Agenda and approved minutes – November 2025

A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, 17^th NOVEMBER 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT MEETINGS MAY BE RECORDED

A G E N D A

1. To consider accepting apologies for absence.
2. To record any new declarations of interest from members in items to be discussed.

To approve the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 20^th October 2025.

4. Matters arising from the previous meeting/s: –
5. Circulating documents – to note the progress of any packs that are circulating.
6. Training – to agree any training courses requested by members of the council and receive reports on any attended.
7. Assets of Community Value – to note that the listing of the Red Lion public house will expire soon.
8. Flagpole and flag flying policy – to note that the revised policy has been published on our website.
9. Roles and responsibilities – to confirm amendments to the list.
10. Casual vacancy – to note that the vacancy will be advertised in the next issue of Bozeat Matters.
11. Website branding – to consider the general management of the council’s website and consider approving a quote of £120 to amend colours to match branding.

5. Council services – to receive reports.
6. Cemetery – general report.
7. Cemetery – access lane repairs/widening.
8. Cemetery – tree safety assessments.
9. Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party.
10. Cemetery – war memorial. To consider paying £400 for the cleaning of the war memorial.
11. Allotments – general report.
12. Allotments – reconfiguring of plots.
13. Allotments – report from the Annual Meeting of tenants [15^th November] and rent collection for 2026.
14. Allotments – to consider setting aside a plot as a community allotment.

6. Local environment – to receive the following reports.
7. Highways – general report.
8. Highways – requests for parking restrictions [London Road/Selby Gardens; London Road/Little Close].
9. Highways – resident’s suggestions: – 1] remarking of London Road to provide a filter lane for Ahern Close. 2] creation of one-way system for Mile Street/Church Lane. 3] 40mph speed limits for Harrold Road up to either Glebe or Three Field Farm, Easton Lane after the bridge and London Road from the village outskirts to the A509 Bozeat bypass. 4] adoption by the BEES group of the section of old Wollaston Road to the bench
10. Street Lights – to note any issues.
11. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – to consider claiming a public right of way for the footway from Hewletts Close to TA21/TA22.
12. Santa Pod – to discuss any issues with events/traffic.
13. Village Warden.
14. Village Green – to consider a project to install two new planters on the Village Green to enhance and protect the area [planters cost £395 each plus £400 for installation].

7. Planning – to receive a report.
8. Current/new planning applications.
9. Solar Farm proposals – to receive reports from recent events [NNC members session 15^th October] and formulate a response to any future planning application.

8. Representatives’ reports – to receive the following reports.
9. BEES Group.
10. Bozeat Playing Field Association.
11. Bozeat Primary School.
12. NNC parish and ward meetings.
13. Public transport – to note that a new timetable was published on 13^th
14. Speed signs.
15. Verge mowing – to consider whether to continue to participate in the mowing scheme for the next financial year [£1408.15 grant available towards costs].
16. Big50 Vision – Cllr Pritchard to attend an event on 25^th

9. Village Hall.

• To accept a report from the Working Party.
• To consider arranging a launch event.
• To review and discuss branding.

10. Leisure and Recreation equipment: –

• Skate Ramp – report from the working party.
• Play Area – repairs to the safety and grass surfaces.

11. • To accept a report from the Police Laison Representative.
    • To note any local crimes that are notified to the council.

12. Local events.
    • 9^th November – Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary’s Church 10.15am. To approve the cost of printing service sheets [£50].
    • 11^th November – Remembrance Day gathering at the War Memorial 11am.
    • 29^th November – Christmas tree/lights switch on 5pm.

13. Photocopier/Printer – to consider options to resolve ongoing print quality issues and to approve expenditure incurred to date.

14. Finance

• Payments – to receive a report and to approve fund transfers and payments to be made this month.
• Grants – to consider applying for grants.
• Additional bank signatories – to note that requests to add Cllrs Brown and Todd have been submitted to the bank.

15. Correspondence – to acknowledge receipt of correspondence received since the last meeting.

16. On hold – to note the following agenda items are on hold
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with either replacement railings currently in store or a new hedge.
    • Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register.
    • Village Green CCTV.
    • Doctor’s surgery – service issues.

17. To receive any items for the next agenda.

18. Date and time of next meeting – to note that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 15^th December 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm. The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

Signed by Lyndis Payne, Clerk to Bozeat Parish Council.

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A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 17^th NOVEMBER 2025, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Cooke [Chairman], Docker, Foward, Gibbins, Pollard, Pritchard, Steel and Todd

PUBLIC: – Cllr Dunsmuir [NNC] was present at the meeting,

MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• Digital ID – Government not supported by NNC.
• Pavement parking discussed at recent NNC meetings.
• Government revision of the NHS may change the GP provision for Bozeat.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Brown and Skittrall.

1. Declarations of interest.

No new declarations of interest were reported.

The minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 20^th October 2025 were proposed as correct by Cllr Pritchard, this was seconded by Cllr Pollard and a vote was taken = 7 for with 1 abstention, motion carried.

3. Matters arising.
4. Circulating documents – one pack is currently circulating.
5. Training – Cllr Todd submitted a report on a report recently attended, accepted. It was agreed to set up a small working party to consider a plan for community engagement.
6. Assets of Community Value – to note that the listing of the Red Lion public house will expire soon.
7. Flagpole and flag flying policy – it was noted that the revised policy has been published on our website and agreed to remove this from the agenda.
8. Roles and responsibilities – amendments to the list were noted.

• Casual vacancy – noted that the vacancy has been advertised in the December issue of Bozeat Matters.

1. Website branding – to consider the general management of the council’s website

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and consider approving a quote of £120 to amend colours to match branding.  Chairman being absent it was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.

4. Council services.
5. Cemetery – a general report was received, agreed to request odd job forms for pointing up of the lodge brickwork and re-setting coping stones on the Garden of Remembrance raised bed.
6. Cemetery – access lane repairs/widening – it was reported that the contractor is having difficulty organising the required tarmac, agreed to defer this until the next meeting.
7. Cemetery – tree safety assessments – these will be done week commencing 24^th

• Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party – no news

1. Cemetery – war memorial cleaning. Cllr Docker reported on emails exchanged with the stonemason and noted that the memorial looks great.  Cllr Docker proposed that an invoice for £400 plus VAT for the cleaning of the war memorial be approved, this was seconded by Cllr Steel and agreed.
2. Allotments – general report. It was noted that there have been no recent inspections.
3. Allotments – reconfiguring of plots. It was reported that the new plots have been marked out and agreed that an odd job form be issued for the work to divide the plots at the end of the year.
4. Allotments – report from the Annual Meeting of tenants [15^th November] and rent collection for 2026. Three members of the council and a good number of tenants attended the meeting, it was agreed to add matters raised by tenants as agenda items for the next council meeting.
5. Allotments – to consider setting aside a plot as a community allotment. Insurance may be an issue with members of the public and children working on the allotments.  It was agreed to ask Wollaston Parish Council about the management of a community allotment at Wollaston.

5. Local environment.
6. Highways – general, it was agreed to accept a report. A request to review the parking restriction outside the shop will be discussed with the Highways team.  The VAS system may need adjusting at the Allens Hill/Church Lane junction because vehicles are not activating the sign, to be discussed with the Highways team.  Cllr Forward is to recommend the provision of a footpath along Dychurch Lane to the playing field and will also discuss with the Highways team.
7. Highways – requests for parking restrictions [London Road/Selby Gardens; London Road/Little Close] – no news.
8. Highways – resident’s suggestions: – 1] remarking of London Road to provide a filter lane for Ahern Close – to be discussed with Highways. 2] creation of one-way system for Mile Street/Church Lane – not considered to be feasible as Church Lane is on a bus route. 3] 40mph speed limits for Harrold Road up to either Glebe or Three Field Farm, Easton Lane after the bridge and London Road from the village outskirts to the A509 Bozeat bypass – to be discussed with Highways. 4] adoption by the BEES group of the section of old Wollaston Road to the bench – the team will

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consider this.

1. Street Lights – No issues noted.

• Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – to consider claiming a public right of way for the footway from Hewletts Close to TA21/TA22. It was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting. It was reported that concerns raised over the potential replacement of a stile with a kissing gate has been solved as the stile does not need replacing.

1. Santa Pod – to discuss any issues with events/traffic. No issues reported, noted that the season is almost ended
2. Village Warden – a report was accepted.
3. Village Green – project to install two new planters on the Village Green to enhance and protect the area. A report was received and discussed, Cllr Cooke then proposed that two planters, costing £396 each plus £400 for installation be ordered for the Village Green, position to be agreed.  This was seconded by Cllr Docker and agreed.  It was further agreed that an existing shrub be trimmed back to half its’ current height in order to provide light and space for the planted Christmas tree.  The Clerk reported that a response has been sent to a FOI request.

7. Current/new planning applications – Cllr Forward proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Steel and agreed.
8. Solar Farm proposals – it was noted that the Chairman is working on the Parish Council’s response, the deadline is this coming Wednesday. It was agreed to post this on the council’s website and to send copies to our NNC councillors.

7. Representatives’ reports.
8. BEES Group – no report this month.
9. Bozeat Playing Field Association – Cllr Gibbins reported that he had attending a grant funding event in Rushden which had proved useful, although no grants seem to be available to help with the car park project. A change of energy supplier has reduced costs.
10. Bozeat Primary School – no news. Cllr Todd to contact the school and request a copy of school newsletters so the council can stay informed.
11. NNC parish and ward meetings – presentations from recent meetings were circulated.

• Public transport – Cllr Pollard reported that a new bus on the Village Hopper route is fully accessible.

1. Speed signs – data report received. The latest data was shared and discussed.  It was agreed to investigate the purchase and use of a speed gun.
2. Verge mowing – the annual invitation to participate in the verge mowing scheme has been received, noting the increase in grant available towards costs. Cllr Steel proposed that Bozeat Parish Council agrees to continue to take responsibility for the verge mowing in the parish for the next financial year, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.
3. Big50 Vision – Cllr Pritchard to attend an event on 25^th

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8. Village Hall.

• Report from the Working Party – it was noted that the hall is unlikely to be ready until the end of January, the Clerk to contact the person who wanted to book the

hall for an event in February.  It was agreed that a meeting is needed to get together all those who have expressed an interest in helping to run the hall, the Clerk to provide a list to Cllr Cooke.  It was agreed that Cllrs Brown and Todd should complete grant application forms towards the cost of equipment such as tables and chairs for the new hall.

• Launch event – agreed to defer this item.

9. Leisure and Recreation equipment.

• Skate Ramp – report from the working party. Cllr Foward wants to consider alternative materials for the supporting structure and surface of a new ramp, should the council decide to replace the current one.  Agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.
• Play Area – repairs to the safety and grass surfaces. Cllr Gibbins reported that these have not been done.

10. • To accept a report from the Police Laison Representative. Noted that the council doesn’t have a PLR at present.
    • To note any local crimes that are notified to the council.
    • It was noted that the Government is to extinguish the role of Police and Crime Commissioners, this is likely to be at the end of the current term of office.

11. Local events.
    • 9^th November – Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary’s Church 10.15am. It was agreed to approve the cost of £50 for the printing of service sheets.
    • 11^th November – Remembrance Day gathering at the War Memorial 11am. After discussion, it was agreed to investigate the provision of a further 6 large poppies.
    • 29^th November – Christmas tree/lights switch on 5pm. Cllr Steel proposed that the cost of this years’ Christmas Tree [£265] be approved, this was seconded by Cllr Docker and agreed.  Cllr Pritchard provided a timetable for the event and is liaising with Bozeat Players.  Cllr Todd has produced a poster advertising the event.  It was noted that replacement lights may be required and agreed to spend up to £50 on new lights.

12. Photocopier/Printer.

The Clerk reported that more information is needed before the council makes a decision whether to rent or buy another printer/photocopier.  It was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.

• Payments – Cllr Pritchard proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the payments and fund transfers listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Foward and agreed.
• Grants – to consider applying for grants.

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• Additional bank signatories – it was noted that requests to add Cllrs Brown and Todd have been submitted to the bank, Cllr Brown is experiencing IT issues which have led to a delay in completing the submission.
• The Clerk reported receipt of precept information ready for the Annual Finance Meeting in January, the tax base has risen due to the additional number of properties in the village.

It was agreed to acknowledge receipt of correspondence received since the last meeting.

15. On hold – noted the following agenda items are on hold
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings – to consider replacing sections with either replacement railings currently in store or a new hedge.
    • Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register.
    • Village Green CCTV.
    • Doctor’s surgery – service issues.

16. To receive any items for the next agenda.

• IT issues/emails.

17. Date and time of next meeting.

It was noted that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 15^th December 2025, immediately following Public Participation at 7pm.  The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat.

Signed by the Chairman, 15^th December 2025.