Annual Meeting of Hickling Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 13th May 2025 at the Village Hall, Hickling commencing at 7.15pm.
Councilors present: Cllrs Playle (Chair), Conway, Lamb and, Rowe
Also in attendance: Cate Stokes (Parish Clerk) RBC Cllr Combellack and 5 parishioners.
- Election of Officers
Chair– Cllr Lamb proposed Cllr Playle as chair for the Parish Council, agreed by all.
Vice Chair- Cllr Playle proposed Cllr Prosser as vice chair for the Parish Council, agreed by all
Portfolio groups – remain unchanged from last year. Detailed on the website
Cllr Playle opened the meeting at 7:15 pm
- Apologies – Cllrs Green and Prosser and NCC Cllr Cottee
- Declarations of Interest – None
- Acceptance of Minutes – Minutes from PC meeting held on 15th April 2025
Agreed by all
- Open Session – To address matters raised by the public, limited to 15mins
- Parishioner raised concern over the black bin bags deposited. Clerk advised that these have been reported to streetwise for collection.
- Overgrown tree obstruction lamppost at South end of the village – Clerk to report to highways
- Ward Member Reports
- Cllr Combellack
- Litter: Cllr Combellack has raised the concerns passed to her via the clerk from a parishioner regarding fast food litter along the verges of the roads leading into the village with the executive officer at Rushcliffe Borough council
- Road resurfacing: A response from Via has been received regarding the resurfacing of the road near between The Old Wharf and Grove Farm in Hickling. Pot holes have been filled but further resurfacing and damage repair has been added to a list to await funding. Parishioner raised similar concerns about the road surface on Main Street near Harles Acres. Cllr Combellack advised that road resurfacing issue around the village needed continued reporting to NCC and also suggested lobbying the Mayor, Claire Ward as there should be funding for road repairs.
- Cllr Combellack reported that the 30mph sign at the north entrance of the village is to be moved further out to encompass the bungalows on the edge of the village.
- Trees: Cllr Combellack reported on a recent meeting with Hickling’s tree warden, Simon Lane and the conservation officer, Rob Inglis. Ruschliffe is the least green area in the Country and there is a push to ‘green Rushcliffe’ with the planting of trees. A comment was noted about the damage flailing of hedgerows causes to trees growing in the hedgerows. Cllr Combellack also reported on the need to manage Ivy in trees before it gets to the canopy and takes over the tree.
- Playground springer: the cracks in the wood have increased in size during the dry weather and concern has been raised that a child could trap a finger in them. Clerk to follow up.
- Items requiring a decision
- Annual internal auditor report 2025 – received and noted
- Annual Governance statement 24/25 – Parish council to review internal controls and approve Governance statement – agreed by all
- AGAR – Council to approve accounts for 24/25 – agreed by all
- AGAR 24/25 – Council to resolve to submit exemption from external audit certificate.
– agreed by all
- Standing orders – Council to review and adopt standing orders – agreed by all
- Financial Regulations – Council to review and adopt financial regulations – agreed by all
- Correspondence
- Road surface Long Clawson Lane and From Hickling Wharf towards Kinoulton. Covered above in minute 25-4-6
- Bins at the Wharf – more frequent collections to occur throughout the summer months. If members of the public notice them to be overflowing regularly still to let the PC know and further collections can be arranged
- The Public Consultation on the Draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham 6th May to 16th June 2025.
- Cllr Playle reported that this scheme is designed to improve nature recovery throughout the county. The report shows a loss of nature throughout the country with Nottinghamshire being one of the most depleted county. The habitat map does not show many spaces in Hickling and the ones that are marked, such as meadows and ponds, when visited are poorly maintained leading to decline in brid species visible in the village. A discussion was had about the swift boxes in the church tower and the success of the scheme in Kinoulton. Swifts are now being observed visiting the Hickling church too. Parishioner commented that leaving un-mown areas of the churchyard significantly helps the birds and other species.
- Planning
- Reference Number: 25/00709/FUL
Applicant: Mr F Cole
Development: New external doors to rear of building
Location: Little Acre Melton Road Hickling Pastures Nottinghamshire LE14 3QG
Deadline for comments – 14th May 2025 Resolved no objection
- Decision Notices
- Appeal REF: App/P3040/W/25/3359613
Planning Reference number: 24/01510/FUL
Applicant: Mr Robert Oxby
Development: Erection of Self-build house
Location: Land South of Hillcrest Bridegate Lane, Hickling Pastures
Decision: Appeal dismissed
- Finance
Balance of accounts: 6.05.25
Current Account: 22429.02
Reserve Account: 5308.52
| Cheque no, | Payee | Description | Amount |
| D/D | ICO | GDPR | £47.00 |
| Receipts | |||
| Bank Transfer | RBC | Precept | £12000 |
Date of next meeting: 22nd July
No Further business – meeting closed at 7.52 pm