DRAFT Minutes - 11th November 2025
DRAFT MINUTES OF THE NOCTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
held at the Hub Main Street Nocton on the 11th November 2025
MEMBERSHIP:
Chair: Councillor Andy Hone
Vice-chair: Councillor George McDonnell
Councillors: Lesley Routh-Jones, Richard Robinson, Richard Marshall, Andrew Davy (1 vacancy)
Clerk: John Money RFO: Gordon Roe
Attendance:
Chair: Councillor Andy Hone: Councillors: Lesley Routh-Jones; Richard Robinson; Richard Marshall; Andrew Davy and the Clerk: John Money plus 5 members of the public.
Public forum: a parishioner was concerned regarding standing water on the Green where the County Council had carried out some works, it was agreed to monitor this situation and if necessary report it to both the County Councillor Ian Carrington and the highways department of Lincolnshire County Council.
County and District Councillors' reports: None.
Agenda Items:
1. Apologies for Absence: apologies from Councillor George McDonnell were noted, also were the apologies of District Councillor Dave Parry and the absence of County Councillor Ian Carrington was also noted.
2. Declarations of Interest: no declarations of interest made.
3. Minutes: the notes of the Full Council Meeting held on 14th October 2025 were accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting and the Chair duly endorsed them.
4. Chair’s Report:
Solar panel installation: a £40 saving in the month of October was shown with over £900 saving year to date since installation versus the £1250 initial outlay.
Mindless act of vandalism in the disabled WC: a young male had blocked the WC pan with toilet rolls, consequently causing flooding to the WC, the ladies WC and to the tiles in the hallway. The Chair gave thanks to the Bowls Club, Hub Manager (& husband) and Martin O’Donnell for their efforts in cleaning up the mess.. Action all concerned to monitor damage.
5. Hub Manager’s Report:
Bookings steady with increased marketing of the Hub through several different avenues. Social media was discussed extensively with members and the chair allowing certain members of the public to participate.
The Hub will be providing a Christmas Tree to the Church.
Lockable toilet tissue holders to be considered.
6. Parish Clerk’s Report:
The Clerk had been to a presentation at NKDC the previous week where there had been discussion relating to the unitarization of Lincolnshire and the four bids that consortiums of different authorities have made to the government, he went on to say that it looks as if it will come into force in May 2027 if all goes well, but May 2028 if not. That would mean the term of the district counsellors serving NKDC would have their term of office extended by 1 year.
He also reported that there was a presentation on the government intending to replace the existing standard regime for all members of councils so that the code of conduct would have more teeth but not be quite as Draconian as it was prior to the local effect of 2011.
Finally, he went on to say that Katrina Evans the CEO of LALC made a presentation relating to Parish councils signing up to the Civility and Respect pledge where members of councils sign up to a certain list of standards including training.
He confirmed that all council correspondencel had been dealt with and was up to date.. Action Clerk to distribute the draft pledge for members to peruse.
7. To receive an update on progress in the plan to update the NPC risk register. (Cllrs Routh-Jones & Davy):
Significant progress regarding preparing a draft risk register has been made and a meeting with the Clerk will take place to discuss what items have to be included to be lawful and what items are desirable, once this has taken place they should be able to move further towards completing the document: Action Cllr’s L Routh-Jones and A Davey with the Clerk.
8. To receive an update on the situation regarding lamp post replacements and the arrangement of a loan to facilitate it (Clerk):
The Clerk reported that he had been in touch with Jill Corner the development engineer at EON and she still hadn’t been able to procure from the highways division of Lincolnshire County Council with the cost of the required Road opening certificates. The other variable is the National Grid still have to give the council a price for testing the existing electricity poles where lanterns are mounted for ongoing suitability. He also reported that he had been in touch with Richard Hunt NKDC CD Section 151 officer regarding where we are with a potential loan. Once we can put all these parts into the whole, we should be able to come to a pretty accurate budget figure for replacement of the parish council owned street lamps. Action Clerk and RFO.
9. To receive a report on the recently conducted tree survey (Cllr Hone):
The Chair of the Council reported the NKDC’s arboriculturist had inspected the Council's owned trees both to the front of the Hub and on the Green. The officers are to procure quotations for the required works and hopefully report back to the Parish Council meeting in December. Action, Clerk and RFO.
10. To receive a report on the recent Hub vandalism incident (Cllr Hone).: The chairman went on to report in further detail about the flooding caused by vandalism and say that the police were being very helpful and have some leads on who the perpetrator may be.
11. To receive an update on Nocton Hub social media presence (Cllr Hone).:
The chair of the council said that he had covered this item during agenda item 5.
12. Planning Matters: 25/1382/TCA - tree works application relating to the felling of a pear tree at 1 Cricket Meadow. After a short debate it was resolved that the Clerk make a representation to NKDC planners supporting the application. Action Clerk.
13. Financial Matters:
(a) To note the current bank balances: the bank balances were noted by Members
(b) To ratify payments for the months of October 2025 and to approve the list of upcoming payments: it was resolved to ratify the accounts for payment as presented by the RFO and the chair of the council to endorse. Action chair, RFO.
(c) To outline the process for ratification of the 2026/7 budget and precept request: a short debate took place and it was resolved that as far as possible the budgeted sums presented to the members at the December 2025 meeting would be the base for the precept claim from the district council. Clerk informed members that the guidance for precept calculations had been received by the Council today one month ahead of schedule and this document had been forwarded to the RFO. Action Chair, Clerk and RFO to present.
14. Date of Next Meeting: it was resolved that the next ordinary full council meeting will take place on the 9th of December 2025 in the Hub Main Street Nocton.
Public forum (10mins); a parishioner said that there is already a fire register in the hub building for completion and checking on a regular basis, this was the result of a discussion during the risk assessment debate. Another identified that some flooring in the ladies loo had been impacted by the recent flood - to be investigated & resolved.
The Chair of the Council closed the meeting at 7:55 PM and thought that it may be a record! He thanked everyone for coming and wished them a safe journey home.