Approved minutes – February 2026

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A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 16^th FEBRUARY 2026, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THIS MEETING WAS HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Skittrall [Chairman]; Beardsmore; Brown; Docker; Duckles; Foward; Gibbins; Pritchard and Todd.

PUBLIC: – There were 3 members of the public present at the meeting, including Cllr Dunsmuir [NNC].

MATTERS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• Local property and existing planning consent.
• NNC budget meeting held last Thursday.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllrs Cooke and Pollard.

2. Declarations of interest.

• Cllr Beardsmore declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 8.

• Cllr Beardsmore proposed that the minutes from the Annual Finance Meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 12^th January 2026 be accepted as correct. This was seconded by Cllr Duckles and a vote was taken = 7 for with 2 abstentions, motion carried.
• Cllr Pritchard proposed that the minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 19^th January 2026 be accepted as correct. This was seconded by Cllr Foward and a vote was taken = 8 for with 1 abstention, motion carried.

4. Matters arising from the previous meeting/s: –
5. Circulating documents – the progress of circulating packs was noted.
6. Training – Cllr Pritchard provided reports from two courses recently attended – Introduction to AI and Handling Complaints. It was agreed to amend the existing Complaints Policy and Procedure to add a statement about confidentiality.
7. Roles and responsibilities – amendments to the list were noted.
8. Updated policies and terms of reference – noted that the required amendments have been made however it isn’t possible to update the website with the revised documents at present. The Clerk recommended that the provision of hard copy documents in a folder be discontinued, agreed.

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5. Council services.
6. Cemetery – general report – Cllr Beardsmore noted that there is no formal report this month, however Anglian Water have suggested that there may be a water leak, possibly as a result of recent resurfacing work. It was agreed to keep a close eye on the levels of usage.
7. Cemetery – tree safety work – Cllr Beardsmore to contact a local company for a further quote.
8. Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party. No progress on this due to weather issues.
9. Cemetery – Cllr Pritchard proposed that the purchase of topsoil costing £80 be approved, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.
10. Allotments – general report. It was noted that the first inspection of the year is due in March.
11. Allotments – reconfiguring of plots. Noted that this work is on hold pending better weather.
12. Allotments – rent collection for 2026. The Clerk reported one rent remains outstanding, the tenancy to be terminated due to non-payment.
13. Allotments – project and management plan for the water supply. The Clerk reported that she had prepared a draft project and sent it to the Allotments Manager, both Allotments Representatives and the Chairman for comment.
14. Bus Shelter – to consider adding guttering to the shelter. It was agreed that Cllr Brown should view the bus shelter to investigate how to fix guttering and manage the drainage from a downpipe.
15. Town Well – to consider repairs to the trough wall to prevent water leakage. Cllr Gibbins reported that water is leaking out through the trough wall and recommended that it be treated inside with a coating of bitumen and outside with re-pointing.  It was also noted that the brickwork along the back wall had loose bricks and is not high enough to feed water into the trough.  Agreed to obtain a quote for the work.

6. Local environment.
7. Highways – a general report was accepted. Contact has been made with Jess Richards [NNC CLO] and a meeting is planned with Highways on 25^th The deterioration of the condition of Harrold Road was noted.
8. Highways – suggestions from a resident. As these have been passed on, it was agreed to remove this item from the agenda.
9. Street Lights – no issues reported.
10. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – noted that all footpaths are wet and muddy due to recent weather conditions, but no other issues reported. Reported that evidence is being gathered for the claim for a public right of way for the footway from Hewletts Close to TA21/TA22.
11. Santa Pod – noted that the season is likely to start at Easter.
12. Village Warden – a report was received and accepted.
13. Village Green – planters project. It was noted that the stump left behind when a shrub was removed needs to be taken out before the planter can be installed.  Cllr Pritchard proposed that the stump removal, costing £100, be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.  Cllr Todd suggested that the second planter be installed in front of the Christmas Tree or where the failed tree was removed and it

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was agreed to view the areas prior to making a decision.  The Clerk reported receipt of an email from a company

specialising in safety checks and servicing flagpoles.  Noted that flags are changed fairly regularly so the flagpole is viewed.  After discussion, it was agreed to add a check on the flagpole to the risk assessment forms.

1. Biodiversity Plan – a draft Plan has been prepared and comments invited, agreed to add this to the agenda for the next meeting for adoption.

7. Planning.
8. Current/new planning applications – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Foward and agreed. An email had been received raising concerns about potential safety issues following recent approval of an application and this had been responded to.
9. Solar Farm proposals – Cllr Skittrall reported that he had submitted a response to Deadline 5.

8. Grounds Maintenance contracts from 1^st April 2026.

It was noted that a meeting is to be held tomorrow with Ken from R & G and Clive Chapman, to consider amendments to both contracts for the areas listed below.  Cllrs Beardsmore, Docker and Gibbins will attend.

2. Town Well.
3. Village Green.
4. Allotments [central track only].

9. Representatives’ reports.
10. BEES Group – no report this month.
11. Bozeat Playing Field Association – a report was received and discussed.
12. Bozeat Primary School – Cllr Duckles reported that he has arranged to meet the Headteacher.
13. NNC parish and ward meetings – a Town and Parish Forum meeting has been arranged for 10^th March and it was agreed that Cllrs Brown and Todd should represent the Parish Council at this meeting.
14. Public transport – no issues noted.
15. Speeding – Community Speed watch and to consider purchasing a speed gun. A report was received and discussed. Thanks were recorded to Cllr Dunsmuir [NNC] for his help with this project.  Cllr Brown expressed concern at potential calibration requirements for the speed gun.  It was noted that any training will be done online at no cost.  Cllr Skittrall felt that more details about any potential oncosts are needed.  Following discussion, Cllr Pritchard proposed that delegated powers be given to Cllr Docker to progress this, including the purchase of a speed gun costing £150, as long as there are no additional costs.  This was seconded by Cllr Gibbins and agreed.  Cllr Docker then reported that two 20mph advisory speed signs have been agreed, and it was agreed to place one beneath the speed monitor on London Road and the second one in between Wollaston Road and Hope Street.  Cllr Gibbins reported that responsibility for charging and changing batteries and moving the speed signs has been passed to the Odd Job man.

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1. Verge mowing – it was agreed to remind R & G about areas not to be included in routine verge mowing because they are being managed by BEES.
2. Community Engagement – it was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.

10. Village Hall.

• Report from the Working Party – awaiting handover.
• Management committee – Cllr Gibbins reported that the initial meeting with volunteers has led to a committee being set up, a Treasurer is still required. The Clerk reported that an email has been received from a member of the committee asking about any regulations relating to signage and if the council would consider providing a bleed box and defibrillator for the hall – agreed that this be an agenda item for the next meeting.
• Launch event – awaiting handover.
• Branding – Cllr Todd to send information to the new committee.

The Clerk reported two more requests for potential bookings for the hall.

Cllr Docker asked that the insurance cover be considered.

Cllr Brown asked about a S38 agreement.

11. Leisure and Recreation equipment: –

• Skate Ramp – The Chairman suggested that the existing working party of Cllrs Brown, Foward and Skittrall be expanded to include Cllrs Docker, Gibbins and Todd, this was agreed.
• Skate Ramp – to accept a pre-season inspection report and consider a quote of £2450 for work required for safety reasons. The Chairman reported that members of the council and a representative from the Playing Field met on site with Dave from Rampchild to discuss and view issues arising from the inspection report.  Repairs will be required in order for the ramp to be usable for the coming season but it is likely to need replacing at the end of the year.  The council will need to consider if they wish to replace the ramp and grants are likely to be necessary to fund a new one.  Following further discussion, Cllr Docker proposed that the quote of £2450 for essential repairs be accepted.  This was seconded by Cllr Foward and agreed.  Cllr Duckles recommended that funding be built into the budget.  Cllr Brown reported that a concrete ramp such as those in Milton Keynes cost around £40-50K.  Cllr Foward would prefer to explore materials other than concrete, such as wooden/composite, with metal-framework.

12. IT/Website.

• Photocopier/Printer – Cllr Cooke had investigated options for purchase or rental of equipment and submitted a recommendation that the council arranges a 5-year rental agreement with Ricoh UK. The option to print in colour was discussed and Cllr Pritchard then proposed that the recommendation be approved in principle.  This was seconded by Cllr Docker and agreed.
• IT Systems and emails – a report was received and discussed. Cllr Duckles offered to contact the email hosting company in order to tidy up the email packages, this was agreed with thanks.  It was noted that the council’s laptop hard drive is not encrypted which is a security issue, agreed to have it encrypted.
• Website – the Clerk reported that there are again issues with uploading documents,

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due to updates on the system.  She had contacted Paul Drake and he reported that the site needs to be re-built in order to avoid this regular disruption.  It was agreed

to ask if matching the branding might be possible when the site is re-build and about receiving data from site traffic.

13. Police.

• • Report from the Police Liaison Representative – Cllr Duckles noted that contact has been established with Donna Fenner PCSO.
  • Local crimes – none notified to the council, however PCSO Fenner had provided crime statistics for January. It was noted that crime statistics are available to view via the Northants Police website.

14. Local events.
    • 9^th May 2026 – Waendel Walk checkpoint at St Mary’s Church.
    • 30^th May 2026 – Bozeat Yard Sale.
    • 12^th July 2026 – Summer Fete.
    • 18^th July 2026 – Open Gardens.
    • 22^nd August 2026 – Village Produce Show.
    • 8^th November 2026 – Remembrance Sunday.
    • 11^th November 2026 – Remembrance Day.
    • 28^th November 2026 – Christmas tree/lights switch on.

15. Finance

• Payments – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the fund transfers and payments listed on it be approved. This was seconded by Cllr Brown and agreed.
• Grants – Cllr Brown is looking at potential grant funding.
• Nene Milling site developer contributions – Noted that Bozeat Playing Field is working on an application and a potential application is being prepared for the Allotments.
• Additional bank signatories – Noted that Cllrs Duckles and Todd have been added to the list of signatories on the account.

16. Correspondence.

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

17. 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.
    • Assets of Community Value – to note that the listing of the Red Lion public house will expire soon.
    • Allotments – setting aside a plot as a community allotment.
    • Parking – submitted requests for parking restrictions.

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18. To receive any items for the next agenda.

19. Date and time of next meeting.

Noted that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 16^th March 2026 after the Annual Parish Meeting for Bozeat which will start at 7pm and then up to 15 minutes will be allowed for Public Participation.  Meetings are held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat, Northants, NN29 7JP.

There being no further business, the meeting was declared closed.

Signed by the Chairman, 16^th March 2026