Draft Minutes 6.5.26
DRAFT MINUTES of the Hougham Parish Council meeting held on Wednesday 6th May 2026 at
7.10 pm in Hougham and Marston Village Hall.
Present: Cllr John Wright (in the Chair), Cllrs Peter Baker, Jane Forbes and Jo Wright.
Cllr Bamford had sent his newsletter, and this was circulated.
01/26. Apologies – Cllr McAllister who was on holiday – it was agreed to accept her reason for absence. Cllr Bamford also offered his apologies.
02/26. There were no declarations of interest.
03/26. The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th February 2026 had been read and approved and it
was unanimously agreed that the Chair should sign them.
04/26. Planning matters: S26/0017 – tree works at The Old Rectory – approved.
05/26. Highway matters – the drain issue near Keepers Cottage still hasn’t been done – Fix My Street information was given to Cllr Bamford to look into and chase. There is a tyre over the drain at present. Clerk to re-address this matter with Cllr Bamford. Cllr Forbes mentioned a cable hanging down on Main Street (opposite the Manor Lane turn). It was felt this was a BT cable and Cllr Wright will check and advise the Clerk who can then contact Openreach. It is a potential hazard as it is over the footway.
06/26. Financial matters –
[a] It was resolved unanimously to approve the bank reconciliations of 28.2.26, 31.3.26 and 30.4.26. The bank balance at 30.4.26 is £10,646.65.
[b] BDG quote for £69 per cut is an increase of £2 per cut – it was resolved unanimously to accept the increase/quote.
[c] The quote for insurance from Zurich is £256.53 but if we go for another 3-year agreement until 1.6.29 this reduces to £242.66. Clerk had requested a quote from an alternative insurer, but they couldn’t compete with this premium. It was resolved to take a 3-year agreement with Zurich.
[d] Clerk put forward a quote of £49 set up fee and £144 p.a. maintenance fee for Scribe accounting package. It was unanimously agreed to purchase this package.
[e] The AGAR Annual Governance Statement for 2025-6 was read out paragraph by paragraph, completed, and it was unanimously agreed that it be signed.
[f] The AGAR Accounting Statement for 2025-6 was presented to the Councillors and it was unanimously agreed that it be signed. The unqualified IA report had been read out prior to items [e] and [f] being considered.
[g] It was unanimously resolved to sign the AGAR Certificate of Exemption for 2025-6.
[h] It was resolved unanimously to pay the IA invoice for £53.50.
07/26 – Councillors matters- Councillors had, prior to this meeting, witnessed the contents of the Emergency Plan box – everything was in place for the Hougham and Marston Emergency Community Plan. It was suggested by Simon Brown that we should put a precis of our Minutes in the Together magazine but unless something of interest occurred it was felt this was not necessary.
08/26. Next meeting –8th July 2026 at 7.30 pm. Meeting closed at 7.35 pm