November 2025 Minutes
SWINESHEAD PARISH COUNCIL
Parish Council Office
1 & 2 North End
Swineshead
PE20 3LR
Chairman: Councillor Carl Gibbard
Clerk: Diane Fairweather
Minutes of the Meeting of Swineshead Parish Council
Held on Tuesday 18th November 2025
At Swineshead Community Hub, 1 & 2 North End, Swineshead PE20 3LR
Present:
Councillors Sean Trafford (Acting Chairman) Mike Brookes, Nicola Campbell, Andrew Lawrence, Dave Lemon, Phillippa Parnell, Chelcei Trafford, Roger Welberry, and the Clerk. Borough Cllrs Evans, Welberry and County Cllrs Daish and Lock.
Updates from Lincolnshire County Councillor Paul Lock:
Abbey Road – loading/unloading restrictions. Ongoing delays despite objections. Officers to be pushed for a projected date as the safety of the school children is paramount.
Councillor Barry Daish:
Disappointed there was little to boast Swineshead in La Mielesse, with whom we are twinned.
Updates Borough Councillors:
Cllr Daish, still receiving complaints over the yellow lines outside of the Post Office. Council had supported the decision as it appeared many residents are. Decision has been reassessed twice by Highways Officers and upheld.
Suzanne Welberry:
Planning application B/25/0452 land off Station Road. Cllr Welberry confirmed they had not called it in as the development had been reduced from 150 to 122 dwellings and the S106 agreement had been agreed at £400k majority of which going to NHs and education. No social housing secured. A further £145k for off-site highways.
Villa Lane, passing places were not to the sizing of original plans. Amendments reduced length. Developer willing to fund reinstatement of passing places subject to LCC approval.
1.Chairman’s remarks:
Chair ill, Cllr Trafford acting. Welcomed everyone including the new Councillors.
2.Apologies for absence: were received and accepted from Cllr R. Hilton.
3.To Co-Opt New Councillor
Proposed Cllr C. Trafford, seconded Cllr S. Lawrence that Joanne Hudson-McKenzie be co-opted to the Council. Declaration of Acceptance of Office duly signed.
4.To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items.
5.To approve as a correct record, the notes of meetings held on Tuesday 16th September, proposed Cllr P. Parnell seconded Cllr R. Welberry and 21st October 2025, proposed Cllr N. Campbell seconded Cllr D. Lemon and to authorise the Chairman to sign the official minutes.
6. Clerks outstanding matters and correspondence:
Emergency Planning - as other neighbouring parishes had amalgamated it had been approved to continue with the templates issued, and communication from LCC officer. Chair/Vice/Clerk to work on plan.
Correspondence:
L.I.V.E.S. Request for donation towards 2025 Christmas Big Give Challenge. Hoping to raise £30,000, the cost of ten recruits, training, and equipment. The Big Give will double all donations. Proposed Cllr Welberry, seconded Cllr Trafford to donate £100.
Castle Close – visibility concerns due to parked cars. Unfortunately, this is a private road and is not governed by Highway standards and there is therefore nothing the Parish Council can assist with.
Church Lane resident complaining of what appears to be an increase, of the ringing of the church bells. On Sunday’s they are ringing for over an hour and leaves them unable to enjoy their garden due to the noise. Unfortunately, a natural fact of a church, which the Parish Council have no authority over; however, they are aware there are more bells ringers now practicing but they always finish before 9pm. Council agreed for Clerk to check with Environmental Health regarding regulations before responding to the resident.
7. To Adopt the Armed Forces Covenant
Following the presentation by a representative previously, the Council had all had copies of the Covenant and agreed to it. Proposed Cllr R.
Welberry, seconded Cllr S Trafford that this be approved on a ‘support as able’ basis. Document duly signed by the Acting Chair Cllr Sean Trafford.
8. To Discuss Licence Agreement with Methodist Chapel:
Methodist once again requesting further rental for the running of the hub now they are running a
Youth Club. Since this request, the hub activities for the youth are no longer running. PC concerns of the requirements to run such a provision regarding safeguarding compliance of the volunteers.
Many years ago, the Parish Council researched the cost of running a youth club with qualified personnel etc and found it to be a considerable expense. Agreed therefore no further financial assistance at this stage.
9. To Nominate PC Representative on Swineshead Benevolent Foundation and Harlocks Almshouses
As previous Council representative had taken a Trustee position it was proposed by Cllr Parnell, seconded Cllr Welberry, Cllr Brookes be the PC representative, as he had been serving on the Foundation for many years. Unanimous.
10. Financial matters:
i) To approve payment as per schedule
Lloyds Bank Service Charge Oct £4.25
EE Mobile £11.02
Methodist Church Library Rent £150.00
Friends of St Mary’s Archive & Community Hub £200.00
Gillrange Limited Community Hub & Council Office Rent £350.00
BT Broadband £54.42
N Bush Payroll £17.00
Staff Clerk’s pay, pension &PAYE £1493.70
Royal British Legion 2 Poppy Wreaths + donation £100
Steve Holland Maintenance £787.50
On proposal from Cllr P. Parnell, seconded Cllr D. Lemon and with no objections, all resolved to accept the above payments.
11. Town and Country Planning Act 1990. To consider and make observations on planning applications received and to note planning approvals, refusals, enforcement complaints, and appeal decisions advised by Borough Council.
B/25/0464 Barbridge Farmhouse, Low Grounds - change of use of existing stables to create a family annexe. No objections.
12. Councillor’s and village reports, actions & updates:
SUBJECT ACTION
Swineshead Community Emergency Plan & Local Villages Resilience & Emergency Group No further updates. Chair/Vice to prepare document. Clerk to be kept updated.
Play Area to include Skate Half Pike Work completed and all removed. Clerk had priced a replacement climbing wall but unsure if there is room and not interfering with football pitch. Cllrs Trafford, Parnell, and Clerk to visit to measure site. Lease requires updating. Tree fallen on gym equipment. S Holland to clear.
Swineshead Benevolent Foundation:
Swineshead Village Hall, Lease Renewal
Carpark maintenance} Nothing happening on these items.
Recycling Area} and do not therefore require to be on
Insurance & Ground Rent} agenda each month.
Play area ground rent Chair and vice at meeting 19th November. There is unrest in the village that groups are moving to hold their events out of the village because of the cost.
Parish Council updates on:
Community Hub
Library
Village Archive PC Office is being used for community events, so is part of the community hub.
Meeting 19th November
Still receiving news and documents of Swineshead history. All running well.
13. Dates for the next meeting 16th December
The meeting closed at: 8.25 p.m.