14 April 2026
NOTICE OF A MEETING OF RUSKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Dear Sir/Madam,
I hereby give you notice that a meeting of Ruskington Parish Council will be held on Tuesday 14 April 2026 at 7pm at the Winchelsea Centre, 11 High Street North Ruskington, NG34 9DY. Members of the public and press are welcome to the public session commencing at 7pm (lasting no more than 15 minutes) and may ask questions or make short statements to the Committee at this time. Alternatively, questions or statements may be submitted to the Clerk in advance of the meeting: clerk@ruskington-pc.gov.uk
All members of the Parish Council are summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving upon the business to be transacted at the meeting, as set out hereunder.
|
Signed: K H Locke Clerk to Ruskington Parish Council |
K H Locke |
Dated: 9 April 2026 |
Agenda
1. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
2. To receive declarations of interest and to 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 and to consider any applications for dispensations in relation to DPIs. The need for Disclosure is to be based upon agenda items or at any suitable time during the Meeting when it becomes apparent to a Member.
3. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting of the Council held on Tuesday 10 March 2026.
4. To receive the District and County Councillors’ reports – for information only.
4.1. To raise any highways matters with County Councillor Wright. (Speeding and harm to wildlife.)
5. Financial Matters (Information circulated prior to the meeting.)
5.1. To approve the payments made and consider the invoices for payment received since the meeting held on 10 March 2026.
5.2. To consider /approve the bank reconciliations for April 2026.
5.3. To receive the monthly financial report from the RFO, including an update on reserves, and consider any recommendations.
5.4. To receive the mid-year audit report from the internal auditor.
5.5. To consider the quote from SCIS Ltd (Council’s IT provider) to upgrade to Business Basic licences for Councillors, to enable use of MS Office 365 Teams linked to Council’s shared folders.
5.6. To consider awarding a grant of £250.00 to Finley’s Legacy Community Project to support delivery of a family funday following receipt of an application form and accompanying documentation.
5.7. To consider purchasing dog waste dispensers and dog poo bags for areas known to have high incidences of dog fouling – Cllr Hislop. (Information previously circulated.)
5.8. To consider the purchasing of new or second-hand garden furniture (picnic tables and benches) and agree the expenditure.
5.9. To consider a charity for donating £50.00 to from Ruskington Village Hall Bingo organisers following Cllr Ditch’s judging of an Easter Book cover competition at the bingo organiser’s invitation.
6. To receive an update on co-option to Council.
7. To receive the Clerk’s report - for information only.
8. To consider the following policies/documents following review by the relevant committee.
8.1. Dignity at Work/ Sexual harassment Policy as recommended by the HR Committee.
8.2. Sickness and Absence policy and flow chart as recommended by the HR Committee.
8.3. Staff handbook as recommended by the HR Committee.
8.4. The Terms of Reference for the HR Committee as recommended by the HR Committee
8.5. The Terms of Reference for the Estate Management & Planning (EMP) Committee as recommended by the EMP Committee.
8.6. To ensure that Council meets its statutory duties under the Environment Act 2021 and The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006 by including the environment in its Terms of Reference for Council, committee, sub-committee, working parties, and on all agendas.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complying-with-the-biodiversity-duty
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/16/contents
9. To consider the appointment of councillors to the following committees following expressions of interest made to the Clerk.
9.1. Recreation & Environment Committee
9.2. Events Committee
10. To receive an update on the Annual Report for fiscal year 2025 – 2026 and receive articles from the Chairs of each standing committee for inclusion in the Annual Report – Cllr Ditch.
11. To receive the results of the s106 survey and consider a cross-committee working party of interested members to analyse the results as soon as possible and make recommendations for eligible projects that benefit the majority of residents, for Council to consider.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-jZmpbNEUtUSbeH0uxWPo_2FQ_3D_3D/
The Public Open Space Contribution (Deed of Variation) for the development of Flaxwell Fields states that the s106 claim “can be used towards the provision enhancement and/or maintenance of facilities within the Parish of Ruskington or alternatively the Public Open Space Contribution be used outside of the Site where appropriate."
12. To receive updates on and consider Councillor attendance and roles at the following community events: -
12.1. The Co-op tidy-up of the Community Garden on Wednesday 29 April 2026 from 10am to 2pm.
12.2. The Annual Parish Meeting on Tuesday 26 May 2026. (A meeting of the electorate hosted by the Chairman of Council.)
12.3. To consider having an information stand at Findley’s Fundraiser on 11 July 2026 at Parkfield playing fields and agree the councillors to attend and the information to display.
13. To receive a report from the Recreation and Environment (RE) Committee. – Cllr Cox.
13.1. To receive an update on the application to the Football Foundation for a 4G pitch for the MUGA.
13.1.2. To receive an update on the requirement for a sports pitch consultant, as requested by the Football Foundation, and consider any expenditure and the next steps required.
13.2. To consider correspondence from a member of public regarding a community fitness initiative for Parkfield playing fields and agree any terms and conditions, if required. (Information previously circulated.)
14. To receive a report from the Events Committee following its meeting on 7 April - Cllr Harrison.
14.1. To consider amount, types and sizes for marquees/gazebos for using at Council events at a cost of up to £1,000. (Expenditure for a marquee agreed in the budget for FY 2026-2027.)
15. To receive a report and recommendations from the Estate Management and Planning Committee following its meeting 8 April 2026.
15.1. To consider the recommendation of the Committee regarding the location of a bench being donated by a resident. (Action for the Committee from the Council meeting on 10 March 2026 – agenda Item 11.)
15.2. To consider the recommendation from the Committee regarding a resident’s request to purchase a commemorative bench for the late Queen Elizabeth 11 for the Garden of Remembrance and for Council to contribute 50% of the costs.
15.3. To consider a working party of interested councillors to review the bus shelter grant available from LCC and explore options, costs, and locations. (A public consultation would be required, plus information on the proposed conservation area.)
15.4. To consider the recommendation that the environment is a cross-committee responsibility with specific actions being directed at Council meetings, and agree any next steps. (Please also refer to agenda item, 8.6., above.) – Cllr Ditch.
16. To consider the planning applications received from NKDC since the last meeting held on 10 February 2025, and ratify any comments made by the Committee. – Cllr Trolley.
a. Planning Application Reference: 26/0153/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of porch
Location: 11 The Paddock Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9GY
The Committee had no objections to this application, and its response has been submitted to NK Planning.
b. Application Reference: 25/1553/FUL
Notification of Receipt of Amended Plans/ Additional Information
Proposal: Change of use of garden building to dog grooming parlour.
Location: 25 St Clements Road Ruskington Sleaford
Amendments to the scale of the proposed building.
The Committee raised a question about the segregation of the applicant’s own dogs with the dogs attending the grooming parlour. Otherwise no objections were raised.
6.1. To receive notification of planning applications approved by NKDC.
a. Planning Application Reference: 26/0021/HOUS
Proposal: Single storey rear extension and conversion of existing garage with wrap
around hipped roof
Location: 28 Cliffe Avenue Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9AU.
Notice of approval received on 30/3/2026.
b. Application Reference: 26/0119/HOUS
Proposal: Erection of a single storey rear extension
Location: 15 Westbeck Ruskington Sleaford
Notice of approval received on 1/4/2026.
17. Correspondence - for information only. (Please see attached.) Items requiring Council consideration or financial outlay will be added to the next Council agenda.
18. To receive Members’ Reports – for information only. (Any items raised for decision will appear on the agenda for the next meeting.)
19. To resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss the staffing and legal matters below. Should this resolution be passed, members of the public and press will be required to leave the meeting. The meeting will end, and a further meeting of the Council will be convened immediately.
20. To receive a report and recommendations on staffing matters, including health and wellbeing, from the HR Committee and agree any next steps – Cllr Bain.
21. To consider increasing the RFO’s working hours from 30 hours per week to 37 hours per week – Cllr Ditch.
22. To consider/ review the information for the recruitment of a Parish Caretaker.
22.1. Job application pack
22.2. Draft job advertisement
22.3. Draft contract
23. To receive an update on the lease agreement with NKDC regarding Hillside play area and agree the next steps.
24. To receive an update on an open insurance claim.
25. To receive an update on the tender process for the pavilion and agree the dates for the tender process. – Cllr Conway.
25.2. To undertake a final review of the tender documents prior to issue.
End of agenda.
Correspondence - for information only. Correspondence requiring a motion or financial decision received after the publication of this agenda be on the next agenda for consideration.
a. LALC (be email) – E -Newsletters and March training bulletin.
b. NKDC (by email on 5/3/2026) – Invitation to the Parish and Town Forum on 17/3/20224 from 10am to 12noon.
c. LCC (by email on 9/3/2026) – Update on the drain work and flood investigations in Ruskington.
d. Chair of the All-Saints Ladies Club (By email on 9/3/2026) – Thank you for the presentation at the meeting and donation in lieu of a fee to the Hope For Tomorrow Charity (providing mobile cancer care for people in Lincolnshire.)
e. Member of public (by email on 16/3/2026) – Thank you to Council, and a request for updates on any considerations for a basketball court.
f. NKDC (by email on 19/3/2026() – Town and Parish newsletter (Circulated and items shared as requested.)
g. UDLive (by email on 19/3/2026) – Update on the flood monitoring devices.
h. ICCM (by post on 19/3/2026) – The Journal spring newsletter.
i. Member of public (by email on 23/3/2026) – Wildlife being killed on the village roads by speeding vehicles. Request for more speed limit signage for the village and suggestion for a wildlife poster campaign (as for littering and dog fouling.) Agenda item, above.
j. Member of public (by email on 26/3/2026) – Set up of a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme on Millview Road and request for support with signage. (Signposted to the National Neighbourhood Watch Scheme for advice and possible signs and to LCC Highways for consent to erect the signs.)
k. The National Lottery Heritage Fund (by email on 27/3/2026) request to share the Clerk’s evaluation report (anonymised) on the lychgate renovation funding as an example of good practice. (The Clerk approved this.)
l. Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (By email on 25/3/20260 – Feedback on the Community Emergency Plan. (Reviewed by Cllr Ditch and the Environment Caretaker)
m. NKDC (by email on 27/3/2026) – Electrical waste week (16-23 May 2026) and requests for locations for members of the public to hand in unwanted electrical items. Agenda item, above.
n. Member of public (by email on 28/3/2026) – Request for the Council to consider a bench to commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II for the Garden of Remembrance and for Council to contribute half of the costs. Follow up emails with bench designs and costs received on 7/4/2026. (Agenda item above, following consideration by the Estate Management & Planning Committee meeting 8/4/2026.)
o. Member of public (by email on 28/3/2026) – Condition of the tree planted in memory of the late Queen in Horseshoe Hollow and a suggestion that the s106 money be put towards creating accessible paths in Horseshoe Hollow, suitable for prams and wheelchairs. (Discussed with the Environment Caretaker and a response sent.)
p. Member of public (by email on 31/3/2026) – Outcome of the s106 survey and request for confirmation of Council’s plans to allocate the monies to relevant sports facilities that benefit the whole community. (Advised that the s106 money is an item on the agenda for the Council meeting on 14 April.)
q. Findley’s Fundraiser (by hand on 31/3/2026) – Completed Grant and Donation Application Form. (Agenda item, above.)
r. NKDC (by email on 31/3/2026) – Update from the NKDC legal team regarding the lease for Hillside play area. Agenda item for the next Recreation and Environment Committee meeting.
s. All Saints Parish Church (by email on 31/3/2026) – Request for information on community grants and donations available from Council. (Information sent.)
t. Lincolnshire Resilience Forum (LRF) (by email on 7/42026) – Responses to Council questions on the LRF feedback on the community emergency plan. (Circulated to Cllr Ditch and the Environment Caretaker as the authors of the emergency plan.)
u. Member of public (by email on 7/4/2026) – Metal post sticking out of the ground at Parkfield playing fields. (Post removed by the Environment Caretaker and the hole filled in on 7/4/2026.)
v. Lions JFC coach (by email on 7/4/2026) – Date for the next grass cut at Parkfield playing fields. (Contractor contacted and the correspondent advised accordingly.)
w. Environment Agency (by email on 8/4/2026) – Information on the General Drainage Charge, Local Levy, and Internal Drainage Board Precept. (Circulated and shared on Council’s communication channels.)
v. Member of public (by email on 9/4/2026) - Concern regarding disturbance of wildlife in local fields. Request for Council to raise awareness and prevent disturbances. Circulated to Council and signposted to the relevant agencies for action.
Ruskington Parish Council
The Parish Office, 7-9 High Street North, Ruskington, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 9DY
Tel: 01526 834483 Email: clerk@ruskington-pc.gov.uk
Chairman of Council – Cllr O Ditch I Clerk to the Council - Mrs Kathryn Locke I RFO - Miss Kirsty Sinclair