1st July 2026 minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the July Meeting of Scothern Parish Council, held in Scothern Methodist Chapel, 1st July 2026 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs Jane Johnson (Chair), Robert Creaser, Jackie Atkins, Barnaby Patchett, Derek Canton, Sian Watt Jones, Mark Unwin
In attendance: Lisa Brooks-Sleight (clerk/RFO)
134/2026 Apologies for Absence -to receive apologies with any reasons given. None, all present
135/2026 Representatives Report -to receive reports from the District & County Councillors
Cllr Jane Smith LCC - The TRO (traffic regulations order) team in the next few weeks will be going out to assess the area of Craypool/Church Lane, I have asked could they do so before school breaks up.
136/2026 Public Participation - to resolve, if necessary, to temporarily suspend the meeting for a period of no more than 15 minutes to allow for a period of public participation. No public present
137/2026 Declarations of Interest - to record declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and consider any requests for dispensation for any listed agenda items. None received
138/2026 Minutes of last Meeting - the notes of the meeting held on 3rd June 2026 were approved as true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
139/2026 Clerks Report –
• Multidata – the internet for the village hall hasn’t been reimbursed from WLDC for June, this has been followed up. The member of staff who was processing the payments has left WL.
• Neighbourhood planning officer – email received: Thank you for your response to the Sudbrooke Neighbourhood Plan Review - Reg 16 consultation. Following this consultation, the Plan is to be examined by an independent examiner. Your response will be given full consideration in that process.
• Permission has been granted from LCC for the Temporary Road Closure on Church St for the Rededication Service of the War Memorial on Thurs 16th July.
• The notice board on Grange Park near The Alders has been repaired & painted
• 2 resident volunteers have made contact regarding volunteering to litter pick in the village; they have been sent the Risk Assessment and pickers/hoops to be lent out.
140/2026 Councillor & Employee Protocols Policy – to confirm all councillors have read and understand the policy. All councillors confirmed. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
141 /2026 Play Area
a. To receive the monthly play area report and approve any future actions required – received and noted
b. To receive & consider quotes for the Annual & Post Installation Inspection – 2 quotes received and approved to accept The Play Inspection Co. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
142/2026 Office 365 & Microsoft exchange server – to discuss and consider the cost of future requirements of the parish councils IT & email provider. After a discussion, it was decided to obtain quotes from different providers for comparison at the next meeting.
143/2026 Communication Strategy – to consider & discuss future requirements. Cllr Johnson to circulate dates for an informal meeting to discuss the future requirements.
144/2026 Highways - To discuss and receive any issues/updates and decide future actions
• Residents raised concerns of the issues on Sudbrooke Rd with vehicles loading/unloading from Maximovers – the documents from the WL Planning portal on the planning permission granted with conditions to load/unload on site have been circulated prior to the meeting and emailed to Cllr Baptiste Velan to ask for advice on the matter. A suggestion that an informal meeting to be arranged with the Manager of Maximovers to discuss the residents issues.
• The footpath near 18 The Alders is a trip hazard, needs reporting
145/2026 LIVES Community Lifesaving session – to confirm 25th July for a 2-hr session for residents to attend free. The Parish Council to send a donation of £100 to LIVES. The date was approved, Cllr Atkins to run the session and the £100 donation proposed & seconded, Resolved
146/2026 Finance
a. To receive the Budget v Expenditure up to the end of June 2026. Approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
b. To approve & sign the monthly accounts for June payments with the corresponding bank statements up to 26/6/26 - bank balance of £69,234.10 and to nominate 2 councillors to authorise the online bank payments. Proposed & seconded, Resolved Cllrs Johnson & Creaser nominated to authorise the bank payments.
Scothern Nurseries Comp prize vouches mins103/2026 Chairs allowance 120.00
Pelican Trust July Scothern News printing 266.25
Springbok IT April invoice 54.92
HMRC PAYE + NI 641.94
L Brooks-Sleight Salary/expenses 1017.80
Ian Moore Contracting Monthly grass contract 1337.62 267.53 1605.15
Ian Moore Contracting repairs to NB & village sheilds mins126/2026 180.00 36.00 216.00
Rudies Roots Summer planting mins286/2025 620.00 124.00 744.00
Nettleham Methodist April - July rental fee 108.00
Multidata Monthly VH internet May 54.36
NJServices Paint & repair NB +materials mins112/2026 115.54
147/2026 Village Maintenance – to receive any current issues and discuss future actions
- Quotes to replace/repair bench at the play area – no quotes were submitted prior to the meeting. It was approved for the clerk to accept a quote up to £750 to replace/repair the bench due to no meeting until September and email all councillors with the information/quote
- To consider a replacement new pole for the village shields – quote received from Ian Moore Contracting to replace with a metal pole - approved. Councillors discussed the option of a wooden post, clerk to enquire with contractor and email all councillors with this option for comparison. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
- The metal railings through the village require painting. Ian Moore Contracting quoted an hourly rate. The PC requested an estimate of hours/days to complete but due to no meeting for 2 months, approved to agree by email once the clerk had obtained the information required with an update at the September meeting.
- The gate at the Sudbrooke Rd end of the public footpath from Orchard Close, swings both ways and the securing spring is unattached. Report to Countryside Access.
148/2026 To receive reports/updates
a. Community Speed Watch/Speed device monthly data – Cllr Creaser presented the latest speed data report
b. Police – Cllr Canton reported on the latest crime figures for the area
c. Village flooding – no updates
d. Lindum Homes – West Thorne Grange. Report received on the latest updates, this will be posted on Facebook & in the Scothern News for residents
e. SRC – meeting next week
f. Emergency plan – no updates, still chasing LRF for dates for the Community session
g. Best Garden Comp – Cllr Johnson updated the PC on the judging. The vouchers have been purchased from Scothern Nurseries for £185 with £65 received in sponsorship from Scothern Nurseries & The Bottle & Glass and £120 from the Chairs Allowance.
149/2026 Planning - To receive any decisions and discuss any applications received from WLDC. No new planning.
150/2026 LALC Training Scheme - To approve any training requests by members
Cllr Johnson request attendance at the LALC Conference, £45+vat. This was approved. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
A suggestion to contact LALC to enquire to see if they would come to Scothern for a group councillors training session for all.
151/2026 Correspondence for information (sent prior)
• LALC – E-news & Training
• NALC Bulletin
• Town and Parish
• WLDC Parish Newsletter
152/2026 Agenda items for next meeting (by 26th August) and any updates/points from members
• Pelican Trust costs to add 4 extra pages, full colour to a future issue to advertise the Best Garden winners
• IT quotes & Speed data downloading
• War Memorial step on footpath near the gate
• Update Risk Assessments
The date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting as 2nd September 2026 at 7.30pm
The Chair proposed the Council went into closed session - approved, Resolved
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.
The clerk left the meeting at 9pm
After a discussion, Cllr Unwin verbally resigned.
The Chair closed the meeting at 9.50pm