Draft Minutes 13 August 2025
Draft Minutes of the Irnham Parish Council Meeting
Held in St Andrew’s Church, Irnham on Wednesday 13 August 2025 at 7pm.
Present: Cllrs Amanda Ayre, Jon Crook, Jenny Crow, Lynda Hall, Trevor Vanson.
Parish Council Clerk: Jenny Crow
1) Apologies for absence
1/1 Cllrs Hill and Robins
2) Members declaration of interest or request for dispensation
2/1 None declared.
3) Minutes of meetings
3/1Minutes of APC meeting 07/05/25 approved as a correct record and signed.
4) Matters arising
4/1 None
5) County Council/District Council matters
5/1 Cllrs have attended Local Government Reorganisation meetings with SKDC, a consortium of East Lindsey(ELDC), South Holland(SHDC) and Boston Borough(BB) and received a survey from LCC.
SKDC are proposing 3 unitary authorities:
Unitary 1 formed from North Kesteven, South Kesteven, South Holland and Rutland (Population 406,000)
Unitary 2 formed from Boston, east Lindsey, City of Lincoln, West Lindsey (Population 418,000)
Unitary 3 formed from North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire Population (330,000)
A Greater Lincolnshire For All (ELDC, SHDC, BB) are proposing 2 unitary authorities:
North Lincolnshire Council formed from City of Lincoln, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey (Population 531,000)
South Lincolnshire Council formed from Boston Borough, South Holland, South Kesteven, North Kesteven and East Lindsey (Population 574,000)
LCC are proposing 2 unitary authorities formed from:
North and North East Lincolnshire (Population 330,000)
Lincolnshire County Council (Population 770,000)
There are other proposals being worked up by different authorities.
The original guidance was for unitary authorities to have populations of approximately 500,000.
Final proposals have to be submitted to Government by 28th November with a decision as to the new format of our Local Government expected April 2026 for implementation April 2028.
The role of Parish/Town councils will change with the implementation of Area Committees. Very little detail available on these new Area Committees.
At this stage, Cllrs unanimously support the proposal by SKDC.
5/2 Posters advertising the SKDC Bin Collection Day Changes have been received and displayed in
notice boards.
6) Accounts
6/1 Income into the accounts since the last meeting has been interest on the Defibrillator Account of £10.70. Cllrs approved the following payments: SKDC £228.00 for Aqua Sacs, Stryker UK £621.29 for adult defib pads from the defibrillator fund. Cllrs noted the bank service charge of £4.25 per month.
6/2 The balance in the current account as at 13/08/25 is £6524.24, the balance in the Defibrillator account is £3588.07.
6/3 Cllrs agreed the bank reconciliation for 30/06/25.
6/4 VAT claim is £347.76. Cllrs agreed to delay claiming this at present.
6/5 Cllrs agreed to order replacement parts for the Irnham ‘phone box and are very grateful to a local resident for offering to undertake the necessary work.
6/6 Cllrs agreed a donation towards churchyard maintenance of £300.
7) Planning applications/matters for the parish
7/1 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. Permission has been refused by SKDC.
7/2 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. Permission has been refused by SKDC.
7/3 Planning Application S25/0822 for two storey extension to the outbuildings at Dairy Barns, Irnham. Cllrs had no objections in principle but requested this building could only be used as an annex. SKDC approved the plans with restrictions.
7/4 Planning Application S25/0715 for the erection of a detached dwelling between Brook House and 21 Swinstead Road Irnham. Cllrs requested the property be connected to mains drainage and surface water be discharged into the nearby watercourse. Plans approved by SKDC with these conditions.
8) Update on highways issues within the parish
8/1 Cllr Ayre reported that numerous potholes have been filled. Work is scheduled near the ford in Bulby.
8/2 Cllr Ayre will report the very poor state of the Osgodby road.
8/3 Cllr Ayre will follow up the report of the dangerous hole on the grass verge before the bridge in Hawthorpe where a cable is also exposed.
8/4 Clerk has written to the landowner regarding improving the appearance of the field boundary opposite the pumping station.
8/5 The marker wood at the front of the culvert in Bulby has been reported and is being investigated.
8/6 The culvert in Bulby continues to be cleared by local residents for which Cllrs are very grateful.
8/7 Flooding issues in Irnham off the Swinstead Road, below Stables House, are being investigated.
8/8 Anglan Water have been contacted regarding issues around the sewage plant in Irnham and the pumping station in Bulby.
8/9 Cllrs to request an update from Cllr Hill regarding work to reduce flooding impact from blocked ditches near Hall Farm, Bulby.
8/10 Cllrs hope to find a suitable time for the annual clean up in Bulby.
8/11 Speeding at the entrance to Irnham by Watergate House has been noted.
8/12 Cllrs are still trying to resolve the speed indicator issues.
9) The Great Grid Upgrade
9/1 Cllrs have attended numerous meetings and worked with Corby Glen PC and Haconby and Stainfield PC on the proposed new route of pylons through the district and a substation outside Coby Glen. Cllrs thanked all parishioners (31) who attended the recent parish meeting re the pylon proposals. Cllrs thanked Cllr Hill for his contribution which generated a very thoughtful discussion. A summary of the main points from the meeting was agreed as:
• The Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire pylon route seems to have been a late addition to the Great Grid Upgrade to move power to the south of the country. Undersea cables to Essex would not impact the Lincolnshire countryside and take power to where it is needed.
• If pylons are installed across the county this will open up easy connection to the grid for solar farms and battery storage. Underground cables would not allow connection to the grid in the same way.
• Wind and solar power is intermittent and needs a lot of infrastructure to move it around. Other sources of power, mini nuclear sites for example, could be built where the power is needed, perhaps on redundant coal fired powerstation sites and make use of existing cables.
• Research into health and Safety concerns re the electromagnetic fields from the cables is not conclusive.
• Concerns were expressed about the damaging effect on the natural environment during construction as well as ongoing.
• The project will remove significant good farmland from supplying food to the nation.
• The general feeling from the meeting was that the whole project is flawed.
• Every person including under 16s with an interest in the area was encouraged to respond to the consultation individually. Making views known more widely was encouraged.
Irnham Parish Council Response:
National Grid Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire Stage 1 Consultation Response from Irnham Parish Council, District of South Kesteven, Lincolnshire.
Irnham Parish Council, representing the communities of Irnham, Bulby and Hawthorpe strongly object to the proposal, by National Grid, for a new Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire overhead line and substations.
The proposed route is through a beautiful, rolling area of countryside rich in biodiversity.
The only acceptable solution for this east/west link to us, if it is absolutely necessary, would be for the cables to be laid underground.
10) Parish projects/Events 2025/26
10/1 Celebrations for VE Day on 8th May 2025 were well attended and enjoyed.
10/2 Cllrs are working on a photo album to capture the parish in the 21st century.
10/3 The soldier silhouettes and poppies will be displayed for Remembrance.
10/4 Cllrs will continue to place lights on the Christmas tree in Irnham.
11) Correspondence
11/1 One letter was received from a resident who was unable to attend the Parish meeting re Pylons and the Chairman has responded.
12) Irnham Parochial Church Council matters for the Parish
12/1 Cllrs agreed they would personally supply a hamper for the auction which follows the Harvest Lunch on Sunday 19th October.
12/2 Cllrs wondered whether all residents could be encouraged to provide items for the auction.
13) Any other business
13/1 None
14) Date of next meeting
14/1 The next Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 12th November 2025 in St Andrew’s Church at 7pm.
Meeting ended at 8.30pm.