2025 Rauceby PC Minutes of Meetings

DRAFT Minutes
Rauceby Parish Council
Minutes from the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday, 16 July 2025 at 7.30 pm at The Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

Present:      Cllrs S Enstone (in the Chair), J Malloch, P Ireland, G Hall, M Froggatt and M Ireland, Cllr J Clarke of NKDC and the Clerk, Mr I Grady. 

Public speaking time:  No members of the public were present. 
1. Declaration of Chairman: The Chairman signed his Declaration of Acceptance of Office before the start of this meeting.
2. The meeting opened at 7.30pm and Apologies for absence were given: Apologies were received from Cllrs. G Enstone, B Balderston and J Hoare, Cllr R Wright of LCC.
3. To receive any Declarations of Interest: None received. 
4. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: None required. 
5. To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2025: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes.
6. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: A brief report was made by Cllr J Clarke. He explained that NKDC was in good financial health and that there has been some energy efficiency investment (e.g. solar panel installations on some council owned properties) in the village and elsewhere in the district.
7. Planning Applications Received from NKDC (This may include plans received since the agenda was circulated):
i. 25/0849/TCA| Cherry - Remove. |Manor House, Main Street, North Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8QP. No Objections were raised at the regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 20/07/25.)
ii. 25/0640/HOUS| Erection of detached garage to front and erection of pergola to rear of the house| 28 Pinfold Lane, South Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8QE. No objections were raised by the Planning Sub-Committee of RPC. (Submission to NKDC completed on 25/06/25.)
iii. 25/0549/TCA| T1 & T2 - Yew trees - reduce both trees to about 1 metre high so they can grow into bushes. |The Old Vicarage, Main Street, North Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8QP. No Objections were raised at the regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 22/05/25.) 
iv. 25/0544/FUL| Erection of 2 No. dwellings| Land to the rear of 57 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QQ. Objections were raised by the Planning Sub-Committee of RPC who consequently did not support the application. (Submission to NKDC completed on 30/06/25.) 
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
v. 25/0417/HOUS| Demolition of outbuilding and erection of single storey side extension| House, Ermine Street Farm, High Dike, Byard's Leap, Cranwell, Lincolnshire NG32 3RN. No Objections were raised at the regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 22/05/25.) Approved by NKDC. 
vi. 25/0452/VARCON| Application to vary conditions 8 (landscaping) and 10 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 23/1533/FUL - Erection of 2 no. broiler poultry units (meat production) with feed silos, roof mounted Solar PV panels and hardstanding - amendments to landscaping and red line site area to amend BNG obligations| Boiling Wells Farm, Grantham Road, Greylees, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8QX. No Objections were raised at the regular meeting of Rauceby Parish Council. (Submission to NKDC completed on 22/05/25.) Approved by NKDC.
8. Matters Arising and New Business: Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. Items arising from Open Meeting that need follow-up. There were no items for follow-up.
ii. Maintenance of Village entrance sheep signs   a contractor able to repair the 3 plinths has been found and a quote for the work is to be obtained.
Action (Jul 1): Cllr Malloch
The paint contractor has already been agreed on and he has confirmed that his work on the sheep signs can commence before or after the plinths are repaired. It was agreed that he should start without delay.
Action (Jul 2): Cllr Malloch
iii. Speed Monitoring and Traffic Safety:
The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) carried out a series of vehicle speed surveys between 14 and 20 June 2025. A summary of the survey findings is as follows:
Main problem areas: 
* Entry to the 40mph limit on Rauceby Drove, South Rauceby (heading North), where 50% of traffic was over the limit with 359 occasions where vehicles were travelling at speeds that would normally be subject to prosecution.
* Entry to the 30mph limit, also on Rauceby Drove where 43.9% of the traffic was over the limit with 114 occasions where vehicles were travelling at speeds that would normally be subject to prosecution.
Based on the data, including historical collision analysis, LRSP has advised that even with the exceedances the threshold for a fixed or mobile speed camera installed for regulation purposes would not be crossed. However, the information is sufficient to help determine the best location for a speed monitoring device.
The full survey is available from the Clerk in electronic form if anyone wishes to examine it.
It was agreed unanimously to purchase one speed monitoring device to be installed at a location advised by LRSP
Action (Jul 3) purchase a device: Clerk
Action (Jul 4) get advice from LRSP about location: Cllr S Enstone
iv. Emergency plan for the Village
Cllr G Hall explained that he had obtained more information about the subject and that he now will get together with the Chairman to formulate a way forward.
Action (Jul 5) Cllr G Hall.
v. War Memorial condition 
The war memorial needs cleaning and the PC has funds ring-fenced for its maintenance. 
Action (Jul 6) Contact War Graves Commission for advice: Cllr G Hall.
vi. On-line banking arrangements with Lloyds
The on-line banking system is in place with all authorising signatories signed up. The clerk will test it before committing all transactions by this method.
vii. Carre Arms Hotel purchase by NKDC
The PC members debated this issue: the purchase by NKDC of the hotel using business rates provided by inter alia competitor businesses. The PC recognises the concerns of the local businesses and is uncomfortable about the decision taken by NKDC. 
viii. Community Infrastructure Levy
It was reported at the last meeting that the CIL funds could not be used for the purchase of a speed monitoring device. However, after clarification, it has been confirmed by the Assistant Director of Planning and Climate Change at NKDC that the fund can be used for this purchase. Consequently it was agreed that the fund should be used to purchase the device described in section 8(iii) above.
ix. Green Plaque Scheme
The clerk was requested to find out more about this scheme. 
Action (Jul 7) Clerk
x. More litter waste bins in the village
It was decided not to purchase more litter bins at this stage as it is felt they would not be used by passing motorists who would still discard out of windows. 
xi. Asset maintenance programme
Following the condition/safety report discussed at the last meeting it was decided to formulate a maintenance programme for those items that were identified as needing it. 
Action (Jul 8) obtain quote for repair of bus shelter roof: Cllr S Enstone
Action (Jul 9) determine actual work required to bring identified assets up to standard: Cllr S Enstone
xii. Tree management policy
Some PCs in the district have Tree Management Policies; Rauceby PC does not. This was discussed in the meeting and it was concluded that even though we did not have many trees under our ownership, it would be useful to be able to specify our responsibilities regarding them.
Action (Jul 10) Prepare Tree management policy: Cllr S Enstone
xiii. NKDC Council Forum 
Feedback about this meeting, held on 10 July 2025 at the NKDC offices, was given by Cllr S Enstone. Subjects covered include Local Government organisation changes, local policing issues, waste food collection and emergency planning. The meeting was considered to be useful for disseminating NKDC information.

xiv. Parish roadside verges
Cllr M Ireland shared information regarding the maintenance of parish roadside verges   just for information. There has been confusion by LCC Highways Dept about the ownership of many roadside trees. LCC Highways Dept believe that they belong to adjacent land owners who are therefore responsible for tree upkeep. This is not always the case and LCC Highways are responsible for their trees.
xv. September meeting
The Clerk will be absent for this meeting; Cllr P Ireland has kindly agreed to take the minutes.
9. Update on Outstanding Matters
i. Actions from the last meeting: 

* Awaiting online banking facility test (item 8(vi)
10. Financial Matters: 
i. The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman.
ii. This month's payments were approved:
Lloyds Bank fees: £5.25 and £6.75
S Clegg (payroll services): £28.80
Rauceby Village Hall (Hire for meetings): £19.00
I Grady (fees): GDPR
I Grady (expenses): £73.76
J Earl Gardens (Grass cutting): £210.00
HMRC (PAYE): GDPR
iii. The accumulated Parish Council fund (comprising Current and Savings accounts) stands at £24,715.29 at 17 June 2025.
iv. The Savings Account stands at £10,000 at 16 July 2025 which was invested with Lloyds Bank for a year at a rate of 2.34%.
v. Feedback from Exercise of Public Rights concerning last year s financial accounts: there has been no request for further explanation.
11. Any other business: Any matters which have arisen after the agenda was published. Nothing to report.
12. Date of Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be on Wednesday, 17 September 2025 at the Rauceby Village Hall starting at 19h30.
13. The meeting closed at 20h50

Matters which have been raised in previous meetings and which may be considered further at a future date:
* S Rauceby Well refurbishment: deferred until more appropriate.
* Watching brief on requirement for EV charging points for the public and for residents who do not have off-road parking facilities (from March 2024).
* Council s new duty to prevent sexual harassment: when more information becomes available about how compliance is to be managed the Clerk will prepare a policy document for adoption by the PC (from March 2024). 
* The Council shall keep a watching brief on the progress of the Rauceby Foundation re-wilding project at the plot of land on Main Street ear-marked for a public leisure area (from May 2024).