Draft Minutes 18 February 2026
Draft Minutes of the Irnham Parish Council Meeting
Held in St Andrew’s Church, Irnham on Wednesday 18 February 2026 at 7pm.
Present: Cllrs Amanda Ayre, Jon Crook, Jenny Crow, Lyn Hall, Trevor Vanson.
Parish Council Clerk: Jenny Crow
1) Apologies for absence
1/1 None
2) Members declaration of interest or request for dispensation
2/1 None declared.
3) Minutes of meetings
3/1Minutes of Parish Council Meeting 12/11/25 approved as a correct record and signed.
4) Matters arising
4/1 None
5) County Council/District Council matters
5/1 Cllrs have been informed by LCC and SKDC that the Government Consultation on Local Government Reorganisation is now live until 26th March 2026. This is a public consultation and all residents are encouraged to take part.
All four proposals put forward can be viewed at www.greaterlincolnshirelgrhub.org/local-government-changes-greater-lincolnshire
The online consultation can be found at https://consult.communities.gov.uk/local-government-reorganisation/lincolnshire-nlincolnshire-nelincolnshire
SK/NK Proposal LCC Proposal City of Lincoln Proposal SH/EL/BB Proposal
The first three proposals leave North and North East Lincolnshire as separate unitary authorities as they are now. The proposal by South Holland/East Lindsey and Boston Borough brings North and North East Lincolnshire into a new Northern Lincolnshire.
At this stage, Irnham Parish Cllrs are tending towards supporting the two unitary model, A Greater Lincolnshire For All however it is not clear whether current legislation could force this to happen. The SK/NK proposal originally included Rutland in the Southern Unitary and it is understood is still favoured by Rutland and SKDC residents.
Cllrs feel the LCC model and City of Lincoln model would mean rural SK is more remote from the centre of the new authority.
6) Accounts
6/1 Income into the accounts since the last meeting has been the VAT reclaim of £410.53, and interest on the Defibrillator Account of £5.30. Cllrs approved the following payments: Stryker UK for child defibrillator pads £388.80, St Andrew’s Church donation towards heating for PC meeting £50 and the transfer of VAT refund of £177.35 to the defibrillator account. Cllrs noted the bank service charge of £4.25 per month. Cllrs approved the payment to LALC to be made on 01/04/26 of £98.90 for the annual subscription.
6/2 The balance in the current account as at 18/02/26 is £6136.16, the balance in the Defibrillator account is £3387.57.
6/3 Cllrs agreed the bank reconciliation for 31/12/25.
6/4 Cllrs noted that to keep within their agreed Precept increase of 5% the amount requested is £2300 for 2026/2.
7) Planning applications/matters for the parish
7/1 Planning Application S25/1638 to change the use of The Old School, Corby Road, Irnham from offices to dwelling is approved by SKDC with conditions.
7/2 Planning Application S25/1693 to restore the grand entrance to Irnham Church with new gates is approved by SKDC.
7/3 Planning Application S25/1832 to extend an existing garage and add an additional bedroom at Hartwell Grange, is approved by SKDC.
7/4 Planning Application S25/2035 to add two conservation style roof windows to the rear of the proposed extension at Dairy Barns, Irnham which will also be reduced by one garage bay. Approved by SKDC.
7/5 Planning Application S25/1800 to add a front porch extension, rear extension, garage extension, new windows and part render the front elevation at Larks Meadow, Bulby is approved by SKDC.
7/6 Planning Application S25/2039 for prior approval under part 3 Class Q for the conversion and extension of existing buildings to form 3 dwellings at Westwood Nursery, Bulby approved in principle by Cllrs but refused by SKDC.
7/7 Planning Application S25/2470 for tree work at Watergate House approved by SKDC. (NB PC were not a consultee as the only option available to SKDC is either to allow the proposed work or serve a tree preservation order. A TPO was not suitable and therefore the work is allowed.)
8 Update on highways issues within the parish
8/1 The marker wood at the front of the culvert in Bulby has been replaced.
8/2 Irnham Parish Council made a formal complaint to LCC Highways about the refusal to clear a blocked drain in Bulby whilst acknowledging it was blocked. Images of the considerable flooding in Bulby, which has occurred on at least seven occasions this winter, are attached to the Minutes on the Parish website. As a result of the complaint a LCC Highways Officer visited the Parish on 17th February and met with Cllrs Vanson, Ayre and Crow and LCC Cllr Martin Hill. Cllrs were informed that extensive work to jet and clean drainage assets in Bulby will be undertaken on 17th and 18th March. A record of all the other action points following the meeting is also available on the Parish website.
8/3 Cllrs will complete the LCC Highway’s Survey by 28th February.
8/4 A request has been sent to join the LCC Water Level Sensor project. In principle it has been agreed that a sensor can be installed at the ford in Bulby.
8/5 Quickline works have taken place in Bulby to install fibre Broadband to premises. There will be further work in the area throughout February and March and faster broadband should be available in the coming months.
8/6 Cllr Ayre continues to report potholes including several near Marwood Farm.
9) The Great Grid Upgrade
9/1 No further information to report. It was agreed that the Clerk will contact Haconby and Stainfield Parish Council for any updates.
10) Parish projects/Events 2025/26
10/1 Thanks recorded to Cllr Vanson for the lights on the Christmas tree in Irnham.
10/2 Cllrs are working on a photo album to capture the parish in the 21st century.
10/3 A national Light a Lamp Light of Peace at 10.57am on 11 November has been suggested and Cllr Ayre will raise the idea with St Andrew’s PCC.
10/4 Cllrs will arrange a spring clean in Bulby after the drain work has been completed and request a visit by the SKDC Road Sweeper
11) Policies
11/1 Cllrs approved the IT Policy. Review date is February 2027.
12) Correspondence
12/1 Cllrs responded to communication from Kirkby Underwood PC.
12/2 Letter of support for directional signs to the Griffin Inn and Irnham Hall sent to Jamie Benton Jones.
12/3 Cllrs were circulated with an email from SKDC regarding live streaming of Council Meetings including Planning Committee.
12/4 Cllrs noted and hope to attend the Flood Roadshow in Grantham on 21st May, 2pm – 7pm at Jubilee Church.
13) Irnham Parochial Church Council matters for the Parish
13/1 Cllr Ayre informed the meeting that a new vicar for the parish will be licensed in April.
14) Any other business
14/1 Cllrs are aware that our defibrillators are now 10 years old and replacement adult pads are no longer available. The current pads, both adult and child, are in date until March 2028. Cllrs agreed options for replacement of the defibrillators should be discussed at the Annual Parish meeting in April.
14/2 Cllrs regularly receive information from the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum and are considering developing a Community Emergency Plan, particularly in light of the heightened instability in the world. Cllr Vanson asked us to think about how prepared we would be? Cllrs have also agreed this would be a useful topic for the Annual Parish Meeting.
15) Date of next meeting
15/1 The Annual Parish Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 15th April. The Annual Parish Council Meeting will be on Wednesday 20th May.
Meeting ended at 8.15pm.