2025 - Minutes

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE  PARISH COUNCIL MEETING 

Held on Tuesday 14th October 2025 at 7.00pm at Nocton Hub, Main Street, Nocton.

MEMBERSHIP:

Chair:​​ Councillor Andy Hone

Vice-chair: ​Councillor George McDonnell (GMD).

Councillors:​ Lesley Routh-Jones, Richard Robinson, Richard Marshall, (2 vacancies) 

Clerk: ​​John Money RFO: Gordon Roe

 Attendance:

 Councillor Andy Hone (Chair): Councillors:​ Lesley Routh-Jones (LRJ); Richard Robinson (RR); Andrew Davy (AD). joined the meeting after Item 4 was concluded. (1 vacancy) Parish Clerk: ​​John F Money; 4 members of the public. 

Once the public forum had ended the meeting continued under Standing Orders. In extenuating circumstances and only at the discretion of the Chair the meeting would be moved out of formal session to allow the public to speak

• Public forum: Safety of road crossing of Old Sleaford Road was raised and will be reported to Dyson / LCC

• County and District Councillors' reports: None made.

Agenda Items:

1. Apologies for Absence: To note any apologies for absence given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting: Councillors:​  George McDonnell; Richard Marshall; County Councillor Ian Carrington and District councillor Dave Parry.

2. Declarations of Interest: None made

3. Minutes: Notes of the Full Council Meeting held on 9th September 2025 were approved and endorsed.

4. Co-option of a new Parish Councillor; Mr Andrew Davy was invited by the chair to explain to Members a little about himself and why he wanted to be a Parish Councillor. AD gave a short resume of his work & life experience and stated he had been a Parish Councillor previously.  Members unanimously resolved to elect by co-option AD to the Council and the Chair of the Council asked AD to join the meeting as a Member of the Council. Action: Clerk to inform NKDC etc.

5. Chair’s Report: The Chair noted in his report that the usual Remembrance Sunday service will be held on the 9th of November 2025 at Potterhanworth Church. He also went on to say that there had been savings of £952 from the electrical consumption due to the installation of the solar panels last December. It looked on course to repay the parish councils 10% spend of £1,250 within a year of paying for installation. He also stated that he had had a communication regarding a spate of petty crime in the village. Action GMD to lay a wreath on behalf of NPC

6. Hub Manager’s Report: The Hub manager reported that all is going well. One booking had left the oven in an unacceptable state, and the fire alarm has now been serviced and tested.

7. Parish Clerk’s Report: The Clerk  reported that all of the correspondence is all up-to-date. The patent defect in the cellar floor that was reported to the main contractor shortly after occupation has not yet been remedied. With regard to issuing the contractor with formal notice, this is proving rather difficult and that there was no formal contract entered into by the Parish Council prior to instructing the contractor at the commencement of works, therefore no practical completion took place, so no defects liability period could be instituted. It was agreed the chair carries on communicating with the contractor and hope that this matter is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

He went on to say that he had prepared a schedule of works to address the poor ventilation in the Events Hall with three ventilation apertures formed into the east wall duly fly proofed together with a 225 mm extract fan in the composite panel set in the window on the west wall to evacuate the stale air and introduce ambient tear into the building. This schedule of works is being sent out to 3 different contractors to procure estimates for consideration at the November meeting.

 The Clerk also spoke about the viability of solar panels without grant funding and the future installation of a dado rail in the event hall. Action: Chair, RFO, Clerk.

8. To review and agree how we should update the NPC risk register: It was resolved to form a Working Group that will be led by Councillor LRJ and supported by Councillor AD to liaise with The Clerk in his role of Proper Officer to update the risk register. Action: as noted

9. Councillor absence: after a short debate it was resolved the Members were comfortable with short absences by Members from committee meetings as long as they fulfil all duties relating to being a Member of the Parish council. Proposed, seconded and Resolved. Action Chair and Clerk to monitor.

10. To discuss and agree if a loan should be arranged to cover the cost of required street light repairs / maintenance: The Chair outlined the street lamp replacement situation and explained that we had explored grant funding and there was the likelihood of accessing a loan from NKDC that could be spread over 20 + years with the repayments being taken from an increased precept. It was resolved to bring all the figures back to the November meeting for further resolution. Action: Chair, RFO, Clerk.

11. To agree whether additional social media use should be undertaken to promote use of Nocton Hub: It was resolved to update the existing social media account on Facebook and if this proved too difficult to open a new account.  It was agreed to allow increased use of social media to promote use of The Hub. Action: Clerk/Hub manager to look at other PC SM policies.

12.  Planning Matters: To note and consider any planning applications received or determined since the last meeting and to decide any comments or further action that the Council wishes to take.

02/0693/RESM: Regarding the enforcement action relating to Wegberg Road, the LPA are taking enforcement action  against Peter Sowerby Construction (contractors who built the Nocton Park Estate) relating to the incomplete works regarding the highway. The Chair and other Councillor‘ s remarked that it was just not the surface of the highway that required remediation but also works to the bridge and bridge headwalls. It was resolved that the Chair and the Clerk meet on site and make an appropriate representation to the LPA. Action: Chair, Clerk.

13. Financial Matters:  (Documents previously circulated by the RFO).

(a) To note the current bank balances - Duly noted

(b) To ratify payments for the months of September 2025 and to approve the list of upcoming payments:  it was resolved to accept the bank reconciliation and the RFO budget report. With regard to the discrepancies in the hub income when it was spread out over 2/4 it averaged out as normal. Action RFO.

14. The next meeting is to be held on the 11th of November 2025 which is Armistice day.

Public forum: No comment.

Meeting finished at 8:30pm.  The Chair thanked all for their attendance and wished them a safe journey home.