March 2025 Minutes
MINUTES OF ANCASTER PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 10 MARCH
2025 AT 7.30PM IN THE PARISH HALL ANNEXE.
Present. Cllr Sayer (Chair) Cllr Leighton (Vice-Chair)
Cllrs Pearsey, Barker, Rock, Lovett, Hollick, and Fleming.
In Attendance. Country Cllr Martin and Denise Gascoyne Parish Clerk
Public Forum. No members of the public present.
The meeting began at 7.30pm
1.Chair’s Welcome
Cllr D Sayer welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.Apologies for absence.
a.Apologies for absence with valid reasons had been received from Cllrs Clarke,
Ferguson, and Dr Entwistle. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved that apologies for absence with valid reasons be accepted from Cllrs Clarke,
Ferguson and Dr Entwistle.
3.Declarations of Interest.
There were none.
4.To approve and accept the notes of the meeting held on 17 February 2025 as a true
record. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved that the notes of the meeting held on 17 February be accepted as a true record
and these were signed by the Chair.
5.Report from County Cllr/District Cllr.
a. County Cllr Martin had spoken with Anglian Water re the mains sewerage to West
Willoughby. The did a search on the 5-year plan and West Willoughby had not been
Included in the plan. He said this would be a long-term project, but we could start the
ball rolling. Cllr Sayer asked for confirmation of what the criteria was to force this to
happen assuming it was not just in the gift of Anglian Water.
b.County Cllr Martin said the Ancaster Free School Transport Boundary was a
complicated issue. He said if re elected in May he would fight for a proper review of the
system. It was ludicrous that some children could get free school transport and some
had to pay.
c. A joint letter had been sent from Ancaster and Wilsford Parish Council to New Earth
Solutions (West) Limited and copied to a number of agencies. No reply had been
received, however it was noted that litter picking was taking place around the site. County
Cllr Martin said that a road sweeper would be deployed around the site. The highway itself
was unenforceable by the planning department as not on the planning permission. It was
noted that littering is an offence so surely this issue is an offence by someone.
Cllr Fleming was concerned that the road sweeper had been through the village after the
recent burst water main. Unfortunately, the dust and grime had dried in so this made no
real difference.
A short conversation took place re the upcoming Mayoral and County elections taking
Place in May, and proposed reorganisation of the boundaries. By 2028 district councils
would cease to exist and parish councils would be given more powers.
6.Chair Update.
a. A letter signed by both Ancaster and Wilsford Parish Council and copied to various
agencies had been sent to The Managing Director of New Earth Solutions (West) Ltd.
This was discussed in 5(c) above.
b. Our current electricity contract ends on 12 December 2025. Prices would be
investigated for the best deal.
7.Planning.
a. S24/1841 Planning permission for proposed rear and side extension Co-Op. FOR
INFORMATION ONLY.
b. S25/0202 Planning application to vary condition 2 (approved plans) North of Sudbrook
House. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to make no comment on this application.
c. A letter had been received from a resident who asked why no solar panels were
included in the application for the proposed read and side extension at the Co-Op. It was
agreed to ask the Co-Op if they would consider installing solar panels to boost their green
credentials.
8.Highways/Policing/Speed Watch.
a. The chargers for the SID (Speed Indicator Device) were appearing to be very difficult
to locate. The original supplier had not responded to the request. Therefore, the Clerk
would chase again.
b. The village gates in Ancaster, Sudbrook and West Willoughby needed cleaning.
The previous contractor had passed away, and we needed to ensure that a new
contractor had a licence to work on the highway.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to ask a window cleaner or similar as long as they have a licence to work on
the highway.
9.Parish Clerk Update.
a. The Clerk confirmed that SKDC Neighbourhood Assistant had put up ‘dog fouling’ signs
around the village.
b. The Annual Meeting was set for 19 May at 7.00pm followed immediately by the Annual
General meeting and Parish Council meeting.
c. It appeared that only one council supplied Litter Picking Kits and you could not obtain
them online.
d. The Clerk confirmed that as from 31 March the current contractor would no longer be
emptying dog bins. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved: to contact other parish councils in South Kesteven to see who emptied their
dog bins.
10.Correspondence.
a. Railfuture Newsletter
b. LALC e-news – circulated to all Cllrs.
c. LCC Town and Parish Council Update February 2025 – circulated to all Cllrs.
d. ‘Interested in becoming a Cllr’ 06.04.24 6pm Council Chamber Grantham – circulated
to all Cllrs.
e. NBB Recycled Furniture.
f. Temporary Traffic Restriction Ancaster Level Crossing 01.04.25 to 02.04.25 10pm-6am
g. Glasdon Catalogue
h. Provision of Sandbags/Aqua sacs SKDC - We still have 6 sandbags in the cemetery
hut, and these are still useable. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to investigate the purchase of Aqua Bags.
i. The Clerk
j. Clerk and Councils Direct
11.Cemetery/Newton Meadow/Orchard.
a. The management agreement had been received and the invoice for grass cutting had
been submitted for approval in support of Natural England payment.
12.Grass Cutting/Grounds Maintenance.
a. It was suggested we position the Owl and Bat Boxes at the back of the equipment hut.
It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to place these boxes at the back of the equipment hut.
b. The LCC Grass cutting schedule had been received. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to continue to cover existing scope of cutting and observe SKDC cutting responsibilities within the Parish.
13.Parish Hall.
a. Discussions took place as to converting the annexe into office space and solar panels
on the roof. As these were initial thoughts discussions would continue at future meetings.
b. The electrical report and requirements had been received. It was proposed, seconded,
and
Resolved to accept the price of £272.08 for the necessary work.
14.Report from Cllrs.
15. Playing Field.
a. SKDC had been to visit the track and verge between Hillside and the playing field.
Although SKDC owned the track as far as the last bungalow, it was believed the verge
would be probably classed as ‘no man’s land’ SKDC were investigating and would report
back.
16.Finance.
a. The Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook to 28 February 2025 had been
circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to accept the Bank Reconciliations, Bank Transfers and Cashbook and these
were signed by the Chair.
b. A retrospective Approval List had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed,
seconded and
Resolved to accept the following retrospective payment.
SKDC Trade Waste Bins £28.16
b. The Approval List for staff payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed,
seconded and
Resolved to accept the Approval List for Staff Payments amounting to £1853.24 and
authorise the Clerk to make the payments.
c. The Approval List for BACS/DD Payments had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was
proposed, seconded and
Resolved to accept the Approval List fort BACS/DD Payments and authorise the Clerk to
make the following payments.
|
Andew Newton |
Mesh etc |
£14.55 |
|
Anwick Garden Centre |
Bee friendly perennials |
£252.82 |
|
Belton Garden Centre |
Compost etc |
£119.99 |
|
C Bradford (expenses) |
Village Hall Misc |
£121.56 |
|
Who Let’s Your Dog Out |
Dog Bin Emptying |
£162.00 |
|
British Gas |
Electricity |
£168.31 |
|
S.K.D.C |
Garden Waste 2025-2026 |
£97.00 |
17.Policies and Procedures.
a. A Co-option Application form had been circulated to all Cllrs. It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to accept the Co-option Application Form and a copy would be placed on the website.
18.Training.
a. Cllrs were reminded if they would like training to contact the clerk in the first instance.
19.Date of Next Meeting.
a. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 14 April at 7.30pm in the parish hall annexe.
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 business to be transacted.
a.It was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to advertise for a handyman to be employed by the council.
b. As the S106 monies would be the topic for the Annual Meeting to be held in May it was suggested we provide flyers to be handed out.
After a short discussion it was proposed, seconded and
Resolved to continue researching the projects discussed from the S106 monies.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.45pm
Signed ………………………….
Chair Ancaster Parish Council
14 April 2025
It is important to understand that the information given above represents notes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 10 March 2025 and do not become Minutes of Ancaster Parish Council until accepted or otherwise at the next Parish Council Meeting.