April DRAFT Minutes
Great Hale Parish Council
Notes taken at Parish Council Meeting held on
Monday, 13th April 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
County Councillor D East (Lincolnshire County Council)
District Councillor C Collard (North Kesteven District Council)
Apologies: 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.
One Member of the Public was in attendance and said he wished to follow up on why the bin lorries are going down the Gables to empty their rubbish. He said that he would submit a FOI request to find out if he did not receive an answer from NKDC.
The Chairman closed the Public Open Forum at 7.02pm
The Chairman opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.02pm
Official Business of the Council
1. Chairman’s Welcome (26/01)
The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Apologies (26/02)
Apologies were noted from DC Tarry.
3 Previous meeting held on Monday 2nd March 2026 (26/03)
It was unanimously agreed that the draft minutes from the meeting held on 2nd March 2026 were a true record. The Chairman duly signed the minutes.
4. To receive declarations of interests (26/04))
Cllr Cooke - Item 10
5. Clerk’s Report (26/05)
Communication with Time Assured – deposit paid
Village bins ordered, received and collected by NKDC
Insurance form submitted
Audit with internal auditor
AGAR form completed
Year end finance closed and new spreadsheet 2026/27 opened
HMRC closed and new year opened
Contact with NKDC for more dog fouling posters
Emails with Debbie Scott re assets and insurance
Emails with CC / Highways
Emails with fence company
Emails regarding zip wire servicing
6. To receive reports from County and District councillors (26/06)
DC Collard said that DC Tarry has been in touch with the waste department regarding the Gables. She was chasing it and hoped to have an answer soon.
She continued to say that there will be a Celebration of military service and for people to apply for their Veteran’s badge. This will be hosted at NKDC Sleaford in the Council Chamber, with lunch provided. This is a ticketed event and the closing date for applications is 8th May 2026.
There will be more Celebrations with a Community Armed Forces Open Day held in the council Chambers on Wednesday 24th June 2026, which will also mark ‘Reservists Day’ – this event is free to attend.
For all details, contact the Armed Forces Events page through the NKDC website on armedforces@n-kesteven.gov.uk or contact the Council’s Partnership Team on 01529 414155.
CC East said that there is a Councillor Volunteer Scheme (CVS) which offers 2 days of free labour. He also said there is £200 for small projects, which we can apply for.
Cllr Broom suggested asking for money towards the baby seats at the park.
Cllr Barnatt suggested the CVS for the railings and gates at the Cemetery.
He is still working on the Gables / Orchard Close.
Cllr Turner asked about the Leas Road pavement. CC East said that there is the potential for the path.
Cllr Turner continued to say that the passing places on the fen road and Carter Plot are becoming worse.
7 Planning Applications (26/07)
(7.1) Planning Application Reference:
Proposal: No new plans submitted this month
8 Highway matters for discussion and resolution
(8.1) Highways (26/08)
Pavements in Great Hale are very poor in places. Rowan Smith is coming for a walk around on 5th May at 1.30pm. Clerk will attend to take notes, with Cllrs Turner and Spittles.
Cllr Spittles noted that the signpost by the nursery is bent. Cllr Cooke said to use Fix my Street when reporting this.
(9) Burial Board Update (2526/09)
The new joint burial parish committee have a full committee. Land Registry is currently outstanding but is going through.
Action: Clerk to meet with Debbie Scott
10 Finance matters
(10.1) To approve the March 2026 bank reconciliation and spend to date.(26/10)
Council approved the March 2026 bank reconciliations and acknowledged the spend to date.
(10.2) To approve accounts for payment (26/11)
It was unanimously resolved to approve all accounts for payment.
The cost for Great Hale Parish Council to join the LALC training scheme is £174. Councillors were asked to look at training opportunities before the next meeting before paying.
11 Orchard Green for discussion and resolution
(11.1) To receive an update on Orchard Green Inspections (26/12)
Cllr Mountain said it has been a tricky month. A neighbouring member of the public said that children have been urinating in the park and cutting down the pigeon spikes and the road signs. A lady asked if we would do something about the baby swings as they are very dirty. Another member of the public also asked about the bungalow next to the park. Cllr Mountain said that she asked someone to remove their dog from the park. She has replaced a number of the spikes with thicker tie wraps.
Action: Clerk to write to residents giving them contact details for the Asbo team at NKDC
Action: Clerk to contact PCSO
Action: Clerk to investigate new baby swings
Action: Clerk to order new pigeon spikes.
Next month – Cllr Barnatt
12 Other matters
(12.1) Litter Bins (26/13)
The village bins were ordered from Glasdon and delivered to the Clerk’s address. NKDC have collected them and will be installing them.
(12.2) Church Clock repairs (26/14)
The Church clock repair quote was received and accepted. The Clerk has paid the initial deposit of 40% plus VAT and the work will be undertaken in June / July.
(12.3) GDPR Training (26/15)
The Clerk sent Councillors a link to the ICO website with GDPR training. All Councillors have undertaken the training or have done equivalent training in their workplaces. All Councillors and the Clerk completed the GDPR checklist for Clerk to file.
Action: Clerk to file.
(12.4) Dog bin volumes (26/16)
Cllr Broom reported that the dog waste bins on Leas Road / Hall Road were overflowing and had not been emptied. He contacted NKDC and DC Tarry. The bin has since been emptied. The bins are well used and often full. Cllr Cooke suggested moving a larger, but less utilised dog waste bin from elsewhere in the village.
Action: Ask for stickers for the bins with contact number. To move the bin and purchase new jubilee clips.
(12.5) Zip wire (26/17)
Cllr Mountain said that children are climbing on the higher rail to get more momentum on the zip wire. She told them not to do so for their safety.
The Clerk has contacted 3 companies for quotes to service the park zip wire.
It was unanimously resolved to approve the Kompan quotation.
Action: Clerk to ask Kompan to undertake the zip wire inspection
(12.6) Hedges (26/18)
Cllr Turner has drafted a letter to the resident. He read it out and all Councillors agreed to send it.
The Clerk had been in contact with the grass cutter regarding ivy in the churchyard near to the hedge line. He quoted £130 for a day’s work to remove the ivy.
Cllr Cooke proposed, and It was unanimously resolved to approve the grass cutter’s quotation.
Action: Clerk to ask the grass cutter to remove the ivy.
(12.7) Park signage (26/19)
Cllr Spittles identified that in Heckington Park there are signs saying that use is that the users ‘own risk’. He felt that perhaps we should have one.
Cllr Cooke suggested that the park noticeboard should be an information board. All agreed.
Action: Clerk to ask the LALC whether we should have a sign.
(12.8) APM / APCM
The Clerk has invited the Churchwarden and the Secretary / Treasurer to the APM in May. Both have replied saying that they are away but would submit reports to be read on the night.
(13) Future agenda items (26/20)
(14) Date and place of next meeting (26/21)
Monday 11th May 2026 @ 7.00pm in Hale Magna Village Hall.
The Chairman thanked all for attending. He closed the Parish Council meeting at 8.19pm