Minutes of Sheepy Parish Council Meeting

Sheepy Memorial Hall

2^nd February 2010

1) Attendance and Apologies

Jim Aldridge – Chair, Mary Beechey, Brian Greenfield, Andrew Gough, Oz Hall, Brian May, Anne Parkinson

Mavis Bassett – Clerk and Ivan Ould – County Councillor

8 parishioners

Apologies: Pat Bingham, Malcolm Greenwood, Kevin Morrell and Alf Oliver

2) Parishioners’ Open Forum

A parishioner from Cross Hands informed the meeting of problems they were having with increased numbers of HGVs travelling down the B4116 during the night, due to road works and closures on the A5 and M42. He said that he had been in touch with the main transport contractors in the area but asked the meeting how he could get a weight restriction put on this road, particularly during night -time. After discussion, the Clerk was asked to write to Highways department at LCC and ask if they could look at weight restrictions or how traffic could be diverted to another road. When Ivan Ould joined the meeting, he was told of this problem and suggested that the parishioner should write to David Parsons, Leader of LCC.

3) Minutes of the last meeting – The minutes were approved as a true and correct record.

4) Matters Arising from Minutes

Bosworth Community Forum - The Chair gave a report of the meeting on 10 December 2009 and informed the meeting that two local projects had been successful in securing funding from the Participatory Budget Workshop, they included the Scout Group - £750 for a marquee and Sheepy Memorial Hall - £1,650 towards improvements to the Hall for the Local History Society.

CCTV at Watery Lane – Andrew Gough said that it had been agreed that this mobile unit could be installed at Watery Lane. H&BBC to liaise with Kevin Morrell re date for installation.

Notice boards – Andrew Gough advised that the contractor had advised that there would be a delay but confirmed that it was affixed price.

£50 from H &BBC towards Christmas festivities – the Chair advised that this had been spent on a plug installation for the Xmas tree.

5) Report by County Councillor – Ivan Ould reported that there appears to be a rise in burglaries in NW Leicestershire and many people in the rural villages, especially the elderly, are feeling vulnerable. He said that he would let Clerk have email number so that she could get information on local police officers. Andrew Gough said that there were no representatives from Witherley or Market Bosworth on the Crime and Safety Forum.

Ivan expressed his concern that County Councillors are not being invited to the Parish Forum, unless they are Parish Councillors.

Regarding the new Battlefield site, Ivan said that he had been trying to get a meeting with Market Bosworth Heritage Society, Stoke Golding Society and Sheepy Society to get a briefing on the new site.

Brian Greenfield asked about speed restrictions outside Sheepy School and Ivan advised that this was still planned for this year.

The Chair informed Ivan of a letter he had received from a parishioner concerning 4x4s coming out of BOTATS and leaving mud on the road and causing a danger for motor bikes. This was a particular problem in Orton Lane. Anne Parkinson reported that they are still coming through during the night. Ivan to raise with Andrew Perry again and suggested that Anne Parkinson writes to Environmental Department at H &BBC.

6) Report by Borough Councillor – no report available

7) Flooding – the Chair informed the meeting that both Shenton and Witherley Parish Council were concerned that 2,500 new houses, which were part of H &BBC Core Strategy, to be built at Barwell would cause flooding problems for the rural villages. After studying an Ordnance Survey map, it was clear that this might also cause a problem for Sheepy Parish. Ivan said that he had spoken to Richard Palmer at H &BBC about flooding issues as a result of this development and he also asked him about Housing Needs Analysis. He also informed the meeting that the number of houses in the Core Strategy was not the maximum. It was agreed that a meeting should be arranged between the three Parishes plus Ivan Ould and Kevin Morrell to discuss an Action Plan. Jim Aldridge, Mick Brown and two flood wardens – Andrew Gough and Oz Hall – to attend for Sheepy. Clerk to advise when date and venue agreed.

8) Correspondence

The following was discussed

Eon – decrease in streetlight maintenance from April 2010 – now £77.49 exc VAT, decrease of 0.5%.

H & BBC – Core Strategy has been approved

East Midlands Fire and Rescue control Centre – from 2011 no individual centres

Sheepy PTA – Festival 2010 – request for donation. After discussion between Councillors concerning use of community staging and the fact that the School had paid for staging, when the community one was available for a small donation, it was agreed that the Clerk should get further information and the request for a donation be brought to next meeting.

West Leicestershire Community First Responders – It was proposed by Andrew Gough, seconded by Brian May and all in agreement, to give a donation of £100.

LCC – consultation document on transfer of ten are homes – no comment by Councillors.

LCC – re parking at Church Lane – Clerk advised the meeting of the recent correspondence, which had been received from LCC.

9) Crime and Safety - Andrew Gough reported that there were 7 reported crimes in Sheepy Parish during the last 31 days. These included 5 in Sibson (4 vehicle crimes and 1 burglary) and 2 in Sheepy (theft of sheep).

He also reported that Sheepy Parva has their own informal Neighbourhood Watch and Sibson were looking into forming an official Neighbourhood Watch.

He also commented on the ongoing theft of metal in the Hinckley area and parishioners being dismayed at the amount of crime in the area and the lack of police presence. He said that Police had advised that more criminals were coming into the rural areas from outside.

Discussion took place concerning the Police Surgery, which is held in the lay by on the Main Road every two weeks. The Clerk was asked to write to Inspector Ward to ask if the Police could visit the Church on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, when parishioners meet for coffee.

10) Accounts and Signing of cheques

The following were presented for payment in January:

M Bassett Salary/com/tel/windows/website hosting £653.84

Eon Streetlighting November £23.85*

Eon Streetlight maintenance to Dec 09 £89.55*

A Gough Travel expenses £9.62

Brian Mee Trimming hedge churchyard £46.06*

The following were presented for payment in February:

M Bassett Salary/com/tel/windows £597.49

Information Controller Data Protection Renewal £35.00

H &BBC Contribution to streetlights in Sibson £1000.00

*includes VAT

11) Planning

The following applications were received without comment:

09/00874/FUL Extension 32 Main Road, Sheepy

09/00510/FUL Conversion of Barn to dwelling Vine House Farm, Upton

09/001008/FUL Extension 28 Main Road, Sheepy

12) Any Other Business

Flood Warning – Andrew Gough advised that the wardens did not get the two-hour warning, when the river was last high but this had now been sorted. He also advised that Sheepy was not part of the normal grass-cutting/maintenance programme but the Environment Agency advised that they were coming to Sheepy this week to walk the black spots on the river.

Heritage Streetlights at Sibson – Brian May reminded the Councillors that they had recently donated £1000 towards the four streetlights, which had been provided by H & BBC. The villagers were now requesting further lights. The Chair pointed out that there was £1,000 in next year’s budget for Sibson Village Hall and this could be used for the streetlights instead. The Clerk said that she had spoken to H &BBC and they now say that, due to budget restrictions, they would need 50% of the cost of the lights before the work could be carried out. The cost of the lights was £2,500 plus each. Brian May to liaise with H &BBC to confirm costs involved.