September Minutes
SKILLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Chair: Adrian Clark Vice-Chair: Paul Elston
Councillors: Emily Clark, Neville Clark, Bronwyn Hedley, Mike Jackson, Roseanne McKee.
Parish Clerk: Pamela Harrison (Mrs), 45 Newton Way, Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Grantham, Lincs. NG33 5NP
Telephone: 07707 104187 email: clerk.spc@gmail.com Website https://skillington.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Notes of the Parish Council meeting held on Monday 1st September 2025 at Skillington Village Hall at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllrs A. Clark, E. Clark, N. Clark, B. Hedley, M. Jackson, R. McKee, D. Bellamy (SKDC) and B. Green (SKDC).
In Attendance: Mr S. and Mrs K. Millington. P. Harrison (Clerk).
Open Forum: Mr and Mrs Millington had several questions.
I. They were pleased to see the Fishwell has been repaired. However, the PC needs to look at the elder growing within it.
II. The proposed Play Area: Who is taking responsibility for this? No minutes have been issued.
III. There is a large tree on the roadside, near the Paddock, with a lot of dead branches. What can be done to make this safe?
Responses:
I. Can we remove the padlock to do this? Or would this be better sprayed off?
II. The Chair said that the proposed Play Area comes under the auspices of the Parish Council, but is a sub-committee of it. Minutes will be published in due course.
III. It was recommended that the tree be reported on fixmystreet, so it can be examined.
1. Apologies for absence: Cllrs P. Elston and C. Vernon (LCC).
2. Councillors’ Declaration of Interest: Cllr Jackson (4.1)
3. Notes of meeting of the Parish Council meeting on 7th July 2025: Agreed and signed into minutes.
4. Matters arising from the minutes:
4.1 12.24/11.1 Community Orchard/paddock: The covenant/lease issue is pending.
4.2 05.25/8.1 Clerk’s Appraisal: Cllr Hedley has completed the appraisal and gave the PC a resume of the Clerk’s responsibilities. The PC would like to revert to annual appraisals.
5. Planning applications:
5.1 S25/1171 Notice of decision only: S Virgin, Land at Buckminster Lane: Proposed installation of Stub Leg Pole to existing Pole.
5.2 S25/1240 L Savage, The Abbey Park Lane: Section 211 Notice to fell 2 Poplar trees. Work allowed 14.08.25
5.3 Any new planning applications: None.
6. Cemetery:
6.1 Cemetery extension: All paperwork has been received from the Solicitor, fees paid and a formal thank you sent to Mr and Mrs Murdoch. Thanks also to Colin and Neville Clark and the Parish Councillors for their hard work. The Clerk will enquire about any change of use planning needed.
6.2 Any maintenance or other matters arising: The shed bolt is not working and the water butt is not filling. The Chair has volunteered to see what repairs can be made.
7. Payments and Accounts:
7.1 Bank Balances as at 25th August 2025:
Virgin Money a/c: £1791.11 after invoices paid.
Melton Mowbray Business 100 Day Notice a/c: £12156.18.
7.2 Income received in July and August:
Date of Receipt Name Details and notes Total Amount
07.08.25 P Wilson Purchase of burial plots for P & A Wilson 550.00
11.08.25 I Airey Purchase of burial plot for P Airey 140.00
22.08.25 C. Thornton Quarterly Paddock rental 150.00
7.3 Invoices due for payment on 31st August:
Name Details Date & Minute No. of Approval Total Amount
Colsterworth and District Parish Council Community cleaner: May, June & July 2025 (inc emptying 5 dog bins @£2.50/bin/month) 6.10.14 Page 2091 Item 8.6 525.33
BDG Mowing Mowing 1st, 16th and 30th July. Village verges 15th July 2.3.20 Page 2224 Item 8.1 482.40
Skillington Village Hall Annual room hire Per budget 100.00
Skillington Village Hall Contribution to black waste Per budget 147.97
Whatton Ag. Contracting Repairs to the Fishwell S137 500.00
LALC Additional website hours 1.5.24 Page 2317 Item 8.1 64.80
BDG Mowing Mowing 11th & 25th August, Village verges 18th August 2.3.20 Page 2224 Item 8.1 366.00
8. Clerk’s Report:
8.1 Councillor Training: Cllrs A. and E. Clark, Jackson and Hedley are booked in for training. Cllr Elston will be contacted to book in for training.
8.2 Paddock lease: The Chair requested details of those who have objected to the proposed use of the Paddock in a way contrary to the lease and covenant.
8.3 Declaration of Member’s interests: The Clerk reiterated that a declaration of interest must be registered and the member concerned should take no further part in the discussion, to ensure fairness.
8.4 Website: Councillors and residents should now be able to see all up to date Agendas, Minutes and other information on our website https://skillington.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
8.5 David Raes has kindly mended the bench on the Square. He would like £25 towards his costs. Councillors are invited to inspect the bench before the next meeting.
9. Matters to be discussed at this meeting:
9.1 Rubble in the Paddock: The rubble has not been removed, despite the Clerk contacting Buckminster Estate. The tenant has been in contact again about the rubble, which will be reported again. The fencing at the back of the paddock is the property and responsibility of the householders, not the PC. Previously, the tenant had electrified tape to keep the horse in the correct area.
10. District and County Councillor’s Reports:
Cllr Bellamy advised that the National Grid/Western Marsh project will facilitate 44 renewable energy grid connections and enabling the transfer of up to 14 gigawatts of renewable energy. On the public website there is no reference to these figures, only the substations enabling new renewable energy connections, which calls into question National Grid’s transparency of the likely total impact of the project. Sub stations are planned for Corby Glen and Waltham. There is an online petition.
Cllr Green mentioned that a letter should have gone out regarding new bin collection days. The change will occur from 15th September.
11. Any matters arising at the discretion of the Chair:
11.1 The new quarry is in operation, with the old site now having permission as landfill.
11.2 It has been agreed that the new part of the cemetery will not be re-seeded until closer to being used.
11.3 There are some hedges overhanging in Lords Lane. These need to be inspected and reported upon.
11.4 There are some trees overhanging the road on Middle Street. Again, these need to be inspected.
11.5 The foul smell at the lagoon is still causing problems. A resident is in touch with the Environment Agency.
The meeting was closed at 7.26 pm.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 6th October 2025 at 6.30pm. It will be held at Skillington Village Hall.