May 2026 Minutes Annual Parish Meeting
Grasby Parish Council
C/o Ash Grove Farm, North Willingham, Market Rasen, LN8 3RJ, Telephone 07890 238463, Email: clerk@grasbyparish.gov.uk
Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held Wednesday 27th May 2026, at the Grasby Village Hall
Present: Cllr R. Bennett, Cllr. J Harris, Cllr J Brown, Cllr P Grimes and the clerk.
0 members of the public.
1. The minutes of the meeting held 21st May 2025 on were signed as a true and accurate record.
2. The Chairman presented his yearly report as follows:
I would like to welcome everyone to the Grasby Annual Parish Meeting 2026 and thank you for attending. The last annual meeting was held on 21 May 2025, when I also presented the Chairman’s report. The last 12 months have again been a busy period for the Parish Council, and I would like to summarise the key activities that have taken place: -
Councillors
The composition of the Parish Council has remained unchanged over the last 12 months, and I would like to thank all councillors for their continued support and commitment. We do still have capacity for additional councillors, and I would encourage anyone with an interest in the village to consider getting involved, particularly younger members of the community.
Parish Clerk
We are extremely grateful to Charlotte Wright, our Parish Clerk, who continues to provide an efficient and proactive service. Charlotte ensures that we remain up to date with our financial, governance and administrative responsibilities, which is greatly appreciated.
District & County Councillors
I would also like to thank Cllr Peter Morris (West Lindsey District Council) and Cllr James Bean (Lincolnshire County Council) for their ongoing support during the year. They have continued to keep us informed on matters such as Local Government Reorganisation and wider county initiatives, and their input is always valued.
Routine Parish Council Meetings
During the year the Parish Council has continued to meet on a regular bi-monthly basis, with agendas and minutes available on the Parish Council website. Each meeting always includes a 15-minute public forum, which provides residents with the opportunity to raise any issues directly with the Council.
Highways & A1084
Highways matters have once again been a key focus. Waiting restrictions outside the school have now been implemented and adjusted following consultation, works have taken place on the A1084 and elsewhere within the village, and resurfacing works on Front Street have been planned and coordinated with utility providers to reduce disruption. Whilst many of these issues are ongoing, progress continues to be made. To further enhance highway safety the Parish Council are currently considering the installation of a further speed indicator device (SID or SAM) at the Station Road entrance to the village to try and reduce the speed of vehicles approaching from the south.
Village Maintenance
The routine maintenance of the village has continued throughout the year, including the annual grass cutting programme, helping to keep the village looking tidy. The grass cutting contract was put out to tender in January 2026, with it being re-awarded to D & A Williams for a further 3 years on the same terms as previously.
Planning
The Parish Council has continued to review and comment on planning applications submitted to West Lindsey District Council. Most applications during the year have been dealt with without significant issue. Currently a planning application has been submitted for a 49.9MW solar farm on the old Caistor Airfield site, which affects three parishes, including Grasby. Various comments have been made on planning issues, particularly regarding adequate protection for the chalk stream that passes through the northern end of the site. Other comments have been made on the level of community funds offered by the developer but these are not technically planning matters.
Grasby, Searby cum Owmby Neighbourhood Plan (GSONP)
This continues to be a significant project for the Parish. Following the Regulation 14 consultation in 2025, the plan progressed to submission stage in early 2026 and has since been through further Regulation 16 consultation and is now under independent examination. This represents a major step forward, and thanks should again go to Chris Mead and the Steering Group for the considerable amount of work that has gone into progressing the plan to this stage. Once the examination is complete the Neighbourhood Plan will then go forward to a public referendum, hopefully before the end of the calendar year.
Finance, Precept and Funding
The Parish Council continues to manage its finances carefully. The precept for 2026/27 has been reviewed and increased slightly to reflect rising costs, and the Council continues to provide support to local amenities where possible.
Website and Communications
The Parish Council website continues to be an important resource for residents, providing access to meeting documents and general information about the Parish and thanks to Steve Riley the website has been significantly refreshed and updated during the year.
Looking Ahead
Over the coming year, the Parish Council will continue to focus on progressing the Neighbourhood Plan through to its conclusion, ongoing highways, planning and infrastructure matters, maintaining sound financial management and continued engagement with residents.
Thanks
Finally, I would like to thank all councillors for their continued help and support over the past year. As always, this work is carried out on a voluntary basis alongside other commitments, and it is very much appreciated. I would also like to thank Charlotte for her continued guidance and support throughout the year.
3. To receive a report of Parish Council finances from the Responsible Financial Officer
The clerk presented the annual finances to the parish council. The total annual income for 2025/26 was £9,599. The Total annual expenditure for 2025/26 was £15,956. A large amount of the expenditure was for the Neighbourhood Plan which was grant funded.
An internal audit has been undertaken by Cassels Accountants Limited who confirmed the parish finances are accurate and run in the correct manner according to legislation.
4. Open Meeting
Nothing to report. No members of the public were in attendance.