2026 Rauceby PC Minutes of Meetings

DRAFT Minutes
Rauceby Parish Council
Minutes from the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 at 7.30 pm at The Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

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

Public speaking time:  No members of the public were present. 
1. Apologies for absence were given: Apologies were received from Cllr P Ireland. Cllr Hoare was not present.
2. To receive any Declarations of Interest: None received. 
3. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: None. 
4. To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2026: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes.
5. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: 
NKDC: Cllr Clarke announced that chicken pox and MMR vaccines are now available for children from the age of 1 year. He also reminded the meeting that the food waste collection caddies are currently being distributed in the area and will be ready for the start of the food waste collection service on 1 April 2026. 
LCC: Nothing to report.
Police: In the January meeting, Cllr J Malloch, explained the concern by the police service about their low budget for 2026-27. Cllr Malloch was unsuccessful in getting a response from the PCC regarding these concerns. No further action is required as the Police Service has published a breakdown of how next year's finances are to be managed.
6. Planning Applications Received from NKDC (This may include plans received since the agenda was circulated):
i. 25/1478/FUL| Proposed change of use of land from agricultural to use as a cattery and erection of a new cattery and garage. | Land to the Rear Of 72 Main Street, South Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 8QQ. (No objections by full Council Meeting but with several comments) Response, with comments, submitted 22/01/26.
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
ii. 26/0058/LBC| Replace existing single glazed timber kitchen windows with double glazed timber windows|46 Main Street South Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QQ. Respond before 14/02/26. (No objections by Planning Sub-committee (GH, JH, MI, SE, JM, MF); response submitted 04/02/26.) NKDC Approved the application.
7. Matters Arising and New Business: Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. Anti-litter campaign. A resident has contacted the PC regarding the large amount of litter scattered around the village and suggested that an anti-litter campaign is run by the PC. This was discussed by the members and there was divided opinion about how successful this would be. Some felt this would be a waste of time and that the regular (twice yearly) litter pick-up is adequate. Others pointed out that this frequency still allowed a lot of litter to be thrown down, and that perhaps additional signage, of the type  "Please keep the village clear of litter", "take it home or use the bins provided" may discourage some litterers. Cllr M Ireland recalled seeing some signs nearby which stated "this area has been litter-picked". He will investigate. The matter will be discussed at the next meeting when more information has been obtained.
Action: Mar (1): Cllr M Ireland
ii. Litter-pick: A reminder was given by Cllr G Enstone that the next litter picking exercise will take place on 28 March 2026.
iii. Policies and Procedures check:  A reminder was given by the Clerk that councillors are to carry out before our next meeting the annual review for fitness for purpose of our Policies and Procedures. It was noted that the Financial Regulations procedure was recently updated and needed no further examination.
Action: Mar (2): All
iv. Safety condition check (1): A reminder was given by the Clerk that the annual safety condition check of PC owned assets is to be carried out. 
Action: Mar (3): Cllrs S Enstone, M Ireland
v. Safety condition check (2): A reminder was given by the Clerk that the annual safety condition check of other assets not owned by the PC and the village in general is to be carried out.
Action: Mar (4): Cllrs S Enstone, M Ireland
vi. Speed monitoring device: The Clerk reported that the new speed monitoring device has been installed on Rauceby Drove just inside the 30mph zone and appears to be working as required.
vii. Emergency plan: Cllr G Hall gave a progress report on the status of the Rauceby Emergency Plan. 
* He has contacted LCC with a view to obtaining printing facilities for large maps of the area (useful for display purposes when briefing groups of people involved in incidents).
* LCC have access to drones which would also be of use in an emergency.
* There is a conference taking place in Woodhall Spa later in the year regarding emergency planning. It would be useful to attend this. 
* The next CERT meeting is to be scheduled for April 2026.
viii. CVS Volunteering Scheme: Cllr R Wright sent an email to the PC notifying us of a scheme whereby LCC volunteers carry out tasks in the village for one day. After discussion it was decided to ask whether washing the speed gates at the entrance to the village and the numerous road signs around the village would qualify for such a scheme. 
Action: Mar (5): Cllr S Enstone
ix. Speed camera: A request has been made by a local business to install another average speed camera along the A17. The business has observed that the average speed cameras at Byard s Leap and the North Rauceby crossroads appear to be working well but as soon as vehicles driving east pass the camera at the crossroads they speed up again which creates a potential hazard for those businesses that operate alongside the A17. There have been several accidents near the car wash on the A17 recently and this request has been made to try and regulate speeds along this stretch. Cllr Enstone will contact LCC Highways Dept.
Action: Mar (6): Cllr S Enstone
x. Drain clearing on A17: A request has been made by the same local business to clear the storm water drains along the A17. After rainfall, because the roadside drains are blocked, the excess water overflows into neighbouring properties. The business is concerned because this water fills his sump which has to be pumped out at his expense. Cllr Enstone will contact LCC Highways Dept.
Action: Mar (7): Cllr S Enstone
xi. Road drainage problems in North Rauceby: There is a troublesome area between the pub and the school. LCC Highways Dept are currently examining the problem with a view to improving the drainage in that area.
8. Update on Outstanding Matters
i. Actions from the last meeting: 

ii. The war memorial cleaning is in progress. Cleaning has commenced but as it is a painstaking process it will not be a quick job.
iii. A quote for repairing the bus shelter roof has been received: £3816, including VAT. NKDC Planning Dept has confirmed that no planning permission is required and that reclaimed Welsh slate tiles are OK. Cllr S Enstone is applying to LCC for a grant to contribute towards the cost of the repair.
Action (Mar 8): Cllr S Enstone
iv. A resident has raised a concern regarding the condition of the front gardens of two of the council owned properties, including a decrepit vehicle in the garden of one. The Social Housing Dept of NKDC is to be contacted to see if they can facilitate the removal of the vehicle, and support clean-up of the other property.
Action (Mar 9): Cllr S Enstone
9. Financial Matters: 
i. Financial report: The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman. 
The accumulated Parish Council fund (comprising Current and Savings accounts) stands at  £16965.76 at 28 February 2026.
ii. Payments: This month s payments were approved:
* Lloyds Bank fees (Dec, Jan):  £4.25 each 
* J Earl Gardens: 5 visits,  £175.00
* Rauceby Village Hall (Hire for January RPC meeting):  £20.00
* Rauceby Village Hall (Hire for January CERT meeting):  £20.00
* LCC: Speed monitor support post installation:  £200.00
* I Grady (fees): GDPR
iii. Savings Account: The Savings Account stands at  £10,000 at 28 February 2026 which was invested with Lloyds Bank for a year at a rate of 2.34% (Interest will be added at the end of the savings period).
10. Any other business: Any matters which have arisen after the agenda was published. 
i. Parish Email Address: There is continuing pressure to adopt a gov.uk email address. It was agreed that the clerk investigate the adoption of this style.
Action (Mar 10): Clerk
ii. Dog waste: it has been noted that there are quite a few instances of dog walkers not picking up mess left by their dogs. 
11. Date of Next Meeting: The next regular Parish Council Meeting will be on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at the Rauceby Village Hall starting at about 7.30 pm. This meeting will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting commencing at 7.00 pm.
The meeting closed at 8.50 pm

Deferred 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).
* An overhanging tree is completely obscuring a street light on Main Street. FixMyStreet has been notified and will attend the problem in due course. (From January 2026).