Minutes, 2026

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 Cllr Duckett’s House, Toll Bar Road, Marston on Thursday 29th January 2026 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 – Declared by 12 noon before the meeting

Cllr Brown – Virtual – no votes permitted
Present: Cllr Cartwright, Cllr Duckett, Cllr Stephens, Cllr Watson

Proposed by:    Cllr             Seconded by: Cllr Stephens

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 present & Virtual Councillors have declared an interest in item(s) 7, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4. Special dispensation granted to Cllr Stephens due to extra interest outside the normal shareholder parameters

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. 
Mrs. Louise Tennant from the Thorold Committee was here to field any queries regarding section 137 application. Lesley Frances also present as Clerk for Hougham PC Clerk and 
Due to length of agenda, it was motioned that both District Cllr Wood and County Cllr Bamford would be included in public time
Clerk read out Cllr Woods report. This included food waste caddy’s being delivered from next week but MUST NOT be used until April 2026. Local Devolution continues to roll forward towards a final date circa end of February where the Secretary of State will decide what strategies are acceptable to move forward to the final stage in July. Cllr Wood wanted to touch on the £2million that was earmarked for Grantham town centre. This has now not been declared in next year’s budget. District Cllrs are asking where it has gone. I’m sure more to follow at a later date. Traveller site at Long Benington, case continues. 
Cllr Bamford’s report touched on the issues with roads and potholes, speeding and flooding and all of us continuing to work as a wider team to report local issues. Main announcement was that ‘HOUGHFEST 2’ date has been set for Saturday 30th May. A great opportunity to showcase local business and entertainment. More news to follow. Pinfold Lane / Barkston Road continues to be an enormous problem. Thoughts are that work starts mid February subject to weather
Email: questions to marstonpcclerk@gmail.com – No other questions

5.    MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 4th December 2025

Proposed by:     Cllr Watson        Seconded by: Cllr Stephens
 
6.    PLANNING MATTERS:
6.1    – None 

7.    GRANT APPLICATIONS: 
7.1 – To consider a grant application under s137 for the Hougham & Marston Book Club – This application has been requested to be moved to the March meeting

7.2 – To consider a grant application under s137 towards a coffee machine replacement and peripherals at The Thorold CBS – Mrs. Louise Tennant assisted with bringing the Council up to speed on the issue. Capital response to help the Thorold out to assist the café and chatty café format.

Proposed by: Cllr Stephens        Seconded by: Cllr Duckett

7.3 – To consider a grant from the Parish Council to help towards costs of the Thorold CBS of £2,500 under section 19 – Yes - subject to Clerk advising on grant application and capital information

Proposed by: Cllr Watson             Seconded by: Cllr Stephens

7.4 - To consider a grant application under s19 (1) (d) of the Local Government Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1976 for the Thorold CBS. This will involve the Parish Council using ‘Discretionary Powers’. The limitations of the existing MPC funds would require setting a budget resulting in a substantial rise in the precept for the next financial year. Chair to outline the details of parameters to be considered.
Chair informed Council of advice received from MPC Lawyer from which LALC sourced for us. Section 19 is something that the Council can consider as the act was written before Community pubs existed and allowed other older acts to be repealed. On that basis it was decided that a Community Pub or recreational facility could be classified as something that a Parish Council could use discretionary powers to grant funds to. However, the Lawyer was very clear that due considerations should be given to could or would scenario. He was also clear that a small Parish Council should only consider increasing the precept to be commensurate or proportionate with current budgets and existing precept levels. The general advice was that although not a statutory obligation to consult residents on a large precept rise, it would be the right thing to do as a Parish Council as ALL residents should have a voice not just the users of the Community facility. The Thorold can be granted funds under Section 19. Below is a summary of the Lawyers advice:-

1.    Discretionary powers can be used
2.    The size of any grant should be commensurate with the size of our normal budget and precept. Degree, amount or proportionate
3.    The Parish Council should satisfy itself that the Thorold is implementing a plan to reduce costs in line (and increase income) with an approved business plan
4.    The Parish Council should consult parishioners. This Council will do that 
5.    MPC councillors to decide whether they were prepared to ‘match fund’ to £2,500 under s19 this year to help the Thorold with its capital position. 

The Vote is broken down into 3 sections, each requiring a proposer and seconder
1.    Does this Council vote to use Section 19 and its discretionary powers to consider a grant for the Thorold (under certain conditions) Approved

Proposed by: Cllr Stephens        Seconded by: Cllr Duckett

2.    Is the request proportionate with MPC’s budget and precept as it currently stands?
As we supply the precept in figures and percentage it would amount to a 317% rise. Any such rise would require (under best practice) a majority of villagers voting for the rise and it should be considered that all the residents would need to vote or as many as feasibly possible to allow the Parish Council the mandate to take next steps, whatever they are at that point. We cannot achieve this currently as we have had the final extension from SKDC. Precept needs to be submitted by Friday 30th January at 4pm. MPC would suggest that on production of the latest accounts and gives the new committee the time required to increase sales / income and minimise costs. The asset is a valuable resource and amount of money being put in and how it was managed.

What size of grant would the Council be willing to approve (The Thorold have tabled they need 33p a day or £120 per Band D property, with bands E, F and G would be more. The required precept taking into account the ask amounts to £26,000 (MPC £6,100) are you satisfied that this figure is commensurate to the current precept and budget. – Not approved

Proposed by:     Cllr Stephens            Seconded by: Cllr Cartwright

3.     Vote on whether we would look to work with the Thorold later in the year once they know truly how much is required and whether progress has been made in positive income and effective cost reductions and then MPC to call a village meeting which may result in an official referendum undertaken by SKDC paid from the Parish Council existing funds - Approved

Proposed by:     Cllr Stephens            Seconded by: Cllr Watson

8.    FINANCIAL MATTERS: 

8.1- Signing of monthly reconciliations for December 2025

Proposed by: Cllr Cartwright        Seconded by: Cllr Duckett

8.2- Verification of cash book by Cllr Brown – will be sent on after close of books end of January
8.3 – To agree the precept and to look at various options put forward by the Clerk. The precept did not go up in line with inflation and in real terms, dropped slightly. For reference SKDC are set to debate an increase by 2.99% 
MPC Agree at 3% which enhances funds from £6,100 to £6315 for 2026/27

Proposed by:     Cllr Cartwright        Seconded by: Cllr Duckett

9.    COMMUNITY MATTERS:
9.1 – Cllr Watson wanted to debate whether MPC want to revert to 7:30 pm start for meetings from March 2026 – Approved

Proposed by: Cllr Watson            Seconded by: Cllr Stephens

9.2 – To consider and accept the recent two resignations of Parish Councillors, O’ Sullivan and Vickers appertaining to 7.4 on the agenda. The Chair then tendered his resignation after 12 years on the Council and 10 as Chair, directly related to item 7.4 on the agenda. MPC acknowledged the Chair’s service. Cllr O’Sullivan’s / Vickers service was also acknowledged. 

10.    CLERK UPDATE:
10.1 - Gov.uk email addresses introduction to comply with GDPR & Audit – delayed due to resignations and emails now need to be changed – rescheduled to March. All ex- Councillors were thanked for their service in absence
10.2 - Christmas Tree feedback – overall positive but more lights next year and BIGGER

Proposed by:     Cllr Duckett        Seconded by: Cllr Stephens

DATE OF NEXT MEETING –     Thursday 5th March 2026. At 7:30pm
    
MEETING CLOSED AT -         20:35