October 2025 Minutes
SCOTTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 2ND OCTOBER 2025 AT 6PM IN SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL
MINUTES
1) PRESENT - Cllr S Walker (Acting Clerk and RFO), Cllr R Walker (Chair), Cllr H Alexander, Cllr Y Huddleston, Cllr K Ibbeson
ALSO PRESENT - Mrs S Siddall
2) OPENING REMARKS - Cllr R Walker opened the meeting at 6PM
3) PUBLIC SESSION - No members of the public present
4) APOLOGIES - County Cllr C Reeve and District Cllr K Carless
5) COUNTY/DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
District Cllr K Carless asked, that in her absence, the following subject was raised. Permission to include Scotton in WLDC publicity to encourage Conservation and Sustainability. This would include a visit from a representative of WLDC.
The councillors agreed unanimously to take part in this project.
Cllr S Walker to inform District Cllr Carless of the decision.
6) NEW COUNCILLOR ELECTION - Mrs Siddall, having completed the necessary paperwork, was put forward for election as a councillor. Following a brief discussion of her background and status, the councillors voted unanimously to elect Mrs Siddall as a councillor.
7) DECLARATION OF INTERESTS - Cllr S Walker, Cllr R Walker & Cllr K Ibbeson remain unchanged. Cllr S Siddall, due to her involvement with the Village Hall Management Committee, to declare this interest.
8) MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH SEPTEMBER 2025 - The minutes were accepted as a true and accurate record of the proceedings.
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9) AGAR (IT AND DOMAIN) - As a result of the recent regulations for parish councils the following points were agreed.
a) The company chosen to deal with the new domain and email address/s is Cloudnext.
b) It was agreed to buy new laptops for every councillor (6 in total)
c) The current website does not need changing as it is compliant with the new regulations
d) Enquiries to be made regarding possible training for councillors. This may include LALC/ Mr B Brooks (Auditor)
e) Following a discussion, it was agreed not to purchase a dedicated mobile phone for the Parish Council.
10) FINANCE - The following points were agreed
a) Due to a delay on setting up a new recipient on the bank account and TSB agreeing it was their fault, £50 compensation has been received.
b) A payment for £190 to Mr Williams for September grass cutting was agreed.
c) Cutting of hedges on Beck Lane - still waiting response from a professional gardener. If this is unsuccessful then it may be necessary to put the job out to tender in Spring 2026. This will include the Himalayan Balsam.
d) A total budget of £3,000 was agreed to cover the cost of the necessary expenditure regarding AGAR. This will include New Laptops, new Gov.uk domain complete with new email addresses and any necessary training.
e) It was agreed to purchase, from the Royal British Legion, “soldier” emblems one for each entrance to the village (4 in total). Poppies for display do not appear to be available this year.Cost £23.95
f) Invoices for allotment rents to go out in November. It was agreed there would be no increase in the rate.
11) VILLAGE HALL UPDATE - Waiting for an updated quote for playground refurbishment.
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12) PENFOLD UPDATE - New plants thriving. Small conifers to be moved in November. Cllr Alexander to purchase soil to add to the existing compost. Budget agreed of £50.
13) ORCHARD UPDATE - New trees are available from the Woodland Trust. Cllr Alexander to visit their premises in person to pick a selection.
14) REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - See Finance
15) EMERGENCY PLAN - Cllr Siddall agreed to continue with this by asking for more volunteers from within the village. This will involve a letterbox delivery to all households. A budget of £50 was agreed to accommodate this.
An email has been received from Holly Tree Lodge Care Home asking for an update of a letter dated 2017 giving permission that, in the case of an emergency, they could transfer their residents to the village hall. More details to be requested by Cllr S Walker as this may impinge on a wider emergency involving the entire village.
16) POLICY UPDATES - New policies were distributed prior to the meeting including delegate responsibility, finance, IT and lap top policy. All were agreed.
17) PRECEPT AND BUDGET 2026/27 - It was agreed, in principle, to increase the precept application to £14,000. Also, recommendations are needed for the “Chair Allowance” for services to the village. Both to be agreed at the November meeting.
18) COUNCILLORS REPORTS - No reports
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER 2025 6PM SCOTTON VILLAGE HALL
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