Minutes 11th March 2026
SWABY GROUP PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING
HELD 11th March 2026
Present:
Cllrs Gilpin (Chair); Cllrs Wright, Dransfield, Start, Hanson, Gibson,Bailey & Cooper
1 member of the public
Mrs J. Cooper (Parish Clerk)
During the public session an update was given on the new sign at South Thoresby
There were no public matters raised.
76 APOLOGIES
Apologies and valid reasons for absence were received from Cllrs Young, Taylor and Millburn and these were accepted.
77 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Bailey declared a personal interest in agenda item 11 as a neighbour to the quarry.
78 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 14TH JANUARY 2026
Cllr Gibson confirmed he had sent apologies for that meeting and with that amendment it was resolved that the Chairman sign the minutes as a correct record of that meeting.
79 UPDATES
Minute 66 – the village sign as South Thoresby has been replaced.
Minute 74 – Poor visibility due to overgrown hedges at the junction has been reported.
80 ELDC/LCC REPRESENTATIVES UPDATES
There were no representatives from ELDC or LCC.
81 DECORATIVE VILLAGE SIGNS/PLANTERS SOUTH THORESBY
Cllr Dransfield had been approached by a resident asking if either a decorative village sign or planters could be installed. The decorative signs were expensive. Discussion followed around the merits of planters at the base of the existing village signs. Approval and a licence from LCC would be required, and volunteers to plant and keep it tidy would be needed. It was suggested that bulbs be planted underneath which would not require consent or maintenance and Cllr Dransfield agreed to take this suggestion back.
82 LITTER PICK
Dates for spring litter pick were agreed at
South Thoresby 14th April – 6pm (meet at bus shelter)
Swaby 15th April – 6pm (meet at Village Hall)
Cllr Gilpin to do notices for the notice boards
83 REVIEW OF ASSETS
The following benches were noted as needing some repair to the slats and ends:
Outside Church at Swaby -slats bowed and some damage to arm rest
North Lane, near War Memorial -slats bowed
Outside Village Hall – slats bowed
Cllr Gilpin also noted some repairs needed to noticeboards, he had fixed the hinges temporarily.
It was agreed to ask Louth Mens Shed to look at the benches with a view to having all three repaired on the basis that if the quote received from Louth Mens Shed was for not more than £1000 for all three benches the Clerk would ask Louth Mens Shed to undertake the work without the necessity of waiting for further approval at the next Council Meeting . Clerk to also contact Louth Mens Shed to obtain quotes for repairs to the notice boards
Recent dog bin purchase to be added to Asset List.
Cllr Gibson reported some damage to LCC street furniture and dog bin had occurred in Swaby – he would speak to person believed responsible and request they replace the dog bin.
84 FINANCIAL
It was resolved that the following be paid:
Clerks salary & PAYE (Feb/March) £339.32
LALC – Cllr Young training £ 42.00
85 CORRESPONDENCE
Catalogue from Glasdons – Cllr Gibson took.
86 UPDATE ON SITUATION AT SOUTH THORESY QUARRY
It was noted that recent planning permission for the reprofiling of the site had been granted but in terms that were more extensive than the terms of the application itself. This because the application was to vary two conditions and LCC had chosen to revisit other conditions not the subject of the application without consulting on the variation of those other conditions. It is unclear as to why LCC have done this. One of the conditions in the new planning permission repeated the original condition requiring the sheeting of lorries without mention of other vehicles. This despite LCC having confirmed in a report prepared by them for an earlier planning application that all vehicles, not just lorries, had to be sheeted.
As the quarry was not currently fully operational due to flooding it was agreed that the situation be monitored for the time being.
87 PLANNING
There were no applications or decisions
88 ANY OTHER MATTERS/ITEMS NEXT AGENDA.
Discussion on concerns of residents relying on heating oil in view of the current situation in the Middle East.
Next Agenda – to include policies.
89 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Scheduled for 13th May (Annual Parish Meeting; Annual Council Meeting and Annual Swaby fund meeting.)
There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.50pm