February Minutes
SKILLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Chair: Currently vacant Vice-Chair: Currently vacant
Councillors: Emily Clark, Neville Clark, Bronwyn Hedley, Roseanne McKee, Stuart Millington.
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 2nd February 2026 at Skillington Village Hall at 6.30pm. We were unable to access the Village Hall, so the meeting was transferred to the Methodist Church.
Present: Cllrs N. Clark, R. McKee, B. Hedley (acting Chair), S. Millington,
In Attendance: K Millington, J Selby and P. Harrison (Clerk).
Cllr D Bellamy (SKDC) attended briefly, but as access was delayed, he left for another meeting.
Open Forum
Mrs Millington stated that there are moles in the Cemetery. This needs looking at, so a plan of action may be taken.
1. Apologies for absence: Cllrs D. Bellamy and B. Green (SKDC), C. Vernon (LCC)
2. Councillors’ Declaration of Interest: None.
3. Notes of meeting of the Parish Council meetings on 1st December 2025:
Agreed and signed into minutes.
4. Matters arising from the minutes:
4.1 10.25/8.3 Councillor vacancy: Jo Selby left the room. Cllr Clark proposed and Cllr Hedley seconded her application and hands were raised in agreement of the appointment.
4.2 12.24/11.1 Community Orchard/paddock: The application form has been completed and was successful. However, the costs of extra fencing and a gate will not be covered, so this will have to be purchased when the next Precept is received in April. Cllr Millington will order the trees. A laminated sign will be posted with our intentions regarding the space.
4.3 12.25/ OF Weeds in the Fish Well: This will be looked at when it begins to grow leaf.
4.4 12.25/4.4 Cllr Selby mentioned the proposed Internal Audit. This will be looked into further and completed in stages, rather than as a one-off item, because of budgetary constraints.
4.5 12.25/11.2 The large shrubs on Lords Lane have had a cursory pruning only. These need looking at later in the year. We may need to contact LCC to ask for more radical pruning, if necessary.
4.6 12.25/9.2 The bus shelter roof has kindly been mended by Mr and Mrs Millington, they have also trimmed back the shrubs. A volunteer group has painted the inside, including the bench. Thank you to the Millington’s and also Scott Ruck, for his help with the green waste.
5. Planning applications:
5.1 R25/1967 P Elston, Tylers Farm, Colsterworth Road: Internal alterations (including removal of partitions) and general repair/maintenance including timber structure, lime ash floors plaster and render. Reapplication of Listed Building Consent S21/0915 - Lapsed 1st July 2024 - No changes. Awaiting decision. 5.2 S25/1968 P Elston, Tylers Farm, Colsterworth Road: The insertion of new external door, replace timber windows and structural stonework and general repair/maintenance works. Awaiting decision.
5.3 S25/2265 J Knott, 2 Paddock View, Construction of single storey rear extension. Awaiting decision. 5.4 Any further planning applications.
6. Cemetery:
6.1 Any maintenance or other matters arising: hedging and guards have been purchased. Drain piping has been provided to mend the water butt inflow..
6.2 The shed needs some more corrugated sheets.
6.3 The mole situation will be looked in to.
7. Payments and Accounts:
7.1 Bank Balances as at 25th January 2026:
Virgin Money a/c: £1477.17 after invoices paid.
Melton Mowbray Business 100 Day Notice a/c: £12156.18.
7.2 Income received in December and January:
Date of Receipt Name Details and notes Total Amount £
05.12.25 P L & E J Clark Inv 200694 Re: Grave (ashes) plots 110.00
12.01.26 G H Linnell Inv 200695 Re: M C Selby Memorial 200.00
7.3 Invoices due for payment on 31st December and 31st January:
Name Details Date & Minute No. of Approval Total Amount £
Colsterworth and District Parish Council Community cleaner: December 2025 (inc emptying 5 dog bins @£2.50/bin/month) 6.10.14 Page 2091 Item 8.6 175.11
Mr N. Clark Hedging whips and guards 2.6.25 Page2339 Item 6.2 90.00
Colsterworth and District Parish Council Community cleaner: January 2026 (inc emptying 5 dog bins @£2.50/bin/month) 6.10.14 Page 2091 Item 8.6 175.11
8. Clerk’s Report:
8.1 Councillor resignation: Cllr E. Clark has sent in her resignation. The Clerk will contact SKDC about the new vacancy. We would like to record our thanks to her for her service on the Parish Council. There are now two vacancies on the Parish Council
8.2 Buckminster Lane: The planned works have been completed.
8.3 Winter grit: A bag had been ordered, originally to be stored near the current Stonepit Lane and Buckminster Lane junction grit bin. A pallet was provided for it to sit on. However, residents removed the pallets and covering, leaving it open to the elements. The bag will be relocated to the left side of the paddock, within the fencing of the new Community Orchard.
9. Matters to be discussed at this meeting:
9.1 The drains in Fishwell Close are blocked and a lot of water is flowing down the road in wet weather. It has been posted on Fixmystreet.
9.2 Cllr Millington has given out a schedule of planned maintenance and inspections, which will be very useful to keep all maintenance up to date. Cllr Hedley proposed, Cllr McKee seconded and all agreed to this.
9.3 Some of the trees need pruning in the paddock. Planning permission will need to be sought.
9.4 The condition of the paddock when the previous tenant left was commented upon. The Clerk was asked if there was a clause in the present tenancy. This is the current clause - 2.3.9. at the expiration of the tenancy peaceably and quietly to deliver up to the Landlord possession of the Land in the repair order and condition hereinbefore referred to.
9.5 There is a lot of dog dirt not being picked up in and around the village. Will dog owners please pick up after their dogs and ensure the bags are put into the bins provided – or taken home.
10. District and County Councillor’s Reports: 2027 is the 300th anniversary of the death of Sir Isaac Newton and Cllr Ben Green had submitted a motion to SKDC Council that this should be officially recognised.
Local Plan Review: pressing ahead with a revised time-table due to the government changing building targets - increased the time frame, so the Council no longer has a five-year land supply of allocated sites which are in the towns and larger villages. This means the existing Local Plan has less planning weight when deciding applications for housing development and could affect the smaller villages such as Skillington because the policy protections in the Local Plan for smaller villages no longer apply or carry as much weight in decision making. This will be the case for roughly the next two years until the reviewed LP is adopted.
Budget. The SKDC Administration have proposed a 2.99% increase in council tax for 2026/27. This is the.maximum allowed without a referendum.
The Clerk will email the Village Hall Committee regarding a key. Thanks to the Methodist Church for being so accommodating at short notice.
11. Any matters arising at the discretion of the Chair: addressed above.
The meeting was closed at 8.10 pm.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 2nd March 2026 at 6.30pm. It will be held at Skillington Village Hall.