September 02 - Parish Council Meeting -DRAFT
Minutes of Langtoft Parish Council Meeting held on 02 September 2025 at 19:00 in the Village Hall
Present: Cllrs. Bev Farrington (Chair), Julian Tatam (Vice Chair), Yvonne McCulloch, Liz Jarman, Richard Carter, Chris Palmer & Darren Scott
In Attendance: 1 Member of the public, Pete Coles, Cllr. Vanessa Smith and Sarah Gresty-Parish Clerk.
Public Forum:
• Member of the public asked why the s106 money has not been applied for and why this was being spent in both parks. Response: Cllr. Carter explained the s.106 process and that it was decided to apply for National Lottery funding to top up the parks’ refurbishments and this had to be applied for first. The money sits with SKDC until we are ready with the park project. EE Park has older equipment in need of repair. Black Bull Green park is smaller and only a certain amount can be done there.
• Member of public also asked about the 55 homes planned of Dickens Drive, which will have a massive impact on the play park and more traffic on the road. She questioned whether there was a need for more housing. Response: A discussion took place on SKDC’s housing requirements and the government need for councils to build more housing. The Dickens Drive site is included in the new Local Plan. The Parish Council has submitted its objections.
Action: To attach a link to the planning response to these minutes on the website.
Public forum closed at 19:19
Agenda
25/26-57 Apologies for Absence:
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs. Branch, Payne & Valentine. These apologies were accepted unanimously.
25/26-58 Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests: There were none.
25/26-59 Parish Council Items:
a) Proposal: To adopt and resolve approval to move to “gov.uk” for a Council domain. Email proposed domain (if possible) to be Langtoftparishcouncil.gov.uk. Proposed Cllr. Tatam, Seconded Cllr. Jarman and unanimously voted in favour.
b) Proposal: To adopt and resolve quotation for Registered Provider Parish Online to provide emails and the integrated asset mapping management system at a cost of £216 in the first year and £330 in the second. Proposed Cllr. Scott, Seconded Cllr. Jarman and voted unanimously in favour.
c) Proposal: To adopt and resolve IT Policy. Proposed Cllr. Tatam, Seconded Cllr. Palmer and voted unanimously in favour.
d) Proposal: To adopt and resolve keeping all future parish council meetings to 7pm. Proposed Cllr. Tatam, Seconded Cllr. Palmer and voted unanimously in favour.
e) Proposal: To adopt and resolve keep public time at the start of each parish council meeting to 30 minutes agreed unanimously
25/26-60 Minutes:
a) 24 June 2025 Parish Council meeting were presented as a true and accurate record of events. Proposed acceptance Cllr. Palmer, Seconded Cllr. Scott, abstained for non-attendance Cllrs. Tatam, remaining voted in favour.
b) 25 July 2025 Extra Ordinary Parish Council Meeting were presented as a true and accurate record of events. Proposed acceptance Cllr. Tatam, Seconded Cllr. Palmer remaining voted in favour.
c) Action Tracker.
• Cemetery gates are still with the paint shop
• Designs for potential new bench near Ash Close were brought to the meeting. A traditional style was preferred. Action: Clerk will seek prices and this will be considered with the budget for 2026/27.
• SKDC will be undertaking a bins review of the village.
25/26-61 To receive reports from
a) County and District Councillors –
Report from Cllr. Smith. It has been quiet over the summer.
Local Government Reorganisation is still being discussed.
30 mph roundels have been painted on the road. Cllr. Smith will make a request for 40 mph on the Deeping side of the village.
Extending 30 mph zones. LCC Highways is responsible for highways and, based on density of housing, it is not prepared to extend the 30mph towards Penfield. This will not change unless there is a change in speed limit policy county wide.
Cllr. Carter requested that, although it did not meet recommendation, could we continue to push for village 30mph limits to be extended.
It was noted that Old Werrington village has a chicane scheme which looks very good and is effective.
Planning ref s25/1455 for the screening bunds. Cllr. Smith has been in correspondence with the Planning officer regarding the history of this site and has submitted objections. The Enforcement Officers are still investigating.
She encouraged the public to come to meetings and ask the Chairperson if perhaps during meetings they could be encouraged to ask questions.
b) Police Reports are received and circulated and made available on website/noticeboard upon receipt.
a) Cllr. Jarman was the agreed representatives to attend NSK Parish Briefing meetings. The next one is 16 September online.
25/26-62 East End Pond Project – Pete Coles
• Ash tree removal. This has been included in the tree removal planning application. However, this permission lasts for 2 years and for now Pete feels he would like to leave the tree as the risk profile is very low.
Volunteers have installed the depth gauge and will start pruning the pollarded willows. The large willows will be removed (pending planning permission). The restoration project is coming to an end and there on going costs will be for general maintenance.
Full Council approved the revised budget presented with a saving of £2,532.
Approval was given to Pete to proceed with the pond risk assessment with Aquaserve at a cost of £558 agreed unanimously.
Actions: Clerk to check with insurers that this assessment is not required for Penfield.
25/26-63 S106 Funding (Project lead Cllr. Jarman, supported by Cllr. Tatam & Carter and Clerk)
a) NOTED submission of the National Lottery application for £20k funding towards new park equipment. Should hear within 10 weeks.
When the outcome of the funding is known, plans can be finalised and a public meeting called.
b) Proposal: To adopt and resolve the application for the s.106 funding to be submitted to SKDC on conclusion of the National Lottery application result. Proposed Cllr. Tatam, Seconded Cllr. Carter and unanimously voted in favour.
c) Recreational upgrade (post funding approval) - Project lead for this project was confirmed as Cllr. Jarman. Action: When funding known Cllr. Jarman to bring project proposals for the project to full council.
25/26-64 Speeding
• Community Speed Watch (CSW) Action Group – Project lead for this project was confirmed as Cllr. Palmer.
• Cllrs. Farrington and Jarman met with Baston PC regarding CSW. A report was circulated. Equipment costs likely to be £500, Baston has also purchased a vehicle registration camera to record speeding vehicles to ‘name and shame’ on its Facebook page.
Action: Cllr. Palmer to bring a funding and project proposal to the next meeting.
• Village Gates – lead Cllr Jarman funding
Action: a funding Proposal for gates or planters to be brought to the next meeting:
• 30/white lines – NOTED 30mph roundels for Stowe Road & Langtoft Outgang Road are now in place. The countdown line markers are not items LCC is maintaining at present;, they are not covered by LCC traffic sign regulations.
• Roadside flower planters and trees – No funding for this project.
Action: to be considered for next year’s budget and objectives.
• 25/26-65 Amenities
Park funding – (Lead Cllr. Tatam, supported by Cllr. Carter and Clerk)
a) NOTED application has been submitted to SKDC Prosperity Fund for £13,565.34 to include restoration of goal mouths at both parks. Outcome is due this week.
Proposal: To agree the Online Playground quotation £1761.20 + VAT for the complete renovation of the zip wire as presented and funded from the park maintenance budget. Agreed unanimously.
b) Request of removal of silver birch in Black Bull Park.
It was agreed unanimously that a decision on this should be made after the pending tree safety inspection.
25/26-66 Working Group Reports
a) Cemetery Report was received and noted.
i) Proposal: To adopt and resolve purchase of Honda lawnmower at a cost of £829.17 + VAT Proposed Cllr. Tatam, Seconded Cllr. Palmer and voted unanimously in favour
b) Community Engagement
i) Ideas for Christmas village events were discussed. Trees in park; light up Langtoft with some competition themes
ii) Grapevine – 1 November Edition. Deadline for copy is 17th October
Next edition to include: parish council contact details, Cllr. Farrington to write the parish council news, Planning application numbers, Donations given and received and refurbishment of zip wire.
Proposal: to suspend Standing Orders for 20 mins to enable completion of the meeting. Proposed Cllr. Farrington, Seconded Cllr. Tatam unanimous in favour. RESOLVED.
iii) Deeping PPG meetings. Cllrs. McCulloch & Jarman were nominated to cover and attend meetings and feedback to full council.
c) Penfield Committee notes from meeting of 21 August had been circulated.
25/26-67 Current Year 2025/26
a) Financial Account Report to 01 August 25 with bank statements was presented by the Clerk.
It was NOTED that the 2024/25 had now been confirmed by the External auditors and Audit Certificate received.
The Council NOTED that Income had been received in June and July totally £681.85. Also NOTED 2 internal transfers from the savings to the current account of £10k. The council RESOLVED to AUTHORISE the expenditure for these months totally £5978.86 shown on the financial report proposed by Cllr. Tatam and Seconded Cllr. Scott. The Financial Report and bank statement were checked by all councillors prior to the meeting and were signed by Cllrs. Tatam & Scott.
b) Overspend against budget and forecasts were analysed. Cllr. Carter gave a forecast overview: £22k at year end, minimum required is £17,500, numbers overall look on track, cemetery income is down. Additional costs approved quarterly park inspection, £2000 Penfield, additional costs of defib. VE Day income was included in 24/25 budget and has affected the cash. New mower is coming out of existing budget.
Care is required for any additional spend.
Summary: EE Pond budget savings £2,532. How do we want to utilising these savings?
Actions: Cost proposals for reallocation of funds to be sent with the next agenda for consideration 14 October meeting.
25/26-68 Planning
Applications received since last meeting and any updates of existing planning.
S25/1382 Boundary of 19 Barn Owl Close – Tree reduction. Response submitted. No objections. Permission has been granted.
S25/1448 1 Bramblewood Court, Tree works. No comments
S25/1457 86 East End Proposed single storey side and rear extension and two storey side extension. No comments.
S25/1455 Land North of Langtoft Outgang Road Construction of screening bund and reinstatement of roadside ditch (retrospective)
Response: No specific objection to the construction of the bund, although the implication / reference to consent to use soil that had been intended / permitted to use for the ‘landscaped car park’. The new bund is a convenient method of screening other activities on the site which may not be compatible with the existing planning consent.
A wider concern is that the consented ‘car park’ has been used to tip limestone spoil to a depth that is incompatible with constructing a car park.
The extent of the planning consent for the ‘Baston Leisure Park’ is not clear from the Extract from the approved drawing 976/6E. The land at the north end of the site is being used as a lorry park which may or may not have planning consent.
S25/1542 EE Park – Tree works. Parish Council application.
25/26-69 Correspondence received from last meeting was NOTED from the agenda
25/26-70 To receive Items for Future Meetings
Emergency Plan simulation – Cllr. Payne
Bi Annual tree safety inspection
Risk Assessment review Cllr. Carter
2025/26 Annual plan review -Cllr. Farrington Jan meeting
Festival marquee replacement. Festival will contribute to the purchase of a new marquee. Liz will take this back to the festival.
Meeting Closed at 21:47