Parish Council Minutes 2026

Aubourn and Haddington Parish Council                          

Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held at the Estate Office in Aubourn Hall 4th March 2026 at 7:30 pm.

Minute number 26.03.01. Welcome.

Councillor Mosedale welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Minute number 26.03.02. Public forum.

1 member of the public in attendance.  Issues were raised regarding the ditches on Butts Lane and Dovecote Lane and the pond area.  Whilst some work has been done, the debris left behind is causing an issue and needs attention.  Parish Clerk is to contact tenant and ask them to attend to the issue.  Action Parish Clerk.

District and County updates.

Apologies were received from District Councillor Mitch Elliot and County Councillor Marianne Overton.

District Councillor Peter Overton advised that the District Council has agreed the budget for the upcoming financial year with an increase of 2.96%.  The increases to Council Tax are between 7p and 10p a week for most householders.

Minute number 26.03.03. Formal session commenced at 7:30pm.

3.1. Present.

Councillor’s John Mosedale; Hugh Nevile; Julie Plackett-Smith; Lynne Rocks and Mark Quince.

3.2. Apologies

None.

3.3. Declarations of interest

None.

Minute number 26.03.04. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 6th January 2026, and the Extra Ordinary meeting held on 10th February 2026 were unanimously agreed and signed by the chairman.

Minute number 26.03.05. Finance report.

5.1. Items of expenditure were authorised.  Appendix A part 1.

5.2. The budget position was noted.  Appendix A part 2.

Minute number 26.03.06. Clerk’s Report

A claim has been submitted to the insurance company for the fire hydrant in Haddington which was hit by a vehicle on New Year's Eve.  Action Parish Clerk.

Minute number 26.03.07. Planning.

No items.

Minute number 26.02.08. Clock Tower.

8.1. Heating and lighting.  Quotes have been received for the heaters and lighting and the clerk requested to seek additional quotes for the installation.  The Parish Council has agreed to delegate the task to the Chairman and Parish Clerk to proceed with the project with a budget of up to £8000.  Should the quotes exceed this amount, the decision will be taken back to the full Parish Council.  Action Chairman and Parish Clerk.

8.2. Stonework.

Councillor Mosedale has been in discussions with Booth’s Masonry regarding the work they are going to be doing in the Clock Tower and about providing them with a training facility space in exchange for minor stonework repairs.  It was unanimously agreed that this was a great opportunity and a Memorandum of Understanding would be drawn up.  Action Parish Clerk.

Minute number 26.03.09.  Highways.

The Parish Council has received an invitation to meet with the project manager from Balfour Beatty regarding the new road relief project.  It was agreed to set up a meeting.  Action Parish Clerk.

Minute number 26.03.10. Village Gateways

Whilst the village gateways are a favorable idea, it is not seen as a priority at this time and a decision to go ahead still not taken.  Councillor Mosedale proposed raising this with Balfour Beatty at the forthcoming meeting.  Action Councillor Mosedale.

Minute number 26.03.11. IT /Data Protection Training

The Parish Councillors acknowledged receipt and understanding of the recently circulated IT and data protection guidance and completed the compliance checklists.

Minute number 26.03.12. Nevile Summers Charity.

No news.

Minute number 26.03.13. Councillor’s reports.

Councillor Mosedale advised that he was leaving the speed indicator devises in their current position as this was a good location.  The number of vehicles going through the parish are increasing at approximately 38,000 per week.  Councillor Mosedale advised that he intends to contact Kyra Nettle at highways to follow up on the meeting held with her and the leader of the County Council recently.  Action Councillor Mosedale.

Councillor Plackett-Smith advised that at the recent cluster group meeting she attended, Kimberley Pickett, the Community Resilience Officer at Lincolnshire Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Service, was in attendance encouraging Parish Council’s to create their own community emergency plan.  This will be put on another agenda for discussion in the future.  Action Parish Clerk.

Councillor Plackett-Smith also advised that she has recently been asked about the possibility of installing speed humps on Dovecote Lane and whether better signage could be investigated.   It was agreed to raise this with highways.  Action Parish Clerk.

Councillor Rocks advised that she has done some more painting in the Clock Tower and will continue when time permits.

Councillor Quince advised that he was still looking into different options for a defibrillator maintenance agreement.

Councillor Quince also reported that dog fouling is increasing and he is on the lookout for the offenders and asked about litter picking equipment.  He was advised that the parish council were given some kits by the District Council and are in the Clock Tower.

Councillor Nevile advised that the newly formed speed awareness group have now all received training and the necessary equipment and are planning their first session.  Additional members are needed so a rota can be drawn up.

Councillor Nevile asked about the 30mph signs on the lampposts and asked if we could buy some new ones.  The Parish Clerk will source these.  Action Parish Clerk.

Minute number 26.03.14. Date of next meeting.  12th May 2026.

Appendix A part 1 items of expenditure

Appendix A part 2 current budget position

Breakdown of reserves

Please be advised that these are notes of the meeting taken by the Parish Clerk and cannot in any way be regarded as official minutes of Parish Council proceedings until approved and signed at the next meeting