October 2024 Minutes
GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 7th October 2024
At the Memorial Hall, Belton Lane, Great Gonerby
Present: Chairman - Cllr. T Bridle, Vicechair – Cllr K Davey, Cllr G Beckett, Cllr. J Cundall, Cllr. C Cundall, Cllr K White, Cllr M Beckett, Clerk – Arlayna Bennett and 2 members of the public.
Meeting start time: 7:15pm.
Public forum: A member of the public reported back that the grass cutting on Elm’s view hasn’t been to a good standard and hedging on the corner of pond street and green street is over hanging the public footpath, it was agreed to report to fix my street and to reach out to the home occupier to maintain the hedge to allow clear access/usage of the footpath. Pictures will be taken and reported to Highways, Cllr J Cundall volunteered to chase LCC. It was reported to the council about the concerns regarding heavy goods vehicles travelling through the village/Belton Lane to Manthorpe Chase building development… Cllr K Davey reported back that she was advised it was the police that set the route for the heavy goods vehicle but has agreed to do further investigations into this matter and work with Allison Homes to get contractors to use the correct routes and access points for vehicles. A further update shall be given in November. The public forum ended at 7:25pm.
1.Apologies for absence and reasons given – Cllr. M Neal – Personal commitments, Cllr. D Jacobs – Personal commitments, Cllr. E Austen - Personal commitments. Resolution – It was resolved by all Cllrs present to accept the apologies of all those that couldn’t’t attend.
2.Declarations of Interest/Dispensations. – Cllr. K White requested dispensation for quoting 25/26 grass cutting for village. Resolution – This was discussed amongst Cllrs and voted, with all in agreement, it was voted to not accept dispensation but to allow Cllr. K White to quote for the grass cutting season 25/26.
3. Minutes signed from the previous meeting - The Minutes of the meeting held in September 2024 were agreed and accepted as a true record. Resolution - Proposed, seconded and accepted by all Cllrs.
4. Official Correspondence & Circulation.
Proposed Council Tax Support Scheme 2025/26
LCC Town and Parish September newsletter.
Green habitats pledge as SKDC signs biodiversity agreement. Resolution - Cllr. T Bridle volunteered to investigate this and feedback on his findings in a future meeting.
5. Dates of Meetings for 2024 – The proposed PC meeting dates for 2025 are as follows and subject to confirmation from the Great Gonerby Memorial Hall booking clerk, all proposed date were circulated to all Cllrs. Resolution - confirmation and an update on finalised dates will be provided by the clerk in November 2024’s meeting. The proposed dates are as follows:
Jan 6th 25, Feb 3rd 25, March 3rd 25, April 7th 25, May 7th 25 (AGM & Parish meeting after), June 2nd 25, July 7th 25, September 1st 25, October 6th 25, November 3rd 25.
6. Review Disciplinary & Grievance Procedure – Clerk to circulate prior to the meeting to then be discussed during. – The policy was distributed to all Cllrs, feedback was given with recommendations for amendments Resolution - Clerk will make the amendments, recirculate to all Cllrs for discussion in November 2024’s meeting.
7. Financial Matters –
a) Quarterly summary of accounts up to 30th September 2024 & budget report to date – Cllr T. Bridle report as follows:
b) Grass Cutting quotations discussion – Clerk to report. – Clerk reported back that the council has received three tenders for the Grass Cutting in Great Gonerby Parish for 25/26 and these were circulated amongst the Cllrs. It was proposed and seconded to go into closed session to discuss the grass cutting quotes. Cllr. K White and members of the public left the room. It was discussed and agreed to accept tenders from BDG for the village grass and hedge cutting within Great Gonerby Parish for 25/26 with Cllrs voting 5 to 1 in favour, proposed and seconded by Cllrs G Beckett and J Cundall. It was discussed and agreed fro Eden Tree Services to cut Grantham Hill Pathway (one off for 2024 and for 25/26 season) and St Sebastians Hedge connecting with St Sebastians School (October half term 2024 and 2025).
c) Accounts for payment – Clerk to circulate prior to meeting and report. It was proposed and seconded, agreed unanimously to approve the payments for September 2024.
8. Projects Update
a) SKDC Grants – Cllr K Davey reported back that the application for the Orchard Grant is no awaiting a decision from SKDC with their meeting planned for Mid-October and will provide a further update in Novembers meeting.
b) Website – Cllr C Cundall aired his request for the council to potentially revert to the previous website held with LCC and to step away from WIX. A lengthy discussion was had amongst Cllrs and it was agreed for Cllr C Cundall to do further research into benefits and if any, cost implications, ahead of reporting back in January 2025 meeting to be put forward for a decision.
c) Neighbourhood Plan – Cllr T. Bridle to report – Cllr T Bridle reported back that the village consultations have gone well so far with further dates being set. He is trying to get feedback from SKDC regarding the local plan and will update when he has more information. Cllr K White asked who will be funding the costs of NP… It was reported by Cllr T Bridle that the council will cover the costs of 30% upfront in the view of claiming this back via the NP plan. This was subsequently put to the vote on the understanding that upfront costs could be claimed back via the grant being proposed by Cllr K Davey, Seconded by Cllr T Bridle and all voting in favour. All Cllrs present agreed to get behind the NP to help advertise and promote as this has been lacking.
d) Village Volunteering – Cllr E. Austen to report – With Cllr E Austen not in attendance it was agreed by all for an update to be given in Novembers meeting.
e) Christmas in Gonerby – Cllr G. Beckett and Cllr K. Davey to report. – Cllr K Davey report back via the Great Gonerby Events Group that the Events Group is scheduled to meet soon to finalize arrangements for Christmas 2024 - Christmas Tree Lighting: Lights will be fitted to the Christmas tree at the flagpole in mid-October - Collaboration with St. Sebastian’s: A meeting with St. Sebastian’s is set for the week commencing October 14th to discuss carol services and additional support they have kindly offered. Wickes have agreed to sponsor the costs of mince pies. The events group will be asking local businesses to sponsor wreaths to decorate the white posts surrounding the Conker trees. More details regarding the Christmas events will be available at the November Parish Council meeting.
9. Advisory Groups:
a - Planning - Town and country planning act 1990 town and country planning (development management procedure) order 2015 notification of planning application - S24/1602: Wildstone Estates Limited Proposal: 1no. double-sided D6 (digital advertisement) display Location: Toll Bar Service Station, Toll Bar Road, Marston, Lincolnshire, NG32 2AD
10a) The Environment- Cllr G. Beckett to report – Cllrs intention is to reach out to SKDC in Nov/Dec and look into the village verge cutting and seeing if there is a more productive way for all to be done – Resolution – Cllr G Beckett will report back to the council when communications have taken place.
Cllr G Beckett bought up a proposal for an Emergency Plan for the village with a detailed analogy below highlighting the benefits of such plan to the village. Resolution - It was proposed, seconded and voted unanimously for Cllr Beckett to begin groundwork on the project and to report back at the next meeting in November. If there is an appetite for an Emergency Plan for our village, next steps would be: Identify 2-3 local people to take on the planning stage (an LRF recommendation) - Create a draft emergency plan and send to the LRF for approval (this will include our method for informing entire village about an emergency plan) - Schedule in training for our community coordinators, street champions and interested villagers.
AN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR GREAT GONERBY - The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum is a one-stop-shop for support prior to, during and after an emergency. It is a community emergency centre set up in Lincoln to feed operational teams in emergencies across the county. This LRF is a gathering of senior staff in chief emergency service organisations and responsible for emergency responsiveness. It also includes the Red Cross, search and rescue groups and four-wheel drive teams - They also have drones, a phenomenal mapping system and equipped volunteers who will get to an area to help with door knocking, evacuations, registering people and much more.
www.lincolnshireresilienceforum.org
A Community Emergency Plan is, in short, a communications strategy for the village - how to act at a point of crisis. Once approved and activated by the LRF, a village Emergency Plan then dictates how information would conduit in an emergency - we contact the LRF, they activate the relevant agencies and will create a flow of information with the village. - Top risks to Lincolnshire and our village - taking into consideration climate change, instability of war and unforeseen acts of nature - Vulnerable people will have been identified, street coordinators will ensure neighbour helps neighbour, people will know what will happen if a real emergency kicks in e.g. LRF response, any village contacts for advice, safe havens and gathering places for information sharing when communications are down, what to pack in an emergency bag, what to stockpile for dry/tinned foods and water etc. - Once we have an Emergency Plan approved and activated by the LRF, they will do a presentation to the village and offer training for our coordinators and street champions, and can do some dummy runs with villagers too as exercises in coping - The LRF provide us with a free, big box of kit - 10 high viz vests, whistles, torches, wind up radio, plug-in phone and other items.
10b) Amenity Areas including Christmas Tree light dates & electricity supply payment for lights (£35). Cllr G. Beckett & Cllr K. Davey to report. – It was agreed for Cllr M Beckett to do a walk about the village ahead of Novembers meeting to report back on the parish council amenities – A discussion was had regarding the Christmas Tree lights switch on to be held on November 30th 2024 6pm onwards with further details to be released by the Great Gonerby Events Group. There was a discussion regarding the £35 electric costs payment towards the running of the Christmas lights. Resolution - It was proposed, seconded and voted unanimously to up the payment to £50.
10c - Highway Matters – Grantham Hill was discussed amongst Cllrs, after listening to parishioners’ concerns and Cllrs concerns a discussion was held and it was agreed that the parish council would take action on cutting the pathway clear going down Grantham Hill and the PC will reach out to LCC and highways to find a solution for visibility that is obstructed by trees and shrubbery on the embankment – Resolution – Clerk will arrange maintenance work for Grantham Hill footpath and liase with LCC, Highways and report back to council when evidence is gathered.
10. Notice of motions for future meetings - Cllr M Beckett requested to include a proposal for accounting software to be considered for the use of the Parish Council finances – Resolution – This was agreed to be added to November’s agenda.
11. Any matters for urgent discussion – None were raised.
12. Resolution to move into closed session for confidential item, proposed, seconded and agreed. Press and public to be excluded and asked to withdraw. Staffing Matters to be reported back by the Staffing Committee: to review employment contracts, salaries & expenses. The staffing committee reported back that all staffing reviews were satisfactory. It was discussed, proposed/seconded and voted unanimously that the clerk would have an increase in hours and the monthly expenses payment would be backdated to May 2024.
Meeting ended at 10:15pm.