Annual Parish Council Minutes
May 2009
Thursday 7th May 2009
Present: - Cllr. Quimby – Chair, Cllr. Colver -Vice Chair, Cllr. P. Hemmerdinger, Cllr. M. Hemmerdinger& Cllr. Jeffrey
Mr Gerald Pott, Mr Gary Pott, Mrs Bee, Revd. Polashek and County Cllr. Hyde.
Apologies: - Cllr. Morris
2943 Election of Chairman & Vice Chairman
The Parish Council proposed John Quimby for Chairman and Ken Colver for Vice Chairman, both accepted and signed the declaration of acceptance. Cllr. Quimby expressed a special thank you to the village scouts who helped the Spring Litter Pick, which was very well supported.
2944 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 2nd April 2009 were read and endorsed.
2945 Public Question Time
Mr Gerald Pott voiced concerns about the Parish Council’s minutes only being available on the internet. It was agreed to display confirmed minutes on the proposed new notice board in the bus shelter. Mr Pott asked how planning decisions were made by the Parish Councillors. The Chairman confirmed each application was judged on its merits by the Parish Council, sometimes involving a site visit.
Following damage to the closed church yard by a road traffic accident, Reverend Polashek reported to the meeting that the Parochial Church Council believed the Parish Council was responsible for organising the repairs to the wall. Church Warden Pauline Bee agreed with the Rev’d and handed to the Parish Council paperwork about maintenance responsibilities of the closed church yard. The Chairman believed due to the Parochial Church Council holding insurance for the closed church yard and the damage being accidental and not maintenance, the P.C.C. should be organising the repair. County Councillor Hyde believed that as legal owners of the closed church yard the P.C.C. were responsible for dealing with their insurance company to get the repairs carried out to the wall. It was agreed the Parish Council would not take any action at this stage.
Rev’d Polashek queried the non payment by the Parish Council of last year’s grass cutting costs for the closed church yard. The Chairman informed the meeting that the Parish Council had queried the petrol invoices and were still not satisfied with the figures submitted. The Parish Council agreed the church yard was very well maintained and was keen to resolve the situation. Rev’d Polashek agreed to discuss the matter with the Parochial Church Council and put forward a proposal for future payments. Cllr. Hemmerdinger requested the outstanding petrol costs needed to be reviewed before resubmitting for payment.
County Councillor Hyde informed the meeting each neighbourhood would be having their own policing beat team. The policing teams would be responsible for getting to know their residents and liaising with other bodies about local issues. Cllr. Hyde reported that as County Councillor he had been involved with planning for the recent threat of a pandemic flu outbreak. Councillor Hyde informed the meeting he was monitoring the overgrown hedgerow and escaping beasts’ problem in Bowleys Lane and agreed it was the wrong season for hedge cutting.
2946 Declarations of Amendment to the Register of Interests - None.
2947 Declaration of Interest to Items on Agenda – None.
2948 Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers – None.
2949 Outside Bodies Representatives Review
It was agreed to discuss the above at the next meeting.
2950 Police / Neighbourhood Watch Matters
The Chairman informed the meeting the church hall, pavilion and tractor shed had been broken into. It was believed a cricket bag had been stolen from the pavilion, which the Chairman had made secure by replacing the locks. Cllr. Colver reported a suspicious van had been seen entering premises in the village but left when dogs barked. The vehicle registration was known to the police.
2951 Planning Consultations
09/00234/FUL – 28 St Michaels Drive – proposed single storey rear extension – no objections with a request to keep all building materials in keeping with existing.
09/00388/FUL – 14 Rectory Lane – two storey rear ext., single storey side ext. & alterations to existing side conservatory – decision delayed until a site visit had been arranged.
09/00187/FUL – Land off Parkfield Crescent – erection of 8 dwellings – amendment – no objections.
2952 Planning Decision Notices
08/01713/LBC – Sir John Moore School – improve fire safety & access, retention of hall roller blinds, cosmetic alterations to front elevation - granted
09/00188/AGP – Red Gables, Measham Road – agricultural building – granted
09/00088/FUL – Jubilee farm, Snarestone Road – erection of horse racing stables & gallop – granted
09/00009/FUL – 237 Tamworth Road – two storey side ext – granted
09/00145/FUL – 6 Mawbys Lane – erection of exts. & dormer window units to form two storey dwelling – granted
09/00214/FUL – 6 St Michaels Drive – erection of single storey rear ext – granted
Noted.
2953 Approval Of Budget And Financial Statements
1st April 08 to 31st March 09
1st April 09 to 18th April 09
Noted.
The Parish Council approved the annual return and instructed the internal audit.
The clerk informed the meeting the bus shelter insurance excess payment claim was being held up by the third party insurance company.
2954 Accounts For Payment
John Quimby – Chairman’s Allowance - £150
Karen Stirk – Clerk's Payment – 1st to 30th April 09 - £305.24
Karen Stirk – Expenses for March 09 - £19.73
Allianz Insurance plc – Annual Renewal - £621.42
J A Robinson – Grnd Maint. Cuts 1, 2 & 3 -£180.00
John Quimby – Replacement locks for pavilion - £77.25
Sir John Moore Foundation – Rat pack Evening Grant - £300
Cheques agreed and signed.
2955 Missing Minute Book
The Parish Council agreed to put in the Parish News Line an appeal to residents, for the missing minute book. The book was believed to have been borrowed by a resident between 1960 and 1994 and never returned.
2956 Allotment Matters
Cllr. Colver was researching the old minute books for information about the current arrangement of the allotment field, the item to be on the June agenda. The Chairman agreed to request the contractor urgently carries out the work to extend the water pipe on the allotments. Cllr Jeffrey asked the clerk to send reminders to all allotment holders about keeping the gates closed at all times. Cllr. Jeffrey confirmed the problem fence on plot 36 had been repositioned.
2957 Footpaths & Hedgerows & Street Matters
Following a complaint by a resident that the kissing gates on the footpath by the village shop could not be accessed with a child’s buggy, the Parish Councillors agreed to look at the problem and suggest alternative gates.
It was agreed the fencing posts in Didcott Way needed replacing. Clrs. Quimby and Colver volunteered to carry out the repairs.
Cllr. Colver informed the meeting he was refurbishing a notice board for the bus shelter.
The clerk was requested to obtain more dog fouling signs from N.W.L.D.C. and ask the Street Environment Officer to visit the village to help with the problem of dog owners not clearing up after their pets in public areas.
The clerk was requested to obtain quotations for felling the sickly tree in Garton Close.
The Parish Councillors judged the entries for the dog fouling warning posters designed by pupils from the Sir John Moore School. It was agreed the designs were all wonderful with a winner being chosen from each class. It was agreed to award a £15 book token to each prize winner. The clerk was requested to obtain quotations for reproducing 20 each of the winning designs, to be placed around the village.
2958 Recreation Ground Matters
The clerk informed the meeting that the grant application for the Recreation Ground land drains was completed.
Following the annual safety inspection of the children’s play area, it was agreed to instruct Wicksteed Leisure to carry out the required repairs. It was agreed to discuss installing a toddler swing at the next Parish Council meeting.
2959 Parish Clerk Vacancy
It was agreed to put the advertisement in the Ashby/Coalville Times and the Parish News Line, with the closing date for applications of the 30th June 2009.
2960 Donation Request
It was agreed to make a £50 donation to the Leicestershire County Neighbourhood Watch Association.
2961 Parish News Line
It was agreed to include the following:-
Thank you to litter pickers – especially scouts.
Thank you to school children who designed dog fouling posters.
Make aware dog warden active around the village.
Parish Clerk vacancy.
2962 Urgent Items
Following a request from the Women’s Institute to plant an oak sapling in the church yard, the Parish Council had no objections but did point out about the spread of the roots.
Ms K. Stirk (Clerk to the Parish Council)
14th May 2009