September 2025

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of Ropsley & District Parish Council held at Ropsley Hall on Monday 8th September 2025.

Public Forum

There was one member of the public in attendance.  The ongoing situation with the parking of vehicles was discussed. SKDC, Lincolnshire Police and DVLA are monitoring the situation. The main area of concern is the road outside 51-53 High Street, Ropsley which when large vehicles are parked there, it blocks the daylight into the windows. The idea of double yellow lines on this stretch was discussed. There was also a discussion re the possibility of illuminated speed limit signs and other speed calming methods.

The Chairman stated that we are all looking to find a solution as soon as possible.

The member of the public then left the meeting.

In Attendance

Councillor Ward (Chair), Councillor Marshall (Vice-Chair), Councillor Campbell, Councillor Vaughan, Councillor Leslie, Mr Andrew Jones (Clerk & RFO), Councillor Sarah Trotter (SKDC)

The Chair opened the meeting at 7.25pm

1. WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN (25/33)

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 (25/34)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Louth and Councillor Hughes: the reasons for which were accepted.

3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND REQUESTS FOR DISPENSATION (25/35)

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

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (25/36)

               Councillor Marshall proposed that the Clerk’s notes of the Parish Council meeting held on 21st July be approved as a true record, which was seconded by Councillor Leslie.

Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 21st July 2025 were approved and duly signed by the Chairman.

5. DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS (25/37)

Councillor Trotter reported that the local council reorganisation is still ongoing.

Lincs Police are still awaiting a response from the Home Office re the possibility of increased funding.

The bin collection days are changing, and the normal day will be moved to Wednesday for all bins.

The Prince William of Gloucester Barracks are still being considered for housing although no decision has yet been made.

There have been discussions and matters raised in the District Council about the housing of migrants going forward and this is being monitored.

The number of solar farm applications are increasing and the council have expressed their opposition to these although any decision made can be overturned by central government.

6. CLERKS REPORT (25/38)

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

The Clerk is to review and update the Policies and Procedures and Standing Orders and forward them to the Chairman for signature prior to their approval at the next meeting.

Action: Clerk to update the Policies and Procedures and Standing Orders for approval

7. FINANCE (25/39)

7.1         Members noted income received as follows:

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

Resolved: To approve the payments as listed.

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

Resolved:  To approve the August bank reconciliation.

7.4         Members noted the budget monitoring statement showing expenditure and income against the 2025/26 budget to date. 

7.5         The Annual audit had taken place and we are awaiting the Annual Report.

8. PLANNING (25/40)

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

8.1.1      S25/1586 Remove silver birches – 9 The Pantiles, 9 High Street, Ropsley NG33 4BG

8.1.2      S25/1529 Removal of dangerous tree limbs on a large apple tree – Church Farmhouse, Village Street, Braceby NG34 0TA

8.2         To note the following planning decisions:

8.2.1      S25/1529 Removal of dangerous tree limbs on a large apple tree – Church Farmhouse, Village Street, Braceby NG34 0TA – approved on 18th August 2025

9. HIGHWAYS (25/41)
   1. A quote had been received for illuminated speed limit signs at approximately £2,500 each and the Clerk had distributed this to the Councillors. It was decided that we would canvass the views of the residents via our Facebook page.

The Clerk was also asked to enquire whether there were any grants available.

Action: Councillor Marshall to post the Speed Limit signs on the Facebook page.

Action: The Clerk to look at the possibility of a grant for the signs.

9.2         The Clerk had not had a response from LCC re the removal of the grass triangle on Braceby Road and he is to chase LCC.

               Action: The Clerk is to chase LCC re a response.

9.3         As noted in the public forum, the parking problems were discussed with the possibility of yellow lines outside 51-53 High Street. The Clerk is to write to the Highways Agency to chase this progress.

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

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

9.4         The Clerk reported that the overgrown hedges on Humby Road had been cut except for the ones around the 30mph signs.  Councillor Vaughan stated that he is happy to attend to these branches.

10. CEMETERY (25/42)
    1. Crimson Kings have cut down the damaged limbs of the ash tree in the cemetery which overhang the public footpath. The logs that were in the cemetery from the original wok have now been removed.
    2. Councillor Louth had reported prior to the meeting that the stile on the footpath had broken. This has been reported to SKDC by Councillor Trotter and Councillor Louth will monitor the situation.

Action: Councillor Louth is to monitor the repair of the stile.

11. COMMUNITY UPDATES (25/43)
    1. The Christmas Tree lighting turn-on has been set for 13th December. The chairman has identified some batteries which will last between 3-6 weeks at 6 hours per night so there will be no requirement for mains electricity. Councillor Vaughan is to contact Ashley Wright for assistance in digging the hole for the tree.

Action: Chairman to source the batteries for the tree.

Action: Councillor Vaughan to contact Ashley Wright re the possibility of digging the hole.

11.2       There has still been no response from SKDC re the storage container and it was decided that the Clerk contact them again.

               Action: The Clerk to contact SKDC re the siting of the storage container.

11.3       A number of 2026 calendar pictures have been received and the calendar will be finalised this weekend.

11.4       The Clerk is to look at the Community Emergency Plan  and then forward it to Councillor Marshall for her input. This would then be sent out to the Council and discussed at the next meeting.

               Action: To discuss the Emergency Plan at the next meeting following work carried out by Councillor Marshall and The Clerk

11.5       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

11.6       The next newsletter will be produced October/November and so all submissions should be forwarded to Councillor Marshall by the first week on October.

               Action: all articles for the Autumn newsletter to be submitted by the first week in October

11.7       It was decided that a decanter would be purchased for Barry Buxton following his retirement by the Chairman and it would be presented to Barry by Councillor Louth

               Action: Chairman to source retirement gift and Councillor Louth to present it to Barry Buxton

11.8       The Volunteer’s evening is to be held in November possibly at The Green Man and the details will be in the Autumn Newsletter. At this evening we can cover

               Action: Ensure Volunteers Evening is in the Autumn Newsletter

11.9       Following the retirement of Roger and Heather Charles, the maintenance of the Flower Bins will kindly be taken over by Mrs Campbell and we will fund the purchase of new plants as necessary.

11.10     The Ropsley sign on Braceby Road has lost some of its letters and the Clerk is to contact the Highways Agency to repair it.

               Action: The Clerk to contact Highways Agency to repair the sign

11.11     Councillor Vaughan asked whether we should install signs on Humby Road warning of the danger of deer. It was felt that this was not the responsibility of the Council and signs would have to be installed on all the roads around the villages.

12.         PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY (25/44)

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 Volunteer’s Evening

13.         CORRESPONDENCE (25/45)

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

14.         DATE OF NEXT MEETING (25/46)

14.1       The date for the next meeting was set for Monday 10th November 2025 at 7pm at Ropsley Hall.

               The Chair closed the meeting at 9.04pm.