2nd September 2026 minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the September Meeting of Scothern Parish Council, held in Scothern Methodist Chapel,
2nd September 2026 at 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs Jane Johnson (Chair), Robert Creaser, Jackie Atkins, Barnaby Patchett, Derek Canton, Sian Watt Jones,
In attendance: Lisa Brooks-Sleight (clerk/RFO), Cllr Jane Smith (LCC) upto item 156/2026
153/2026 Apologies for Absence -to receive apologies with any reasons given. The resignation was received from Mark Unwin on the 31st July 2026, WLDC were notified and issued a Vacancy of Office Notice.
154/2026 Representatives Report -to receive reports from the District & County Councillors.
Cllr Jane Smith updated the council -the Local Government Reorganisation of Lincolnshire is paused; resurfacing works to take place on Sudbrooke Rd and she is seeking funding for new picnic tables for the Scothern Play area.
155/2026 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. None present
156/2026 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
157/2026 Minutes of last Meeting - the notes of the meeting held on 1st July 2026 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
158/2026 Clerks Report –
• Enquiry received from LCC of the owners of St Lukes Care Home, as they are arranging works replacing many of the older lighting columns along Dunholme Road, Main Street and Langworth Road in Scothern. Details of the sister company in Lincoln were passed on.
• Some issues with waste bins not being emptied, these were reported to WL and have since been emptied
• Following the resignation of Mark Unwin, WL were notified and issued a Vacancy Notice. We have now received a notification that the PC may now co-opt a new member, and a notice was published on 1st September 2026 to co-opt at the October meeting
159/2026 Play Area
a. To receive the monthly play area report and approve any future actions required – no immediate actions
b. To receive the Annual & Post Installation Inspection Report & to discuss & consider future actions – the report was circulated prior, low risk recommendations noted, medium risk items were addressed by Outdoor Play Ltd in August, some items to monitor within the monthly play area reports.
c. To receive & approve quotes for play bark chips – following the risk noted & recommendation from the Annual Report, quotes were obtained from 3 online companies, it was approved to order a 2000l bag of bark chips from CPA Horticulture for £179.17+vat. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
160/2026 Office 365 & Microsoft exchange server – to discuss and consider the future requirements of the parish councils IT & email provider and compared quotes received from companies offering the same as the current service. Information was presented from IT companies with options for gov.uk emails and Microsoft Office 365, the clerk to contact Cloud Next for further information and what the process involves changing companies. Also, to research the option to pay annually for the clerk’s Office 365.
161/2026 Communication Strategy – to consider & discuss future requirements. Cllr Johnson reported from the informal working group meeting held in August and will advertise an events program in the Scothern News.
a. Advertising banners – to receive & approve quotes. It was approved to purchase 2 banners- 1x to advertise monthly meetings and 1x with the new logo for approx. £35+vat from Vistaprint. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
b. Christmas Lights competition – to discuss & approve a prize. After a discussion, it was approved to have one prize £25 Scothern Nurseries voucher from the Chairs allowance. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
Cllr Patchett to ask the previous year’s judge to judge this year’s competition.
c. Christmas Fayre – to discuss & approve activity & costs. Cllr Johnson reported on the joint Christmas Fayre with the Village Hall & St Germains Church, and the PC have been asked to provide an activity for the children. Various activities were discussed and the PC approved to spend a maximum of £100 grant funding using S137 towards the activities and prizes. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
Cllr Johnson to attend further meetings with the village hall & St Germains Church to finalise details.
162/2026 Highways - To discuss and receive any issues/updates and decide future actions:
War Memorial step – Highways have rejected the request but have agreed to a meeting to discuss options;
Craypool Lane/Church St junction – this was assessed in July and will be assessed again this Autumn before a report is completed; Potholes on Craypool Lane have been repaired; Temporary Road closure notices received;
Response regarding the footpath between Scothern & Sudbrooke (west) – noted vegetation in places and some encroachment but it is not posing any safety issues and there is a path on the other side in a better condition. We have made note of this site and will pass to the assets team who deal with Siding sites so it may be considered going forward. Currently sites on the countywide siding programme in worse conditions. They will re investigate as required if this worsens and is re-reported;
An area off Dunholme Rd near St Germains Way – received residents’ complaints regarding builder’s rubbish dumped. This was reported to WL but say it’s not on Highways land.
163/2026 Risk Assessments – to review & approve. The following policies were reviewed & approved with no changes: Employee & Council members General assessment; Litter picking Risk Assessment; Training & Development; Health & Safety Policy. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
164/2026 Finance
To approve & sign the monthly accounts for July & August payments with the corresponding bank statements up to 27/8/26 - bank balance of £61,683.93 and to nominate 2 councillors to authorise the online bank payments. Proposed & seconded, Resolved Cllrs Patchett & Canton were nominated to authorise the bank payments.
Pelican Trust August Scothern News printing 266.25
Amazon Litter pickers/hoops mins166/2026 43.25
Springbok IT July invoice 64.92
LIVES CPR session grant donation mins145/2026 100.00
L Brooks-Sleight Salary/expenses 1001.10
refreshments CPR session mins145/2026 3.45
Ian Moore Contracting Monthly grass contract 1223.86
Painting white railings mins126/2026 492.00
Multidata Monthly VH internet August 54.36
LALC Annual Conference 2026 x1 mins150/2026 54.00
Replacement keys spare notice board keys x2 mins166/2026 10.05
Fast keys service spare notice board keys x4 mins166/2026 18.10
To be paid in September
Play Inspection Co. Post/Annual Play area inspection mins141/2026b 450.00
Pelican Trust Sept Scothern News printing 322.75
Springbok IT Contract 54.92
Multidata VH Broadband 54.36
L Brooks-Sleight Salary 1034.85
Ian Moore Contracting Grass Contract 1402.21
165/2026 NALC National Pay Award 2026/27 – to approve & implement the new NJC pay scales and backdate from 1st April 2026 as recommended by NALC. Approved, proposed & seconded, Resolved
166/2026 Village Maintenance – to receive any current issues and discuss future actions including:
- Notice Boards- to re-varnish before the winter. The clerk to instruct N Sneath, handyman to varnish the boards on Dunholme Rd and 2x Grange Park. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
- Notice boards keys update – spare keys purchased due to only one key per board at a cost of £23.45+vat
- Litter picking update & purchase of more pickers & hoops since last meeting. We now have regular volunteers litter picking in the village and needed more equipment which were purchased at £36.04+vat
- Update on quotes/repairs received since the last meeting: play area bench replacement to be fitted in September; all the white rails have been painted; the new post for the village shield post to be replaced in September; the replacement of the old fence near the main gate on Grange Park and the hard surface under the small gate to be completed in September.
- A new Defibrillator sign with What3words & address of site. A quote to replace the old Defib sign for approx. £22-£28 from The Sign Builder (Citaglen Ltd) to be compliant with current regulations was approved. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
- Salt bins: Cllr Creaser to check and report back on the salt bins
167/2026 Sudbrooke Neighbourhood Plan Review - Amended Basic Conditions Statement – Consultation to consider any comments. No further comments to submit.
168/2026 To receive reports/updates
a. Community Speed Watch/Speed device monthly data – Cllr Creaser reported on the recent speed data
b. Police – Cllr Canton reported on the latest crime report
c. Village flooding issues – Craypool Lane updated was circulated from a resident. Also, historical flooding reports were received from a resident on Orchard Close. These have been forwarded to Cllr J Smith and LCC Flood Team
d. Lindum Homes – West Thorne Grange. No current updates
e. SRC – meeting next week
f. Emergency plan – no current update
g. LIVES CPR Session – 10 residents attended, excellent feedback.
169/2026 Planning - To receive any decisions and discuss any applications received from WLDC. Nothing to receive.
170/2026 LALC Training Scheme - To approve any training requests by members.
LALC were contacted with the request for a refresher training session for all councillors. A similar request was received from another council and LALC happy to put on a joint training session for both. Both councils to liaise, for a date/venue before reporting back to LALC.
The clerk attended a free NALC Zoom session on AI in Councils in August and has booked on a free SLCC seminar in November on the new Digital AGAR.
171/2026 Correspondence for information (sent prior)
• LALC – E-news & Training
• NALC Bulletin
• Town and Parish
• WLDC Parish Newsletter
172/2026 Agenda items for next meeting (by 30th September) and any updates/points from members
Remembrance Sunday & Wreath, SLCC membership renewal, Grant Funding policy review, new notice board near the school on Sudbrooke Rd.
The date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting as 7th October 2026 at 7.30pm
The Chair closed the meeting at 9pm