Minutes of Sheepy Parish Council Meeting

Sheepy Memorial Hall

4^th August 2009

1) Attendance and Apologies

Jim Aldridge – Chair, Mary Beechey, Brian Greenfield, Andrew Gough, Malcolm Greenwood, Oz Hall, Brian May. Kevin Morrell, Alf Oliver: County Councillor Ivan Ould and Clerk Mavis Bassett

2 parishioners

Apologies: Pat Bingham and Anne Parkinson

2) Parishioners’ Open Forum

No comments

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

4) Matters Arising from Minutes

i)Verges in Mill Lane – Clerk reported that it was LCC policy to cut up to 4 times per year with the final cut covering the full width of the highway verge. The other cuts are around a metre wide along the edges of the road and for visibility at junctions only. The parishioner concerned had been informed.

ii) Noticeboard – Andrew Gough reported that there were three interested parties, only one lived in the parish. It was agreed that Andrew should get estimates from all interested parties and also get delivery times.

iii) Unclassified Roads– Chair reported that although they were repaired by LCC last Autumn, they were now 50% as bad. Kevin Morrell to take to next Highways Forum.

iii) Wall around Gresley Farm – Andrew Gough reported that although he had tried to get details concerning the accident with the trailer, there was no information available.

iv) Community Forum - Andrew Gough reported on the meeting concerning participatory budgeting. He said it was an exploratory meeting and money available must benefit all Parishes. To be discussed further at next Forum meeting.

v) Watery Lane – Brian Greenfield reported that the repairs had been carried out within two days of the meeting.

5) Report by County Councillor – the Chair congratulated Ivan Ould on retaining his seat as County Councillor.

Ivan Ould reported that a planning application had been re-submitted for the Composting Site off Fenn Lane. He said that this would be 75 times bigger than the one at Sibson. After discussion, Councillors agreed that they would object for the same reason as before, i.e increase in traffic..

Ivan said that the Living Leicestershire grant of £10,000 had been allocated and he was hoping to get further money for this year. He also commented that he had been re appointed as Head of Children and Young People’s Services and that he was involved with six groups/boards in Leicestershire as well as one in East Midlands and three nationally. With regards to schooling, he said that more schools in Leicestershire were judged outstanding than ever despite of declining budgets and also Loughborough were changing to a Primary/Secondary system – no High School.

He also said that the number of burglaries had increased in Market Bosworth, particularly with car keys being stolen from houses. Red diesel was also being stolen from farms. Andrew Gough commented that Market Bosworth Police Station was now open on Saturday morning but it was not being used.

6) Report by Borough Councillor – Kevin Morrell apologised for not attending regularly but explained that meeting normally clashed with Planning Meetings at H &BBC. The Clerk had been having problems receiving Planning documents but this was now sorted. Councillor Morrell commented on the financial problems the Borough Council was facing. These included the capital programme, of which £3.8 million was committed, lack of interest on money in deposit account and the growing cost of concessionary fares, which was now around £350,000.

Clerk asked Councillor Morrell to explain the letter, which had been received from H& BBC concerning the change to the LDF Core Strategy Affordable Homes policy. He explained that when the Core Strategy had been examined by a government inspector, he thought that the Urban Strategy of 40% affordable homes was unworkable and this had now been reduced to 20%. The figure for rural areas had not been changed, this was 40% for 4 or more dwellings. As part of the Core Strategy, houses will be built in Sheepy Magna by 2026 and, as part of the affordable homes policy, parishioners interested in these houses, need to be on housing register with H & BBC and the preference will be given to people who live in, or have connections with Sheepy.

7) Correspondence

The following was discussed

Leicestershire Constabulary – Martyn Ball leaving – new Commander is Inspector Rich Ward

H & BBC – Neighbourhood Warden Scheme – new contact Paul Scragg

LCC – 20mph zone outside school. The Clerk said that she had spoken to Highways and, as part of their six month review of the 20 mph zone, they would pass on the wishes of the Parish Council that the Main Road be 30mph.

RCC – invitation to be a trustee – no interest

LCC –suspension of mobile youth project. Chair to discuss at next Forum meeting.

Big Switch Off Week – 12 – 18 October

LCC – introduction of No Waiting in Church Lane, Sheepy. After discussion, Councillors agreed to recommend that "no waiting" be only on narrow part of Church Lane, i.e. no first 20 yards.

Sheepy Memorial Hall – request for donation of £90 towards photo frames. Councillors Morrell and Aldridge declared an interest. Councillors discussed this but felt that, as the Memorial Hall was a well-established committee and had reserves, they would not grant this request.

Sheepy local History Society – request for donation towards calendar. Lynn Percival presented a draft of the calendar and said that printing would be in the region of £400. Everyone was impressed with the calendar and it was proposed by Malcolm Greenwood, seconded by Andrew Gough and all in agreement, that the Parish Council should pay for the printing. It was understood that any proceeds from the sale of the calendar would be split between the Local History Society and the Church floor restoration.

LCC – extra street lighting Sibson – no problem with this.

H& BBC – Changes to Core Strategy proposal on Affordable Housing – this had been explained by Councillor Morrell.

Land Registry – a letter was discussed requesting Parish Council to register any land, which they owned. It was agreed that the Parish Council did not own any land, however, they were responsible for certain parcels of land within the parish, Ivan Ould pointed out that even though someone mows the land, they cannot claim ownership. Clerk to speak to Legal Advisor at H &BBC, Louisa Horton.

The following was available for information

NHS booklet

H &BBC – Consultation Ratby Village Design Statement

NW Borough Council - consultation on Core Strategy

National Forest Wood Fair – 31 August, Beacon Hill Country Park

H & BBC – Events Guide – July to December

East Midlands Regional Assembly – Options consultation

H & B Pensioners Action Group Newsletter

Shire Community Climate Change Grants

8) Crime and Safety - Andrew Gough reported that there had been 6 incidents in the last 40 days. 2 vehicle thefts from Pinwall: 1 damage and 1 theft in Sheepy Magna: 2 caravans stolen from Sheepy Parva.

He also reported that himself, Oz Hall and Mick Brown had now been appointed Flood Wardens for Parish of Sheepy and they would get two hours warning if the River Sence was about to flood.

9) Accounts and Signing of cheques

Bank reconciliation for end of June and budget position at end of July had been circulated. The Clerk explained that the difference is due to July cheques being taken out on the budget sheet.

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The following were presented for payment in July

P Roberts Dog Bins £110.00

M Bassett Salary/com/tel/windows £591.57

Brian Mee Grasscutting in May £412.28*

One Man Went to Mow Grasscutting £25.00

Bridge Farm Nursery Flowers for tubs in Riverside £52.00

Eon Streetlighting for May £23.85*

Eon Streetlighting maintenance £89.55*

Barncraft Printing Annual Report £93.00

NALC Local Council Review Subscription £34.00

The following were presented for August:

P Roberts Dog bins £110.00

M Bassett Salary/tel/com/win £591.58

One Man went to Mow Grasscutting £25.00

Eon Streetlighting for June £23.85*

Brian Mee Grasscutting in June £412.28*

Andrew Gough Travel expenses £26.42

*includes VAT

10) Planning

The following were noted without comment:

09/00368/FUL Agricultural building New House Grange Farm

09/00414/FUL Sheepy Parva Farm – change of use of barns to form office units.

09/00324/FUL Extension and alteration to Old Rectory, Sibson

09/00482?FUL Extension/alteration 1 The Green, Mill Lane, Sheepy Parva

 

 

11) Any Other Business

i) Clerk was asked to talk to H & BBC to see if they would be willing to quote for emptying the Dog Bins.

ii) It was reported that Crow Scarers were keeping residents awake. Farmers present agreed to look into this.

iii) Councillors expressed concern about the state of the seats on the Playing Field. The Clerk was asked to write to the Chair of the Playing Field Association, asking them to look at the seats and also to advise the date of meetings and the AGM.

iv) Local History Society asked if they could have a link to Sheepy website – all in agreement. Clerk to arrange.