MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE NEWBOLD VERDON PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2016 AT THE PAVILION, ALANS WAY, NEWBOLD VERDON.

PRESENT: Mrs J Crooks (Chair), Mrs D Finney, Mr. M. W. Preston, Mr R Watson, Mr J Cooper, Mr J Cartwright, Mr W Crooks, Mr C Petcher, Rev C Fox and Mr R. Bell (Clerk).

Guests: Cllr R Camamile (Borough/County Councillor)

Parishioners: 1

16.147. APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr M Surtees, Mr J Finney

16.148. DECLARATION OF MEMBERS INTERESTS AND DISPENSATIONS:

Mr J Cooper declared an interest in Newbold Verdon Library.

Mr J Cartwright declared an interest in Newbold Verdon Cricket Club.

Mrs J Crooks declared an interest in Newbold Verdon Community Action Group.

Mrs J Cooper declared a pecuniary interest in itseeze (Appointed PC Web supplier)

16.149. MINUTES:

Resolved - The Minutes of the meetings held on 5th September 2016 were approved as a true record and signed by the chair.

16.150. MATTERS ARISING:

·  Bloor’s had reported that the drainage work at Heritage Walk was now complete. The clerk would arrange to meet on site to inspect prior to commencing the handover process. As per previous minute HBBC had agreed to act on the legal documentation which had been received from solicitors representing Bloor’s.

·  The Alan’s Way Centenary Field application was progressing and copies of title deeds had been sent over to Fields in Trust. A draft deed had been received for approval which would be sent out once it was confirmed all the required documentation was in place.

·  Dragon Lane Footpaths – A site meeting was held with the chosen contractor Brian Mee Associates and work is due to commence towards the end of October. The S106 money allocated to Dragon Lane has been applied for and authorised for payment of which the provision sum of £3,107.40 will be paid within 3 working days and the maintenance sum can be claimed once installation is completed.

·  The parking issues along Main Street leading to the Church had again been reported to LCC. The clerk was instructed to write in response and ask for a joint meeting on site to include Cllr R Camamile and HBBC as the area was within the Heritage area of the Parish.

·  The blocked drain on the footpath adjacent to the Baptist Church had been reported to LCC, investigated and confirmed as blocked.

·  Speeding issues on Bagworth Road had been reported and acknowledged by LCC.

16.151. PARISHIONERS’ QUESTION TIME:

A question was asked as to whether the Parish Council received any regular police reports. The Chair confirmed that these were only available via the national police web site and were generally 2 – 3 months out of date when available.

16.152. ACCOUNTS:

Receive and approve the accounts in the monthly schedules for September.

Resolved – These were unanimously approved and signed by the Chair.

16.153. CORRESPONDENCE FOR DISCUSSION

a)  HBBC – Funding for Parishes and Communities – Future funding policy

For information the Community Initiative fund had been increased to a maximum of £12k per application with funding up to 60% of the project. Invitations to tender would be issued shortly.

A new Developing Communities Fund was to be introduced with an invitation to submit outline bids for potential projects by 9th December 2016.

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed to register the pavilion extension as a potential project.

b)  Cookes of Kirby – Quote to clear cobbled area Dragon Lane – Consider

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed to defer this decision until after the footpaths had been completed as the contractor was intending to use the area for some storage. Once completed consideration should be given to a soak away being installed as the area sloped towards the back of the Baptist Church.

c)  LRALC – Countrywide Accessibility policy review – For information

Resolved – No action at present as the date for volunteers had now passed.

d)  T Lepley – Parking on Mallory Close Grassed area – Consider request for no parking signs

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed that the clerk should obtain a quote for the installation of some wooden barriers to stop cars being driven onto the area.

e)  B Childs – Theft of Vase for Graveyard Memorial – Responsibility and compensation complaint.

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed that the clerk should respond to Mr Childs explaining that after consulting their own insurance the Parish Council were not responsible for the vases as they were not owned by them. Any thefts of any sort should be encouraged to be reported to the police by the complainant.

f)  Grant Thornton – Notice of completion of audit 2015 – 16 – For information

For information – The audit report had highlighted 3 issues, the date of issue of notice of parishioner’s rights, financial regulations had not been reviewed for 3 years and assets had not been updated to include new equipment.

16.154. BOROUGH AND COUNTY COUNCILLORS REPORT:

Cllr R Camamile gave an update on both Borough and County matters.

Cllr R Camamile would investigate why the footpath promised by Lafarge/Tarmac as part of the new quarry had not been started as this had been expected to start by the beginning of the new operations.

Concern was expressed over the Drain Clearing Policy due to the number of blocked drains that had to be reported and why this was not more pro-active.

Roads signs do not appear to be cleaned with any regularity.

16.155. PLANNING

No new planning applications had been received.

16.156. DRAGON LANE RECREATION GROUND

To discuss possible projects which could be part funded by7 the HBBC community initiative fund.

This was deferred to the next agenda item.

16.157. NEWBOLD VERDON COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP UPDATE

Mrs D Finney gave an update on possible project that could be looked at as suitable for Dragon Lane Recreation Ground.

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed that the clerk should obtain quotes for extra play equipment to be installed in the toddler play area. This to include either a seesaw or some type of multi activity equipment.

Christmas Lights – It was confirmed that the date for this was Saturday 26th November 2016 with the Parish Council to provide the Christmas Tree and lights.

16.158. NEWBOLD VERDON LIBRARY

The Library will be replacing its existing free computer access which is through the LCC system with 10 new computers connected to its own high speed broadband. This has been funded with a £3k grant from LCC, £1.5k grant from G Seller & Co and a £1k grant from the HBBC Community Initiative Fund.

16.159. NEWBOLD VERDON CRICKET CLUB

Request from the Cricket Club to have a 2nd cricket square on Alan’s Way recreation Ground.

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed that at present the Parish Council would not allow this as it would severely restrict the number of other activities that could take place.

16.160. ALANS WAY

Further to this it has been established that only VAT to the value of £7,500 can be reclaimed in any financial year on premises that are let for sporting activities. The clerk is awaiting a legal response from National Association of Local Councils regarding this.

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed that a separate meeting be held to discuss this in an effort to move it forward. The clerk to put together a list of required actions and send out prior to the meeting to be held on Monday 17th October 2016 at Alan’s Way Pavilion. Also to initiate with LRALC the process of applying for a loan.

16.161. CEMETERY

Cemetery Extension – There were approximately 300 grave plots left in the Cemetery. In the 5 years 2011 – 2015 a total of 55 plots had been purchased. Depending upon demand this meant that the current Cemetery had between 20 – 30 years left. The new memorial wall may have an impact with more people using this but as yet that is an unknown quantity.

It was unanimously agreed to keep this as a future agenda item so that the situation could be monitored.

a)  Cemetery Extension – Limited capacity of current land.

Recurring item – Possible sites were still being explored.

b)  Cemetery Terms and Condition and Fees – For review

Resolved – Unanimously agreed to adopt and these would now be published on the web site.

c)  Rose Garden – Review

Resolved – It was unanimously agreed that the fenced area of the garden required some shrubs planting and the clerk was instructed to arrange for some Hebe’s to be planted.

16.162. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

·  A set of draft terms and conditions of the Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee (Steering Committee) had been sent out to councilors for approval.

·  It was agreed that the work of the Steering Committee could be currently undertaken by forming the following sub-committees.

1)  Communications – gathering information from the village and associated groups and individuals; e.g. businesses, farmers; as well as keeping the village informed of what is happening. Chair: Time Wright

Current Update -

It will meet with parishioners and local business stakeholders at a number of events up until the end of January, to gather information to provide the evidence base required by legislation, to inform the final document. Key partners and stakeholders have been identified and will be contacted by mid-December, with a view to meeting with them in January.

Any communications, flyers, questionnaires, invitations and posters will be produced by this group.

The group has begun to regularly update the parish webpage, set up social media accounts and will use The Graphic to communicate throughout the process.

2)  Evidence Gathering – collecting the hard data and facts to ensure policies that are written are based on sound evidence and are in line with national and local planning. Chair: Roger King

Current Update - We have contacted HBBC to arrange to meet with the local planning officer assigned to our group. This will provide valuable information on what evidence is already held about land use and development both at a local and a national level.

We have begun gathering evidence that is already available; for example, the HBBC Local Plan; Newbold Verdon Conservation Area report

We have started the process of creating a Neighbourhood Character Assessment

A character assessment is a document that describes the distinct appearance and feel of a settlement or area. It communicates the physical features and characteristics that combine to give a peculiar settlement or an area its local distinctiveness and unique identity.

We will present the character assessment to the Parish Council for its views in due course. This can be at a full PC meeting or elsewhere.

We have yet to confirm with the finance committee what funding we require but do not anticipate the need for very much.

3)  Finance – ensuring finances are acquired to fund the work, and that these funds are used in accordance with both the granting body and Parish Council financial regulations. No chair – overseen by Rick Bell and Allan Gayton

Grant Funding is available however applications need to be submitted with a spending plan and can only be done in amounts over £1,000. In the interim approval is needed to cover any spending requirements e.g. producing flyers, questionnaires, stationary items etc.

16.163. PARISH CLERKS MONTHLY REPORT

The clerk asked if a future agenda item could include continuity planning as it would seem sensible to consider a staged handover of clerk/RFO duties in the future.

16.164. CHAIRMAN’S QUESTION TIME:

Mrs D Finney asked if the memorial walls could be wiped down after each grass cutting at the Cemetery.

Mrs D Finney asked if the dead flowers within the cemetery could be removed on a regular basis. The clerk would discuss with the ground maintenance contractor.

Mrs D Finney reported that the funeral cars on Tuesday 27th September 2016 had been unable to access the church area due to parking along Main Street. This was already being addressed with LCC and would be highlighted as a further issue.

Mr W Crooks asked if the hedge around the Bus Shelter on Desford Road could be trimmed as it was overgrowing the shelter.

Mr W Crooks asked if the old Telephone Box opposite the Swan could be renovated as it was becoming an eyesore. The clerk to investigate.

Mr W Crooks asked if the old notice board at the Dragon Lane entrance to Dragon Lane Recreation Ground could be removed as it was derelict and unused.

Mr W Crooks advised that he had received several complaints regarding a motor scooter that was riding round the village and was very noisy. If anyone could obtain the registration the clerk would report to the local beat team.

Mr M Preston reported that there had been incidents of youths causing a nuisance within the Cemetery and had had to be asked to leave.

Mr M Preston asked if the Parish Council would again support the purchase of a poppy wreath for the forthcoming remembrance service.

Mr M Preston asked if the parking issues around the Bus Stop by the Sports and Social Club could again be investigated.

Mr J Cartwright asked if LCC could be contacted regarding the footpath between Pasture lane and Alan’s Way which became very slippery after rainfall.

Mrs J Crooks asked if the clerk could contact the Indian Restaurant on Main Street regarding the graffiti on their property.

Mrs J Crooks gave an update on HBBC public space protection order which was being expanded out to the Parishes. This to be added as an agenda item for further discussion.

16.165. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

The date of the next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Monday 31st October 2016 at the Alan’s Way Pavilion at 7.30 pm.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE CHAIRMAN DECLARED THE MEETING CLOSED AT 9:22 pm.

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