September 2025 Minutes
Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir
Parish Council
Minutes of a Parish Council Meeting held at Woolsthorpe Village Hall
Monday 15th September 2025 at 19.00
Present Cllr. C. McCallion - Chair
Cllr. M. Bunn
Cllr. B. Hardcastle-Waugh
Cllr. K. Price
Julie Gillies - Clerk
Guests DC Rob Leadenham
1 resident
118/25 Welcome from the Chair
Cllr. McCallion welcomed everyone to the meeting.
119/25 To receive apologies for absence
Apologies were received and were accepted from Cllr. S. Hardcastle, Cllr. A. Hill, Cllr. P. Hill, Cllr. Litchfield and Sarah Turtle (VPG).
120/25 To Receive Declarations Of Pecuniary Interest In Accordance With The Localism Act 2011
No declarations of Member interests in relation to agenda items were received.
No requests for dispensations from Members were received.
The meeting adjourned at 19.02 for the Public Forum.
Cllr. Leadenham passed Cllr. McCallion a copy of the Grantham Canal Partnership Mission Statement and provided the Parish Council with Dog fouling signs.
Cllr. Leadenham reported that the speed sign issue would be referred to Richard Litchfield via LCC and highlighted the importance of reinstating Speedwatch. A list of trained Woolsthorpe residents to be sent to the Clerk and Cllr. Hardcastle.
Details were given on the change in bin collection day and the introduction of food waste bins from April 2026, with all services provided by LCC and SKDC acting as collector.
An opportunity for local businesses to apply for match funding up to £5,000 for community service or staff training was reported, details to be sent to the Clerk.
Flooding issues at Stanwith remained ongoing, with discussions continuing with the Canal Trust.
Concerns were raised about incidents at a local children’s home, which had received police involvement; the matter has been reported to OFSTED, and Cllr. Leadenham was requesting an FOI from the police. It was agreed to invite the home’s owners to a future meeting.
The meeting re-convened at 19.24
121/25 Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 13th July 2025 were agreed to be a true and accurate record and were signed by the Chair.
122/25 FINANCE
a) Resolved - To accept the bank reconciliation, payments and monies received (appendix I and II) and to approve invoices for payment:
2 x Extended Base Post Kits @ 107.04 each (£89.20 + VAT)
2 x Dog Waste Bins @ £290.40 each (242.00 + VAT)
LALC – 1 year domain for website – £12.00
LALC – Additional website hours - £108.00
Cllr. McCallion – 53.00 wood for play area and 2 x post Crete
Cllr. McCallion – 20.00 Hammerite paint
Cllr. McCallion - 5.18 paint brushes.
Malcolm Duff - £13.80 paint for phone box
Agreed: To pay the above invoices and to approve the bank reconciliation.
b) Resolved – To accept 2025/26 budget to actuals (appendix i)
c) Asset register – An updated asset register was circulated and was approved.
123/25 Planning Applications and Decisions
a) Planning Applications
There were no planning applications to review.
b) Planning Decisions
There were no planning decisions.
124/25 Playground
a) Accident
A complaint had been received regarding an accident that had occurred at the play area.
The playground remained closed while the investigation was ongoing. SKDC’s Health & Safety officer had advised the Clerk and Cllr. Leadenham had spoken with the child’s father to check on their wellbeing.
All play equipment had been inspected and found to be sound, with nothing broken, however, some minor repairs have been carried out to trees and posts around the perimeter.
Cllr. McCallion confirmed that the two high-risk items, highlighted from the annual play inspection from RoSPA, were being addressed and weekly visual checks continued to be carried out by Cllr. P. Hill.
The playground lease, which expired in January 2025, would be renewed imminently after discussions with the Duchess and confirmation from the Duke.
b) Inspections
Costs had been obtained for the RoSPA app at a cost of £80 per annum, which included training on how to use the inspection app.
Agreed: To purchase the app and request that Cllr. P. Hill carries out the training.
c) Annual Inspection Report
The report had been circulated prior to the meeting. Four beams required replacement and the hanging monkey bars have been removed due to fraying. Once repairs were completed, a further inspection would be requested from RoSPA, after which the play area would be reopened.
125/25 Village Maintenance
a) Overgrown hedge and village maintenance
Cllr. McCallion to request residents inform him of any hedges belonging to the estate that needed cutting back.
b) Speed Signage/Stop signs on Cliff Road
Cllr. Litchfield had been informed of the request for stop signs on Cliff Road.
The Speed Indicator Device (SID) on the downhill approach from Belvoir Castle was currently not working. Cllr. Leadenham would submit a request for it to be repaired.
c) Speed limiting solutions
ACTION: Cllr. P. Hill to be asked to charge the sign outside the Old Hunt stables.
d) Dog waste bin
This item had been approved under item 122/25a.
e) Flooding issues and gullies
An update was read out from Anglian Water on the problems that had been experienced in the village.
f) Defibrillator and Phone Box
Regular checks continued on the defibrillator.
Paint had been obtained and Cllr. McCallion asked for permission to order a light bulb at £7.20.
Agreed: To the purchase of a light bulb at £7.20.
126/25 Community Speed Group
Cllr. S. Hardcastle-Waugh to be asked to organise a speed check.
127/25 Vale Parish Group (VPG)
Sarah Turtle requested a meeting with a Councillor to provide an update.
Cllr. McCallion to liaise with Sarah Turtle.
128/25 Emergency Plan
A Community Resilience Newsletter had been circulated which referred to Emergency Plans and provided a link to a self-generating template.
129/25 Village Survey Update
Cllr. McCallion to liaise with Sarah Turtle on this item.
130/25 Correspondence – all circulated prior to the meeting
a) CIPFA Report
The report contained details of an independent review of Lincolnshire Police’s financial position.
b) Draft Local Plan Consultation
This document had been circulated.
c) Age Friendly Communities
A request for local organisations, agencies and groups to complete a survey to provide data that will form a baseline profile of the demographics, support and challenges that older adults in South Kesteven faces.
131/25 Any other business
Managers and owners of the Children’s Home in the village to be invited to the next Parish Council Meeting.
132/25 Dates of next meeting
17th November 2025
19th January 2026
2nd March 2026
There being no further business the meeting closed at 20.02.