Parish Council Minutes
December 2008
Thursday 4th December 2008
Present: - Cllr. Quimby – Chairman, Cllr. Colver -Vice Chairman, Cllr. P. Hemmerdinger, Cllr. M. Hemmerdinger & Cllr. Jeffrey
Jayne Black (N.W.L.D.C.), P.C.S.O. Kendrick & Mrs Bee (church warden).
Apologies: - Cllr. Morris
2864 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 6th November 2008 were read and endorsed.
2865 Public Question Time
The Chairman read a request from St. Michael & All Angels’ church warden for a contribution towards the cost of refurbishment of the church hall. It was agreed the Parish Council was in favour of the project if the Parochial Church Council guaranteed it would retain the hall for village use and not sell it. The proposed contribution would be £500 this financial year and £1,000 in the next financial year.
2866 Declarations of Amendment to the Register of Interests - None.
2867 Declaration of Interest to Items on Agenda – None.
2868 Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers
2869 Visitor Presentation
Jayne Black from N.W.L.D.C. informed the meeting she had received reports about dog fouling on Church Street; she had put up signs and patrolled the area.
2870 Police / Neighbourhood Watch Matters
P.C.S.O. Kendrick reported two thefts from cars during the last month; offenders were caught after the first theft. The Chairman thanked the P.C.S.O. for his report.
2871 Planning Decision Notices
08/01409/FUL – 6 Mawbys Lane – erection of extensions & dormer windows units to form 2 storey dwelling – refused
08/00812/FUL – Building at Redhill Farm, 97 Top Street – change of use from agricultural use to B1 business or class B8 storage & distribution use – granted
08/01460/FUL – Unit 1 Redhill Farm, 97 Top Street – alterations to existing building comprising the insertion of two window units into existing gable – granted
Noted.
2872 Approval Of Budget And Financial Statements
1st April 08 to 18th November 08 – Approved.
The clerk to chase the insurance company for the excess payment following third party damage to the bus shelter. The Parish Councillors agreed to transfer £5,000 from the current account to its National Savings account.
2873 Accounts For Payment
Karen Stirk – Clerk's Payment – 1st to 30th November 08 - £305.24
Karen Stirk – Expenses for Oct 08 - £26.40
Appleby Scouts – Donation towards refurbishment costs - £100
Society of Local Council Clerks – Annual Subscription - £82
Mr R J Denson – Tractor work on allotments - £125
All cheques agreed and signed.
Following a request from the Parochial Church Council for a contribution towards the cost of grass cutting in the church yard and grave yard, it was agreed to query the fuel costs.
2874 Allotment Matters
The clerk informed the meeting the cost of having a rent agreement drawn up by Fisher German, for the Rectory Lane field (approximately 10 acres), could be up to £1,000. The Parish Councillors agreed that further advice should be sought from the Parish Council solicitors and its association, to be discussed further at the next meeting.
The Chairman confirmed the bottom access on the allotments had been re-established by local contractors.
The Chairman had requested a local plumber connect the allotment water pipe extension in the spring.
Due to the lack of response from Severn Trent Water following a query about the cost of allotment water, it was agreed to contact O.F.W.A.T. for their assistance.
2875 Footpaths & Hedgerows & Street Matters
Following the felling of a Parish Council owned tree, it was agreed to request a local resident might wish to sponsor a replacement tree. Cllr. Colver informed the meeting the Didcott Way seat had been refurbished by a local resident. The Chairman reported he had reinstated the damaged parish notice board.
Following a meeting with Cllr. Quimby and a Highways Inspector from L.C.C. to inspect the overgrown Bowleys Lane / Church Street hedge, it was agreed to request the owner cut it back due to the hedge partially obscuring drivers’ vision. The clerk was asked to inform the Head of Highways L.C.C. about the recent meeting with the Highways Inspector and the danger the overgrown hedge is to road users on a bus route, with a copy to County Councillor Hyde.
It was agreed to contact a local sculptor for their input on the proposed village sculpture.
The clerk passed on prices from N.W.L.D.C. for the cost of emptying dog litter bins. It was agreed to obtain prices for the bins from E.S.P.O. to be discussed at the February meeting.
2876 Recreation Ground Matters
Following a complaint to Severn Trent Water about a damaged manhole cover, the meeting was informed the manhole cover had not been changed. Clerk to follow up the complaint.
The Chairman agreed to obtain an estimate for the work to improve the Recreation Ground land drainage.
The Chairman agreed to measure the pavilion windows for security screening, with clerk obtaining more information and prices for the next meeting.
2877 Stream Pollution
The clerk was asked to obtain an update from the Environment Agency about their findings for the next meeting.
2878 Problem Parking on Top Street / Church Street
Jayne Black, Environment Officer for N.W.L.D.C. agreed to organise patrols to ensure drivers were not parking on the zig-zag lines outside of Sir John Moore School. She advised the Parish Council to apply to Leicestershire County Council for yellow parking restriction lines around the corners of Top Street/Church Street and to apply for traffic regulated orders for enforcement purposes. Following receipt of a request from N.W.L.D.C. about parking on footpaths etc. it was agreed to report cars parked on Top Street/Church Street, near to the doctors’ surgery on Top Street and outside the church.
2879 Closed Church Yard
It was agreed to write to the Parochial Church Council requesting details of its public liability insurance and its management of risk assessment as owners of the closed churchyard, following the Parish Council’s reassessment of its duty to maintain the closed churchyard.
2880 Minute Books
It was agreed the minutes of Parish Council meetings, currently held by the clerk, were to be bound into books and deposited with the Leicestershire County Records Office.
2881 Freedom of Information
It was agreed to adopt the new Model Publication Scheme of Freedom of Information without modification as recommended by the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils.
2882 Leicestershire & Rutland Assoc. Of Local Councils – I.T. Support
Following an offer of IT support from the above association depending on the Parish Council maintaining its own website, it was agreed the current village website including the Parish Council was acceptable with no requirement to change.
2883 Urgent Items
The Parish Council agreed to write opposing the proposed closure of Moira Fire Station due to its recent attendances at large traffic accidents near to the M42. Also, the essential requirement to retain an operational station in such a rural tourist area which includes two large hotels, Twycross Zoo, Conkers Family Centre and Grade 1 listed Sir John Moore School. The clerk to send copies of the opposition letter to David Taylor M.P. and County Cllr. Paul Hyde.
Ms K. Stirk (Clerk to the Parish Council) 6th December 2008