Minutes for Parish Council Meetings 2025-26

 

PUBLIC FORUM (6.45pm): There were 122 members of the public in attendance outside the Reading Room. Due to Health and Safety of such large numbers, Council was asked to step outside. 120 members of the public stated their opposition to major development in the Parish. 2 members of the public wanted to provide further information regarding the possible development off Grange Paddock but felt it would not be constructive at that time. 

6.55pm 11 members of the public requested to ask specific questions of the Chair. Council granted a short extension to Public Forum and Council reconvened in the Reading Room. All other members of the public left.

Discussion points included: Financial commitment and budget for the Poll. (Refer to point 9 e). A statement was made by the Chair of CPRE Rutland and Lincolnshire regarding the level of development in the area. The Colleys remains unfinished after 5 years of development with key infrastructure promised by developers missing. Development on Dysart Road has had very little communication regarding future plans. 2 houses were demolished last week with little notice and no consultation. The reliability of documents such as the Housing Needs Assessment and the Neighbourhood Plan for Barrowby with tilted balance was questioned. The oversupply of new builds in the area with little thought to improved infrastructure was stated. The safety issue of a collapsing planter on Rectory Lane due to possible impact damage was raised. It was questioned how speculative planning can go on ‘undercover’. Direction was given to ask SKDC for their processes. The requirement for any gate put into Mill Row to reduced ASB to be mindful of accessibility needs. The view across from Casthorpe to Harlaxton Manor should be identified as a key characteristic of the village. Level of engagement with the formation of the Neighbourhood Plan was commented on.

 

Public forum closed at 7.23pm. 6 Members of the public left

 

 

Councillors in attendance:

Pam Bosworth, Michael Brown, Paul Brown, JP Durand, Nigel Eaton (Chair), Jo Footitt, Anna McConnell-Good, Hugh Staunton, Mark Whittington

 

Claire Vink (Parish Clerk) 

 

Robert Leadenham and Richard Litchfield

 

Cllr Eaton welcomed members and members of the public to the meeting. 

 

Cllr Lees sent his apologies. 

 

a) No declarations were made.

 

b) No dispensations were made.

 

It was RESOLVED to approve and sign the minutes from the Parish Council meeting on 8th September 2025. There were 2 abstentions. 

 

Representation made by Barrowby News. With increasing size of the village there is a in the funding the village news team receives from advertising revenue and fundraising, and production costs gap (approx. £140 at A4 and £70 at A5 - figures amended post meeting to accurately represent the issue). Barrowby News identified as an important link into developments such as the Colleys, however costs are prohibitive. Cllrs Litchfield and Leadenham to place advertisements in the Barrowby News with their contact details. Action: Clerk to arrange meeting with Barrowby News, PC and RFO to explore options.

 

1 member of the public left the meeting at 19.37

 

a. Staffing Committee minutes from 29th September 2025 meeting were NOTED. Action Cllr Leadenham to explore options to increase the grant for litter collection.

 

b. Allotment Committee minutes from 29th September 2025 meeting were NOTED

 

c. Burial Committee notes from 29th September 2025 meeting  were NOTED

 

d. Pavilion Committee minutes from 6th October 2025 meeting were NOTED 

    i. Restructure of Pavilion and Buildings and Assets committee was considered. It was RESOLVED to approve the separation into Pavilion Users Group and the Buildings and Assets group. Action Assistant Clerk to establish Terms of Reference for both committees 

    ii. It was RESOLVED to approve to fix Lowfields car park opening times to 9am-4pm Mon-Fri. Concern was NOTED that this could impact parking on the Drift and around Westry Corner. To be monitored and reported to the Buildings and Assets committee.  

    iii. It was resolved to approve purchase of signs to support car park opening times

 

a) A verbal update from local government representatives was received:

     i. County Cllr Litchfield: Stated he attended the Parish Meeting. He also met with Cllr Eaton to gain an appreciation of the difficulties and dangers of the A1 / A 52 around Barrowby including the lack of safe crossings for pedestrians and cyclists. The bus route between Grantham and Barrowby was discussed. The feasibility of continuing the service is again being reviewed due to low passenger numbers. The issue of parking in the village was also raised but NOTED that it was a later agenda item.

    ii. District Cllr Leadenham: Stated that developers have also been spotted surveying a field on Denton Lane off the A52, possibly bordering the parish. Dog fouling has been an issue in the Ward in general. Barrowby continues to be pro active, supplying bags. Action Cllr Eaton to put up signs regarding clearing up dog fouling around the village. There has also been increase in thefts on the Ward and residents are urged to be vigilant, especially in the run up to Christmas. There is a local Government Reorganisation meeting on the 22nd November. Cllrs Durand, Eaton and Lee have all stated their intention to attend the Informal Cabinet Meeting. Action: Clerk to email Cllr Leadenham to confirm attendance.

 

b) Health & Safety - A verbal report on the recent play area checks was received. It was NOTED that bird mess on Adamstyles continues to cause a problem. Cable ties have been put up on the swings to deter birds and possible solutions for the climbing frame are being explored.  

 

c) Community Areas - A verbal report was received from the Recreation and Green Space group. The Barrowby Open Door group have a grant to screen David Attenborough’s ‘Oceans’  with all profits going to RAGS who hope to apply for a match fund grant to purchase climate resilient verge trees. 

    i. Agreement Between Barrowby Recreation and Green Space Group (RAGS) and Barrowby Parish Council (PC) was considered. The PC support the improvement of green spaces in the parish and increased biodiversity. Clear understanding of the liabilities on PC and the through-life implications including costings over time is required. Action: Clerk to set up meeting with RAGs, Cllrs Durand, Eaton, Lee, McConnell-Good and Staunton. 

    ii. It was RESOLVED to approve the request for a community orchard pending above agreement. It was RESOLVED not to approve to plant it on the Village Green. Alternative locations to be explored. Action: Cllr Leadenham to make enquiries for planting on the Willows. It was NOTED that the trees on the Willows need attention by SKDC.

   iii. It was RESOLVED to approve the plan to coppice Hazel shrubs around perimeter of Low field.

   iv. It was RESOLVED to approve hedging and planting at Adamstyles pending above agreement

   v. Hedging on the Village Green in front of the fence was considered. Further options to be presented before final resolution can be made.  

 

d) Crime: A verbal update from Cllr Eaton regarding the Lincolnshire Police and Parish Council Briefing Session was received 

 

1 member of left 8.35pm

 

a) A verbal update from the Scouts was received. They are not interested in the opportunity for collaboration on a new community centre at this time. 

 

b) The clerk’s report was NOTED. The Prioritisation matrix is being populated by committees. Action: Clerk to meet with Mr Thomas to progress this project. Tree survey and hedge trimming on village green to be completed. Identification of assets and impact of reunification on such assets is ongoing. Parish Online Mapping to be handed on to Buildings and Assets Committee. Update from RBL site: Meeting of the Lincoln RBL branch planned for end of October. Action: Clerk to request update for November meeting. Replacement for Spider is ongoing.  Clerk to contact Platform Housing regarding management of Co-Op development area is ongoing. Clerk has liaised with PC Mark Barr who has kindly given posters regarding ASB and encouraging 101 reporting. Facebook awareness campaign ongoing. Trial of Online Booking System for Reading Room ongoing. Internal Auditor for 2 years has been appointed. Focus for the next month: Trees, hedges, policy review and website review for ascertain 10 compliance.

 

a) The September 2025 bank reconciliations were RESOLVED to approve.  

 

b) The summary of receipts, precept, expenditure and surplus/deficit figure was NOTED

 

c) The income for September 2025 was NOTED.

 

d) The expenditure for September / October 2025 was NOTED.

 

e) The Council NOTED that expenditure will be incurred in relation to the Parish Poll to held on 22nd October 2025. As no specific provision was made in the 2025/26 budget for such expenditure, Council  RESOLVED to approve that the cost of the Parish Poll be met from the Council’s General Reserve. The Council further RESOLVED to authorise payment of the invoice(s) submitted by the Returning Officer, under the statutory duty contained in Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972, and to record this item in the next budget monitoring report.

 

f) It was RESOLVED to approve the flower group winter planting with total yearly spend to not exceed £300. It was RESOLVED to approve a full review of the maintenance of the village planters with a total spend of no more than £1000 to ensure their safety and longevity. It was NOTED that the planter on Rectory Lane appears to have been hit. Action: Clerk to submit insurance claim and to make safe. It was NOTED that the weeping willow on the corner of Grange Paddock and the Village Green is causing visibility issues along with the 30 sign. Action: Clerk to contact flower group to discuss options to move. Cllr Eaton to consider re-siting sign. 

 

g) It was RESOLVED to approve training for Burial Ground Committee and Clerk

 

h) It was RESOLVED to approve self employed cleaner for the Pavilion with a review in 3 months time. To allow tender for cleaning contract. 

 

i) It was RESOLVED to approve purchase and work required to replenish Lowfields carpark with road planings 

 

Cllrs Leadenham and Bosworth left the meeting at 9pm

 

a) A verbal update on the Parish Meeting was received.

 

b) It was NOTED that there was a demand for a Parish Poll by a resident which was supported by 10 other residents. As a result, a Poll will be held by SKDC elections on the 22nd October 2025 4pm – 9pm in the Reading Room with the cost covered by PC as outlined in minute point 9 e.

 

1 member of the public left the meeting at 9.10pm

 

a) The verbal update on the site visit to the Old Butchers will be received in November due to time constraints.

 

b) Parking issues within the village were considered. Action: Clerk to clarify what can and can not be submitted as evidence of problematic parking.

 

c) A verbal update on the installation of a gate on Mill Row was received. It was NOTED that accessibility for residents was very important with pushchairs and wheelchairs frequently using the path. Discouraging access by Trail Bikes and similar ASB activity is the primary motivator for reinstatement of the gate. Both issues were discussed. Action: Cllr Litchfield to provide further update in the November meeting.

 

d) It was RESOLVED to approve a request for a memorial bench in memory of the late publican of the White Swan. It was RESOLVED to approve the bench is sited outside the Reading Room and so in the line of site of the pub. Action: Clerk to liaise with the family regarding design.

 

It was RESOLVED to approve election of Cllr Eaton to CPP

 

A verbal update on the Neighbourhood plan was received from Mr Cupit. SKDC has indicated that it will be 2 months before it will be considered. It will then require a 6 week planning consultation before being put in front of the Planning Inspector. The earliest it could be adopted is April 2026.

 

a) It was RESOLVED to approve the Barrowby Parish Council Media policy Action: Clerk to publish documents to website.

 

b) It was RESOLVED to approve the Barrowby Parish Council Publication policy Action: Clerk to publish documents to website.

 

c) It was RESOLVED to approve the Barrowby Parish Council AI policy with the following amendments: 

     i. Point 5: Make it clear that UK laws apply

     ii. 6.1 add in Councillors as well as staff

     iii. Ask each Councillor and appropriate staff members to sign.  Action: Clerk to update and publish documents to website.

 

Update on developments (outside of standard planning applications)

 

Monday 10th November 2025 at 6.45pm in the Reading Room for the Parish Council Meeting

The meeting closed at 9.44pm

 

 

Members noted the following income in September:    

 

Grantham Hospital Nurses Guild	Hire of Reading Room	£34.00
Grantham Ramblers	Hire of Reading Room	£30.00
Private Hire	Hire of Reading Room	-£50.00
Private Hire	Hire of Reading Room	£45.00
Nellie Supports Ltd	Hire of Reading Room	£112.50
Private Hire	Hire of Reading Room	£67.50
Nellie Supports Ltd	Hire of Reading Room	£50.00
Online booking test	Hire of Reading Room	£0.00
Virgin Money	Interest	£142.84
Private Hire	Return deposit	-£50.00
Private Hire	Hire of Reading Room	£50.00
Private Hire	Hire of Reading Room	£50.00
Midlands Children's Physio Limited	Hire of Pavilion	£1,120.00
Nellie Supports Ltd	Hire of Reading Room	£50.00
East Midlands Scrabble Club	Hire of Reading Room	£30.00
Virgin Money	Virgin Money Cashback	£0.64
Mr Bridge Club	Hire of Reading Room	£270.00
Grantham and Kesteven Bridge Club	Hire of Reading Room	£220.00

 

Members approved the following expenditure in September / October:

 

Supplier	Description	Net	VAT	Gross
All Secure Services	Fire Extinguisher service	£117.95	£23.59	£141.54
Amazon	Printer ink  cartridges	£24.55	£4.91	£29.46
Amazon	Decorating supplies	£4.42	£0.88	£5.30
Amazon	Paper towels	£36.37	£7.28	£43.65
Amazon	Refuse sacks	£16.62	£3.32	£19.94
Amazon	Gloves for Litter Picker	£3.98	£0.80	£4.78
Boyes	Cleaning supplies	£8.44	£1.69	£10.13
British Telecommunications Plc	Broadband	£74.38	£14.88	£89.26
Cartridge World	Ink cartridges	£58.33	£11.67	£70.00
Assistant Clerk	Printing	£2.70	£0.00	£2.70
Clean and Tidy (Grantham) ltd	Cleaning	£152.00	£0.00	£152.00
Clean My Windows	Window cleaning	£34.00	£0.00	£34.00
Cloudy Group Ltd	IT Support	£472.40	£94.48	£566.88
Community Heartbeat Trust	Defibrillator electrodes	£138.95	£27.79	£166.74
Co-Operative Stores	Refreshments	£11.09	£0.00	£11.09
EE Ltd	Broadband	£59.00	£11.80	£70.80
Epson Ready Print	Printing	£3.32	£0.67	£3.99
Epson Ready Print	Ink cartridges	£2.91	£0.58	£3.49
Farmfoods	Toilet rolls	£16.67	£3.33	£20.00
Greenstripe	Grass cutting specialised	£150.00	£0.00	£150.00
Grenke	Lease of ipads	£309.84	£61.96	£371.80
HMRC	PAYE/NIC	£558.50	£0.00	£558.50
Home Bargains	Blue paper rolls	£12.32	£2.46	£14.78
Ian Smith Electrical	Electrical work	£1,370.00	£274.00	£1,644.00
Lebara	RFO mobile phone	£3.67	£0.73	£4.40
Lebara	Clerk mobile phone	£1.23	£0.25	£1.48
Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils	Training	£13.00	£2.60	£15.60
Mileage	Mileage	£71.01	£0.00	£71.01
Monthly Salaries	August salaries	£3,006.20	£0.00	£3,006.20
Monthly Salaries	WFH Allowance	£143.00	£13.00	£143.00
NEST	Pension payment	£283.27	£0.00	£283.27
Nic Barker Ltd	Grave digging	£400.00	£0.00	£400.00
P E Hempstead and Sons	Grass cutting	£2,059.40	£411.88	£2,471.28
Pittam Property Improvement	General repairs	£30.00	£6.00	£36.00
Pittam Property Improvement	Repairs	£405.00	£81.00	£486.00
PKF Littlejohn LLP	Audit	£420.00	£84.00	£504.00
Range	Decorating	£11.65	£2.33	£13.98
Salaries	October Salaries	£3,856.10	£0.00	£3,856.10
South Kesteven District Council	Waste collection	£155.38	£0.00	£155.38
SSE Business Energy	Gas supply	£720.69	£36.03	£756.69
SSE Business Energy	Electricity Supply	£378.39	£18.92	£397.31
Telefonica UK Ltd	Asst Clerk mobile phone	£21.50	£4.30	£25.80
Telefonica UK Ltd	Clerk mobile phone	£12.85	£2.57	£15.42
Virgin Money	Bank charges	£23.30	£0.00	£23.30