May 2026 Draft Minutes
GEDNEY HILL PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Held at the Gedney Hill and District Memorial Hall, Hillgate, PE12 0NN
On Monday 18th May 2026, at 6.30pm
PRESENT:
GHPC Councillors: N Watson (Chair) and T Brooks (Clerk & RFO)
Also present:
17 members of the public
1. Chairmans Welcome.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2. Chairman’s Report April 2025 to March 2026.
The Chair gave the following report.
Mellissa resigned her post at the end of last year, we send our sincere thanks to her for all she achieved during her term in office – the ‘Caution, Horses’ signs around the village were her initiative, and she played a big part in the playground/pavilion project.
Thanks also go to Vicki our previous clerk, for all she brought to the role during her tenure.
We have two new faces at the Council, we welcome Tessa as Clerk, she has brought skills and business experience, and great enthusiasm to the role. Sarah Berrisford was elected to the vacant Councillor position at the recent election and will formally take her place at the beginning of the Parish Council meeting later this evening.
The past year was again characterised by proposed major developments all around our Parish – of solar farms and electricity pylons – and we work hard to ensure our parishioners concerns are passed on to the developers.
While we may not host the actual construction it is inevitable that we will be affected by increased traffic if the developments go ahead.
Thanks to a significant grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, we have undertaken a major internal refurbishment of the parish pavilion, which as well as hosting the Art Group remains available for bookings – especially for events that would benefit from the access to the grassed playing field area.
The Play Park Committee continue to be a force for change as work continues toward the aim of installing play and leisure equipment at the playing field. Angela as chair represents the Parish Council on the joint committee which harnesses the skills and enthusiasm of parishioners, with a number of successful events already held and great plans for the future.
The internal audit for 2025/26 has just been completed, our auditor Alison Day is happy with what she has seen and how the Council presented its accounts and has given a good audit report.
During 2025/26 the Council set its budget for 2026/27. The revised precept will allow the Council to introduce new initiatives and also ensure that our existing assets continue to be well kept and in good order.
I extend my thanks to Angela, Ken and Paul, my fellow Councillors, and to Tessa our Clerk, for their steadfast support and advice.
Finally, we thank our District Councillor Laura Eldridge, and our County Councillor Ray Condell for their hard work on behalf of the village and Malc our Handyman.
3. Public Forum.
Anglian Water works on North Road. A number of parishioners has raised concerns regarding the planned closure and works to be undertaken on North Road in August, which has been selected and agreed with LCC Highways to coincide with the school holidays. Business on North Road are concerned about the impact to their business in terms of maintaining a continuous water supply and with farm owners they are concerned that the proposed diversion, via West Drove North, Mole Drove, or the northern route around North Road, is not suitable for caravans, motorhomes and farm machinery. Cllr Eldridge has already approached Anglian Water to try and arrange a meeting between SHDC, LCC, Parish Council, LCC Highways and affected business owners to discuss matters.
Speed Limit on West Drove North. Parishioners are seeking support from the Parish Council and LCC to lower the speed limit on West Drove North form 60mph to 40 or 30mph. Cllr Condell advised that initial discussions with LCC Highways had not been positive however, Cllr Condell would investigate if speed survey monitoring equipment could be installed. A village residents only partition, visitors to the golf club cannot form part of the partition, is to be presented at the next Parish Council Meeting on 6th July 2026.
A parishioner asked if it was possible for the drop off layby on North Road opposite the school could be changed as concerns have been raised regarding it’s depth and the possibility that cars parked in the drop off could be damaged. Cllrs noted that it is a drop off area only for the school not a car parking area and therefore noted no changes would be considered.
The meeting closed at 7.05pm