Approved minutes – January 2026

Page 2286

A MEETING OF BOZEAT PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 19^th JANUARY 2026, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT 7pm.  THE MEETING WAS HELD AT BOZEAT TLC, DYCHURCH LANE, BOZEAT.

PRESENT: – Cllrs Skittrall [Chairman]; Cooke; Docker; Duckles; Foward; Gibbins; Pollard; Pritchard; Steel and Todd.

PUBLIC: – One member of public was present at the meeting.

ISSUES RAISED BY THE PUBLIC: –

• Re-establishment of contact with Bozeat Community Primary School.

It was resolved to accept apologies for absence received from Cllr Brown.

2. Declarations of interest.

No new declarations of interest were reported.

The minutes from the meeting of Bozeat Parish Council held on 15^th December 2025 were proposed as correct, with one minor amendment on page 2285, by Cllr Gibbins.  This was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and a vote was taken = 6 for with 4 abstentions, motion carried.

4. Matters arising.
5. Circulating documents – noted that two packs are currently circulating.
6. Training – noted that Cllr Pritchard has booked to attend two courses.
7. Roles and responsibilities – agreed to add Cllr Duckles as School Liaison Representative, Police Liaison Representative and to add him to the IT and Website Working Party.
8. Co-option to the council – it was confirmed that Roy Duckles has joined the council and agreed to remove this from the agenda.

5. Council services.
6. Cemetery – general report – concerns raised about one grave, the Clerk to note that the maintenance of graves remains the responsibility of the deedholder. Cllr Skittrall recommended that a response be sent that includes this clarification.  Cllr Duckles noted that a composting area is to be created at the allotments so any overflow of leaves from the cemetery could be composted there.
7. Cemetery – access lane repairs/widening – noted that this work has been completed.
8. Cemetery – tree safety assessments – one quote received for the work

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recommended by the assessor.  It was agreed to obtain at least one further quote for

the work.

1. Cemetery – report from the Green Burial Area working party – it was noted that planned visits to other green or meadow burial sites were postponed due to the weather.
2. Allotments – general report – the Clerk reported that several half-sized plots have become vacant, two may require some clearing prior to being let to new tenants.
3. Allotments – reconfiguring of plots – as there are sufficient plots to satisfy the current need, this work is not urgent.
4. Allotments – rent collection for 2026 – the Clerk reported that two rents remain outstanding, reminders have been sent.
5. Allotments – to consider setting aside a plot as a community allotment – agree to move this item to on hold.
6. Allotments – to set up a management plan for the water troughs. It was agreed to consider a project to review the position and condition of all the current troughs with the aim of providing a concrete base for each and better pipework.  This to use the S106 fund set aside for the allotments.  Agreed that the working party should be Cllrs Duckles, Pollard and Steel with the Allotments Manager.
7. Allotments – to consider a request to provide an area for parking. After discussion Cllr Gibbins proposed that a parking area within the confines of the allotments not be provided, this was seconded by Cllr Pritchard and agreed.

6. Local environment.
7. Highways – a general report was accepted. It was reported that the timings for the VAS signs have been changed.  Noted that sections of the fence bordering the brook along The Flat need repairs and are leaning, agreed to chase this up.  It was agreed not to pursue a change to the parking times outside the shop on London Road.
8. Highways – requests for parking restrictions [London Road/Selby Gardens; London Road/Little Close]. These are within the NNC system. Agreed to move this to on hold.
9. Highways – residents’ suggestions – noted that these have been passed onto the Highways Officer and the BEES Group.
10. Street Lights – no issues reported.
11. Parish Paths Warden/Rights of Way – noted that a local resident has submitted a claim for a public right of way for the footway from Hewletts Close to TA21/TA22.
12. Santa Pod – no issues reported.
13. Village Warden – no report this month.
14. Village Green – planters project – Cllr Cooke reported that the planning of this project is underway. Cllrs were asked to suggest locations for the second planter
15. Biodiversity Plan – it was agreed to set up a Working Party to investigate creating a plan, this to be Cllrs Duckles, Pritchard and Steel.

7. Planning.
8. Current/new planning applications – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix A] be accepted, this was seconded by Cllr Forward and agreed. Cllr Foward noted that raising an objection to an application because of potential issues with odours may be a problem due to the proximity of another food takeaway.  Cllr Cooke proposed that

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Bozeat Parish Council should support Wollaston Parish Council’s objections to an application for a recycling processing plant, agreed.

1. Solar Farm proposals – the Chairman reported that more responses have been submitted.

8. Representatives’ reports.
9. BEES Group – a report was read as received. Noted that there is significant leakage from Town Well and agreed that this be an agenda item for the next meeting.
10. Bozeat Playing Field Association – a report was read as received.
11. Bozeat Primary School – agreed that Cllr Duckles should become the School Liaison Representative for Bozeat Parish Council.
12. NNC parish and ward meetings – none held recently.
13. Public transport – noted that publicity leaflets have been ordered, a recent breakdown was resolved.
14. Speed signs – to consider purchasing a speed gun, noted that the cost is likely to be around £150 – a report was read as received and it was agreed to investigate the purchase of 20mph advisory signs.
15. Verge mowing – the Clerk to chase up the required specification. It was noted that Court Lane had been mowed in error several times last season and agreed that signs are required to protect the area.
16. Big50 Vision – it was agreed to remove this from the agenda.
17. Community Engagement – in hand, Cllr Todd is working on this.

9. Village Hall.

• Report from the Working Party – Cllr Cooke reported that a meeting had been held recently and 8 volunteers had agreed to form a committee, with 2 apologies. The group is to hold a further meeting this week.  The handover of the hall is likely to be the end of February now.  The Clerk noted receipt of several requests for bookings.
• Launch event – this will be arranged by the new committee.
• Branding – to be discussed with the new committee.

10. Leisure and Recreation equipment: –

• Skate Ramp – working party. Cllr Foward reported that the group hadn’t managed to meet this month.
• Skate Ramp – pre-season inspection – Cllr Pritchard proposed that a quote of £400 be accepted and this was agreed.

11. • Police Laison Representative – agreed that Cllr Duckles should take this role.
    • Local crimes – none notified to the council.

12. Local events.
    • 9^th May 2026 – Waendel Walk checkpoint at St Mary’s Church.
    • 12^th July 2026 – it was noted that the summer fete has moved to the 12^th
    • 18^th July – Open Gardens.
    • 22^nd August – Village Produce Show.
    • 8^th November 2026 – Remembrance Sunday.
    • 11^th November 2026 – Remembrance Day.

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• 28^th November 2026 – Christmas tree/lights switch on.

13. IT/Website.

• Photocopier/Printer – Cllr Cooke and the Clerk to meet and consider options.
• Council emails – the Chairman noted that the several members of the council are experiencing issues with email and agreed that the IT/Website Working Party should meet to consider options, it was agreed that Cllr Duckles should join the group.
• Website – to consider the general management of, and access to, the council’s website. The Chairman reported that any work that would require accessing the basic coding of the website needs to be done by the designer and this is standard practice with computer coding.  It was agreed to ask for details of the traffic for the site
• Website – to consider approving a quote of £120 to amend colours to match There was some discussion about whether the shade of green on the website is a problem and the costs involved in changing it.  It was agreed to keep this on the agenda for the time being.

14. Finance

• Payments – Cllr Skittrall proposed that a report [Appendix B] and the payments listed on it be accepted. This was seconded by Cllr Foward and agreed.  It was further agreed that future reports will show the value of interest received during the month.
• Grants – Cllr Todd reported that she has applied to NNC for a grant towards the new Village Hall set up costs.
• Nene Milling site developer contributions – Cllr Gibbins reported that Bozeat Playing Field Association are hoping to apply for funds towards the cost of repairing the car park.
• Precept – noted that the precept request has been submitted.
• Additional bank signatories – it was agreed that Cllrs Duckles and Todd be added to the list of authorised signatories on the bank account.
• Cllr Steel asked that the council consider obtaining a credit card as the current system with the debit card is clunky. The card is held in a locked box by the Clerk but the code to the box is known only to the Chairman, which required a visit with the box to the Chairman to open it whenever the card is needed.  There had been an issue when the card was needed recently, Cllr Docker agreed.  The Chairman felt that the current system is secure and that a credit card would need a similar system.

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

16. On hold – noted that the following agenda items are on hold: –
    • Cemetery – repairs to railings or replace with a new hedge.
    • Review of Fixed Asset Register – to approve revisions to the register.
    • Village Green CCTV.

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• Doctor’s surgery – service issues.
• Assets of Community Value – to note that the listing of the Red Lion public house will expire soon.

17. Items for the next agenda.

• The Clerk noted that the meeting due in June will be 15^th and not the 22^nd, as listed on the calendar of meetings. Agreed to note this change of date.

18. Date and time of next meeting.

Noted that the next meeting of Bozeat Parish Council will be held on Monday, 16^th February 2026.  Up to 15 minutes will be allowed at 7pm before the start of the meeting for Public Participation.  The meeting will be held at TLC, Dychurch Lane, Bozeat, Northants, NN29 7JP.   Cllr Duckles noted that the council may consider moving venue to the new Village Hall, once available.

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

Signed by the Chairman, 16^th February 2026.