February 2023 Minutes
SWINESHEAD PARISH COUNCIL
PARISH COUNCIL OFFICE
1-2 North End
Swineshead
PE20 3LR
EMAIL: swinesheadpc@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.swineshead.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
CHAIRMAN: Councillor Carl Gibbard
CLERK: Mrs Victoria Clark
Notes taken by the Clerk, Mrs Victoria Clark at the meeting of Swineshead Parish Council, held on Tuesday 21 February 2023 in the Swineshead Parish Council Office, 1-2 North End, Swineshead, PE20 3LR
Present: Councillors Carl Gibbard (Chairman), Roger Welberry, Mike Brookes, Jean Powell and the Clerk to the Council, Mrs Victoria Clark.
Councillor George Cornah joined the meeting during the public forum and left during item 11i
Councillor Roy Hilton joined the meeting during item 11i.
Also Present, four members of the public
7:00pm Public Forum: The members of public viewed their thoughts as volunteers of the library and were interested as to why the library might move location and where to.
As this matter was to be discussed later in the meeting during a closed session, the Members of the council were unable to fully inform the volunteers however they were assured that the council had no intention of closing the library and that the library would be on the March agenda.
7:19pm Lincolnshire County Council (LCC): Councillor Brookes spoke about the area outside the Church Hall that the bench from the memorial was to be relocated to, Councillor Brookes will contact Councillor Powell as Church Warden, via email and cc the Clerk of the council. The Next Parochial Church Council meeting would be Monday 6 March in the Church (This is a closed meeting).
The Chairman opened the meeting at 7:21pm
1. Chairman’s remarks:
No remarks from the Chairman
2. Apologies for absence: To receive and accept apologies where valid reasons for absence have been given to the Clerk or Chairman prior to the meeting
Apologies with valid reasons were received from Councillors Sean Trafford, Chelcei Trafford, Roy Hilton, Philippa Parnell, Ian Maclean and Keith Osborne, on proposal from Councillor Brookes, seconded by Councillor Welberry and with no objections, all resolved to accept the reasons given
3. To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items
Councillor Gibbard gave a declaration of interest in Gillrange Limited
4. To approve as a correct record, the notes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 January 2023 and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
Only Councillor Gibbard was at the previous meeting so this will be deferred to the March Meeting
5. Financial matters:
i. Bank Balances as of 31 January 2023
£46,667.95 with £19.94 interest – Instant online
£41,976.87 Treasurers account
ii. To approve accounts for payment
V. Clark – January Staff Costs £1088.82
S. Holland – January Maintenance inv.38 £186.00
B.T. – February £44.34 (Due 17/2 - paid 13/2)
Councillor Powell asked the Clerk why she had paid BT before the due date, several reasons were explained, that the Clerk works part time and might not be available on the day it was due, that if it was left until the day to pay and something went wrong with the internet or online banking and the payment was late the council would be charged a late payment fee.
on proposal from Councillor Welberry, seconded by Councillor Cornah and with no objections all resolved to approve the above payments
iii. To approve April payments due 1 April 2023
LALC: 10 hours Website Maintenance £170 + VAT £34 = £204.00
LALC: Annual Subscription £645.27
LALC: Annual Training Scheme £140 + VAT £28 = £168.00
On proposal from Councillor Cornah, seconded by Councillor Powell and with no objections all resolved to approve the above payments to be paid in April.
iv. S.137 amount for 2023-24: Information on the new amount
The Clerk had forwarded the Members of the council the details before the meeting. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC0) has set the sum for section 137(4)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 for parish and town councils in England for 2023-24 at £9.93 per elector.
The amount is because of increasing the amount of £8.82 for 2022-23 by the percentage increase in the retail index between September 2021 and September 2022 under Schedule 12B to the 1972 Local Government Act.
v. Triton Knoll end of grant report: Maintenance and repair at the park, approval of report
The Clerk has more information to find before being able to complete the report
vi. King Charles III Coronation: To discuss and resolve
The Christmas celebration committee and/or the Friends of St. Mary’s may be interested in organising an event. The Palace has welcomed communities to host parties right across the Coronation weekend, or as part of the Coronation Big Lunches.
6. Town and Country Planning Act 1990. To consider and make observations on all planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints and
appeal decisions advised by the district council. To include those received from the date of this notice and the day on the meeting.
B/23/0056: Single storey detached stables at Bargate Cottage, Bar Bridge Lane, PE20 3PG
No Comments or objections
B/23/0047: Approval of reserved matters (Access, Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale) following outline approval B/22/0298 (Outline planning permission for the construction of 1 dwelling) at Bebbs House, Fenhouses Drove, PE20 3HF
No objections, The Members of the council all support the wildlife considerations.
7. Clerks outstanding matters and correspondence
i. Sign for Boston Rd at North End: Update
No Update
ii. Overhanging trees and dog fouling not cleared by owners in pathway between two properties in Abbey Road
This area is getting worse, Councillor Cornah would find out who the Clerk needs to speak to at Boston Borough Council
iii. Signing for Civility and Respect from those councillors not at previous meeting
The form now has all councillor signatures
iv. Councillor Keys: To inform the Clerk so that list may be made
The Clerk no has a full list of key holders
8. Councillor’s Reports:
i. To discuss/resolve costs & purchasing of traffic calming sign/s
Due to unforeseen circumstances Councillors, Gibbard, Brookes and Trafford were unable to meet, they hope to meet before the next meeting.
9. Date for the next meeting/s: To discuss and resolve
The Council elections are in May which may mean a change of Members for the council, it was suggested that due to this, the next 2 meetings are kept to the 3rd Tuesday of the month, the May meeting will need to be held within 14 days of the election date.
on proposal from Councillor Cornah, seconded by Councillor Powell and with no objections all resolved to hold the next meetings on 21 March and 18 April.
The four members of the public were thanked for attending the meeting and for their thoughts, they then left the meeting room.
10. To resolve to go into Closed Session
On proposal from Councillor Brookes, seconded by Councillor Powell and with no objections all resolved to go into a closed session
11. Closed Session:
i. Options for Library and Community Hub:
The Parish Council has now had sight of the proposed licence for continued use of the Old Schoolroom at the Methodist Chapel.
The current restrictions on use remain in place. This places strict limitations on the times and days that the library can be used and also restricts use to ‘Volunteer Lending Library’ with no scope for other activities.
The proposed rent has also been significantly increased.
The Parish Council are keen to be involved in Community Hub activity as well as the Library. It has also been suggested that the PC participate in the establishment of a village archive.
An alternative venue may now be available and it may allow the PC to engage in Library, Community Hub and Archive activities. Councillors delegated authority to Councillor Gibbard to engage with the owners of the alternative venue and to report back to Council. This matter will be discussed at the next PC meeting
ii. To discuss the gift left in a will for Swineshead Parish Council and the purchase of trees
The Clerk to contact the solicitors to ask if the council need to own the land where the trees would be planted or just need land owners permission.
This will be on the March Agenda
The meeting closed at 8:33pm