April 2024 Minutes

SWINESHEAD PARISH COUNCIL

Parish Council Office
1 & 2 North End | Swineshead | PE20 3LR
Chairman | Councillor Carl Gibbard
Clerk | Victoria Clark

Minutes taken by the Clerk, Mrs Victoria Clark, at the meeting of Swineshead Parish Council, held on Tuesday 16 April 2024, in the Swineshead Parish Council Office, 1-2 North End, Swineshead, PE20 3LR

Present: Councillors, Carl Gibbard (Chairman), Sean Trafford (Vice Chairman), Roger Welberry, Lisa Baldwin, David Lemon, Roy Hilton, and the Clerk. Councillor Chelcei Trafford joined the meeting during item 2 and needed to leave before the update on the Swineshead Village Archive in item 8

Also present: Boston Borough Councillor, Stuart Evans

Public Forum: 
No public in attendance

Lincolnshire County Council (LCC): 
Councillor Mike Brookes sent apologies

Boston Borough Council (BBC) Councillor Stuart Evans
Apologies received from BBC Councillor Suzanne welberry
Councillor Evans updated the council on a traffic complaint received that is now solved

The Meeting opened at: 19:03

1.    Chairman’s remarks:
Congratulations were given to Councillor Lisa Baldwin for being nominated for the Boston Borough Council Outstanding Achievement Award
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 Philippa Parnell, Mike Brookes, will Chalmers and Ian Maclean, on proposal from Councillor Welberry, seconded by Councillor Trafford 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 declared an interest in Gillrange Limited and items 6i & 6ii
Councillor Hilton declared an interest in items 6i & 6ii
4.    To approve as a correct record, the notes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 March 2024 and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes
On proposal from Councillor Hilton, seconded by Councillor Welberry and with no objections, all resolved to accept the minutes from 19 March 2024 and gave permission for the Chairman to sign them
5.    Financial matters:
i.    Bank Balances as of 31 March 2023
£10,303.27 Treasurers account
£70,353.46 to include £77.59 interest - Instant online
ii.    To discuss Internal Auditors report
All members had received a copy of the report before the meeting and had no questions
On proposal from Councillor S. Trafford, seconded by Councillor Baldwin and with no objections, all resolved to accept the report


iii.    To discuss and approve the Annual Governance Statement 
All members had received a copy of the statement for consideration before the meeting, on proposal from Councillor Baldwin, seconded by Councillor C. Trafford and with no objections, all resolved that the council is ensuring that there is a sound system of internal control and agreed with all statements that apply. 
iv.    To discuss and approve the Annual Accounting Statement
All members had sight of the statement, on proposal from Councillor Baldwin, seconded by Councillor S Trafford and with no objections, all resolved to agree with the statement
v.    To approve the end of year bank reconciliation
On proposal from Councillor Hilton, seconded by Councillor Welberry and with no objections, all resolved to accept the reconciliation 
vi.    To discuss and approve asset register
All members had received a copy of the asset register and will let the Clerk know of any missing information
vii.    To approve accounts for payment and future direct debits for 2024-2025
PAYEE    SERVICE    INVOICE DETAILS    £    COMMENTS
Reuben Page Consultancy    2 visits to Mackie’s Pit 
Aquatic dye & reed control    13 March 2024
Inv. 0244    £1,115.00    Approved 19 March – Paid 20 March 
Methodist Church    Library Rent     1 April 2024    £150.00    Paid DD
2/4/2024
Gillrange Limited    Community Hub & Council Office Rent    1 April 
Inv. 17044    £350.00    Paid DD
2/4/2024
Friends of St. Mary’s    Archive & Community Hub    1 April
Inv. 75    £200.00    Paid DD 
2/4/2024   
LALC     2024-25 Subscription     14454    £669.38    Approved 19/3 Paid 3/4 
LALC     2024-25 Training     April 2024    £198.00    Approved 19/4 Paid 3/4 
BT    Broadband    April     In Credit 
£230.73    Information 
DD
N Bush    Payroll    April Inv.     £15.00    To be approved
Staff      Costs     April Payroll & reimbursements     £1536.85    To be approved

S Holland     March Garden maintenance     Invoice 82    £372.00    To be approved 
SMV Contract 
Services    Grass Maintenance    Inv.1740    £1068.00    To be approved 
EE    Mobile     April invoice     £9.90    DD Due 26 April
LATE IN:
Internal Auditor John Jackson Internal audit £120.00
On proposal from Councillor S Trafford, seconded by Councillor C Trafford and with no objections, all resolved to approve the current direct debits (DD) for the new financial year unless there is a change and to give the Clerk delegated powers to pay SMV between meetings if there are no objections from members once informed, also approved was the payment schedule.

RECEIVED LATE IN:
LCC Grass cutting contribution £931.70 for 2023-2024

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.
i.    B/24/0126: Outline planning with some matters reserved, appearance, landscaping, layout & scale for 3 detached dwellings & existing work-shop to be demolished at Lancresse, Fenhouses Drove, PE20 3HF
Those members of the Council that did not declare an interest had no objection, they would however like to request the following (taken from the Parish Councils Planning Policy) “As natural bird habitats diminish, nest boxes are one way to give declining bird species a helping hand.  For this reason, the council requests that all new housing and any new extensions, swift boxes must be added facing a North Westerly or North Easterly direction to avoid the direct sun”.
ii.    B/24/0127: Change of use of land to residential garden at Lancresse, Fenhouses drove, PE20 3HF
     Those members of the Council that did not declare an interest had no objection or  
     comments
iii.    B/24/0134: Proposed single storey rear/side extension at 14, St. Mary’s Crescent, PE20 3JF
         The members of the Council had no objection or comments regarding this application
iv.    B/24/0140: Advertisment Consent for 1no externally illuminated static sign at The Blue Shed, Station Road, PE20 3PS
The members of the council had no objection or comments regarding this application
v.    B/24/0141: Application under s73 for the variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) of permission B/23/0147 (Proposed extension, change of use to sales and workshop for agricultural machinery, erection of 2.4m high steel palisade fence, steel Armco security crash barriers (c.800mm tall) & pair of 2.4m high steel palisade gates) at The Blue Shed, Station Road, PE20 3PS
    The members of the council had no objection or comments regarding this application
7.    Clerks outstanding matters and correspondence:
SUBJECT    ACTION
Litter Royalty Lane – Reported 
FixMyStreet 8043-6241-3112-3640    To receive any updates

Councillor Welberry confirmed the litter had not been picked up and the Borough had contacted the Clerk for the 2nd time to ask if it had been cleared 
Defibrillator in Market Place usage report     Update 

The defibrillators should be checked as fit for purpose weekly.
Councillor Gibbard would contact Councillor Chalmers 
Swineshead Twinning Association     Update

Move to the next meeting
Phishing and scams poster     Update

Move to the next meeting
Proposed waiting restrictions – High Street     To discuss & resolve

All members had received a copy
New grass verge area added to grass maintenance     Update 

Councillor Hilton mentioned that the Management company should be responsible.
Councillor Gibbard would look into this.
The Clerk had already informed SMV of the extra cuts
Bus Shelter purchases for the village     Receive any updates

Due to ongoing costs to the Parish Council and therefore village, on proposal from Councillor Lemon, seconded by Councillor Hilton and with no objections, all resolved not to purchase a shelter

8.    Councillor’s and village reports, actions & updates:  
SUBJECT    ACTION
Boston Borough Council, quote to upgrade all street lighting to LED and loans for Street lighting columns    discuss updates

Move to the next meeting
Information signs at the John Butler’s Trust Land at the Sand Holes    Receive any updates

The application has gone in
Community Flood/Emergency Plan      Update 

Ongoing
Village Hall AGM 7 May 7pm    To discuss attendance 

Some Councillors will be attending
Swineshead Community Hub and Library     To receive any updates 

Councillor Gibbard attended a meeting, many libraries are situated in LCC properties.
The tender for the management of the libraries will be due in 2026 until then the grant should be available to libraries until then. 
A meeting date will be set soon for the Parish Councils Community Hub & Library meeting, the Clerk will speak to councillor Maclean, (Chairman of the CH & L Committee)
Swineshead Village Archive     To receive any update 

The archive is well received
Enquiries can be made via face book
There are 3 volunteers and soon to be a fourth
The plan is to open more regularly

9.         Annual Parish Meeting (Residents meeting) 24 April 6pm St. Mary’s Church Hall
     The Clerk will send the agenda out and asked that all members share it 
     Councillor Hilton gave his apologies for this meeting

10.         Date for the next meeting/s: 
     Tuesday 14 May (Annual Meeting of the Parish Council) 
     Councillor Baldwin gave her apologies for this meeting
     Tuesday 18 June

The meeting was closed at 19:51

CHAIRMAN: …………………………………………  DATE: Tuesday, 14 May 2024