2023 Annual Parish Meeting

BLANKNEY PARISH COUNCIL

 Date:25th May 2023

The Annual Parish Meeting was  be held at 7:00pm on Monday 22nd May 2023 in the Old School Rooms  Blankney LN4 3AZ.

Cllr John F Money Parish Clerk
Aisling House
69 Main Street Scopwick LN4 3NW
Home: 01526 320323 Mobile: 07775692013  
email: johnfmoney@gmail.com

Draft Minutes of the Meeting

The parish clerk Councillor John F Money explained the situation where the previous Chairman Counsellor Richard W Parker had now resigned from the parish council after many years of dedicated service. He suggested he would begin the meeting as Chairman and carry on to do so until the new Chairman is elected, this was agreed unanimously.

1. To approve the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held in May 2022: 

Unanimously agreed and previously signed by the retiring Chairman

2. To receive a report from the Parish Council: 

The parish clerk explained it had been a successful year for the parish council where the council had applied for and gained a 30 mile an hour limit through the village to replace the 40 mile an hour limit that exists now. The notice will be in the local press shortly. He proposed a vote of thanks to County Councillor Rob Kendrick who put forward our application, all agreed. He also went on to say the proposed cemetery extension land has now been transferred from the Diocese of Lincoln to the council and change of use planning permission had been granted. He noted that two major planning proposals had been lodged which will affect the parish, they are both at the pre-application stage, one being a large Anaerobic Digester to be situated on the old airfield, this application to be be determined by Lincolnshire County Council. The second application relates to a large solar farm to the east of the B1188. This application is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which will be to be determined by the Planning Inspectorate.

3. To receive a report relating to the proposed Parish Cemetery:

The parish clerk explained how the planning application process had been quite difficult and prolongated, the Environment Agency who are statutory consultees for this type of application had reservations that the proposed cemetery and the bodies there interred could affect the Central Lincolnshire aquifer. The parish clerk thanked  Councillor Jason Robb for use of the estate mini-digger which helped to prove the area had the benefit of clay subsoil. While the Clerk prepared and submitted all the planning application drawings and documents the council had to employ the services of a chartered geological soils & drainage engineer to prove the area was suitable for the burial of human remains at the cost of £1,000 plus VAT. 

The Clerk went on to ask Councillor Jason Robb what the situation was regarding the supply and erection of the new steel fencing to complement the existing which is being kindly donated by the retired Council Chairman Councillor Richard W Parker and his wife Mrs Ruth M Parker. The Clerk also discussed the removal of the large cypresses leylandi tree which is causing problems with lifting gravestones in the existing churchyard. This tree now has the benefit of permission to fell included in the change of use planning permission. A section of the existing fencing will also have to be temporarily removed to facilitate the removal of this tree from the churchyard. He said he believed a faculty would have to be gained from the Diocese of Lincoln by the church warden prior to the felling taking place

4. To invite the public, county and district councillors  to address the meeting. Speakers are allowed 3 minutes each: Apologies were received from Councillors Pembury and Kendrick 

There were no parishioners present. The Clerk welcomed Councillor Dave Parry one of the ward district counsellors to the meeting and invited him to give a brief report. Councillor Parry went on to say he was only newly elected and was undergoing training at the moment, he also went on to say he would like to be involved with the parish. He gave a brief resume of his personal details and where he lived. Members thanked Councillor Parry for his contribution.

The Parish Meeting concluded at 7.15pm

Following this meeting any further comments may be submitted to the Parish Clerk John F Money johnfmoney@gmail.com. 01526320323)