Minutes, 2026

MINUTES, MARSTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
16 April 2026

1.    WELCOME by the Chair
  
2.    APOLOGIES – Declared by 12 noon before the meeting

ABSENT – Cllr Stephens (out of the country) County Cllr Bamford 

PRESENT – Cllr Duckett, Cllr Brown, Cllr Watson, District Cllr Wood

*Please note: Cllr Watson believes that the apologies do not need a proposer or seconder due to the minutes being proposed & seconded. Clerk raised point on legal document and agreeing to accept or not accept apologies. Public record. Clarification has been sought by the clerk from LALC

3.    DECLARATIONS OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS

Declared: None 

4.    PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 

2 members of the public entered at 7:45 for item 9.3 on agenda

5.    MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 5th March 2026

Proposed by:     Cllr Duckett        Seconded by: Cllr Watson
  
6.    PLANNING MATTERS:

6.1 - None before agenda release

7.    DISTRICT & COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORTS

7.1 – District Cllr – Paul Wood 

Cllr touched on Devolution and that the final plans had been submitted on the plan for all the councils. Answer expected on what will be the Government’s final preference by latest July 2026 before recess or earlier. Food bins have started being collected in the area. 
Main point is that the government is continuing to push their agenda for making it more difficult for District and County Councils to object to planning matters. Watch and wait as it may coincide with devolution what the main proposals are. 

7.2 - County Councillor – Ken Bamford – 

Report sent earlier and read out by Clerk. Main item is that a new portal is being launched to help compliment ‘Fix my street’ and speed things up. Devolution is touched upon again and any issues should be minuted and sent to the County Cllr Bamford

8.    FINANCIAL MATTERS: 

8.1- Signing of monthly reconciliations for March 2026 

Minor expenditure to year end. Financial year closed

8.2- Verification of cash book by Cllr Brown up to year end – 31st March 

Clerk explained the final reconciliation and budget against actual spend. .Gov.uk email address for Clerk is now active and new Councillor emails will be added in due course after AGM

Proposed by:     Cllr Brown        Seconded by: Cllr Duckett

9.    COMMUNITY MATTERS & UPATES:

9.1 – Dog Fest – Riverside Walk 

Cllr Brown has reiterated the stance of the Village Hall Committee that Gonerby Youth only play at Marston due to a ‘no dog’s’ policy and didn’t want to jeopardise future income. To allow dogs was a genuinely difficult agenda point and Hough Fest was let down by one person bringing his dogs and not clearing up after them. In typical style the few let down the many and Marston has had a dog fouling problem again in some areas. Confidence remains low that people clear up after their dogs. Council then discussed the Riverside walk and had no real objection but felt it was not viable to allow a dog show (dogs are allowed here) as no toilets and people would want to then bring the dogs to the Hough Fest and it might be hot and putting dogs in cars is a no-no after March or whenever the temperature rises above 12 degrees. The viability and optics wouldn’t look good and deemed that the organisers (even with a disclaimer signed) may not be in the position to stop dogs going onto the Village Hall area. Permission refused - Unanimous

9.2 – Update on Co options for new Councillors

Clerk gave update on Co-options and expressions of interest. Cllr Watson asked if we could change the closing date, council generally disagreed with that notion and motioned that we should stick to 30th April as it’s more professional to adhere to the agreed date than change it now. It was also agreed that any applications will be forwarded onto Cllrs ahead of the AGM on 7th May

9.3 – Skatepark initiative – letter from Henry age 11

Council were treated to a first hand conversation with Henry who had written to the Parish Council regarding whether we could help the youngsters attain some sort of small skatepark on the Village Hall. Chair (Cllr Brown) stated that first steps would be to talk to the Village Hall as they owned the land and the Parish Council could look to support. Henry also stated that it might increase visitors to the area which could be good for the Village Hall, pub and local shop. Cllr Duckett and Cllr Brown asked several questions, and Henry was able to furnish the Council with further info. District Cllr Wood also showed the new Grantham park which Henry goes to as well as the Newark park. All thought it was a good idea and Cllr Brown proposed to investigate further with the Village Hall and then Clerk would look into funding initiatives potentially impacting on the item below at 9.4. Henry and his father were duly thanks for attending the meeting and putting such a convincing case forward. There are several areas that MPC could approach to help achieve a target if the subject moved forward

9.4 – Reminder from County Cllr Bamford on Social Value concept. 

Clerk to discuss the latest details on whether there was still funding to tap into 

Proposed by:    Cllr Brown        Seconded by: Cllr Watson

DATE OF NEXT MEETING –     Thursday 7th May 2026 at 7:30pm 

MEETING CLOSED AT – 20:57