Draft Minutes Annual Parish Council Meeting 20th May 2026
DRAFT Minutes of Annual Meeting of the Irnham Parish Council
Held in St Andrew’s Church, Irnham, on Wednesday 20th May 2026 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. Cllr Nick Robins, T Bagge, C Leggatt, J Barth.
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 Vanson proposed Cllr Crow as Responsible Finance officer, seconded by Cllr Ayre. Cllr Crow accepted the position as Responsible Finance Officer.
b. Clerk to discuss with Martin Fuggle whether he will continue as the Internal Auditor. He was thanked for his work in 2025/26.
Officers for 2026/2027
Chairman: Cllr Trevor Vanson
Vice Chairman: Cllr Amanda Ayre
Clerk/RFO: Cllr Jenny Crow
Internal Auditor: to be confirmed
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. The Great Grid Upgrade
a. Cllrs have received a request from National Grid to help shape the accessibility of the Stage 2 consultations for Weston Marsh to East Leicestershire. Cllrs agreed they would prefer a
more formal presentation rather than informal chats and documents simply left on tables.
Clerk to respond to email.
8. Minutes of last meeting
a. Minutes of PC meeting 18/02/26 read and accepted as correct record.
b. Minutes of APM meeting 15/04/26 read and accepted as correct record.
9. Matters arising
a. None
10. County Council/District Council matters
a. Cllr Hill confirmed that a decision on Reorganisation of Local Government in Lincolnshire is
still expected by the end of July.
County Councillors have a small budget of £3000 to help Parish Councils with special projects.
Surface dressing work is planned for 21/05/26 from the A15 through Kirkby Underwood to Hawthorpe and through Bulby to Elsthorpe.
11. Accounts
a. Income into the 2025/26 accounts since the last meeting has been interest on the Defibrillator Account of £1.30. Expenditure has been the bank service charge of £4.25 and the donation for heating for meeting £50. The balance at the end of the financial year in the current account as at 31/03/26 is £6077.66, the balance in the Defibrillator account is £3388.87.
b. Cllrs agreed the bank reconciliation for 31/03/26.
c. The accounts for 2025/26 are being examined by the internal auditor. 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 2025/26. Proposed by Cllr Ayre, seconded by Cllr Hall and carried unanimously.
f. Councillors approved the Annual Accounting Statement 2025/26. Proposed by Cllr Ayre, seconded by Cllr Crook and carried unanimously.
g. Councillors agreed the period for the exercise of Public Rights to view the accounts should be during the period Wednesday 3rd June to Tuesday 14th July.
h. Clerk confirmed the Precept for 2026/27 had now been received.
i. Income into the 2026/27 accounts has been the precept of £2300, Community Cleaner Grant of £231.66 and interest on the Defibrillator Account of £2.93. Councillors approved the LALC subscription of £98.90, the Insurance Premium of £371.32, the refund to T Vanson for new flags of £105.00 and 1 month’s service charge £4.25. The balance of the Current Account is £8134.85 and the Defibrillator Account £3391.80.
j. Cllrs discussed the draft budget and approved it.
k. Cllrs approved the Asset Register.
12. Planning Applications
a. Planning Application S25/2426 to install 2 external air conditioning condensing units at Blacksmiths Cottage, Irnham approved by SKDC.
b. Planning Application S25/2470 to fell row of Leylandiis, four Sycamores and a Norway Spruce at Watergate House, Irnham approved by SKDC.
c. Planning Application S26/0528 to reduce the crown of a large Cherry tree by 2-3m and to remove a small Cherry tree at Thurston House, Irnham approved by SKDC
d. Planning Application S26/0733 to replace an outbuilding with glazed link to house at Watergate House, Irnham supported by Cllrs and awaiting decision by SKDC.
13. Update on highways issues within the parish
a. See separate update on Irnham Parish website regarding work in Bulby. A further update has been requested from Highways.
b. Drain outside Manor House, Irnham is blocked and Cllr Hill advised this should be referred to SKDC. Clerk to action.
c. Speed Indicator issues continue with new batteries failing quickly. Cllr Hill confirmed this is a common problem.
d. LCC Highways have requested topics for their presentation at the LALC conference. Clerk to respond.
e. Cllr Ayre thanked Anglian Water Spa project for creating the passing place on the Bulby Road.
14. Update on parish projects/events 2025/26
a. Parish Defibrillators – following the discussion at the Annual Parish meeting about the future provision of defibrillators in the parish when the current ones become obsolete Cllrs agreed they will survey residents on the way forward when the next Parish Update is circulated.
b. Community Emergency Plan – this is being developed. Cllrs were keen to point out that, in an emergency, residents do readily respond via the Irnham, Bulby and Hawthorpe Neighbourhood Watch WhatsApp group organised by the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator. (Please note only residents of the parish can join this group.)
c. Water level Sensor Project – A water level sensor has now been installed at the bridge over the ford in Bulby. Cllrs will follow up to understand how the alert system will work and look into possibilities of alerting motorists to any flooding.
d. Quickline Fibre Broadband work in Bulby and Hawthorpe – currently Quickline are the only providers of fibre to the premises in these two hamlets.
15. Correspondence
a. None not already noted.
16. Irnham Parochial Church Council matters for the parish
a. New Vicar, Helen Roulston, has been warmly welcomed and is settling in very well
b. New gates at the entrance to the Church are expected to be installed in June.
c. The damaged churchyard wall has been repaired and thanks were given to Tom for all his hard work.
17. Any other business
a. Cllrs noted that problems with deer in the area, including both fallow and muntjac, are still
extensive. In the media, recently, there was mentioned of possible illegal shooting in the
area of Callan’s Lane Wood. The police were called.
b. Cllrs will contact Tom Bagge regarding the photograph album project.
18. Date of next meeting
a. Wednesday 12th August, 7pm, St Andrew’s Church.
Meeting ended at 8.15pm.