Minutes, 17 July 2025
MEETING OF MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL
Thursday 17th July 2025 at 7:30 pm.
MINUTES
1. WELCOME by the Parish Council Chairman. Introduction to County Councillor Ken Bamford with intro to all MPC Councillors and staff
2. APOLOGIES – District Cllr Woods.
3. PRESENT – Cllrs Cartwright, O’Sullivan, Brown, Duckett, Watson, Stephens, Vickers
4. DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS
All Councillors have declared a pecuniary interest in item 9d
5. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
6. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 7th May 2025
Proposed by: Cllr O’Sullivan Seconded: Cllr Brown
7. PLANNING MATTERS:
a) Outline Application S25/0890 – Outline application for residential development consultation ended 11th July 2025 and discussion on the varying public and statutory responses that SKDC have received
8. COUNTY & DISTRICT COUNCILLOR REPORTS
a) New County Councillor, Ken Bamford gave his first update to the Parish Council. He said that information is now available on the County Council proposal for Devolution The next milestone is November 10 when the Government will publish its proposals. He noted that three SKDC councillors had joined the Reform Party but this did not affect the governance of the Council.
He has organised Hough Fest Community event is to take place on 23 August at the Hougham & Marston Village Hall. The aim is to help achieve one of his key objectives of building the ‘Hough Community’ through fresh air, food, music and local business promotion. If successful, the aim is for it to become an annual event taking place at different locations.
Marston Parish Council will take a stall to help promote local issues and more public interaction. Clerk will run the stall with Councillors interacting with any interested parties. Cllr Watson will post the flyer information on HAMES and flyers are in the Pub and the Shop.
b) New speed limits are now in force between Marston and Hougham. Overall, it is hoped they will reduce speeding towards both villages.
9. COMMUNITY MATTERS & OTHER BUSINESS
a) Grass Cutting and general maintenance – Because of illness and the hot weather the Village Cleaner has been unable to contain the vegetation growth on the riverbank in the Riverside Walk. The Himalayan Balsam is thriving. Cllr Ducket agreed to arrange a date for volunteers to carry out a major clearance of the riverbank to contain the Balsam.
b) Clerk Proposal to aid Village Hall Finances – Offer of an annual rent of a redundant office space within the Village Hall has been accepted. This will be useful from the Parish Councils point of view, it gives MPC a base of operations and gives extra support to the Village Hall. Offer was accepted by the Village Hall Committee at the June meeting, subject to new lock and clearing the room ready for occupation
c) Hough Fest – Community Event. Please see 8a)
d) Thorold Business update – The Parish Council understands that the Committee have conducted interviews with interested parties. Several Councillors have offered help and are waiting to find out if their help is required. The Voucher scheme continues to bring regular visits & income from villagers. MPC awaits the latest update from the Thorold Committee on how those interviews have gone & whether the posts have now been filled. All Councillors are resolved to help in any way they can taking into account the pecuniary interests and the Nolan Principles of being a Parish Councillor
e) UKSPF update from the Parish Clerk for the Thorold Application
The Cllr Vickers and the Parish Clerk met Sandra and Mike Allen from the Thorold Committee on Tuesday 17th June for a discussion on a ‘Wish List’ for the Community Asset on what they would like to achieve through the UKSPF Grant Scheme. The Parish Clerk stayed on and asked the operational team what they would like to see and built up an extensive list of what was essential.
The Grant application was submitted two weeks ahead of schedule on 16th July to Community Engagement at SKDC for £133,000 (plus VAT) with some match funding required that the Committee and Villagers would need to raise of £25,000 and an offer of support from the Parish Council of £3,000. Figures should be achievable if MPC and UKSPF manage to attain full funding, but MPC would recommend that any offer would help from UKSPF. We will hear in late August whether we have been successful.
f) Regrettably, Marston Outreach Post Office at the Thorold has closed following the retirement of the sub-Postmaster. Thanks to Roy for the service.
10. PROPOSAL FROM CLLR DUCKETT TO CHANGE BACK TO MONTHLY PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS
a) Resolution accepted – MPC resolve to hold nine Parish Council Meetings per annum with no meeting in January, June and August. Meetings to be held around the last Thursday of the month with the exception of May when it will be the 7th May Thursday. Future meetings will commence at 7.00pm.
Proposed by: Cllr Duckett Seconded by: Cllr Watson
11. FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Signing of monthly reconciliations for May and June 2025
b) Review of Asset Register from AGM and May Parish Meeting - deferred
Proposed by: Cllr Brown Seconded by: Cllr Cartwright
c) DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Thursday 25th September 2025 – 7:00PM
Date will also impact the rest of meetings and will be updated accordingly
d) MEETING CLOSED AT: 21:15