Parish Council Minutes
August 2009
Thursday 6th August 2009
Present: - Cllr. Quimby – Chair, Cllr. Colver -Vice Chair, Cllr. Jeffrey & Cllr. P Hemmerdinger
Mr Pott, Mr Dunkelman & Mrs Dunkelman
Apologies: - Cllr. Morris, Cllr. M. Hemmerdinger & P.C. Davis
2981 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 2nd July 2009 were read and endorsed.
2982 Public Question Time
Marilyn Dunkelman informed the meeting that Information Byway still exists and the Appleby Magna village website had been re-vamped and was soon to be re-launched.
Jon Dunkelman asked the Parish Council to support the Minorca Opencast Protest Group, who where opposing the application from UK Coal to work an opencast coalfield between Measham and Swepstone. The Parish Council agreed to request a professional Health Impact Assessment be submitted by UK Coal during the consultation period and to object to the lack of a 500 metre buffer zone as afforded to Wales and Scotland.
Jon Dunkelman confirmed he had no objections to the proposed alterations to the Moat House footpath to allow access for prams and pushchairs. The Parish Council informed Mr Dunkelman the councillors would carry out the work to the gates, Mr Dunkelman was happy to contribute towards the costs.
The Chairman read a letter received from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service requesting the Parish Council engages in consultation about future changes to the service. Mr Pott informed the meeting he opposed the proposed closure of Moira Fire Station because of the much longer time it would take for a fire engine to reach the village. The Parish Council agreed because of the extended response time (adding an extra 12 minutes) taken in an emergency if Moira Fire Station was closed. The Parish Councillors agreed the response time could be even longer if the M42 had heavy / congested traffic. It was agreed to organise an urgent public meeting to show the amount of opposition to the proposed closure, the clerk to book the venue and invite County Councillors Peter Roffey, Richard Blunt and David Taylor M.P.
2983 Declarations of Amendment to the Register of Interests - None.
2984 Declaration of Interest to Items on Agenda – None.
2985 Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers
Following the death of a retired councillor’s wife it was agreed to donate £50 to the Measham Medical Unit, as requested by the family. The Parish Council had received a letter of thanks from the bereaved family.
2986 Police / Neighbourhood Watch Matters
The clerk informed the meeting about recent crimes in the village, a number plate had been stolen, a car had been broken into and a bag stolen and police had responded to reports of a loud party. Cllr. Colver informed the meeting that P.C. Davis was holding a village surgery on 11th August between 9-noon.
2987 Planning Consultations
09/00736/TCA – 7 Mawbys Lane – removal of one sycamore tree (un-protected in conservation area) – no objections
09/00708/FUL – 7 Garton Close – single storey side ext. & single storey rear ext. – no objections
09/00713/FUL – 25 Botts Lane – alterations & extensions to form two storey dwelling & detached garage – A request to N.W.L.D.C. for building materials to be in keeping with surroundings and all vehicles during building should access site from the Snarestone Lane end of Botts Lane
09/00680/ADC – Mc Donald’s Restaurant – Atherstone Road – illuminated signs – concerns passed to N.W.L.D.C. about the additional light pollution.
A letter had been received from N.W.L.D.C. Scrutiny Examination Planning Working Party asking for the views of the Parish Council about the planning decision/consultation process. It was agreed that too many planning decisions were delegated to one officer and not taken to the full planning committee.
2988 Planning Decision Notices
09/00510/FUL – 28 Black Horse Hill – change of use for keeping & grazing horses, erection of stable block & formation of concrete yard – refused
Noted.
2989 Approval Of Budget And Financial Statements
1st April 09 to 18th July 09 - Noted.
It was agreed to transfer £2,500 from the current account to the National Savings account.
The clerk informed the meeting the excess payment from the insurance company with regard to the bus shelter had been received.
2990 Accounts For Payment
Karen Stirk – Clerk's Payment – 1st to 31st July 09 - £305.24
Karen Stirk – Expenses for June 09 - £26.39
J A Robinson – Grnd Maint cuts 5, 6, 7 & 8 - £240
Wicksteed Leisure Ltd – Repairs to children’s play area following annual safety check - £297.86
Clement Keys – External Audit - £155.25
Severn Trent Water Limited – Allotment water Dec 08 to July 09 - £139.15
Glyn Kavanagh – Fell & removal of Garton Close dead tree - £150
R J Denson – Strimming allotment entrance - £90
All cheques agreed and signed.
2991 Allotment Matters
Cllr Colver reported he had researched the old minutes to 1974, looking for reference to the field rent agreement with Mr Fowkes. The clerk was asked to search the archives for an agreement with a Mr Abbott.
The Chairman informed the meeting the water pipe extension work had been completed but unfortunately an underground leak had been discovered, Cllrs. Colver and Quimby to investigate and repair.
It was agreed to change the allotment agreement to cover collection of rain, ban use of sprinklers/leak hoses, land to be cultivated every growing season and allotment rent, the details to be discussed at the October meeting.
Positive responses had been received from three allotment holders to tidy their uncultivated plots, with one allotment holder giving up the plot; the clerk was requested to offer it to next Appleby resident on waiting list.
Following a complaint from an allotment holder about the poor state of the bottom entrance, the Parish Council had employed a gardener to strim back the overgrowth. The clerk was asked to contact local brick works about the cost of hardcore to improve the bottom entrance.
2992 Footpaths & Hedgerows & Street Matters
Councillors agreed to carry out repairs to the Didcott Way fencing and refurbish / relocate parish notice board to near the Post Office.
The clerk reported N.W.L.D.C. were now analysing the data about litter bin locations, with any changes to be carried out by April 2010.
The clerk informed the meeting that Leicestershire County Council was to assess the junction of Rectory Lane / Church Street verge for a tree to be planted and maintained by L.C.C. It was agreed not to plant a further tree in Garton Close. Cllr. Colver may have sourced a tree for the replacement in Didcott Way.
It was agreed to renew the annual agreement with the householder, for occasional vehicular access on land owned by the Parish Council at the side of 14 Rectory Lane.
Following complaints about the inaccessibility of the public footpath at 8 Rectory Lane, L.C.C. had instructed its footpaths officer to investigate. It was agreed Parish Councillors would walk the footpath and report back to the clerk with any access problems.
The Chairman read a letter received from N.W.L.D.C. Scrutiny Officer, who recommended N.W.L.D.C. Officers, County Council and Police work together to develop a joint, partnership approach towards providing information to drivers and publicising and tackling the problems caused by inconsiderate parking on footways in Appleby Magna.
2993 Recreation Ground Matters
Following a letter received from Biffaward about its grant scheme being closed, it was agreed the clerk source another funder for the Recreation Ground land drains. The clerk was asked to source funds for the proposed toddler swings. It was agreed to discuss other works i.e. bench move at the September meeting.
2994 New Parish Clerk
The clerk informed the meeting one applicant had withdrawn and no response received as yet from proposed new clerk.
2995 Parish News Line
It was agreed to include:-
Request residents show their opposition to the proposed closure of Moira Fire Station.
Inform about village website.
K. Stirk (Clerk to the Parish Council)
10th August 2009