2025-26 Minutes (Full Council)

July 2025

 

MINUTES OF THE HOGSTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

 HELD ON WEDNESDAY 2nd JULY 2025

 

Present: Cllrs Fran Wilson (Chairman) Diane Hanson, Chris Rolph, Ellen Smith, Bernadette Hornby, Ray Murray and Pauline Perry.   Clerk: Kath Hayes

Also present: 2 members of the public

 

PUBLIC FORUM

A resident again brought up the question of the dykes being cleaned out.  The Chairman will meet with the resident and look at the exact positions. 

 

A resident asked about footpaths, some of which are very overgrown.  Clerk to contact appropriate person at LCC.

 

Also mentioned was the planning application submitted for 80 caravans/lodges at Ivy Lodge.   See Agenda item 11(iii).

 

Public forum was closed at this stage.

 

  1. APOLOGIES – Cllr Mary Banks, County Cllr Brookes, Dist Cllrs Evans and Dawson

 

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None

 

  1. APPROVAL OF NOTES OF MEETING

The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on 4th June 2025 were unanimously approved and signed by the Chairman.

 

  1. CLERK’S REPORT

Report attached

 

  1. REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE BODIES

There were no reports.

 

  1. CORRESPONDENCE -

Nothing to report

 

7.  FINANCIAL MATTERS

  1. Financial statement for the period 1st April to 30th June 2025 showing a bank balance  of £17678, having been previously circulated, were unanimously approved.
  2. HMRC still claimed that an amount of £671.39 was owing.   After a lengthy call, the clerk reported that they had found two amounts which had not been allocated in the months of payment.  This was expected to be cleared by the 7th July and the clerk would contact them again should the interest need to be recalculated.
  3. Payment of Accounts.  Confirmation of BACS payments during the month were £51.60 to Sid Dennis for waste collections, £36.11 to clerk for expenses, £531.50 for clerk’s salary and £169.89 to HMRC, £400 to LCC for speeding camera poles, £160 to I. Wilson for web and burial record assistance and £478 to WeDo Finance on behalf of Playpark (to be repaid by Playpark). Payment by BACS was due to be made of £550.00 to R. Aldrich for grasscutting. Cheques of £15 for Village Hall hire
  4. Claim for VAT has been submitted for £607.50 for 2024-25 year.

 

8.     CHURCHYARD/CEMETERY MAINTENANCE

 

  1. The war memorial lettering is now being completed and the painting of the gates etc is progressing.  Cemetery is now much tidier but there is still work to be done with fallen and leaning memorials and clerk is working on this as time allows.  A date for cleanup was arranged for 2pm on Saturday 26th July – all volunteers welcome in addition to councillors.

 

9)       HIGHWAYS AND VILLAGE MAINTENANCE

 

  1. Dog poo and waste bins – Clerk had contacted ELDC regarding the bins and they now require completion of their Litter and Dog Bin Policy which the clerk noted was more appropriate for the district council to complete but they were insisting that it should be completed by the Parish Council.  This was now completed with as much detail as possible but it is awaiting photographs to send off.
  2. Nothing has yet been done at the junction with the A52 and Thames Street which is still awaiting repair.
  3. Clerk had not yet contacted the owner of the land at the end of Wilkinson Way.
  4. Dykes throughout the village – see public forum.
  5. Cllr Hornby reported that she had reported the signs to LCC but they claimed they weren’t bad enough to replace yet.  They were not concerned with footpaths where weeds were growing through.

 

10)     GRANTS

S106 Funding

Clerk had spent a good deal of time in researching planters, mini library, benches and art work in order to put together quotes for the requirements.  Chairman and Clerk were having a meeting with the school to discuss the placing of the mini library on the grass verge outside of the school.  A meeting at the Clerk’s home to finalise the purchases was fixed for 10am on Friday 18th July.

 

11)     PLANNING

  1. National Grid – Consultation meetings were arranged, dates posted on the notice board.
  2. Planning Application 02356/25/FUL Hill View – 43 static caravans plus 3 wildlife ponds –objection had been submitted and is on line on the ELDC Planning portal.
  3. Application 02383/25/FUL – 80 lodges/caravans plus fishing lakes and buildings.  Objection has been submitted and is on line on the ELDC planning portal.

 

12)     DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting was arranged for 6pm Wednesday 3rd September 2025.

 

13)     ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR NEXT AGENDA

          None of note.

 

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.30 p.m.