October 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 21h October 2025
At Swineshead Community Hub, 1 & 2 North End, Swineshead PE20 3LR Minutes taken by Clerk, Diane Fairweather.
Present:
Councillors Carl Gibbard, (Chairman), N Campbell, R. Hilton, A. Lawrence, D. Lemon.
Also Present: County Councillor P. Lock and one member of the public.
Public Forum
Resident of Bicker Fen giving updates of BESS installations. Concerns being raised on large scale energy projects, this being the biggest in Europe, and the safety issues. The batteries do not fall under generation-based regimes, and the group are seeking a whole site risk assessment and clearer public communications.
Lincolnshire County Councillor Paul Lock: Ride around the Parish with Highways Officer. arranged.
1. Chairman’s remarks:
2. Apologies for absence:
Cllrs M. Brookes, P. Parnell, S. Trafford & R. Welberry. Borough Cllrs Evans and Welberry and County Cllr Daish.
3. To Co-Opt New Councillor – Proposed Cllr Gibbard, seconded Cllr Lemon, Nicola Campbell be co-opted to Council. Second applicant not present.
4. To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items.
Cllr Gibbard, Parish Council Offices. Cllr Lawrence Butlers Charity.
5. To approve as a correct record, the notes of the meeting of the Council held on 16th September & 2025.
To be approved next meeting as only one Councillor present last meeting.
6. Clerks’ updates on outstanding matter and correspondence:
Highways planter, although documents sent, they need to go via a link to Highways webpage. Now done that so should go through quickly.
L.I.V.E.S. ceased defibrillator checks last September,contract had expired but PC paid in July. Request made to previous Councillor who it was felt had receive communications from L.I.V.E.S.
Suggestions PC do checks in future, on a rota system. Clerk to instigate.
Play Area – Skate ride removed. Inspection required. Clerk to contact Ed Morton again.
Correspondence - As magazine up and running again had been requested if PC would like to publish anything. Details of Councillors given initially.
Updates of MacKay's pit which has been distributed, on standard of water.
Community Emergency Response Team – spoken with Kimberley, the co-ordinator, but as many local villages had already amalgamated it was agreed Swineshead go stand alone. Chair, Clerk and Cllr Trafford to work on template.
License agreement for Methodist Church, wishing to renew. Agenda item next month
Library statistics received, slight increase in footfall on last year, majority of which is for computer access.
7. Financial matters:
Bank access issues still exist. Clerk had distributed updates of finance showing a running total for the year and projections of year-end balances.
i) To approve Payments as per schedule below: Proposed Cllr Lawrence, seconded Cllr Hilton.
ii) To Discuss Donation to Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Personal donation made but agreed to donate £100 from Parish Council. Proposed Cllr Gibbard seconded Cllr Hilton.
Lloyds Charges £4.25
EE PC Mobile £11.02
Methodist Church Friends of St Mary’s Church Gillrange Limited £150.00
BT - Broadband £54.42
N Bush - N Payroll £17.00
Staff Salaries £1493.70
Library Rent £150.00
Archive & Community Hub Community Hub & Council Office rent £350.00
Clerk, Pension & PAYE £1493.70
8. To Adopt the Armed Forces Covenant: Clerk had not received official document. Agenda item next meeting.
9. Councillor’s and village reports, actions & updates:
Swineshead Community Emergency Plan & Local Villages Resilience & Emergency Group
Play Area to include Skate Half Pike
Swineshead Benevolent Foundation: Swineshead Village Hall, Lease Renewal Car Park Maintenance
Swineshead to proceed alone.
Now skate ride removed, additional equipment could be purchased. Climbing wall or pickleball court. Clerk to cost and look into funding.
Chair, Vice, Cllr Trafford and Clerk to hold meeting with Benevolent Foundation before their next meeting on 24th November.
Parish Council updates on: Community Hub Library
Village Archive
Repositioning of Boston Road Planter
Correspondence from V. Ogden requesting and increase in rent. Agenda item next meeting.
Last event hugely successful. PC feel requires a formal structure with volunteer details to ensure insurance coverage.
Application made online now
10. Dates for the next meeting: 18th November 2025
The meeting closed at: 7.47pm