Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting held at Sheepy Memorial Hall

4th May 2010

1) Attendance and Apologies

Jim Aldridge - Chair, Brian Greenfield, Mary Beechey, Pat Bingham, Andrew Gough, Malcolm Greenwood, Oz Hall, Kevin Morrell, Alf Oliver, Anne Parkinson

6 parishioners

Apologies: Brian May and PC Anderson

2) Minutes of meeting of 5 May 2009 – were approved as a true and correct record

3) Matters Arising – there were no matters arising

4) Chairman’s Report

The Chairman commented on a very interesting and, in some cases, rewarding year with both joy and disappointment but overall again a successful year.

The contract for emptying the dog bins had been changed and is now in the hands of H &BBC and is both cheaper and more reliable.

The ground maintenance contract continues with the same contractor, additional grass cutting, for the land adjacent to Church Croft, was added to the contract. As the standard of service is excellent, the Parish Council have continued with the same contractor with only 1% increase for the coming year.

Flooding – continued to support the Flood Action Group and have 3 Flood Wardens in the parish. Along with two other Parish Councils (Witherley and Sutton Cheney) we wrote jointly to H &BBC and Environmental Agency about a new development in Barwell causing flood problems in our parishes. This resulted in a presentation by H&BBC and Environment Agency at the Bosworth Forum. We shall make sure they carry out their procedures over the next few years.

The Parish Council, along with other Parish Councils, added support to the objections to the composting site at Fenn Lanes resulting in the planning permission being refused.

A further Village Sign was erected at Upton. The final sign for Sheepy Parva is to be erected in the next few weeks.

Two new lockable notice boards are being made for Sheepy Magna and are due for placement shortly. Negotiations are still going on with BT for the red telephone box at Sibson.

Risk assessment was carried out on the Bus Shelter and All Saints Churchyard. This resulted in certain headstones being made safe. Repairs to the War Memorial in All Saints Churchyard are being negotiated with Stonemasons, LCC and the Church Warden.

Parish Council again supported Sheepy School PTA, Sheepy Playing Field Association and Sheepy Memorial Hall as well as small donations, such as the flower tubs around the parish.

Thanks were given to all the parishioners who regularly attend Parish Council meetings. It is nice to know people are interested enough to attend, not just to complain (but don’t let me stop you). I was particularly moved by the attendance at the last meeting and thank you all for your support.

Thanks were also given by the Chairman to all the Parish Councillors for their time especially Andrew Gough for his work on the Crime and Safety and Community Forums. To the Borough Councillors for keeping us informed of what is happening in the wider area and Ivan Ould, our County Councillor, for his support on County issues and sometimes even wider important issues. Thanks was also given to the Clerk, Mavis Bassett for her professionalism and dedication in keeping control of the large amount of paperwork, which passes through the Parish Council office.

5) Financial Report

The Clerk presented the report for 2009/10. The year ended with a balance of £24,367 compared to £21,422 last year. The reason for the increase was that the village sign for Sheepy Parva and new notice boards had been included in the budget and, although part payment had been made on these, they had not been completed. The precept was kept at £22,000. Expenditure included a village sign for Upton and the Parish Council commissioned a cabinet for the Memorial Hall to display the Domesday Book. Grass cutting, street lighting and emptying of dog and waste bins accounted for 30% of the expenditure. Donations made by the Parish Council included £1,000 to Sheepy PTA for the Summer Festival: £100 to First Responders: £100 to Sheepy Memorial Hall for a theatre production. A grant of £2,650 was received from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council towards the village signs.

6) Report from Sheepy School

Brian Greenfield gave the report and gave apologies from Charlotte Ward Lewis (Head teacher), He said the numbers at the school were 97 and that they achieved 100% of Key Stage 2 in Maths, Science and English.

A new mobile now had a staff room and toilets and there was a new kitchen and play area, which everyone was welcome to visit.

Kevin Morrell asked how many pupils the school could take and Brian said 100.

7) Report from Sheepy Playing Fields Committee

Clive Blewett was not able to attend but submitted the following report:

• The financial year commencing 5^th April 2009 & finishing on the 4^th April 2010 showed income of £4,925.13 and expenditure of £3,325.79.
• The net position for year was positive £1,599.34
• The financial summary of accounts can be viewed at www.charitycommission.com under registration number 502838

• Main income was from hire of the sports facilities and grounds.
• Grant successfully confirmed from the borough council via the parish council for the purchase and installation of new benches in the field.

• Shipping containers for storage continue to be a positive feature of the playing field. These have recently been expanded to 3 containers.
• New benches planned installation for end of May.

• The play area is in its second year and has been well used by all in the parish.
• New DDA compliant picnic bench to be installed in the play area.

• Parish council for the continued support with mowing services & public liability insurance.
• Parish council for assistance with grants for benches
• Dog walkers in the parish for making use of the dog waste bins provided.

The Chair reported that the benches had now been delivered.

8) Report from Sheepy Memorial Hall

Vicki Heath was unable to attend but sent the following report;

This has been a busy and constructive year. Use of the Hall has been good with continuing Whist, Ladies Group, Pilates, Dance (although this has finished now, at least for the summer) Bingo and our new very successful Local History Society. We have had some private parties and events and hope to encourage more of these and also hope for a theatre presentation.

We are grateful to the Parish Council for its continued support.

We are coming towards the fruition of our improvement plans and work should start this summer on the improved toilet and storeroom facilities. This in turn will free up the upstairs space for our second development of the Local History Resource Centre, with access for people with disabilities. It is becoming increasingly obvious from donations of artefacts and enquiries from people researching family history, not to mention considerable interest at the monthly meetings that this is developing into a very worthwhile project.

We have a keen, representative and enthusiastic committee and look forward to a healthy and positive future.

9) Report from Sibson Village Hall

Brian May was not able to attend meeting but sent the following report: The Hall is still being used by the Brownies, Scouts, Cubs, Playgroup and privately. A new tiled floor was fitted in the small hall costing £947.60, paid for out of our own funds. The hall requires painting both inside and out. We applied for funding from Awards for All, as they are the only ones who fund maintenance. We were unsuccessful, so will go ahead with the outside repainting funded by the £1,000 promised by the Parish Council and the remaining £250 out of our own funds. We started the year with a balance of £2991.15 and finished with £2937.52.

The Chair reported that funding had now been received to commence work on the toilets.

10) Report from Crime and Safety Forum

Andrew Gough reported that due to lack of interest and response from young people in the village, the Mobile Youth Unit provided by LCC Youth Service was withdrawn from the Sheepy Magna lay by last autumn. He went on to say that the Chairman had already made his views known about the economics and cost of running a unit across the rural areas, compared with the preferred option of our own Youth Club.

Andrew also told of a visit to Police Headquarters at Enderby by the Crime and Safety Forum to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the work being done on behalf of local communities and the County. The visit included the Police Call Centre, Serious Accident Unit and Armed Response Unit.

Information was given on the new Police Pledge, the purpose being to provide an improved presence and availability to all areas of the community and improved response times and follow ups in the event of reported crimes/incidents. Since last November, Sheepy Magna has received two visits from Market Bosworth Beat Officers, known as beat surgeries, the second visit was held in the Church, which will be the normal venue in future. Details of the beat officers are now on display on the Parish Council notice board.

As Sheepy parish is a low risk crime area, and many matters discussed at the Crime & Safety Forum refer to crimes/incidents in the urbanised area, Andrew informed the meeting that he was considering the usefulness of continuing as a Parish Council representative on the Forum. Although he would still continue in his role as Crime and Safety representative on the Parish Council and as the liaison with the Police.

Finally, he reported for the year ending March 2010, he had been informed by Inspector Richard Ward that the percentage of crime, other than motor vehicle theft and dwelling house burglaries, had decreased compared to the previous crime year.

11) Report from Sheepy Greens

The Chair read out a letter from Sheepy Greens in which they said that it was with regret that they intend to disband. The Group started in 2008 and had supported and encouraged projects such as the Big Switch Off, the Big Lunch, The Big Tidy Up plus helping to coordinate the formation of the allotments, as well as helping raise money for the Church floor. The Greens returned a cheque for £235 to the Parish Council, which they had received as initial financial contribution. They also requested that the History Society make mention of them in their records as a group of local people who attempted to embrace the Go Green Culture if this time in the villages and the world’s history. Some of the Sheepy Greens will, as individuals, continue to support initiatives that contribute towards making our villages greener places to live.

Kevin Morrell said how good the allotments looked as you approached the village and thanked the Sheepy Greens for their work and returning their initial cheque.

12) Report from Thomas Levinge Charity

Mary Beechey gave the report on behalf of the Charity. She reported that the Trustees were concerned that reserves were low compared to responsibilities. The rent from the field will continue to be paid into the deposit account to increase the ability to survive the unexpected. The deposit account stands at £4964.00. The rents of the houses do not cover the expenses of repairs and improvements and provide a significant resource to provide financial support to the weaker members of the community. The charity is in danger of providing cheap housing to a few when it is charged to support the poor throughout the village. It is planned to review the levels of rent annually.

The charity is pledged to support the poorest members of the community and last year grants of £100 were offered to 7 students continuing their education beyond 18. The balance of income and expenditure remains tight and the Trustees will endeavour to operate in a way that preserves the resource for the community. The current account has a balance of £2214.

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13) Any Other Business – nothing to report.

14) Date of Next meeting

The next Annual Parish Meeting would be held on first Tuesday in May, i.e. 3rd May 2011