November 12th 2025 Minutes

Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.                                                                   

SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the November Meeting of Scothern Parish Council

Held in the Methodist Church, Wednesday 12th November 2025 at 7.30pm

 

Present:  Cllr J Johnson (Chair), J Atkins, R Creaser, B Patchett, M Unwin

In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk) and a resident up to item 259/2025

 

256/2025 Apologies for Absence

Apologies received with reasons given from Cllr Canton & Watt Jones. Proposed & seconded, Resolved

 

257/2025 Representatives Report 

Apologies received from WLDC Baptiste Velan  and also from LCC Jane Smith with a report -  I have followed up again with highways, they inform me as yet no FBP (forward planning brief) has been raised for review of the current speed limit between Scothern & Sudbrooke. I have requested that this is done ASAP and they conduct a speed limit review.

 

258/2025 Public Participation Resolved to suspend the meeting for no more than 15mins 

A resident spoke to the council regarding the flooding on Craypool lane, the War Memorial refurbishment and the broken Church clock.

 

259/2025 Declarations of Interest Chair re-opened the meeting

No declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 were received.

 

260/2025 Minutes of last Meeting 

The minutes of the October Council Meeting held on 9th October 2025 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved

 

261/2025 Clerks Report 

• The tree on Heathlea has been removed by Acis Housing due to extensive damage that made it unstable.

• LALC webmaster – time remaining - 6 mins for Scothern

• Footpath from Church St – Grange Park has been repaired – lots of positive feedback from residents

• Church Clock – needing repair, an initial assessment and report has been arranged at a cost of £150, with the possibility of the PCC requesting grant funding in the future depending on the report.

• Footpath Sudbrooke Rd to Orchard Close – work has been started and hopefully finished in the next week

• Fencing requested when the area at play park is turfed – contractor has said they will erect fencing around the turfed area

• Grass Contractor have done an extra full cut this week because of the extra growth from the mild weather 

• A couple of emails received from a resident regarding grass cuttings left on Craypool Lane, the contractor has been contacted and returned to blow the cuttings off the road, also reminding his team to do so after each cut in the future.

• WLDC have advised that they are now publishing all parish council casual vacancies on the West Lindsey District Council website.

• Email from resident, requesting further evidence on the speed devices and data, doesn’t believe they are set correctly km per hour not miles

• The Church St -One way suggestion will be in the December issue of the Scothern News, 14 emails received to date with comments/views so far and this will be an agenda item at the January meeting

• WLDC Community Grant Funding – they have received a large volume of applications & have closed for new applications, currently working to all that have been received.

 

262/2025 Grant Funding 2026

A grant application was received from SRC for a £100 donation towards a ‘Tommy’ silhouette figure for Remembrance with the SRC paying £75. The PC discussed and approved to pay grant funding from April 2026, on the condition that the SRC placed a plaque in recognition of the PC’s donation near the figure. Proposed & seconded, Resolved

 

263/2025 Village Planters 2026

The 2026 5x planters & 3x window boxes specifications were reviewed and approved. The clerk to contact local companies for quotes to be received at the December meeting. 

 

264/2025 Budget 2026/27

The 2026/27 Budget was discussed and approved, £32,106. Proposed & seconded, Resolved 

 

265/2025 Precept 2026/27

The estimated Precept 2026/27 was discussed and approved as £30,000. Proposed & seconded, Resolved 

 

266/2025 Play Area

The monthly inspection report of the play area by Cllr Atkins was received with no immediate actions required.

 

267/2025 Christmas in Scothern

Cllr Patchett reported -the Straw Family would like to donate and erect a Christmas Tree for the village, and PlugSafeLincs will PAT test the lights. The PC would like to thank the Straw Family for their very kind donation and PlugSafeLincs for keeping the lights safe. The PC discussed the Festive Lights Competition and approved a prize of £25 for the best decorated property in the village from the Chairs allowance with the winner announced before Christmas. Proposed & seconded, Resolved 

 

268/2025 GDPR Security Compliance 

All members present completed & signed the GDPR Compliance checklist. Resolved

 

269/2025 Village maintenance

Two quotes were received & considered to reduce the height of 4xtrees on Grange Park adjacent to Cade Close and remove overhanging branches. It was proposed & seconded to approve the quote for £275. Resolved

 

270/2025 Highways

Clerk to follow up with Cllr J Smith & Highways for the report on the investigation work by Ajet on Church St/Sudbrooke Rd. Also, to email Cllr J Smith re: joint meeting with Highways & AW to discuss the issues on Craypool Lane.

 

271/2025 Finance

The monthly accounts for the November payments; the corresponding bank statements to 31/10/25 with the bank balance £75,551.76, was approved & signed and Cllrs Creaser & Patchett were nominated to authorise the online bank payments.  Proposed & seconded. Resolved

 

HMT Landscaping Notice board repairs/paint/fix 255.00

The Signbuilder Play area signs x2 70.32

HMT Landscaping Remove wooden play area 1800.00

Tesco Monthly DD mobile 7.50

Lloyds Banks Monthly account fee 4.25

LALC Training course 42.00

Ian Moore Contractors Contractor - grass cutting 1086.00

Ian Moore Contractors 2x tree removal/fence repair   666.00

Ian Moore Contractors Footpath repair 1320.00

Multidata VH Broadband November invoice 50.34

Springbok Monthly IT September invoice 54.92

L Brooks-Sleight Salary/expenses 900.14

Pelican Trust SN printing November 253.50

 

272/2025 To receive reports/updates 

a. Community Speed Watch – report sent prior

b. Police – no report sent

c. Scothern News – deadline for the January issue is 9th December due to the printers Festive opening times

d. Village flooding – issues reported on Craypool Lane after recent rainfall to AW and forwarded to Cllr J Smith

e. Lindum Homes – West Thorne Grange, email sent prior with details of the development phases & plan. To be placed in the Scothern News & on notice boards

f. Village maintenance issues – the notice board on Grange Park near The Alders needs re-treating. Quotes to be obtained for the next meeting.

g. Remembrance Day – Cllr Johnson placed the wreath on behalf of the village, was well attended and the road was closed for safety

h. War Memorial – no further updates, still awaiting for the Faculty permission

i. SRC – update received from Cllr Johnson

j. Emergency plan – dates required for a table-top exercise with the LRF

 

273/2025 Planning

To receive any decisions and discuss applications received from WLDC 

Ref: WL/2025/01096, planning application for the siting of 2no. shipping container to be used for storage. Scothern Recreation Centre – no comments from SPC

WL/2025/00739, Solar Farm Land off Dunholme Rd – WLDC update- Extension of Time for application, 12th Dec 2025

 

274/2025 LALC Training Scheme 

No members currently requesting training

 

275/2025 Correspondence for Discussion

Email circulated prior from a resident on speeding through the village. The PC discussed the issues raised and decided to raise these with Highways & Cllr J Smith seeking suggestions and to notify Ellison Boulters School.

 

276/2025 Correspondence for information (sent prior)

• WLDC Parish News 24/10/25

• LALC –  E-news  24/10/25

• LCC Town & Parish Newsletter 30/10/25

• NALC Bulletin 30/10/25 & 6/11/25

• LALC Training bulletin 31/11/25 & 7/11/25

 

277/2025 Agenda items for next meeting and any updates/points from members   

• Clerks appraisal

• Communications meeting

• Advertise for a volunteer editor for the Scothern News

• Check the Insurance policy re: cover for the batteries in the speed reactive devices

• Request road sweeper from WLDC and drain jetting from LCC

 

278/2025 To consider the exclusion of the public and press in accordance with the Public Bodies

(Admission to meetings) Act 1960 s1 (2) due to the confidential nature of the items to be

Discussed     none  

                        

The date & time of the next Meeting of the Council  – 10th December 2025 at 7.30pm 

 

 

The Chair closed the meeting at 9.22pm