Draft Minutes Annual Parish Council Meeting 7th May 2025
DRAFT Minutes of Annual Meeting of the Irnham Parish Council
Held in St Andrew’s Church, Irnham, on Wednesday 7th May 2025 at 7pm
Present: Cllrs Amanda Ayre, Jon Crook, Jenny Crow, Lynda Hall, Trevor Vanson.
Parish Council Clerk: Jenny Crow
1. Election of chairman
a. Cllr Ayre proposed Cllr Vanson, seconded by Cllr Crook. Cllr Vanson accepted the position as Chairman and signed the declaration of acceptance of office.
2. Apologies for absence
a. T Bagge, C Leggatt
3. Election of vice chairman
a. Cllr Vanson proposed Cllr Ayre, seconded by Cllr Hall. Cllr Ayre accepted the position as Vice Chairman.
4. Appointment of responsible finance officer and internal auditor
a. Cllr Ayre proposed Cllr Crow as Responsible Finance officer, seconded by Cllr Vanson. Cllr Crow accepted the position as Responsible Finance Officer.
b. Martin Fuggle agreed to continue as the Internal Auditor. He was thanked for his work in 2024/25.
Officers for 2025/2026
Chairman: Cllr Trevor Vanson
Vice Chairman: Cllr Amanda Ayre
Clerk/RFO: Cllr Jenny Crow
Internal Auditor: Martin Fuggle
5. Appointment of representative on parochial church council
a. Cllr Ayre agreed to continue as Representative on Parochial Church Council.
6. Members declaration of interest or request for dispensation
a. None
7. Minutes of last meeting
a. Minutes of PC meeting 12/02/25 read and accepted as correct record.
b. Minutes of APM meeting 09/04/25 read and accepted as correct record.
8. Matters arising
a. None
9. County Council/District Council matters
a. No Cllrs were present.
10. Accounts
a. Income into the 2024/25 accounts since the last meeting has been interest on the Defibrillator Account of £3.22. Expenditure has been the bank service charge of £4.25 and the bill for the installation of LED light fitting in Bulby telephone box of £54.00. The balance at the end of the financial year in the current account as at 31/03/25 is £4792.28, the balance in the Defibrillator account is £4195.21 .
b. Cllrs agreed the bank reconciliation for 31/03/25.
c. The accounts for 2024/25 have been audited by the internal auditor and signed. Papers had been circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting.
d. Councillors approved the Certificate of Exemption, proposed by Cllr Ayre, seconded by Cllr Crook and carried unanimously.
e. Councillors approved the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25. Proposed by Cllr Hall, seconded by Cllr Crook and carried unanimously.
f. Councillors approved the Annual Accounting Statement 2024/25. Proposed by Cllr Vanson, seconded by Cllr Ayre and carried unanimously.
g. Councillors agreed the period for the exercise of Public Rights to view the accounts should be during the period Tuesday 3rd June to Monday 14th July.
h. Clerk confirmed the Precept for 2025/26 had now been received.
i. Income into the 2025/26 accounts has been the precept of £2140, Community Cleaner Grant of £231.66 and interest on the Defibrillator Account of £3.45. Councillors approved the LALC subscription of £86.18 and the Insurance Premium of £308.52. The balance of the Current Account is £7073.51 and the Defibrillator Account £4198.66.
j. VAT claim currently £206.21 to be claimed later in the year.
k. Cllrs discussed the draft budget and approved it with the addition of Aqua Sacs at £190.00 and Irnham.org domain name at £50.
l. Cllrs approved the Asset Register.
m. Cllrs approved the order for replacement adult defibrillator pads. Originally the decision was taken to have a spare set of pads as well but Cllrs agreed that if single sets of replacement pads are available these should be purchased at slightly lower cost. In the event of the pads being used they would be replaced free of charge. Cllr Crook offered to undertake research into the practicalities of Defibrillators in their current locations.
11. Planning Applications
a. Planning Application S25/0325 to install and keep installed an overhead electric line to Southwood Farm, Irnham supported by Cllrs and approved by SKDC.
b. Planning Application S24/2210 for retrospective planning for work carried out at the Manor House, Irnham. Cllrs raised no objections and approved by SKDC.
c. Planning Application S25/0006 for retrospective listed building consent for work carried out at Thimelby Cottages, Irnham. Cllrs supported retention of non-traditional materials until they reach the end of their lifespan. Awaiting decision by SKDC.
d. Planning Application S24/2196 for retrospective listed building consent for work carried out at 21 -22 Swinstead Road, Irnham. Cllrs supported retention of non-traditional materials until they reach the end of their lifespan. Awaiting decision by SKDC.
12. Update on highways issues within the parish
a. Cllr Ayre has received the Aqua Sacs and informed local residents of their availability.
b. Cllrs thanked Cllr Crook for his work to update the risk assessment for volunteers undertaking work to clean up in the Parish. Cllrs agreed to the purchase of official signs to warn motorists when work is being carried out.
c. Cllrs discussed points raised at the Annual Parish Meeting regarding work required in Bulby and the responses are:
i) Cllrs will organise for the culvert entrance to be kept clear with the support of local people.
ii) Cllrs will request LCC to replace the marker wood at the front of the culvert.
iii) Cllrs will write to the land owner of the land where the fencing is in a state of disrepair and request a solution.
iv) Cllrs will request an update from LCC on the work required to dig out blocked ditches.
v) Cllrs will organise a Clean Up in Bulby to clear excess/dead vegetation and debris.
vi) Cllrs will write again to Anglian Water to request the area around the pumping station be improved.
vii) Cllrs will investigate the use of external contractors to help with maintenance work in the Parish.
d. Cllrs also discussed ongoing issues with culverts, eroding of banks and problems encountered during heavy rainfall.
e. Cllr Crook is still awaiting a replacement battery for the speed indicator sign.
13. Update on parish projects/events 2025/26
a. The April Update was delivered to every property in the Parish. There was only one response regarding defib training and no support for a summer BBQ.
b. Cllrs confirmed the arrangements for the VE Day 80 Celebrations as: 9am raise the special flag, 7.30pm fish and chip supper available in the Griffin, 9.30pm beacon lighting.
14. Correspondence
a. Suggestions received from a resident in relation to the Annual Parish Meeting were discussed and the responses are:
i) The suggestion of a Village Tabletop/Garage sale is not something the Parish Council would organise.
ii) Speeding in the village remains a concern and Cllrs have been asked to look at reduction measures on the corner approaching Irnham from Hawthorpe direction. Cllrs will forward this to LCC Highways.
iii) Cllrs were asked to consider funding for bird/swift/bat/owl boxes. The PC has a very small budget which can not be used for this type of expenditure.
iv) Cllrs were asked to consider a possible play area in the village. Cllrs have looked into this previously and such a project still remains unviable.
v) The issue of flooding in the village was raised. Cllrs will continue to work with appropriate authorities to make improvements.
15. Irnham Parochial Church Council matters for the parish
a. No issues raised.
16. Any other business
a. The domain name for PC email addresses now has to be owned by the PC. Irnham.org complies with the requirements. A new Practitioners Guide has been received for Cllrs.
17. Date of next meeting
a. Wednesday 13th August, 7pm, St Andrew’s Church.
Meeting ended at 8.30pm.