September DRAFT 2025 Minutes
SEPTEMBER 2025 MINUTES
The Parish Council meeting was held on Thursday, 11th September 2025 at 7.00 p.m. in Hough on the Hill Church community area.
Present: Councillors S Sharman (Chair), J Pope, R Harris, S Allen and V McLean, District Councillor P Milnes, County Councillor K Bamford and 2 members of the public.
Clerk/RFO - Donna Lang
Absent: Councillors L Rann and A Seage
Cllr Sharman opened the meeting with a welcome to those present.
Public Participation:
A MOP enquired about the ongoing works required at the triangle at the bottom of New Hill/Lower Road. LCC had completed works on the drain cover. Cllr Bamford would liaise with LCC as to whether the grass triangle could be reinstated.
26/25 To receive apologies and valid reasons for absence, these having been submitted to the Clerk prior to the meeting. Apologies for absence had been received from Cllrs Rann and Seage.
27/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations. There were none.
28/25 To approve the draft notes as the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 8h May 2025 and for the Chairman to sign them as the agreed minutes. It was unanimously resolved to approve the Minutes. The Minutes were duly signed.
29/25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only). These are attached to the Minutes.
County Councillor Bamford left the meeting at 7.33p.m.
30/25 To note the list of correspondence since the May council meeting. Noted.
31/25 Any other business. There had been requests from parishioners for the following items to be added to the agenda.
Neighbourhood plan – Cllr Sharman advised that SKDC had responded to our request for an update since our submission with the following “They are being checked to ensure that the submission complies with the neighbourhood planning regulations. If it is concluded that it does, the next step will be for SKDC to formally publish the plan for a minimum of 6 weeks of public consultation”.
2000 Monument Brandon – The monument and brass plaques are suffering weather damage and erosion. It was decided that quotes would be sourced for repair to brass plaques and the stone. Once received this would have to be presented as part of 2026/2027 precept budget in November.
Planning and Tree Matters:
To note tree works applications received from SKDC:
32/25 S25/01460 – Section 211 notice – 12 High Road, Hough on the Hill. Noted.
33/25 S25/0781 – Section 211 notice – Ashleigh, High Road, Hough on the Hill. Allowed. Noted.
34/25 S25/0914 – Section 211 notice – Wilderness Cottage, 2 Gelston Road, Hough on the Hill. Allowed. Noted.
To note planning applications received from SKDC:
35/25 S25/0766 – Replacement of windows to Red House, Grantham Road, Hough on the Hill. Noted.
36/25 S25/0873 – Proposed single storey extension – Olive Barn, Grange Lane, Hough on the Hill. Noted.
37/25 S25/0166 – Proposed change of use from restaurant into residential use within existing building – Brownlow Arms, High Road, Hough on the Hill. Refused. Noted.
38/25 S25/1061 – Construction of new building on paddock land for commercial cattery – Brandon Lodge Cottage, Stubton Road, Brandon. Noted.
To consider planning applications received from SKDC:
39/25 S25/1468 – Use of land as shooting ground (up to 106 days per annum) – Brandon Wood Clay Shooting, Brandon Road, Stubton. Cllr Milnes advised that this was extremely contentious and had been going on for a number of years. It would definitely be going to Planning Committee. A MOP advised that they would be submitting an objection. Cllr Sharman advised that the PC had not received any objections and therefore would offer no comment to SKDC on this application.
40/25 Play Area/Community Orchard. To note play inspection reports received for May, June, July and August 2025. To note successful application of grant received from SKDC Community Fund in respect of community bench for playing field area. Cllr Sharman thanked Cllr McLean for an excellent and thorough play inspection. Cllr Sharman advised that three quotations had been received in respect of the concrete pad for the community bench and the PC had taken the best quote.
41/25 Flooding – Church Lane, Brandon. Cllr Sharman to update. Cllr Sharman advised that since the PC’s meeting in February no other action has been taken. It had been agreed prior to this evening’s meeting that Cllr Bamford and a LCC representative would meet with councillors/clerk to assess works required in and around the three villages. This meeting would hope to be arranged within the next three weeks.
42/25 Safety signage – Lower Road, Hough on the Hill. Cllrs McLean/Allen to update. A meeting is proposed to be arranged with Cllr Bamford in conjunction with other issues affecting the three villages within the next three weeks.
Cllr Milnes and two members of the public left the meeting at 8.14p.m.
Financial Matters:
43/25 To approve bank reconciliations for 31.05.25, 30.06.25, 31.07.25 and 31.08.25. The bank reconciliations had been checked by Cllr Sharman prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Harris seconded by Cllr Pope and resolved to approve the bank reconciliations. They were duly signed.
44/25 To note Church fees for £45.00 in respect of November 2024, March and May 2025 meetings. Noted.
45/25 To note Clear Councils invoice for £777.08 in respect of annual insurance. Noted.
46/25 To note GDPR invoice for £47 in respect of General Data Protection Regulation Act 2018. Noted.
47/25 To note Hough Gardening Services invoices for May £506, July £506 and August 2025 £506 in respect of gardening services. Cllr Sharman advised that he was very happy with the gardening services provided and the grass was looking very good.
48/25 To note V Clark invoice for £53.50 in respect of internal audit fee. Noted.
49/25 To note MKM invoice for £576 in respect of playground play bark. Noted.
50/25 To note receipt of SKDC Community Fund grant of £1022.25 (paid in two parts, £340.75 to be paid on completion of bench area). Noted.
51/25 To note Memorial Benches invoice for £1,011.00 in respect of community bench for playing field area. Noted.
52/25 Resolution to approve the payment of clerks expenses between May and August 2025 in the sum of £42.16. It was proposed by Cllr Pope, seconded by Cllr Allen and resolved to approve the clerk’s expenses. Cllr Sharman duly signed the list of expenses.
53/25 To note date of next meeting – Thursday, 13th November 2025. Noted.
The meeting closed at 8.34p.m.
Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as the official minutes of Council proceedings until they are approved and signed at the next meeting
Attachments: (only on website)
District Councillor P Milnes’ report
County Councillor K Bamford’s report
Correspondence
Report from District Councillor Penny Milnes
Hough on the Hill Parish Council 11 September 2025
District Ward Councillor Penny Milnes
For Agenda Item 8.
This is for noting and by way of explanation the reasons for refusal are:
1 There has been insufficient information submitted to evidence that the remaining public house would be able to function viably as a result of the partial loss of the space converted to a residential dwelling house. Therefore, the proposal could result in the full loss of a community facility without sufficient evidence to the contrary. The loss of the community facility would result in a harmful impact on the social cohesion and sustainability of Hough on the Hill. The proposal is therefore contrary to Local Plan Policy SP6 and Section 8 of the National Planning Policy Framework. The material considerations in this case, including the provision of housing which is a significant benefit, would not outweigh the harm identified
For Agenda Item 9:
The Shoot (S25/1468) remains contentious with residents in all the parish areas continuing to complain about the noise and impact on residential amenity residential. A previous application for 150 days was refused by the planning committee but not appealed. An Enforcement Notice was issued and appealed but the Inspector found fault and declared it nullity.
The current application to extend the days from 50 days a year in the wood to 106 days using 2 additional parcels of open land and controversially claiming 28 days permitted development rights on each, if recommended for approval, will therefore be challenged and examined at a planning committee.
All 5 parish councils have objected on the previous applications and Hough PC stated on S20/0098:
HOUGH ON THE HILL PARISH COUNCIL Clerk: Lesley Frances - 18 Chapel Lane, Caythorpe, Grantham, NG32 3EG Telephone: E-mail: Chairman: Cllr Roger Kingscott
SKDC Planning – by email. 20th July 2020.
Dear Sirs,
The Parish Council’s previous objection to application S20/0098 (attached) stands. As previously noted:
Using karting noise to ‘mask’ the noise of shooting is nonsense since low intensity karting occurs most days, the character of the noise is quite different, and the noise impact on ‘receptors’ is cumulative The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) guidance states that planning permission should not be granted for a shoot if the mean noise level exceeds 55dB. This is the maximum; shooting noise can cause annoyance at much lower levels. The involvement of SKDC Environmental Health in the plan to ignore the CIEH limit and to increase the number of days/hours of shooting was highly questionable.
The following are further comments on the associated ‘Shooting Noise Management Plan’:
A model to predict noise level is useless unless it allows for:
• Wind, other atmospheric conditions (humidity, temperature gradient etc) and ground conditions
• Direction of shooting and variability of direction
• The actual / worst-case combination of gun and cartridge
The proposal for a one-off test to validate the model is unacceptable since:
• This will only exercise the model under a single condition
• SKDC has no control over the parameters used in the model, nor how it will be used
The only mitigation offered is vary the position and direction of shooting, not to restrict the type of shooting, the type of cartridge or the operating hours. Changing the direction/location of shooting will just move the noise concentration to another village/hamlet.
The mitigation is based on the risk (low/medium/high) of the shooting noise exceeding the (unacceptable) noise limits. Surely if there is any risk of exceeding these limits, and hence breaching planning conditions, shooting should not occur.
The monitoring and mitigation procedures are vague, based on avoiding the (undefined) high risk of exceeding the maximum predicted noise level.
The ‘respite’ provided by wind is misleading. Under calm conditions the background noise levels are even lower than usual and the whole locality is affected equally. And even with moderately high winds, shooting noise is still loud outside the narrow ‘positive vector’ arc. If shooting is allowed 150 days a year it will be heard 150 days a year throughout the local area. The only effect of varying wind and shoot direction is the difference between the noise being overpowering and it being merely annoying. The distance to receptor sites is measured from the centre of the site, not the nearest shoot location. It includes Fulbeck Grange (1.9km) but ignores the village of Brandon, which has 47 households, the nearest of which is 1.9cm from Stand 3. Also note there are several properties at Fulbeck Grange, Court Leys and on Stubton Road, near Lodge Farm.
The noise prediction, monitoring, mitigation and complaints procedures are to be wholly policed by the applicant, with no opportunity for the public or SKDC to view them, let alone check them. This is unacceptable as the applicant has already amply demonstrated a willingness to ignore the rules.
In summary:
The proposed conditions would allow shooting for many hours a day, 150 days a year. This would impact the lives of residents in several local villages, many of whom are retired or now work from home.
The proposed noise levels far exceed the maximum levels recommended by the CIEH (65dB is perceived as twice as loud as the 55dB maximum).
The proposed mitigation is to predict the noise levels using an undefined model and then attempt to keep the levels just within these limits, by effectively moving some of the noise to another village.
The model will not be analysed and the proposed validation is inadequate.
The village of Brandon is not included in the list of receptor sites.
The ‘noise management’ and complaints procedures would be wholly policed by the applicant, with no oversight from SKDC.
The original permission on this site was a for private use, for a limited number of days/hours, under strict conditions. The latest application would vastly increase the frequency, duration, and noise level of shooting, with no benefit to the community. The impacts on residents would be widespread and severe. Impacts which, even in the unlikely event of it being complied with, the ‘Noise Management Plan’ would do little or nothing to mitigate.
Yours faithfully L Frances Clerk to Hough P
• Please also note the Chairman of Fenton Meeting’s letter to councillors
Councillor Ken Bamford
Lincolnshire County Council
County Offices
Newland
Lincoln LN1 1YL
Email: cllrk.bamford@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Dear fellow councillors,
Hough on the Hill Parish Council Report - September 2025
Going forward I want to try and encourage community self-help to ensure concerns are addressed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
I am committed to supporting community projects, so if there is anything going on, litter picks, clean ups, repairs, DIY projects or anything that benefits the community please let me know and I will see if I can help.
The most effective way to raise and escalate issues is by reporting them directly through the council’s online services. These reports and complaints go straight to the operational teams who are responsible for investigating and resolving issues, and they are able to track and prioritise them appropriately.
There are a number of ways to do this, depending on the nature of the concern and escalation routes using the links below.
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/faults-maintenance
FixMyStreet
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/comments-feedback/make-complaint/2
If a more immediate response is needed, you / they can contact LCC by telephone on: 01522 552222
In many cases, you as Parish Councils are also well placed to help with local concerns and can often resolve matters quickly at a community level. If you can encourage friends and neighbours to raise issues with you in the first instance, alongside using the online reporting tools above that would be very much appreciated.
https://moderngov.southkesteven.gov.uk/mgParishCouncilDetails.aspx?bcr=1
Of course, I will continue to monitor all issues impacting our area, and if you feel that a resident or community matter is not being properly addressed after using the above reporting systems, and you have exhausted Parish level tools, please do let me know so I can follow it up.
Local Updates
A number of outstanding issues that were being looked at by the previous County Councillor, Cllr Alex Maughan, remain unresolved. To ensure all legacy issues are fully understood, a village walk is to be arranged between the Parish, Cllr Bamford and a local LCC Highways representative. Timing TBC.
All new issues that are proposed for LCC intervention should be logged in the PC meeting minutes and shared with Cllr Bamford. They will then be updated on in this report at the next meeting.
Repairs Efficiency, Speeding and Parking
I have received several complaints around this, with residents confused as to why some repairs are treated, but not others, when they are in the same village, in some cases on the same street. In respect of speeding and parking, again this is a widespread issue, so I am looking at what we can do to try and improve this.
As you can imagine there are a lot of policies that have been in place for some time, which I am trying to understand and challenge to ensure they work in the best interests of Hough residents and the best use of taxpayer money.
I will continue to investigate as I am not happy with the way road and pathway repairs are currently managed, which is not isolated to any specific village.
In terms of individual cases, all repairs are part of a bigger programme of works that is managed by the LCC Highways department, so the best way to raise concerns or obtain updates is by contacting them directly using the aforementioned methods.
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Thank you for your service and your continued vigilance in the community, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help ensure our area remains a safe and well cared for place to live.
Correspondence received since the May 2025 council meeting:
SKDC Community funding ideas
GDPR Payment confirmation
LALC News
Local Councils renewal insurance documentation
SKDC decision notice S25/0379 - non material amendment to S21/0766 Castle Hill Barn, New Hill Hough on the Hill
SKDC Community grant in respect of bench for playing field
Hough Gardening Services May invoice £506.00
SKDC Invitation to LGR – local government reorganisation
SKDC Neighbourhood Policing Team survey
LCC Notification of temporary traffic restriction Stubton/Brandon
Amy Bonfield/SKDC – NP update
LALC News
SKDC new Chairman announcement
SKDC Section 211 Notice for removal sycamore tree – Wilderness Cottage, Gelston Rd, Hough
SKDC S25/0873 proposed single storey dwelling – Olive Barn, Grange Lane, Hough
SKDC encouraging biodiversity in East Midlands survey
SKDC UK SPF Parish and Community Funding newsletter
SKDC weekly food waste disposal announcement letter
LALC News
Wicksteed play area inspection confirmation
SKDC notification of new bin days from September
Community Engagement chase up on community orchard
LALC AGM conference date
LALC News
SKDC decision notice S25/0914 – Wilderness Cottage Hough on the Hill
SKDC decision notice S25/0781 Ashleigh Hough on the Hill
SKDC – update request from DEFRA on community orchard trees at playing field
The Editor
SKDC decision notice S25/0766 – Red House Hough on the Hill
SKDC community fund – successful application of community bench for playing field
LCC Newsletter
MKM invoice – play bark £576
LALC AGM Annual Report 2024-2025
LALC AGM Agenda 2024-25
Hough Gardening Services July invoice £506.00
Lincolnshire Police and Parish Council Briefing sessions
SKDC Planning Policy Consultations Local Plan Review 18 Proposed Housing
LALC News
LALC AGM – 16th July 2025
SKDC Housing Housing Strategy consultation
LCC Notification of temporary traffic lights – Gelston Road 25/8/2025 – 28/8/25
SKDC S25/0959 – rear single storey garage extension – The Cottage, 5 Village Street, Gelston
LALC News
SKDC S25/0167 – Refusal of listed building consent – Brownlow Arms. Hough on the Hill
LALC Sexual Harrassment Policy and Training
Sullivan and White quotation for concrete pad
SKDC S25/0166 Refusal of planning permission – Brownlow Arms, Hough on the Hill
Cllr Bamford – replacement of culvert, Hough on the Hill
Memorial Benches Limited quotation for community bench
Codec Facilities Limited invoice ££1,011.00 for community bench
LCC notification of traffic restriction Hougham/Gelston 6/9/2025-7/9/2025
Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2025
LCC How to report a flood poster
SKDC S25/1061 – Application for construction of new building at rear residence – Brandon Lodge Cottage, Stubton Road Brandon
SKDC LED streetlighting programme update
Parishioner email re: roadworks to A607 and closure of road and situation on triangle at the junction of Lower Road, Hough on the Hill
LALC August training bulletin
Hough Gardening Services invoice for July £506
Parishioner email regarding HGVs through Hough on the Hill
SKDC bin changes
SKDC Sky Airborne Forces Heritage
LALC News
SKDC Section 211 Notice Tree works – 12 High Road, Hough on the Hill
Parishioner email re flooding on Church Lane Brandon
Community Resilience Newsletter
SKDC Town and parish council workshop slides
Cllr Bamford introductory letter
SKDC S25/1468 – Brandon Clay shoot
Memorial Benches confirmation delivery
LALC – Record keeping
LALC News
SKDC Proposed Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27
Chairman of Fenton Parish Council letter re: S25/1468