January 2026 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 27th January 2026, at Swineshead Community Hub,
1 & 2 North End, Swineshead PE20 3LR
Minutes taken by Clerk, Diane Fairweather.
Present:
Councillors Carl Gibbard, (Chairman), Sean Trafford (Vice Chairman) Mike Brookes, Nicola Campbell, Jo Hudson-McKenzie, Dave Lemon, Phillippa Parnell, Roger Welberry, County Councillor Lock and Borough Councillor S. Welberry, and the Clerk.
Lincolnshire County Councillor Paul Lock:
Roadworks conducted the school need revisiting. Obviously, poor work initially. Cllr Lock advised a ticket had been issued.
Borough Councillor S. Welberry.
Cllr Welberry is vice chair of the newly formed working party, Boston Town Council. First consultation was poor. Second consultation to be sent to all Parish Councils, encouraging everyone to complete.
1. Chairman’s remarks:
Chair welcomed everyone, announced of the sad death of Nicky Bush, a previous Clerk, and our payroll clerk. Condolences to be sent to the family.
2. Apologies for absence: were received and accepted from Cllrs Lawrence, C Trafford, and Borough Cllr Evans.
3. To receive declarations of interest under the Localism Act 2011 – being pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in agenda items.
Cllr Gibbard – owner of the Council Offices.
4. To approve as a correct record, the notes of the meeting of the Council held on 16th December 2025, on proposal from Councillor Trafford, seconded Councillor Lemon with no objections, all resolved to accept the minutes and gave permission for the Chairman to sign them.
5. Clerks’ updates on outstanding matters, and correspondence.
Ed Morton not quoted yet due to Christmas and the weather.
Correspondence :
Various temporary road closures for Anglian Water.
Grit bin on junction of North End/Boston Road being used as a dog pooh bin. Reported to Fix my Street but not LCC grit bin. Placed there by PC, Cllr Welberry to remove.
Library – confirmation GLL have been awarded the Library Service contract from 1st April. Couple of dates for future events World Book Day and National storytelling week
National Grid – tree trimming in the village.
Mr Tice office – regarding complaint of double yellow lines outside of the Post Office, Clerk to confirm PC had discussed matter but majority of residents agreed area was safer with lines.
LCC _ Parish Grass Cutting Agreement. They are wanting the Parishes to cut in line with what they do. Not feasible as they only cut three times a year. New agreement coming which we will be asked to sign. Claiming the repayment of this financial assistance is now automated.
Library Statistics – significantly down for December, but that is general in December each year.
6. Financial matters:
i) To approve payments as per schedule had an additional one from Steve Holland so for £297.50 for 17 hours in December.
PAYEE SERVICE AMOUNT
Lloyds Bank Service Charge May - June £4.25
EE Mobile £13.33
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 Payroll & Exps £1493.70
Steve Holland Maintenance £752.50
Microsoft Licence £84.99
PKF Littlejohn Annual Audit £378.00
LALC Annual Subscription £718.00
LALC Annual Training Scheme £222.00
On proposal from Councillor, seconded Councillor and with no objections, all resolved to accept the above payments.
ii) To Discuss/Approve Precept for 2026/2027, proposed budgets circulated. Disappointing still no access to bank and no invoices received from T. Blackamore this fiscal year, anticipated approximate maximum of £15000. Cllr Brookes reminded the PC previously donated to Swineshead in Bloom. Agreed to include in budget. With increases for maintenance and insurance it was proposed Cllr Welberry, seconded Cllr Trafford the precept b increased by £5,000 to £60,000. All in agreement.
7. Town and Country Planning Act 1990. To consider and make observations on planning applications received.
B/25/0486 -Rossway, Boston Road- two storey side extension – no objections
B/25/0495 – Kyrenie, Church Lane – two storey extension over existing garage – no objections
Copy letter from resident sent to Ian Carrington regarding B/24/0452 Land off Station Road and section 106 monies. Concerns that Planning had not listened to the PC comments for recipients of financial assistance.
Clerk to respond that the settlement eventually agreed was far more than what was being offered initially.
8. Councillor’s and village reports, actions & updates:
SUBJECT ACTION
Swineshead Community Emergency Plan and Local villages Resilience & Emergency Group Awaiting updates from Cllr Cantwell and visit to our meeting.
Play area new climbing wall. - Grant application submitted to Triton Knoll. Await decision before any further action
Swineshead Benevolent Foundation:
Swineshead Village Hall, Lease renewal
Play area ground rent Still with legal team
Council happy to sign lease but no increase to rent. No justification in any additional finance required.
Parish Council updates on:
Community Hub
Library
Village Archive -Update letter read out. Preschool hoping to use again but no staff to walk children there.
All good. Cllr Gibbard requesting clarification on insurance, accounts etc. Cllr S. Welberry confirmed there was insurance in place. Details are all computerised
Date for the next meeting 17th February 2026
The meeting closed at: 8.20