Minutes 2026

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 12 January 2026.

Present:  Chair:  Jenny Bailey

Councillors:  Angie Adams, Graham Arnold, Steve Brown, Callum Chambers, Colin Hibberd, Linda Melloy and Steven Milligan

Also in attendance:  Cty Cllr Richard Wright and D/Cllr Jim Clarke

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

7 members of the public were in attendance.

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

1.  To receive apologies for absence and reasons given, i.a.w. Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 40.
All Councillors were present.

2.  To receive declarations of interest and to consider dispensation applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
Cllr Milligan declared an interest in minute ref: 7.b. as they are a payment recipient.

3.  Public Forum and reports from County and District Councillors.

MOP 1 – on behalf of Leasingham Junior Football Club, verbal details on the preferred location of a Football Club specific post box, as per minute ref: 10. page 4-2026.

They had around 18m of pipe to help move any excess water away from the front of the Community Building, when connected to the Titan submerged water pump.

It was suggested that mesh fencing along the fence line between the housing development and the play area might reduce the number of rabbits migrating across.  Another MOP informed the meeting that the site manager had done this at the rear of the their property, which also backed on to the development and it had helped considerably.

MOP 2 – a representative from the Village Hall, gave update on the proposed solar panel installation and the additional land acquisition.

It was noted that the recently distributed Emergency Planning leaflet detailed that the Plan was on the Council website.  Cllr Bailey reported that the latest version was sat with Lincolnshire Resilience awaiting final sign off and once this was approved, it would be uploaded.

They raised the matter on the poor condition of the Village Hall Car Park, which had a number of potholes.  They felt that the lease was a little ambiguous and that responsibility might fall to the Council, as land owners.  Council agreed to review the Lease and would place the matter on the next agenda.

With the continued use by the school as a suggested additional parking area, they could be approached to contribute towards the cost to repair.

Cty Cllr Wright.  The requested speed limit review on the Leasingham stretch of the A15 was still being considered.

The latest LCC Budget survey was available and he urged people to have their say.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill 2025, which received Royal Assent on December 18, 2025, is a pivotal piece of legislation aimed at speeding up and streamlining the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure in England and Wales.  NKDC will provide detailed information on this at their next Parish and Town Council Forum planned for 17-Mar-2026.

D/Cllr Clarke informed the meeting of the sad passing of two Councillors, Peter Burley and Ann Mear.

NKDCs Budget planning was ongoing as they await the Precept demands from Parish and Town Councils.

NKDC Food Caddy distribution started 12-Jan-2026 with the first collections being 30-Mar-2026.

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4.  Notes of the ordinary meeting of Leasingham and Roxholm Parish Council held at the Community Building at the Playing Field on Monday 08 December 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 08 December 2025 be approved as Minutes.
Proposed by Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Melloy and approved by a vote of 7 for and 1 abstention (not present at meeting).

5.  Consider any application for Co-Option as a Parish Councillor.
None had been received to date.

6.  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 Milligan had carried out a quick minor maintenance check of the Community Building, a list being passed onto the Clerk for action, with the main items being the water heaters for hand washing in the toilets not working (and have not done so for some time) and the blinds on two of the windows not functioning correctly.  The Clerk would look to address these matters.

ii.  Cllr Hibberd gave an update on the Fix My Street reports he had recently submitted re two bus stop signs, with work now being planned to replace them.

The footpath from Heath Lane, behind Sedge Close was overgrown, making it difficult to navigate.  Cllr Bailey would investigate.

iii.  Cllr Arnold believed a post, or pole was now protruding from the hedge line from the Manor House on the B1209/Sleaford Road.

All members of the pubic left the meeting.

7.  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 Melloy and approved unanimously.

Cllr Milligan left the room for the next item.

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 Arnold and approved unanimously (of those present).

Cllr Milligan rejoined the meeting.

c.  Approve the bank reconciliation for December 2025.
At the end of December 2025, the bank accounts stood at £65,952.91 which included £24,175.35 on behalf of the Community Benefit Fund and £5,228.55 of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), leaving £36,549.01 as Council money.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliation for December 2025.
Proposed by Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Melloy and approved unanimously.

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d.  Consider the cost for LALC Annual Membership and for joining their Annual Training Scheme for 2026/2027.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve joining both Schemes for 2026/2027, at a total cost of £625.00 (ex-VAT).  These costs would be included in the budget review.
Proposed by Cllr Hibberd, seconded by Cllr Chambers and approved unanimously.

e.  Consider any quotes received for the 3 year Grounds Maintenance contract.
The Clerk had sent out quote requests to 3 separate Grounds Maintenance contractors.  One had replied to say Leasingham was just outside their area so would not be quoting.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the 3 year quote from Glendale, which would be included in the budget review.
Proposed by Cllr Arnold, seconded by Cllr Hibberd and approved unanimously.

To allow for potential costings to be included in the FY 2026-2027 Budget, the Chair proposed bringing minute ref: 8.c. forward to be discussed prior to setting the Budget/Precept demand.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to bring Minute ref: 8.c. forward.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Milligan and approved unanimously.

8.c.  Leasingham and Sleaford Neighbourhood Planning.  Receive a report from Cllr Bailey following a recent meeting with Sleaford Neighbourhood Planning Committee and consider a way forward with regard to the Leasingham Gap.

Cllr Bailey and the Clerk had attended a Zoom meeting with representatives from the Sleaford Neighbourhood Planning Committee.  Following submission of their Plan to NKDC, NKDC raised some technical comments including querying the section on the Leasingham Gap, pages 67-68, saying, 'The principle of a Leasingham Gap to prevent the physical merging of Sleaford and Leasingham would meet the function and policy aims of the Green Wedge Local Plan Policy S63.  However, further information is needed to explain the reason behind the boundary shown in the Neighbourhood Plan in the form of supporting evidence.

The Local Plan Policy can not apply to the Leasingham Gap because it has not been identified as a Green Wedge in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 2023 or the Local Plan Policies Map.  Parts of the Local Plan Policy could be added to the Neighbourhood Plan Policy as considered relevant.'

To support Sleaford’s Plan, it was suggested that the Leasingham and Roxholm Plan be amended, with the possible introduction of a stand alone Leasingham Gap Identity Policy.

For professional assistance, a sum of money was to be considered for the budget.

NKDC would be contacted to ascertain what might be required to make the Leasingham and Roxholm Neighbourhood Plan para 79-81 the more robust.

Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve adding £2,500.00 to the Budget to allow for professional assistance should Council be required to submit a landscape assessment, or new Policy and any subsequent support required during the consultation period and for the consideration of responses.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Hibberd and approved unanimously.

f.  Consider and review the budget figures prior to setting the budget and Precept demand for FY 2026/2027.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the budget and subsequent Precept demand as shown below, giving a 4.94% increase.

Proposed by Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Bailey and approved unanimously.
Cllr Chambers left the meeting at 8:40pm, due to work commitments.

g.  Consider any Community Benefit Fund applications received.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the retrospective Grant Application for flowers that were put round the War Memorial prior to Remembrance Sunday.
Proposed by Cllr Arnold, seconded by Cllr Adams and approved unanimously.

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8.  Planning Matters.
a.  25/1581/DOV - an application under section 106A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) relating to 22/0587/OUT (Outline planning application for the erection of 6 no. dwellings) to offer a financial contribution in lieu of affordable housing on land off Deepdale Drive, Leasingham.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to submit the following comments;

The Parish Council object to this proposed amendment and would prefer the requirement for affordable housing to remain, as per the original application.  The provision of affordable dwellings would help with the age diversity in the village.

Proposed by Cllr Adams, seconded by Cllr Bailey and approved unanimously.

b.  25/1608/RESM - Reserved matters application for the erection of 6 dwellings (access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) pursuant to outline consent 22/0587/OUT - Outline planning application for the erection of 6 no. dwellings on land off Deepdale Drive, Leasingham.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to submit the following comments;
The Parish Council has no objections to this application.
Proposed by Cllr Arnold, seconded by Cllr Adams and approved unanimously.

9.  Correspondence.
a.  Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, call for land.  Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee has committed to undertake a review of the Local Plan, primarily in response to changes being made to planning and housing requirements by the national Government.  Circulated 30-Dec-2025.
b.  25/1581/DOV - an application under section 106A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) relating to 22/0587/OUT (Outline planning application for the erection of 6 no. dwellings) to offer a financial contribution in lieu of affordable housing | Land Off Deepdale Drive Leasingham.  Circulated 30-Dec-2025.
c.  Town and Parish Council update from LCC.  Circulated 30-Dec-2025.
d.  LALC e-news.  Circulated 30-Dec-2025.
e.  LALC (on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council Budget 2026-27 Consultation).  Circulated 07-Jan-2026.
f.  Environment Agency Flood Storage Reservoir Factsheet email.  Circulated 07-Jan-2026.
g.  LALC enews and Training Bulletin.  Circulated 10-Jan-2026.

10.  Junior Football Club.
a.  Consider the request from the Club to have post box installed.
As per Minute Ref: 3. Page 1-2026, the Football Club’s preferred location would be on the fence, towards the front on the Community Building.
Action:  Council RESOLVED to approve the installation of a post box at the preferred location, subject to permission being granted by Busy Bees, who purchased and installed the fence.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Milligan and approved unanimously.

11.  Confirm the date of the next meeting.
The next meeting is planned for Monday 09 February 2026.

12.  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.  Consider any additional budget requirements with regard to Staffing costs prior to setting the budget/precept demand for FY 2026/2027.
Action:  The Council RESOLVED not to go into Closed Session as the circulated Staffing Costs had been approved at Minute Ref: 7.f. page 3-2026.
Proposed by Cllr Bailey, seconded by Cllr Milligan and approved unanimously.

The meeting closed at 9:00 pm.

Signature:  Original Signed

Printed Name:  Cllr Jenny Bailey

Date:  09 February 2026

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