5 May 2026 - Recreation & Environment Committee
Minutes of the Ruskington Parish Council Recreation and Environment Committee meeting on Tuesday 5 May 2026 at 6.30pm at Ruskington Parish Office.
Present: Cllr M Trolley, Cllr D Conway, Cllr P Cunningham, Cllr L Sheldon and Cllr O Ditch.
In attendance: Kirsty Sinclair (Deputy Clerk & RFO), Kathryn Locke (Clerk to Council) and Dr S Cotter (Co-opted non-Councillor Member)
No members of the public or press were present.
As the Chairman of the Committee had resigned from Council, the Committee unanimously elected Cllr Trolley as the Chairman for this meeting.
1. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
None.
2. To receive declarations of interest and to consider applications for dispensations in relation to DPIs.
None declared.
3. To approve as a correct record the notes of the last meeting held on 3 February 2026.
Action: The Committee RESOLVED to accept the notes of the meeting held on 3 February 2026 as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Cunningham and approved with two votes for and three abstentions (councillors had not been present at the previous meeting).
4. To receive an update on the budget and expenditure for recreation and environment projects and maintenance.
As it was the beginning of the financial year, there was nothing for the RFO to report.
Environment
5. To receive an update on the Community Garden volunteer day on 29th April.
The Clerk advised that this had been a successful day. The volunteers had enjoyed tidying the garden and the garden looked much better after its winter “rest”. Cllr Conway had been able to volunteer on the day, and the Environment Caretaker had overseen the garden tidy up. The Volunteer Co-ordinator had advised that they would be happy to volunteer again before the end of September.
6. To review the Horseshoe Hollow management plan and an update on the designation of Horseshoe Hollow as a nature reserve.
Action: The Committee unanimously RESOLVED to recommend the Management Plan to Council following a couple of amendments. (To update a former councillor’s name, to add that no structures can be built on the site, and to add that it was a recognised flood plain.) The plan was to be reviewed annually.
7. To receive an update on the grounds maintenance schedule and contracts following proposed changes at Parkfield and Horseshoe Hollow.
A contractor for the cutting and collecting of cuttings at the Parkfield wild strips and cut grass baling at Horseshoe Hollow was required. The RFO advised that one contractor contacted did not have the correct equipment for baling, and another contractor had not responded to her enquiries.
Action: The Committee unanimously RESOLVED for the Environment Caretaker to contact the firm previously contacted by the RFO.
Recreation
8. To receive an update on the funding application for the 4G surface in the MUGA and any additional costs required.
Cllr Ditch gave an update on the funding application. Information was being sought and it was hoped the application could be progressed.
9. To respond to the special motion regarding the Hillside play area survey, receive an update on the lease for Hillside and agree any further actions.
Following the Council meeting on 10 March 2026, NKDC l had advised that the lease for Hillside play area did not end until 10 March 2029 and had no break clauses. It was not yet known if the play area had to be kept open and operational or if it could be closed before 2029. The equipment was safe but old and the main concern was the bark ground cover that encouraged weed and grass growth and was difficult to maintain. It was also noted that Beck Close play area required a better surface.
Action: The Committee unanimously RESOLVED to await the information on closing the play area from NKDC. NKDC to be contacted to find out if the lease could be extended for an additional 10 years to allow funding bids to be made to improve the play area. A working party was to meet at the play area on Friday 9 May 2026 at 2pm to discuss the play equipment and surface and what improvements could be made. Cllrs Sheldon, Conway, Cunningham, and the RFO to meet at the play area. Cllr Ditch would attend if available. The Caretakers to be invited to the meeting too. It was hoped that a working party of volunteers could be arranged to clean up the play area. New bark and a picnic bench would be considered.
10. To discuss ideas for additional seating including locations and costs – Cllr Sheldon.
Cllr Sheldon advised of the requirement for benches in the village and these had been mentioned in the s106 feedback. The Committee recognised that benches at Parkfield playing fields were required plus picnic tables, and benches were required for outside the pavilion once renovated and a café was operational.
Action: Locations and costs to be obtained. During the Annual Parish Meeting event, residents to be invited to show their preferred locations for new benches by using a market pen, or sticky dots, and a large, laminated map.
11. To note the date of the next Recreation and Environment Committee meeting.
Action: The date for the next scheduled meeting was confirmed for Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 6.30pm.
Prior to this a meeting was to be held on 30 June 2026 at 6.30pm at the Parish Office.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8.10pm.