Parish Council Minutes
October 2007
Thursday 4th October 2007
Present: - Cllr. Quimby – Chairman, Cllr. Colver -Vice Chairman, Cllr. Jeffrey, Cllr. P. Hemmerdinger & Cllr. M. Hemmerdinger
Mr D. Taylor M.P. & Mr J. Dunkelman
Apologies:- Cllr. Morris
2612 Minutes
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held 6th September 2007 were read and endorsed.
2613 Public Question Time
The Chairman welcomed Mr Taylor and Mr Dunkelman to the meeting, and thanked everyone who helped with the well attended and successful litter pick and rubbish contraptions workshop.
Mr Dunkelman requested a site meeting on his land with the Chairman, to discuss the proposed new site for the parish notice board. He suggested the board should not have a glass front and the board should be used by all villagers, possibly hanging a key on the board for easy access.
2614 Declarations Of Amendment To The Register Of Interests - None.
2615 Declaration Of Interest To Items On Agenda – None.
2616 Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers – None.
2617 Visitor Presentation
Mr Taylor informed the meeting that he was currently monitoring the closures of rural post offices and the proposed re-organisation of middle schools. Mr Taylor asked the Parish Council if there were any outstanding issues he could help with. It was agreed to seek Mr Taylor’s assistance with the re-occurring problem of blocked sewers and effluence in the Black Horse Hill area. The clerk was requested to email previous correspondence with Severn Trent Water to Mr Taylor’s office.
2618 Police / Neighbourhood Watch Matters
A draft letter from P.C. Davis was read to the meeting for approval to go to all households about the proposed ‘no cold call’ scheme. It was agreed to include in the letter the Parish Council support for the initiative. The clerk was requested to liaise with P.C. Davis.
To try and improve road safety at the junction opposite to the school on Top Street, the Parish Council had suggested yellow lines, this was rejected, the reasons given that it was impossible to police and enforce. North West Leicestershire District Council suggested the Parish Council liaise with the school, using their travel plan to encourage parents not to park on the junction. The Parish Council was not satisfied with the reply from N.W.L.D.C. and instructed the clerk to write a strong letter explaining the dangerous situation occurring every school day and its dissatisfaction with their response.
2619 Planning Consultations
07/01431/LBC – Westhill Farm, 12 Austrey Lane – reinstatement of traditional joinery to windows & removal of existing render with lime render – no objections
2620 Planning Decision Notices
07/00925/FUL – 37 Church Street – erection of double garage – granted
07/01094/FUL – The Old Rectory, 55 Rectory Lane – change of use of existing offices/dog grooming parlour to one dwelling – granted
07/01181/FUL – The Appleby Inn Hotel – erection of extensions & external alterations – granted
07/01193/FUL – The Paddocks, Bowleys Lane – conversion of loft & erection of rear extension & provision of 2 dormer windows to rear – granted – Noted.
2621 Approval Of Budget And Financial Statements
1st April 07 to 18th September 07 budget and financial statements – Approved.
The Parish Council agreed to discuss the current account balance at the November meeting.
2622 Accounts For Payment
Karen Stirk – Clerk's Payment – 1st September to 30th September 07 - £290.75
Karen Stirk – Expenses for August 07 - £14.76
Leicestershire County Council – street lighting recharge - £36.63
John Quimby – village spring bulbs - £50
Sir John Moore Foundation – Litter Pick Rubbish Workshop - £170
J A Robinson – Grnd. Maintenance Cut 11 - £60
UHY Hacker Young LLP – Annual Audit - £199.75
Cheques agreed and signed
2623 Allotment Matters
An allotment holder had requested a change of plot to one that had been cultivated more recently. The Parish Council believed a neighbouring plot was about to become vacant so the clerk was requested to investigate.
It was agreed to remind allotment holders to keep the gates locked at all times with an article in the November Parish News Line. The problem of unlocked gates is to be discussed at the December meeting with a letter to be sent to all allotment holders.
2624 Footpaths & Hedgerows
The Parish Council agreed to send a letter of thanks to the Rights of Way Officer N.W.L.D.C. for the prompt action taken on Dingle Lane to cut back overgrown hedgerow with a reminder about the outstanding hardcore required.
The clerk was requested to contact the footpaths officer about the steep slippery slope entrance to the footpath between Botts Lane and Top Street (at the junction of Snarestone Road), which suffers from water pouring from the fields.
It was agreed to discuss annual hedge cutting at the November meeting.
The clerk was asked to chase up a recent letter of complaint sent to the Department of Highways at L.C.C. about the poor state of kerbstones recently put down in Black Horse Hill.
The clerk was also requested to chase up the promised cutting of the Bowleys Lane overgrown hedgerow with the land owner.
2625 L.C.C. – Heritage Warden Vacancy
It was agreed to advertise the vacancy for a Heritage Warden in the November Parish News Line.
2626 Recreation Ground Matters
Following a report from a resident about glass on the children’s play area and the basketball court, the Chairman had cleaned the area. It was agreed to fully discuss the state of the area at the November meeting. The clerk was requested to obtain costs to replace the basketball ring nets.
The problem of poor drainage in the vicinity of the hard surface was discussed with the Chairman to obtain a quote for more land drains, the costs to be included in next years budget.
It was agreed to send a letter of thanks to Jayne Black (Environment Manager N.W.L.D.C.) for the new anti-vandal litter bin outside the recreation ground.
2627 N.W. Leicestershire Home-Start
A donation request had been received from the above, it was agreed to donate £50 to this worthy cause.
2628 Spring Bulb Planting
The Chairman informed the meeting that 10 sacks of bulbs had been purchased for various locations around the village and would be planted on 7th October by any willing volunteers. The clerk informed the meeting permission had been obtained from N.W.L.D.C.
2629 Bus Shelter Repairs
The clerk informed the meeting only one quote had been received for repairs to the bus shelter. It was agreed to forward it to L.C.C. for their approval and funding.
2630 Graffiti Information Received
Information was read to the meeting about the response time from N.W.L.D.C. to reports of graffiti.
2631 Frequently Blocked Sewers – Bowleys Lane / Black Horse Hill / Duck Lake
The Parish Council had sent a letter of complaint about the health issues and frequency of blocked drains in some areas of the village to the Environmental Health Officer at N.W.L.D.C. Mr Taylor M.P. requested the clerk email the details for him to discuss the re-occurring problem with Severn Trent Water.
2632 Ideas for Written Piece - Parish News Line
It was agreed to put the following items into the November Parish News Line:-
Thank litter pick volunteers, Heritage Warden vacancy and reminder about closing allotment gates.
2633 Urgent Items
Following a letter about the state of the Mawbys Lane verge where it abuts the rear boundary of 12 Hillside, a reply had been received from L.C.C. It stated there was no visible sign of slippage and action would be taken to cut down the growth of vegetation.
Ms K. Stirk (Clerk to the Parish Council)
9th October 2007