30 September 2025 - DRAFT Estate Management & Planning Committee
Minutes of an Estate Management and Planning Committee meeting held on Tuesday 30 September 2025 at the Parish Office at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllr M Trolley (Chairman of Committee), Cllr S Hislop, Cllr D Conway.
Also in attendance: Kathryn Locke (Clerk to Council)
Apologies: Cllr Ditch
No members of the public were present.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7pm.
1. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
Cllr Ditch had been unable to attend the meeting and had sent valid apologies.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to accept Cllr Ditch’s apologies. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved unanimously.
2. To receive declarations of interest and consider applications for dispensations in relation to DPIs. Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests is to be in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
None were declared at this time.
3. To approve the notes of the committee meeting held on Tuesday 3 June 2025 as accurate Minutes.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to approve the notes of the meeting as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.
The Chairman signed the Minutes.
4. To review the following policies and agree any amendments for recommending to Council.
4.1. Health & Safety Policy
4.2. Flushing & Purging Policy
4.3. Salting & Gritting Policy
Action: The Council RESOLVED, following a minor amendment to the Health & Safety Policy, to recommend all three policies (4.1, 4.2 and 4.3., above) to Council. The Committee also agreed to recommend to Council that policy documents were reviewed on a one, two, or three yearly basis, as appropriate, rather than all policies being reviewed annually. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
5. To receive an update on the renovation of the lychgate and the funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and agree the next steps.
Information had been circulated prior to the meeting and Cllr Conway gave a brief overview of the meeting held with the contractor at the lychgate on 24 September 2025. The latest questions from the National Lottery Heritage Fund were discussed.
Action: A response to the contractor and responses to the National Lottery questions, which could be answered at the time, were agreed.
6. To receive an update on the planning application for the pavilion and overflow car parking and agree to the next steps.
The outcome of the planning application was not yet known. Sports England had queried the loss of changing rooms and showers in the pavilion. The architect had been sent information on the changing room and shower facilities in the separate changing rooms building, and they had submitted this to NK Planning. Three structural engineers had been contacted for quotes to advise on the load bearing walls in the pavilion. Two quotes were received and one was awaited.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to obtain three estimates of costs from architects to draw up building regulations plans, allowing flexibility for Council deliberations. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved unanimously.
7. To receive an update on the public toilets on Church Street, including the health and safety inspections, and agree any remedial work required.
Information had been circulated prior to the meeting.
During August 2025, local contractors conducted an Electrical Installation Inspection Report, and completed any of the remedial work required, a Legionella Risk Assessment and Report, and updated the emergency fire exit lighting. Copies of the reports had been sent to NKDC.
Action: The Buildings’ Caretaker to undertake the remedial actions identified within the Legionella Report and within their capabilities. The expenditure for the inspection and remedial work had been authorised by the Clerk using their delegated powers of expenditure for health and safety matters.
8. To consider planning applications received from NKDC since the last Council meeting held on 9 September 2025.
a. Planning Application Reference: 25/0969/HOUS
Proposal: Proposed garage conversion and side extension
Location: 11 Rectory Road Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9AE
Comments to be returned to NKDC by 3 October 2025.
Action: The Committee had no objections to this application.
Other applications, received since the agenda for this committee meeting had been published, were considered and recommendations were agreed for Council to consider at its meeting on 14 October 2025.
8.1. To receive notice of planning applications approved by NKDC since the last meeting.
a. Application Reference: 25/0499/FUL
Proposal: Proposed creation of a mobile home plot with siting of mobile home, garage and block paved driveway.
Location: 36 Lindum Park Ruskington Sleaford
Notice of approval received by email on 5/9/2025
b. Application Reference: 25/0823/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of a rear/side extension to accommodate a ground floor bathroom and
sunroom.
Location: 11 The Paddock Ruskington Sleaford
Notice of approval received on 16/9/2025.
c. Application Reference: 25/0948/HOUS
Proposal: Single storey flat roof infill extension to side & rear
Location: 36 Parkfield Road Ruskington Sleaford
Notice of approval received on 18/9/2025.
9. To consider a conservation area for Ruskington village centre. – Cllr Hislop.
The Committee considered how Council could preserve the historic buildings and prevent piecemeal and unsympathetic development within the village slipping through planning. Cllr Hislop advised that there would be a formal process to undertake.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED that Cllr Hislop undertake research into the process involved in creating a conservation area for the village, including contacting an NKDC duty planning officer, if required. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.
10. To consider the following projects and expenditure for informing the budget and precept for FY 2026-2027.
10.1. To erect a barrier between bins and the walkway to the entrance to the office units.
Now the office units had tenants, there was regular footfall between the High Street and the rear entrance to the offices.
Action: The Buildings’ Caretaker to be asked to provide a quote for making a flower tub and trellis “in house.”
10.2. To consider a new surface for the office drive and yard, especially where the former circular flower bed was removed from to ensure the areas are level and free from weed growth. (Currently there is matting through which the weeds grow.)
Action: The Caretakers to be asked if they could undertake the work required, such as pouring and levelling concrete screed on the drive and former raised flower bed area, and the costs for this. If they were unable to do this, quotes from contractors were to be obtained.
10.3. To receive and consider any other projects to improve the property owned or managed by Council.
Action: The agreed list included:
- To paint the render on the exterior of the parish office building which was dirty and grey and didn’t cover the areas where the renovation had blocked up doorways.
- Improving the surface of the office drive and the site of the former raised flower bed.
- Improving the hot water supply to the changing rooms and connecting this to the solar panels. (It was hoped to apply for funding to cover the costs and a meeting with the Football Association had been arranged for 23 October 2025 to discuss this and other Parkfield projects.)
- Hot water provision for the hand washing basins in the pavilion.
- Upgrading the public toilets as the lease had been renewed. (Funding opportunities to be researched).
- A renovation of the war memorial in the cemetery, such a repainting the lettering as this was fading.
Other ideas to be put forward when they arose for Council to consider for the budget from 1 April 2026 onwards.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.59pm.