Minutes 2025

Leasingham and Roxholm Parish Council

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of Leasingham and Roxholm Parish Council held at the Community Building, Spring Lane Playing Field on Monday 08 September 2025.

Present:  Chair:  Jenny Bailey

Councillors:  Angie Adams, Callum Chambers, Colin Hibberd, Linda Melloy and Steven Milligan

Also in attendance:  Cty Councillor Richard Wright and NK District Councillor Jim Clarke

In attendance:  Mr Eddie Findlay, Clerk to Leasingham and Roxholm Parish Council

Five members of the public were in attendance.

At 7:00 pm the Chair declared the meeting open.

95.  To receive apologies for absence and reasons given, i.a.w. Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
Cllr Arnold was unable to attend and their reasons were made known to the Council.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the reasons for absence from Cllr Arnold.
Proposed by Cllr Chambers, seconded by Cllr Adams and approved unanimously.

96.  To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
None were declared at this time.

97.  Public Forum and reports from District and County Councillors.
There were three representatives from Leasingham Junior Football Club, the Secretary, Welfare Officer and Groundsman.  The Leasingham field was covered in long deep cracks and numerous animal scrapings on the upper surface.  Due to the current poor condition of the grassed surface (rabbits and long spells of dry weather) they had secured a 6 week ‘emergency’ period at RAFC Cranwell.  This had been in place for two weeks so far.  If safe pitches could not be prepared over the next few weeks, the Club may need to find a new home.  They had had an offer of a licensed pest control officer to carry out a cull of rabbits causing some of the surface damage.
They also had volunteers on standby to assist is spreading topsoil (they had machinery and could supply some) to fill both the dry weather cracks, and animal scrapings.
Cllr Milligan, in conjunction with the Football Club, was looking to investigate possible FA assistance in future proofing the ground against further animal damage and weather damage.
The Football requested additional bags of pea-gravel and topsoil to assist in pitch repair.
They also requested the far bank be cut back, which the Clerk would approach the Grounds Maintenance contractor to carry out the work.  The Football Club asked if anything had been done to repair the toilet door lock.  This had been checked a number of times, by various people, and no actual faults had been experienced.  It had been noticed that the door had an internal double lock and felt that it was most likely being double locked and then only doing one turn to unlock, making them believe the door was faulty.  The Clerk would produce a sign to be adhered to the door.
The request for an outside tap would be discussed at a later point.

Cty Cllr Wright noted that, in addition to the dissolution of the Flood Resilience Committee, the new County Council had also discontinued the Transport Committee.  However at a Highways scrutiny meeting, he managed to raise t eh issue of the 50mph limit along the Leasingham stretch of the A15.  He challenged the KSI matrix approach to road safety and had got an assurance that the limit would be re-assessed.
He also report from that meeting that a revised train service between Sleaford and Lincoln was being considered to try to reduce connection wait times and provide a slightly later service between the two destinations.

D/Cllr Clarke gave details on grants becoming available for the purchase of community fruit trees, with the application period open between 15-Sep and 20-Oct-2025.

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98.  Notes of the ordinary meeting of Leasingham and Roxholm Parish Council held at the Community Building at the Playing Field on Monday 11 August 2025 to be approved as Minutes.
Action:  Council RESOLVED that the notes of the ordinary meeting of Leasingham and Roxholm Parish Council held at the Community Building at the Playing Field on Monday 11 August 2025 be approved as Minutes.
Proposed by Cllr Melloy, seconded by Cllr Adams and approved unanimously.

99.  Receive reports from the Councillors and the Clerk in relation to the minutes and other Council matters.
No resolutions may be passed under this item but requests for matters to be placed on the next agenda can be made.

Councillors.
i.  Cllr Adams had attended the Village Hall Committee Meeting and reported that no update was available for the parcel of land being gifted to the Village Hall.
The car park was in need of repair in places and they were querying who may be responsible.  Looking at the lease, under para 3. it was intimated that the “lessees” were responsible for both the Hall and car park.

ii.  Cllr Hibberd said that two bus stop posts were severely corroded and would report them via Fix My Street.

iii.  Cllr Milligan was looking to arrange a delivery of sand for the Emergency Store, to be delivered on Friday 19-Sep-2025 at a time to deconflict with school traffic.  He would notify people of timings if they were able to assist.
Cllr Milligan reported that at the Leasingham and District Horticultural Show, held in the Village Hall on Sunday 31-Aug-2025, the Villager of the Year Award was presented to Mr Norman Anderson, from the nominations received and based on a decision by the panel.

Clerk.

i.  The Poppy Wreath, from the Royal British Legion had been ordered and was due for dispatch sometime this week.

100.  Financial Matters.
a.  Approve payments made since the last meeting.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the payments made since the last meeting.
Proposed by Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Chambers and approved unanimously.

b.  Approve the payments of invoices etc. as listed on the Payments to be Authorised sheet.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the payments listed.
Proposed by Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Melloy and approved unanimously.

c.  Approve the bank reconciliation for August 2025.
At the end of August 2025, the bank accounts stood at £73,945.82 which included £24,675.35 on behalf of the Community Benefit Fund and £ 5,228.55 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), leaving £44,041.92 as Council money.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation for August 2025.
Proposed by Cllr Chambers, seconded by Cllr Bailey and approved unanimously.

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d.  Consider the cost of printing the Emergency Storage flyers.
The Clerk explained that the provider, agreed at the last meeting was unable to provide UK bank account, only an IBAN (International Bank Account Number).  To use this service, Lloyds would charge the Council £15.00 due to the nature of the Council Bank Account.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve using Castle Print to produce the required flyers for at least 770 properties at a cost of no more than £150.00.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Adams and approved unanimously.

e.  Consider an additional signatory for the Parish Council’s Lloyds Bank accounts.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve Cllr Colin Hibberd to be an additional bank signatory.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Adams and approved unanimously.

f.  Consider any Community Benefit Fund Applications.
An application had been received from the Junior Football Club for a £500.00 grant towards a ride on mower (£3,000.00 approx.).  The mower would be in conjunction with the hand mower currently in use to keep the pitches cut to a suitable length.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the award of the requested amount subject to proof of purchase from the Football Club (grant would then be awarded) and should the Club leave Leasingham as their home venue (see minute ref: 97. Page 33-2025) within the next two years, then the grant would need to be repaid.
Proposed by Cllr Chambers, seconded by Cllr Hibberd and approved unanimously.

101.  Planning Matters.
a.  25/0901/HOUS - Erection of summerhouse (retrospective).  Location:  9 The Square Leasingham Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8LA.
The Parish Council had no comments, or objections to this application.

102.  Correspondence.

a.  NKDC Planning Application notification for 25/0901/HOUS.  Circulated 18-Aug-2025.

b.  LALC e-news 20250815.  Circulated 18-Aug-2025.

c.  LALC e-news.  Circulated 03-Sep-2025.

d.  LCC Parish Council Community Newsletter from LCC.  Circulated 26-Aug-2025

e.  NKDC Parish and Town Council Forum 06-Nov-2025.  Circulated 03-Sep-2025.

f.  Leasingham and District Horticultural Craft Show.  Circulated 03-Sep-2025.

g.  LALC Training Bulletin.  Circulated 08-Sep-2025.

103.  Receive a report on the condition of the playing field and consider a course of action.
Following a lengthy debate Council agreed that a cull at this time was not the preferred course of action and they would investigate more humane deterrents.  It was felt that the influx of rabbits was probably due to the man-made destruction of their previous habitat caused by the 9 dwellings development opposite the play area.
It was also felt that a majority of the poor condition was due to the long dry spells of hot weather, which was exacerbated by the rabbits.
Action:  Council RESOLVED not approve a cull at this time, but would sanction Football Club volunteers to try and restore the playing surface and would provide a number of bags of top soil and bags of pea-gravel.  The pea-gravel was to be used to fill the dry weather created cracks, with at least 2” of top soil to complete the fill.  Animal scraping should be top soil only.
Cllr Milligan, in conjunction with the Football Club would investigating funding from the Football Foundation.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Chambers and approved unanimously.

Cllr Hibberd left the meeting at 8:30 pm.

104.  Consider the need for a shelter/shaded area in the play area.
It was felt that following the extended period of sunny weather this year, a structure, to provide shelter and shade be consider for 2026.
The matter would look to be included in the budget for FY2026-2027.

105.  Confirm the date of the next meeting.
The next meeting is planned for Monday 13 October 2025.

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106.  To resolve to go into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act  1960, as amended by Section 100 of the Local Government Act 1972 to discuss the following matters.
a.  Employment matters – Local Government Services Pay Award.
b.  Play area paint issues.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED to go into Closed Session to consider the items above.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Milligan and approved unanimously.

This part of the meeting closed 8:35 pm.

The meeting continued in the absence of press and public at 8:35 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.  Employment matters – Local Government Services Pay Award.
Action:  Council RESOLVED that from 01-Oct-2025, they would align the Parish Operative and the Litter Picker to the Local Government Service Spinal Column Point 3 pay.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Chambers and approved unanimously.

b.  Play area painting issue.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve paying compensation towards the footwear items irrevocably paint marked due to a slight maintenance oversight.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Chambers and approved unanimously.

The meeting closed at 8:45 pm.

Signature:  Original Signed

Printed Name:  Cllr Jenny Bailey

Date:  13 October 2025

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