March DRAFT Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 2nd March 2026 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)
Apologies: County Councillor D East (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor C Collard (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 was in attendance and said he had an update regarding progress with the Gables. He has been in contact with the Assistant Director of Highways. He asked that the Parish Council follows up the letter she had sent. The member of the public questioned the wording in the letter and asked that we chase this up.
The Chairman closed the Public Open Forum at 7.03pm
The Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.03pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (25/211)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance. He said that the agenda was quite full and a lot to discuss.
2. Apologies (25/212)
Apologies were noted from CC East and DC Collard.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 2nd February 2026 (25/213)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 2nd February 2026 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4. To receive declarations of interests (25/214)
Cllr Cooke - Item 10
Cllr Broom & Cllr Barnatt – Item 9.1
5. Clerk’s Report (25/215)
All documents for new Cllr sent to NKDC / LALC / website
New SIM received and set up in new phone
Asset register updated
HMRC – VAT Return 2/3
Grit bin update from Highways – email to resident who had requested one
Churchyard hedges cut – spoke to workmen on day 1. Emails to resident / Churchwarden
Additional park fencing quotes
Information on noticeboards & bins
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (25/216)
DC Tarry asked if we had all received a copy of One NK newsletter. She said there would be a 2.96% increase for Council tax for the NKDC element.
Cllr Turner asked (following up on the member of the Publics question in the open Public forum) why bins are being collected from The Gables if it is an unadopted road. Cllr Tarry will investigate.
7 Planning Applications (25/217)
(7.1) Planning Application Reference: 26/0126/FUL
Proposal: Change of use and conversion from Class E(shop) to dwelling, including the addition of a second floor and single storey side extension.
Location: 8 Grove Street Great Hale Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9JY
There were no comments to be made from Councillors.
8 Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(8.1) Highways (25/218)
The Chairman asked Cllr Broom if he had had any further contact with the residents of The Gables regarding drains and the problems. He said that he had not but encourages them to complain and investigate where they can.
The Member of the Public in attendance had provided the Clerk with a letter from the Assistant Director of Highways to our MP.
Cllr Broom said that he had approached a professional dog walker today, who was off track and on private land. He had spoken to her, but she was unaware that it was private land.
Cllr Broom asked about pavements in Great Hale. He said that Great Hale pavements are in poor condition and need repairing.
Action: Clerk to contact PCSO & County Councillor (dog walking signs)
Clerk to scan and circulate the letter received from the MP
Clerk to contact County Councillor regarding pavements.
(9) Burial Board Update (25/219)
Debbie Scott sent an updated draft terms of reference for the combined Burial Board. Cllr Broom said that there was a zero cost for legal fees. Cllr Broom asked for it to be the Chairman who signs the new terms of reference.
These were discussed and it was unanimously agreed to adopt them.
Action: To inform Debbie Scott.
10 Finance matters
(10.1) To approve the February 2026 bank reconciliation and spend to date.(25/220)
Council approved the February 2026 bank reconciliations and acknowledged the spend to date.
(10.2) To approve accounts for payment (25/221)
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 (25/222)
Cllr Dady said that all was well in the park and that there was hardly any litter.
The Clerk has sought 2 more quotes for the rear fencing.
Action: Clerk to contact the contractor to ask for a site survey
Action: Next month – Cllr Mountain.
12 Other matters
(12.1) Noticeboards (25/223)
The 3 door notice board was chosen at the last meeting. Colour of the lettering was circulated. It was agreed to have gold lettering. However, with the unexpected Church Clock repairs, it was decided to place ordering the noticeboard on hold until the new financial year.
Action: To place on hold until the new financial year.
(12.2) Church Clock repairs (25/224)
Following the Church clock servicing, several urgent repairs have been reported. The cost of the repairs is quoted as £1900 plus VAT.
It was proposed, seconded and agreed to proceed with the quote.
Action: Clerk to contact Time Assured to proceed.
(12.3) Litter Bins (25/225)
The Clerk has circulated 2 types of bins for the 2 sites agreed in the village.
The size and colour of the bins were discussed.
The majority of Councillors agreed to purchase one large bin in red for the end of Bedlam Lane and one smaller bin in green for Church Street.
Action: Clerk to order bins 1 x Topsy 2000 and 1 x Topsy 65. Clerk to inform NKDC when they are delivered.
(12.4) Churchyard hedges (25/226)
The hedges have all been cut back in the churchyard. The Churchwarden wished to say how pleased they were with the work.
The Chairman believes that the hedge belongs to the resident rather than the Church. The hedge cutting has removed the self-sets from the churchyard side and tidied it up.
Action: Chairman to draft a letter to the resident. Clerk to contact grass cutter to deal with ivy.
(12.5) Asset Register (25/227)
The Clerk has updated the Asset Register. Councillors agreed with the valuations.
Action: Clerk to use the Asset Register figures for the AGAR in May,
(13) Future agenda items (25/227)
(13.1) Zip wire
(13.2) Hedges
(13.3)
(14) Date and place of next meeting (25/228)
Monday 13th April 2026 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending. He closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.15pm