Parish Council Minutes
April 2011
In April, the Council Meeting is preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting, at which local organisations present an account of their activities over the year and plans for the future. These minutes are presented first, with the minutes of the Parish Council meeting below.
Appleby Magna Annual Parish Meeting
Thursday 7th April 2011, 7.30pm, Sir John Moore Community Building Appleby Magna
Present: - Cllrs P Hemmerdinger (Chair), M Hemmerdinger, J Quimby, K Colver, E Jeffrey, D Morris.
Members of the public x 4, Clerk Mrs Lindsay Swinfield
Apologies: - Nil
1001 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 1st April 2010 were endorsed and signed.
1002 Chairman of the Parish Council – Annual Report
Cllr P Hemmerdinger welcomed everyone to the meeting.
- Precept – to remain the same as last year – no increase
- A new notice board and bench have been installed in the village, the new bench on Top Street is to have another in memoriam plaque – to Alfred
- The bus shelter had to be virtually re-built due to vandalism and arson and the waste bin was also burnt out – this was not replaced, but another bin was installed in the village
- Tree works are being carried out in the closed Churchyard
- The allotment field ownership has been legalised and sorted out
- Section 137 grants have been issued to AMCC, Sir JM Foundation and Pride Alarms at a total of £785.00
- A Biffa grant has been received for £2,000 for drainage to the recreation field
- The Parish Council supported the Thermal Imaging project in the village which received a grant from LCC for over £4,000 – the project has proved a great success and the exhibition was well received (David Bligh wished to thank the Parish Council and Clerk for their support and help)
- The Parish Council is supporting the Sir John Moore ‘Big Plan’ project which aims to improve current facilities for the school and community
- The Affordable rural housing scheme officially launched a few weeks ago, this was well attended by over 40 guests, thanks to Richard Windley Rural Housing Enabler
- The Parish Council is sorting out legal residual rights and liabilities to Stone Pit Close land deeds
- Sadly, Councillors John Quimby, Ken Colver, Elsie Jeffrey and Deana Morris are retiring from the Parish Council – our grateful thanks to them all
- Finally, a big thank you to all of the Parish Councillors, the Clerk and to all volunteers and to those who help in any way they are able
1003 County & District Councillors – Annual Reports - Nil
1004 Local Organisations – Annual Reports
a. Miss Moor’s Alms Houses, Duncan Saunders Parish Council Nominee Trustee
Full occupancy of the accommodation continues. It does seem that some of the applicants for any vacancy are getting younger and we now have two working tenants. This may at odds with the original aims of the Alms Houses but each application is judged on its merits, and when filling recent vacancies applications have been minimal.
Maintenance work continues and is overseen by John Addenbrooke; with old buildings a constant vigil is needed and when funds allow, improvements are made. The condition of the fabric of the building is closely monitored and repaired, and this applies particularly to the stonework. When a vacancy occurs there is close liaison between the Trustees and the new occupant to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible.
As in previous years the Trustees invited the residents to meet for a social get together, this was held just before Christmas.
b. 1st Appleby Magna Brownies – Maria Lewis
2010 was the Centenary of Girlguiding UK and there were many events taking place all over the country. We had our own celebration and then joined the rest of Ashby Division for the Centenary finale at Conkers on 20th October. At 20.10 that evening members of Girlguiding all over the country renewed their promise and received a special Centenary promise badge. Two members of our unit, Hannah Hull and Gillian Tooth were also presented with a new Ashby Star award. Hannah was given hers for taking part in everything in spite of her physical disability and Gillian’s was in recognition of 11 years as our unit helper.
We have 20 Brownies at the moment and 2 Guides from Heather have been helping at our meetings since September. These girls, with one of our older Brownies, make a big difference to our meetings – organising games, activities and songs.
At the end of the summer term we had a sleepover at the Scout hut in the Measham Road. Steven Grainger, the Scout group leader regularly invites us to join in with Beaver and Cub activities there. The Brownies were very excited and had a great time. We must thank Bethan Grainger and Roger Bisgrove for coming along to do Archery with us and Michelle Williams and Heidi Cartwright for staying with us the whole time.
Earlier this term one of the Brownies’ Mums, a Nurse, organised a First Aid course for all the girls. Mrs Vickers asked one of her colleagues who trains Paramedics to teach us First Aid skills. Mrs Vickers parents, both retired Paramedics helped too and the Brownies learned a lot. We were very lucky to have had so many skilled and experienced teachers.
For the second year running we are going to receive a Shire Grant from LCC to help pay our Church Hall rent, this will make a big difference to our finances.
c. Thermal Imaging Report – David Bligh
The project has been a great success, the exhibition was very well attended, and feedback has been very positive. It is hoped to revisit this subject around September time to ‘jog’ people’s attention as the weather moves into the colder months.
End of reports
The meeting ended at 7.50pm
Lindsay Swinfield (Clerk to the Parish Council)
Appleby Magna Parish Council Minutes
Thursday 7th April 2011, 7.50pm, Sir John Moore Community Building Appleby Magna
Present: - Cllrs P Hemmerdinger (Chairman), J Quimby, M Hemmerdinger, K Colver, E Jeffrey,
D Morris, Clerk Mrs Lindsay Swinfield, Members of the public x 5
Open forum for members of the public and press
1135 Apologies – Nil
1136 Declarations of Interest to Items on Agenda – Nil
1137 Declarations of Amendment to the Register of Interests – Nil
1138 Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 3rd March 2011 were endorsed and signed.
1139 Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers - Nil
1140 Police / Neighbourhood Watch Matters
a. Please ring 0116 2222222 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 to report suspicious behaviour or crimes.
1141 Planning Consultations
a. 11/00209/TCA, 18 Black Horse Hill, removal of no 1 Cedar Tree and removal of no 3 stems from an Ash Tree (works to trees within a conservation area) – no objection.
b. 11/00254/FUL, 97 Top Street, change of use of existing floorspace from Residential to Commercial – no objection.
1142 Planning Decision Notices - nil
1143 Chairman’s Report
a. Election 2011 update – Cllr P Hemmerdinger reported that Cllrs Quimby, Colver, Jeffrey and Morris were retiring from the Parish Council, and thanked each Councillor and wished them well. Five Councillors had been elected, leaving one position for co-option – all agreed to continue with the co-option process.
1144 Allotment Matters
a. Cllr Colver reported that the allotment gate lock seems to be faulty (this is one of several faulty locks that have been tried and tested over the months). Cllr Jeffrey reported that Malcolm has the water on/off implement and will keep this safe. Cllr Jeffrey kindly volunteered to be an informal allotment warden, showing new allotment holders the plots etc, and will also collect allotment rents in 2012
(the Clerk will liaise with Cllr Jeffrey).
1145 Footpaths, Hedgerows & Street Matters
a. The Parish Council is pleased that the Church Street/Bowleys Lane hedge maintenance has been carried out, and will hopefully be ongoing. It was suggested that daffodil bulbs are planted throughout the village in the future – to be added to July agenda.
1146 Recreation Ground & Street Furniture Matters
a. Rabbits are causing damage to the recreation ground, however remedial action cannot be taken until October – add to September agenda.
1147 Correspondence
a. An invitation to the NWLDC Civic Dinner on 15th April 2011 had been received. Noted.
1148 Approval of Financial Statements & Payments
a. The cheque list and bank reconciliation were reviewed and approved.
b. The Clerk reported that the Annual Audit was underway, and the vat claim had been made.
c. Appleby Magna Cricket Club annual maintenance fee for Bowleys Lane recreation ground has been paid (£653.05). Noted.
1149 Stone Pit Land Charity
a. Following previous discussions and a request to NWLDC for further information, which was refused, all agreed to seek advice from a legal source – the Clerk and Cllr P Hemmerdinger to request a meeting with Mr Ian Hamilton of Sansom Hamilton & Co. Questions to be asked include:
- Who dissolved the charity?
- Why no charity returns completed by NWLDC?
- Land Registry – why hasn’t NWLDC contacted them?
Clerk to check with the Records Office to see if the Parish Council has any records re Stone Pit land. Add to May agenda.
1150 Ideas for written piece – Parish News Line
a. Some of our esteemed colleagues are retiring from the Parish Council – Mr John Quimby, Mr Ken Colver, Mrs Elsie Jeffrey and Mrs Deana Morris. The Parish Council and village thanks each person very much for their hard work and support over the years, and wishes them well for the future.
b. At long last, after many years, of asking, the hedge along Church Street/Bowleys Lane has been cut back – and we have been promised that in future it will be part of ongoing Highways programme of works.
c. If you have hedges or trees in your garden, or on your land, please keep them pruned and maintained; think of neighbours and residents, you may love your trees, they may not!
d. The AM Affordable Housing opening event held on March 22nd was attended by about 40 people including:-
· Richard Blunt – Chair Leicestershire Rural Housing Association & Leader NWLDC
· Tony Stott – Chair Leicestershire Campaign to Protect Rural England – with Iris Sayer, CPRE.
· Nikki Hening – Chair Leicestershire & Rutland Rural Community Council (RCC)
· Jeremy Prescott – Director RCC
· Paul Hemmerdinger – Chair Appleby Magna Parish Council
· Past and present members of Appleby Magna Parish council
· Staff and associates of East Midlands Housing Group
· Deana Morris – Sir John Moore Foundation
· Richard Windley – Rural Housing Enabler.
· Site tenants
It was a warm spring day for the event at which 8 helium balloons were released to celebrate the 8 new homes delivered for local people in Appleby Magna.
After speeches, delegates had a good look at the site and were privileged to be able to see inside the homes of two tenants.
Quote
· Richard Blunt – Chair Leicestershire Rural Housing Association
“ Yet another great example of partnership working actually delivering in North West Leicestershire.”
1151 Urgent Items - nil
The meeting ended at 8.25 pm
Date of next meeting: AGM - 12th May 2011 – 7.30pm, The Stables Community room, Sir John Moore School