November 3rd 2025 Minutes
GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2025 AT 7.15pm THE MEMORIAL HALL, BELTON LANE, GREAT GONERBY
Councillors present:
Cllr Karri Davey (Chair) Cllr Ginny Beckett (Vice Chair) Cllr Alan Davey
Cllr Michael Beckett Cllr Mike Davis Cllr Tiffany Davis
Cllr Sarah Gray Cllr Tina Knight
In attendance:
Jackie Britten-Crooks (Parish Clerk)
Also present:
County Councillor Ken Bamford
District Councillor Peter Stephens
4 members of the public
PUBLIC FORUM
County Councillor Bamford spoke about highways and the legacy issues with older road networks unable to accommodate the present day volume of traffic and summarised other traffic related issues as set out in his Report.
A resident spoke about the roundabout near the petrol station at Gonerby Moor needing a directional arrow and the Chair explained that the road was now single carriageway. A resident asked for an update on the land donation, the transfer of which is still in the hands of lawyers.
Poor visibility at the Pond Street junction was discussed and Cllr Bamford said he’d investigate the matter.
The meeting commenced at 7.35pm.
1. WELCOME REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRMAN
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Marci Neal sent apologies which were accepted.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive Declarations of Interest under the Localism Act 2011 – this being any pecuniary or non- pecuniary interest in any items on the Agenda.
None received.
4. MINUTES
It was proposed, seconded and Resolved to accept the Minutes of the previous Meeting held on Monday 6th October 2025. The Chair signed the Minutes.
5. PLANNING
a) Section 73 variation of condition relating to S25/1799: Manthorpe Chase development and road junction at Belton Lane/A 607. The Parish Council has objected to the variation and purported breach of a condition of no occupation before improvements to the Belton Lane junction be completed.
b) Neighbourhood Plan: The latest draft has been completed and is almost ready for the public consultation process.
The Parish Council received an update in relation to a proposed development on land adjacent to 61 Belton Lane, which was refused on the grounds of landscape character and archaeological interest.
6. DOG WASTE DISPENSERS
Following discussion, the Parish Council deferred the decision for provision of dog waste bag dispensers, which a resident had offered to purchase if the Parish Council would be willing to fund the bags.
7. HIGHWAYS
County Councillor Bamford said the village walks were going well, as it gave him opportunity to engage with residents regarding local issues. The provision of parking enforcement teams was being pursued by Cllr Bamford and they had already visited Great Gonerby. Exploration of a one way system to Pond Street/Green Street to be carried out. Yellow lines will be provided on High Street/Green Street.
The requirement for improvements to flood lighting on the path to the rear of the Memorial Hall was discussed.
It was proposed, seconded and Resolved to amend the Minutes to include the following Highways information:
LCC confirmed that mirrors are not permitted at Pond Street or Green Street.
LCC to inspect footpath condition at rear of the Memorial Hall. County Councillor Bamford suggested the Memorial Hall fund lighting for the footpath.
The yellow lines request to be extended further.
8. BUDGET
It was proposed, seconded and Resolved to defer the Draft Budget and to arrange for an Extraordinary Meeting for the Parish Council finances to be discussed further.
9. FINANCE
a) The Chair reviewed, signed & noted the payments and receipts for October 2025.
b) The bank balance and bank reconciliation figures were noted.
10. ENVIRONMENT
a) It was proposed seconded and Resolved to accept Eden quotation for tree stump clearance. Further grounds maintenance at Millenium Wood was discussed, along with cleaning of the flag pole.
b) It was proposed, seconded and Resolved to adopt the Tree Policy.
11. EVENTS
Ceilidh: The Ceilidh held at the Memorial Hall received a positive response.
The Remembrance ceremony will take place on 9th November at the memorial in the Church Yard of St. Sebastian’s.
Christmas dinner arrangements and menu choices made progress.
Centenarian arrangements were discussed.
12. CHAIR’S REPORT
The Christmas Tree sponsorship has been highly successful in raising donations. The Parish Council would like to thank all the local firms who made contributions and to those who helped to raise funds which will go towards the festive activities and decorations the Parish Council is providing. The Parish Council also extend thanks for the generosity of County Councillor Ken Bamford in donating £100 towards the Sweets for Santa.
The Poor Lands sale is completed.
Two volunteers have offered to help maintain the church clock.
The general maintenance list was distributed among councillors.
Cllrs A Davey and T Knight will prepare a proposal to provide youth activities in the Parish.
It was proposed, seconded and Resolved to add the following sentence to the Chair's Report:
Council to approach a resident with a view to repairing the village sign.
13. CLERK’S REPORT
There were no items of note this month.
14. CLOSE OF MEETING
Meeting closed at 9.45pm.
__________________________
Date of Next Meeting: To be confirmed
Signed………………………………………………………… Date…………………………………………………
_________________________
Councillor Ken Bamford
Hough Division
Lincolnshire County Council
County Offices
Newland
Lincoln LN1 1YL
Email: cllrk.bamford@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Dear fellow councillors,
Hough Councillor Report - November 2025
I have now conducted a number of village walks across our patch, which have been very productive. Seeing and discussing local issues first hand with the Parish and LCC officers is definitely the way ahead and is helping to get things done, so these will continue.
I am continuing to work with LCC to try and progress ongoing broader issues such as speeding, parking and flooding, which are recurring themes across Hough. If anyone has ideas or proposals for how we can tackle these issues please let me know. By now you should be seeing how I work, nothing is off the table, so let’s be bold and get creative.
I am also looking at ways we can try to encourage more young people to get involved in voluntary community activities and local government, as Parish, District or indeed County councillors. Again, any ideas you have to support this would be welcomed.
I have access to a small amount of funding and resourcing support for local projects that benefit the community. So if you have ideas, please do let me know and I will see if I can help.
Local Updates
- Parking near school (High Street) – The parking enforcement team have attended and reported as follows:
“Since the start of term we have visited St Sebastien School on 5 occasions. I have listed below our visits and feedback provided by CEO including if we issued any PCNs. 19th September 1 PCN issued. 1 vehicle requested to move. 24th September 1 PCN issued. Two vehicles on High Street were moved and four moved from SYL on Long Street. 26th September ANPR car was used to enforce the School Keep Clear markings. No interactions. 3rd October 1 vehicle moved on. No PCNs issued. 6th October ANPR car was used and enforced on zig zags resulting in 1 PCN issued by CCTV – no further issues.” I have requested further visits which have been agreed by the Parking Services manager.
- Double depth parking outside the shop and by the lamp post (Corner Long Street) – as above.
- Speed along Long street coming up to the junction further exacerbated by parked cars on both sides of the corner – no speeding issues witnessed on the day and parked vehicles were acting as a traffic calming measure anyway, so speeds were low. No further action.
- In Post installation and bollards - no planning permission or PC aware – none of these items are on the highway so this is purely a District Council issue with regards to any planning permissions they may have needed.
- Green Street double yellow lines (now going ahead - date not known) – this was approved at the last Planning and Regs committee a couple of weeks ago so the team are now sorting out the orders to our contractor to have the TRO implemented. Once the team have a date they will let everyone know.
- Vision line coming out of Pond Street - mirror type panel to be installed on lamp post opposite – we follow the DfT guidance on this and this can be found on our web-site, details when we reply to a request are as follows, with a bespoke letter / reply being given depending on who has requested a mirror:
We are sorry that due to guidance issued by the Department for Transport we do not allow mirrors to be placed on the highway. This is because experience shows that rather than improving safety, a mirror could increase safety risks which include:
- Reflect Light and interfere with a driver's vision
- Reduce the ability to judge an oncoming vehicle's speed
- Create an unreasonable dependence on the mirror
- If dirty, distort or restrict the view
- Be an easy target for vandals
Any mirrors which are found in the highway may be subject to enforcement action by the local officers as an encroachment in the highway under the terms of The Highways Act 1980.
Whilst we do understand the customer's concerns when exiting their property Lincolnshire County Council will not give formal permission for the placement of mirrors in the highway in any circumstance. Mirrors are not a legal or regulated item of street furniture and are also not included in the National Traffic Sign Regulations. If seen Lincolnshire County Council may consider enforcement action and removal dependant on their position and circumstance. The customer should always consider whether or not the adjacent hedges or other obstructions on private land can be reduced/removed to improve visibility if possible.
- Vision line coming out of Green Street - mirror type panel to be installed opposite opening – as above.
- 30 MPH markings on road (Newark Hill) – this is something we will consider but won’t lay now as wet and cold roads are not the best surface to lay paint on.
- 20 MPH signs leading up to school - Enforceable 20mph speed limits must be supported by a speed limit order but currently our speed limit policy allows for these to be considered and applied only if they form part of an Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) scheme, which meets the necessary AIP funding criteria. They may also be considered as part of an Integrated Transport Scheme identified as high priority in the capital programme. The policy is due to be reviewed shortly however and this situation may change.
- Traffic Officers at school at afternoon closing time regularly during term time – as stated above regarding traffic officer / ANPR presence.
- Heavy duty lorries & double decker buses (Corner Belton Lane/Newark Hill end) (Feasibility study). The report was finished in July and concluded that any improvements at the junction would need third party land and more than £10M so LCC are not proposing doing any changes. The report has already been sent to Gonerby Parish Council.
I visited the public right of way around the memorial hall with the PC. It has been agreed that LCC will patch the worst areas of the path, an order has already been raised. It was also agreed that LCC would not provide a streetlight, this would be for the PC to provide, maybe as part of the existing flood lighting provision, but an additional light facing towards the field and ground around the path at the corner. No light should affect either the road nor the neighbouring housing. Planning permission may be required for this additional light.
All new issues that are proposed for LCC intervention should be logged in the PC meeting minutes and shared with Cllr Bamford. They will then be updated on in this report at the next meeting.
Thank you for your selfless service and continued vigilance in our community, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help ensure our area remains a safe and well cared for place to live.
Best regards,
Councillor Ken Bamford