2 June 2026 - DRAFT Environment, Estate Management & Planning Committee
Ruskington Parish Council
Minutes of an Environment, Estate Management and Planning Committee meeting held on Tuesday 2 June 2026 at the Parish Office at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllr M Trolley (Chairman of Committee), Cllr O Ditch, Cllr S Hislop, Cllr D Conway, Cllr Cunningham, Cllr Hislop
Also in attendance: Kathryn Locke (Clerk to Council), Andrew Doughty – Environment Caretaker
No public or press were present.
The Chairman opened the meeting at 6.32pm.
1. To elect a chairman for the Committee for the ensuing civic year.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to elect Cllr Trolley as the Chairman of the committee for the ensuing civic year. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved unanimously.
2. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
None received.
3. 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.
Cllr Cunningham declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 14.1. due to once owning land in the area.
4. To approve the notes of the Estate Management and Planning Committee meeting held on 8 April 2026 as accurate Minutes.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to approve the notes as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved with five votes for and one abstention. (Councillor had not been present at the previous meeting.)
5. To elect a vice-chairman for the committee for the ensuing civic year.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to elect Cllr Cunningham as the vice-chairman of the committee for the ensuing civic year. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Hislop and approved unanimously.
6. To review the draft biodiversity and environment policy for recommendation to Council on 9 June 2026.
This was reviewed and all agreed revisions were made.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the revised biodiversity and environmental policy to Council. Proposed by Cllr Ditch, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved with five votes for and one against.
7. To review the revised Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Committee to include the former Environment Committee’s TORs.
This was reviewed and all agreed revisions were made.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the revised Terms of Reference to Council. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Ditch and approved unanimously.
8. To receive an update on the grounds maintenance schedule and contracts following proposed changes at Parkfield and Horseshoe Hollow.
The Environment Caretaker had contacted recommended contractors, but either no responses were received or they did not have the machinery needed to bale the cuttings.
Action: The Environment Caretaker to continue trying to contact suitable contractors.
9. To receive a report from the Environment Caretaker – for information only
This had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Caretaker was thanked for his report. The following items although not agenda items were discussed: purchasing the chipper (the cost of £5,100 had been approved in the budget for FY 2026-2027), replacing the CIL funds for the community garden (as used to replace two faulty gates at Parkfield to ensure safety of use), if this had not already been included in the budget, and LANTRA Basic Tree Survey and Inspection training at a cost of approximately £175.00 +VAT, as provided by Lincoln Rural Training.
Action: The RFO to advise on the budget for the community garden. (Post meeting note – the RFO advises that community garden projects had not been included in the budget for the current financial year and recommends that projects for the community garden be considered during the budget setting for 2027-2028.)
10. To review /update Council’s Health & Safety.
The Environment Caretaker had raised health and safety concerns regarding the use of ladders to insert heavy Christmas trees into brackets along the High Street with the accompanying loss of three points of contact with the ladder. Please also see agenda item 10.1., below.
10.1. To receive a recommendation from the Environment Caretaker to purchase and erect artificial rather than real Christmas trees in the brackets along the High Street commencing Christmas 2026.
The reasons for the recommendation were discussed with agenda item 10 above. The environmental impact and the sustainability of using artificial trees was discussed.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED in principle to recommend to Council that 3ft pre-lit artificial trees be purchased for the brackets along the High Street. The Environment Caretaker to obtain quotes for suitable artificial trees in time for the July meeting. Proposed by Cllr Cunningham, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.
11. To receive an update on the proposed conservation area for Ruskington village centre.
Cllr Hislop provided an update. The Conservation Officers from NKDC had attended the Annual Parish Meeting (held on 26 May 2026) and delivered a presentation on a conservation area (CA) for the village, explaining what the process involved and any possible impact on properties included. The Conservation Officers would commence work on the proposal for a CA in the village once their current projects were completed and the process was expected to be completed by Easter 2027. NKDC would undertake a public consultation, and Council had previously agreed to help with any publicity. Information on the sensitive buildings at risk in Ruskington had been provided and this was being updated by NKDC.
Action: A list of buildings of historical interest to be compiled.
12. To receive an update on the tender process for the pavilion renovation and agree the councillors to attend a second on-site visit for tender applicants on 17 June 2026 at 10.30am.
Cllr Conway gave an overview, and the Clerk had shared written information prior to the meeting as below…
Pavilion renovation
The 30-year environment management plan has yet to be received.
The tender went live on the Find Tender (government) website on 7 May 2026.
Dates for the tender process were as follows…
- Tenders were available from 6 May 2026
- On-site meeting with tender applicants took place on Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 10.30am. Five potential contracting firms met on site with Cllrs Ditch and Conway and the Clerk.
- Tender return – Friday 26 June at 12 noon.
- Tender assessment – w/c 29 June 2026
- Award of contract w/c/ 14 July 2026.
Update on 29/5/2026. A second site visit for potential tender applicants was to take place on 17 June 2026 at 10.30am. The Clerk and Cllr Conway would be in attendance.
The Clerk has contacted NKDC planning regarding reclassification of the pavilion from Class C (commercial) to class F2 (community) and this has been circulated.
The Clerk is obtaining quotes for an asbestos D&R survey of the pavilion prior to the renovation work.
Action: Cllr Conway had previously advised that he was available to meet with the Clerk and prospective tender applicants on 17 June 2026 at 10.30am at the pavilion.
13. To consider amending the planning classification for the pavilion from Class C (commercial use) to Class F2 (community use) and consider the expenditure of £304.00 for the amendment, for recommending to Council.
It had been noted during the tender process that the pavilion renovation had been classified for Class C (commercial use) rather than class F2 (community use). The Clerk had sought advice from NKDC asking how this could be amended. Advice from the Planning Officer had been circulated prior to the meeting. The fee would be £304.00. All information from the previous application would require re-submission.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Council that it submits a Varcon planning application to NKDC to vary condition 4 of the pavilion planning application (21/1453/FUL) and change the class of the pavilion from Class C (commercial use) to Class F2 (community use) at a cost of £304.00. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.
14. To consider any planning applications received from NKDC since the Council meeting was held on 12 May 2026.
Information had been circulated prior to the meeting.
a. Planning Application Reference: 26/0513/HOUS
Proposal: Single and 2 storey rear extensions
Location: 10 Chestnut Street Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9DL
Comments to be submitted by 14 June 2026.
Action: The Committee had no objections to this application if the neighbouring properties raised no concerns.
14.1. To receive notice from NKDC regarding amended planning application details for planning application 24/0912/FUL
Town & Country Planning Act 1990
Proposal: Erection of 186 dwellings (to include in outline 9 plots) with associated infrastructure, open space and landscaping.
Location: Land North Of Cornwall Way & Northfield Road Ruskington
Details of the amendments are as follows: Amendments made to address the fact that the scheme includes Custom Self Build units which are in the outline only for avoidance of doubt.
Action: The Councillors had studied the plans prior to the meeting, but the amendment was for information only.
14.2. To receive notice of planned tree work for a tree with a tree preservation order, from NKDC.
Application of Proposed Works to Trees Subject to Tree Preservation Order.
Application reference: 26/0636/TPO
Description of works: T1- Horse chestnut - Crown reduce tree by 2 metres in height and spread. Crown lift to 5 metres on east side over road and south side over neighbour’s driveway. Sever ivy at base up to 1 metre all way round base of tree.
Location: 1 Elmtree Road, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire,
NG34 9BT
Notice received on 22 May 2026. Comments to be returned within 21 days (12 June)
Action: The Committee had no objections to the work on this tree.
14.3. To receive notification of planning applications approved by NKDC.
a. Application Reference: 25/0529/FUL
Proposal: Change of use to dog exercise paddock, creation of parking area and upgraded
access.
Location: Land Off Sleaford Road Ruskington Sleaford
Notice received on 18/5/2026.
b. Application Reference: 26/0153/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of porch
Location: 11 The Paddock Ruskington Sleaford
Notice received on 27/5/2026
14.4. To consider any planning applications received after the agenda for this meeting was published.
No other applications or decision notices had been received.
15. To confirm the date of the next scheduled Committee meeting as Tuesday 15 September 2026.
The date was to be confirmed nearer the time as it was noted that not all committee members would be available on 15 September 2026.
15.1. To consider if another committee meeting or pavilion working party meeting is required before 15 September 2026, and if so, to agree the date and time.
Action: A meeting was called for Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 1pm at the Parish Office. Review of the tender applications to commence at this meeting. The outcome of the tender applications to be available for Council to consider at its meeting on 14 July.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.29pm.