2026 Rauceby PC Minutes of Meetings

Minutes
Rauceby Parish Council
Minutes from the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 at 7.30 pm at The Village Hall, South Rauceby. 

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

Public speaking time:  No members of the public were present. 
1. Apologies for absence: Apologies were received from Cllrs J Hoare and M Froggatt.
2. To receive any Declarations of Interest: there were none. 
3. To decide on any items to be carried out in Closed Session: there were none.
4. To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2026: Unanimously approved; the Chairman signed the minutes.
5. Reports from Visiting Representatives and Police Matters if any: A summary report about recent NKDC activities by Cllr J Clarke was presented to the meeting. Cllr J Malloch notified the council of the theft of copper wire pulled from underground telecoms ducting along Rauceby Grove.
6. Planning Applications Received from NKDC (This may include plans received since the agenda was circulated):
i. 26/1052/VARCON| Application to vary conditions 2 (Ammonia scrubber technology) and 8 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 25/0452/VARCON (linked to planning permission 23/1533/FUL - Erection of 2 no. broiler poultry units (meat production) and associated development) | Boiling Wells Farm Grantham Road Greylees Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QX. No objections by full Council Meeting (September). NKDC notified 22/09/26.
ii. 26/1002/FUL| Proposed solar panels, 7 shipping containers and soil embankment| Range & Country Airgun Club Church Lane North Rauceby Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QU. No objections by full Council Meeting (September). NKDC notified 22/09/26.
Plans decided by NKDC since the last meeting
iii. 26/0702/FUL| Erection of air scrubber systems on poultry units 2 and 3, ancillary agricultural chemical store and roof mounted solar PV panels on unit 3 (retrospective)|Boiling Wells Farm Grantham Road Greylees Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 8QX. No objections by Planning Sub-committee. Application approved by NKDC.
7. Matters Arising and New Business: Notified to Clerk prior to meeting
i. Anti-litter campaign. Cllr M Ireland agreed to contact NKDC regarding the supply of anti-litter signs that can be located strategically around the village. 
Action (Sept 1): Cllr M Ireland
ii. Litter-picking event this will be carried out on Saturday 10 October, starting at 10 am at the village hall. 
iii. Emergency Plan progress report. Cllr G Hall will incorporate a modified RAF emergency awareness leaflet into the Emergency Plan. 
Action (Sept 2): Cllr G Hall
It is hoped to also include it into the Parish website. 
Action (Sept 3): Clerk
A broad table-top exercise involving several CERT Emergency Plans across the county has been planned for Tuesday 29 September 18h00   20h00 at NKDC Offices. The CERT team for Rauceby will attend.
In addition, a Community Resilience Conference hosted by the Lincoln Resilience Forum is also to be held on Wednesday 07 October 09h00   16h00 at Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa. Cllr Hall will be attending.
The Parish Council extended its thanks and appreciation to Cllr Hall for his work in getting the Plan up and running.
iv. Dog waste pavement fouling (reported in March meeting). It was thought that NKDC may have some standards regarding the type of signage that can be used. Clerk to investigate. 
Action (Sept 4): Clerk
v. Proposed 30 mph limit in North Rauceby. At the last meeting the Council resolved to object to the proposal and duly notified NKDC of this. No response has been received from NKDC and it is therefore assumed that the speed limit remains unchanged.
vi. Van parking on Main Street. The van has been removed.
vii. Report back of any issues of interest from the recent NKDC forum. None: the forum was cancelled because the government is reviewing the decisions made regarding Local Government Re-Organisation which as a consequence has been delayed. 
viii. Donations and Grants policy: A draft policy has been circulated and was ratified at the meeting. It will be uploaded to the website in due course. 
Action (Sept 5): Clerk
ix. Purchase Remembrance Day wreath. Clerk to purchase wreath.
Action (Sept 6): Clerk
x. Proposed meeting dates for next year: it was agreed that the following calendar be adopted for next year s meetings and provisionally for the following year:
     Every third Wednesday of alternate months.    

xi. Annual Open Meeting attendance: As this is likely to be a complex issue it was decided to create a working group to consider the situation and make recommendations to the council at the November meeting. The working group would be composed of Cllrs S Enstone, P Ireland, B Balderston and J Malloch.
xii. Defibrillator maintenance: A new battery has been purchased and installed in the defibrillator. The old battery had reached its  end-of-life  date.
8. Update on Outstanding Matters
i. Actions from the last meeting: 

9. Financial Matters: 
i. The financial report was approved and signed off by the Chairman.
ii. This month's payments were approved:
Lloyds Bank fees:  £4.25 (for each of June and July 2026)
Stuart Clegg Associates (payroll management Apr-Jun 2026):  £28.80
Rauceby Village Hall:  £20.00 (for each of May and July 2026 hire fees)
I Grady (expenses: printer ink):  £39.14 
I Grady (fees): GDPR
Andrew Deptford (defib battery):  £318.00
iii. The Accumulated Parish Council Fund (comprising Cheque and Savings Accounts) stands at  £21,146.57 at 16 September 2026.
iv. The Savings Account stands at  £10,000 at 16 September 2026. 
v. Clerk salary 2026/27 adjustment. The clerk withdrew from the meeting room for this discussion. On his return, it had been agreed to increase his salary by one spine point (from SP 18 to 19) and by the recommended percentage, backdated to 1 April 2026. The Clerk thanked the councillors.
10. Any other business: One concern has been raised by a parishioner: a number of parties have been taking place inside the walled garden in the grounds of the Rauceby Estate along Pinfold Lane. Although the parties have not been disruptive, this may be a change of purpose for the Estate. If so, local neighbours have not been informed or consulted. Cllr S Enstone has agreed to check whether there is an issue here.
Action (Sept 7): Chair
11. Date of Next Meeting: The next regular meeting will be on Wednesday, 18 November 2026 at the Rauceby Village Hall starting at 19h30.
12. The meeting closed at 20h50

Reminders: 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).