Minutes 20th April 2022
Minutes of the
Irnham Parish Council Meeting
Held in St Andrew’s Church, Irnham on Wednesday 20 April 2022 at 7pm.
Present: Cllrs Amanda Ayre, Jon Crook, Jenny Crow, Lynda Hall, Trevor Vanson.
Also in attendance: Cllr Nick Robins
Parish Council Clerk: Jenny Crow
1) Apologies for absence
1/1 None received
2) Members declaration of interest or request for dispensation
2/1None
3) Minutes of meeting 02/02/2022
3/1 Read and accepted as correct record.
4) Matters arising
4/1 None
5) County council/district council matters
5/1Cllr Robins explained difficult decisions had been taken regarding the budget and District Councillors will no longer have an allowance to support Parish Council projects. Other wider District issues noted included: financial savings are to be made through restructuring staffing, the Deepings Leisure Centre will have a major refurbishment and housing for Ukrainians is being supported at District level. Any recommendations regarding the proposed Solar Farm north of Stamford will be taken by the full District Council. Stamford North is set for major housing development linking with the Quarry Farm site in Rutland. The other issue mentioned was the ongoing discussions into the best organisational structure for the county.
5/2 Issues regarding the revised Green Bin collection schedule, particularly in relation to Bulby, seem to have been resolved.
5/3 An update on the noise issues in Bulby has been requested from SKDC via Cllr Robins.
6/1 Income into the 2021/22 accounts since the last meeting has been interest on the Defibrillator Account of £0.08. Councillors approved the following payments: £266.02 for Jubilee Mugs, £567 for the flagpole and a Union Jack Flag, £281.88 for replacement child pads for the defibrillators and £188.51 for litter picking equipment. A transfer of £281.88 from the Defibrillator Account to pay for the child pads was agreed. The balance in the current account as at 31/03/22 is £1832.65, the balance in the Defibrillator account is £4968.82.
6/2 VAT claim currently £311.77 to be claimed for period ending 31/03/22.
6/3 Cllrs agreed the bank reconciliation for 31/03/22.
6/4 The accounts for 2021/22 have been closed and are ready for the internal auditor. Papers had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting.
6/5 Councillors approved the Certificate of Exemption, proposed by Cllr Ayre, seconded by Cllr Crook and carried unanimously.
6/6 Councillors approved the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22. Proposed by Cllr Crook seconded by Cllr Ayre and carried unanimously.
6/7 Councillors approved the Annual Accounting Statement 2021/22. Proposed by Cllr Hall, seconded by Cllr Ayre and carried unanimously.
6/8 Councillors agreed the period for the exercise of Public Rights to view the accounts should be during the period Monday 13th June to Friday 22nd July.
6/9 Clerk confirmed the Precept for 2022/23 had been received. The amount remained the same, as last year, at £1600 although on Council Tax bills this shows as an increase of 5.7% on Band D properties, an actual increase of 83p a year. This is due to the tax base having reduced slightly. A useful paper explaining this from LALC had been circulated.
6/10 Income into the 2022/23 accounts has been the precept of £1600 and interest on the Defibrillator Account of £0.04. Councillors approved the LALC Subscription payment of £71.89 and the Insurance Premium of £280.03. The balance of the Current Account is £3080.73, Defibrillator Account £4968.87.
6/11 Cllrs agreed all the income and expenditure for the Parish Party should be handled by the Parish Council. A separate set of records will be kept. Refunds for the following expenditure were approved: Bunting and Small Flags £101.95, Large Flags for lamp posts £149.40, Emblem Mugs £163.73. It is intended that the finances for the party will break even. Any surplus will be donated to charity.
6/12 Cllrs approved the draft budget.
6/13 Cllrs approved the Asset Register.
6/14 Cllrs had received a quote for repainting of the old telephone boxes. It was agreed this could not be met by the PC funds and we will need to look for an alternative solution.
7/1 Planning Application S22/0415 for conversion and change of use of listed barns to a single residential dwelling in Bulby had been discussed by Cllrs. A response has been sent to SKDC supporting in principle but highlighting some areas of concern. Cllrs also noted yellow public information signs had not been displayed. Cllr Robins to follow up,
7/3 Planning Application S22/0679 for revisions to approval S20/0344 at Newton House were discussed. It was agreed there were no material changes and no grounds for objections to be raised. A response to that effect will be sent to SKDC.
7/4 Cllr Ayre raised the issue of Tree Preservation Orders. Cllr Robins will clarify procedure for the PC.
8) Update on highways issues within the parish
8/1 Cllrs were pleased the culvert work in Irnham was finally completed Thursday night before the Easter weekend. The work looks to be of a high standard but did take a long time to complete.
8/2 Clerk has received further notification of road closures on Swinstead Road Irnham from 09/05/22 – 19/05/22, Corby Road, Irnham, from 09/05/22 – 11/05/22 and Hawthorpe Road, Irnham, between Corby Road and Osgodby Road from 18/05/22 – 20/05/22 for resurfacing work.
8/3 The Clerk has still not received any update on reinstatement of the Bulby sign post near the pumping station. Cllr Robins to follow this up.
9) Her Majesty the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebration 2nd June – 5th June
9/1 Details of the Parish Party have been circulated via the Parish Update, delivered to all properties in the Parish and Cllrs now have tickets to sell.
9/2 Commemorative mugs have been purchased for the children of the Parish. A limited number of mugs are available to buy on a first come first served basis.
9/3 Cllrs Crook and Vanson are preparing the decorations for the lamp posts. Residents are encouraged to help tidy and decorate the Parish over the weekend of 21st /22nd May.
9/4 The Jubilee Beacon will be lit at 9.45pm on Thursday 2nd June. Residents are encouraged to come to the Griffin Inn.
9/5 A resident has requested the red arrows display team to include Irnham on their route back home. We await to hear whether the request has been successful.
10/1 The flagpole has arrived and it is hoped this will be installed by the Jubilee.
10/2 Ideas for a possible Irnham Village Sign to be discussed at the Annual Parish meeting.
11/1 Ridge Clean Energy have contacted the PC regarding a proposed Solar Farm on land 2.1km south west from the centre of Folkingham, largely on land occupied by the old RAF Folkingham airfield. It was agreed to await further information.
11/2 A resident raised the issue of gateways for Irnham. At present there is no funding in the budget to consider this project as the majority of residents rejected the initial proposal.
12) Irnham parochial church council matters for the parish
12/1 Cllr Ayre reported that a new path constructed in grey setts will be installed at St Andrew’s Church.
13) Any other business
13/1 None
14) Date of next meeting
14/1 Annual Parish Council meeting and Annual Parish meeting, Wednesday 11th May 2022, St Andrew’s Church, Irnham, 7pm.
Meeting ended at 8.45pm.