A motion calling on South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) to sever all ties with Belvoir Hunt failed to win support at yesterday's (26 Sept) full council meeting.

Councillors voted 22 to 12 against the motion tabled by Market and West Deeping Councillor Virginia Moran.

Independent Coun Moran asked for a recorded vote, but this was rejected by members who, she said, 'insisted they would receive death threats' if they were named as having voted against the motion.

"Although the motion failed, tabling it has definitely not been a waste of time," she told Deepings Nub News after the council meeting.

"It presented an opportunity to air concerns about South Kesteven's on-going relationship with Belvoir Hunt.

"I have received hundreds of messages of support from the public.

"My hope is that, having raised the issues, SKDC will be more vigilant in its dealings with Belvoir Hunt in the future."

Independent Coun Moran asked 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

The motion stated: "For many years, the Belvoir Hunt has been associated with Grantham partly as a result of the annual Boxing Day meet.

"This event has been the subject of much controversy and negative news coverage in recent years.

"Supporters claim that the event raises money for good causes but in 2018 the event's contribution to the Mayor's charity was a paltry £88.82.

"Meanwhile the organisational costs to the public purse eg for preparation, policing and cleaning, were much higher.

"It is time for the council to firmly disassociate itself from the Belvoir Hunt Ltd whose activities continue to bring the town, the Charter Trustees and the district into disrepute."

The motion also highlighted a number of occasions in recent years when supporters and employees of the Belvoir Hunt have been in the courts and hit the headlines for public order and animal welfare offences.