04 November - Parish Council Meeting -DRAFT
Minutes of Carlby Parish Council (CPC) Meeting held on 04 November 2025 at 19:30 in the Village Hall
Present: Cllrs. John Bavister (Chairman), Steve Markham (Vice Chairman), Lesley Sweeting & Chris Barnes.
In Attendance: 3 Members of the public and Sarah Gresty-Parish Clerk
Public Forum:
A member of the public noticed that the street lights are going off at 10.30 instead of 11.30pm. Action: Clerk to request SKDC readjust the timing after the clock change.
A member of the public reported that the power supply light has failed on the defibrillator. Action: To action a replacement light unit
A member of the public requested that the Parish Council consider erecting a flag pole on the village green.
Action: Clerk to work with resident to bring full details and costings for consideration to the next meeting.
Agenda
25/26-40
Apologies:
None received
25/26-41
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests:
Cllr. Markham is chairman of the Playing Fields Committee and a friend of one of the Contractors being consider to supply labouring work for item 25/26-47a.
25/26-42
Minutes of:
a) Parish Council Meeting – 03 September 2025 was presented as a true and accurate record of events proposed to adopt and resolve Cllr. Barnes, Seconded Cllr. Sweeting, Cllr. Markham abstained due to absence, Cllr. Bavister in favour.
25/26-43
Reports
a)County and District Councillors. None received.
b)Police Reports are received and circulated and made available on website/noticeboard upon receipt.
25/26-44
Finance 2025/26
a) Financial Report for the period 01 April 2025 to 31 October 2025 with bank statements was presented at the meeting.
The Council NOTED that Income had been received for the month October of £6k. The Council RESOLVED to AUTHORISE the expenditure for Sept & Oct totalling £5739.17 shown on the financial report. The Finance Report and bank statements were checked by all Councillors at the meeting. Proposed by Cllr. Markham, Seconded Cllr. Sweeting, signed by Cllr. Markham and Cllr. Barnes signed the bank statements
b) First draft 2026/27 Budget was discussed in full showing an expected increase of precept at this stage of 1.76% an increase of £196. At the January meeting the precept will be finalised and resolved. The present year forecast shows some saving, and will be taken into consideration in the final draft.
25/26-45
Planning
• s25/1778, s25/1779, s1407 & s1408 - Grange Farm, Stamford Road
Response: To submit the Parish Council standard response of good design and quality.
• s25/1914 - 21 Church Street
Response: To submit the Parish Council standard response of good design and quality.
25/26-46
Grass Cutting expenses
Cllr. Bavister presented a record of all costs starting from when Persimmon paid £8,500 for the initial upkeep of the acquired persimmon green space land by CPC. Calculations include the purchase of the mower, grass cuts (approx. 2 hours) are calculated to be £80 + VAT and petrol cost. In another 2 years the purchase of the mower will nearly have paid for itself.
At the start of the project there were 2 main issue, Storage which has now been resolved and volunteers to drive the mower. At present there is a small team of volunteers, however, more are always required going forward. If no volunteers are found consideration will have to be budgeted to employee a person.
25/26-47
UKSP Carlby Village Improvements grant update of progress.
Cllr. Bavister and Markham are making huge progress with the projects awarded by the SKDC UK Prosperity fund.
a) Employing contactor for labour works.
Proposal: To accept the considered best daily quotes to undertake the installation and labour activities for the individual projects. To be project managed by CPC. Proposed Cllr. Bavister, Second Cllr. Barnes, in favour Cllr. Sweeting, abstained Cllr. Markham-RESOLVED.
b) Benches and Picnic Table
Proposal: To purchase 2 Eco-Rest benches from Glasdon at a cost of £522.49 + VAT, one bench for the playing fields and potentially one for the village green and one picnic table for the playing field cost approx. £650 supplier either Glasdon or Marmax. Proposed. Cllr. Sweeting, Seconded Cllr. Markham and unanimously voted in favour-RESOLVED.
c) Willow Igloo.
Proposal: To purchase of a willow igloo and tunnel kit. Proposed Cllr. Markham, Seconded Cllr. Bavister and unanimously voted in favour-RESOLVED.
d) Trees for Templeman Drive green space and playing fields.
It was agreed that a variety of suitable trees would be purchased for the spaces required. A beech had already been purchased for Templeman Drive, other suggested trees were Amelanchier, hazel, lime.
25/26-48
Playing Fields Report.
Cllr. Markham was very pleased with the grant received from SKDC UK Prosperity fund which has helped upgrade areas on the playing fields. The play safety inspection was completed in September with a few minor things to address. Safety non slip matting is now installed leading to the south entrance and exit and a new gate will be installed at the bowls club. The hedge is due to be cut soon thanks to Mr Gilman at Pickworth.
Unfortunately, there seems to be several dog owners who are still letting their dogs off their leads in the park area.
3 safety signs have been purchased and will be put out when mowing is in progress to warn users.
Action for the Clerk: Playing Fields information area to be added to the CPC website.
25/26-49
Mallard Pass Compensation Scheme (MPCS)
Cllrs. Bavister & Sweeting have been attending meetings regarding the potential MPCS initiated by our MP Alicia Kearns. The previous owners of Mallard Pass had agreed a compensation value for affected parishes of £400 per megawatt installed. However, there is no legal legislation for solar farm compensation. There is Government guidance for wind farms showing £5,000 per megawatt installed.
When Quinbrook brought Mallard Pass, Alicia suggested that the 8 affected parishes get involved and start the process of trying to get agreement for compensation. In May a meeting with Quinbrook took place who suggested that the 8 affected parishes get together and agree a proposal for what a potential community benefit compensation scheme should look like.
CPC circulated a questionnaire to everyone in the village asking for feedback. The overall response was to have a subsidy off every house holder’s electricity bill.
Essendine PC, the affected parishes group lead, has submitted a proposal to Quinbrook of £4086 per megawatt for the length of the project. Now there is an anticipation that Quinbrook will call a meeting to start discussions.
Meantime, the 8 parishes are meeting with another parish who has a Quinbrook owned project Cleve Hill to gain more information. More information will follow.
Cllr. Markham thanked Cllrs. Bavister and Sweeting for all their work and input on this project.
25/26-50
Correspondence was noted from the agenda
25/26-51
To receive Items for Future Meetings
Flag pole costings/risk assessment/proposal.
Parish Council Meeting Dates 2026
6 Jan, 3 Mar, 9 April (annual parish meeting) 13 May, 8 July, 9 Sept, 3 Nov
Meeting Closed at 21:18