December 10th 2025 Minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the December Meeting of Scothern Parish Council
Held in the Methodist Church, Wednesday 10th December 2025 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllr J Johnson (Chair), J Atkins, R Creaser, B Patchett,
In attendance: L Brooks-Sleight (clerk/RFO)
279/2025 Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence with reasons given, were received & accepted from Cllrs Canton, Unwin and Watt Jones. Resolved
280/2025 Representatives Report
LCC Cllr J Smith sent her apologies and will continue to chase the current issues in Scothern.
281/2025 Public Participation
No public present
282/2025 Declarations of Interest
No declarations of interest were declared
283/2025 Minutes of last Meeting
The minutes of the Council Meeting held on 12th November 2025 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
284/2025 Clerks Report
• A new latch has been received from Pelican Trust to replace the broken one
• The new jeep in the play area was damaged sometime beginning of December that needs minor repairs. A report to place in the Scothern News to inform residents
• The Elan City speed reactive devices & batteries are listed on the insurance and are covered up to £6,300 with an excess of £100 for any claim
• The car park off Sudbrooke Rd has been cleared of all weeds/overhanging branches
• Avian influenza has been reported in West Lindsey, information for residents has been posted on the website and notice boards from LCC Trading Standards
• The public right of way between Sudbrooke Rd and Orchard Close – we have received reports from residents of the uneven surface, this has been reported to Lincolnshire Countryside Services
285/2025 IT Policy
The new IT Policy was approved, proposed & seconded. Resolved
286/2025 Village Planters 2026
Only one quote was received for the planting and maintenance of the village planters for 2026. Two other companies replied but couldn’t offer the service required. It was approved to accept the quote from Rudies Roots, proposed & seconded. Resolved
287/2025 Final Precept 2026/27
The Final Precept request form for WLDC was approved as £30,000, proposed & seconded and signed. Resolved
288/2025 Play Area
a. A monthly visual inspection report was received, no current issues or actions
b. An update on Stage 2 & 3 of the play area improvements & equipment was received from Outdoor Play UK, and the 20% deposit was approved and signed, proposed & seconded. Resolved
News that the WLDC Community grant funding application was successful with a grant of £21,000 approved towards the new play equipment. Half of the grant has been received with the final payment on completion.
289/2025 Grange Park
The working group notes from the 10th of November were circulated prior to the meeting. Email sent in response, the PC to arrange to treat the notice board near The Alders, no other current actions
290/2025 Village maintenance report
Cllr R Creaser reported on the maintenance report, dated 30/11/25 which was circulated prior. The notice board on Grange Park near The Alders to be stained, and the new sign to be erected at the play park, quotes received from HMT Landscaping Maintenance were approved, proposed & seconded, Resolved
291/2025 Internal Audit Report
The IA report from the 28th November 2025 with recommendations was circulated prior. Items recommended were noted; Income control re: vat on invoices for adverting in Scothern News and HR ToR – agenda items below. Enquiries have been made regarding the closed cemetery. The PC were concerned about the terminology and some of the recommendations within the report. It was agreed for the Chair to email the auditor with the concerns.
292/2025 HR Terms of Reference
The HR ToR was reviewed & updated as recommended by the IA. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
293/2025 Scothern News
a. An update on the current monthly newsletter – we are still looking for an extra volunteer editor. The printers had had a few issues and there have been delays in printing.
b. Information regarding vat – whether the fees for advertising in the Scothern News are subject to VAT as raised in the internal audit has been sought from HMRC & The Parkinson Partnership and this isn’t required as the PC aren’t VAT registered and it doesn’t received an income of £5000 or more per annum from advertising.
294/2025 Arboriculture Risk Assessment Report
The recent safety tree report of the car park and cemetery off Sudbrooke Rd was circulated prior. Two trees reported as dead in the car park to be removed, quote obtained from Ian Moore Contractors accepted, proposed & seconded, Resolved. No further action required at this time, trees to be monitored.
295/2025 St Germains Church Clock
A report on the Church clock was received from the PCC and possible options for the PC to support with grant funding were discussed. To be added to the January agenda for grant funding consideration.
296/2025 Communications Strategy
The new PC Logo was approved and Cllr J Johnson to write an article in the Scothern News to inform residents and explain What the PC does? The future events to be discussed at a later date.
297/2025 Highways
Road closure notice received – Church St, 14th-16th January, AW mains water repairs.
298/2025 Finance
The monthly accounts for December payments; the corresponding bank statements to 30/11/25 with bank balance of £71,884.54, was approved & signed and Cllrs Creaser & Johnson were nominated to authorise the online bank payments. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
Cartridge people Printer ink & paper 53.20
Tesco Monthly DD mobile 7.50
Lloyds Banks Monthly account fee 4.25
Nettleham Methodist Meeting room rent 108.00
Ian Moore Contractors Grass contractor 564.00
Watson Lindsey Arboriculture Tree Survey 425.00
Multidata VH Broadband December invoice 50.34
Springbok Monthly IT November invoice 54.92
L Brooks-Sleight Salary/expenses 882.14
Pelican Trust SN printing December 253.50
299/2025 To receive reports/updates
a. Community Speed Watch – Cllr Creaser sent speed data report prior
b. Police – no report
c. Village flooding – issues on Craypool Lane, a resident’s emails on the current flooding on the lane have been forwarded to Cllr Jane Smith who is chasing Highways. AW also emailed and are still investigating.
d. Lindum Homes – West Thorne Grange. Emails with photos have been sent to Lindum Homes re: the ditch and pipes across Grange Park. Some mesh has been placed near the pipes, but this isn’t sufficient to stop the leaves getting into the pipes. The PC will be updated once a response it received from Lindum Homes.
e. War Memorial – the PCC have received the faculty to refurbish the memorial. Draper Memorials are looking at early 2026 for the refurbishment and add the missing names.
f. SRC – Cllr J Johnson reported on the recent Recreation meeting, the committee are pleased to hear that the PC have approved the grant funding request for the ‘Tommy’ figure and will place a plaque to say the PC have donated towards it. The committee are also looking into CCTV at the village hall.
g. Emergency plan – still no reply from the LRF on a date for the Emergency Plan table-top exercise.
300/2025 Planning
No current planning applications or updates from WLDC
301/2025 LALC Training Scheme
Cllr J Johnson requested approval to attend the Canva training with Breakthrough Communications for £35+vat, proposed & seconded, Resolved
302/2025 Correspondence for information (sent prior)
• WLDC Parish News, Parish Vacancy flowchart, Elections team newsletter 3/12/25
• LALC – E-news 21/11/25
• NALC Bulletin /11/25
• LALC Training bulletin 31/11/25
303/2025 Agenda items for next meeting (to be received by 30th December) and any updates/points from members
• 2026 Meeting dates
• Church Clock grant request
• Clerks Appraisal
304/2025 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 – 7th January 2026 at 7.30pm