Parish Council Minutes
March 2008
Thursday 6th March 2008
Present: - Cllr. Quimby – Chairman, Cllr. Colver -Vice Chairman, Cllr. P. Hemmerdinger and Cllr. M. Hemmerdinger.
Apologies: - Cllr. Jeffrey and Cllr. Morris.
2701 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 7th February 2007 were read and endorsed.
2702 Public Question Time – None.
2703 Declarations of Amendment to the Register of Interests - None.
2704 Declaration of Interest to Items on Agenda – None.
2705 Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers – None.
2706 Visitor Presentation – None.
2707 Police / Neighbourhood Watch Matters
No police present. Cllr. Colver reported recent vandalism to a resident’s garden fence.
2708 Planning Consultations
08/00235/TCA – 10 Garton Close – removal of sycamore tree, reduction in height to leylandii hedge & pruning to cherry tree – no objections.
The Chairman read a letter from N.W.L.D.C. requesting planning applications and relevant paperwork be downloaded from their website rather than sending a hard copy. It was agreed to insist the Parish Council receives hard copies of planning applications and relevant paperwork, which are used for discussion and decision at the public meetings. The Parish Council agreed that to download and print the paperwork, required for discussion, was impossible.
2709 Planning Decision Notices – None.
2710 Approval of Budget and Financial Statements
1st April 07 to 18th February 08 – Noted, with a request for the clerk to claim back the outstanding VAT.
The Parish Council agreed to transfer £2,000 from the National Savings and Investment account to the current account.
2711 Accounts for Payment
Karen Stirk – Clerk's Payment – 1st February to 29th February 08 - £297.96
Karen Stirk – Expenses for January 08 - £13.74
Sir John Moore Foundation – Room Hire 2008 - £150
Appleby Magna Cricket Club – Contribution towards artificial wicket - £100 (agreed Feb meeting)
Appleby Magna Cricket Club – Annual donation - £100
Appleby Magna Football Club - Annual donation - £100
Sir John Moore Foundation - Annual donation - £250
CPRE – Annual Subscription - £28
Wicksteed Leisure Limited– Safety Inspection on Recreation Ground - £47
Severn Trent Water Ltd. – Allotment water - £46.05
Cheques agreed and signed.
2712 Allotment Matters
Cllr. Hemmerdinger agreed to ask a resident if he could assist with the population reduction of rabbits. Cllr. Colver requested the Parish Council contact N.W.L.D.C. for its assistance to reduce the rat population, it was agreed. It was agreed the Chairman would obtain a quotation for improving the tractor access, to be discussed further at the next meeting.
Following correspondence received from solicitors regarding the allotment boundary encroachment by 24 Rectory Lane, it was agreed the Parish Council had over a long period of time tried to amicably resolve the matter but all contact had been ignored. It was therefore agreed, due to the costs already incurred by employing a solicitor, the Parish Council was not willing to share the cost of restoring the original boundary. The clerk was asked to write to both parties’ solicitors, including the complete record of communication.
The clerk informed the meeting no further news had been received from Land Registry.
Cllr. Colver informed the meeting he had marked out two new allotment plots and requested the clerk contact people on the waiting list. Cllr. Colver confirmed he would have a site visit with any future allotment holders.
A request had been received from an allotment holder to site a further greenhouse, Cllr. Colver agreed to have a look at the suggested site to ensure it would not cause a problem to any neighbouring plots.
2713 Footpaths & Hedgerows
The clerk informed the meeting that after many requests to the owners of the overgrown hedgerow in Bowleys Lane, to cut it back, the matter had been passed to Leicestershire County Council Highways Department. Mr Chattin (LCC Highways Inspector) agreed to inspect the hedgerow and serve a notice on the owners if required.
Following complaints that footpath Q3 on Rectory Lane had been closed off by the landowner installing padlocked gates, L.C.C. Footpaths Officer had contacted the landowner with instruction to keep it accessible at all times. It was agreed the Parish Council would monitor the situation, the clerk to inform L.C.C. if the footpath was inaccessible.
2714 Recreation Ground Matters
The Chairman informed the meeting the chain link fencing had been ordered for the repairs on the Recreation Ground and an update would be given at the next meeting. The clerk informed the meeting the cricket club had removed all the rubbish from the back of the pavilion, only leaving the equipment that was still in use, Cllr. Hemmerdinger agreed to let the clerk know if the problem recurred. The Chairman read the annual safety report on the children’s play area on the Recreation Ground. It was agreed Cllrs Quimby and Colver would investigate the suggested improvements and report back at the April meeting.
2715 Black Horse Hill / Duck Lake – Drainage / Sewers Recurring Problem
Following further effluence flowing on Black Horse Hill, the Parish Council had complained to Severn Trent Water. The Chairman read their reply which stated the blockage had been cleared, it being caused by silt and sanitary products. The Parish Council agreed to request the best way to report problems to ensure a swift response from S.T.W. as these problems occurred frequently.
2716 Sir John Moore School Parking / Redhill Farm Entrance Road Markings
The Parish Council were waiting for news from County Councillor Hyde about whether he had been able to put the problems of dangerous school parking on the agenda of the next L.C.C. Highways Forum, the clerk agreed to contact Councillor Hyde. Cllr. Colver reported a recent traffic accident on Top Street, with the Police and Ambulance Service in attendance; the clerk was requested to get further details from P.C. Davis.
The ‘no parking’ markings had still not been restored to the entrance of Redhill Farm, following a request to L.C.C. Highways from the resident with the support of the Parish Council.
2717 North West Leicestershire District Council Local Petitions & Calls for Action
The Parish Council agreed to take no action following a consultation letter from N.W.L.D.C. about local petitions and calls for action.
2718 L.C.C. Flowering Basket Attachments to Street Lighting Columns
It was agreed the above letter was not applicable to the Parish Council.
2719 Parish Notice Board
The Chairman agreed to re-site the Parish Notice Board when time and weather permitted. It was also agreed to discuss a proposed new notice board for Top Street at the next meeting.
2720 Parish News Line
It was agreed to include the following in the next Parish News Line:-
Date of Annual Parish meeting and reminder to dog owners about where to dispose of waste bags.
Ms K. Stirk (Clerk to the Parish Council)
10th March 2008