March 2026 Minutes
MARCH 2026 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING MINUTES
The Annual Parish Meeting of Hough on the Hill, Brandon and Gelston was held on Thursday 5th March 2026 at All Saints Church, Hough on the Hill and commenced at 7.00p.m.
The Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor Stewart Sharman presided and opened the meeting with a welcome to those present. There was 1 member of the public present, 4 Parish Councillors, a District Councillor and 1 member of staff.
Apologies were recorded from Cllr K Bamford and Cllr Rann.
1. The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in 2025 were approved and it was unanimously agreed that they be signed.
2. The Chairman gave his report and a copy is attached to a hard copy of these minutes and on the website.
3. The Chair gave a financial report and a report is attached to a hard copy of these minutes and on the website.
4. The annual report of the Hough on the Hill Relief in Need Charity was read out and a copy is attached to the hard copy of these minutes and on the website.
5. Parishioners question time. Cllr Allen wished to draw the PC’s attention to a large amount of litter along the PF Karting Circuit public footpath. Cllr Sharman advised that he would monitor the situation. Cllr Milnes advised the next step would be to report the concerns to SKDC as fly tipping.
6. The meeting closed at 7.17 p.m.
The Chair thanked everyone for attending.
Attachments:
Chair’s Annual Report 2025/2026
HOH Financial Report 2025/2026
Hough on the Hill Relief in Need Charity
Chair’s Report – March 2026
The last 12 months has been a busy time for the PC. In summary:
Neighbourhood Plan (NP)
The Neighbourhood Plan was finally completed following a number of interventions challenging the process which resulted in the submission to SKDC being delayed. Following the consultation period 26 January 2026 - 13 March 2026 professional advice will be sought as to whether any adjustments are required before an independent examiner will consider the Plan.
Flooding - Brandon
The repair of the pipe leading across the field to the Brant from the bottom of Church Lane appears to have solved the immediate flooding problem. Following a meeting (Autumn 2025) there are proposed additional works to further address the drainage issues, these will be implemented over the next 18 months. The only note of caution is that, despite the recent significant rainfall, the named storms have delivered consistent precipitation rather than a deluge.
Roads
Following meetings with LCC Highways department and Councillor Bamford signage has been added to Lower Road in Hough aimed at reducing speed and HGV access.
A plan has also been put in place to address the issue with the triangle at the bottom of New Hill. This will be implemented over the next 12/18 months.
Orchard
The planting of an orchard in the Play area with a variety of fruit trees has gone extremely well. The drought over the summer could have meant they might have struggled but thanks to Cllr Harris who provided a water tank and members of the PC who watered the plants, they are now well established. The addition of a bench has added greatly to the scheme.
Play Area
The maintenance of the play equipment is an ongoing theme for the PC - the equipment has a finite life and over the next 12 months it is imperative to determine next steps for the equipment, the cost of ongoing maintenance/replacement but also consider the future of the play area. Located on the edge of the village it is not best placed for the majority of Parishioners.
Resignations
There have been two resignations from the PC in the last 12 months - one due to relocation and one for personal reasons- I would however like to formally record my thanks to Clkrs McClean and Pope for their input into the PC.
SIDs
Once again the PC is indebted to Mr A Barrett for his continued management, movement and siting of the Parish SID. Adding to the numbers of SIDs is a priority for the PC over the next 12 months.
Emergency Plan
Much thought has been put into creating a PC Emergency Plan to cover strategic, operational and tactical events. Whilst the response to these ideas across from Parishioners has been limited, there has been one example where a low level intervention has proven the theory that a list of local responders can help.
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FINANCIAL REPORT March 2026
We have a total bank balance of £4837.67 at end of February 2026. Of this, £3951.43 is in the savings account which is held for any major play area repairs or new equipment. Funds continue to be set aside for projects:
1. Neighbourhood Plan £200
2. election expenses £1200
3. Defib maintenance £1580.60
Other outgoings are:
1 ongoing maintenance of the HOH website
2 LALC membership
3 play area
4 landscaping
5 speed indicator devices
6 general maintenance costs
BUDGET
2025-2026 £10,941
2026-2027 £11,323
An Increase of 3%.
1 gardening maintenance
2 election expense
3 increase in insurance
4 general maintenance costs
The Parish Council strive to use funds carefully to ensure the parish is maintained in a condition you as residents expect.
The Parish Council will be planning their budget for Financial year 2027/2028 in November 2026 so if you have any ideas for projects please do pass them to us (costings, etc included) prior to this date to allow time for all projects to be considered.
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HOUGH-ON-THE-HILL RELIEF IN NEED CHARITY
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE PARISH COUNCIL 2025-2026
Financial Report
In 2025 the Charity’s income was £1358 and expenditure £910, made up of 13 grants to eligible households in the Parish. We were able to maintain the grant amount distributed this year at £70. The balance carried forward from 2024 was £2135 and forward into 2025 £2585.
Reserve funds continue to increase slowly: Whilst our income remains fixed (farm land rental) the number of people claiming the Christmas benefit is declining through a combination of movement out of the parish and elderly recipients’ death.
The Trustees still wish to publicize the existence of the fund more widely to attract requests for assistance from those in real hardship. It is hoped that Parishioners with demonstrable need will feel they can engage with Trustees in confidence to explain their need and seek appropriate support from the Charity, albeit we can only help in a modest manner. To this end we ask that the Parish Council continue to display the previously agreed message (contact details amended following departure of Revd. Davies) on Parish noticeboards
No requests for grants have been received in the last 12 months.
Trustees
The Trustees re-elected Andrew Barrett to serve as Chair for the following year 2025-2026. Mrs. Susan Allen and Revd. Sara Davies resigned from the Charity.
The current list of Trustees is as follows:
Mr. Andrew Barrett (Chair)
Mrs. Janet Chapman (Secretary)
Mr. Pat Morgan
Mrs. Judith Sharman
When a new Vicar is appointed to the Parish they will automatically become a Trustee of the Charity.
We ask the Parish Council to propose a replacement for Mrs Allen who was the Parish Council’s previous nominee.