Document Date
18/09/2025
Created by
Parish Clerk
Category
Meetings
Wollaston Parish Council
Wollaston Parish Council
Document Date
18/09/2025
Created by
Parish Clerk
Category
Meetings
WOLLASTON PARISH COUNCIL
Tel: 07856 203260
Email: clerk@wollastonparishcouncil.gov.uk
Web: wollastonparishcouncil.gov.uk
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF WOLLASTON
PARISH COUNCIL HELD AT THE OASIS, HIGH STREET, WOLLASTON
ON THURSDAY 18th September 2025.
PRESENT: Cllr Alvis, Barber, Carter, Gay, Goldsmith, Jones, Mitchell, Savage and Threadgold.
IN ATTENDANCE: No members of the public attended.
WARD COUNCILLORS: Cllr Gordon Dunsmuir, Cllr Tom Partridge-Underwood.
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| 25/077 – OPEN MEETING
No open meeting.
25/078 – TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies received from Cllr Atkinson, Cllr Farman, Cllr Hodson and Cllr Seager (holiday).
25/079 – NORTH NORTHANTS COUNCIL – Apologies received from Cllr J-P Carr and Cllr Martin Griffiths. Cllr Dunsmuir and Chair provided an update on the recent PPG (Patient Participation Group) meeting for Wollaston and Bozeat. An advert will be placed in the Wollaston Together Magazine asking for additional members, further updates to follow. An on-line meeting was arranged by Cllr Dunsmuir with Sarah Bool (MP) and affected Parishes for the proposed Green Hill Solar Farm. The outcome will be decided by the Secretary of State and NNC will not play a pivotal part in the decision. Repairs to London Road poor road surface have been carried out and the work was not a complete re-surface as expected. Cllr Dunsmuir to make contact with Cllr Chris McGiffen, Executive Member for Highways and Travel for feedback. Cllr Savage to also write to Ben Wright, Kier Highways to request the double yellows are repainted, timescales for Holyoake Road surface work and advise of disappointment with the patching work on London Road.
25/080 – DECLARATION OF INTERESTS None relating to business on the agenda.
25/081 – MINUTES Minutes of the Parish Council meeting from 17th July 2025 were agreed and signed as a true account. Unanimously agreed, motion carried.
25/082 TO RESOLVE THE REQUEST FROM CLLR BARBER FOR A PARISH COUNCIL BANNER – CODE OF CONDUCT/NOLAN PRINCIPLES – It was unanimously agreed to purchase a pull up banner at a cost of £53.97 for the Village Hall. Cllr Barber to provide details for Clerk to order.
25/083 – TO CONFIRM THE CLIMATE AND NATURE CHAMPION TO REPRESENT THE COUNCIL IN MATTERS RELATING TO THE CLIMATE, NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT – Wollaston resident, Mr Richard Gawkowski has volunteered for this position and will be attending the online session in November. Mr Gawkowski will provide updates for the Parish Council when appropriate.
25/084 – TO RESOLVE THE REQUEST FROM CLLR BARBER FOR 20MPH ADVISORY SIGNS ON COBBS LANE, HINWICK ROAD, ST MARY’S ROAD, IRCHESTER ROAD, LONDON ROAD AND HOOKHAMS PATH It was unanimously agreed that a trial with the 20mph advisory signs will be trialled on the Summers Grange Estate before requesting to roll out to other roads within the village. To be reviewed in a few months.
25/085 – TO DISCUSS AND UPDATE THE PARISH COUNCIL ON THE LONDON ROAD/DUCHY LANE ISSUES WITH OVERGROWN VEGETATION AND LEAK Chair advised that Anglian Water have confirmed to the Duchy that the leak is a runoff from a septic tank in the area. Chair to contact the tenant farmer to obtain a quotation for approval at the October meeting for trench digging and a new pipe. Also request the tenant farmer to cut back the vegetation.
25/086 TO CONFIRM ATTENDANCE AT THE 78TH NCALC CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 4TH – Cllr Jennine Barber confirmed attendance and Clerk to attend if no other Councillor is available to attend.
25/087 TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE FOLLOWING POLICIES – CODE OF CONDUCT, EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY AND RISK ASSESSMENT. The Code of Conduct, Equality and Diversity and Risk Assessment policies were reviewed and unanimously agreed.
25/088 – CLERK’S REPORT Resident complaint received regarding parking in High Street. It was agreed not to extend the double yellow lines. Remembrance Day update – Sunday 9th November 2025. Road closure applied for, War memorial clean booked, Bugler confirmed, Lord Lieutenant Representative confirmed. Clerk to arrange meeting to discuss timings, children’s participation and Councillor volunteers for reading of names of the fallen. For information – Unions and Local Government Employers agreed the pay award for 2024/25 for local government staff, including parish and town council clerks and other employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms and conditions. The new pay scales, each increased by 3.2% with the increase backdated to 1 April 2025. Clerk to attend Scribe fest on October 9th 9.30am – 4pm The Free Online Conference for Town, Parish and Community Councils. Complaints received from relatives regarding the removal process of items from the Garden of Remembrance, Cobbs Lane Cemetery due to the area becoming overcrowded with mementoes. Items have been damaged in the process. All queries and complaints regarding this process and damaged items have been referred back to NNC Bereavement Services Team. Training to understand the Neighbourhood planning process to be held on October 21st and 23rd via NCALC – please advise the Clerk if you wish to attend. Neighbourhood plan to be added to the October agenda for a more detailed discussion led by Cllr Mitchell. 25/089 – FINANCES
Receipts circulated. It was RESOLVED to approve receipts for July and August 2025. Unanimously agreed, motion carried
Payments Circulated. It was RESOLVED to approve payments for July and August 2025. Unanimously agreed, motion carried.
JULY
Bank Reconciliation as of 31.08.25 was circulated. It was RESOLVED to approve the August Bank Reconciliation. Unanimously agreed, motion carried.
It was RESOLVED to approve the S137 Annual Grants. Unanimously agreed, motion carried. Total value £7,385 from the budgeted £8,600 due to lack of uptake from Village Youth Groups.
It was RESOLVED to approve the report from the external auditor. Report was published on website and notice board.
25/090 – REPORTS
(a) New Community Centre/preschool update (MG/JM/GC) – Teams meeting held on July 16th with NNC S106 and Early Years Team to establish the demographic details for age requirements for the S106 monies to provide value for money as our previous proposal was rejected. Meetings to be held with both village pre school settings to establish if they can meet the proposed requirements. WPC to re-submit a business plan to NNC within a month and a further Teams meeting to be held in November to establish whether we can move our proposal forward. (b) Playing fields & Parks Management Committee (draft minutes appendix 5.) An incident at the Playing Fields play area has resulted in an Insurance Claim which Zurich are dealing with. Various repairs are required to all three play areas in accordance with the External Audit Reports to provide an audit trail. Discussions held on whether the play areas should be closed due to safety issues. Streetlights – no issues. Highways Team have been busy over the summer staining benches, painting railings and weeding. Cllr Savage received a complaint regarding large lorries using South Street and Hinwick Road, letter to be sent to local businesses. Street Doctor Report (Appendix 6) – report circulated, no issues. (c) Footpaths Update – No response received from Kexby Estates on the permissive footpath liability requirements, until this is received, we cannot progress with the permissive path as the landowner needs to take responsibility. New waymarkers have been placed on various routes around the village by Cllr Threadgold and Cllr Jones. Clerk to re-order. No update on the bark chippings for the Scott Bader footpath, but the path is looking tidy and further vegetation is due to be cut back by the footpath Councillors. (d) Village Hall management Committee Update (MG) – (Draft minutes appendix 7) – Busy Bees have reversed their decision to close due to parent support. Bookings have been down over the Summer. Paralympics GB will be coming to film Maisie Summers Newton with the Studio 52 dance class on Wednesday 24th September (e) Crime and Community Safety Update – figures provided by Northants Police confirmed that 11 crimes were reported in August and 8 in July. PCSO Fenner has been contacted to arrange a police/safer roads presence at Wollaston Secondary School due to continued parking on road markings and corners.
(f) Summers Grange Update (JB) – Cllr Barber is still in contact with Bloor Homes regarding the inadequate play area, will continue to chase. Weeds continue to be an issue, but these are being sprayed by the maintenance team together with a vegetation cut back at the entrance to improve visibility. The dead trees and shrubs will be replaced in December. The dog/waste bin will be moved to a more suitable position by Bloor and footpath repairs will be carried out in October. Both the top and bottom pedestrian entrances will have railings/bollard in keeping with the estate to ensure children’s safety. A community day will be held on Sunday 28th September to spread the wildflower seeds donated by Poddington Garden Centre. Issues continue with dogs off lead on the estate. Look into putting up a notice in conjunction with the Management Team and Bloor.
25/091 – PLANNING (g) Applications Schedule was circulated with Agenda (Appendix 8).
NW/24/00422/FUL – Church of St Mary Church Lane Two storey extension to church and new resin bound gravel path and associated works. WPC – no objection. Application permitted.
NW/24/00448/EXT – Green Hill Solar Farm – Consultation on draft statement of Community Consultation (SoCC). Awaiting decision.
NW/25/00096/FUL – Wollaston School, 100 Irchester Road – Formation of car park with associated drainage and biodiversity net gain planting. WPC – Letter sent for clarification response received 07.04.25. Awaiting decision.
NW/25/00195/FUL – 24 York Road, Wollaston – Change of use of pastureland to residential garden, including erection of wall, gates and boundary fencing. WPC – no objection. Awaiting decision.
NW/25/00222/FUL – 69 Priory Road, Wollaston – single storey flat roof rear extension with 1 no roof lantern. WPC – no objection. Application permitted.
NN/24/00021/WASFUL – Land between and rear 30 to 50 Doddington Road, Wollaston – proposed development of an industrial/commercial building including office space for purpose of plastic, paper and metal recycling. WPC – strong objection letter sent 12/08/2025. Awaiting decision 22.10.2025
NW/25/00329/LDP – 4 Briarwood Way, Wollaston – application for a lawful development certificate for the addition of a single storey extension and a window/folding door to the rear of the property – WPC no objection. Application permitted.
NW/25/00313/FUL – 12 Prospect Close, Wollaston – proposed first floor extension. WPC no objection. Awaiting decision.
NW/25/00383/PAMB – Field east of the A509 and north of the Village of Wollaston – Application to determine if prior approval is required for a proposed change of use and associated operational development of an agricultural building from an agricultural use to one dwelling house. WPC – does not support but will leave to authorities. Granted approval under C Class Prior Approval with access onto the A509.
NW/25/00357/FUL – 6-8 Rotten Row, Wollaston – Single storey link between main dwelling and outbuilding with new windows, doors and skylight. WPC – no objection. Awaiting decision.
25/092 – NEXT MEETING The next meeting of Wollaston Parish Council to take place on Thursday October 16th, 2025, 7pm, Oasis Building, High Street, Wollaston.
The Chair thanked Councillors for their attendance. The meeting was closed at 9pm.
Chair……………………………………………….. Date: ……………………………… |
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