January 2026 Minutes
Minutes of a meeting of Deeping St Nicholas Parish Council, held on Monday the 26th of January 2026 commencing at 7pm in Deeping St Nicholas Primary School, Main Road, Deeping St Nicholas.
Present
Parish Cllrs: Deborah Croyle (Chair), Andy Croyle, Nicholas Watts, Jim Mitchell, Suzanne Chappell, Anna Spencer, Louise McGuinness and Nicky Mansellas-Cooper
District Cllrs: Bryan Alcock
Clerk: Angela Harrison
In the Chair: Deborah Croyle
The Chairlady welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Public Forum
There were no parishioners present.
AGENDA
62. To receive and approve reasons for absence.
Apologies for absence were received and approved for Rob Jarvis and Louise McGuinness.
It was also noted that Kayleigh Montgomery was absent from the meeting and the Clerk advised that should she not attend the next meeting or send reasons for absence, she would lose her seat on the Council.
County Cllr Ingrid Sheard sent her apologies and Cllr Raymond Condell advised that he would be travelling from London and may not make it in time.
District Cllr. Jim Astill also sent his apologies.
63. To receive Declarations of Interest, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items not previously recorded on Member’s Register of Interests and to resolve any dispensations.
There were none.
64. Minutes of the Council meeting held on the 24th of November 2025, to be approved and signed by the Chair as a true record.
It was resolved that the Chair sign the notes as a true record.
65. Matters arising from the Minutes, (not included in this Agenda).
AC advised that the Tommy figures have been removed from the sensory garden ready to be installed next year.
66. To receive the Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding and correspondence.
The report had been circulated prior to the meeting, and the Clerk advised of the following;
Signatories for the NatWest bank accounts can be changed online, but require a signed copy of the Minutes of the meeting where instruction was given. This can now be done.
The Clerk advised that there could be 4 signatories for the accounts, and that another member of the Finance Committee would be the best option.
It was resolved that Nicholas Watts would be the 4th signatory.
ACTION: Clerk to make the changes.
With regards to the Cherry tree on Littleworth park, a reply has been received today from SHDC who would like to meet with the Chairlady on Wednesday morning at 11am, if convenient.
DC requested that the Officer contact her directly to arrange a convenient time.
ACTION: Clerk.
With regards to the requirements under Assertion 10 of the AGAR, the Clerk advised that the PC’s email address plus all the Councillor email addresses have been setup, and that only 2 members have yet to login.
Once the IT Policy has been adopted, the PC will be fully compliant.
67. To receive a report from the Chair of the HR Committee and to resolve any recommendations therein.
As the Chair was not present and there had been no meetings, there was no report.
a. To resolve to adopt the revised IT Policy
AC advised that this was not a revision, but a completely new policy.
It was resolved to formally adopt the IT Policy.
b. To resolve to adopt the revised Zero Tolerance Policy
AC explained that the only addition was the last part which covered Social Shaming.
It was resolved to formally adopt the revised Policy.
68. Finance Matters
a. To receive the Bank Reconciliations for November and December 2025
The Bank Reconciliations were received and signed by the Chair.
b. To resolve to approve payment of invoices received since the last meeting.
It was resolved to subscribe to the LALC Training Scheme and the Chair signed the document.
It was resolved that costs totalling £4264.03 were approved for payment and the Chair signed the Clerk’s expenses report.
c. To discuss the RBL funds (LM)
After discussion, it was resolved that the Clerk ask Mr Branton to approach the executors of the Will and that NW speak with the family regarding their wishes.
ACTION: Clerk & NW.
69. To receive a report from the Ward Member for Tongue End and to resolve any requests.
NM-C advised of the following:
The rewilding project is moving forward.
Notice board is really heavy to put up and too wet to put notices in at the moment. Requires a sturdy foundation to hold it upright in the ground.
Erecting the new notice board has been a little slow due to the weather and illness. It will be installed in the very near future.
o It has been agreed that the old notice board be tidied up and moved further into the village, and is currently being used as the primary notice board until the new one is erected by the rewilding project. This will give Tongue End two notice boards which will help keep parishioners up to date. Hope to complete this on Thursday, weather depending.
400 trees have been donated to the project and volunteers are being sought to assist with planting.
Still cannot access the old bank account, so a new account will be opened.
A meeting will be held in the Baston village hall to advise residents of what’s going on and hopefully gain more volunteers.
Village Shop (Post Office)
NM-C has advised that she has been supporting the local shop with their application for a Post Office.
Getting together with the shop in Little London for their help with this.
It was agreed that the PC would support their application.
70. To receive a report from the Planning Committee.
The report had been circulated to members prior to the meeting.
AC advised that contrary to what was initially thought, the Anaerobic digestion plant at Tongue End is actually in Tongue End and not the village of Twenty.
The application has gone directly to LCC, so ourselves and SHDC are only consultees.
Cllr Alcock suggested that the PC should make any comments directly to the County Council.
It was resolved that the PC make an objection to the application, on the grounds of increased traffic, noise and smell pollution.
ACTION: Clerk
a. To discuss Emerald Homes development at Home Farm (DC)
AC advised that there was still no movement regarding the removal of the S106 requirements.
DC explained that the reason that the PC supported the removal of the other S106 monies, was that a Village Hall was the top priority that came from the residents on the last Parish Plan Questionnaire.
Each member is quite within their rites to make their own comments on the application, should they wish to do so.
Cllr Alcock stated that he had asked the officers for an update, but hasn’t received a reply yet.
It was resolved that the parishioner’s top priority is still for a Village Hall.
71. To receive a report from the Playing Fields Committee and to resolve any requests.
AC advised that the Chair of the Committee has receive an offer of a Christmas tree with a root ball, from the Gardening Club, to site near a bench in Hop Pole. This can then be decorated with lights at Christmas.
a. To resolve to approve signage for the playing fields
It was resolved that the Committee gain some quotes and bring them back to the next PC meeting.
b. Installation and repair of playground equipment (JM).
JM advised that this was in reference to the exercise equipment that was to be installed in Hop Pole. Because it wasn’t installed by the company who put in the new equipment, the PC will have the funds to pay for their installation.
72. To receive a report from the Highways & Footpaths Committee and to resolve any requests.
NW advised that, although LCC have carried out some works, parts of the road are still in a really bad state.
He advised members to encourage everyone to report any issues on LCC’s Fix My Street.
Interactive Speed Sign Update
The damaged sign is being sent away for repair.
The pole has been moved further in, but the old pole hasn’t been removed.
There is no date to say when it will be back, as it has been sent to France.
73. To receive reports and updates from members on Community Groups and to resolve any requests.
There was no activity to report from the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme or the Community Speed Watch.
Good Neighbour Scheme
No coffee mornings running at the moment.
Patient transport continues
A new bench has been installed at Elizabeth Crescent and is being used.
The Community storage shed has been installed in the school grounds, to house low value items.
Defibrillator on New Road – new pads have been received.
Looking for offers of help with the planning and volunteers on the day of the Village Fete.
a. To resolve to approve use of the Triangle for the Village Fete on the 6th of June 2026
It was resolved to approve the use of the Triangle for the Village Fete on the 6th of June 2026
b. To receive the results of the Parish Plan Questionnaire (AC)
There were only 49 questionnaires completed out of just less than 1,000, so the results can only be used as an ‘indication’ of what the residents want, but not an absolute consensus.
Some of the top priorities came out as:
Repairs to the roads and potholes.
Station reopening
Speeding
Pub
Footpaths
Village Hall
The only thing that we have a real control over is the Village Hall, so that remains our top priority.
A draw took place and the winner of the £50 prize was Mrs J Forrester.
ACTION: Clerk to contact Mrs Forrester in order to make the award.
74. To discuss the Pride of DSN Awards for the APM set to take place on the 27th of April 2026 (DC)
It was suggested that there could be an introduction of the village PCSO.
A lengthy discussion took place as to whether the awards should go ahead this year, with each member asked for their opinion.
It was resolved that the awards go ahead this year in the current format, but to look to improve it for next year.
The Clerk, SC and AS all pledged to help DC in moving this forward.
75. To request agenda items for the next meeting, provisionally set for the 23rd of March 2026.
• Pride of DSN Awards
• Community Speed Watch
• HR Committee:
Committee’s Terms of Reference
Asset Register
Risk Register
Training Policy
Meeting closed at 20:43