September 7th Draft Minutes
Great Gonerby Parish Council Minutes – 262720
7th September 2026 Great Gonerby Memorial Hall.
Cllr K. Morrall (Chair)
Cllr M. Beckett Cllr T. Knight Cllr T. Rogers
Caroline Marion - RFO/Burials/Grants & Proper Officer – In Attendance
Arlayna Bennet – Clerk & Proper Officer – In Attendance
Public in Attendance – 4
Public Forum
The following matters were raised during the Public Forum:
Concerns regarding a new build and the potential impact on neighbouring properties.
The running costs of the church bell were raised, including whether the Parish Council could contribute towards the electricity costs. The parishioner agreed to obtain details of the costs involved and report back to the Council, to enable the matter to be considered at a future meeting.
Concerns were raised regarding anti-social behaviour, including public urination, in the car park near Kelham Road, together with a request for a higher fence between neighbouring properties and the car park. The parishioner was advised to report the concerns to SKDC and to provide further details to the Clerk, to enable the Parish Council to raise the matter with the relevant authorities, including SKDC and LCC as appropriate.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from
Cllr S. Gray Cllr M. Neal Cllr M. Davies
2. Declarations of Interest and Requests for Dispensation
Clerk A. Bennett declared an interest in the item relating to Great Gonerby Events Charity and withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of that item.
3. Election of Vice-Chair
a) Nominations for Vice-Chair
Cllr M. Neal was nominated for the office of Vice-Chair.
b) Election of Vice-Chair
It was proposed and seconded, and unanimously resolved to elect Cllr M. Neal as Vice-Chair for the remainder of the municipal year.
4. Co-option
No applications for co-option had been received.
5. Minutes
a) Parish Council Meeting, 8 July 2026
It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 8 July 2026 as a correct record, and the minutes were signed.
b) Events Meeting, 3 July 2026
It was resolved to approve the minutes of the Events Meeting held on 3 July 2026 as a correct record, and the minutes were signed.
6. Finance and Burials – RFO / Proper Officer
a) RFO Report
The RFO Report was received and noted.
b) Financial Report
The financial figures circulated to members were received and noted.
c) Bank Reconciliations
It was resolved to approve the bank reconciliations for the previous month.
d) Bank Transfers
It was resolved to approve the bank transfers as presented.
e) Staff BACS Payments
It was resolved to approve the staff BACS payments circulated prior to the meeting.
f) Other BACS and Direct Debit Payments
It was resolved to approve the BACS and Direct Debit payments circulated prior to the meeting.
g) Storage of Council Assets
It was resolved to defer consideration of additional secure storage for Council assets until a future meeting.
h) Powershift Environmental Maintenance Service
It was agreed that two further quotations should be obtained before a decision is made regarding renewal of the environmental maintenance service.
i) Request for Donation – Support for Homeless Persons in Grantham
It was agreed not to award a grant or donation. Members agreed that alternative ways of providing support could be explored.
j) Additional Litter Bin Provision
It was agreed to await confirmation from the Community Cleaner regarding a suitable location for the second litter bin. With regard to the proposed bench at Diversity Picnic Bench, AB would speak with the Memorial Hall regarding the bench and advise that it would be a disability-friendly bench.
7. Highways
An update was received from Cllr Ken Bamford and noted.
The following matters were discussed:
• Premier Shop Junction – Continuing concerns were raised regarding safety and visibility at the junction. Cllr Bamford advised that the matter has previously been raised with Lincolnshire County Council and that he would continue to pursue it, although no further feedback has yet been received.
• Long Street – Concerns were raised regarding vehicles, including cars and vans, parking on double yellow lines and causing visibility and access issues, together with reports of vehicles speeding along Long Street. Cllr Bamford advised that these concerns have also been raised with Lincolnshire County Council and would be raised again.
• Petition – Cllr Bamford suggested that the Parish Council could consider whether a village petition may help demonstrate residents’ concerns and provide supporting evidence when requesting action from Lincolnshire County Council.
Action: Cllr Bamford to continue raising the highways concerns with Lincolnshire County Council and seek further feedback.
8. Policy Review
The Council discussed the possibility of amending the Standing Orders in relation to the criteria for proposing candidates for co-option. It was agreed that the matter would be investigated further before any proposed amendment was brought back to Council for consideration.
9. Project Updates
a) Neighbourhood Plan – South Kesteven District Council Local Plan Review
Correspondence received regarding the South Kesteven District Council Local Plan Review was reported to members and noted.
i. The update on the Neighbourhood Plan was received and noted.
ii. Consideration of the implications of the information received from South Kesteven District Council regarding the Local Plan Review was deferred until November meeting.
iii. Consideration of any actions required to protect and progress the Council's Neighbourhood Plan objectives was deferred until the November meeting.
b) Remembrance Sunday Arrangements
i. The usual Parish Council arrangements for Remembrance Sunday were confirmed.
ii. Tina and Karen would arrange a poppy display for Remembrance Sunday.
c) Autumn Village Clean-Up Event
i. It was agreed that discussions would take place with the Green Elves regarding an Autumn Village Clean-Up event – revisit in October
ii. No arrangements or resources were determined at this stage.
iv. No further actions were agreed.
d) Salt Store and Winter Maintenance Arrangements
I. Members discussed the Parish Council's existing salt supply and arrangements for winter maintenance. It was agreed that councillors and volunteers would meet to sort the salt stores if needed. Clerk would apply to Lincolnshire County Council for additional salt.
II. Winter maintenance preparations were considered covered by the actions agreed above.
e) Proposal to Close the Parish Council WhatsApp Group
It was resolved to close the Parish Council WhatsApp group, with the group to remain open until the end of November 2026 before closure.
Change to Order of Business
On the advice of the Clerk, it was proposed and seconded that the order of business be changed in accordance with Standing Order 10(a)(vi).
Resolved unanimously: To change the order of business so that Great Gonerby Events Charity – Grant Application and Transfer of Events Assets was considered as Item 10, with Exclusion of Press and Public becoming Item 11.
Having declared an interest in this item, the Clerk withdrew from the meeting during its consideration.
10. Great Gonerby Events Charity – Grant Application and Transfer of Events Assets
a) To consider a grant application from the newly formed Great Gonerby Events Charity requesting funding equivalent to the balance of former events funds currently held by the Parish Council.
It was agreed to defer consideration of the grant application to an Extraordinary Meeting, to enable further information to be obtained and consideration to take place with a greater number of councillors present.
b) Transfer of Events-Related Assets
Members considered the request for the transfer of events-related assets currently held by the Parish Council.
It was agreed to defer consideration of the transfer of the events-related assets to an Extraordinary Meeting.
The Clerk rejoined the meeting following consideration of Item 10.
11. Exclusion of Press and Public
It was resolved that, in accordance with section 1(2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and the Council's Standing Orders, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following staffing item due to the confidential nature of the employment matters to be considered.
12. Staffing Matters
a) 2026/27 NJC Local Government Services Pay Award
The 2026/27 NJC Local Government Services Pay Award, including the 3.3% increase in pay rates and allowances effective from 1 April 2026, was considered.
Resolved: To implement the 2026/27 NJC Local Government Services Pay Award and associated salary arrears.
b) Community Cleaner
The Community Cleaner’s hourly rate was considered.
Resolved: To approve an increase to the Community Cleaner’s hourly rate.
14. Motions for Future Meetings
The following matters were identified for consideration at future meetings:
a) Budget and Precept: November meeting.
b) Correspondence regarding bio-energy.
c) Christmas events.
End of Meeting 9:30PM