Agenda and minutes

The public open forum will commence at 2.00 p.m. and the following formal business of the Council will commence at 2.30 p.m. or whenever the public open forum ends, if earlier.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular the returning Councillor Mark Whittington, and new members Councillors Kyle Abel and Richard Litchfield. He also welcomed the new Monitoring Officer, Graham Kitchen.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors:

Matt Bailey

Richard Litchfield

Vanessa Smith

Ian Stokes

Jane Wood

A traffic incident on the A1 had caused Jane Kingman to be late.

Councillor Patsy Ellis declared that she was a Director of LeisureSK Limited.

Councillor Tim Harrison declared that he was the owner of a taxi firm and would leave the Council Chamber during the debate and vote on taxi licencing fees (Fees and Charges item).

Councillor Robert Leadenham declared that he was a Director of a car park in Grantham and would leave the Council Chamber during any debate and vote on car parking charges (Fees and Charges item).

Councillor Habib Rahman declared that he held a taxi licence and would leave the Council Chamber during the debate and vote on taxi licencing fees (Fees and Charges item).

Councillor Nick Robins declared his ownership of a lettings agency. He would leave the Council Chamber during the Fees and Charges item.

Councillor Penny Robins declared her ownership of a lettings agency. She would leave the Council Chamber during the Fees and Charges item.

Councillor Elvis Stooke wished to state that he believed he had no disclosable pecuniary interest in the Fees and Charges item and therefore would take part in the debate and vote.

To confirm the minutes of the following meetings:

-       20 November 1030am (Extraordinary)

-       20 November 11am (Extraordinary)

-       20 November 1pm

The minutes of the three meetings held on 20 November at 1030am, 11am and 2pm were separately proposed, seconded and agreed as correct records.

The Council noted the Chairman’s past and upcoming engagements, including the Chairman’s Civic Dinner.

The following announcements were made by members of the Cabinet:

Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council welcomed recently elected District Councillors and the new Monitoring Officer to the Council. There was an update regarding Lincolnshire Police; the Leader asked that Councillor Sarah Trotter update members as she was the Council’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture

The following points were highlighted:

• At Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) on 3 February 2026 a programme of arts events would be discussed. One key anniversary to be aware of was the 100^th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.
• 2027 would mark the 300^th anniversary of the death of Sir Isaac Newton. This anniversary had previously been discussed at Culture & Leisure OSC, and there had been an indication that the Council wished to be involved in marking that occasion.
• A meeting would take place on 2 February 2026 including those interested in working with the Council on events involving the community.

Cabinet Member for Planning

The following points were highlighted:

• Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) were proposing to renege on an agreement for £2 million of funding for High Street improvements that had been promised by the previous Conservative administration. This money had been part of a government grant. This issue had been raised at County Hall by the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council. The Chief Executive had requested information that as yet had not been forthcoming; she had also requested to speak at LCC’s Growth Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 27 January but was prevented from addressing the committee.
• Councillor Dilks was removed from LCC’s Growth Scrutiny Committee after having requested documents related to the government grant. However, he had made the same request to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 29 January, who voted to recommend that the Executive at LCC should reverse this decision to renege on funding.

Councillor Sarah Trotter (Police and Crime Panel)

The following points were highlighted:

• There had been a recent reduction in rural policing, impacting on the rural crime team. This had arisen due to ongoing funding pressures on Lincolnshire Police.
• Reduced neighbourhood capacity would increase demand for council services, particularly around antisocial behaviour, housing enforcement and licensing checks. It may also lead to more complex and higher risk casework.
• Councillor Trotter had written to Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner to highlight these concerns and the effect the decisions by Lincolnshire Police would have on the Neighbourhoods team at South Kesteven District Council (SKDC).
• Following a meeting with the Head of Service (Public Protection), portfolio holders, the Chairman of Rural and Communities OSC and Councillor Trotter, a letter was drafted outlining the effects of reduced policing numbers, including the impact on officer caseloads. The letter should be addressed to local MPs, the Policing Minister, Home Secretary along with a copy to Lincolnshire’s Police  ...  view the full minutes text for item 92.

This report provides Full Council with an opportunity to consider the recommendations of a review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme following a review undertaken by the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel.

Members considered the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP). Members had been granted a dispensation by the then Monitoring Officer to allow all Members to take part in this item.

John Cade, Chairman of the IRP presented the report and highlighted the following points, along with the fourteen recommendations of the Panel:

• Thanks were offered to those members that gave evidence during the ‘evidence gathering’ session that took place on 18 November 2025.
• In the 2022 review, increased allowances had been proposed for the Chairmen of Governance and Audit, Licensing and Employment Committees; these increases were not taken forward by Full Council at that time. However, the IRP believed these recommendations were still valid and had reiterated them.
• The mini review into allowances that took place in 2023 considered the special responsibility allowance for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee. It was proposed that this allowance increased from the agreed 2023 level.
• The IRP were asked to look at the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Council’s allowance. Budget was currently provided for these positions, but it was not classed as a special responsibility allowance. The IRP had recognised that chairing a Full Council meeting was a demanding task.
• It was open to Council to decide whether it was appropriate to backdate any of the proposed increased allowances.

Members made the following points during debate:

• Deciding on the correct level of member allowances was difficult; whilst some Councillors would be financially secure, some would be in receipt of benefits, and therefore any backdated allowance could make a big difference.
• Whilst the proposed Planning Chairman allowance increase appeared to be large, in effect it meant that the allowance ‘caught up’ with other positions, given the amount of work a Planning Chairman is expected to do.
• It was important to consider future levels of allowances rather than backdating them.
• One Member shared information from comparable authorities in relation to allowances.
• One Member considered it to be the wrong time to increase allowances; the optics were bad.

Thirteen of the fourteen printed recommendations of the Panel were proposed and seconded, with the only change being to the ‘effective date’ of the proposals.

Therefore, having previously been proposed and seconded, and following a vote, it was AGREED:

DECISION

That Full Council accept the following recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel:

1. That the Basic Allowance and Special Responsibility Allowances for the Leader, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members, Overview and Scrutiny Chairs, together with the Opposition Allowance, remain the same.

2. That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Planning Committee Chairman be increased to a factor of 1.20 of the Basic Allowance.

3. That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Governance and Audit Committee Chairman be increased to a factor of 1.00 of the Basic Allowance.

4. That the Special Responsibility allowance for the Licensing Committee Chairman be increase to a factor of 0.80 of the Basic Allowance.

5. That the Special Responsibility allowance for the Employment Committee Chairman be increased to a factor of 0.80 of the Basic Allowance.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

All Political Group Leaders are responsible for nominating Members from within their respective Groups to each of the Council’s Committees/Panels, in accordance with the political proportionality of the Authority as appropriate.

Members considered the requirements placed on Full Council for the appointment of Members to its Committees and Panels.

Since the previous meeting in November there had been further amendments to political balance with the election of two Councillors, in addition to group makeup changes. Group leaders met on 20 January 2026 and had endorsed amendments to the makeup of the Council’s committees and panels.

However, there had been a recent change in the makeup of the Reform UK group that had taken place after the publication of reports for this meeting, reducing them from 5 members to 4. Therefore, political balance had been recalculated and circulated to group leaders (this was appended to these minutes). Only the Reform UK and Conservative groups were affected and had agreed to the minor change required.

Having been moved 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.

2. Appoint Members to its Committees and Panels, in accordance with political balance:

Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Conservative Group lose one seat (Councillor Robert Leadenham) to be taken by the Reform UK Group (Councillor Graham Jeal)

To set out the Fees and Charges to be introduced for the financial year 2026/2027.

Members considered a range of fees and charges for 2026/2027. These had previously been considered at the Budget Joint OSC on 13 January 2026, and there were two changes made to the proposals presented at that meeting:

·       House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) licences – a ‘sliding scale’ for HMOs was discussed at Budget Joint OSC, linked to the number of bedrooms within each HMO.

·       Green waste service – a possible reduction in service was discussed at Environment OSC on 13 January 2026. Whilst this reduction was supported through a vote, having considered the feedback from this committee this proposal was dropped. Therefore, the increase for the green waste service would be £2 per household for the first bin, and £1 for each subsequent bin.

The Fees and Charges report was split into different sections to allow as many members as possible to take part in decision making, as several of them may declare pecuniary interests and leave the Council Chamber at different points. Page 114 of the reports pack (taxi licence fees) were considered first.

Note:  Councillors Tim Harrison, Habib Rahman, Nick Robins, and Penny Robins left the Council Chamber. Councillor Jane Kingman joined the meeting.

Having been moved and seconded and following a vote the taxi licencing fees were AGREED.

Note:  Councillors Tim Harrison and Habib Rahman rejoined the Council Chamber.

Debate ensued on HMOs specifically, and an amendment to the printed fees and charges was proposed by the Conservative group and circulated:

To adopt the South Holland fee structure for HMO licencing. Application fee to be £300 + (number of rooms * £150). For example, a five-bedroom HMO would be £300 + (5*£150) = £1,050.

This proposal was seconded.

The following points were highlighted during the debate on this topic:

·       The Cabinet Member for Housing had attended a meeting with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance and Licensing, the Assistant Director (Leisure, Culture and Place) and the Head of Service (Public Protection). In that meeting, officers outlined that the HMO fee structure had been compared against neighbouring councils. To place SKDC in the best possible position for their fee structure, similar sized councils were also used to benchmark against.

·       On first glance, the fees at South Holland District Council were at a level that would discourage the creation of HMOs.

·       The proposed SKDC fees were already a considerable increase on current levels.

·       There have been a tremendous number of HMO applications in SKDC, particularly in Grantham. It was pointed out that South Holland District Council was a close neighbour, which was why it had been included in the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) bid along with North Kesteven District Council and SKDC.

·       A deterrent could be useful in those wards that encountered high numbers of HMOs.

·       Any fees attached to HMOs had to be for cost recovery purposes only, the income as a result of licence fees must not exceed the cost of the provision of the service. SKDC was roughly in line with NKDC on its fees.

·       NKDC’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

This report reviews responses to the public consultation of the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27, along with recommendations from the meetings of the Finance and Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 18 November 2025 and the Cabinet meeting of 15 January 2026.

Note:  Councillors Emma Baker, Rhea Rayside, Nick Robins, Penny Robins and Rosemary Trollope-Bellew left the Council Chamber. All bar Councillor Rayside did not return.

Members considered the Scheme for 2026/2027, which was based on the same criteria as the existing scheme.

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

DECISION

That Full Council approve the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for the Financial Year 2026/2027 based on the same criteria as the existing scheme as detailed in paragraphs 2.13 to 2.44 of the report.

To explain the Council Tax Base for 2026/2027 in accordance with relevant statutory requirements.

Members considered setting the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2026/2027.

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

DECISION

That Full Council approve the Council Tax Base for 2026/27 of 50,762.3 (Band D equivalents) in accordance with relevant legislation.

To consider the proposed updates to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, following feedback and a full review by Senior Management. This report was recommended by the Environment Overview and Scrutiny meeting held on 13 January 2026.

Note:  Councillors Tim Harrison, Habib Rahman, and Rhea Rayside left the Council Chamber for the duration of this item.

Members considered the refreshed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, which had been recommended to Full Council by the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 13 January 2026.

SKDC had a requirement as a Licensing authority to be responsible for public safety and be transparent and consistent in its decisions. The last review of the Policy took place in June 2024, and the decisions at that time reflected the guidelines that the Government produced in 2023. Subsequently, feedback was received from taxi drivers, elected members and taxi operators requesting a further review.

The issues raised included comparisons with neighbouring authorities, concerns about costs, and the issues that had been reported nationally. SKDC had written to Government on the topic of taxis.

Workshops had taken place with taxi drivers, there were further reviews of the Policy, and there had been the opportunity for stakeholders to further shape the Policy. There were plans to increase the number of staff available to SKDC to assist with the enforcement of taxi licensing.

The ‘Knowledge test’ had been removed from the policy. The English test had been retained but would no longer be a cost to the applicant in most circumstances. The first test was free; however, any subsequent test would require payment. A further change was the introduction of a 1 year licence.

The draft Policy had been considered at Licensing Committee as well as Environment OSC.

The following information was highlighted during debate:

·            Any minor amendments to the Policy, for example grammatical changes or updates to legislation could be dealt with through a delegation to the Chief Executive.

·            An amendment to the Policy was proposed and seconded:

All private hire limousines, taxis and hackney carriages licensed by South Kesteven District Council must be ?tted with an approved CCTV system”

Any CCTV system must:

-       Be installed and maintained in accordance with relevant

data protection legislation and with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Guidance 

-         Be operational at all times when the vehicle is being used for licensed private hire purposes

-         The purpose of this requirement is to enhance passenger and driver safety, support safeguarding obligations, deter criminal and inappropriate behaviour, and assist investigations where allegations are made.

It was explained to the proposer that the Policy had been extensively consulted on without this amendment being present. Therefore, if this amendment were carried there would be a requirement to re-consult with the inclusion of this text. The proposer and seconder therefore withdrew the amendment and were advised to raise the issue with the Chairman of the Environment OSC.

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

DECISION

That Full Council:

1.           Approve and adopt the refreshed Hackney and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

2.           Agree that the Constitution is amended to provide delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

The Localism Act 2011 requires the Council to produce an Annual Pay Policy Statement to summarise current policies and arrangements relating to pay. The Pay Policy Statement is part of the budget setting and approval process. The Pay Policy Statement 2026/2027 was recommended by the Employment Committee meeting held on 21 January 2026.

Note:  Councillors Tim Harrison, Habib Rahman and Rhea Rayside returned to the Council Chamber. Councillor Penny Milnes left the Council Chamber and did not return.

Members considered a Pay Policy Statement (PPS) for 2026/2027.

An earlier version of the PPS had been considered by Employment Committee on 12 November 2025; since then, there had been one minor amendment to the draft PPS (section 8.6). This related to Council’s position on the ‘sale of annual leave’ and was made in response to a recommendation from External auditors. After consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Employment Committee as well as the Cabinet Member for HR, the PPS was referred back to Employment Committee on 21 January 2026 where it was agreed to recommend the amended PPS to Full Council.

It was clarified that the sale of leave was at the discretion of a manager. In the example of the Chief Executive selling leave they would consult with the Leader of the Council, as well as consulting with the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Employment Committee.

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

DECISION

That Full Council approve the Pay Policy Statement 2026/2027.

Note:  Councillor Paul Wood left the Council Chamber and did not return.

Note:  Councillors agreed an extension of time to 5:37pm.

This report sets out the proposed changes to the Council’s Financial Regulations which have been reviewed and updated to reflect current working practices and operating financial thresholds. The updated Financial Regulations document was recommended by the Governance and Audit meeting held on 21 January 2026.

Members considered proposed changes to the Council’s Financial Regulations which had been reviewed and updated to reflect current working practices and operating financial thresholds. The Financial Regulations were recommended by the Governance and Audit Committee meeting held on 13 January 2026.

The Financial Regulations were last reviewed in full in May 2022. Changes proposed were modest and included the clarification of discretionary and governed reserves. There was also a review of the authorisation level for officers.

The revised Regulations included increased financial thresholds for virements and capital budget amendments.

The Section 151 Officer confirmed that the revised Financial Regulations would not lead to a net reduction in member scrutiny. He also confirmed that the Anti-Money Laundering Policy was considered by Governance and Audit Committee on an annual basis.

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

DECISION

That Full Council approve the changes to the Financial Regulations.

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.

Note:  Councillor Gloria Johnson left the Council Chamber and did not return.

Question One – Councillor Gareth Knight to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste

Councillor Knight asked Councillor Rhys Baker what staffing resource would be needed to reduce the collection of bulky waste to an average of seven days.

Councillor Rhys Baker outlined the bulky waste offer to residents; an optional service costing £21. In 2025 1,317 reports of fly tipping were received. Currently the collection time for most bulky waste items was around three weeks; there were unavoidable wait times for some items such as furniture and fridges (where there were safety rules in place for refrigerants and chemicals/varnish for furniture). SKDC were reliant on LCC colleagues for disposal, meaning it was impossible to guarantee a seven day wait time for collection. A second vehicle used to collect waste was soon to be brought into service, and this would make an impact. This issue would be discussed at an upcoming portfolio briefing including the Cabinet Member and the Head of Waste and Markets. Councillor Knight was welcome to join this discussion.

Question Two – Councillor Ben Green to the Cabinet Member for Planning

Councillor Green asked whether Councillor Dilks agreed that it was perplexing that Gareth Davies MP was campaigning to keep the Prince William of Gloucester (PWOG) Barracks in Grantham open, when the Conservatives had confirmed their intention to close the site on multiple occasions.

Note:  Councillors Nikki Manterfield and Rhea Rayside left the Council Chamber and did not return.

The PWOG barracks was an allocated site for housing development in the Local Plan, adopted some years ago. Councillor Dilks reminded members that the Local Plan was under review, and it was proposed that the PWOG site be retained as an allocated site. Councillor Dilks respected the MP’s campaign to keep the barracks open; however, the Defence Estates Organisation had not given the Council any indication that the site may no longer be available for redevelopment. On the contrary, they were involved in the Local Plan process.

Question Three – Councillor Kyle Abel to the Leader of the Council

Councillor Abel asked when the Deepings Leisure Centre would be re-opening.

Councillor Baxter and Councillor Dilks, along with an officer from LCC had met with the Anthem Trust. The meeting was organised by Sir John Hayes MP. All involved remained optimistic of further developments.

Council notes:

That Councillor Ray Wootten served the residents of Grantham St Wulfram’s Ward and South Kesteven with great distinction for many years, representing his community in a cross-party manner with dedication, compassion, and good humour.

That during his time in public service, Cllr Ray Wootten played a significant role in supporting local causes, mentoring colleagues, improving community facilities, serving as Mayor of Grantham, Chairman of South Kesteven District Council, Lincolnshire County Councillor, and promoting civic pride across the district.

That Wyndham Park holds a special place in the life of Grantham as a much-loved public space which continues to attract visitors from near and far. Wyndham Park is shared between the wards of Grantham St Vincent’s and Grantham St Wulfram’s, and would therefore be an appropriate place for South Kesteven District Council to recognise the contribution made by Cllr Wootten to the people of Grantham.

Council further notes:

That there is currently no formal public recognition of Cllr Wootten’s long service and contribution to the life of our community following his passing in 2023.

Council therefore resolves:

1. That a public consultation be launched to seek views on renaming the Wyndham Park Visitor Centre as the “Ray Wootten Visitor Centre”, in recognition of his many years of service to the people of Grantham and South Kesteven.

2. That the consultation be publicised through the Council’s website, social media channels, and local media outlets, ensuring that residents, park users, and the Friends of Wyndham Park volunteer group have the opportunity to share their views.

3. That following the consultation, a report be presented by the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure to the Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee outlining the findings and recommendations for consideration.

Councillor Graham Jeal’s motion was not heard due to time constraints.

Motion: Recognition of the 300th Anniversary of the Death of Sir Isaac Newton (1727 – 2027)

This Council notes that:

• 2027 will mark the 300th anniversary of the death of Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most significant figures in the history of science, whose life and work are deeply connected to South Kesteven and the surrounding area.

• Sir Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth and educated at The King’s School, Grantham, and his legacy forms an important part of the District’s historical, cultural, and educational heritage.

• The tercentenary represents a significant opportunity to celebrate South Kesteven’s contribution to world history, to engage local communities, schools, and visitors, and to promote learning, heritage, and place-based pride.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1. Commit in principle to recognising the 300th anniversary of Sir Isaac Newton’s death in 2027, including on or around the anniversary date of 31 March 2027.

2. Request that officers fully mobilise and work collaboratively with relevant partners and stakeholders to explore appropriate commemorative activity, including but not limited to:

– Colsterworth and District Parish Council

– The National Trust, including at Woolsthorpe Manor and other relevant sites

– St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham

– The King’s School, Grantham

– Local schools, heritage organisations, academic institutions, and community groups

– local councillors 

3. Encourage a coordinated, district-wide approach that is proportionate, inclusive, and reflective of South Kesteven’s historical connection to Sir Isaac Newton, with a focus on education, heritage, and community engagement.

4. Request that a brief update be brought to the appropriate committee or Council in due course outlining potential options for recognition and partnership working.

Councillor Ben Green’s motion was not heard due to time constraints.

South Kesteven District Council Defends Local Democracy and the Right to Vote

Council notes that:

• Local democracy is founded on the regular, lawful, and timely election of councillors by the communities they serve;

• The right of citizens to choose their representatives through free and fair elections is a cornerstone of British democracy;

• The cancellation or postponement of scheduled future local elections whenever they may be scheduled, undermines public trust in democratic institutions, weakens local accountability;

• It has been suggested that local elections may be cancelled or postponed in up to 60 local authority areas. 

Council believes that:

• Whilst South Kesteven are not part of those councils presently considering cancellation scheduled elections. The general principle of cancelling local elections for reasons of political convenience rather than genuine necessity represents a serious democratic failure;

• Elections should never be suspended or avoided simply because legacy political parties fear electoral defeat or voter dissatisfaction;

• The current unpopularity of both Labour and Conservative parties reflects years of policy failure, mismanagement, and a perceived managed decline in national governance. Fourteen years of Conservative government have coincided with rising taxes, strained public services, weakened border control, and declining living standards;

• Since the last General Election, the Labour Party has demonstrated poor governance, broken promises, rising taxes on working people and an increasing disconnect from the priorities of the British people;

• Voters must not be denied their democratic voice simply because the electorate wishes to hold political parties to account for years of failure.

Council resolves to:

• Publicly reaffirm its commitment to the principle that local elections should not be cancelled or delayed except in the most extreme and unavoidable circumstances;

• Request that this Council will not support, request, or acquiesce in the cancellation or postponement of its own scheduled local elections at some date in the future;

• Call on all political parties to respect the electorate and allow voters to pass judgment at the ballot box rather than avoiding democratic accountability;

• Request the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to express this Council’s opposition to the cancellation of local elections and to request the protection of local democratic rights;
• Request the Chief Executive to circulate this resolution to the Local Government Association and neighbouring authorities for information.

Councillor Kyle Abel’s motion was not heard due to time constraints.

The meeting closed at 5:37pm.