Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nick Robins, Peter Stephens and Nick Robins.

Members were invited to make nominations for the Chairman of the Council for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

A proposition was moved and seconded that Councillor Anna Kelly be elected as the Chairman of South Kesteven District Council.

A vote was taken, and the Council AGREED:

To elect Councillor Anna Kelly as the Chairman of the Council for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

The Chairman was invested with the chain of office and members offered their congratulations. Councillor Kelly offered gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Councillor Ian Selby, and congratulated him on the funds raised for charity, Kesteven Rideability. Councillor Kelly confirmed that her chosen charities for the year would be the Grantham Earlesfield Community Centre Charity, and the Stamford, Bourne and Deepings Carers Sitter Service.

COUNCILLOR ANNA KELLY TOOK TO THE CHAIR

Councillor Ian Selby was offered thanks and appreciation by members for his period as Chairman. It was noted that he had had a busy year as Chairman with regard to the number of meetings he had overseen. Also of note was the money raised for South Kesteven Rideability. Councillor Selby thanked certain members and officers (past and present), speech writers, staff at the venues used for civic events, and finally, his mother and father for their support.

Members were invited to make nominations for the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

A proposition was moved and seconded that Councillor Pam Byrd be elected as Vice-Chairman of South Kesteven District Council.

A vote was taken and the Council AGREED:

To elect Councillor Pam Byrd as the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

The Vice-Chairman was invested with the chain of office.

The public open forum is for a period of 30 minutes, if there are any questions or statements from members of the public.

There were no questions or statements from members of the public.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2026 on were proposed, seconded and agreed as a correct record.

The Council noted the outgoing Chairman’s engagements.

The Leader of the Council wished Councillor Sarah Trotter well in her recent appointment as Leader of the Opposition.

The Leader of the Council presented a look back at the 2025/2026 municipal year, using Corporate Plan headings:

Communities

• In May 2025, over 700 people enjoyed the ‘Whale’ exhibition. South Kesteven also enjoyed its first ever ‘Bike Night’.
• October 2025 saw ‘Thatcherfest’ to mark what would have been Lady Thatcher’s 100^th birthday, and ‘Soldiers from the Sky’, which aimed to shine a light on the history and activities of the Airborne Forces of the United Kingdom, United States and Poland during World War 2. This event was celebrated in pubs, stately homes, and Grantham train station.
• Other notable events included the Christmas Market; a visit from Team GB Olympic swimmer Freya Colbert; the opening of a new Skate Park in Grantham; the Walking Festival; and the installation of new play equipment at Harrowby Lane, Grantham.

Sustainability

• New climate friendly gym equipment was installed at the Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham. The Council had pledged to reduce carbon emissions by at least 30% by 2030; in 2026 emissions had already been reduced by 29%.
• The Council informed, educated and enforced against fly tipping.
• Food waste collections had commenced from approximately 70,000 homes across the district. The Waste Service continued to receive complaints about waste and missed bins, but the number of complaints received was miniscule when compared to the number of homes served.
• The Waste team won Waste Authority of the Year at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards.

• The CCTV team won a national award for its ‘outstanding commitment and contribution to helping residents and businesses feel safer’ at the National CCTV Conference 2026.

Planning

• Planning Committee had considered many contentious planning matters this year.
• Officers had completed inspections on more than 70 houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). They had identified several concerns that were fed back to landlords.

Finance and Economic Development

• The roof had been fixed at Grantham’s Guildhall Arts Centre, and the bell had been put back in position.
• The roof had also been fixed at the Deepings Community Centre.
• There had a great deal of work carried out on the district’s car parks, including maintenance; increased income/revenue; extension of the Cattle Market car park, Stamford; and refurbishment at Welham Street and Wharf Road car parks, Grantham.
• The new depot site received an official Civic opening on 21 May 2026.

Housing

• Swinegate in Grantham was recognised with the ‘Best Development – up to £5m’ award at the Inside Housing Development Awards 2025.
• Larch Close in Grantham was halfway towards completion.
• Contractors had ‘broken ground’ at Wellington Way, Market Deeping.
• Other key activities included new roofs, energy efficiency improvements, and the completion of 1,659 fire risk actions, with only 230 outstanding.

Effective Council

• The Council’s Facebook page had over 20,000 followers.
• Cabinet had approved a high number of policies and contracts over the course of the year.
• The Customer Service team had had a busy year and had been shortlisted for the Customer Focus award.
• Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) had been a big focus over the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To approve a programme of ordinary meetings of Full Council, Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committees and other Committees of the Council for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

Members were asked to approve a programme of ordinary meetings of Full Council, Cabinet, Overview and Committees and other Committees of the Council for the 2026/2027 municipal year.

Having been proposed and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council approve the programme of Meetings of Full Council, Cabinet and Committees for 2026/2027 as attached at Appendix A to the report, factoring in the minor amendments announced verbally at the meeting:

-         Employment Committee moved from 7 July 2026 to 22 June 2026 (11am)

-         Rural and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 1 July moved from 10am to 2pm.

This report sets out the requirements placed on Full Council for the appointment of Members to its Committees and Panels, and the appointment of their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

All Political Group Leaders are responsible for nominating Members from within their respective Groups to each of the Committees/Panels, in accordance with the political proportionality of the Authority as appropriate. Full Council will appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees.

Members considered the requirements placed on Full Council for the appointment of Members to its Committees and Panels, and the appointment of their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen. All Political Group Leaders were responsible for nominating Members from within their respective Groups to each of the Committees/Panels, in accordance with the political proportionality of the Authority as appropriate. Full Council were to appoint the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees.

Having been proposed and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council:

1. Note the changes in political proportionality of the Council and the consequent allocation of seats on Committees (Appendix A of the report).

2. Agrees to suspend the rules relating to political proportionality for Licensing Committee.

3. Approves the appointments to Committees and Panels (as contained in an addendum to these minutes) as agreed with the respective political Group Leaders.

4. Approves the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen as follows:

Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Murray Turner (Chairman)

Councillor Barry Dobson (Vice-Chairman)

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Elvis Stooke (Chairman)

Councillor Emma Baker (Vice-Chairman)

Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Tim Harrison (Chairman)

Councillor Gareth Knight (Vice-Chairman)

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Lee Steptoe (Chairman)

Councillor Zoe Lane (Vice-Chairman)

Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Nikki Manterfield (Chairman)

Councillor Rhea Rayside (Vice-Chairman)

Employment Committee

Councillor Paul Stokes (Chairman)

Councillor Gloria Johnson (Vice-Chairman)

Governance and Audit Committee

Councillor Paul Wood (Chairman)

Councillor Vanessa Smith (Vice-Chairman)

Licensing Committee

Councillor Paul Fellows (Chairman)

Councillor Robert Leadenham (Vice-Chairman)

Planning Committee

Councillor Helen Crawford (Chairman)

Councillor Penny Milnes (Vice-Chairman)

Standards Committee

Councillor Pam Byrd (Chairman)

Councillor Sarah Trotter (Vice-Chairman)

5.    Delegates to the Monitoring Officer in consultation with relevant Group Leaders the power to appoint to vacant seats on Planning Committee and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To provide the Council with the opportunity to make appointments or change representation on Outside Bodies.

The Council was presented with a report by the Chief Executive on the appointment of representatives to Outside Bodies.

Note:  Councillor Rosemary Trollope-Bellew left the meeting and did not return. The meeting adjourned between 4:05pm to 4:30pm during this item.

There were alternative propositions for the following drainage boards:

Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board (1 seat)

Councillor Kyle Abel

Councillor Zoe Lane

Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board (3 seats)

Councillor Emma Baker

Councillor Patsy Ellis

Councillor Ben Green

Councillor Ian Stokes

Councillors Abel and Lane gave short speeches outlining their suitability for the position on the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board.

Councillor Robert Leadenham informed Councillors that there were in fact two positions available on the Grantham Canal Partnership outside body; therefore; there was currently a vacancy.

Councillors Harrish Bisnauthsing and Rhea Rayside were proposed and seconded to take the position on the Health Scrutiny Committee at Lincolnshire County Council, in place of Councillor Charmaine Morgan, the incumbent. Councillor Morgan was also proposed and seconded. However, Councillors Bisnauthsing and Rayside withdrew from the vote after hearing a short speech from Councillor Morgan on why she continued to be suitable for the position.

Councillors were asked to disregard recommendation 5 within the report, as the two appointees to the Joseph Clark Apprenticing Foundation were to remain as trustees for now.

Note:  Councillor Sue Woolley left the Council Chamber.

Having been proposed and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council:

1. Appoints Councillor Ashley Baxter, as Leader of the Council, to East Midlands Councils and the Local Government Association for one year.

2. Appoints Councillors Ashley Baxter, Pam Byrd, Barry Dobson and Vanessa Smith four to the Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board outside body until May 2027.

3. Appoints Councillors Emma Baker, Patsy Ellis and Ian Stokes to the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board outside body until May 2027.

4. Appoints Councillor Zoe Lane to the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board outside body until May 2027.

5. Appoints Councillor Paul Martin as the second representative to the Grantham Canal Partnership.

6. Notes those appointments previously made, at Table 2 of the report.

To present the Annual Report of the Governance and Audit Committee for 2025/2026 to Council including the indicative work plan and timetable for 2026/2027.

Note:  Councillors Penny Robins, Nikki Manterfield and Jane Wood left the Council Chamber and did not return.

Members considered the annual report of the Governance and Audit Committee for 2025/2026 and considered the indicative work plan and timetable for 2026/2027.

Councillor Tim Harrison, the outgoing Chairman of the committee introduced the report with a personal statement:

‘Over the past year the Committee had continued to oversee the Council's governance, risk, and control arrangements, providing both assurance and challenge where required. We have considered a wide range of reports throughout the year, covering internal and external audit, financial management, risk and governance matters. A full summary of that work is set out in this report. In February 2026, the Committee approved the Statement of Accounts and the Annual Governance Statement for 2024/25, alongside the External Audit Year End Report from KPMG. The Council received an unqualified audit opinion, met the statutory deadline for publication of its accounts, and secured a positive value for money conclusion. Internal Audit had completed its second year with BDO, delivering the full audit plan for the year. The Committee had continued to monitor progress closely and ensure that actions arising from audit work are being addressed. The role of the Committee is not only to receive assurance, but to scrutinise and challenge where necessary. That work will continue into 2026/27 under Councillor Paul Wood. I would encourage all Members to attend a meeting of the Committee to see that work in practice. Finally, I would like to thank Members and Officers for their contribution to the work of the Committee over the past year, it has been a pleasure to work with you, with special thanks to Councillor Paul Wood as Vice-Chairman, and Joshua Mann, Democratic Services Officer.’

Members were informed that the audit had been completed on the Stock Control situation, and the internal auditors (BDO) would present a report to Governance and Audit Committee on 25 June 2026.

Members thanked Councillor Tim Harrison for his diligence during his time as Chairman of the Governance and Audit Committee.

Note:  Councillor Penny Milnes left the Council Chamber and did not return.

Having been proposed and seconded, and following a vote it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council:

1. Note the Annual Report of Governance and Audit Committee for 2025/2026.

2. Approve the indicative work plan for 2026/2027.

To inform members of any decisions taken using urgency provisions during 2025/2026.

This report set out those decisions that have been made in the 2025/2026 municipal year under urgency provisions set out within the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 and the Council’s Constitution.

In 2025/2026 four decisions had been taken under urgency; two related to LGR, and the other two related to property matters.

The report was NOTED.

A 45-minute period in which members may ask questions of the Leader, Cabinet Members, the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and opposition group leaders excluding the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, Licensing and Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Committees and Governance and Audit Committee.

Question One – Councillor Max Sawyer to the Cabinet Member for Housing

Councillor Sawyer questioned whether tenants on the Council’s ‘Exercise with Caution’ list, if guilty of offences such as aggressive behaviour towards Council staff, should have their tenancies terminated and be replaced by more deserving cases.

Councillor Moran resolved to answer this question outside of the meeting due to the confidential nature of the Exercise with Caution list.

Question Two – Councillor Ben Green to the Conservative Group Leader

Councillor Green asked Councillor Trotter whether she wished to rule out any deals with the Green party to lock Reform out of power, as seen recently in Worcestershire.

This question was ruled by the Chairman as out of order, under Council Procedure Rule 12.9 as it was not about a matter for which the District Council had a responsibility, and did not directly affect the district.

Question Three – Councillor Susan Sandall to the Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement

Councillor Sandall asked when the work on St. Martin’s Park in Stamford would start, when the dangerous building on the site would be pulled down, how much the delays to the project were costing, and finally, how the delays would be explained to residents of South Kesteven.

Councillor Cleaver outlined that the delays to the project were not caused by SKDC; there was nothing that SKDC was doing to hold up the progress on the site.

Question Four – Councillor Sarah Trotter to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste

Councillor Trotter highlighted that there had been some teething problems collecting bins in Lincrest ward over the past month.

Councillor Rhys Baker was aware of some teething issues, likely due to adding a significant waste collection service recently (food waste), alongside other longstanding issues that would need further investigation. Councillor Baker would provide a written update as soon as he could to Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Trotter.

Question Five – Councillor Gloria Johnson to the Leader of the Council

Councillor Johnson had heard that the Deepings Leisure Centre (DLC) site was up for sale; if this were true, what were the plans for the £850,000 set aside for this project?

Members were informed that Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) had declared a surplus list of assets across the County. DLC was on that list, but beyond a listing on the Rightmove website, officers and Cabinet members were not aware a sale had progressed any further.

Councillor Baxter would be astonished if the building was a sellable commercial opportunity. Councillor Baxter, LCC, Councillor Dilks, staff and councillors at LCC, Sir John Hayes MP, the Anthem Trust and the Head of the Deepings School were still meeting and trying to work out how the building could be refurbished and reopened. Unfortunately, whilst there was money available provided from SKDC, LCC, the school, and other potential sources, it did not yet add up to the £8 million required for the site to start afresh.

Question Six – Councillor Murray Turner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

The meeting closed at 5:31pm.