April 2026
Blyton Parish Council
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Blyton Parish Council held on
Monday 27th April at 7.30pm
Present:
Councillor C. Daubney, Councillor J Daubney, Councillor R Turnbull, Councillor L Godson, Councillor I Wilcock, Councillor S Clixby, Councillor C Gaulton
Also present: Councillor K Carless WLDC, Anna McArthur (clerk), Cllr C Reeve
4 members of the public
1. Election of Chairperson for 2026/7
Cllr L Godson elected chairperson
2. Election of Vice Chairperson for 2026/7
Cllr C Daubney elected vice chairperson
3. To approve minutes of last annual meeting held on 9th June 2025
The minutes of the last meeting were approved as a true record
4. Report from the chairman of the Parish Council
Chairpersons Report Parish Meeting 27th April 2026
What Blyton Parish council have done in 2025/6
- Three updated village signs have been added and flower planters included which where kindly done by councillor’s Chris & Jackie Daubney
- We have started repair works in the village play park which will hopefully have more items added to it in the near future
- We have a new village Christmas tree to be used yearly which was a big hit in the village thank you Councillor Chris and Jackie Daubney
- We held a well attended memorial service in November
- We have maintained the village grass cutting and had several trees removed from the cemetery
- We have welcomed two new Parish councilors to, Sheron Clixby and Clive Gaulton
- We have supported Councilor Jackie Daubney in her setting up of the Blyton neighborhood steering group in regard to future planning in the village
Public Forum: Mark Bilcliffe spoke of his concern that some of the allotments were not up to the required standard Cllr C Daubney stated this was on the agenda and will be discussed. Mr Bilcliffe also mentioned the lack of dropped kerbs in the village Cllr Carless stated this was being addressed on an as and when basis as there was a need for dropped kerbs throughout the county. It was also mentioned that it would be appreciated to have had spare agendas and copies of last years minutes. The clerk mentioned copies were available on the website, however it is appreciated not everyone has access to the internet and the point was duly noted.
5. Apologies for absence and Reasons give: Cllr C Quirke
6. Co-option of Councillor: Clive Gaulton
7. To receive declarations of interest in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and to receive any applications for Dispensation. Members may make any declarations at this point but may also make them at any point during the meeting
8. Church Repor: No report presented
9. Reports from Village Organisations
Blyton Memorial Hall. Chairpersons Report.
Hi, most of you know me, but for those who don’t I’m Chris and I am the Chairman of the Blyton Memorial Hall Management Committee. This past year has been challenging, with the loss of one of our oldest serving committee members, Mr. Tony Codd. he is very much missed by us all. We have managed to get things done to try and improve the hall and to keep it maintained to the recommended standards. We have recently refurbished the Gents toilets and had a new urinal fitted to suit younger boys, this cost us over £600 altogether.
We are hoping to put a new sign on the front wall together with a No Ball Games sign, we have had lots of comments regarding the ball marks on the old sign. We were vandalism free last year let’s hope that continues. Going forward we have the foyer to repaint and some plastering to be done in the main hall where the wall has been damaged by an unknown person/s this will probably lead to the main hall needing to be repainted. I would like to thank the Parish Council for their continued grant funded support as this goes a long way to helping with the never ending maintenance.
Evergreen Club: The club thanked the parish council for their generous donation, the cheapest speaker was now £100.00 and the club was hoping for more good speakers. The club felt their name may mislead people into thinking it was a gardening club, or a club for the elderly. They want to make people aware it is a club for every age and it’s hoped more villagers will attend, people are welcome to drop in. It should be noted if villagers pay the £30.00 subscription this includes a free Christmas dinner and two trips. Cllr Clixby mentioned that if events were in the evenings it may enable more villagers to attend.
RAF Blyton Aviation Heritage Group: This is going from strength to strength, the club will use the donation for a gazebo to use for events it attends.
10. To approve the Minutes of the last parish council meeting held on 30/03/26
The minutes were approved as a true record proposed Cllr Godson seconded Cllr Wilcock
11. Clerk’s Report on matters outstanding.
A two year contract is now in place with EON, electrician has been out and reset timings on heaters in the parish room to the timings given by Cllr Wilcock. The reverend is unaware of any rat siting’s in the vicarage garden. The lease for another five years for the playing field has been agreed and signed.
12. Planning- Applications - none
13. Correspondence:- To note general Correspondence - none.
14. Financial matters:- To approve payments.
Invoices to the value of £7257.79 were approved cheques were given for grants to the Evergreen Club, Memorial Hall and RAF Blyton Heritage. Addleshaw Goddard invoice under review.
15. Report from WLDC/LCC.
Cllr Carless stated WLDC pilot scheme for two hours free parking had been a success and the feedback was positive, however to continue it would need to be funded. Cllr Reeve stated LCC had allocated half a million funding for villages of which the parish councils should receive £250.00, this will be allocated from June onwards. The surface dressing on the roads was not going well, diversions were not accurate and any complaints should be reported.
16. To discuss and resolve proposed neighbourhood plan for Blyton village (any update)
The group is meeting monthly. They will be attending the open day on 16 May in the village hall the event takes place between 10am-3pm.
17. To discuss and resolve adult keep fit equipment for the play park. The project is on hold and will be removed from the agenda.
18. To discuss and resolve the use of the parish room for the knit and natter group. This item to be removed from the agenda as the room is not required.
19. To discuss and resolve LCC bus shelter grant scheme. It is thought the current shelter can be refurbished a site meeting will be arranged.
20. To discuss and resolve moving the parish council bank account to Unity Trust. As not all councillor’s were present this will be deferred to the next meeting.
21. To discuss and resolve issues arising at the allotments. A site meeting has taken place as there had been a complaint from a resident. The siting of the shed being complained about was not in contravention of the allotment rules, certain tenants will be contacted to see if they still want to continue their tenancy. A new agreement is being written which all tenants will be required to sign. It was felt on the whole there were no major issues.
22. To discuss and resolve flowers for the planters. It was agreed nothing to high will be planted. It was suggested to contact Pot Belly Nursery, The spotted Duck and The Stable Store to see if there was any interest in sponsoring a planter with a small sticker to advertise the sponsorship on the planter.
23. To discuss & resolve on this month's Facebook posts - None
24. Items of information to be noted and if necessary to be dealt with at the next meeting
Defib pads, internet, printer, laptop and rats.
There was a closed session to discuss cutting back on expenditure for 26/7 and how the precept request for 27/28 should be handled. The clerk has been requested to cancel the pest control contract with Axholme and also the new rabbit control contract for the playing field.
The meeting closed at 9.05pm.
Date of next meeting Tuesday 26 May 2026