November 2025 DRAFT Minutes
NOVEMBER 2025 MINUTES
The Parish Council meeting was held on Thursday, 13th November 2025 at 7.00 p.m. in Hough on the Hill Church community area.
Present: Councillors S Sharman (Chair), R Harris, L Rann, A Seage, S Allen and V McLean, District Councillor P Milnes, County Councillor K Bamford and 10 members of the public.
Clerk/RFO - Donna Lang
Absent: Councillor J Pope
Cllr Sharman opened the meeting with a welcome to those present.
Public Participation:
A MOP enquired as to when comments received regarding the planning application at Wayside Farm would be passed to SKDC. Cllr Sharman advised that the planning application had only just been validated and comments were still to be received by SKDC up to Friday 21st November. These would then be collated after the meeting and forwarded to SKDC before the deadline. Cllr Sharman encouraged parishioners to put their views personally to SKDC and follow planning guidelines when submitting their comments to the attached link (Search for planning application/s | South Kesteven District Council and enter S25/1903 – you can comment at the bottom of the page). District Cllr Milnes advised parishioners to stick to material planning considerations and take account of the Conservation and Neighbourhood Plan in their comments to SKDC. A MOP enquired as to the future of the grass triangle. Cllr Sharman confirmed that after a meeting with LCC and Cllr Bamford they would reinstate the triangle with a kerb surround within the next 18 months.
54/25 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 Cllr Pope.
55/25 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and receive Requests for Dispensations. Cllr Harris had provided an updated Declaration of Pecuniary Interest before the meeting. All councillors declared a Declaration of Interest as they knew the applicant under Agenda item 9 (S25/1903 – Wayside Farm planning application).
56/25 To approve the draft notes as the Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 11th September 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.
Cllr Bamford arrived at 7.12p.m.
57/25 To receive reports from County and District Councillors (for information only). Cllr Bamford had forwarded his report prior to the meeting which will be attached to the Minutes. He confirmed that a flood meeting had now been arranged for 28th November in respect of flooding along Church Lane Brandon. District Cllr Milnes did not have a report to present but advised that the updated local reorganisation was going forward. They would hope to have a final decision by July 2026. There were multiple planning applications for HMO’s which were causing a lot of issues.
Cllr Bamford left the meeting at 7.17pm for another engagement.
58/25 To note the list of correspondence since the September council meeting (posted on website only). Noted.
59/25 Any other business (requests for items to be included in meeting if received after Agenda has been posted). Cllr Sharman advised that we had heard from SKDC in respect of the NP. They required further information but once received a notification of consultation period dates would be given. Cllrs McLean and Allen confirmed that they would organise a leaflet drop to every household advising them of the consultation period for them to comment to SKDC on the NP if they wished.
Planning and Tree Matters:
60/25 To note tree works applications received from SKDC: None received. Noted.
61/25 To note planning application S25/0959 – The Cottage, 5 Village Streets, Gelston – Rear single storey extension and conversion to annex. Approved. Noted.
Cllr Harris left the meeting at 7.25p.m.
62/25 To comment on planning application S25/1903 – Construction of three residential dwellings (2 no. two-storey and 1 no. single-storey on previously developed agricultural land. Cllr Sharman advised that the PC would remain neutral but would look at all comments received and put a summary together to forward to SKDC. It was proposed by Cllr McLean, seconded by Cllr Allen and unanimously approved that this was the best course of action. Cllr Sharman encouraged MOP to send individual comments direct to SKDC. District Cllr Milnes reiterated that it is important to refer to Neighbourhood Plan and Conservation Area when submitting any comments to SKDC.
63/25 Play Area. To note play inspection reports received for September and October 2025 and Wicksteed annual inspection report. Cllr Sharman update. (To plan a maintenance programme on works required in accordance with play inspection report). Cllr Sharman proposed that based on the Wicksteed play area report a maintenance programme of works should be arranged for next Spring 2026. The bench looks good and the trees are thriving even after a very dry summer.
Cllr Harris returned to the meeting at 7.37p.m.
64/25 SID/Community Speed Watch: Cllr Sharman update. Cllr Sharman wished to thank Andrew Barrett for his hard work in continuing to deploy SIDS around the parish singlehandedly. There are no funds available for a new SID but the PC would try to generate funds by a possible fund raiser next year.
65/25 Safety Signage - Lower Road, Hough on the Hill: Cllr Sharman update. Please see Cllr Bamford’s report attached to these Minutes. Cllr Sharman wished to thank Cllr Bamford for his hard work in organising a productive meeting with LCC Highways.
66/25 Grass triangle – Lower Road/New Hill, Hough on the Hill: Cllr Sharman update. This had been raised in the public forum. Cllr Sharman advised that once the grass triangle has been reinstated LCC had recommended that a Welcome to Hough sign together with a flower bed would be a good idea to possibly detract vehicles from going over the triangle in the future. This had been done by several other villages. The costs are borne by the PC and not LCC for these works.
67/25 Monument, Brandon: Cllr Sharman update. Cllr Sharman advised that the brass plaques signage was no longer visible with the names of the people who had attended the Coronation ceremony and the stone would be hard to restore. The clerk had spoken to a resident in Brandon who confirmed that it was recommended at the time to do the stone in granite. The photograph on one of the other plaques was no longer held by the PC. It had been recommended by another resident of Brandon to place the plaques inside the church with a background note. Cllr McLean proposed, Cllr Allen seconded and it was unanimously agreed that this was the best course of action.
Two MOP left the meeting at 7.48p.m.
Financial Matters:
68/25 To approve bank reconciliations for 30.09.25 and 31.10.25. The bank reconciliations had been checked by Cllr Sharman prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr McLean seconded by Cllr Rann and unanimously resolved to approve the bank reconciliations. They were duly signed.
69/25 To note RH Building and Restoration Limited invoice for £480 in respect of concrete pad and paving for community bench in play area. Noted.
70/25 To note Royal British Legion invoice for £20.00 in respect of poppy wreath for Remembrance Day. Noted. Cllr Sharman advised that there had been a good turnout and the service had gone very well.
71/25 To note Hough Gardening and Handyman Services invoices for £506 each in respect of grass cutting for the months of August and September. Noted. Cllr Sharman wished to thank Hough Gardening for their hard work in maintaining the greens around the three villages.
72/25 To note Wicksteed Leisure Ltd invoice for £180 in respect of annual play inspection report. Noted.
73/25 To note receipt of £340.75 received from SKDC Community Fund in respect of balance of funds for concrete pad and bench for play area. Noted.
74/25 Precept Budget 2026-2027: Resolution to approve the SKDC precept budget for 2026/27. The precept balance sheet had been forwarded to all councillors prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Harris seconded by Cllr Seage and unanimously resolved to approve the precept budget 2026-2027.
75/25 Resolution to approve the payment of Clerks expenses September and October 2025 for £135.86. This has been forwarded to all councillors prior to the meeting. It was proposed by Cllr Seage seconded by Cllr Harris and unanimously resolved to approve the payment of clerk’s expenses.
76/25 To note dates of meetings in 2026. Thursday 5th March, Thursday 7th May, Thursday 10th September and Thursday 12th November 2026. These dates had been forwarded to all councillors prior to the meeting. Noted.
All MOP and clerk left the meeting at 7.54p.m.
77/25 CLOSED SESSION. To resolve to move into closed session in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 for the following item on the grounds that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
78/25 To review staff appraisal. It was unanimously resolved to approve the clerk’s appraisal.
The meeting closed at 8.00p.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
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Attachments: (included on Website only)
Correspondence since September 2025 meeting
Councillor Bamford’s November report
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Correspondence:
SKDC Age Friendly Communities Newsletter
LALC September Training bulletin
RH Building and Restoration Ltd invoice £480 for community bench concrete pad
Parishioner email re: Brandon Stone memorial outside Church
Cllr Bamford re: flooding, Brandon and roadwork signage, Lower Road, Hough
Parishioner email re: neighbourhood plan update
SKDC revised Bin day collections newsletter
Cllr Bamford Roadworks alert
Local Government Reorganisation proposal and survey
Parishioner email re: builders debris on road and verges along Thompsons Lane, Hough
LALC News
Chair Fenton PC re: Brandon shooting ground planning application
Parishioner email re: Brandon shooting ground planning application objection
P Milnes email re: Brandon shooting ground application
SKDC acknowledgement of community grant completion documents
SKDC Community Grant possible future applications
LCC Town and Parish News invite for salt bags
Parishioner email Brandon Shooting Lodge letter of support
LCC Town and Parish Council Local Government Reorganisation newsletter
P Mines reply to parishioner re Brandon Shooting Ground
Cllr Bamford date for highways visit
Cllr Bamford Support your parishes with sand bags newsletter
Parishioner email supporting Brandon Shooting Ground planning application
SKDC invite to Local Government reorganisation briefing
LALC News
SKDC funding for fruit trees relaunch of new scheme
SKDC planning decision notice S25/1460 Treeworks 12 High Road, Hough – work allowed
North and South Kesteven Parish Council Engagement Session presentation
Wicksteed inspection report and summary
Wicksteed invoice £180 in respect of play report
Hough Gardening Services invoice September grass £506
LCC Town and Parish Council newsletter
Parishioner email re: grass triangle – Hough on the Hill
SKDC decision notice S25/0959 The Cottage, 5 Village Streets, Gelston – works allowed
LCC School Admissions Consultation 2027-28
LALC Training Bulletin
Cllr Bamford – Proposal for a PC communication network
Hough Gardening Services – query re: Gelston verges
CSC Highways – Highway works to Lower Road and Hough Road
SKDC Street Trading Policy questionnaire
LALC News
BS Place Highways – response to grass verges – Gelston
Royal British Legion invoice for poppy wreath - £20
SKDC invite to LGR briefings for next steps
Cllr Bamford roadworks alert
V Clark – internal audit reminder for November
Cllr Bamford speed cameras information on speeding and parking
LALC enquiries
Parishioner email re flooding in Church Lane Brandon
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Councillor Ken Bamford
Hough Division
Lincolnshire County Council
County Offices
Newland
Lincoln LN1 1YL
Email: cllrk.bamford@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Dear fellow councillors,
Hough Councillor Report - November 2025
I have now conducted a number of village walks across our patch, which have been very productive. Seeing and discussing local issues first hand with the Parish and LCC officers is definitely the way ahead and is helping to get things done, so these will continue.
I am continuing to work with LCC to try and progress ongoing broader issues such as speeding, parking and flooding, which are recurring themes across Hough. If anyone has ideas or proposals for how we can tackle these issues please let me know. By now you should be seeing how I work, nothing is off the table, so let’s be bold and get creative.
I am also looking at ways we can try to encourage more young people to get involved in voluntary community activities and local government, as Parish, District or indeed County councillors. Again, any ideas you have to support this would be welcomed.
I have access to a small amount of funding and resourcing support for local projects that benefit the community. So if you have ideas, please do let me know and I will see if I can help.
General Issues
A village walk was conducted recently, during which a number of points were raised for consideration. These points have been acknowledged by LCC and will be prioritised within the respective programme planning cycles and routine maintenance works schemes. Their feedback is summarised below:
Lower Road, Hough on the Hill – We discussed the possibility of extending the 60mph speed limit to extend from Hough Road rather than Lower Road and keep Lower Road as a 30mph speed limit. I will put this forward for assessment in the first instance. Cllr Bamford has supported this. Once we know the outcome, based on our policy (currently under review) then the Traffic team will get back to us.
Triangle – New Hill/Lower Road - Both of you thought that it was a good idea to reinstate this by reducing the size of the triangle and kerbing it (the costs to be borne by LCC). You also mentioned which I thought was a good idea about the PC putting a “Welcome to Hough” sign with flower beds (funded by PC) but approved by LCC. I will add this works to the programme and would hope to see this completed in the next financial year.
Road signage for horseriders/pedestrians - You are going to pursue the possibility of having Be aware signs (or something similar) from both ends of Hough Road at Brandon and Hough (bottom of New Hill and exit from Brandon). Rowan – you also mentioned putting SLOW signage actually across the road. With Cllr Bamford confirming his support, I have decided that we will place horse warning signs and SLOW road markings along this road. I propose to place 4 signs in total and 4 SLOWs. Again this will be something we will have to programme for next year, at the same time having the missing village name plate replaced.
Hough on the Hill sign needs replacing at the bottom of New Hill.
Road signs in general need vegetation cutting back both in Hough and Brandon. It would be more appropriate if adjacent landowners cut back their hedges / trees to expose these signs but at the end of the day individuals can do this for safety reasons, and clearing growth from around warning signs which are covered and not visible is a safety reason.
Brandon Flooding
I have proposed an onsite meeting with LCC flood risk team on Friday 28th November at 1.30pm. Parish councillors and affected residents are welcome to join us. This date and time is provisional at present and will be confirmed closer to the time. It is included here early as a diary placeholder.
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.
Thank you for your selfless service and continued vigilance in our community, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help ensure our area remains a safe and well cared for place to live.