC has attended the Gables and has raised the matter with the planning enforcement team.
The Chairman closed the Public open forum at 7.08 pm
The Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.08 pm
Official Business of the Council
- Chairman’s Welcome (25/82)
The Chairman hoped that everyone had a lovely summer and welcomed all to the meeting.
- Apologies (25/83)
Apologies were received from Councillor Cope.
Apologies were noted from CC East and DCs Collard and Tarry.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 7th July 2024 (25/84)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 7th July 2025 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4 Clerk’s Report (25/85)
Correspondence with our County Councillor re Leas Road & flooding
Submitted grass cutting agreement
Calls with Paul at Finding Fitness re trim trail installation
Discussion with Jenny Bailey re Queen Elizabeth Gardens grass cutting area
CiLCA Assignments
Emails to Highways re Queen Elizabeth Gardens grass cutting area
Emails re Climbing Wall
Submitted annual litter picking report and applied for grant
5. To receive declarations of interests (25/86)
Cllr Cooke made a declaration of interests on Items 8 and 11.6
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (25/87)
None present.
7 Planning Applications (25/88)
(7.1) Planning Application Reference:
Notification of Planning Committee Meeting
Proposal: Application by Beacon Fen Energy Park Limited for a Development Consent Order for the erection of a 400MW solar photovoltaic farm incorporating up to 600MVA Battery Energy Storage System – BESS - and on-site substation and electrical connection, including solar PV panels; single stacked BESS units; security perimeter fencing; hedgerow improvements; ecological enhancements; above and/or below ground electrical cable connection at up to 400kV; associated development and ancillary works.
Location: Beacon Fen Energy Park Land Approximately 6.5km Northeast Of Sleaford And 2.5km North Of Village Of Heckington
North Kesteven District Council will be considering its consultation response to the above Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project – NSIP - during the Planning Committee meeting being held on 2nd September 2025.
In line with current guidance from government, this meeting is open to the public and starts at 5:00pm in The Council Chamber, North Kesteven Council Offices, Kesteven Street, Sleaford.
It was noted that the public are invited to attend but not speak.
Planning Application Reference: 25/0966/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of single storey side extension
Location: Park View Cottage, Old Main Road, East Heckington, Boston, Lincolnshire
No objections were noted.
8 Finance matters
(8.1) To approve the July & August 2025 bank reconciliation and spend to date. (25/89)
Council approved the July & August 2025 bank reconciliations and acknowledged the spend to date.
(8.2) To approve accounts for payment (25/90)
It was unanimously resolved to approve all accounts for payment.
9 Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(9.1) Highways – any other issues (25/91)
Cllr Cooke had submitted a Fix my Street for the weeds on Church Street, church walls and drains on the 19th August. Highways are assessing the situation.
Cllr Turner had submitted a Fix my Street regrading the tree overhanging the bus shelter. This too was being processed.
(9.2) Update on Leas Road footpath (25/92)
The Clerk received an email from Highways through CC East regarding the Leas Road pavement. Highways state that there is no money for a new pavement due to the lack of residents and absence of accidents.
CC East further suggests that the PC contact the landowner regarding cutting the hedge back to allow increased vision.
Action: Clerk to write to the landowner asking for the hedge to be cut back.
10 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
(10.1) To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (25/93)
Cllr Broom has undertaken the park inspections during July / August. Generally, it has been good but the chain link fence has been damaged further. Some residents have said that the gap in the fence is being used as a ‘convenience’.
Cllr Turner suggested getting some quotes to repair a section of the chain link fence.
Cllr Broom said that the autumn park clear up will remove some of the briars and growth.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed, that the Clerk should seek quotes for metal 8ft palisade fencing.
Action: Next month’s inspections: Cllr Mountain
11 Other matters
(11.1) Orchard Close Flooding (25/94)
The Clerk wrote an email on 8th July 2025 to Planning at NKDC. She outlined the issues that residents on Orchard Close face when it rains heavily and how the drainage at The Gables has exacerbated this. There should be a drain from the south of the Gables into the beck across the field. It would appear that this has not been installed. The Clerk has been in contact with the County Councillor, Highways, Anglian Water and Black Sluice. She has not yet received a reply from Planning and will hasten them tomorrow.
Action: To write to NKDC Planning
(11.2) General Flooding (25/95)
Cllr Dady said that Bedlam Lane floods during periods of heavy rain. The ditches either side have become shallower over time and need to be dug out further.
Action: Cllr Cooke to submit a Fix my Street with photographs
(11.3) Trim trail installation (25/96)
The Trim Trail will be installed in the next couple of months. Councillors asked who would inspect the equipment and check the quality.
Action: Clerk to check with Finding Fitness who would sign off the quality of the installation.
(11.4) Council email addresses (25/97)
NALC have stated that by 1st April 2026, all Parish Councils must use a .gov or a .org email address with the Parish Council owning the domain. The drive for this is coming from the external auditors who every year find that local councils have not completed their AGAR and met the statutory deadlines because clerks / chairs have changed and the email account being used for those person(s) is no longer in use.
As a Council, Great Hale is fully compliant, with our gmail addresses being Parish Council specific. Councillors discussed the ‘need’ for the move and the implications for moving to a .gov or .org email address with the added costs being incurred.
Cllr Broom objected and said that he would refuse to use the .gov or .org address on his home computer.
Action: Clerk to investigate the costs of both .org and .gov email addresses. To object to the apparently unnecessary move.
(11.5) Wicksteed Park Inspection report (25/98)
Cllr Broom said that they would form a Working Party to address some of the issues raised.
There is overhanging vegetation along Orchard Park fence from the dyke side.
Action: Clerk to ask Black Sluice to cut these back as it had been picked up as a Health and Safety Issue in our annual independent park safety inspection.
To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (admission to meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to HR and pay matters.
It was unanimously resolved to move into closed session.
The Chairman closed the meeting and opened the closed session at 8.04pm.
11.6 Clerk’s NALC annual pay increase (25/99)
NALC has produced the new pay scales for 2025/26. The increase in the Clerk’s pay was discussed as per the 3.2% pay rise.
It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed, to approve the 3.2% annual pay rise for the Clerk, backdated to 1st April 2025.
12 Future agenda items (25/100)
(12.1) Publication policy
(12.2) Email addresses
(12.3) The Gables / Orchard Close
14 Date and place of next meeting (25/101
Monday 6th October 2025 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending and closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.15pm