8 September 2026
NOTICE OF A MEETING OF RUSKINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Dear Councillor,
You are hereby summoned to attend a meeting of Ruskington Parish Council which will be held on Tuesday 8 September 2026 at The Winchelsea Centre at 7.00pm. Members of the public and press are welcome to attend.
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.
Prior to the start of the meeting, members of the public and press may ask questions on items on the agenda or make short statements to the Parish Council. If you are unable to attend the meeting, a question or statement can be submitted beforehand by emailing Clerk no later than seven days in advance of the meeting – clerk@ruskington-pc.gov.uk
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Signed: K H Locke Clerk to Ruskington Parish Council |
K H Locke
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Dated: 3 September 2026 |
Public session (no longer than 15 minutes)
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 the notes of the extra-ordinary meeting held on 6 August 2026.
4. To receive the District and County Councillors’ reports – for information only.
5. To receive an update on co-option to Council. (There are three vacancies.)
5.1. To consider the co-option to Council of a member of public to fill vacancy one, following completion of the approved co-option process. The applicant has confirmed they wish to be considered for co-option.
5.2. To consider the co-option to Council of a member of public for vacancy two, following completion of the approved co-option process. The applicant has confirmed they wish to be considered for co-option.
5.3. To consider the co-option to Council of a member of public for vacancy three, following completion of the approved co-option process. The applicant has not confirmed that they wish to be considered for co-option.
6. Financial matters (Information previously circulated).
6.1. To approve the payments made and consider the invoices for payment received since the meeting held on 14 July 2026.
6.2. To consider /approve the bank reconciliation for July and August 2026.
6.3. To receive a financial report for July and August 2026 from the RFO.
6.4. To consider the recommendation of the RFO to transfer money out of the current account to maximise interest earned and to prevent a large amount of money in a single account and, if approved, to consider/agree the actions to achieve this.
6.5. To receive / consider the external auditor’s report for the fiscal year end 2025-2026.
6.6. To consider the recommendation that Council moves to the Aubergine website provider from April 2027. (Deferred from 14 July meeting to enable updated cost to be obtained.)
6.7. To ratify the expenditure of £4450.00 excluding VAT for the urgent works to make safe identified headstones in Sleaford Road cemetery. (Quote circulated to Council by email for urgent decision. The five councillors who voted, voted in favour of the emergency expenditure.)
6.8. To consider the expenditure of £680.00 + VAT for the external maintenance (deep cleaning and moss treating) of the 4G pitch as recommended by the Recreation Committee. (Council Caretakers to undertake the weekly sweeping to remove debris.
6.8.1. To consider the requirement and expenditure for a Stihl (or equivalent) machine to aid the sweeping and maintenance of the 4G by the Caretakers. – Cllr Cunningham.
6.9. To consider the expenditure of £175.80 (excl VAT) to purchase 12 road lamps with batteries for the road closure barriers for the Christmas Market, as most of this event will take place during the hours of darkness.
7. To consider the appointment of Councillors to Council’s committees.
7.1. To consider a requirement for a councillor to have knowledge or experience of the committee they wish to join, to enable the committee to carry out its functions effectively.
7.2. Cllr Follows to the Events Committee.
7.3. Cllr Sheldon to the Environment & Estate Committee.
7.4. To consider any other changes to committee membership.
8. To consider /approve the following Terms of Reference and policies and consider any amendments recommended: -
8.1. Revised Terms of Reference for the Events Committee
8.2. Additional wording for the Communication policy as recommended by the Events Committee, following the installation of a noticeboard at Elmtree play area to advertise Council and Ruskington community events.
8.3. Draft Flag flying policy as recommended by the Events Committee.
9. To receive the Clerk’s report (for information only). Circulated prior to the meeting.
10. Correspondence: (For correspondence not requiring a motion or financial decision, please see the Clerk’s report.)
10.1. To consider the correspondence and notice from the Ruskington Lions JFC that they will be applying to NKDC for planning permission to locate a storage container at Parkfield playing fields. This is to enable their football equipment to be stored in the new container and their ground maintenance equipment to be stored in the current external storeroom of the Pavilion. (Please see item 11.5. below for the proposed temporary storage solution.)
11. To receive an update and consider recommendations from the Recreation Committee following its meeting on 28 July 2026.
11.1. To receive an update on the 4G pitch at Parkfield following the remedial measures (installation of kick boards by the contractor) to prevent the edges of the carpet turning up, and agree any actions and expenditure.
11.2 To consider the following fees for the use of Parkfield facilities:
a) Pavilion and playing field for day events for the remainder of 2026-2027: £250 for a business, £150.00 for a national charity, £50.00 for a local charity.
b) Pavilion only (after renovation) – to match the Village Hall rates
11.2.2. To consider a 10% reduction in fees for block bookings of the 4G pitch. (Council has previously approved a fee of £25.00 per hour), and to confirm how many sessions constitute a” block booking”.
11.3. To consider the date of 18th June 2027 for a charity event (Taxi Charity for Military Veterans) to be held at Parkfield playing fields, as recommended by the Recreation Committee, with a fee of £150.00, and to agree the Terms and Conditions for the event. https://www.taxicharity.org/
11.4. To consider the proposed date of Saturday 10 July 2027 for Finley’s Fundraiser annual event to be held at Parkfield playing fields and consider the fee of £50.00 and the Terms & Conditions.
11.5. To consider the Ruskington Lions JFC using the changing room block for additional storage and the toilets, at no cost, during the renovation of the pavilion and until their storage unit and external pavilion toilets are available for use.
12. To receive an update and consider any recommendations from the Environment and Estate Management Committee and agree any actions and expenditure.
12.1. To receive an update on the pavilion renovation.
12.2. To receive an overview of planning matters (previously circulated) and consider any planning applications received since the agenda was published.
13. To receive an update and consider recommendations from the Events Committee following its meeting on 10 August 2026 – Cllr Harrison
13.1. Christmas Market on Saturday 5 December 2026 and agree any actions and expenditure.
13.2. To consider the arrangements for Remembrance Sunday on 8 November 2026 and agree any actions and expenditure.
13.2.1. To appoint a councillor to give a reading during the Church service.
13.2.2. To consider paying overtime to the Environment Caretaker for his time delivering and collecting in the road closure barriers and advising the road closure volunteers on the day.
14. To receive Members’ Reports – for information only. (Any items raised requiring a decision will appear on a future agenda for consideration.)
15. To resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss the following 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.
16. To consider the Local Government Pension Discretion Policy as recommended by the HR Committee. (This a mandatory document.) - Cllr Bain
17. To receive an update and recommendations from the HR Committee on staff health and wellbeing matters, comments from annual appraisals that require actions, consider ways to protect staff from harassment and intimation by members of the public, and agree any actions and expenditure required. – Cllr Bain.
18. To consider the Heads of Terms for a new 15 year lease with NKDC for Hillside play area and agree any actions and expenditure – Cllr Trolley.
19. To consider the future of the Village Hall and agree any actions and expenditure – Cllr Ditch.
20. Code of Conduct, and liaison with external groups and members of the public– Cllr Ditch.
End of agenda.