Council Meeting – 7th January 2026
HIGH MELTON PARISH COUNCIL
7 January 2026 – Ordinary Parish Council Meeting
In attendance: Councillors: Martin Pick, Dave Jones, Joan Herrero and Robert Park. Also present wer, three members of the public and Paul Rollinson, Clerk.
1. Apologies: Parish Councillor Tom Hunt and Ward Councillors Cynthia Ransome and Oliver Bloor.
2. Declarations of Members’ Interests: None given.
3. To approve the minutes of Parish Meetings
a) Ordinary Meeting held 5 November 2025. Resolution; The meeting minutes were accepted.
4. To Receive Correspondence
a) HMRC Help and Support. b) HMRC Gateway. c) Grant correspondence regarding funding for Christmas lighting. d) Footpath correspondence and follow up. e) Email from internal auditor about setting up free gov email addresses. f) Meeting information and financial update including bank statements. g) Hostpesto Technical Support guidance. h) Service request confirmation to Doncaster Council. i) Emails regarding website issues which have been resolved. j) Precept email from Doncaster Council. k) Email regarding 2025 register of electors. l) Doncaster Council email regarding temporary regulations on High Melton. m) Email correspondence with Libby Culmer @ Diocese of Sheffield regarding St James Church. n) Doncaster Council email correspondence regarding site visit following flooding issues. o) email correspondence with Council Officers regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and setting up meeting on 15 January 2026. p) YLCA bulletin and briefings.
5. Update on Community Priorities
a) Update on progress on community priorities and note completed actions
Community priorities and a document shared was noted. Priorities focused on community engagement through newsletters and encouraging involvement through local events such as Christmas and Midsummer activities, the book swap project and coffee mornings. Traffic work including traffic calming measures, project to develop multi use pathway projects with neighbouring villages and to benefit from the Melton Park development. Environmental focus on flood defence work, community clean ups and litter picking. Work to support the community use of St James Church, engaging with the community to explore the formation of a Friends of St James’ group. The development and finalising of a Neighbourhood Plan and liaising with groups such as the PCJCC.
b) Motion to consider the priorities and agrees the priority areas for the 2026/2027.
The Parish Council resolved to adopt the priority areas for 2026/2027.
6. To Receive Financial Update.
Accounts overview 1 September 2025 – 31 December 2025
Balance brought forward to 31 December 2025; £6,889.34
Incomings:
Interest Payments £0.54
£5.98
£4.82
£3.85
£0.50
£4.25
Total £19.94
Outgoings:
Clerk Salary x4 £880.00
HMRC (Tax) x4 £220.00
Traffic Survey Invoice £960.00
Remembrance Day £97.75
Doncaster Council – Elec £69.10
Total £2,226.85
Closing Balance as at 31 December 2025: £4,682.43
b) Banking reconciliation for 1 April 2025 to 31 December 2025
Income Expenditure
Precept: £5,500 Clerk salary/Expenses/Tax:
Including WFH Allowance £2,475.00
Interest:
£55.64
General Admin: £908.39
Balances not clearer £50 Misc: £1,029.10
Total: £5,605.54 Total: £4,412.49
Balance brought forward: £3,690
Add Income: £5,605
Less Payments: £4,412
Carried Forward: £4,883
Balances at Bank: £4,683
Current account:
Total balance: £200
£4,883
Balance carried forward £4,883
RESOLVED
The Parish Council resolved to accepted the financial update and banking reconciliation.
a) Motion to agree Proposed Budget for Financial Year 2026/2027
The Clerk outlined the proposed budget for the Parish Council.
Budget for Year April 2026 to March 2027
Clerk Salary
Basic Salary for the year based on 12 months @ 4 hours per week at NJC Scale 18 (subject to pay award 2026) £3,409
Working from home allowance 52 weeks at £4 per week £208
Misc Expenses £50
Admin Costs e.g. printing/ ink cartridges/binding of minutes £100
Insurance £450
Remembrance Day Celebrations + Wreath £150
YLCA subs £150
Garden/plants/planting activity £70
Community Fund Project £350
Defib Project £1000
Website Hosting and associated costs £60
Internal Audit £300
Total £6297
RESOLVED: Councillor MP proposed the Parish Council accepted the budget and seconded by Councillor JH. Resolved to accept the proposed budget for 2026/2027 with all in favour.
b) Motion to agree Precept for Financial Year 2026/2027
The Parish Council considered the precept level for 2026/2027, taking in account the Parish Council budget, three year forcast and financial situation for the Council and benchmarked against similar Parish Councils.
The Parish Council resolved to set the precept at £5,700 which is an increase of 3.64% and for the Band D tax percentage increase of 4.38%.
RESOLVED: The Parish Council resolved to accept the proposed precept level with all in favour. Clerk to notified Doncaster Council of agreement.
c) Motion to accept Local Government Services Pay Agreement 2025
The Clerk explained the Local Government Services Pay Agreement increase of 3.2% from the 1 April 2025. The Pay Award increase to Point 18 of Clerk Salary and calculated back pay of nine months (April to December 2025).
RESOLVED: The Parish Council resolved to accept the Local Government Pay award.
7. Update on plans for footpaths connections to other villages
The Parish Council noted the feedback from the meeting on 17 October 2025 to discuss the establishment of safe footpath rooutes between villages. The group discussed key problem areas and the need for suitable and practical everyday routes.
There was agreement on the need for multi‑use paths and to engage with landowners, alongside sharing village‑specific issues that may inform future planning.
Next steps include working on the priorities for the next follow‑up meeting in three months.
8. To Receive Traffic Group Update
a) Update provided on flood defence measures and village flooding issues and meeting with officers from Doncaster Council is being arranged.
9. To Receive Planning Updates
a) 24/01906/FUL Woodsend Cottage Sheep Lane application has been decided. b) 25/02137/FUL Archway Doncaster Road was granted. c) 25/02256/AGR Erection of two 1250m3 Mesh Silo’s for the storage of liquid digestate fertilizer for use on the two respective sides of Hangman Stone Road was decided with prior approval not required. d) The application for a Wind Farm has been refused. e) Strawsons application is awaiting submission.
Resolved: a) Clerk to contact Doncaster Council Planning Department regarding 25/02256/AGR about why not on our area on the Online portal and why there was no planning permission required. b) Clerk to clarify with Doncaster Council in relation to the tank at Redhouse Farm.
10. Update on Parish Neighbourhood Plan
The Parish Council noted the update on the Neighbourhood Plan and the meeting with Planning Officers at Doncaster Council on Thursday 8 January 2026.
11. Community Matters
a) Book Swap Project at Bus Shelter is ongoing and further update at next meeting.
b) Promotion of Coffee Mornings and exploration of other community‑based meetings as ways to address community isolation.
c) Community Litter Pick – next date to be confirmed
12. Councillor Information Exchange Session (For information only)
Deferred
13. Date of Next Meeting 4 March 2026
Public Session: Missing footpath sign on Sheeplane and Clerk to report to Doncaster Council
