Minutes 7th October 2025
WELTON LE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the ordinary meeting held 7th October 2025
Present: Cllrs Williams (Chair); Tong ; Holiday, Hardcastle, S. Faulkner-smith,
. Faulkner-smith & Crome
Mrs J. Cooper (Clerk)
4 members of the public
During the public session a huge thank you was given to Cllr Hardcastle for helping with the recent charity coffee morning at the Village Hall – cooking and serving some 35 meals and helping raise £362. Thanks were also given to the Parish Council for the work in replacing and moving the oil tank and shed, the Village Hall donated 50% of the costs. Thanks also to Cllr Tong for assisting with the grant application. New sofas and soft furnishing to be purchased to create a relaxing corner in the Hall.
43 APOLOGIES
There were none
44 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Holiday declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 as an allotment holder.
45 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 11th AUGUST
It was resolved that the Chairman sign these as a correct record.
46 UPDATES
Quickline were attending the Village Hall shortly to survey for free internet connection.
47 CORRESPONDENCE
There was none
48 VILLAGE HALL MATTERS
A) Update on caretaker’s position. Standing Orders were suspended to permit a representative from the Village Hall Committee to make representations. It was felt the job description requirements were very heavy for the salary offered. Clerk pointed out the salary range for the role was in the region of £1900 and would increase in April, and that many other village halls did not have a paid caretaker. A Village Hall meeting scheduled for Sunday would discuss this and look at ways the work could be managed.
B) Grant application – this had been submitted, applying for a new oven, electrical work and new fire door to the kitchen. As the grant request was over £5000, some 20% match funding would be required which the Village Hall was looking at providing.
C) Future of Village Hall & Management – members of the Parish Council agreed unanimously that the Hall was a valuable asset to the village and worth preserving. There could be some future external maintenance required in the forthcoming year – pointing and painting.
49 RESPONSE FROM CHARITY COMMISSION ON AMENDING TERMS OF CHARITY
Clerk advised that NALC had advised the Council contact solicitors to ensure that any amendments to the terms of the charity, and the definition of “poor” be made both legally and unambiguously. Discussion followed on the future and benefits of the allotments, the Clerk re-iterated the terms of the charity, the early advice from the Charity Commission when the Parish Council looked into this in 2019 and the constraints on the land and income derived from it, which had been circulated to the Council in April. Cllr Hardcastle pointed out the legislative requirement for Parish Councils to provide allotments if requested and the difficulty and potential additional expense if the Council were to dispose of the current allotment land. Cllr Holiday felt that a good use of the unused plots would be to create a tree-d area or small woodland, Cllr J. Faulkner-Smith felt this would not be appropriate and that a public meeting should be held to allow villagers to have option. A member of the public advised that when he undertook survey work for the Neighbourhood Plan which was not carried forward, a consensus of village opinion was that the allotments be retained.
After further discussion it was proposed, seconded and resolved that the Clerk approach the pro bona firms recommended by the Charity Commission to seek advise on redefining the terms of the charity “for the benefit of the poor”, and once redefinition legally agreed then further discussion be held on the allotments.
50 ANY OTHER ALLOTMENT MATTERS
2 more allotments had been let. Concern at number of sheds on allotments and the need to ensure the rules agreed were adhered to.
51 FINANCIAL
It was resolved that the following accounts be paid:
Clerks salary & PAYE (August/September) £350.22
Ratification of payment for the remaining 50% cost of the replacement oil tank, which was paid by BAC 3rd September £1626.00
Clerk pointed out error in payment of invoice for grass cutting in September, an overpayment of £100 was made. The Council was currently in credit with the grass contractor, invoice for October of £58 would come from the overpayment.
52 PLANNING
Application 2867/25 – Removal of agricultural occupancy condition on Woodview Nursery was approved.
53 ANY OTHER MATTERS.
Clerk asked for update on the planters previously agreed for the two main village signs – a member of the public agreed to look into this.
Defib – concern at whether defib could remain at Wheel Inn now it was closed, Cllr Hardcastle to see if it needed an electricity supply.
Free wood for collection from village hall, being the old shed.
54 DATE NEXT MEETING
This was noted as 11th November.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.10pm