2025 Parish Council Minutes

DRAFT MINUTES OF POINTON & SEMPRINGHAM PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Held on Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 7.30pm in St Gilbert Primary School

Councillors present: Cllrs Christie, Clarke, Green, Keeley, Ross and Wesley (Chair).

In attendance: C Cllr M Hill, D Cllr Dixon-Warren, R. Boden (clerk) and 32 members of public.

To be noted that the meeting may be recorded for the purpose of transparency.

A minute’s silence was held out of respect for the passing of Cllr Greenwood.

Chairman’s Welcome and Housekeeping Arrangements.

25079. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

To receive reports from outside bodies.

- Report from C. Cllr Hill. The length of West Road has been resurfaced and the bridge to the entrance of the playing field repaired. The drainage situation has been resolved and he is confident going into winter.

Grantham bypass has been delayed into next year. A paint store has opened at Bourne recycling centre and people can pick up or drop off tins of paint. This is free both ways.

- Report from D. Cllr Dixon-Warren. Planning application S25/1059 has been ‘called in’ and he will comment on problems such as noise, traffic and parking. No engagement has been made from the social care team.

- Questions or Points raised by residents and members of the public. This will be transferred to the end of the meeting but no questions regarding the pavilion or playing field will be answered as a mark of respect to Cllr Greenwood.

COUNCIL SESSION

25080. To receive Declarations of Pecuniary or Non-Pecuniary Interest. Cllr Christie declared an interest in item 8a – planning application S25/1450

25081. To receive and accept Apologies for Absence. All councillors were present.

25082. To approve the clerk’s notes for the meeting held on the 8th July 2025 and for the chair to sign. It was resolved to approve the clerk’s notes for the meeting held on the 8th July 2025 and for the chair to sign.

25083. Finances:

a) To receive the clerk’s report on payments between meetings

It was resolved to accept the clerk’s report on payments between meetings.

b) To approve payments as list below.

It was resolved to approve payments listed above

c) To note payments received as listed below

It was noted that £500, which is the final 25% from the community grant awarded by SKDC, had been received.

d)To note that Financial Regulations 5.17 has been followed for the spending of £650 + VAT on the fencing around the pavilion. It was noted that Financial Regulations 5.17 had been followed for the spending of £650 + VAT on the fencing around the pavilion.

e)To approve the bank reconciliation and for the Vice-Chair to sign. It was resolved to approve the bank reconciliation and for the vice chair to sign.

25084. Clerk’s Report – To receive an update of developments between meetings. The emergency alert will be sounded on the 7th September at 3pm.

Due to children having already broken into the pavilion and having to call the police over a group of individuals trying to gain access financial regulations 5.17 was enforced.

5.17 In cases of serious risk to the delivery of council services or to public safety on council premises, the Clerk may authorise expenditure of up to £1,500 excluding VAT on repair, replacement or other work that in their judgement is necessary, whether or not there is any budget for such expenditure. The Clerk shall report such action to the Chair as soon as possible and to the council as soon as practicable thereafter.

25085. To adopt a correspondence protocol. It was resolved to adopt the correspondence protocol as below.

Correspondance Protocol

• The Clerk will respond only to properly addressed correspondence from named individuals.

• FOI requests will be acknowledged and responded to in line with ICO guidance.

• Scattergun or copied-in messages will be filed but not engaged with beyond the official reply

25086. Policies - To review and accept the following policies:

a) Delegation of Powers. It was resolved to accept the Delegation of Powers

b) Communication Policy. It was resolved to accept the Communication Policy

c) Social Media Policy. It was resolved to accept the Social Media Policy

d) Health & Safety Policy. It was resolved to accept the Health & Safety Policy.

25087. Planning matters 

Cllr Christie left the room at 7.40pm

a) New – To discuss the planning applications received from SKDC.

Cllr Christie returned at 7.42pm

b) Current

S25/1059 - Pointon House 25 High Street Pointon Lincolnshire NG34 0LX – Awaiting Decision

The clerk had written pointing the inaccuracies of the application stating that the Social Club had closed and no longer existed but had not given anything further.

25088. Date and time of the next Parish Council Meeting – 4th November 2025.

25089. Public Participation

Members of the public asked questions regarding:

- The needles that had previously been found on the playing field and if the litter picker had the correct equipment and received correct training.  The litter picker had the correct equipment and training.

- The 30mph speed sign buried within the hedge. It has been reported several times over the past few years and there has been several reasons why Highways have been unable to enforce the cutting of the hedge. It has now been sold and it is hoped the new owners act.

- The small patch of road at the bottom of Fen Road. The potholes have been repatched previously and it can be reported on fix me street.

- Opening of playing field gate. The gate is open between 8.30am – 4pm

- Ariel Runway. The tensioning bar has been received.

- Heras Fencing costs. As there is no internet the clerk will email the exact costs to the member of public.

The meeting closed at 7.57pm