November 2025 Minutes
The minutes of the recreation & opens spaces committee meeting held at 8.00pm on Tuesday 11 November 2025 in the meeting room at the Institute 38 Church Street Deeping St James PE6 8HD.
Present: Councillors Hosking, Laws, Neville, Rose, Shinkins-Hoppe, Smith, Stevens, Townsin and Burdock
The minutes were taken by the Parish Clerk
Councillor Burdock provided an explanation of a planter with electrical supply to be placed at Jubilee Park to hold a Christmas tree. He was asked to provide a CAD drawing and costings for consideration at a meeting in 2026.
Councillor Burdock left the meeting
26.16 To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Parish Clerk prior to the meeting.
All present
26.17 To receive declarations of interest.
None declared.
26.18 To agree the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 02 September 2025.
Agreed and signed
26.19 To receive the Clerk’s report.
-The maintenance team continue to work through the independent operational play inspection reports
-Councillor Burdock is obtaining costings for a seasonal decoration to be placed at Jubilee Park however he has confirmed that it will not be available for Christmas 2025
-The Clerk and Councillor Shinkins-Hoppe are obtaining a quotation for the purchase and installation of a bench in memory of the late Nancy Titman to be located in the play area off Hereward Way
-A thousand Daffodil bulbs have been purchased a planted at locations around the parish by Councillors Leader, Rose and Townsin, members of the Priory Church eco group and the Friends of Deeping St James
-The highway verge, Jubilee Park, Woody Heights and riverbank grass cutting contracts for 2025 have been completed and due to the excellent job they have done this year, quotations have been requested from the same contractor for 2026
-The family of the late Mary Miller have been provided with the locations suggested for the planting of a memorial tree and also details of suitable trees and supplier
26.20 To receive an update from the Jubilee Park improvements working party including consideration of the purchase of a replacement playhouse and organising an event either as part of or to compliment the Great Big Green Week (8-16 June 2025).
Councillor Smith referred to the notes taken during a Zoom meeting with a representative from Groundwork which was held on 23 October 2025 from which Groundwork were asked to produce a detailed design for the Older Children’s play area.
Councillor Smith then shared two illustrations of playhouses, which he was seeking supply and installation costs for, to replace the one that had recently been removed in the younger children’s play area.
Councillor Smith then suggested organising event during the spring 2026 half term week to promote the biodiversity area and compliment events held by others during the Big Green Week (8-16 June). It was agreed that due to the challenges of getting volunteers to help at events that consideration should be given to an activity members of the public could complete on their own rather than organising an event.
ACTION: The Clerk to add this time to the next agenda for further consideration
26.21 To receive updated information about the installation of benches in the parish (originally considered in November 2023, minute 24.44) and consider allocating a budget within 2026/27 to cover costs.
Councillor Smith showed plans showing 4 locations, 3 on Linchfield Road and 1 on Spalding Road. Three locations ere agreed (1 near the bus stop on the westside of Linchfield Road near Brewton Drive, one the northside junction of Campions Drive on Linchfield Road and one on Spalding Road opposite the entrance to the Deeping Rugby Club car park. The bench design opted for was also agreed.
ACTION: The Clerk was asked to add a budget of £1500 to cover the purchase and installation of the 3 benches to the draft budget papers currently being prepared.
26.22 To finalise details of the Carols in the Marquee event at the Waterton Arms scheduled to take place on Friday 12 December 2025.
Posters and banners had been prepared and these would now be put on noticeboards Facebook and railings.
26.23 To consider when and where the Annual Parish Meeting and Making a Difference Awards Presentation 2026 should be held.
It was agreed that holding this event in the Conference Centre at the Deepings School would be preferred and three dates were suggested (22 April 2026, 27 April 2026 and 11 May 2026)
ACTION: The Clerk to contact the School to confirm availability
26.24 To receive the guidance from the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks about what Parish Councils need to know and do in respect of Martyn’s Law.
Councillor Stevens had attended a virtual meeting presented by the Home Office along with the Parish Clerk on 21 October 2025. The legislation was approved in April 2025 but would not be enforced until April 2027. The Home Office were still preparing guidance as were many other bodies. What the meeting did was heightened awareness of the need to take responsibility of those present when holding an event. It was agreed that Martyns Law requirements should be included in future event planning
26.25 To note the date of the next meeting – 8pm on Tuesday 06 January 2026.