Meeting of Hickling Parish Council
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 15th April 2025 at the Village Hall, Hickling commencing at 7.00pm.
Councilors present: Cllrs Lamb (Chair), Conway and, Rowe
Also in attendance: Cate Stokes (Parish Clerk) RBC Cllr Combellack and 9 parishioners.
- Opening – Cllr Rowe proposed Cllr Lamb as chair for the meeting, agreed by all. Cllr Lamb opened the meeting at 7pm
- Apologies – Cllr Playle, Prosser and Green
- Declarations of Interest – None
- Acceptance of Minutes – Minutes from PC meeting held on 4th March 2025
Agreed by all
- Open Session – To address matters raised by the public, limited to 15mins
- Parishioner thanked the PC for their efforts in getting the Hickling Pastures footpath opened.
- Bins at the Wharf have been overflowing due to the increase in visitors to the canal path during the sunny weather. Clerk has received pictures taken by a parishioner on a Tuesday and to forward to streetwise to ask for extra collections during summer months.
- Resident asked what the teams seen doing detailed investigation work on surface water drainage in Harles Acres have been doing. Clerk and Cllr Combellack reported that this was all part of the ongoing response to the flooding that occurred earlier in the year.
- Ward Member Reports
- Cllr Combellack
- License application at RSA – Cllr Combellack raised concerns about the recent application for alcohol and gaming license at the RSA currently being built in Hickling Pastures. Having been in touch with the police Cllr Combellack urged residents to respond to the application before the deadline on 28th Representations can be made at https://planningon-line.rushcliffe.gov.uk/ application numbers 25/00481/GAAGC and 25/00497/LAPREM
- Flooding –been in contact with Alex Herrod at the Lead Flood Authority: land owners are being contacted around the villages with regard to ditch clearance. The CC has invested in 3 new gulley tankers increasing the fleet to 7 to help with flood alleviation.
- Road Maintenance – Cllr Combellack has raised the issue of the poor road surface between Hickling and Kinoulton and this has been passed to Via. Cllr Combellack asked the PC to raise the issue of pot holes along the section of Main Street opposite the basin and extending down towards the Parish Boundary at the North. – Clerk to follow up
- Parking – residents have raised concerns about the illegal obstruction of pavements in the village.
- Items requiring a decision
- To approve new Risk assessment policy – agreed by all
- To approve new Health and Safety Policy – agreed by all
- To review and approve updated Equality and Diversity policy – agreed by all
- To resolve to submit certificate of exemption from external audit for financial year ending March 2025 – agreed by all and signed by chair
- To note performance review conducted for Parish Clerk and approve annual pay increment – noted and approved
- To support ‘I will stand by you’ campaign to honor PCSOs with 20 years service and sign the government petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701023 – – agreed
- Other Items
- Flood walk around with Jim Freeman – due to the absence of Cllr Prosser this item will be discussed at the next meeting, Clerk noted that a detailed report has been received from Jim Freeman at via.
- On demand Bus service – due to the absence of Cllr Prosser this item will be discussed at the next meeting.
- Traffic Survey and 20s plenty– Clerk reported that around 50 surveys have so far been returned. The deadline date for returning surveys is 9th
- VE-day 8th May 2025 – given the date and time of proposed celebrations it was agreed that the village would mark the day with the flying of the Union Jack from Sunday 4th May and the village breakfast would have a VE day theme. It was noted that booking is required if people would like to attend the breakfast as it is filling fast and numbers are required for the ordering of food.
- Litter pick – PC thanked everyone that came to the litter pick in March, it was very well attended this year. The date for the autumn litter pick was decided for 12th October – Clerk to advertise.
- Correspondence
- Slurry spreading – Clerk has received concerns about the slurry spreading in the fields around the village. Resident requested information about regulations governing the spreading of slurry on fields by farmers. – Farmers are regulated by government document RB209 that preventing excessive muck spreading. MOP reported that there are 3 farms in the village that spread slurry, they all have to store their cow waste over the winter as spreading is only permitted between Feb – Oct and this creates a flurry of activity early in the year when the lagoons are full. Several farms in the village export their manure to other farms out of the area reducing the amount that gets put on fields near the village. Farms are regularly audited and recent inspections have been passed. Farm owner has extended invitation to concerned parishioner to come and speak with them and show them the audit trail. It was noted that this year the prevailing wind had changed direction and the aroma was more pungent than in other years not characteristic of cow manure but more likely coming from the chicken farm up the road.
- Old Wharf tea room enforcement notices – Clerk has contacted the planning officer for an updated on the enforcement of dismissed planning applications. They applicant has between 6 and 8 months to comply with the different enforcement notices – Clerk to put on agenda for discussion in October.
- Notice of Nottinghamshire County Council elections – 1st May 2025, Clerk to advertise the need for voter ID
- Information regarding local government reorganisation can be found on the RBC website
- Planning
Reference Number: 25/00453/VAR
Applicant: Mr Robert Oxby
Development: Variation of Condition 2 (Approved plans) for application 22/01793/FUL to allow changes to the design and roof materials of stables and alterations to site plan in relation to access of the approved scheme
Location: Land Off Bridegate Lane Hickling Pastures Nottinghamshire
Comments by 7th April – discussed by planning group resolved to OBJECT
Reference Number: 25/00435/FUL
Applicant: Mr and Mrs D Stokes
Development: Two storey side extension. Single storey side extension includes rooflights.
Location: Donnyville Main Street Hickling Nottinghamshire LE14 3AQ
Comments by 16th April
Resolved – No Objection
Reference Number: 25/00574/CLUEXD
Applicant: Mrs Judy Robinson-Leigh
Development: Certificate of lawful existing development for rear orangery extension.
Location: Duisdale Main Street Hickling Nottinghamshire LE14 3AQ
Comments by 23rd April
Resolved – No Objection
Reference Number: 25/00152/FUL
Applicant: Mr & Mrs Foster
Development: Erection Self Build two storey dwelling
Location: Swan House Main Street Hickling Nottinghamshire LE14 3AJ
Comments by 24th April
Cllr Rowe noted that the borough Cllr has objected as the proposed building would lead to overdevelopment of the site. The building would be placed very close to the property boundaries and therefore Cllr Rowe proposed that the PC also object also on this basis. Cllr Conway and Cllr Lamb had had trouble opening the application before the meeting and therefore could not comment and requested that further time discussion be had via email and the decision be made as per the PC delegated powers of planning policy.
- Decision Notices
CONARE notice 25/00004/CONARE
Town & Country Planning Act 1990, Section 211, Notice of Proposed Works to
Trees in Hickling Conservation Area
Fell 2 Lombardy Poplars at Swan House and Replace with 2 Silver Birch Trees
- Finance
Balance of accounts: 31.3.25
Current Account: £11160.60
Reserve Account: £5298.82
£1000 transferred to reserve account as ring fenced money for Lengthmans hut sign
£350 transferred to reserve account as ring fenced money for defib replacements
| Payee | Reason | Amount |
| VIA | Grit Bin | £186.00 |
| Receipts | ||
| Melton memorials | Headstone fee plot 231 | £140 |
Date of next meeting: TBC – proposed date 13th May
No further business – meeting closed at 7.45pm