Draft Minutes 12 August 2026
Draft Minutes of the Irnham Parish Council Meeting
Held in St Andrew’s Church, Irnham on Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 7pm.
Present: Cllrs Amanda Ayre, Jon Crook, Jenny Crow, Trevor Vanson.
Parish Council Clerk: Jenny Crow
1) Apologies for absence
1/1 Cllr Hall
2) Members declaration of interest or request for dispensation
2/1 None declared.
3) Minutes of meetings
3/1Minutes of Annual Parish Council Meeting 20/05/26 approved as a correct record and signed.
4) Matters arising
4/1 None
5) County Council/District Council matters – No District or County Members present
5/1 Cllrs have been informed by LCC and SKDC that following the Government Consultation on Local Government Reorganisation the proposal by Lincoln City has been selected. Cllrs Vanson and Crow attended a briefing session with SKDC and the overwhelming view was that this was the worst option of the four alternatives presented to Government for consideration.
Brief fact noted: Unitary 1 City of Lincoln – 65 Councillors, ratio of Councillors to residents 1:2000
Unitary 2 Lincolnshire – 100 Councillors, ratio 1:5000
The geographical area of the Lincolnshire Unitary is vast compared to the City of Lincoln Unitary. It is unclear where the Lincolnshire Unitary will be based as the current Lincolnshire offices will not be in the new Lincolnshire Unitary.
Irnham Parish Councillors agreed to contact our MP, Alicia Kearns, to express our concerns. Alicia has already opened a petition on her website and the link is:
Residents to be encouraged to take a few moments to make their views known.
6) Accounts
6/1 Income into the accounts since the last meeting has been interest on the Defibrillator Account of £4.23. Cllrs approved the following payments: Refund to Cllr Vanson for flags of £105.00, LALC Summer Conference fee for Cllr Crow of £54.00. Cllrs noted the bank service charge of £4.25 per month.
6/2 The balance in the current account as at 12/08/26 is £7963.10, the balance in the Defibrillator account is £3396.03.
6/3 Cllrs agreed the bank reconciliation for 30/06/26.
6/4 Cllr Crow reported that the LALC Summer Conference was extremely useful and she attended a session on the implementation of the new digital AGAR. The process looks fairly straightforward and although not compulsory for a PC of our size until 2028 she recommends we use it for the current financial year.
6/5 Donation to St Andrew’s Church for Churchyard maintenance of £350 agreed by Councillors.
7) Planning applications/matters for the parish
7/1 Planning Application S26/0733 to replace an outbuilding with glazed link to house at Watergate House, Irnham supported by Cllrs and approved by SKDC.
7/2 Planning Application S26/0744 for the use of the garage at Linden House, Bulby as a small scale woodworking workspace not supported by Cllrs. Awaiting decision by SKDC.
7/3 Planning Application S26/0831 for conversion of listed barns at Grange Farm, Bulby to a residential dwelling supported by Cllrs and awaiting decision from SKDC.
7/4 Planning Application S26/0915 for prior approval under Class Q for conversion and extension of existing buildings to form 3no. dwellings supported by Cllrs and approved by SKDC.
7/5 Planning Application S26/1005 to vary condition at Dairy Barns, Irnham to allow for oil tank installation. Cllrs had no objections and approved by SKDC.
7/6 The Clerk had received an email from a resident regarding advance notice of a planning application to be submitted to SKDC. The resident informed the meeting of the plans and first impressions were very positive.
8 Update on highways issues within the parish
8/1 Cllr Ayre has reported numerous potholes again.
8/2 Cllrs are extremely disappointed that there has been no follow up to outstanding work agreed during the parish visit from Highways in February. Two reminders have been sent. Cllrs are so concerned to see the visibility of the depth gauge at the ford improved that they have considered doing the work themselves. They have reluctantly concluded that this would be unlawful and must be undertaken by LCC Highways.
8/3 Cllr Crow completed the LCC Highway’s Survey and attended the session with LCC Highways at the LALC conference. The presentation gave a useful overview of the scope of Highways work and the focus of the presentation was on helping Parish Councils better understand how Lincolnshire Highways operates, how decisions are made and how information can be accessed independently. It was acknowledged that Parish Councils want improved engagement with Lincolnshire Highways.
8/4 Cllr Crow has received a schedule of planned maintenance work to public rights of way in the parish. Cllrs discussed and agreed there are some paths missing from the schedule. Cllr Crow to contact LCC for clarification.
8/5 Cllr Crow met the Water Sensor team at the LALC Conference and the sensor in Bulby is now live.
8/6 SKDC have investigated the drain outside Manor House, Irnham and in their opinion this is stagnant water not foul water and have referred the matter to LCC Highways. Residents noticed the drain being cleaned and the contractors confirmed a blockage/broken pipe near the green BT box. The contractors confirmed this will be reported back to LCC Highways.
9) The Great Grid Upgrade
9/1 The Clerk has received an email from National Grid informing the PC that landowners in the parish may have been contacted regarding surveys in the parish. Cllrs will try to establish the current situation. Cllr Vanson agreed to write to our MP expressing concerns.
10) Parish projects/Events 2026/27
10/1 Remembrance preparations – Cllrs agreed to erect Poppies and soldier silhouettes as last year.
11) Policies
11/1 Cllr Crow attended a useful session with the LCC Community Resilience partnership at the LALC Conference. Further work has been done on the Parish Community Emergency Plan. Cllr Crow and Crook to attend further sessions with the LCC partnership with a view to adopting our plan formally.
12) Correspondence
12/1 None not already discussed.
13) Irnham Parochial Church Council matters for the Parish
13/1 Cllr Ayre informed the PC that the new gates to the Church have been delayed until January.
14) Any other business
14/ Cllrs are aware of a dog attack on a resident in Bulby when Police attended and the dog has been removed from the property. Cllrs will monitor the situation.
15) Date of next meeting
15/1 The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 11 November, 7pm, St Andrew’s Church.
Meeting ended at 8.30pm.