2025 Minutes

MINUTES OF ANCASTER, SUDBROOK, AND WEST WILLOUGHBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 17 NOVEMBER 2025 IN THE PARISH HALL ANNEXE AT 7.30PM

Present: Cllr Sayer (Chair) Cllr Leighton (Vice-Chair)

Cllrs  Fleming, Rock, Hollick, and Dr Entwistle.

In Attendance: 2 members of the public, County Cllr  Martin, District Cllr Stokes, and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk

Public Forum  

Mercia Drive/Charles Avenue/Arne Close – A parishioner described the state of these roads. They needed to be completely resurfaced. Minor repairs to potholes had been done near the Primary School, but these seemed to have made the situation worse. County Cllr Martin agreed to visit the site with the Highways Manager and report back.

Footpath A153 Flooding -  The Parish Council were aware of this problem and has reported this in the past. When it floods parishioners do have to walk on the road. The Chair reminded everyone that any highways issues can be reported on Fix My Street and action is usually taken. County Cllr Martin would report this problem direct to Highways and it would be added to Fix My Street.

Dog Bins Overflowing – The Chair told the meeting that two new larger bins had been purchased, one for Mercia Drive and one for across the sands. Depending on the weather these should be installed this week. 

Zebra Crossing – The Council was asked about the possibility of a Zebra Crossing on Ermine Street. The Chair said we had requested this in the past, one near the Post Office and one near the Co-Op. However, we did not meet the necessary criteria. County Cllr Martin did agree to request one again.

The meeting began at 8.00pm

1.Chair’s Welcome.

The Chair Cllr Sayer welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.Apologies for Absence.

Apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received from Cllrs Clarke, Ferguson, and Barker. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to accept apologies for absence with valid reasons from Cllrs Clarke, Ferguson, and Barker.

3.Declarations of Interest

Declarations of Interest were received from Cllr Sayer Item 20. Cllrs Entwistle and Hollick Item 8(b) and Item 17(a).

4. To approve and accept as a true record the notes of the Parish Council Meeting  held on 20 October 2025. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to accept the notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 20 October 2025 and these were signed by the  Chair.

5.Report from County Cllr Martin/District Cllr Stokes

a. County Cllr Martin reported that no further action would be taken to restrict parking in the layby on Rookery Lane as after site visits no cars were parking in the layby and therefore not causing any restrictions. Cllrs disagreed with Highways findings and photographs would be taken as evidence and forwarded to Highways.

b. The consultation for the proposed 40mph Speed Limit at West Willoughby ended on  14 November. Therefore, the speed limit should be implemented within the next few weeks.

c. Cllr Martin said he would be meeting with Highways to see if a solution could be found about the parking on Ermine Street near the bridge outside Charlestown.

d. District Cllr Stokes said a full Council Meeting will take place on Thursday to discuss the UK Government plans for a reorganisation of local council to replace the two-tier system. The process is expected to be implemented from 2028 and is intended to simplify council structures, improve efficiency, support economic growth, and strengthen devolution.

6.Vacancy for a Parish Cllr.

Former Parish Councillor George Parish asked to be co-opted back on the Parish Council. Cllrs welcomed Mr Parish back to the Council. He  filled in the Declaration of Office form and DPI Form and took his place at the table.

7.Chair Update

a. Cllrs were disappointed with no feedback from the recent fire at Mid Uk Recycling. However,  a Fire Report had been requested.

Cllr Sayer reported that ‘confetti’ like littering was occurring again. County Cllr Martin agreed to investigate.

b. The Chair confirmed that an abatement notice would be served by SKDC to the occupants of the land northside of Woodland Waters to prevent further unauthorised burning activities.

8.Planning

a. Pre-consultation documents relating to a forthcoming REG5 application for a telecommunications base station upgrade. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to make no comments.

b.PL/0081/25 Planning application for a single storey classroom black with ancillary accommodation Ancaster C of E Primary School. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to make no comments.

c. S25/2019 SKDC has no objections to planned upgrade to an existing telecommunications site land at Ancaster Karting and Paintball. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

d. Notification of Public Consultation Lane north of Wilsford Lane 24.11.25 to 07.12.25 for a further 68 properties on the current Bellway Estate.

e. S25/2132 Planning application for proposed conversion and extension of existing detached outbuilding into an annexe The Old Hall Sudbrook. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to make no comments.

9.Highways/Policing/Speed Watch

a. The Clerk had been investigating new Speed Indicator Devices(SIDs) Unfortunately, an individual SID would cost in the region of £3500 and at this time the Parish Council did not have the funds for this. The Clerk would continue to see if grants were available.

Cllr Parish suggested we start the Speed Watch initiative again. The Chair said Cllrs were disappointed with the feedback from the police and asked if we could get enough volunteers. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to put this on the agenda for the January meeting.

Cllr Sayer asked County Cllr Martin if he could contact the police as we had not seen a police officer in Ancaster for months and once again request the mobile van.

b. Photographs had been received from a resident in Sudbrook re HGVs in Sudbrook. It was not sure whether this was due to the recent roadworks at Carlton Scroop or they were taking a short cut or visiting farms etc. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to put it on the agenda in January.

c. The Clerk had requested the footpath from the A153 Rookery Lane to West Willoughby be cleared. It appears that the Big Clean is no longer in existence. LCC had replied with a reference number.

d. Cllr Parish asked if it was possible to get some litter picking equipment. He said there is a  lot of litter about and we should be looking at picking it up. The Clerk said she believed Andrew Newton may have the equipment and bags and ask him on his return from holiday.

10.Parish Clerk Update

a. A request had been received from a student to undergo paleontological fieldwork in the playing field. The Chair said there was a playing field meeting on Thursday and this had been referred to them.

b. A request had been received from Rauceby PC re Community Emergency Response Planning. It was agreed to reply and give them the Clerk details. 

It was also noted that when the fire had taken place at Mid UK no texts had been received from LCC Emergency Planning. It was therefore proposed, seconded and

Resolved to put the Emergency Plan on the agenda for January.

11.Correspondence

a. LALC e-news. Circulated to all  Cllrs.

b. Clerks & Councils Direct passed to Cllr Dr Entwistle

c. LCC Town and Parish Newsletter October 2025. Circulated to all  Cllrs.

d. Railfuture passed to Cllr Fleming

e. LCC Permit Consultation ends 10.12.25. Circulated to all Cllrs.

f. Edge IT October news – circulated to all Cllrs.

12.Cemtery/Newton Meadow/Orchard

a. It was noted that Natural England had requested our claim for expenses. This would be claimed before the next meeting.

13.Grass Cutting/Grounds Maintenance.

a. SKDC had reported that their Arborist would be cutting the tree back on the Playing Field Car Park. They had also said they would investigate the tree on the front of Angel Court.

14.Parish Hall.

a. To date the gutters had not been cleared at the Parish Hall. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to ask a contractor to quote for the work once the leaves have stopped falling.

15.Report from Cllrs.

a. Cllr Pearsey had sent her apologies so her report on Local Government Reorganisation would be deferred until the January meeting.

16.Finance.

a. The Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 31 October 2025  had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to approve the Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 31 October 2025. These were signed by the Chair.

b. The Approval List for Staff BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to accept the Approval List for Staff BACS Payments amounting to £1531.42 and authorise the Chair to sign and the Clerk to make the payments.

c. The Approval List for DD/BACS Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and

Resolved to accept the Approval List for DD/BACS Payments and authorise the Chair to sign and Clerk to make the following payments.

d. The Clerk confirmed the Community Cleaner Grant of £694.84 had been received. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

e. The Clerk confirmed the grass cutting grant of £1386.86 from LCC had been received. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

17.Playing Field

a. The tree work in the playing field bordering the school would be done on 24 November. FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

b. The playing field committee had said that trees bordering the playing field behind Hillside needed attention. The Clerk believed this was part of the land belonging to SKDC and had reported the problem.

18.Training.

a. The LALC Training Bulletin November had been circulated to all Cllrs. Cllrs were reminded if they wished to attend any training to contact the Clerk.

19.Date of next meeting

a. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 15 December 2025. This would be a Closed Meeting to set the Precept.

20.To resolve to exclude the media, press, and members of the public from the meeting in accordance with S.1(2) Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted regarding the Parish Hall Annexe.

An update on the progress of the refurbishment of the parish hall annexe was discussed. It was hoped the work would start in December/January.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.45pm