June 2025
MINUTES OF THE HOGSTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 4th JUNE 2025
Present: Cllrs Fran Wilson (Chairman) Diane Hanson, Mary Banks, Chris Rolph, Ellen Smith and Bernadette Hornby. Clerk: Kath Hayes
Also present: County Cllr Danny Brookes, Dist Cllr Roger Dawson, Dist Cllr Stephen Evans and 6 members of the public
PUBLIC FORUM
A complaint was again noted on the state of the road on Thames Meadow Drive. This has been an ongoing problem for several decades since the properties were built. It was not known why planning permission was given to build on an unadopted road. The road should have been adopted by Lincolnshire County Council but no resolution had yet been found. The residents are paying full council tax but no-one will accept responsibility for the road. Cllr Brookes agreed to investigate this.
Another resident again mentioned the street lamp on Tavern Lane. LCC intended to take this down as it was on an unadopted road but this move had been stopped by the local residents. She asked why the street lights on Thames Meadow Drive were maintained on what would appear to be an unadopted road but the one lamp on Tavern Lane was not. The latest situation is that the lamp can stay but should that lamp fail, it will be taken down.
Cllr Hanson left the meeting at this stage.
Another resident said she had been in touch with LCC regarding the dykes being cleaned out. Their reply had been that the farmers should be responsible for the upkeep of the dykes. The Chairman noted that she was unaware of which dykes were affected.
There was also a discussion on the proposed site for caravans at Hill View Farm. The public understood that this field was sold by Charity Farm for the purpose of a dog walking area and not to build more caravans. There were numerous vacancies on caravans at Ingoldmells so there was no need for further caravans in the area. This was to be brought up during the meeting. The residents were urged to put in their own objections to this application.
Public forum was closed at this stage.
1. APOLOGIES - Cllrs Perry and Murray.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - None
3. APPROVAL OF NOTES OF MEETING
The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 7th May 2025 were unanimously approved and signed by the Chairman.
4. CLERK S REPORT
Of note: Clerk had attended second part of the LALC Cemetery management course from which she noted that most of the content had been the legalities of change of reserved plot ownership. A report of the grave owners was now being put together. Dog poo/waste bins and S106 money were agenda items.
5. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES
Cllr Brookes noted that they would be objecting to the solar farms and the pylons applications. They did not object to the solar panels but would object to solar farms being built on farming land. He also noted that they did not object to cables being put underground but were against the pylons.
There a nothing further to report from the County or District Councillors but they would take forward the comments from the public forum.
Cllr Banks reported that there had been a meeting of the village hall committee. She reported that they had very little revenue coming in and it would appear that no-one wanted to use the facilities. Without extra revenue there was only enough funding to keep the village hall running for another couple of years.
Cllr Banks reported on the meeting of the Charity Farm. The tenants were happy, there was no problem with the allotments and it was intended to repair the road.
6. CORRESPONDENCE -
The clerk noted that there was an email from the Community Development Team offering their support. YMCA had done a survey in the past and they would be called upon again should any support with community engagement be needed.
An email concerning the road at the junction of the A52 and Thames Street had been received from the Highways Manager stating that it was intended to fully repair this junction during the summer but they would look again at any urgent repairs that were needed in the meantime.
7. FINANCIAL MATTERS
i) The clerk noted that she had again investigated the HMRC claim that £.39 was owing. She had found that there was no outstanding amount for the year 2024/25 and had written accordingly enclosing schedules of what had actually been paid.
ii) Payment of Accounts. Confirmation of BACS payments during the month were £23.61 to F Wilson for VE-80 day church refreshments, £51.60 to Sid Dennis for waste collections. A further BACS payment was to be made to Cllr Rolph for locks for the speeding cameras. Cheques were also signed at the meeting for Village Hall hire of £15 and £188.00 to Rob Cooke for fixing of the cemetery notice board.
iii) Approval was given for payment of £10 per hour for general village equipment repairs by a volunteer from the village.
8. CHURCHYARD/CEMETERY MAINTENANCE
i) The Notice Board in the cemetery is now in place and the regulations have been posted into it.
ii) A District Councillor grant was in hand for the war memorial re-lettering. Clerk to go ahead and order with Alpha Memorials.
iii) There is still some work to be done in tidying the churchyard and there are some unstable memorials which need attention. A date for tidying was discussed.
iv) The repainting of the gate and the notice board is in hand.
v) Various other items were being looked into to try and make the churchyard attractive.
9) HIGHWAYS AND VILLAGE MAINTENANCE
i) Speeding Camera posts and signs have now been installed. Cllr Rolph had again reported speeding through the village to the police.
ii) Dog poo and waste bins Clerk had contacted ELDC regarding the bins required and was awaiting a reply as to whether they would take responsibility.
iii) The junction with the A52 and Thames Street had been noted in item 6.
iv) A volunteer had been asked to keep the village equipment (benches etc) repaired/ repainted on an ad hoc basis. It was agreed to pay 10 per hour for his efforts.
v) Cllr Hornby reported that she had reported the village hall sign to LCC.
vi) A further litter picking day had been arranged for the coming Saturday.
Cllr Dawson left at this stage.
10) PLAYPARK REPORT
Cllr Smith reported that a new facebook page - Hogsthorpe Playing Field - had been set up. Two new committee members had joined.
11) GRANTS
Clerk reported that she had again been in contact with the person responsible for S106 award asking for clarification on what had been requested for planters and benches at each end of the village.
Clerk reported that the District Councillors now had grants available at approx. £1000 each from the two councillors. Discussion was required on what was needed.
12) PLANNING
Planning application had been submitted for a further 43 static caravans at Hill View Lakes. (see also public forum discussion). The parish council would again object to this over-intensification of caravans in the area and urged other residents to also object.
13) DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting was arranged for 6pm Wednesday 2nd July 2025.
14) ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR NEXT AGENDA
Land at the end of Wilkinson Way - rubble deposited. Clerk to contact owners again.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.00 p.m.
2025/06
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