November 2025

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Ropsley & District Parish Council held at Ropsley Hall on Monday 10th November 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 Hughes, Councillor Campbell, Councillor Vaughan, Councillor Leslie, Councillor Louth, Mr Andrew Jones (Clerk & RFO)

The Chair opened the meeting at 7.15pm

1. WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN (25/47)

The Chair welcomed Members to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance.

2. APOLOGIES:  TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TO RESOLVE TO ACCEPT REASONS GIVEN (25/48)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Trotter.

3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION (25/49)

No declarations of pecuniary interest or requests for dispensation were made.

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (25/50)

               Councillor Hughes proposed that the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 8th September be approved as a true record, which was seconded by Councillor Louth.

Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 8th September 2025 were approved and duly signed by the Chairman.

5. DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS (25/51)

Councillor Trotter has sent her apologies and so there was no District Councillor report.

6. CLERKS REPORT (25/52)

Councillors noted the contents of the Clerk’s Report with regards to actions from previous minutes.

Actions required from the Clerk’s Report are covered under the relevant points later in this meeting.

7. FINANCE (25/53)

7.1         Members noted income received as follows:

7.2         Councillor Ward proposed that the following payments be approved, which was seconded by Councillor Leslie.

Resolved: To approve the payments as listed.

7.3         Councillor Marshall proposed that the October bank reconciliation be approved, which was seconded by                Councillor Hughes.

Resolved:  To approve the October bank reconciliation.

7.4         Members noted the budget monitoring statement showing expenditure and income against the 2025/26 budget to date.  It was agreed that the budget monitoring statement be forwarded by the Clerk to the Councillors.

               Resolved: Clerk to forward the budget monitoring statement to the Councillors.

7.5         The 2025/26 NALC Pay Rates have been released and the Clerk’s hourly rates has increased from £15.58 to £16.08. It was agreed that the Clerk’s hourly rate be increased to £16.08 backdated to 01.04.25.

Resolved: Clerk’s hourly pay to increase to £16.08

7.6         The Annual audit had taken place and their Annual Report has been received by the Clerk. This is to be forwarded to the Chairman and this will be reported on at the next meeting.

               Resolved: Clerk to forward the Audit Report to the Chair

7.7         The Clerk has reviewed the Policies and Procedures and the Chairman signed the updated documents and these will be put on the website by the Clerk.

               Resolved: The Clerk to post the updated Policies and Procedures on the Council website

8. PLANNING (25/54)

8.1         To consider the following planning applications received since the last meeting:

8.1.1      S25/1965 Reduce apple tree – 8-10 Chapel Hill, Ropsley, NG33 4BP

8.2         To note the following planning decisions:

8.2.1      S25/1586 Reduce silver birches – 9 The Pantiles, 9 High Street, Ropsley NG33 4BG– approved on 8th October 2025

9. HIGHWAYS (25/55)
   1. A survey had been put on the Council’s facebook page re whether the installation of speed cameras was a good idea. 91% agreed that it would be.

The Clerk is to obtain a second quote and also to contact Highways Agency re whether we required permission to install.

Resolved: Clerk to obtain a second quote and contact Highways Agency

9.2         The Clerk is to write to the Highways Agency to chase the progress of the yellow lines outside 51-53 High Street.

The parking outside the School was also discussed and it was agreed to monitor the situation going forward.

Action: Clerk to chase Highways Agency re the double yellow lines

10. CEMETERY (25/56)
    1. Councillor Louth reported that the stile on the footpath on Church Lane had now been removed by SKDC..
    2. There were no other matters to rasie re the cemetery.

11. COMMUNITY UPDATES (25/57)
    1. The Christmas Tree lighting turn-on has been set for 13th December. Mulled wine will be provided by The Green Man and food will be served in the Church. Wendy Henderson will liaise with the School.

The tree is due to arrive on the 6 December and Ashley has been arranged for the 7 December.

An additional smaller tree will also be purchased and planted for use in future years.

It was agreed that a donation of £50 would be made to Ropsley PCC for the use of the Church once the light-up had occurred.

Action: Christmas tree light-up to take place on 13 December

Action: Donation of £50 to be made to Ropsley PCC at the next meeting

1. The 2026 calendars had been printed and Councillor Campbell will report on the financial position at the next meeting.

Action: Councillor Campbell to report on the 2026 calendars

11.3       The Clerk is to look at the Community Emergency Plan and produce for review.  

               Action: Clerk to produce the Emergency Plan

11.4       The purchase of a 1000 litre IBC for the watering of the Coronation Orchard was put on hold until the Spring.

               Action: Carry forward to the next meeting that an IBC is purchased in the Spring

11.5       The Autumn Newsletter has been produced and distributed.

11.6       Councillor Louth reported that he had presented the thank-you gift to Barry Buxton for all his hard work.

11.7       The Volunteer’s evening is to be held 0n 25th November at The Green Man

               Action: Further to the meeting, the Volunteer’s meeting was cancelled and is to be held in the Spring along with the Gardening Group.

12.         PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY (25/58)

12.1       There is still a vacancy on the Council, and this will be highlighted at the Volunteer’s Evening to see if there is any interest from the attendees.

               Action: Vacancy to be discussed at the next meeting

13.         CORRESPONDENCE (25/59)

13.1       Members noted all general correspondence circulated for information since the September meeting.

14.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING (25/60)

14.1       The date for the next meeting was set for Monday 12th January 2026 at 7pm at Ropsley Hall.

               The Chair closed the meeting at 8.57pm.