2026 Minutes

Minutes of the Dunston Parish Council Meeting - Monday 8th June 2026

Present: Cllrs Russ McLuckie (RM), Geoff Armstrong (GA), Alan Craig (AC), David Harding (DH), Linda Phillipson (LP), Bryan Lamyman (BL), Luke Treece (LT), Rachel Pellew (RP).

Public session - No members of the public were present

Council Session

1

Apologies - Apologies received from Tom Barbour (TB)

2

Declarations - No declarations of interest were received.       

3

Public session – No members of the public were present.

4

Presentation by Barry Green (BG). BG was not present. RM explained that BG wants to hire the field for mini athletic sessions on a regular basis. All agreed that more information is required regarding the use of facilities, timings, etc. It was agreed in principle that use would be granted at no cost. Action: TB to request additional information from BG as alluded to above.

TB

5

County and District Cllr Reports - LCC Cllr Rob Kendrick (RK) attended and was briefed on the issue with the wall at Hall’s Court. Action: AC to provide RK with the details and RK will make enquiries about who is responsible for this.

AC asked RK for an update on the salt bins. We would require at least two, one for the Village Hall car park and one for outside the school. Action: RK to follow up on this.

RK confirmed that there wasn’t any update on the community funding and will follow up. Action: RK to request an update.

RM thanked RK for the volunteer work. The next project for which we may seek volunteer help is to tidy up the cemetery.

AC

RK

RK

6

The minutes of the May 2026 PC meeting were not distributed. Action: RM will distribute the minutes.

RM

7

Chairman’s Report – RM reported that 90% of the work on the playing field has been completed. Some old wood still needs to be removed and there is some new wood that will be used for the remaining work. The Annual Parish Meeting in May was well attended with good input from local organisations/groups.

8

Clerk’s Report – TB not present but RM updated on the following:

a. Planning - Permission has been granted for houses on Fen Lane.

North Kesteven District Council’s planning committee has set extra conditions, requiring that all of the homes be two-storey and setting a minimum height for floors. Final approval has been given for 17 homes despite warnings they are in a high-risk flood area.

Council officers said they were confident that the site wouldn’t be affected by water from Dunston Beck, even in extreme cases.

Developer AG Property Associates Ltd has commissioned local studies which they believe are more accurate than the Environment Agency’s national picture.

Members of the planning committee said they were uneasy with the change, but didn’t have legal grounds to reject it.

The land was re-assessed for flooding as Grade 2/3 in and originally opposed by the Environment Agency, but then changed to Grade One and approved on the proviso that they would be houses, not bungalows, and that they would be built at a higher level.

b. Correspondence – Nothing else received.

c. Fraud Pack – These packs have now been distributed and well received.

9

Highways issues

a. AC reported that there will be a meeting on 17th June to determine whether the September start date for the road bridge is still feasible.

b. Some progress with the street lights. However, the one outside 3 Fen Lane has now been out for 3 months.

c. AC has already asked whether LCC is responsible for Hall’s Court wall.

10

Playing Field

a. Fence repairs have been completed. Just some minor remaining bits of work left to do.

b. Equipment repairs – there are exposed metal posts on the picnic table. Slides and swings need repairing. Swings damaged. Still awaiting maintenance costs. Action TB to raise and make enquiries with HAGS regarding quotes. DH raised concerns about the number of prickly weeds around the equipment. Action: TB to contact Glendale regarding the frequency of visits.

c. Goal post – Still awaiting quote.

TB

TB

     11

Cemetery

RM presented his views regarding the need to carry out hedge cutting and the installation of paths. A lengthy discussion ensued about this and the option of removing the central line of trees and planting anti-rabbit fencing and a hedge of beech trees. All agreed that we need to determine who is willing to get involved and what the costs could amount to. Action: AC to draft a letter and TB to send to Dyson, MAC, LCC and the Quarry to request support.

AC

12

Village Hall

GA updated those present on the following:

a. A second cleaner has been employed, and cleaning schedules are in place.

b. Events, including Pilates, arts and crafts, and the Father’s Day event.

c. Blockage in the beck. Message will go out on WhatsApp group to arrange a date.

d. Finance - £1169 in Current Account and £6800 in Savings.

e. Car park lighting. We discussed options and agreed that ground lights would be too expensive. Best options are a single tall post with multi-directional lighting or a few small light posts. Action: RM to obtain more details.

RM

Finance

AGAR has been submitted. Nothing further to report.

Next Meeting: Monday 13th July