Minutes 2025

MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
NOTICE OF MEETING OF MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
Dear Councillor and Resident,
I hereby give you notice that a Meeting of Marston Parish Council will be held at Hougham and Marston Village Hall, Bridge Street, Marston on
Thursday 4th December 2025 at 7:00 pm.
All members of the Parish Council are summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and resolving upon the business to be transacted at the meeting as set out hereunder.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
MINUTES
1. WELCOME by the Parish Council Chairman.
2. APOLOGIES – None
PRESENT: Cllrs Cartwright, Watson, Brown, Stephens, Vickers, Duckett, O’Sullivan
Proposed by: N/A Seconded by: N/A
3. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
Under the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, made under s30 (3) of the Localism Act, members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.
Declared: All Cllrs have declared an interest in item 9: As Shareholders in The Thorold, this includes the Clerk.
4. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
The meeting will be adjourned for an agreed time by the Chair for the public to ask questions about agenda items. The Chair will allocate speaking time as appropriate. As per Standing Orders the Chair will assign time for public questions depending on the agenda length. Normally 3 minutes will be allocated per person. Residents are encouraged to register their questions beforehand with the clerk.
None (one member of the public enters meeting to watch)
Email: questions to marstonpcclerk@gmail.com
MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
5. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 6th November 2025
Proposed by: Cllr Stephens Seconded: Cllr Brown
6. PLANNING MATTERS:
6.1 None at time of release of agenda
7. FINANCIAL MATTERS:
7.1 Signing of monthly reconciliations for November 2025
7.2 Verification of cash book by Cllr Brown
7.3 Verification that the agreed amount of £2000 has now been paid to Village Hall and fully settles matter with MPC under Section 137
Proposed by: Cllr Brown Seconded by: Cllr O’Sullivan
8. COMMUNITY MATTERS:
8.1 Speed chaser sign – Approval to order sample signs
8.2 Xmas tree update – Approved previously and generally good feedback from parishioners so far. Extra budget approved for daytime decorations. Clerk to switch on Saturday at 15:15, switches off at 21:15 so as not to disturb anyone
Proposed by: Cllr Cartwright Seconded by: Cllr Brown
9. SPECIAL ITEM:
9.1. Letter received from the Thorold Chair, Stuart Vickers.
This item to be considered and debated by all Councillors, Cllr Stuart Vickers
was asked to leave at this point; Cllr Vickers left the room at 19:19
Other Pecuniary interests are noted at item 3 for the record.
The letter received from the Thorold asked that Marston Parish Council debates
a proposal from The Thorold Committee to increase the precept to parishioners in Marston (and Hougham) to provide a fund which could be utilised by the pub. The Chair had circulated the letter previously to give Councillors time to think on the proposal and raise any questions. It had been circulated with the LALC advice and Clerk’s advice. The LALC advice explained what a Parish Council can and cannot do under the powers of s137 and the background into MPC becoming a council with General Powers of Competence
The Chair explained the letter to the Cllrs and reminded everyone that it had been circulated to give Councillors time to consider the proposal before the meeting.
MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
He asked individual councillors for their thoughts and all reiterated their support for the pub. There was concern expressed at the potential level of increase in the precept, the fact that Hougham Parish Council had rejected the proposal and whether there would be support for the proposal within the community if the Parish Council were empowered to give it.
The Chair thanked councillors for their input and said that the council should ensure it is not proceeding prematurely regarding potential donations.
He referred to guidance received from LALC, noting that, under the Localism Act 2011, parish councils are permitted to grant donations exceeding the limits of s137 powers, provided they hold the 'General Power of Competence'. This power is subject to specific criteria: firstly, at least two thirds of parish councillors must be elected, secondly, the Clerk must be CiLCA approved or qualified. In the case of MPC 70% of the councillors have been elected but the Clerk does not have the CiLCA qualification. Therefore, Marston Parish Council does not have General Powers of Competence.
Marston Parish Council does not have the authority to increase the precept in order to directly assign funds to The Thorold.
Any grants to the Thorold would have to be within the scope of s137. All councillors were in favour of using the system to fund specific projects within the pub where required and where affordable. For the financial year ending March 2026, £500 more could be made available to village organisations, including the pub. All Councillors were in agreement that the Parish Council could donate up to the maximum amount left to The Thorold.
It was RESOLVED that the Parish Council would make a grant to the Thorold. The grant to be for a specific purchase or project details and costings to be sent to the Clerk.
The Clerk asked whether the Thorold committee had looked at creating a ‘Go Fund Me’ page to assist with raising money for much needed work based on the unsuccessful attempt through SKDC for UKSPF money last August. This means people can donate as little or as much as they want through a Go Fund Me page and remains entirely flexible.
A general discussion took place on things that could be done to improve the viability of the Thorold and the member of the public present noted them.
Proposed by: Cllr Cartwright Seconded by: Cllr O’Sullivan and all
DATE OF NEXT MEETING – No meeting in January 2026
Next meeting is 5th February 2026
MEETING CLOSED AT: 20:20