Minutes 10th March 2025
Minutes of the Meeting of Ropsley & District Parish Council held at Ropsley Hall on Monday 10th March 2025.
Public Forum
There were no members of the public in attendance. Members resolved to suspend the Standing Orders to allow the meeting to commence at 7.15pm.
In Attendance
Councillor Ward (Chair), Councillor Marshall (Vice-Chair), Councillor Leslie, Councillor Hughes, Councillor Campbell, Councillor Vaughan, Mr Andrew Jones (Clerk & RFO), Councillor Hill (LCC)
The Chair opened the meeting at 7.15pm
- WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN (24/89)
The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance.
- APOLOGIES: TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TO RESOLVE TO ACCEPT REASONS GIVEN (24/90)
Apologies were received from Councillor Louth and Councillor Trotter (SKDC): the reasons for which was accepted.
- DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION (24/91)
No declarations of pecuniary interest or requests for dispensation were made.
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES (24/92)
Councillor Campbell proposed that the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 13th January be approved as a true record, which was seconded by Councillor Marshall.
Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2025 were approved and duly signed by the Chairman.
- DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS (24/93)
Councillor Hill reported the following:
The Quarry has been granted an extension for a further 4 years with the conditions that the area around the house on the A52 is protected and that there is a restriction of lorry movements who must only use major roads.
There will be a 3% increase in Council Tax for 2025/26.
The number of solar farm applications continue to increase via central government policy.
The mayoral and council elections are to take place on the 1st May.
There is a proposal for a new unitary authority for Lincolnshire split between North and South Lincs with a vesting date of 2028. Thos appears to be ambitious but it should save money although may be disrupting
- CLERK’S REPORT (24/94)
Councillors noted the contents of the Clerk’s Report with regards to actions from previous minutes.
It was agreed that item 5.1 re the extension of the Conservation Area be carried forward to the next meeting for further clarification from Councillor Trotter and the SKDC.
- FINANCE (24/95)
7.1 Members noted income received as follows:
|
Remitter |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|
National Grid Cemetery Fees |
Wayleave Burial Fees |
23.60 540.00 |
|
|
|
|
7.2 Councillor Ward proposed that the following payments be approved, which was seconded by Councillor Marshall.
|
Payee |
Purpose |
Amount £ |
|
Ropsley PCC Employment costs |
Xmas Tree expenses January 2025 |
20.00 592.55 |
|
H Louth Tidy Gardens |
Bulbs Hedge cutting |
40.99 470.00 |
|
Print Bureau Ropsley Village Hall Employment Costs Wave Andrew Jones
|
Newsletter printing Room Hire February 2025 Quarterly Water bill Clerk’s expenses
|
197.00 24.75 731.00 319.71 312.00
|
|
|
|
|
Resolved: To approve the payments as listed.
7.3 Councillor Campbell proposed that the February bank reconciliation be approved, which was seconded by Councillor Ward.
Resolved: To approve the February bank reconciliation.
- Members noted the budget monitoring statement showing expenditure and income against the 2024/25 budget to date.
- The 2023/24 Internal Audit Report had not yet been received from the Auditor and so it would be revisited at the next meeting.
- PLANNING (24/96)
8.1.1 None at present
8.2 To note the following planning decisions
8.2.1 S25/0206 Tree works – 1a The Chase, Ropsley NG33 4AN approved 4th March 2025
8.2.2 S24/1919 Single Storey Extension, 9 The Chase, Ropsley NG33 4AN approved 20th February 2025
8.2.3 S24/1585 Tree Works – Ropsley Fox House, Ropsley NG33 4BX approved 13th January 2025
8.2.4 S24/2187 Erection of dwelling behind 23-25 Grantham Road, Ropsley NG33 4BX approved 27th January 2025
9. HIGHWAYS (24/97)
9.1 No further response has been received from LCC re the proposed 20 mph speed zone near School and so the Clerk is to contact them again.
Discussion also took place re the possibility of double yellow lines around the north and east sides of the Memorial area.
Action: The Clerk is to chase LCC to discuss the above matters further and also to write directly to Councillor Hill.
9.2 With regards the updates from LCC
Grass triangle on Braceby Road – LCC is still investigating
Action: The Clerk to await further information from LCC.
9.3 Discussion also took place re the possibility of restricting parking on High Street down to the Church Lane junction although it was thought that the presence of the vehicles actually slow down traffic. After much discussion, a vote was taken and it was agreed that this option would not be pursued.
10.1 The Clerk contacted Crimson Kings to look at the two remaining trees in the cemetery in the new year and received a quote for £900 including VAT.
Action: The Clerk to contact Crimson Kings to accept the quote re the cemetery trees.
10.2 Tidy Gardens have cut the cemetery hedge and tidied up the cemetery as agreed.
11. COMMUNITY UPDATES (24/99)
11.1 Christmas Tree - Councillor Vaughan has looked into the various options re powering the lights.
There are two options, power direct from the Mains or battery powered.
A hole would be required in the ground in either option for the cut-off switch and battery storage.
The cost of the batteries and lights would be approximately £332 including 60 lights.
The Clerk is to contact LCC and possibly National Grid re the possibility of the feed from the nearby light.
Action: The Clerk to write to LCC/National Grid.
11.2 Storage container – The Clerk is to chase SKDC for a response on the siting.
Action: The Clerk to chase SKDC re the siting of the storage container.
11.3 The Coronation Orchard trees have been planted. It was discussed whether we require a watering rota and this would be discussed at the next meeting with Councillor Louth.
Action: To discuss the need for a watering rota.
11.4 Hedgehog Scheme – the Hedgehog gateways have been distributed and donations received. It was greed that any excess gateways are donated to the School.
Action: Councillor Marshall to forward donations and donate excess to School.
11.5 The Clerk has agreed to look after the Defibrillators and has contacted Margaret for the details.
Action: Clerk to look after the defibrillators.
11.6 2005 Calendars - Councillor Campbell reported that 80 calendars had been sold and he will report back on the finances at the next meeting.
Action: Councillor Campbell to report at the next meeting
11.7 March Newsletter - Councillor Marshall stated that this would be out next week.
11.8 Community Emergency Plan – The Clerk had met with the Parish Clerks from Somerby and Boothby re possibly formulating a Community Emergency Plan similar to that already completed by Welby. There is no particular timescale to this, and The Clerk will distribute a copy of the Welby Plan for the Councillors to look at.
Action: Clerk to distribute the Plan
11.9 LCC sand and aqua bags – LCC are stocking sand and aqua bags and we would look at this later in the year
Action: Item carried forward to next meeting
12. ON-STREET PARKING CONCERNS (24/100)
12.1 See Item 9 above.
13. PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY (24/101)
13.1 A further drop-in meeting is planned for later in the year.
14. CORRESPONDENCE (24/102)
14.1 Members noted all general correspondence circulated for information since the November meeting.
15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING (24/103)
15.1 The date for the next meeting was set for Monday 19th May 2025 at 7pm at Ropsley Hall.
This will commence with the Annual Parish Meeting to be followed by the Annual Parish Council Meeting.
The Chair closed the meeting at 8.55pm.