2025 Meetings

DRAFT NOT YET APPROVED AS MINUTES

North Scarle Parish Council

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of North Scarle Parish Council held at the North Scarle Village Hall, South Scarle Lane on Monday 20 October 2025 at 7:00pm.

Present:  Cllr Kate Ward, along with D/Cllr Chris Johnson and D/Cllr Richard Goldson acting as Parish Councillors, as direct by NKDC, to allow North Scarle Parish Council to be quorate.

Cllr Robert Cobb, Cllr John Houghton, Cllr Paul Munnelly and Cllr Ben Wray joined North Scarle Parish Council from Minute ref: 904. page 208.

Also Present:  Eddie Findlay (Locum Clerk)

22 members of the public were in attendance.

Public Forum

MOP 1 – queried a sentence in the draft notes for the September meeting which they felt did not reflect what was said.  It was agreed that that line would be removed.

MOP 2 – asked if there was any update on when/if, the next edition of North Scarle Matters would be available.  The Locum Clerk reported that that due to the recent change in the previous Editor’s personal circumstances, they no longer wished to continue with publishing the North Scarle Matters newsletter.  It is hope that once the new Council is settled, along with a new Clerk/RFO, then the North Scarle Matters could be re-started.

The meeting opening with the first item at 7:07 pm.

899.  Election of a Chair for the current meeting.  Signing of Acceptance of Office.
Cllr Johnston proposed Cllr Ward to act as Chair for the current meeting.  Seconded by Cllr Goldson.  Cllr Ward was willing to act as Chair for the current meeting.
Cllr Ward sign an Acceptance of Office, as Chair.

900.  Apologies for Absence.
To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk prior to the meeting, in accordance with Local Gov. Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
All Cllr were present.

901.  Declarations of Interests.
To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
Both D/Cllrs declared an interest in as much as they are also District Councillors so may be limited on discussing and voting on some items.

902.  Consider the appointment of a Locum Clerk as provided by the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC), hours to be worked and the related payments for those services.
Applications for the vacant post of Clerk/RFO would be considered later under Closed Session.  In the interim, LALC had appointed Mr Eddie Findlay to act as Locum.  The LALC Terms of Reference and Agreement had been circulated.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the Terms of Reference and Agreement for the Locum Clerk.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Goldston and approved unanimously.

903.  Notes of the ordinary meeting of North Scarle Parish Council, held on Wednesday 10 September 2025 to be approved as Minutes.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the minutes, as amended following discussion during the Public Forum.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Goldson and approved unanimously.

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904.  Consider any applications received for Co-Option as a Parish Councillor.
Four applications had been received and circulated to all current Councillors acting on behalf of North Scarle Parish Council.  All were present at the meeting and made themselves known to the meeting.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the co-option of Mr Rob Cobb, Mr John Houghton, Mr Paul Munnelly and Mr Ben Wray.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Johnston and approved unanimously.
Cllr Cobb, Cllr Houghton, Cllr Munnelly and Cllr Wray joined the Council table and signed Declaration of Acceptance of Office Forms.
Register of Members Interest and Code of Conduct forms would be circulated post meeting.
As North Scarle Parish Council were now quorate, D/Cllr Chris Goldson and D/Cllr Richard Johnson stepped down from their role as Parish Councillors.  The Chair thanked both D/Cllr for their time in this matter.

905.  Receive reports from District and County Councillors.
D/Cllr Goldson congratulated all the new Councillors and wished them all, every success.
The Local Government Reorganisation was ongoing, and D/Cllr Johnston expressed his disappointment with the lack of collaboration across the County between the seven major bodies.  They all seemed to be “doing their own thing”.  With the unification, there was a real worry over the loss of face to face interaction between people at Parish and Town Council level and Cllrs from the new authority, or authorities.

906.  Receive a report from the Clerk with regard to Correspondence received and other matters
a)  The Clerk/RFO vacancy closed for applications as of Monday 13-Oct-2025.  8 applications for the vacant post had been received.  These will be reviewed later under Closed Session.
b)  The Locum Clerk had submitted an Invoice, for £210.80, to NKDC for the 2025/2026 Litter Picking Grant.  Payment was received by the 10-Oct-2025.
c)  Fallen tree on School Lane, as report to Clerk 06-Oct-2025, was cleared and removed by Environment Agency 10-Oct-2025.
d)  Replacement ariel on the flow meter at the end of School Lane has been replaced and repositioned on 30-Sep-2025 and is functioning ok.
e)  The Clerk was aware of the missing solar panel on the Speed Indicator Device on School Lane and had only just been made aware of a quote from Elan City.  The item would be on the next agenda for financial consideration.

907.Financial Matters.

a.  To consider and approve the payments made since the last meeting.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the list of payments made since the last meeting.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Cobb and approved unanimously.

b.  To consider and approve the payments set out on the Accounts for Payment Sheet.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the list of payments set out on the Accounts for Payment sheet.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Wray and approved unanimously.

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c.  To consider and approve the bank reconciliation for end of September 2025.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation for end of September 2025.

Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Cobb and approved unanimously.

908.  Planning Matters.

a.  25/0916/LBC – Repair north-east roof and remove conservatory (room G4), at Red House Farm Spalford Lane North Scarle.  Approved by NKDC 08-Oct-2025.

b.  25/1082/VARCON - Application to remove condition 2 (agricultural use) attached to planning permission NK 9170 - Erection of dwelling, Wigsley Road, North Scarle, at Birch Lea Wigsley Road North Scarle.  Comments required with NKDC by Friday 07-Nov-2025.

North Scarle Parish Council had no comments, or objections to this application.

c.  24/1398/FUL – Erection of a stable block, at Equestrian Land, Chapel Lane, North Scarle.  Extension for comments granted till 22-Oct-2025.

North Scarle Parish Council had no comments, or objections to this application.

909.  Village Hall update.  As per minute ref: 883, 10-Sep-2025.
Cllr Ward attended the recent Village Hall Annual General Meeting, which was described as a very positive and constructive gathering.  Whilst the Committee, along with a number of dedicated volunteers, continue to ensure the effective operation of the Village Hall, more proactive involvement across all areas would be appreciated.  It was noted that fostering a closer and more collaborative relationship between the Parish Council and the Village Hall Committee would be mutually beneficial and further support the ongoing success of the facility.

910.  Emergency Planning update.  As per minute ref: 886, 10-Sep-2025.
The evening of this meeting was the two year anniversary of the village flood caused by Storm Babet.
Both FANS and an Emergency Planning Committee looked at ways to mitigate future incidents.
A flood kit was obtained and was currently stored, locally, in an allotment shed, including a bulk bag of sand and sandbags.  All members of the Emergency Planning Committee had now left the village.  The Clerk would contact Lincolnshire Resilience Forum to see if there was a village Emergency Plan registered with them.  If not, one could be considered, if a group of volunteers could come forward.

911.  Jubilee Gardens update.  As per minute ref: 887, 10-Sep-2025.
The Clerk/RFO had been unable to locate as comms with Noble Foods regarding a volunteer clear up of Jubilee Gardens.
* Post meeting note.  A member of the public had had some comms from Noble Foods on another matter and passed an email across to the Clerk.

912.  Resolve to agree a provisional date for the next ordinary Council meeting.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve Monday 17 November 2025 as the date for the next ordinary Council meeting to be held at the Village Hall, starting at 7:00 pm.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Cobb and approved unanimously.

Cllr Cobb asked, if, prior to moving into Closed Session if Council could give a brief outline of where things were with regard to the new lease between NKDC and North Scarle Parish Council regarding the Heritage Room and the subsequent sub-lease between North Scarle Parish Council and the Post Office.  The NKDC lease was due to be available in the near future.  The Terms and Conditions were to be the same, or very similar to those currently in place.  An early viewing would be appreciated by all.

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913.  To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the public bodies (admission to meetings) act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be discussed in relation to the following matters:
a.  Heritage Room Tenancy Agreement.
b.  Staffing Matters – consider a course of action with regard to the current Clerk vacancy and recruitment thereof (interviews etc).
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to go into Closed Session to consider the items above.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Cobb and approved unanimously.

This part of the meeting closed 7:45 pm.

The meeting continued in the absence of press and public at 7:50 pm.

(Not for publication by virtue of section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the items being of a confidential nature.)

Confidential Minutes.

a.  Heritage Room Tenancy Agreement.
Council confirmed that a new lease between NKDC and North Scarle Parish Council regarding the Heritage Rooms was due to be available in the near future.  The Terms and Conditions were to be the same, or very similar to those currently in place.  Cllr Cobb would contact NKDC to seek the lease at the earliest opportunity.

b.  Staffing Matters – Consider a course of action with regard to the current Clerk/RFO vacancy and recruitment thereof (interviews etc).
Eight applications had been received, which were thoroughly reviewed.
It was suggested a short-list was agreed and these would be invited for invited.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to invite 4 applicants to interviews which would hope to take place on Wednesday 12-Nov-2025, starting in the morning.  The interview panel would be Cllr Kate Ward and Cllr Ben Wray, with the Locum Clerk as an Independent Panel Witness.
Proposed by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Cobb and approved unanimously.

The Clerk would contact all applicants accordingly.

The meeting closed at 8:30 pm.

Signature:          

Printed Name:                

Date:                    17 November 2025

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