Minutes 14th January 26
SWABY GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING
HELD 14th January 2026
Present:
Cllrs Gilpin (Chair); Cllrs Wright, Dransfield, Start, Taylor, Hanson & Cooper
2 members of the public
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
There were no public matters raised.
62 APOLOGIES
Apologies and valid reasons for absence were received from Cllrs Young, Millburn and Bailey and these were accepted.
63 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Hanson declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 (grants);
Cllr Start and Wright also declared personal interests in agenda item 7 (grants)
64 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 12TH NOVEMBER 2025
It was resolved that the Chairman sign the minutes of the ordinary meeting held 12th November 2026 as a correct record.
65 MINUTES OF THE EXTRA PUBLIC MEETING HELD 12TH NOVEMBER 2025
It was agreed that these should be signed by the Chairman as a correct record of that meeting.
66 UPDATES FROM THE ORDINARY MEETING
Minute 60 – Village signs – these had been reported, and response was that the issue would take longer to resolve than anticipated. Calceby Beck – this had been reported and the response that the work would be undertaken was received.
67 OUTSIDE BODIES
There were no representatives from ELDC or LCC
68 GRANTS
Cllrs Hanson, Start and Wright had declared personal interests.
It was resolved that the usual grants be paid to
Swaby Church (grass cutting churchyard) £182.00
South Thoresby Church (grass cutting churchyard) £150.00
Swaby Village Hall grant £165.00
Cllr Hanson had submitted a request on behalf of South Thoresby Church for a grant towards the cost of the church being used as a community centre/village hall. The Church itself is a Festival Church and holds services approx. 4 times per year but is also utilised as a “village hall” by the community for community events. He confirmed that the monies would be ring fenced in a separate account for use as community hall, additional costs being additional fuel, lighting and heating and that the PCC would submit a report to the Parish Council on the expenditure. With that information it was resolved that a grant of £165.00 would also be given from this year’s budget towards this.
It was also resolved that these payments would be authorised at this meeting and paid under Item 8 on the agenda – Financial payments.
69 FINANCIAL
a) It was resolved that the following accounts be paid:
Clerks salary & PAYE (Dec/Jan) £339.32
Swaby Church (grass cutting) £182.00
South Thoresby church (grass cutting) £150.00
Swaby Village Hall (meetings May 24 – March 25) £ 75.00
Swaby Village Hall (grant) (S137) £165.00
South Thoresby Church (grant) (S137) £165.00
b) Precept 2026 2027
After discussion it was resolved that the asset repairs (benches) be taken from reserves for 2026/27; that the miscellaneous S137 budget head be increased to £50 (from £25) (to cover wreaths in November), that a sum of £250 be added for potential dot gov emails for each councillor should the council resolve to do this and that £165 be added to grants for South Thoresby Church community/village hall use. It was further resolved that the precept request be increased by 4% on 2025/26 year (£3533) to give an increased precept request of £3674.00.
70 CORRESPONDENCE
There was none
71 SOUTH THORESBY QUARRY UPDATE
Deferred to next meeting.
72 COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE REVIEW
It was suggested at the November meeting (minute 53) that the Council consider incorporating Burwell into its Parish Council. This would involve a long and costly legal process under a Community Governance Review, including the dissolution of the existing Swaby Group and the creation of a larger parish; the requirement that 50% of the residents of Burwell would need to agree to such a move and that costs could reach above £100,000. It was therefore felt unlikely that ELDC would look into this further and that the costs would be potentially prohibitive. It was agreed that this would not be pursued further by this Parish Council.
73 PLANNING
There were no applications or decisions to note.
74 ANY OTHER MATTERS
The issue of the footpath across the field in Swaby was again raised, LCC Footpaths Officer had previously said it was not a priority and would be looked at when resources permitted. Concern was raised at the hedges in the area of that junction which were potentially causing visibility issues for drivers and walkers. Clerk to report this to LCC.
Cllr Wright advised that there were several footpaths in the area with broken stiles and blocked ways – she would give the Clerk a list to report.
Next agenda to include Quarry and Litter Pick dates.
75 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
This was noted as 11th March 2026.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.50pm