January 2025 Minutes
Great Gonerby Parish Council
Minutes of meeting held on 6th January 2025 7.15pm
at The Memorial Hall, Belton Lane
Present:
Cllr T Bridle – Chair, Cllr M Beckett, Cllr D Jacobs, Cllr K White, Cllr E Austen,
Cllr G Beckett (acting Clerk)
Public Forum:
Five members of public present. Topic raised and discussed – more Parish councillors and our two District councillors requested to support Neighbourhood Plan meetings, due to generally poor turnout. Cllr Bridle mentioned the appointment of a consultant to take the project into stage 3 and grant funded.
It was suggested that more awareness of the Neighbourhood Plan was needed for villagers, including families, youth and older people. A leaflet drop as an option was mentioned and a suggestion of a fun logo be created for the promotion of the project, e.g. bee theme. Cllr Austen offered to work on this with the members of public present.
A member of the public Mrs K Davey requested to join the Parish Council to fill a long-standing vacancy. A completed application form was submitted, and Mrs Davey spoke briefly to explain her reason for wishing to join the PC. Cllr Bridle commented on the request. Councillors then voted by ballot and it was agreed unanimously to accept the application. Mrs Davey was then welcomed and invited to sit at the table.
Public forum closed at 7.50pm
1. Apologies and absence
Apologies received from Cllr M Neal due to illness
Absent – Cllr Maughan LCC, Cllr Stokes & Cllr Stephens SKDC
2. Declarations of Interest
None declared.
3. Minutes from meeting on 4 November & Extraordinary meeting on 26 November 2024.
Parish meeting minutes accepted, proposed and seconded by Cllrs Jacobs and Austen. Extraordinary meeting minutes accepted, proposed and seconded by Cllrs White and M Beckett
4. Matters arising
Amendments to Complaints Policy and Communication Protocols to be deferred to February meeting for approval. Cllr Austen to action.
5. Election of Vice Chair
A show of hands was requested by the Chair for interested councillors. Cllr G Beckett was the only hand raised. Cllr White and Cllr Davey both verbally supported her taking the post. Councillors then voted by ballot and a unanimous vote was passed.
6. Highways update
Cllr Maughan was not in attendance. Cllr G Beckett will contact him for any updates a report back in February.
7. Projects update:
a) Neighbourhood Plan.
Cllr Bridle confirmed that the consultant Mr Kemp will take the project forward from stage 3 to conclusion. A grant application to cover his fees has been applied for. Cllr Bridle said that the next NP meeting on the theme of Heritage 2nd session, will be on 27 January 7pm at the Social Club.
b) Orchards Project
Cllr White advised that February was the earliest time for planting the grant funded fruit trees in three village locations. The planted trees will be photographed as evidence for SKDC for payment of the balance of the grant.
c) Environment
Cllr G Beckett reported that the Memorial Hall has arranged some tree surgery in January on some of their High Street facing trees. She reported that a re-quote is imminent for Parish tree surgery in the Millennium Wood for trees overhanging the road and pavement. A missing heritage sign from beside a tree felling at the end of Covill Close has now been found and will be returned to Jeff Thompson for re-locating. Cll Beckett said she had contacted SKDC groundwork team to see if any areas of Parish and SKDC verge and green space cutting responsibilities could be revisited to make more logical areas for maintenance. This was not feasible under the SKDC contracts however. Cllr Beckett said she has purchased four bright coloured 30mph speed check signs for locations, to be decided, to reinforce awareness for traffic approaching the village.
d) Website.
Cllr Bridle reported that he had received a handover from a resigning councillor who had taken on responsibility for managing the current website www.greatgonerbyonline.co.uk It had previously been agreed to transfer back to the previous website we had with LALC and this is pending set up.
8. Correspondence and Planning
Cllr Bridle reported on communications received:
Telegraph poles that appeared on Cox’s Walk are now being followed up by the enquiring resident who now has a point of contact.
Town and Country newsletter had been circulated.
The retired parish clerk requested to clarify that her personal email had not been used for parish activity.
Letter received from LCC for PC consultation, regarding parking restrictions to be implemented at the end of Green Steet and bus stop road markings added past the left corner of Green St. Next step will be LCC public consultation and letters to any homeowners affected.
Three Planning applications had been received for awareness - no issues raised by councillors.
9. Financial Matters
a) Budget 2025/26 :
Cllr Bridle reported that he will be registering the proposed budget with SKDC before the deadline of 17 January. Cllr Davey raised a query over a surplus £2k transaction by the Clerk to the 95-day bank account. Cllr Davey also asked if the corrections and adjustments had been made to the budget and an updated copy sent to all.
b) Accounts System update
Cllr M Beckett reported that the agreed new accounting spreadsheet system is in the process of being set up, with a start data for full data input from 1 January 2025. From April to December 2024 inclusive, a single figure for ‘staffing costs’ and one for ‘other expenditure costs’ will suffice for input and auditing purposes. Cllr Beckett is awaiting the required data to be provided by the Chair so he can arrange to begin the input.
c) Accounts for payment
Cllr Bridle ran through the spend for November and December 2024. This included Christmas Tree event expenses, clerk laptop repair, clerk vacancy advert, councillors Christmas dinner. Expenditure was proposed and seconded by Cllr Jacobs and Cllr M Beckett.
10. Vote of Confidence in Chairman
A Vote of Confidence in Cllr T Bridle as Chairman had been called as an agenda item by one councillor and the motion supported by two other councillors. The Chairman gave a few words. Councillors then voted by ballot - a result of 4 no confidence: 2 confidence.
11. Closed Session for Staffing Matters. Public were asked to leave the room.
12. Motions for next meeting.
Harworth Group invited to be present at February meeting to speak about new business employment opportunities in the parish – 7pm start suggested for their presentation before public forum.
Memorial Hall original meeting room booking system needs re-visiting for clarity and an agreed policy set up.
Cllr G Beckett as acting clerk listed items for the agenda so far, including four policies for approval, the maintenance of statue Charlie at The Pond, updates on new clerk appointment, the website, defibrillators and accounting system update.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm.