Present: Cllrs. C. Barlow, M. Beazley, C. Bryan, R. Gudgin, I. McEachran, A. Wilson, P. Wregg, and J. Wroughton (Chairman).

In Attendance: Clerk, Cllr. N. Clarke N.C.C., Cllr. T. Birch R.B.C., and 1 public member.

Apologies Approved

14. Cllr. W. Allison – Holiday. Cllr. Birch would arrive late.

Declarations of Interest & Confirmation of Agenda

15. Declarations of Non-Pecuniary Interest were received from Cllr. Wilson and Cllr. Wregg. Cllr. Clarke declared an interest in Agenda Item 8, Cropwell Bishop Memorial Hall. Cllr. Wroughton and Cllr. Wilson declared an interest in Agenda Item 10b.

The agenda was confirmed.

16. Standing Orders were suspended at 7.09pm to allow the order of business to be amended to enable attendees to speak to the meeting.

Parishioners’ Question Time & Policing Report

There were no parishioner issues raised.

Crime Figures

Cllr. Wroughton read the crime figures for February. There were 45 crimes in the Wiverton Group, of which 35 were in Cotgrave, 2 in Stragglethorpe, 1 in Colston Bassett, 1 in Barnstone and 3 in Cropwell Bishop:

• 1 – Antisocial Behaviour
• 1 – Public Order
• 1 – Other Crime

17. Standing Orders were reinstated at 7.10pm.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

18. Cllr. McEachran proposed that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 7th April 2026 were a true record. Cllr. Wregg seconded. All agreed.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “That the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 7th April 2026 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.”

Progress

19. M.111 1/7/25 – Remarking of White & Yellow Lines in the Village

The works to remark the faded yellow and white lines in and around the village will be completed between 11th and 14th May. Two-way traffic signals will be in place whilst the re-lining takes place.

20. M.493 6/4/26 – Grit Bin, Simpsons Drive

Complete: The grit bin has now been relocated to the correct location.

Planning Matters & Applications

21. RBC New Application 26/00666/VAR

Variation of condition 1 (Plans) 21/02885/REM for amended tile over brick gable detail – Land to the rear of 1 Nottingham Road, Cropwell Bishop.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “No Objection.”

22. RBC New Application 26/00676/FUL

Erection of 2 additional units and associated parking – Canalside Industrial Park, Kinoulton Road, Cropwell Bishop.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “No Objection.”

Finance

23. a) Financial Statement up to 30th April 2026

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “To approve the financial statement.”

24. b) Payments Made 30th April 2026 and Awaiting May 2026

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “To approve all payments as reproduced on payments document 214.”

25. c) (i) To Note Internal Auditor’s Report & Variance Explanation Letter

Members received a copy of the Internal Auditor Letter relating to any variances for the last financial year and the change in valuation of The Old School on the Asset Register.

There were no areas of concern raised.

Noted.

26. c) (ii) To Approve the Annual Governance Statement 2025/26 & Authorise the Chairman to Sign

Members received a copy of the completed annual return for 2025/26.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “That the Annual Governance Statement for 2025/26 is approved and duly signed by the Chairman.”

27. c) (iv) To Approve the Accounting Statement for 2025/26 & Authorise the Chairman to Sign

Members received a copy of the completed annual return for 2025/26. Box 9 was countersigned by the Clerk and the Chairman, approving the change in Asset Register valuation due to The Old School revaluation.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “That the Accounting Statement for 2025/26 is approved and duly signed by the Chairman.”

28. d) To Consider Community Grant Request – “Street Stories of Cropwell Bishop” Book Publication

Cllr. Wilson proposed that a grant of £500 be allocated towards the project. Cllr. Wregg seconded. All agreed.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “A grant of £500 be allocated to Tony Jarrow for the ‘Street Stories of Cropwell Bishop’ book publication.”

29. d) To Consider Community Grant Request – International Triathlon Support

Cllr. Barlow proposed that the Council should not support this grant application on this occasion until the applicant raises his profile in the community. Cllr. Gudgin seconded. Cllr. McEachran abstained and Cllr. Wroughton disagreed. All remaining councillors agreed.

It was\;

RESOLVED: “The grant request be refused on this occasion and the Clerk to write to the applicant to explain why and suggest actions to be completed to enable future grants to be considered more favourably.”

30. Cllr. Birch joined the meeting.

Correspondence for Action

31. There were no items to consider.

To Review Investment of Funds Policy

32. Cllr. Bryan proposed that the Council adopt the policy changes, being the increase in the FSCA cover as presented at the meeting. Cllr. McEachran seconded. All agreed and the policy was signed by the Chairman.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “To Adopt the Investment of Funds Policy.”

The Memorial Hall

33. a) Update on The Memorial Hall

A report was put to the meeting from the Memorial Hall. A copy is attached at the end of these minutes.

Cllr. Wregg updated the Parish Council on the pre-planning. The Memorial Hall had received a favourable response to the pre-planning application and would move forward with the full planning stages.

A lot of people turned up to watch the tractor run and there have been good numbers at the Petanque sessions.

Cllr. Wregg thanked the Parish Council for the donation of the old tables for Memorial Hall event use.

34. b) The Launch Field

A report was produced by the Memorial Hall. A copy is attached at the end of these minutes.

Cllr. Wregg thanked Cllr. Wroughton for the contact information regarding volunteer help from the Toot Hill Duke of Edinburgh students.

Village Ranger / Lengthsman Inspections

35. During April, the Ranger/Lengthsman weed sprayed the whole village. Grass cutting has been done twice and will continue throughout May.

There has been more drug activity reported at the playpark, with empty drug packages being left under the zip wire and around the swings in the bottom corner. The Ranger will keep a check on this area.

Action: Clerk to report the situation to the Police and ask if they can do occasional drive pasts in the early evening.

Grass cutting, weed spraying and safety surface clearing have been undertaken at the playpark. This is an ongoing job throughout the summer months, keeping weeds at bay.

The annual RoSPA Safety Inspection is due in May.

The Old School

36. a) Entertainments, Activities & User Update

The Choral film in April was a sell-out and a well-received film. The next event is Cropwell Cinema in May, showing Song Sung Blue, and Hamnet will be shown in June.

37. b) CKOB Club Update

Cllr. Wroughton advised that the last session was well attended, with approximately 50 well-behaved children.

Cllr. Wroughton advised that she had a rather frightening experience locking up after the last CKOB Club, as there were adults shouting in the garden at the side of the building. In future, the gate to the small garden will be locked as they leave, not just before they leave. This will eliminate anyone being able to get into the gardens whilst they are still on the premises.

Transport

38. There were no issues to report.

Highways & Footpaths Defects / Issues

39. a) Sunken Road Surface, Fern Road

Ongoing. Cllr. Clarke advised that VIA will be chasing the compliance team to chase Severn Trent to carry out the necessary repair works.

40. b) Update on Parking on Corners of Kendal / Salvin Close

Cllr. Clarke advised that the Police had been asked to review the area for obstruction parking and deal with any issues accordingly.

41.

Cllr. Wroughton read a letter from a concerned resident regarding crossing Kinoulton Road from one side of the Canal Footpath to the other. The speed limit in this area is 60mph and the crossing is on a fast bend.

The resident requested support from the Parish Council to get the speed limit reduced to 30mph, or at least to have warning pedestrian crossing signs placed on either side of the carriageway.

Cllr. Clarke advised that a 30mph speed limit would be highly unlikely as it is not a built-up area, but he would put a request to Highways to ask for warning pedestrian crossing signs.

42. c) Community Speed Watch

Cllr. Wregg advised that a session was undertaken in April on Cropwell Butler Road. One car was reported for speeding, but the session acted as a good deterrent in the area, as lots of cars were heard braking so as not to be registered as speeding.

The Environment / Biodiversity

43. a) Tree Warden Report

The Council was pleased with the positive report from the current Tree Warden. The Tree Warden asked if the Council would consider taking a second Tree Warden on board, who is an ecologist by profession and lives in the village.

Cllr. McEachran proposed that the Council take on the second Tree Warden. Cllr. Bryan seconded. All agreed.

It was unanimously:

RESOLVED: “To take on a second Tree Warden.”

44. Cllr. Bryan reported that he attended the Grantham Canal Local Authority Open Day on 1st May on behalf of the Parish Council. Unfortunately, the invitation, which had been extended to the full Council, was sitting in the junk mail. Cllr. Bryan advised that it was a good event attended by over two hundred people.

To Announce Competition Winners – March Cropwell News

45. Cllr. Clarke made the draw. The winner was Mary Barlow.

Councillors’ Reports

46. Cllr. Wregg advised that she had received the minutes from the Police Priority Setting meeting. A copy will be sent to the Clerk for circulation to the Council.

Speeding was a concern for many attendees at the meeting and the Police advised that, where possible, they will do some random speed checks.

No Unwanted Caller stickers are available to the public. The Clerk will endeavour to obtain some of these stickers and make them available to residents.

47. Cllr. Wroughton asked for attendees to the May Saturday Café. Cllrs. Barlow, Beazley, Bryan, Wilson and Wroughton can attend.

Correspondence for Information

48. There is no folder for circulation. Any information has been circulated via email through the month.

Date of Next Meeting

49. The next Parish Council Meeting will be held on 2nd June 2026 at 7.00pm at The Old School.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.06pm.

Chairman’s Signature: _______________________________

Date: _______________________________