Draft Minutes 5.2.25
NOTES of the Hougham Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 5th February 2025 at 7.30 pm in Hougham and Marston Village Hall.
Present: Cllr John Wright (in the Chair), Cllrs P Baker and J Forbes. C/C A Maughan and D/C Paul Wood were in attendance. There were no members of the public present.
C/C Maughan said that the County’s budget is £700 million most of which is for Social Care; £8 million will be taken from Reserves. Council tax will rise by 3%. Devolution will mean that all County and District Councils will disappear and there will be one Unitary Authority by 2028. There will be County elections and the Mayoral election on 1st May 2025.
D/C Wood advised that the rise in Council Tax will be 3.5%.
39/24. Apologies had been received from Cllrs Jo Wright and P McAllister and it was resolved to accept their reasons for non-attendance and their apologies.
40/24. There were no declarations of interest.
41/24. The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th November 2024 had been read and approved and it
was unanimously agreed that the Chair should sign them.
42/24. Planning matters: S24/1707 – Change of use of The Lodge to childrens’ home – Cllr Baker had attended the committee meeting and spoken on behalf of the PC. He and Cllr Wood agreed that the discussion at the Meeting had been rushed – the outcome was a split vote and the Chair had the casting vote and approved the application. A complaint has been made. S24/1978 – retrospective approval re positioning of LPG tank at The Lodge – pending consideration. S24/2190 – new agricultural workers building at land within Grange Farm – no objections.
43/24. The reduction in speed limit to 40 mph is agreed and C/C Maughan confirmed that contractors have been instructed; there is no timescale.
44/24 – Tree survey, The Green – it was resolved that the Clerk asks Paul Bavin to advise which work is urgent to keep things safe, and to quote for those works.
45/24 – Village Hall Car Park – work completed and it was resolved to contribute £1,000 towards the cost - on production of an invoice from Marston PC.
46/24. Financial matters –
Resolved to sign bank reconciliations at 30.11.24, 31.12.24. and 31.1.25. The balance at 31.1.25 was £6,208.15.
It was resolved to pay LALC £85.02 for annual membership.
Clerk had received 3 quotes for mowing the Green and it was resolved to continue with BDG.
47/24. The litter pick is set for 16th March and Councillors will look at the bench painting and generally tidying up of the Green at that time.
48/24. Next meeting – 1st May 2025 (Annual Meetings and Regular meeting to be held in the Changing rooms at the Village Hall). Start at 7 pm
Meeting closed at 8.35 pm