2025 minutes

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 2nd December 2025 in the Village Hall

Present: Cllr F Parish (Chair), Cllr C van Straubenzee, Cllr H White, Cllr M Clayphan, Cllr Kinning and Mrs S Phillips (Clerk)

In attendance: Cllr D Bellamy

25/121                 Welcome by the Chair

                                The meeting was declared open with everyone welcomed.

25/122                 Apologies for absence

                                Cllr R Brabbin, Cllr A White, Cllr L Hughes, Cllr C Ashton and Cllr Oldfield.

25/123                 Declarations of Interest

                                Cllr Kinning declared an interest in agenda item 25/127 (c).

25/124                 Reports from County District Councillors

                                County Councillor

                                Cllr C Vernon was not present.

                                District Councillors

                                Cllr B Green gave apologies but provided the following report.

Residents will be relieved to know that Rutland is no longer set to be merged with South Kesteven under the current proposals. Negotiations around a possible merger involving Rutland, South Kesteven, North Kesteven, and South Holland became increasingly strained, with allegations of bullying directed by the Rutland County Council leader towards the South Kesteven leader. As a result, Rutland has been removed from the final bid.

Instead, the district council has backed a proposed combined authority with North Kesteven and South Holland. I voted against this, in part because South Holland appears to favour a different model, which casts doubt on the viability of the arrangement. Importantly, though, the removal of Rutland means we avoid both the disruption of a county border change and the higher council tax levels that would have come with such a merger.

Unfortunately, the council still spent £55,000 on consultants to prepare its bid submission, despite having the option of aligning with another authority at effectively no cost. I also asked that we apologise to Rutland for the breakdown in relations, but this was rejected.

Separately, I proposed a 10 per cent reduction in Special Responsibility Allowances – the payments made to councillors who take on additional roles such as chairing committees, serving in the cabinet, or leading the council. This was rejected by all other groups apart from my own.

Cllr Bellamy gave congratulations on the firework event and reported that the local plan is still being updated due to housing allocation.  Due to the cost of building this may mean that there will be less affordable homes, but it is unclear if it will affect South Witham.

South Witham have previously asked for S106 funds from the Mill Lane development, this to be looked into.

25/125                 To approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 4th November 2025

Minutes of the meeting held on 4th November 2025 were approved as a true and accurate record and signed as such by Cllr Parish.

25/126                 Outstanding Items

                                None.

25/127                 Financial Matters

• Payment’s approval

The following payments were approved.

(b)          Monthly Accounts

It was confirmed that £1200 has been transferred from the main bank account to the playpark account.

(c)           To consider holding funds donated towards fireworks in 2026 as well as silent fireworks

A donation of £250 was received after the fireworks were purchased and is expected that another £100 will be received from the Village Hall committee.  It was proposed by Cllr Parish that a holding fund be set up for any donations received for 2026 event, seconded by Cllr van Straubenzee, all in agreement.

The parish council have been contacted about the possibility of silent fireworks.  The councillors were aware of the difficulties for people with pets but noted it was a tradition of the village to hold a firework event for half an hour a year with plenty of notice given, it was also noted that there seems to have been a reduction in households setting off fireworks.  Cllr Kinning agreed to review the noise ratings of fireworks for the next event.

(d)          To agree budget and precept for 2026/2027

To be reviewed by the finance committee.

25/128                 Operational Matters

(a)          To receive feedback from meeting with Pegasus Group

Cllr Parish reported that an overview was given and a pre application meeting is due to take place with SKDC in January, which will be followed by a meeting with the parish council and then a public consultation in spring 2026.  They are very keen to work with the village and was pleasing to see a variety of houses in their plan.

25/129                 Village Hall Matters

It was noted that heating had been left on again and agreed that the option of Hive is to be tabled for the next meeting.

The boiler service has been booked for January, which is normally done in December but due to difficulties with obtaining a plumber had to be delayed.  It was suggested that the boiler be serviced again in June as normally slightly cheaper and will be easier to find an available plumber in the summer months.            

The defib outside the shop will be moved before the 15th December so that Amazon lockers can be erected.               

25/130                 Play Areas update

Cllr Kinning confirmed that the spring in the playpark could not be removed and will discuss further with Cllr Oldfield.

It was agreed that a request for volunteers be advertised on Facebook to help with things around the village and playground.

25/131                 Planning Applications

(a)          Update

(b)          For comment - nil

25/132                 Correspondence

                                LALC – which councillors are now receiving direct.

                                Silent fireworks email

It was confirmed that there will be no Christmas service in the church, the last service in 2025 will be on 14th December at 10.00am.

The meeting was declared closed at 8.00pm.