October 2025 Minutes
ALLINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of Parish Council Meeting held at Allington Village Hall
Wednesday 22ND Oct 2025
Present: Councillor Marvin
Councillor Reynolds
Councillor Carlyle
Councillor Baron
Cllr Claire Storer
Kate Griffin (Clerk/RFO)
Residents. 2
County Cllr Richard Litchfield
PUBLIC FORUM: The Public Forum does not form part of the meeting of the Parish Council
2 residents attended the public forum and raised their concerns regarding the state of Lowfields Lane potholes. Cllr Marvin advised we could contact LCC Highways to raise awareness. Cllr Litchfield, who was in attendance, agreed he would also investigate the condition of the road as he was planning a “walk around” of Allington to identify such issues.
The residents also raised concerns over excess litter on Lowfields Lane and a possible Solar Farm in surrounding fields. Cllr Marvin agreed the Parish Council would investigate and feedback any findings.
64/25 WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Marvin welcomed everyone. Apologies were received from Cllr Plummer and District Cllr Leadenham for reasons previously given and accepted by the council.
65/25 DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
No declarations of Members interest in relation to agenda items
66/25. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was resolved to approve the notes of the Parish Council Meeting on Sept 17th 2025, signed as minutes by the Chair as a true record of the meeting. Previously circulated to all members of the council. It was resolved to accept the notes as minutes.
67/25. CLERKS CORRESPONDENCE REPORT
Correspondence received and circulated to all Councillors by email since the last meeting in September:
Email from Gt Gonerby PC proposing a Parish Council Network Group
Email from Ancaster U 12’s football enquiring about football pitches
Email from Kim Pickett of LCC regarding establishing Community Emergency Response Team for Allington
Email from Lincs Highways advising of resurfacing works on Back Lane
Email from Webmaster at LALC making recommendations to improve APC website.
Email from Cllr Litchfield with update regarding village green repairs
Email from SKDC regarding Local Government Reorganisation briefing
Email from LALC containing TOR for auditing contract.
Email from Cllr Leadenham informing of SKDC Cabinet meeting 21/09/25 *
Email from resident concerning overhanging fruit tree branches on to public footpath
Email quote from Hempsteads regarding winter work
Email from PFFR requesting a TEN for bonfire night
Email from Cllr Carlyle regarding hedges and rights of way
*It was noted that Cllr Storer attended the SKDC Cabinet Meeting with feedback that there were currently no further updates regarding the proposed Haworth Development. Cllr Baron requested that an update item was on the agenda of meetings going forwards, Cllr Marvin advised we would be relying on Cllr Baron for updates.
68/25. CLERKS REPORT
Bio Moor Energy community funding was applied for and Allington have been awarded £700 towards the community bus shelter repairs.
Manor Tree Surgery have been instructed to undertake the necessary works to remove the dead parts of the pine tree in the playing field, this will be done over the course of the coming weeks.
Emails sent to Wicksteads since the last meeting regarding the treatment needed to the Wickstead Flyer on the play park, no reply received to date.
Email sent to the clerk at Sedgebrook regarding joining forces for the Emergency plan, no reply to date.
Cllr Leadenham has agreed to supply a Christmas Tree for the Church tree festival.
69/25. CLERKS FINANCE REPORT
The accounts for payment were checked against the invoices and the lists and signed by Cllrs Marvin and Reynolds. It was resolved to agree the payments as per Financial Regulations 6.10
It was resolved to approve the 1/4ly bank reconciliation end Q2 Jul-Sept 2025, circulated to all digitally prior to this meeting:
Bank statement checking and reconciliation undertaken and statements signed by Cllr Carlyle as per Financial Regulations 2.6
Bank balance as of 30th Sept 2025:
Current Account : £19918.63
Savings Account : £20818.60
It was resolved to approve payment of the following:
Allington Village Hall room hire £36.00
Reimburse Clerk for Temp event notice bonfire night (PFFR) £21.00
P Hempsteads grass cutting 6 of 8 £457.50
Brewers electrical safety repairs to the shed and PAT testing £876.00
Receipts to reimburse village caretaker for maintenance supplies :
DPC £4.99 / furniture oil £10.19 / extra large nails £6.99/ cable ties £16.40
Village care taker Hi Vis jacket £11.62
Parish Clerk 16 hours O/T for Sept 2025
It was resolved to approve the following invoices already paid due to time constraints as per Financial Regulations 6.9iii:
HMRC month 4 tax/NIC £59.05
HMRC month 5 tax/NIC £ 59.05
HMRC month 6 tax/NIC £ 26.22
1st Galaxy Fireworks (PFFR ringfenced) £1743.76
EDF energy Sept 2025 £11.31
Income received in October since last meeting:
SKDC Precept 2nd half year £15050.00
SKDC UKSPF funding award £5250.00(1st Instalment)
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Allington Parish Council 30/09/25 |
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BANK RECONCILIATION AS AT 30/09/25 |
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£ |
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A |
Balance - HSBC bank stmt at 01.07.2025 |
18580.03 |
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Balance Savings Acct - as at 01.07.2025 |
20735.37 |
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Total |
39315.4 |
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B |
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Plus - income up to 30.09.2025 |
8226.77 |
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C |
Minus - spending up to 30.09.2025 |
6804.94 |
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D |
TOTAL |
40737.23 |
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E |
Balance - balance as at 30.09.2025 |
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Current Acct |
19918.63 |
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Savings Acct |
20818.6 |
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Minus unpresented items |
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TOTAL |
40737.23 |
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CLERK TO ACTION: Clerk to make relevant payments of outstanding invoices.
70/25. DISTRICT AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT
Cllr Litchfield reported that following recent repairs to the Village Green he has spoken with LCC with regard to approaching the developer to reclaim the costs and fix the green. LCC had repaired and seeded the area and installed blue barriers to protect the grass until it grows back. Cllr Litchfield confirmed that LCC did speak to the developer but that as they could not prove who was at fault LCC funded the repairs in good faith. Cllr Litchfield also informed that a court case was under way regarding the Rights of Way of the Viking Way. The need for an improved community bus service was discussed and options for bus routes. Cllr Litchfield advised the need to qualify the demand for more bus services possibly by a social media survey. Cllr Litchfield offered to hold a Councillor Surgery in Allington, Cllr Baron suggested it would be an idea to hold this during the Church coffee morning on the 1st Monday of a month. Cllr Litchfield to feedback with a date.
71/25 LALC AUDIT FEES 2026 AND 2027
Further to the agreement at the last meeting to accept the Internal Audit deal from LALC by signing for the next 2 years in order to maintain the costs, a Terms of Reference was received for signing. It was resolved to accept the Terms of Reference. Proposed by Cllr Storer, seconded by Cllr Reynolds, agreed by all. The Terms of Reference were signed by the Chair.
CLERK TO ACTION: Clerk to email TOR to LALC
72/45 BUS SHELTER
The Clerk confirmed £700 has been awarded as a grant towards the repairs of the bus shelter by Bio Moor Energy of Gonerby Moor.
It was agreed that the repairs, even with £700 allowance funding from Bio Moor, the paintwork quote was too expensive and that more quotes were needed. It was suggested that the Clerk investigate further contractors for quotes.
Cllr Baron proposed to accept the quote for the woodwork from TWS joinery in the meantime, seconded by Cllr Carlyle, agreed by all. This would mean the woodwork repairs could be started ready for treatment and painting. It was resolved to accept the quote from TWS.
CLERK TO ACTION: Clerk to contact TWS joinery to accept the quote for woodwork and to contact further contractors regarding the paintwork.
73/25 MUGA
The quote from Smiths Construction was discussed and the very high costs involved. Councillors agreed they didn’t expect possible removal to involve so much work.
Cllr Marvin advised she had researched and there are other MUGA specialists online to approach, Allcourts.co.uk Loughborough for example.
It was discussed that it would be an idea to check what residents want and if they want to keep the MUGA then the Parish Council would have to look at other ways to fund as a long-term project in the future.
It was mentioned the MUGA gets more abuse compared to the usage.
It was pointed out the Parish Council could not sustain this kind of maintenance costs ongoing in the future.
It was agreed by all that the MUGA needs attention.
Clerk to action Action – to get more quotes and discuss at next meeting to remove fence all way round to leave the base, replace edge with asphalt.
74/25. DEFIBRILLATOR UPDATE
Cllr Reynolds advised she needed to locate relevant paperwork from previous suppliers for replacement batteries and pads etc.
ACTION: Cllr Reynolds to inform Clerk of supplier information.
75/25. EMERGENCY PLAN & VILLAGE PLAN
A discussion took place for an Emergency Plan to cover the village as a whole. Lots of questions were raised regarding co-ordination, areas to be utilised and involvement and interaction of all concerned parties.
A discussion took place regarding what the residents are looking for within village in the future. Most aspects of the previous plan have been actioned where possible. Suggestions were made of a questionnaire/survey and how this could be distributed. It was agreed that a time scale for a start to the plan would be May 2026 to coincide with the next Parish Meeting.
CLERK TO ACTION: Arrange meeting with Kimberly Pickett (Community Resilience Officer) at SKDC
76/25. COMMUNITY BUS SERVICE
Discussions took place regarding the lack of bus services in Allington compared to neighbouring villages.
Cllr Litchfield offered to reach out to the bus operator to discuss whether extending the current provision would be a viable option.
It was agreed that a stop for Allington Gardens at the top of Peach Lane and a stop at the Green would be ideal, even if only every couple of hours throughout the day.
ACTION: Cllr Litchfield to discuss with local bus operator.
77/25. Parish Community Network Group
A discussion was held regarding being a part of a networking group within neighbouring villages. Overall, it was deemed a good idea to have knowledge of what was happening in other parishes and to give our perspective on local issues.
CLERK TO ACTION: Clerk to email Cllr Avery and confirm Allington PC would like to be part of this network.
78/25. PLAYGROUND RE-SURFACING/UPGRADE
Cllr Carlyle gave an update regarding the quote for playground upgrade/re-surfacing and ongoing maintenance costs and materials/colour. Cllr Carlyle advised that the surface was designed to be hard wearing and easy to wash. The new surface would carry a guarantee of 7 years. It was resolved to accept the new quote.
The equipment was also discussed which is in need of re-painting. It was agreed that this needed to be done ideally before the new surface is laid. It was suggested to contact local resident Andrew Black who had previously helped in the past.
ACTIONS: Clerk to email Andrew Black to obtain a quote to re-paint the equipment.
Cllr Carlyle to contact Commercial Play to accept their quote.
79/25. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
Update Harworth Development
Update Community bus service
Village hall
Playing fields
Budget
Hedges
Update emergency plan
80/25. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
26th November 2025