Annual meeting May 2025 minutes
Stoke Rochford & Easton Parish Council
Minutes of Stoke Rochford & Easton Annual Meeting of the Parish Council Date: Tuesday 27th May
2025
Venue: Easton Walled Gardens 6-00 p.m.
Councillors present Cllr Fred Cholmeley (voted in as Chairman at this meeting)
Cllr Neil McCorquodale (voted in as Vice Chairman at this meeting) Cllr Martin Thompson.
Cllr George McCorquodale Cllr J. S. Nadin
Cllr Chris Gait
Cllr David Scarborough
Clerk & RFO Mrs Emma Wilson
Open session
No parishioners were present.
1. Chairman’s Welcome Remarks
The previous chair Cllr Fred Cholmeley welcomed all and thanked everyone for attending the Annual
Meeting of Stoke Rochford & Easton Parish Council.
2. Apologies
Apologies noted from District and County Councillors.
3. Election of Chairman and declaration of acceptance of office
Cllr Neil McCorquodale nominated Cllr Fred Cholmeley as a candidate for Chairman, which was
seconded by Cllr Martin Thompson. There were no other candidates. Cllr Cholmeley confirmed his
standing, accepted the position. The motion was passed by resolution of the Council and the Chair
duly completed and signed his declaration of acceptance of office.
4. Election of Vice Chairman and declaration of acceptance of office
Chairman, Cllr Fred Cholmeley nominated Cllr Neil McCorquodale as a candidate for Vice-Chairman,
which was seconded by Cllr Chris Gait. There were no other candidates. Cllr Neil McCorquodale
confirmed his standing, and the motion was passed by resolution of the Council. The Vice-Chair duly
completed and signed his declaration of acceptance of office.
5. a Acceptance of Office for councillors
Cllr Martin Thompson, Cllr George McCorquodale, Cllr J. S. Nadin, Cllr Chris Gait and Cllr David
Scarborough confirmed continued standing, completed and signed their AoO and the clerk then
countersigned each.
b Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
DPI documents had been emailed out to members’ pre meeting. Documents were completed and signed by
all those members present. Record will be submitted to SKDC.
6. Disclosure of interest in agenda items
Cllrs N & G McCorquodale for agenda items 9 & 10a.
7. To approve Minutes of meeting held on the 26th February 2025
The draft minutes having been circulated prior to the meeting were agreed and proposed to be a true
and accurate record. They were passed as approved by resolution of the Council and signed by the
Chairman.
8. Clerks Report
a. End of Year
Having been emailed to all councillors prior to the meeting the clerk asked if all were happy with
account summary and if anyone had any questions.
No queries raised and the clerk went through the percentage differences to explain the notes from
the sheet further; all agreed they were happy. Clerk confirmed that these figures were used for
Annual Governance and Accountability Return which is due for review and sign off by internal
auditor on 02/06/25.
End year on £ 7529.43. Bank reconciliation approved by resolution of the Council and signed by the
Chairman. Moving on to 2025/26 the precept was received in Apr 2025 at £6000 and the first
Community Clean grant of
£463-32 has also been received. Total balance as at today’s date prior to outgoings from this
meeting
£13,992.75.
b. AGAR plans June
Delayed getting to internal auditor, sign off due 02/06/25, then one item agenda to sign off AGAR
at end of June, will plan date when sign off completed by auditor.
Page 1 of 3 Chair’s Initial
c. Magnavale Open Day-30th May 2025, Magnavale Easton, Burton Lane, Grantham, NG33 5AU - 11 am
Invitations received by councillors, those that can, will attend.
d. Bus shelters – follow up on next steps
Email circulated to all councillors from LCC confirming that they do not own the bus shelters
within the parish and therefore we are able to do with them as we see fit.
Discussion followed regarding the Bus shelter at Red cottages on Skillington Road, Stoke Rochford
and due to the poor state of the shelter it was agreed the best approach and for health and safety
of the public would be to demolish and remove. Stoke Rochford estate will deal with its removal.
Easton, bus shelter on corner of High Dyke and Planting Road is in reasonably good order and should
be added to our insurance policy with a reminder noted to check its state of repair annually.
e. Risk Assessment
Reviewed and approved, it was noted format could probably do with a revamp to simplify, clerk will
look at this for next year. Also a note to review appropriate policies.
At this point due to disclosure of interest by Cllrs N & G McCorquodale for agenda items 9
Consultation on plans for Canner's Lane Energy Park & 10a Application for a Certificate of Lawful
Development for use of Stoke Rochford Hall, it was agreed by all that the remainder of agenda items
would run in a slightly different order and move these items to the end of the meeting. Cllrs N and
G McCorquodale would then leave the meeting prior to the DOI items to allow full open and honest
discussion by remaining members.
11. Correspondence (circulated prior to meeting)
a. Grantham Southern Relief Road May update – nil to note
b. Invitation to Local Government Reorganisation Briefings by SKDC
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will bring about the most significant change to the structure
of local democracy in more than 50 years and South Kesteven District Council is working hard to
secure the best possible outcome for the residents and businesses we serve.
Interim proposals were submitted to Government on March 21st, 2025, and we have until 28th November
2025 to present a full proposal. LGR will see the current two-tier system of district and county
councils replaced by a unitary authority. Town and parish councils will continue to operate and are
seen as important stakeholders in providing a voice for local communities.
As part of the process SKDC will be holding a series of information sessions to which town and
parish councillors are invited. (dates and locations of meeting supplied)
12.
13.
Accounts approved and paid – March 2025 (For information only – Paid)
a. Clerks Sal/AL Pay Mar 2025
b. PC Expenses. Mar 2025
Accounts approved and paid – April 2025 (For information only – Paid)
Total
£391.05
£ 46.00
£ 437.05
000494
000495
a. Locum Clerk for Little Ponton & Stroxton PC Sal/AL Pay Feb to Mar 25
b. Locum Clerk for Little Ponton & Stroxton PC Expenses Feb to Mar 25
Total
£900.00
£202.09
£1102.09
000496
000497
14.
Accounts for payment – May 2025
Reimbursement Rec’d from LP & S PC
£1102.09
a. Clerks Sal/AL Pay Apr/May 2025
b. PC Expenses. Apr/May 2025
c. ICO (Information Commissioners Office – GDPR) – (Reimburse to Clerk – Paid online)
d. Zurich Insurance
Total Balance
£804.10
£176.99
£52.00
£228.47
£1261.56
£12731.19
000498
000499
000500
000501
6-30pm Cllrs N and G McCorquodale left the meeting
9. Consultation on plans for Canner's Lane Energy Park
Page 2 of 3 Chair’s Initial
Public event on proposals for Canner’s Lane Energy Park - NatPower is bringing forward proposals
for a new 1GW battery energy storage system (BESS), located between the A1 and the East Coast Main
Line, southeast of Great Ponton.
Details emailed to all Cllrs on receipt re public event proposals for Canner’s Lane Energy Park, at
Great Ponton Village Hall on 31st March 2025. Feedback and comments from members of the PC along
with feedback from parishioners who attended the event. Clerk sent these to NatPower by deadline.
The questions from the PC and parishioners were sent on to NatPower and we await a response from
them. There was brief discussion about the implications of the proposals to the countryside, the
environment, fire risk from the batteries and the wildlife. All members were asked if they had any
further questions or queries to submit to NatPower. It was agreed that the PC would be happy at
this stage to await the answers from NatPower.
Planning application has yet to be submitted to District Council and the PC will submit appropriate
comments when this happens.
10. Planning (Circulated Application and Supporting Statement. There are 39 documents associated
with this application online.) – listed for response
a. Application No: S25/0769
Applicant: Mr Sulaiman Hallal
Proposal: Application for a Certificate of Lawful Development for use of Stoke Rochford Hall as a
C2 class residential institution
Location: Stoke Rochford Hall , Village Street, Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire, NG33 5EJ
Essentially, they are seeking to get validation of C2 – residential teaching centre. Intended to
use the property as a residential training centre. Members of their organisation would be residing
at the property during their entire time of training. The site will be used to teach and train
members so that they can eventually depart and continue their work in propagation of the instructed
work. It was noted that the site had previously been used in the same capacity and therefore there
was no obvious reason for any objection from the PC.
15. AOB - Next meeting
Tuesday 2nd September
There being no further business the meeting closed at 6-50 p.m.
Signed: REDACTED ORIGINAL ON FILE Date: 02/09/25
Chairman, Stoke Rochford & Easton Parish Council