Market and West Deeping Councillor Virginia Moran today called on South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) to sever all ties with Belvoir Hunt.
In a secret vote SKDC councillors voted 22 – 12 against cutting ties with the Belvoir Hunt.
Councillor Moran said,
“I am of course, bitterly disappointed with the result. The secret ballot didn’t help in that it allowed the people who support the violence and disregard for the law to remain secret. What is important is that the preferential treatment that the Hunt have received in the past is now public knowledge and won’t be allowed to happen again. The war isn’t over by a long chalk we just lost the opening skirmish.”
The motion follows a petition signed by over 20,000 people calling for the Mayor of Grantham to reconsider the annual invite extended to the Belvoir Hunt on Boxing Day.
The motion submitted to full council, stated that Independent Coun Moran wants SKDC to resolve to:
• refuse permission for use of SKDC assets for any activity connected with the Belvoir Hunt, including all land and property which is owned or managed by the council
• refuse any discretionary licence application relating to activities of Belvoir Hunt including event licences and ‘charitable’ street collections
• ensure all costs associated with preparation, management or clearing up after activities connected with the Belvoir Hunt are recovered from the organisers
• refuse and withhold any other non-statutory support for the Belvoir Hunt
How disgraceful that SKDC have shown they approve of hunting. Is that the mayor patting the hunting horse? Does he not realise what hunting is about? This hunt is notorious see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-49333025. Hunting is carrying on as before the ban, trail hunting is a lie.. Brave hunt monitors gather evidence and this is how they end up. Hunts are NOT above the law but when councils refuse to sever ties they are no better than those who kill wild animals for fun.. Do you, people of Grantham, want such people who approve of this barbarity to represent you as a council??