BUCKNALL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT 6.00PM
WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY 2026
PRESENT: Cllr D Forman (Chair); Mrs L Mills (Clerk); Cllr D Mills; Cllr D Wilkinson; Cllr G Wilkinson; Cllr J Moreton; Cllr S Adams; Cllr B Adams; Cllr G Taylor
1. PUBLIC FORUM: no members of the public in attendance
2. APOLOGIES: Cllr D Hawkins; Cllr W Gray (ELDC)
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Cllr J Moreton - Campney Lane which she would bring up during Any Other Business.
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The Minutes of the previous meeting had been previously circulated and were agreed as correct. DF therefore signed them as an accurate record of the meeting.
5. MATTERS ARISING
Development at Hallyards Farm - the applicant is now appealing as ELDC have turned down the application (the Parish Council offered no objections).
DF stated that he and LM had attending a meeting at Bucknall Primary School before Christmas to discuss a few things, including parking on the main road. Staff were very receptive and agreed to encourage parents/carers/staff to use the Village Hall car park when possible. They had asked if there was any possibility of having a zebra crossing installed, as crossing the main road without one will put people off using the car park.
The large tree on Townhill Lane green has been trimmed at no cost to the village.
6. PRECEPT 2026-27
A request for £2100 from ELDC - as per the last few years - would result in a £15 increase in Band D households’ council tax.
DW proposed that the precept request remains at £2100. This was seconded by JM, and agreed unanimously.
7. DEVELOPMENT AT THE NOOK, BUCKNALL - NEW STREET NAME
Despite construction not having started yet, the developers have been in touch with the Parish Council and asked if there are any suggestions for street names for the new development. After some discussion, it was agreed that the following names would be sumbitted, both having historical connections to the village:
Godiva Close
Benson Brown Close
ACTION: LM to reply to email from developers with above suggestions
8. CHAPEL WALK FOOTPATH
Chapel Walk has finally been designated a public right of way, added to the Definitive Map and identified with signs at each end of the footpath.
SA asked whether the path will be reinstated to its original width? DF replied that he had spoken to Cllr Gray (ELDC) about this and he had explained that it will be a County Council decision as the footpath is their responsibility.
DF suggested that Mr Price be recognised for all his hard work and research which was a huge factor in the success of the application. A budget of £75 for the purchase of something suitable was agreed unanimously.
ACTION: DF to arrange.
9. SAFEGUARDING: no issues reported.
10. FOODBANK: nothing to report.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
As per item 5 above, it was agreed that an approach should be made to LCC regarding the possibility of installing a zebra crossing from the Village Hall to the pavement opposite. This will make it much safer for users to cross from one side of the main road to another, and hopefully encourage parking there for school staff and visitors..
ACTION: LM to contact LCC.
Road through the village will be resurfaced again as such a poor job was done a few months ago. LCC to arrange.
JM - potholes in Campney Lane reported in November. JM reported them again on 20 January.
JM - speeding down Campney Lane. Nothing has been done months later.
ACTION: LM to chase up this matter.
DW suggested that the new LCC councillor for the area be invited to the next meeting.
ACTION: LM to get contact details and invite.
GT - white gates for village.
ACTION: JM to pass contact details to GT so he can make enquiries.
The AGM date was agreed as 2 April, venue and time to be confirmed. The Village Hall Committee AGM will be held on the same date.
There being no further business, the meting closed at 6.31PM