7th October 2026 minutes
Minutes are in DRAFT FORM until approved at the following meeting.
SCOTHERN PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the October Meeting of Scothern Parish Council, held in Scothern Methodist Chapel,
7th October 2026 7.30pm
Present: Cllrs Jane Johnson (Chair), Robert Creaser, Barnaby Patchett
In attendance: Lisa Brooks-Sleight (clerk/RFO), 4 residents up to 176/2026
173/2026 Apologies for Absence -to receive apologies with any reasons given.
Received with reason from Cllr Jackie Atkins, Derek Canton & Sian Watt Jones
174/2026 Representatives Report -to receive reports from the District & County Councillors.
175/2026 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. The Chair suspended the meeting.
The residents present raised issues/concerns of flooding; Sudbrooke Rd/Craypool Lane/Church St junction safety concerns with parked cars; cleaning of the bus shelters; the worrying amount of trees being cut and wishing to plant more trees in the village.
The Chair reopened the meeting
176/2026 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.
177/2026 Minutes of last Meeting - the notes of the meeting held on 2nd September 2026 were approved as a true & correct record. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
178/2026 Clerks Report –
• There has been an issue with an overflowing Dog waste bin on Orchard Close – all sorted by WLDC
• The notice boards at Grange Park & on Dunholme Rd have been cleaned & painted
• Grass cutting agreement with LCC –a purchase order has been received and invoice sent
• The request to replace 4 old, worn Street name plates was sent to WLDC and they have been approved.
179/2026 Play Area - to receive the monthly play area report and approve any future actions required. Received with no immediate actions required. Wood chips purchased as recommended in the Annual report.
180/2026 Office 365 & Microsoft exchange server – to receive an update and discuss & consider the future requirements of the parish councils IT & email provider. Information & quote received with a new provider but would require assistance from the existing provider to proceed. More information required before a decision can be made.
181/2026 Highways - To discuss and receive any issues/updates and decide future actions.
War Memorial step -site meeting held in September with a Highways Officer to discuss options available, suggestions made, need to obtain a quote but would require Structures Team permission.
Craypool Lane/Church St junction – no further updates
182/2026 War Memorial step – to receive & consider quote to provide steps for safety. Quote received from Ian Moore Contracting with spec. suggested from site meeting with Highways, approved. Proposed & seconded, Resolved Quote & spec. to be sent to Highways for approval.
183/2026 Grange Park working group – to review & approve the Terms of Reference and the Risk assessment policy. Approved, proposed & seconded, Resolved
184/2026 Grange Park working group – to receive the meeting notes from July and consider any future actions including the request to rotavate a section of the wildflower area. All noted. Quote received to rotavate area, the council refused the request & quote and would obtain alternative options before Spring next year.
185/2026 Grant Funding 2027/28- to review & approve the policy. Approved. Proposed & seconded, Resolved Grant applications from village organisations to be received by 31st October 2026, to be considered at the November meeting.
186/2026 Remembrance Sunday Wreath – to approve purchase under S137. Approved to purchase from The Poppy Shop online. Proposed & seconded, Resolved. Cllr Johnson to place the Wreath at the Remembrance Service on behalf of the residents in the parish.
187/2026 SLCC Membership – to discuss & approve the renewal fee under the power of The Local Government Act 1972 s 143 (1) (b). Approved to pay half of the fee. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
188/2026 Village Maintenance – to receive any current issues and discuss future actions including: Cllr Creaser presented the Assets Inspection Report -30/09/26. No immediate actions required
189/2026 New Notice Board on Sudbrooke Rd – to receive the details & quote from Pelican Trust Ltd. Ellison Boulters head happy to have a notice board outside the school grounds. Quote received and approved. Proposed & seconded. Resolved
190/2026 The Pensions Regulator – legal duties update, 3rd Anniversary of re-enrolment date deadline 4th March 2027 - noted
191/2026 To receive reports/updates
a. Community Speed Watch/Speed device monthly data – Cllr Creaser reported on the monthly data report
b. Police – no report
c. Village flooding issues – Craypool Lane/Orchard Close. LCC Highways committed an off-programme jetting investigation job ( 5895408) which will include 8 drainage gullies on the length of Orchard Close and starts outside Hollybush House. Information forwarded to homeowner and reply sent to Cllr J Smith.
d. Lindum Homes – West Thorne Grange showhouse open. To arrange a site meeting for all councillors.
e. SRC – meeting next week.
f. Community Emergency plan – 21st November 2026, 10.30-11.30am
g. Christmas Lights competition – lights to be PAT tested , Cllr Patchett to enquire about a tree.
h. Christmas Fayre – Cllr Johnson & Atkins had a meeting with the SRC & St Germains Church to discuss details
i. Remembrance Sunday – road closure request submitted to LCC.
192/2026 Finance
To approve & sign the monthly accounts for October payments (see monthly meeting Finance sheets for full details) with the corresponding bank statements up to 30/9/26 - bank balance of £58,070.01 and to nominate 2 councillors to authorise the online bank payments.
Proposed & seconded, Resolved Cllrs Johnson & Creaser were nominated to authorise the bank payments.
Citaglen Ltd sign builder -Defib mins166/2026 26.70
Vistaprint signs mins161/2026a 40.93
CPA Horticulture play area wood chips mins159/2026c 215.00
HMRC PAYE + NI 731.46
Pelican Trust September Scothern News printing 266.25
PKF Littlejohn External Audit 378.00
Springbok IT September invoice 64.92
L Brooks-Sleight Salary/expenses 1166.53
Ian Moore Contracting Monthly grass contract 947.10
Multidata Monthly VH internet September 54.36
SLCC Annual membership 100.00
N Sneath 3x notice board re-varnishing 70.00
Poppy Shop Remembrance wreath S137 min186/2026 27.50
193/2026 AGAR 2025/26 – to receive & note the Completion of the limited assurance review for year ending 31 March 2026. The Notice of Conclusion of Audit was published on the 21 September 2026 along with the certified AGAR sections 1, 2 & 3 on the PC website and notice board. To confirm that the notice will be published for 21 days and sections 1, 2 & 3 of the published AGAR will remain available for public access for a period of not less than 5 years from 21 September 2026. Proposed & seconded, Resolved
194/2026 Planning - To receive any decisions and discuss any applications received from WLDC
Ref: WL/2026/0084, planning application to erect 2no. additional poultry houses. Grange Farm, Station Rd, Langworth – no comments
Ref: WL/2026/00320, planning to erect a garden room, 18 Heathlea. WLDC Granted with conditions
Ref: WL/2025/00739, full planning, Barlings Solar Farm, Dunholme Rd. WLDC updated documents on planning portal & Agreement to extension of time to 12th November 2026
195/2026 LALC Training Scheme - To approve any training requests by members. Awaiting dates from Cherry Willingham PC before contacting LALC with dates & venue.
196/2026 Correspondence for information (sent prior)
• LALC – E-news & Training
• NALC Bulletin
• Town and Parish Newsletter September
• WLDC Parish Newsletter
197/2026 Correspondence/issues from residents – to receive and discuss any future actions
a. Grass cutting on the playing field – replied and confirmed the grass would be cut
b. Craypool Lane flooding/AW/Highways – email forwarded to Cllr J Smith
c. Main St – carriageway resurfacing works/kerbs – replied and advised to report on Fix my street
d. Heritage Orchard – request for surplus apples to make jam
198/2026 Agenda items for next meeting (by 28th October) and any updates/points from members
The date & time of the next Parish Council Meeting as 4th November 2026 at 7.30pm
The Chair closed the meeting at 9.15pm