January 5th 2026, Draft Minutes
January 5th 2026
MINUTES GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING,
Held on Monday 5 January 2026 at 7.15pm
at the Memorial Hall, Belton Lane
Councillors present:
Cllr Karri Davey (Chair) Cllr Ginny Beckett (Vice Chair)
Cllr Mike Beckett Cllr Mike Davis Cllr Sarah Gray Cllr Tina Knight
Cllr Marci Neal Cllr Kelly Walton. Cllr Karen Morrell
Cllr G Beckett - acting clerk
Public Forum - no members of the public present.
Meeting commenced 7.15pm.
1. Welcome remarks by the Chair.
2. Apologies for absence:
none received. A formal thank you was made to Tiffany Davies for her time as councillor. Cllr Ken Bamford of LCC away on holiday.
3. Declaration of Interest:
Cllr K Davey informed she is on NALC Policy and Small Councils Committees and requested dispensation. Approved, seconded and resolved to give dispensation to Cllr Davey.
4. Minutes:
It was approved, seconded and resolved to accept the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on Friday 1 December 2025. The Chair signed the Minutes.
5. Co-Option:
a) Cllr Kelly Walton was welcomed to her first meeting.
b) No application received for one current vacancy.
6. Highways:
a) Cllr Bamford unable to attend the meeting or submit a report, as away on leave.
b) AC Williams bus parking on the High Street was discussed - a recurring issue of inappropriate parking by a driver for several years, despite contact being made with AC Williams a number of times. Photo evidence has since been accrued by the Clerk following a recent accident and ongoing junction visibility problems caused by the bus. An agreement was unanimously made to compile a strong letter to AC Williams and include photo evidence, and to cc the letter to Cllr Bamford and PC Mark Barr. Cllr K Davey and Cllr K Walton agreed to draft the letter.
7. Parish Council Meeting dates 2026
Councillors discussed other date options for the monthly meeting, to allow for financial reports to be prepared in a more timely manner. It was unanimously agreed and resolved to keep meetings on the first Monday of the month in 2026, and to review the situation in May 2026.
8. Policies
a) Standing Orders: SO 8a. It was approved, seconded and resolved to amend SO 8a. to stipulate that Co-option candidates must attend in person. SO8d. It was approved, seconded and resolved to amend SO 8d. to read that future Chair and Vice Chair must have a minimum 6 months of service and attended at least a 75% of parish meetings. SO18 was deferred to the February parish meeting.
b) Health and Safety Policy - this was approved, seconded and resolved to adopt the current policy.
9. Fixed Assets Risk Assessment
Cllr M Beckett reported that a six monthly risk assessment had been carried out in December of Parish Council land and fixed assets. All facilities were found to be in good order. One unstable headstone in St Sebastian’s parish churchyard has been laid flat for safety, pending further action by the Clerk. An annual memorial management inspection of our cemeteries is pending very shortly.
A vote of thanks was recorded to Henry Knight for his voluntary work in repairing and re-erecting the damaged village sign on the Green, supported kindly by Alan Davey.
10. Planning.
The Planning Committee, although it has autonomy to discuss planning applications and report to the Parish Council, has not previously correctly recorded them for inclusion in the Minutes. Thus, Cllr M Beckett reported on retrospective Parish Council Planning Committee responses to planning applications, publicising the relevant reference numbers where comments have been made.
Full planning group reports will be submitted going forward, as issues are resolved.
S24/1459 6/08/2025: Application supported by GGPC on 16/10/2025 but letter of concern sent to SKDC as PC did not receive any updates prior to the decision on this application.
S25/1458 20/08/2025: No objection in principal but letter submitted 30/08/2025 to request S106/CIL contributions to parish infrastructure and green space.
S25/1799 25/09/2025 Section 73: Objection submitted by GGPC on 25/10/2025.
S21/2292. 16/11/2021: Comments made 15/10/2025.
Cllr M Davies reported on the GG Neighbourhood Plan - the final consultation draft has now been submitted to SKDC in readiness for a public consultation period to begin. The document can be edited as necessary. Once accepted by SKDC, they will run a referendum to enable the Neighbourhood Plan to be adopted.
11. Environment and Maintenance
Cllr G Beckett reported on environmental green-works - hindered recently by winter weather. Work in progress - hedge cutting at Hill Top and Millennium Wood, weeding a the Pond, parish owned tree management survey. Eden Tree Services doing stump clearing in Millennium Wood on 12 Jan.
Maintenance - village sign now repaired, dead birches in Millennium Wood felled, Hill Top lane and car park resurfaced (spotlights to be erected, pending).
A vote of thanks was recorded to LCC for the undergrowth clearance of the footpath bank down to Gonerby Hill Foot.
12: Chair’s Report
a) The Finance Report was approved, seconded and resolved to be approved.
b) All Councillors acknowledged they had received and read documents as per circulated communication listing.
c) Christmas Lights Event - feedback was that the event was well received. Lessons have been learned and an events group follow-on meeting will be arranged and a finance report prepared and shared.
Closed Session:
The council resolved to enter closed session under Schedule 12 paragraph 41(1) of the LGA 1972 to consider staffing and contractual matters. Resolutions were made.
The meeting then moved into a closed session.
Meeting closed at 9:30pm