Ruskington Parish Council

Minutes of a meeting of Ruskington Parish Council held on Tuesday 8 July 2025 at the Winchelsea Centre, 11 High Street North, Ruskington, NG34 9DY at 7pm.

No members of the public or press were present.

County and District Councillor Wright had sent apologies as he had a prior engagement.

1. To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.

Cllr Hislop was unable to attend the meeting and had sent valid apologies. Cllr Tomlinson was not present and had not sent apologies.

Action: Council RESOLVED to accept the apologies of Cllr Hislop. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Bain, and approved unanimously.

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.

Cllr Cotter declared an interest in agenda item 20 (staff pay) as she was related to a member of staff.  

3. To approve as a correct record the notes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10 June 2025.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the notes of the meeting as accurate Minutes. Proposed by Cllr Cotter, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved with six votes for and two abstentions. (Councillors had not been present at the previous meeting.)

The Chairman signed the Minutes.

4. To receive the District and County Councillors’ reports – for information only.

Cllr Wright and Cllr Waldeck were unable to attend the meeting and no reports were available.

5. Financial Matters

Information had been circulated prior to the meeting.

    5.1. To approve the payments made and consider the invoices for payments received since the meeting held on 10 June 2025.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve all the payments made and invoices for payments received. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.

   5.2. To consider /approve the bank reconciliations for June 2025.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the bank reconciliations for June 2025. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Harrison and approved unanimously.

   5.3. To receive a quarterly review of finances and reserves and consider any recommendations made by the Finance Committee following its meeting held on 1 July 2025.

Finances and reserves had been scrutinised by the Finance Committee at its meeting on 1 July 2025. The RFO presented an overview and answered questions. Recommendations from the meeting were included on the agenda below or would be considered at the next Council meeting on 9 September 2025.

   5.4. To receive information on the non-domestic rateable value for the parish office.

The RFO advised that following the conversion of the flat at the rear of the parish office into office units, the building had required a valuation for non-domestic rates. There would be a single rate for the whole building. A refund on the domestic rates paid for the rear of the property would be backdated to 28 August 2024.

   5.5. To receive information on the revised cost of the insurance premium following valuations of Council property for insurance purposes.

Following valuations of the Council owned property, an additional payment of £451.81 had been made to the annual insurance premium.  

   5.6. To receive a monthly financial report from the RFO, and review its new format.

The RFO had circulated the financial report prior to the meeting using a red, amber, green (RAG) system to show areas of overspend of 10% and over (red), areas of overspend below 10% (amber) and areas where the finances were within the agreed budget (green). The information included comments to explain any over and underspends. Council agreed that this new format was a good starting point, and a vote of thanks was made to the RFO for her time spent creating the new reporting format which made the accounts easier to understand and to spot any anomalies.

   5.7. To consider the recommendation from the Finance Committee to allocate up to £1,300 of the CIL money, to supplement the previously approved costs for the path upgrade in the Garden of Remembrance.

Details and costs of the proposed upgrade to the path had previously been circulated.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to allocate up to £1,300 of CIL money to supplement the previously agreed expenditure for the upgrade of the path. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Trolley and approved unanimously.

   5.8. To receive an update on the s106 contribution following the development of housing at Flaxwell Fields, and to consider the expenditure of approx. £1,000 to £1,500 for a Deed of Variation, if this was possible, to legally change the criteria for the claim.

The Clerk gave a brief update.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve expenditure of up to £1,500 to request a Deed of Variation, if required.  Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.     .

   5.9. To consider a budget for prizes for the children’s anti-littering poster competition, if funding cannot be obtained.

A donation of three £10.00 vouchers had been offered for prizes (one for each age category).

Action: Council accepted the kind offer of a donation of vouchers. The designers of the winning posters would also be invited to “unveil” their posters once in situ.

   5.10. To consider information on fundraising activities to raise money for council projects – Cllr Bain.

A detailed report by Cllr Bain had been considered by the Finance Committee at its meeting on 1 July 2025 and had been circulated prior to the meeting. Cllr Bain presented an overview of ideas following research.  Ideas for enjoyable, inclusive, and community spirited activities included events, lotteries and prize draws, facility hire and obtaining grant funding.  The Chairman thanked Cllr Bain for his time researching, collating, and producing his detailed report.

Action: To set up a committee to research and plan fund raising ideas with Cllr Bain as the lead councillor.

6. To receive an update on co-option to Council.

No expressions of interest or application forms for co-option had been received. Council continued to promote the councillor vacancies on its communication channels.

7.   To receive the Clerk’s report - for information only.

This had been circulated prior to the meeting and the Clerk answered questions.

8.  Consider /approve of the following documents as recommended by the Finance Committee at its meeting held on 1 July 2025. (Information previously circulated).

   8.1. Risk Management Scheme

   8.2. Freedom of Information Publication Scheme & Schedule of Charges

   8.3. To review the Community Grant application form

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve and adopt the above polices 8.1., 8.2, and 8.3 with their recommended revisions. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.

9. To consider a request from an allotment holder about the possibility of keeping a beehive at the allotments on Horseshoe Close.

In allotment legislation, this was a decision for the Council to make, but it was not included in Council’s current allotment agreement. A member of the Lincolnshire Bee Keeping Association and the allotment holder had been invited to the meeting, but neither were able to attend.

Action: This item was deferred until specialist information on bee keeping had been obtained, including safety, liability, and insurance requirements.  

10. To consider applying to the Feed the Ducks Initiative for a duck food dispenser and agree the location for the dispenser, if required.

Information had been circulated prior to the meeting. A location on High Street South, beside the Beck and opposite Ink and Toner was the only suitable site, but the Parish Council did not own the land.

Action: Council would support the dispenser if the originator of the Feed the Ducks Initiative obtained the relevant consent from LCC Highways.

11. To agree the Council’s arrangements for attending Finley’s Fundraising Day on 19 July 2025 including councillors’ attendance, the information to be shared at the event, and the anti-litter poster competition.

Action: Cllrs Cox, Bain, Conway and Cotter would be available throughout the day. The gazebo, display boards, information, items for the anti- littering poster competition, litter picking equipment and walkie talkies would be left in the pavilion on the day before the event. The tables and chairs from the pavilion would be used for the Council display stand. Information on the pavilion renovation, and council business to be shared at the event, along with a box for comments (as at the Annual Parish Meeting).

12. To agree the arrangements for a cream tea on Saturday 6 September 2025 in the community gardens to celebrate the end of WW2, including timings, councillor attendance, activities, catering arrangements, and budget.

The Winchelsea Centre had been provisionally booked for the day for 11am to 3pm, for the serving of refreshments and in case of inclement weather, a risk assessment had been commenced, a list of suggested activities had been made, and the RFO was researching funding opportunities for the event.

Action: Interested councillors would meet at the Parish Office on Monday 14 July at 11am to discuss the plans for the event. Cllr Ditch would contact a member of the ukulele band to see if they could perform at the event. The booking for the Winchelsea Centre to be confirmed. The gate between the Winchelsea Centre and the community garden (at the bottom of the path to the rear of the Centre as previously discussed and verbally agreed with the PCC) to be costed and installed by the caretakers prior to the event, with the removal of any hedging as required. Expenditure of up to £500.00 was agreed for the event but did not include the work required to install a gate. The RFO to apply for funding for the event, if available. Donations would be invited for the refreshments served. Any money raised from this to go towards the refurbishment of the path in The Garden of Remembrance. Proposed by Cllr Conway, seconded by Cllr Cotter and approved unanimously. 

13. To agree the date for the next Community Litter Pick and agree the Councillor to lead this.

Action: As no councillors were available to lead the event in August this was deferred until the September meeting.

14. Recreation Matters:

Information had been circulated prior to the meeting.

   14.1. To consider a 3G surface for the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) – Cllr Cox and possible funding opportunities for this.

Cllr Cox gave an overview of why a 3G surface for the MUGA was required and how this would bring in an income for the Council, advised that he had been obtaining quotes, that the cost would be approx. £30,000, and that Lincolnshire Football Association offered a funding opportunity to cover some of the costs. The 3G surface was discussed at length and included the evidence of need for the surface, its accessibility, the loss of use for the MUGA for other sports and community use, any VAT implications, ongoing maintenance requirements, and the other projects already in discussion for Parkfield playing fields.

Action: Further information, including evidence of need, costs versus benefits, VAT implications and logistics, would be considered within an overall plan for the playing fields by the Recreation and Environment Committee at its meeting on 2 September 2025.

   14.2. To consider suitable projects for the s106 claim.

An update on the s106 claim was awaited from NKDC. An accessible running track and padel court ideas were suggested. Council was keen to enhance the current sports facilities including the pavilion building and would put this forward for consideration if a Deed of Variation was required. 

Action: To await information from NKDC.

   14.3. To consider a public consultation to include the pavilion, projects for the s106 claim, Hillside play area.

This would be considered by the Recreation and Environment Committee to provide ideas, evidence of need for funding bids and the plans for Hillside play area, and to inform the budget for FY2026-2027.

   14.4. To consider an application, if received, to use Parkfield playing fields for a charity football match; to agree the Terms and Conditions and agree the parking arrangements.

The event had taken place on 5 July 2025.

15. To consider appointing a fourth Member to the HR Committee to ensure that committee meetings can take place.

Action: Cllr Cox was appointed to the HR Committee. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Conway and approved unanimously.

   15.1. To agree a date for the next HR Committee meeting

Action: The meeting to take place on Monday 14 July 2025 at 1pm at the Parish Office.

   15.2. To agree the HR Committee members to undertake the Clerk’s annual appraisal.

Action: Cllr Bain and Cllr Jennings (both members of the HR Committee) would conduct the Clerk’s appraisal.

16.  To consider planning applications received from NKDC since the last meeting:

Information had been circulated prior to the meeting.

   a. Planning Application Reference: 25/0693/HOUS

 Proposal:  Erection of two storey rear extension

 Location:   11 Arnhem Avenue Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9EY

Action: Council had no objections to this application.

   b. Application reference:  25/0733/TPO

Description of works:

T1 - Lime -

Reduce overhanging branches 2.5m.

Reduce branches to height of 14-15 metres

T2- Lime - Reduce overhanging branches 2.5m. Reduce branches to height of 14-15 metres

T3 - Lime - Reduce overhanging branches 2.5m. Reduce branches to height of 14-15 metres

Location:  4 Oakland Crescent, Ruskington.

Action: Council had no objections to these tree works if the Tree Officers had no objections.

   c. Planning Application Reference: 25/0499/FUL

Proposal: Relocation of mobile home with new fencing and block paved driveway

Location: 36 Lindum Park Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9EE

Action: Council had no objections to this application.

   d.  Planning Application Reference 25/0499/FUL

Notification of Local Councils – Receipt of amended details 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

Action: Council had no objections to this application as long as the mobile home remains within the boundaries of the site.

   e.  Planning Application Reference: 25/0713/HOUS

 Proposal:  Single storey oak framed front porch, single storey side extension, first floor

rear extension, external alterations including new hipped roof over garage, internal

alterations

Location:   71 Westcliffe Road Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 9AX

Action: Council had no objections to this application.

   16.1. To receive notice of planning applications approved by NKDC.

   a. Application Reference: 25/0358/FUL

Proposal: Proposed change of use and conversion of existing dwellinghouse (use class C3)

to form extension to existing retirement home (use class C2)

Location: 2 Holme Lane Ruskington Sleaford

(Notice of approval received on 18//6/2025).

      b. Application Reference: 25/0455/FUL

 Proposal: Retrospective application for siting an InPost Parcel Locker

 Location: Ruskington Convenience Store 30 - 32 Millview Road Ruskington

(Notice of approval received on 30/6/2025)

16.2. To receive the outcome of a planning appeal, from NKDC.

   b. Planning Appeal by Mr Hugo De Savary

Proposed Site at Land to the Rear Of 48 Rectory Road

Reference 24/0322/FUL Appeal Reference APP/R2520/W/24/3355040

Proposal: Demolition of existing detached garage and erection of 3no. supported housing units (Class C3(b)) including new parking area.

Decision: Appeal dismissed (on 16.6.2025)

17.  Correspondence - for information only. (Circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting).

   a. NKDC (by email on 9/6/2026) – Footbridge at the end of Tomlinson Way

   b. Ruskington Community Library (by email on 10/6/2025) – Summer Reading Challenge

   c. Carre Heritage (by email on 10/6/2025) – The renovation of the lychgate will commence on site or in the workshop on Thursday 12 June 2025.

   d. Cllr Overton / Cliffe Villages Action Group (by email on 12/6/2025) - Objection to the Battery Storage Units at Navenby and Coleby. (The RFO responded to say that Council was waiting for the NKDC Planning Team to formally respond to the questions and concerns raised by the Navenby & Coleby community).

   e. Anwick Parish Council (via email on 12/6/2025) – Approved minutes of a public meeting held in Anwick on 21 May 2025. (The Clerk confirmed receipt of the email and attached minutes.)

   f. Resident (by email on 12/6/2025) - Grass verge cutting on Sleaford Road at the junction with Winchelsea Road. (The Clerk has signposted to FixMyStreet and contacted Glendale.)

   g. NKDC (by email on 13/6/2025) - Pleasure Boat and Boatman Licensing Policy Consultation

   h. Resident (by email on 16/6/2025) – Inconsiderate and dangerous parking on Parkfield Road at its junction with High Street North. (Signposted to LCC’s website to report the nuisance parking issues.)

   i. NKDC (by email on 16/6/2025) - Licensing Act 2003:  Statement of Licensing Policy – Consultation

   j. Stantec (by email on 16/6/2025) – Request for information regarding field drains draining into the Beck. (Environment Agency map to show the main drains draining into the Beck sent).

   k. LALC (by email on18/6/2025) – Information regarding LALC’s information stand at Lincolnshire Show on 18-19 June 2025.

   l. Carre Heritage (by email on 18/6/2025) – Update on the lychgate renovation and photo of the temporary entrance and accessible ramp.

   m. Legal Services Lincolnshire (by email, on 19/6/2025) – Update on the completion of the lease agreement for the public toilets on Church Street.

   n. LCC Highways (by email on 19/6/2025) – Grass verge cutting and ownership of the verge outside 35 Leasingham Lane. (At the request of Highways, whilst LCC’s legal team is investigating, the RFO has asked Glendale to stop cutting this stretch of verge until further notice.)

   o. Resident (by email on 19/6/2025) – Enquiry concerning arranging for an interment of ashes in Sleaford Road cemetery. (The Clerk has sent information.)

   p. NKDC (by email on 19/6/2025) – Parish and Town Newsletter for June 2025.

   q. Legal Services Lincolnshire (by post) – Completed lease for the public toilets on Church Street.

   r. Resident (by email on 25/6/3025) – Vegetation, trees and rats on Parkfield playing field.

   s. NKDC (by email on 25/6/2025) – Town and Parish Newsletter.

   t. NKDC (By email on 26/6/2025) - Register of interest forms and request for questions for Neighbourhood Policing Team.

   u. Resident (by email) on 30/6/2025 – Incident at the MUGA (date unknown)

    v. Springwell solar farm (by email on 30/6/2025) – Information about the proposed solar farm.

    w. LALC (by email on 30/6/2025) – Agenda, papers and link to the LALC AGM on 3/7/2025.

    x. (Ruskington Veteran’s Group (by email on 30/6/2/2025) – Request to sow poppies within the garden, and on outside of the exterior wall, with a request not to mow a strip of grass to facilitate this. The Clerk is obtaining consent from LCC Highways.

   y. Beeswax Dyson (by email on 2/7/2025) – Response to an enquiry made by the Clerk.

   z. LCC Highways (by email on 3/7/2025) – Confirmation that a proposed memorial bench to be placed on hardstanding outside Chaos Discount does not require consent from Highways

   aa. Lincolnshire Bee Keepers Association (by email on 3/7/2025) – Possibility of a representative attending the public session of the ordinary meeting on 9/9/2025.

18. To receive Members’ Reports – for information only. (Any items raised for decision will appear on the agenda for the next meeting.)

• Cllr Cox advised that a football tournament had taken place at Parkfield playing fields with paid for parking on the north field and asked if risk assessments etc., for the event had been received. They had not. (This would be considered along with hire agreements and a letter to the event organisers by the Recreation and Environment Committee at its meeting on 2 September 2025).
• Cllr Harison advised that he was a member of the Patient Participation Group at Ruskington Medical Centre. The surgery would like to be invited to the next Annual Parish Meeting as they had lots of information to share.
• Cllr Bain advised that the draft letters he had written for Pilgrim Europe and St George’s Academy, to ask about the possibility of parking at the sites for planned Council events, had been finalised and delivered.

19. To resolve whether to exclude the public and press, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960, to discuss the following legal and staffing matters below. 

Action: Council RESOLVED to move into closed session to discuss the matters below. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Bain and approved unanimously.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.25pm. The meeting reconvened at 9.25pm.

At this point in the meeting the Chairman asked if agenda item 20 (staff pay) could be moved to the end of the meeting to enable Cllr Cotter to leave the meeting whilst this was considered, without having to return to the meeting.

Action: Council RESOLVED to move agenda item 20 to the end of the meeting. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Cox and approved unanimously.

20. Councillors use of social media – Cllr Ditch

Information on the Code of Conduct and the Social Media Policy had been circulated prior to the meeting. Cllr Ditch reminded Councillors that Council was apolitical and advised Councillors to consider their social media content as personal views could be construed as that of council. He suggested using privacy settings if required.

21. To consider the correspondence and meeting minutes from Anwick Parish Council in response to Council’s letter dated 11 June 2025 and consider any actions.

The minutes of a public meeting had been received from Anwick Parish Council and circulated prior to the meeting. This followed the unfounded and derogatory comments sent in an accompanying letter from Anwick Parish Council.  Ruskington Parish Council had taken specialist advice before responding to the letter; had stated its case, acted within the law, and as advised, requested an apology. At the time of the meeting, no apology had been received.  

At 9.42pm Cllr Cotter left the meeting.

22. To consider a recommendation from the Finance Committee following its meeting held on 1 July 2025, that from 1 April 2026, two staff members be moved up one increment on the NJC pay scale into pay band LC1 (13-17 substantive). – Cllr Ditch.

Action: The Council RESOLVED to approve the recommendation of the Finance Committee with effect from 1 April 2026. Proposed by Cllr Trolley, seconded by Cllr Jennings and approved unanimously.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.50pm.

Meeting date: 8 July 2025

Author: Kathryn Locke – Clerk to Council

Purpose of report: To provide an update report from the Clerk on business conducted since the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held meeting held on 10 June 2025.

Min ref 5.1. The RFO has made all the approved payments.

Min ref 5.3. The TRFO has used virement to transfer £6,000 from the salaries budget to the toilet cleaning budget as the cleaning was now undertaken by a contractor.

Min ref 5.4. The insurance for the parish van was automatically renewed on 10 June 2025 at a cost of £704.00 for the year.

Min ref 5.5. The RFO is finalising the design with for the business unit sign with the supplier.

Min ref 8. All approved documents have been shared on Council’s website and shared with staff as appropriate.  

Min ref 11. The organisers of Finley’s Fundraiser have thanked council for the donation towards the event’s insurance and agreed to publicise the sponsorship from the Council as able (the posters had been created prior to the council paying for the insurance). The organisers have signed and returned the approved T&Cs for the event. The Clerk to meet with an organiser to visit the pavilion prior to the event and to provide the litter picking equipment, and 4 walkie talkies (as agreed with the emergency planning committee). NKDC has given consent for parking behind the bungalows on Pinfold Way and a copy of the event insurance will be sent to them at their request. Users of the pavilion have been asked to remove all their items from the building in advance of the event.

Min ref 12. The MUGA contractor has been advised that they will be contacted when the MUGA requires maintenance due to a different surface for the MUGA being explored.

Min ref 13. The Clerk has met with Chaos and an alternative location on the hardstanding to the right of the store doors has been agreed. This will not require permission from LCC highways. The caretakers will install the bench. As it is on private ground, RPC will not be able to maintain the bench.

Min ref 14. The Environment Caretaker has planned the creation of the area for the interment of cremated remains along the south border of the cemetery. The cost will be £220.59. Local timber suppliers will be used. The Clerk has authorised the expenditure after discussion with the RFO and in agreement with the Chairman of Council, in accordance with Council’s financial regulations.

Min ref 14.3. Changes to the eligibility to be interred in the cemetery will be included in the cemetery regulations commencing from 1 April 2025 following a full review of the regulations by the Recreation and Environment Committee.

Min ref 15. The Veterans’ Group has been invited to offer support to the cream tea on 6 September 2025 to commemorate the end of WW2. They had no plans to commemorate the event other than to attend services at the Parish and Methodist Churches.

Min ref 16. Date for HR Committee meeting to be confirmed.

Min ref 17. The Admin Assistant has created an anti-littering poster competition for primary school aged children with local schools and children’s clubs on Council’s social media pages.

Min ref 18. The approved letter had been emailed to the Clerk at Anwick Parish Council on 11 June 2026. In return the Clerk at Anwick has supplied the approved minutes of a public meeting that had taken place in Anwick on 21 May 2025 whereby Ruskington PC’s submission to the proposed biogas plant had been discussed, and a letter agreed.  

Min ref 19 and 20: Council’s comments to planning applications have been submitted to NKDC Planning for its consideration.

Min ref 21. Information on the s106 claim has been sought from D/Cllr Wright and NKDC. (Agenda item.)

Other Council Business:

AGAR – The RFO has submitted all end of year financial information to the external auditor (PKF Littlejohn). The statutory information is being shared on the Council’s noticeboard and website as prescribed (30 June 2025 – 11 August 2025) as prescribed.

Allotments – The agreement and policy still require amending. This has commenced.

Anti-littering poster competition – The Admin Assistant has created the publicity and launched the poster competition.

Attendance at events – The Clerk and RFO are attending the LALC conference at Lincoln Showground on 16 July 2024 (9.30am to 4pm).

Book Access Point for the community garden – The Council was unsuccessful in its bid for a “Little Book Stop.” The Clerk and Buildings’ Caretaker are discussing the possibility of one being made “in house.”

Cemetery – The new ashes scattering plot will be marked out by the Environment Caretaker.

• The Environment Caretaker will be undertaking tree work in the cemetery in autumn/winter 2025-2026.

Changing rooms – The guttering is being damaged by people kicking balls against the wall of the changing rooms and there is a risk of the solar panels being damaged.

Coffee grounds –Cuppa Bliss is going to provide Council with used their coffee grounds, at no cost, to use in the flower tubs and other areas of the village, to improve the soil.

Co-option – No application forms or expressions have been received.

Community Garden - The lilac tree at the top of the steps leading into the garden from the rear of the office has had to be removed on 27/6/2025 by Caretakers due to a large crack down the centre of the truck making the tree unstable. Another tree will be planted to replace.  

Community litter- pick – Cllr Cotter led a successful community litter pick on 7//6/2025. The date and leader of the next litter pick to be agreed.

Donations to Council – Cllr Harrison has donated time, plants, comport and manure to fill the planter outside the public toilets.

Decals - The van and office decals were fitted on 18/6/2025 by Display Pro. The expenditure is less than originally planned as “privacy strips” were installed rather than “cut outs” of the Council logo. New blinds will still be required to offer shade as the windows are south facing.

Electricity provider- Issues concerning exit fees for with leaving the current provider are still being dealt with by the RFO and the new provider’s legal team.

Fire extinguisher inspections – Firestop conducted annual inspections of all the fire extinguishers on 25/6/2025. Three new fire extinguishers and signage were installed in the rear of the office building (two in the waiting area and one on the upstairs landing) and replaced two extinguishers that were out of date in the office two in the pavilion and one in the changing rooms.  

Football tournament – The Clerk has sent the Lions JFC Terms & Conditions for the use of the Parkfield playing fields and the pavilion for the football tournament on 28/29 June 2025. A signed agreement is awaited. Update on 30/6/2025. The Clerk has been advised that the tournament took place, although no signed Terms and Conditions were returned and no confirmation of the event was received.  Changes to future Terms & Conditions for events to be agreed.

Garden of Remembrance – The Veteran’s Group are continuing to weed and generally tidy the Garden.

• The Veterans who volunteer to weed and tidy the Garden have asked about the possibility of sowing poppy seeds within the garden and on the grass verge (along the exterior of the garden wall for a depth of 12 inches). LCC Highways have advised that a licence is required to plant flowers on the grass verge. The Veterans have been advised to only sow poppy seeds inside the Garden of Remembrance in the first instance.

• The Environment Caretaker has revised the costs for re-laying the path. This has been delayed due to the requirement to replace the footbridge in Horseshoe Hollow in 2024.   (Agenda item.)

Horseshoe Hollow – Simpsons Arboriculture met with Environment Caretaker on 13/6/2025 to discuss the possibility of two large sycamore trees at the beginning of the footpath between Lincoln Road and Horseshoe Hollow being severely pollarded and then kept on a 3-5 yearly re-pollarding schedule. This is to reduce the crown spread and reduce the risk of damage to the BT line and prevent them overhanging a resident's property and the public footpaths. A quote has been obtained.  If agreed, the work will be undertaken in the autumn/winter. (Agenda item for the meeting on 9 September 2025.)

• The caretakers have repaired a broken bench in Horseshoe Hollow at no cost to Council.
• Hill Holt Wood will be cutting the grass in Horseshoe Hollow on Friday 22 August 2025.

Litter bins: On 8/7/2025, the caretaker replaced litter bin LB16 at Parkfield playing fields with a double bin in an attempt to reduce littering. The original bin will be used to replace the two dog waste bins between the south and north fields. The NKDC Waste Team are aware.

Lychgate Renovation – This commenced on 9 June 2025. A temporary entrance with accessible ramp is in place. On 30/6/2025 Carre Heritage provided an update. The Clerk is completing the funding updates as requested by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Parkfield playing fields – The Lions JFC were asked not to mark out a pitch or use the area in front of the pavilion as the grass is wearing thin. The caretakers will re-seed this rea at the best time of the year.

• The sports teams have been issued with the hire contracts for the upcoming season and with the invoices for their fees.  

Parking for events: Letters to the Pilgrim Europe factory and St Georges Academy were hand delivered by the Admin Assistant on 8/7/2025. The letters asked about the possibility of using factory and school car parks for event parking with prior agreement when the sites were closed. 

Parish office business units - The Building’s Caretaker has changed the door code for Office 4 at the request of the business owner due to a change of staff.

• The business owner requesting signage has sent examples of their logo to the RFO for informing the exterior sign. Update 8/7/2025: The business owner has agreed their design with the sign company.
• Planters to screen the bins from the entrance to the rear office units are being arranged by the RFO.

Parish Van – The decals were fixed to the van by Display Pro on 18 June 2025.  

• The van insurance was automatically renewed for one year on 10 June 2025.  

Play areas – The annual ROSPA inspection takes place in August 2025. (Exact date unknown.)

• The “wobble board” and its concrete base in Hillside Play area is going to be removed by the caretakers. The board is rotten and no longer repairable, and its concrete base is raised out of the ground, made worse by the drought, making it unsafe to use. 
• Vegetation growing in the play bark is an on-going issue at both Hillside and Beck Close play areas.

Pavilion planning application - Due to unforeseen circumstances, the decision on the pavilion and parking planning application has been delayed by NKDC until Friday 18 July 2025. 

Public toilets – The signed and sealed lease has been received from Legal Services Lincolnshire.

• Work to repair the exterior wall beside the entrance to the gents’ toilets should commence on Monday 21 July 2025 by the agreed contractor.

Section 19 Flood Report / investigation/ modelling – Stantec has requested and received information on the known drains that feed into the Beck from upstream. The limited information that Council holds, has been sent.

Section 106 contribution – The point of contact officer at NKDC dealing with the s106 contribution from the Flaxwell Fields development phoned the Clerk on 11/6/2025 to explain that their draft response to Council’s queries was being reviewed by the planning department for accuracy. The criteria for the public open space depended on the size of the development and what was included in the development. It might be possible for Ruskington Parish Council to change the legal agreement at a cost of £1,000 to £1,500. This would be arranged via Legal Services not NKDC. The Officer advised that Cllr Wright had been in contact with the s106 committee.  An update from Cllr Wright has been requested.

Social media – Concerns about social media posts have been received. Councillors must remember that the parish council is a non-political government organisation and therefore its members must take care of what they post on social media. Content may be considered the view of Council and may contravene the social media policy and Code of Conduct. (Agenda item)

Staff Matters – Information on working in hot weather has been shared with staff. Air conditioning, a fan, water, and sun screen area available in the office, and staff have been invited to work flexible hours.

• The Clerk’s annual appraisal by two members of the HR Committee is overdue. Cllr Jennings has agreed to be one of the councillors involved.

Tomlinson Way / Whitehouse Road footbridge – A couple of residents have reported the footbridge over the ditch behind Tomlinson Way as being unfit for purpose. This was reported on Fix My Street by Environment Caretaker. LCC advised that it was not their bridge; the path is not a proven right of way and therefore is not maintained. The Admin Assistant then contacted NKDC who also advised that this bridge was not owned or maintained by them. It is not the property of the Parish Council and is not on land owned or maintained by the Parish Council. According to NKDC the land is in the process of being re-registered. Letters from an external agency have been delivered to property owners on Whitehouse Road regarding planned housing development. 

Training –

• Cllr Harrison attended “in person” Councillor training 8 July 2025 (1pm-4pm) at the LALC office.
• Cllr Conway will be attending Finance for Councillors (online) training on 10 July 2025.
• The RFO attended VAT for Councils training on 24 June 2025.
• The Clerk attended online AI training for Councils on 3 June 2025 and 24 June 2025 (Parts 1 & 2 of 3 sessions).
• The Clerk attended HR Training (Misuse of Social Media) on 3/7/2025.  
• The Clerk has registered an expression of interest with LALC for the Building and Play Areas Caretaker to undertake further training in inspecting play equipment.

Trees – The tree survey by NKDC is schedule to take place in July 2025.

VJ Day 80 – Th Parish Church and Methodist Church are both holding services of commemoration. The Ruskington Veteran’s Group are attending these services and not organising events of their own. They may be able to help with the end of WW2 cream tea being organised by the parish council.

Dates for upcoming scheduled meetings –

• There is NO Council meeting in August.
• HR Committee - date to be confirmed.
• Tuesday 2 September 2025 – Recreation and Environment Committee Meeting at 6.30pm at the Parish Office (review of fees, cemetery regulations, allotment agreements etc).
• 16 September 2025 – Estate Management & Planning Committee at 6.30pm at the Parish Office (Please note the agreed change of date from 3/9/2025).
• Tuesday 9 September 2025 - Council meeting at 7pm at the Winchelsea Centre.
• Tuesday 23 September 2025 – HR Committee meeting at 6.30pm at the Parish Office (review of wages, pensions, contracts etc).
• 7 October 2025 – Finance Committee meeting at 6.30pm at the Parish Office (commence budget setting, review grant application forms from community groups etc).