October 6th 2025, Minutes
GREAT GONERBY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
MEETING HELD ON 6 October 2025, Memorial Hall, Belton Lane, Great Gonerby
Meeting commenced at 7.15pm
Public Forum:
The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed the parishioners.
A parishioner asked for an update on the donated land as they were concerned about what the land would be used for. GB explained that the documents were being drawn up by the Solicitors and expected to be sent to the PC before November/December 2025. KD explained that no decisions would be made on the use of the land before consultation with Great Gonerby Parishioners.
A second parishioner said she had received a communication regarding the double yellow lines on Green Street indicating that objections had been raised. KD explained to the meeting that this was on the agenda for further discussion and invited the parishioner to stay for this part of the meeting, which she accepted.
The poor exit view on the corner of Pond Street due to the hedging was discussed. A suggestion was put forward for a vision mirror to be put onto the lamp post. To be discussed with Highways.
A discussion of the parking problems within the village were then discussed generally including bikes, scooters, disabled scooters, cars and pedestrians particularly near the school and shop. Suggestions were made to make it a one way system Pond street/green street to reduce the danger for all.
The chair explained that Cllr Ken Bamford would be joining the meeting and may be able to give an update on these points. The parishioners were invited to stay for this part of the meeting.
The question was asked if P C Barr would be joining the meeting. CM explained invitations had been emailed followed by telephone calls but there had been no response.
The open Forum was closed at 7.15pm and was agreed by all Councillors to re-open it for 15 minutes when Cllr Bamford arrived.
Parish Council Meeting opened at 7.15pm
Present: Cllr K Davey (KD) Chair Cllr G Beckett (GB) Vice Chair
Cllr M Beckett (MB) Cllr A Davey (AD)
Cllr T Davis (TD) Cllr M Davis (MD)
Cllr S Gray (SG) Cllr T Knight
Cllr M Neal (MN) Cllr K Bamford (arrived 7.50pm)
Minutes – C. Marion (CM) New Clerk – Jackie Bretten-Crooks (JB)
1. Apologies: None
Non-attendance: None
2. Declarations of interest or dispensation:
None
3. Introduction of new Clerk:
Cllr K Davey (Chair) introduced Jackie who will be taking up the role with immediate effect. CM will be carrying out the training over 2 weeks before handing over to JB on 19 October.
4. Previous Minutes for approval:
1 September 2025 - proposed & approved unanimously.
5. Councillor Vacancies:
KD explained that there are now two vacancies. The vacancy offered to Mr Keith White had been declined. The notice for the new vacancy is on the noticeboard, website and SKDC have been notified
6. Highways update: Cllr K Bamford
KB explained that he has organised a walk around the village with Highways on 17 October at 3pm to discuss all of the following:
• Pond Street/Green Street one way system
• Parking on Belvoir Gardens from school, etc
• Parking near school (High Street)
• Double depth parking outside the shop and by the lamp post (Corner Long Street) _
• Speed along Long Street coming up to the junction further exacerbated by parked cars on both sides of the corner
• In Post installation and bollards - no planning permission or PC aware
• Green Street double yellow lines (now going ahead - date not known)
• Vision line coming out of Pond Street - mirror type panel to be installed on lamp post opposite
• 30 MPH markings on road (Newark Hill)
• 20 MPH signs leading up to school
• Traffic Officers at school at afternoon closing time regularly during term time
KD invited all Councillors to join the meeting:
• KB asked all to read the report previously circulated regarding the proposed Solar installations on the farmland (battery storage) via link on the report and comment if wished to show support to neighbouring villages. (Please see attached).
• KB said the information circulated by KD for setting up a network for all local parishes to work together was a good idea as they try to get ahead of the game.
• KB thanked the parish for the invitation to the Remembrance Day commemoration but had already accepted another invitation.
• KB said he has available a small budget that he may be able to contribute to small parish projects. KD to discuss further with KB to identify possibilities.
• KB accepted the invitation to the Christmas tree light up on 30 November at 6pm.
• Gonerby Moor development meeting took place with Councillors & developers to work together to get the best results from the development for the area. Identified 3 plots of land potentially for commercial development.
• Lighting on pathway around playing field. Possible funding from KB.
7. Policy & procedures:
Tree inspection policy – GB asked for additions to the policy. Further work to be carried out and circulated prior to next parish council meeting to include a register of trees the PC are responsible for, inspections, etc.
NB: Due to time constraints & training of the new clerk CM/JB are unable to complete the policy and GB agreed with KD to take this forward.
A sincere thanks was given to David Jacobs for all his hard work on pulling the policies together.
8. Official Correspondence:
All Councillors acknowledge they had received and read documents as per circulated communication listing.
9. Project updates:
Church Lane Donation – GB re-iterated that it was in the hands of the solicitors & expected to hear by December.
Solar panel: - KD contacted Sonnedix to see when payment will be made/connection to grid. Proposed date missed new connection due in January 2026. Monies to be used for the benefit of the village. St Sebastians School have been invited to visit.
Marci Meadow update:
Planting complete. MN thanked all those who had helped prepare, plant the plugs & seeds.
Public Forum re-opened
Jeff Thompson told the PC that he will no longer be watering the 28 planters on the High Street. It was agreed that they are to be taken down permanently. The flowering baskets will be removed in the next few weeks.
CM to email to all homeowners to ask if they wish to keep the planters/brackets. When numbers known the brackets will be taken down.
JT said he will make floor standing display planters using those taken down. Sample to be presented to the PC for approval.
JT asked for volunteers to help with the Church Clock. To be advertised on FB CM
Public Forum closed after 15 minutes discussion.
10. Environment update:
GB: Millenium wood – 3 trees taken down, bug haven created, wire removed from some of the trees, still more to be removed. Bulbs donated will be planted by the school. Children in the millennium wood. Undergrowth cleared. Tree stumps to be cut to the ground to avoid tripping hazard. More bulbs to go around flagpole & bank near the cemetery.
11. Planning sub-committee:
Gonerby Moor development meeting took place with Councillors & developers. 3 plots of land potentially for commercial development. McDonalds planning permission for roundabout. Downtown interested in buying Poorlands. Trustees happy to sit on the sale until suitable price is offered.
12. Memorial Hall update:
GB gave Feedback from quarterly meeting (please see attached).
New Treasurer and Attached. £69k in bank. Solar panel at front – income due imminently.
Goals on PC asset register to be removed – new goals purchased by MH.
Wi-Fi poor signal – new router to be installed.
CM reported new double bin to go on playing field replacing two metal ones.
Metal bins to be removed disposed & taken off asset register
Lighting on pathway to be improved. Request for funding to go to KB KD/JB
Sink from MH to be advertised on FB for one month for offers over £ 50. ALL
13. Events:
Ceilidh – (11 October 2025). Only 10 tickets left. Keys to be given to GB CM
Remembrance Day (9 November 2025 at 10.45am for 11.00am).
Wreath to be purchased. CM
To ask if Peter Jenkins will be attending GB
Christmas Tree Light Up (30 November) Purchase of the following:
Generator £302.26 (from events account)
Gazebo £539.99. Proposed & accepted unanimousl
Christmas Dinner (6 December 2025). Menus to be circulated
Guests (3), Councillors (9), Clerk and Community Assistant will be paid by PC, partners to pay for themselves. Proposed and accepted unanimously.
Centenarian – ‘A royal tea for two’ approximate cost £25.00. Proposed & accepted unanimously.
Will be presented nearer the time. KD
14. Feedback from training:
GB attended - crisis management, emergency services, communications etc.
boosting identify of the PC. Fredback.to be given on separate occasion. GB
New Councillors course - not interesting and lost their attention. To be fedback. KD
15. Financial Matters:
KD asked if all Councillors had read & understood the following documents circulated prior to the meeting including:
6 Bank accounts for September 2025
Payments September 2026
Receipts September 2025
Transfers September 2025
Bank reconciliation sheet September 2025
Confirmed read. Proposed and agreed unanimously. (Please see attached).
16. Clerk update:
Hedges will be cut at St Sebastians at half term November 2025
Hill top cemetery – 22 October – £675 as agreed at previous PC meeting
Gonerby Hill top – Complete
BDG invoice waiting to be paid for £1014
All above costs accepted unanimously.
Defibrillators – DJ will continue to maintain and record
Precept second tranche to be paid on 11 October 2025 £20,805.00
Overall view on budget/monies in bank, etc as per circulated budget
Consideration for next budget/precept 2025/26. To be discussed at next meeting
Clerk handover – begins 7 October 2025
Maintenance: CM explained that the maintenance is carried out voluntarily, and it unfair to expect one person to do it all. CM suggested that an up-to-date list of works to be completed is circulated at each PC meeting. Volunteers to indicate what they can do. Work outstanding is then sub-contracted. (Please see attached).
Further discussion at next meeting on sub-contracted work.
CM thanked the Councillors for their support and expressed how much she had enjoyed working with the Chair.
17. New motions:
Community award – SG proposed a quarterly award value £20.
Proposed & agreed unanimously. First one to be at the Christmas Tree Light up.
Nominations to be presented at next PC meeting. ALL
Club 200 under events group – to be discussed at next events meeting SG
18. Motions for next meeting:
Budget discussion - KD/Clerk
Emergency Plan - GB
The public were thanked for attending the meeting and asked to leave as the meeting went into a closed session
19. Closed session:
Clerks’ final salary:
Holiday – pay of £1014 plus salary for 45 hrs. Proposed and accepted unanimously.
Youth in our area/ASB
Working with the local Police – An invitation has been sent to P C Barr to join us but awaiting response.
A discussion took place on the youngsters in Great Gonerby and the lack of youth activities. Suggested activity day on playing field. Would be nice to see PC Barr to join in and build rapport with the youth of GG.
A suggestion was made for a Youth group next year. Discussions to take place at meeting including inviting young people to come and share their thoughts.
Neighbourhood Plan:
An update was given by MD. Costs to date since previous invoice not known.
To chase again. CM
Draft based on Barrowby was not correct from consultant resulting in amendm being made by MD. Updated document to be circulated this weekend. No time for presentation. MD said he did not think we need the Consultant anymore.
KD explained that she had discussed with Mark Selby the possibility of redocument once in the public domain as discussed with all of the planning committee.
MS will look at it, make any suggestions and then it will come back to the PC for adjustments/approval She said MS agreed to review the NP on behalf of GGPC. AD stated MS has no conflict of interest now as all work with the developers is finished and will make comments only and not act as a consultant.
CM requested AD ask for an email from MS to say he will be happy to make comments when the NP goes up on the website. A cost for the work will be £300.00.
Proposal to accept was agreed unanimously.
The chair thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.
Meeting closed - 10.15pm
Next meeting: 3 November 2025 at 7.15 pm
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
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 - October 2025
I attended a meeting recently to support objections against solar installations to the North of Leadenham. This impacts the whole of Lincolnshire, so please consider supporting the Cliff Villages Solar Action Group and other local campaigns to protect our farmland and beautiful countryside. https://cvsag.org/
I was really encouraged by an incentive put forward by Great Gonerby Parish Council to work together with other Parishes across Hough for the good and benefit of all. I will be pushing this concept as much as possible with the other Parishes.
Remembrance Day is fast approaching and as a veteran having completed 22 years Army service, it is something I am particularly passionate about supporting. I may not be able to attend your local events as there is a service planned in Lincoln Cathedral I will be attending. I would however be honoured to do what I can to assist with ensuring all of our memorial sites are clean and looked after, not just for this day, but throughout the year.
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.
Great Gonerby Local Updates
30 MPH
Green Street - yellow lines.
A village walk has been arranged with Highways to talk through these and other local issues with a view to progressing action to resolve.
Shop & lamp post area near school (now includes ‘Inpost boxes with electric’)
This has been challenged with SKDC to ensure proper planning protocols have been followed correctly. Awaiting an update.
Gonerby Moor Development
A meeting took place with county and parish councillors and the developer last week to talk through a proposal. It was very productive meeting and all involved have agreed to maintain an open dialogue to ensure any approved plan works in the interests of local residents and the community.
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
Hough Division