Draft Minutes 14.7.25
NOTES of the Meeting of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap Parish Council held at Cranwell Village Hall, Old School Lane, Cranwell Village, NG34 8DF on Monday 14th July 2025.
Present: Chair: Cllr D Graves
Councillors: Cllrs. J Bhunnoo, L Boden, O Curtis, S Daley, G Fox, and
P and S Liivet
Also in attendance: D/C J Clarke, C/C R Wright and Lesley Frances (Clerk/RFO) plus six members of the public.
There is a fire hydrant at St Martins Close which pumps out water but the water does not then drain away. There is an overgrown hedge at North Road (from the back of The Hawthorns/Willow Lane) – Chair will take a look. It was pointed out that no hedge cutting with machinery (only with shears) can take place between April and end August as it disturbs birds – there is a £1,000 fine. The owner of Oxenford Farm has been advised that he cannot stop people using the public footpath – there are two signs which need revealing. With regard to the footpath from the field gate going west, this has been walked regularly, and the Footpath Officer needs to provide evidence as to why she has not designated this area as a public footpath – old maps show it was so designated. Chair will make enquiries and a letter of objection will then be sent to LCC.
C/C Wright mentioned that the trees on the corner of North Lane have been cut back by NKDC to try and improve things. LCC is about to be drastically re-shaped. Our Archer Survey is the second survey in a short space of time and we will not get another one for a long time now. There are so few people speeding that nothing will be done. If we can get the registration number of cars that are speeding and the time they are “clocked” then we can report to the Police. He went on to say that NK is very well run but could have money taken from them in the new government restructuring, to help the poorly run Councils.
D/C Clarke said that there are an increasing number of vehicles parking on grass verges and some cause a hazard due to blocking the view for traffic. He also said that Sleaford Road from Willow Lane to the A15 needs re-surfacing but this is a County job not a Parish job. There is a Civic Reception for Cllr Wright, as new Chairman of NKDC, on 7th September. The new recycling measures come into effect in April 2026 and a new plant is being built which will take the plastic wrappers that we don’t recycle now.
Meeting commenced at 7.35 pm
1. Apologies for absence had been received from D/C A Hagues and Cllr Youle. Cllr Youle is unwell and it was resolved to accept his reason for absence.
2. To receive declarations of interest and to consider applications in relation to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. There were none.
3. The Notes of the Meeting held on 9th June had been read and it was unanimously agreed that they be approved and signed.
4. Financial Matters;
a. It was unanimously resolved to approve the payments made since the last meeting. Appendix A and the Payment of invoices as listed on the “Payments to be Authorised” sheet – Appendix B
b. It was unanimously resolved to approve the bank reconciliation as at 30.6.25.
c. It was unanimously resolved to accept the latest Summary of “Reserves” balances.
d. It was unanimously resolved to accept the budgets -v- actual spreadsheet at 30.6.25.
e. It was resolved not to purchase child pads for Byards Leap defibrillator and to ask Fulbeck PC to take over its maintenance or we will remove it. Cllr Daley will check whether adult pads can be used on children.
f. Clerk advised that the insurance renewal premium from Gallagher is £3,652.15 and this would hold for 3 years except for any amendments we make, or any changes to the rate of Premium Tax. Clerk advised that she has sought two other quotes and it was resolved that the final choice will be agreed by e-mail exchange.
5. Planning applications:
25/0459 - retrospective application for siting InPost Parcel Locker at Premier Store,
College Road – approved. 25/0525 - application for retrospective consent for a pergola
at 68 St Edmunds Road – pending consideration. 25/0680 – 47 Edmunds Road – change
of use of room to work therapy space – no objections.
6. Road Safety and Highways matters:
DMMO/375 footpath alongside playing field to North Road – no legal right of way for public use – Clerk had written to owners of Oxenford Farm pointing out that there is a public right of way between the PC field gate and North Road. MoP were saying that they had originally sent in letters of objection to the blocking up of the footpath which LCC lost; Chair also said there are maps showing it was a public footpath. He will obtain those maps and the Clerk will then write to the Footpath Officer. Clerk had also received an email from a Footpath Officer regarding use of a footpath from the A17 at Byards Leap north to Welbourn Heath but aside from one Parish Councillor there was no knowledge about the use of said path – Clerk to reply accordingly.
7. Village Hall – this matter is ongoing between the Chair of the Village Hall, the PC and ACRE. Clerk has also written to SLCC and their legal expert is looking into this and will advise us.
8. The Old School –the key safe has now been fitted.
9. Play area: Resolved to accept the quote from Steve Riley Services for £630 to repaint the yellow fence surrounding the play area. Volunteers will deal with painting/repairing play equipment asap.
10. Reports from councillors – Clerk will write to the owner of 18 North Road regarding the overgrown vegetation and advise Brian Smith at NK. New streetlights opposite a point in Cranwell Avenue are very bright and causing problems to residents – Cllr Boden will let me have appropriate house numbers affected and I will write to Ian Whitehead. Cllr Curtis advised that the Craft Club wishes to decorate the Green for VJ Day and this was approved unanimously. Ruskington PC may have speed guns and signs available – Clerk to enquire.
11. Date of next meeting: 8th September 2025.
Meeting closed at 8.30 pm.