Agendas and Minutes 2026

Public Forum

7 members of the public attended.

• Prior to the meeting all Councilors had seen a copy of a letter from the PCC seeking financial support to renovate the church clock.  A member of the PCC explained the ask in more detail.  The church has had a clock since the late 1700s.  The current one was installed in 1937, and it needs renovation to get it working and in a good state for years to come.  As the building is listed there are constraints on who can do the work and ensuring parts are replaced like for like.  Costs are c. £11,500 and they are only £2,000 short but some of the grants rely on clear evidence of local financial support.  Seeking £250-£500 from the Parish Council.  (See item 26/176 Finance)

Meeting commenced at 7.06pm

Present

Mark Newton (MN) Chair, David Kelly (DK), Andy Taylor (AT), Carole Lee (CL), Mick Walker (MW), Paul Wood (PW), Martin Rose (MR), John Leventhall (JL), County Cllr Ken Bamford (KB), Martin Wright (Clerk). 

26/164

Apologies for Absence

Geoff Fearn GF (Vice Chair), Steven Maxwell (SM) and Daryl Walton (DW)

26/165

Declarations of Interest.

To receive Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in accordance with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012. 

None.

26/166

Minutes & Matters Arising from Previous Meeting 7 September 2026

Matters Arising

It was RESOLVED that the minutes be signed as a true record.

26/167

County Council Report

Memorial Gardens Grant request has gone in and LCC have completed initial eligibility assessment.  Given we need the funds to get the work done, ideally for the Remembrance Day service on 8 November, it has been agreed he will chase.

Supports our actions in liaising with Roseland and trying to work collaboratively to ease volumes and noise of lorries through the village.  Wanted more information about lorries going down Costa Row, as much less suitable.  ACTION CLERK – share details of the location and seek any support for restrictions from LCC

26/168

District Councillor Report

Local Government Reorganisation – paused for review by government.  No work taking place on this within councils.  Parish and District Council elections to happen in May 2027.

SKDC Leader – on 24 September a motion to remove the leader narrowly failed 27 to retain and 22 to remove.  PW supported the leader.

Planning

• Travelers site – high court judge found in favour of SKDC’s processes and declined a judicial review sought by the travelers.  Decision was very clear, but they have the right to appeal and take it to a higher court.
• Children’s Care home – no decision yet.
• NPPF – the December 2024 version has been replaced by a 130-page August 2026 version. Leans more towards approvals.
• New Regulations – from 31 October 2026 councillors cannot call in applications.  Most under schedule 1 will be determined by officers under delegated powers.  Schedule 2 will have some under delegated powers but some that must go via committee.  SKDC still needs to approve the changes required in the constitution to comply.

26/169

Planning

– Applications

• Whilst we have not been consulted by SKDC regarding the following, it was on the weekly planning list, so was debated at the meeting.
• S26/1593 – Mr John Dawson - Conversion of existing garage and first floor store into a new dwelling. 36 Main Road Long Bennington Newark on Trent NG23 5DJ. No objections raised and we can confirm accordingly if we are consulted.

• Approvals
  • S26/1400 – Steve Ablewhite – s106 requirements for affordable housing on the land west of Main Road, Long Bennington
  • S26/1658 - Regulation 5 notice of intention to install fixed line broadband apparatus at the Meadows, Long Bennington, NG23 5EL.

• Refusals

• DMMO446 – refusal to extend the public right of way along Moor Lane to Valley Lane under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 section 53.

• Planning Appeals/Withdrawals          

26/170

Memorial Gardens

Discussed under County Councillor

26/171

Speeding/ HGV noise on Main Road

MN briefed councillors on the meeting that the Clerk and he had with Nilesh Vithlani, Transport Manager for Steer Group.  Steer operate the car storage/ PDI/ repairs and preparation facilities for cars at Roseland.  They contract many of the HGV transporters coming through the village.  Nilesh confirmed they want to be good neighbours and support the village in getting transporter volumes going through the village significantly down.  Emails have gone to all hauliers they use and handouts are being given to drivers as they leave the site, showing approved A1 route.  Clerk to feedback to Nilesh weekly with any residents reports of transporters going through the village, ideally with time/ date and lorry details. 

Nilesh to attend the public session of the parish meeting on 2 November and answer questions.  He requests they are pre submitted to the Clerk, so he can have the best possible answers available.

AT confirmed no speeding lorries have been identified on speed watch sessions recently.  Next speed watch will be end of October.

26/172

Plan for container movement at Witham Meadows

MR was due to catch up with his liaison point, but the RAF Fairford issues got in the way.  He has subsequently had confirmation the RAF are still keen to do but unclear on timing.

Plan B to get the container down the path access route is being considered and GF will engage if needed.

No pressure from the container supplier, but if we do go down plan B route there will be extra transport costs of c £400.

To be reviewed at next meeting.  Meantime MR to be introduced to our contact at Steer, to see if they can help.  ACTION CLERK

26/173

Village Hall Flower beds

Councillors approved a £125 spend for Womble Gardening to do an Autumn clearance of the four beds at the village Hall.  ACTION CLERK – ask the business to do the work

26/174

Renewal of speed signs

As DW was unable to attend the meeting, this topic is to be carried forward to November.  Issue is that the speed signs are dated and do not charge up well.  Options to fund new ones?

26/175

Chairman’s and Clerk’s Report

Chairman – no report

Clerks report as previously circulated. 

26/176

Finance

Councillors were referred to the attached schedule of invoices for payment totalling £3,979.43.

RESOLVED – to pay the invoices. ACTION Clerk to arrange payment.

Monthly financial reports were provided – no questions raised.

Resolved to approve Community Cleaner hours worked and payment.

Discussed request for financial support for the church clock and £500 proposed and approved unanimously. ACTION CLERK – notify PCC and include in 2027/28 budget/ precept.

Post the agenda being issued for October meeting a request from the twinning association for financial support was received. This is to be added to the November agenda. ACTION CLERK

Clerk confirmed the second half precept had been received as well as the last part of the cleaner grant from SKDC.

26/177

Reports

Playing Fields Management Committee – Dog fouling has been observed at the Playing Fields/ Children’s playground. The PFMC has put a strongly worded message on Facebook. Signs have been in place at the main entrances to the grounds advising dogs are not permitted. Looking to put at the Northfields Close cut through as well. Fencing to block the gap may need to be considered by the PFMC and PC. ACTION CLERK – email NCHA and see if they can advise their residents of the situation.

Village Hall Management Committee – No report.

Community Emergency Response Team – 4 of the team went to Grantham on 9 September for a tabletop training session positive. MR +1 attending a day long LCC event in October.

Volunteers now at 14 after a resignation.

MR to look at getting coffee/ tea etc, to have in storage in case of a village emergency for residents removed from their homes. Approved.

Road Safety – no report

Police Report – No further report.

Footpaths & Streetlights – No report

Witham Meadow – See 26/172

Outstanding still need to consider if we need extra bin or it moving to ease dog waste issues in the area. ACTION MR and SM to discuss.

Communication – ongoing repost the invitation on Facebook – ACTION CLERK

C100 residents now signed up.

JL has created a new poster to try and encourage more responses.

Second newsletter issued. To be redone with the latest mailing list – ACTION CLERK

26/161

Correspondence

Councillors referred to attached list of correspondence received during the last month.

No further comments raised.

26/162

Items for next agenda and Parish News Report.

Our Neighbourhood Plan is out of date this year and out of date in many areas as it predates the current SKDC plan. General feeling we should at least scope out key areas for inclusion in next plan but not progress too far. No funding support available to help with preparation. ACTION CLERK add to future agenda.

• Renewal of speed signs.
• Plan for getting the container on Witham Meadows
• Twinning Association

ACTION CLERK add to November agenda.

26/163

Date of next meeting – 2 November 2026

Meeting Closed at 8.05pm

Signed………………………………….  Designation ……………………        

Date ……………………