July minutes
SKILLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Councillors: Neville Clark, Bronwyn Hedley, Roseanne McKee, Stuart Millington, Tracy Seager, Joanne Selby.
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 6th July 2026 at Skillington Village Hall at 6.30pm.
Present: Cllrs B. Headley (acting Chair), T. Seager, J. Selby, N. Clark and C. Vernon (LCC).
In Attendance: Mr C. Clark, Mrs S. Reid, Mr D. Purcell (leaving at 6.45pm), and P. Harrison (Clerk).
Open Forum
Mrs Reid asked what was happening regarding the paddock. She suggested other uses, rather than just being let out. This was discussed, but thought that the Orchard has only just been established, so a two-year let would enable the Parish Council to decide how next to proceed.
1.. Apologies for absence: Cllr S. Millington, R. McKee, B. Green (SKDC) and D. Bellamy (SKDC)
2. Councillors Declaration of Interest: None.
3. Notes of meeting of the Parish Council meetings on 1st and 15th June 2026:
The notes were agreed and signed into minutes.
4. Matters arising from the minutes:
4.1 12.24/11.1 Community Orchard: The gate has been ordered and the sign laminated and will be displayed. Thanks go to Stuart and Kate Millington for doing so much with this project.
4.2 03.26/9.2 Fishwell Close drains: More investigation work has been done, but we are waiting for it to rain, to see if the problem has been solved.
4.3 05.26/9.4 Cross Swords Pub: The PC has registered the Cross Swords Public.House as an asset of Community Value. The EGM on Monday 15th June was very helpful. A follow up query has been issued by LCC and will be answered, when all the information has been gathered.
4.4 05.26/9.5 Memorial plaque on the Green: One Councillor proposed that this be removed, but the majority voted for it to remain. As this plaque was deemed to have been given PC permission, it will be allowed to remain. However, no further trees or plaques are now allowed, as per our new Village Greens Tree and Shrub Management and protection policy.
4.5 03.26/9.1 Cllr Selby has volunteered to treat the benches. The Clerk will look at paint donated at the tip.
4.6 05.26/13.2 The Paddock: The current tenant has re-issued her notice. We will put in place the new application form, when it is finalised, and reduce the amended tenancy to two years.
The subject of the gates added by M. Jackson was discussed. Did he have planning consent? The gates added by R Bowen also need looking in to. We will add a clause about the tenant being resident in Skillington. The Clerk will also look into the new Renters Rights regulations. A £60 per annum increase was agreed.
5. Planning applications:
5.1 PL/0012/26 Skillington Quarry, Lane to the east and west of Skillington Road, Colsterworth: Variation of planning permission S18/2237 New conditions to which a mineral site is to be subject to amend condition 9 (hours of operation) Approved 14.6.26.
Cllr Vernon suggested setting up a Community liaison group, so residents have some recourse.
5.2 S26/0459 Mr P. Lord, Cotswold Farm, Crabtree Road: Extension to an existing wood chip storage building. Awaiting decision.
5.3 S26/0309 Mrs P. Harrison (Skillington Parish Council): Change of use of agricultural field to extension of cemetery and formation of surfaced footpath. Awaiting decision.
5.4 S26/0798 Mrs C. Wesson, Cross Swords, The Square: Proposed change of use from public house (Sui Generis)to two storey four bedroom dwelling house (C3) with separate annex. Awaiting decision.
5.5 Any further planning applications.
6. Cemetery:
6.1 The shed needs some more corrugated sheets: A third quote is being sought.
6.2 Any maintenance or other matters arising: None.
7. Payments and Accounts:
7.1 Bank Balances as at 25th June 2026: Virgin Money a/c: £3618.29 after invoices paid.
Melton Mowbray Business 100 Day Notice a/c: £12429.69
7.2 Income received in June:
Date of Receipt Name Details and notes Total Amount
28.05.26 HMRC Vat reclaimed for 2025/26 year 679.37
7.3 Invoices due for payment on 30th June:
Name Details Date & Minute No. of Approval Total Amount
Colsterworth and District Parish Council Community cleaner: June 2026 (inc emptying 5 dog bins @ 2.50/bin/month) 6.10.14 Page 2091 Item 8.6 180.61
BDG Mowing Contractors Village mowing 11 and 25.5. LCC mowing 19.5 plus unpresented March cheque 5.10.25 Page 2346 Item 8.21 598.80
Additions Accountancy Auditing of accounts to 31.3.26 Per budget 105.00
BDG Mowing Contractors Village mowing 9 and 22.6 LCC mowing 9.6 5.10.25 Page 2346 Item 8.21 366.00
7.4 The Annual audit has been completed and all the AGAR forms sent off.
8. Clerk s Report:
8.1 Resignation of Councillor: Cllr Millington has resigned. A notice will be sent to SKDC. He was thanked for all his work for the Parish Council. We now have two vacancies.
8.2 TRO Church Street, Lords Lane, The Square, Stonepit Lane and Grantham Road (Lincs Comms) between 29.6 and 19.7, plus 11k Electricity reinforcement, on Sproxton Road (between Back Lane and County Boundary) from 27.7 to 11.9.
8.3 A further signature is needed on the bank account.
8.4 The Parish Council has agreed to increase the Clerk s travel mileage from 45p to 55p per mile, as per the HMRC notice.
9. Matters to be discussed at this meeting:
9.1 The Clerk was asked to enquire whether M Jackson needed planning permission for his new gates. Also, to enquire regarding permission needed for the proposed gate to the new orchard.
10. District and County Councillor s Reports: Cllr Green (SKDC) sent a report.
Missing bin collections now have to be reported within two days (reduced from five).
Local Government reorganisation: There will be no immediate changes: Cllr Green suggested the name of Kesteven and Holland Council, rather than South Lincolnshire Council retaining the thousand year- old Kesteven name.
Cllr Green thanked all those who supported his charity walk for the Royal British Legion, which was over thirty miles, tracing the border of the Isaac Newton ward and raised £365.
11. Any matters arising at the discretion of the Chair:
Cllr Seager asked whether Cllr Vernon could enquire into inviting Highways Department to look at the problems with heavy and speeding traffic being diverted through the village, when the A1 is closed. Cllr Vernon suggested that people from the village keep a diary or record data of the traffic, to record traffic over a period of time when the A1 is closed. The Clerk will enquire when Colsterworth are next.doing a Speed Watch campaign.
Cllr Selby has washed around the bus shelter, as someone had urinated in it.
The Cross Swords has now closed full-time.
The meeting was closed at 7.40 pm.
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Monday 7th September 2026 at 6.30pm. It will be held at Skillington Village Hall.
Page no.2363