MINUTES OF THE LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON 13 MARCH 2007 AT THE TOWN HALL
COMMENCING AT 7.30 P.M.
Present The Town Mayor, Councillor G Robinson
Councillors J Ackerley N Ackerley, E Derrick, R Dewes,
P Gray, G Hack, G Jones, P McVay, A Palmer,
B Piper, B Poulter, K Seymour, J Turner and T Watling.
At 7.00pm prior to the Town Council meeting Henry Whatley, Community Co-ordinator for Harborough & Lutterworth Local Policing Unit, provided members with information on Leicestershire Constabulary’s decision to realign its existing structures through what has become known as the 4-3 project. It was emphasised that it was a change in command and not in service and that the three new Basic Command Units will match the boundaries of Leicester City Council, Rutland County Council and the seven District and Borough Councils that make up Leicestershire.
Harborough Local Policing Unit will move into the South Area with no change to its boundaries. A front office will operate at Harborough police station with a further front office at Lutterworth.
Members asked questions on the opening hours of the Lutterworth Police Station, when the roll-out date for the ‘101’ number would be and also highlighted specific roads where cars tend to park inconsiderately.
298 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None were received.
299 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None were received.
300 MINUTES, LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Lutterworth Town Council meeting held on 13 February 2007 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record subject to minute 285 being altered to read:
Councillor J Ackerley advised members that the District Council’s Standards Committee would be considering the Model Code of Conduct and it was RESOLVED not to submit comments.
301 MINUTES, STAFFING COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Staffing Committee meeting held on 26 February 2007 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that the recommendations contained therein approved.
302 MINUTES, EVENTS WORKING PARTY MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Events working party meeting held on 28 February 2007 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that the recommendations contained therein approved.
303 MINUTES, PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 6 March 2007 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record and that the minutes be adopted.
304 MINUTES, RECREATION WORKING PARTY MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Recreation working party meeting held on 7 March 2007 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that the recommendations contained therein approved.
305 TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Town Mayor reported her attendance at the Harborough District Council Chairman’s dinner and informed that she had opened the new clothes shop ‘Shine’ in Lutterworth.
306 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None were received.
307 APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY TOWN MAYOR FOR REMAINDER OF 2006-07
Following the resignation of Councillor Ray Perkins due to work commitments, it was proposed by Councillor Bill Piper and seconded by Councillor Ken Seymour, that Councillor Griff Jones be appointed as Deputy Town Mayor for the remainder of 2006-07.
There being no other nominations, the Town Mayor declared Councillor Griff Jones be elected to the office of Deputy Town Mayor for the remainder of 2006-07.
The Town Mayor presented Councillor Jones with the Deputy Town Mayor’s badge of Office and Councillor Jones made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
308 ACCOUNTS PAID AND TO BE PAID
Councillors Gray and Hack, who had examined the accounts for payment, reported everything in order.
309 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE TO DATE
Members noted the income and expenditure as at the end of February 2007.
310 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
RESOLVED to make no objection to the following applications:
07/00074/FUL / DEL/NWA / Mr C Steer / Demolition of single storey extension, erection of two storey extension to rear and insertion of window to front, Wood Bank, Rugby Road, Lutterworth07/00283/FUL / DEL/RDA / Mr and Mrs I Jones / Erection of a two storey extension to side and single storey extension to rear, 1 Noble Close, Lutterworth
07/00285/FUL / DEL/RWHI / Mr and Mrs Morgan / Relocation of a fence, 5 Mountbatten Way, Lutterworth
07/00291/FUL / DEL/EHA / Mr and Mrs Bows / Erection of a single storey extension to the rear, 43 Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth
07/00302/FUL / DEL/MMC / Mr and Mrs M Golding / Erection of a two storey extension to rear and single storey extension to side, Handford, Rugby Road, Lutterworth
RESOLVED to support the following application:
07/00293/FUL / DEL/NWA / Mr W F Hodson / Change of use and erection of a disabled access ramp (revised scheme of 06/01844/FUL), Mechanics Institute, Church Gate, LutterworthCouncillor Gray reported that planning application 07/00046/FUL, 32 Feilding Way, had been refused by Harborough District Council.
311 PLANNING APPEAL
Members noted an appeal that had been received from G. W. Burton against planning application 2005/1887/03, Land off Swinford Road, Lutterworth. Proposed tipping of inert materials onto former railway cutting.
The Town Council previously objected to this application and it was RESOLVED to resubmit these objections subject to amending the letter in light of the Regeneration Study completion and highlighting that the application would worsen the existing Air Quality Management Area and would not assist in the attempt to comply with the 2010 EU regulations for reducing air pollution.
It was further RESOLVED to forward the comments made by Councillor McVay on behalf of the Town Council at the County Council’s Planning Committee meeting in April 2006.
312 DRAFT EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL PLAN – PUBLIC EXAMINATION
Members received a Draft List of Matters and Participants following representation made on the Draft East Midlands Regional Plan in December 2006.
RESOLVED not to make any comments on the draft list but to approve Councillor Watling’s attendance at the Public Examination in May should the Panel extend an invitation.
313 LUTTERWORTH WESTERN RELIEF ROAD
Members received the completed dossier on the Lutterworth Western Relief Road and thanks were extended to the Western Relief Road working party who, after a lot of investigation, had obtained the facts surrounding the proposed Western Relief Road and to separate them from the myths.
RESOLVED that the document be made available on the Town Council’s website and hard copies located at the Swiftway Centre, Service Shop and Library. Additional copies to be sent to Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Highways Agency for information purposes.
314 HIGHWAYS AGENCY MEETING
Minutes from the meeting held with the Highways Agency Network Strategy Manager, David Nock, were received, in addition to the Development Control Policy in the New Deal document that Mr Nock highlighted and a design visual of M54 Junction 2.
Members RESOLVED to extend the Western Relief Road working party’s remit to draft a letter to Leicestershire County Council outlining possible alternate solutions to reduce the traffic congestion in Lutterworth and associated pollution. This draft letter would feature on the April Town Council agenda for approval, prior to submission to Leicestershire County Council in time for their next Highways Forum meeting in June 2007.
It was further RESOLVED that the membership of the working party would remain the same, with the exception of Councillor Seymour substituting Councillor Poulter, who was unable to spare adequate time.
315 LUTTERWORTH AIR QUALITY
A response was received from Harborough District Council in relation to the averages of particulate pollution and an explanation on the monthly mean figures. Councillor Seymour had obtained information from Jonathon Grigg, Professor of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine Institute of Cell and Molecular Science at Queen Mary University, London who advised that short period peaks of PM10 can be known to affect lung function.
Members felt that the District Council’s response was not conclusive and had not answered the questions as to how they respond to the high peaks and how the exceedences affect individuals, children suffering with asthma and people working in close proximity to the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
RESOLVED to accept the offer that Elaine Bird, Environmental Health Team Leader at the District Council, come and discuss Lutterworth air quality issues further.
316 COVENTRY ROAD RECREATION GROUND
RESOLVED to approve the use of Coventry Road Recreation Ground for Lutterworth Junior and Youth Football Club’ annual tournament on 9-10 June 2007.
317 GOLD FISH AS PRIZES
RESOLVED to amend the policy to read that no live animals be given as prizes on Town Council land or properties.
318 COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH SCHEME
Members noted that the first community speed watch pilot schemes have now been completed, evaluated and a decision is pending to continue with the scheme across the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area. Should the scheme continue, parish councils or Formal Action Groups will be awarded a pilot scheme in their area on a first come, first served basis.
Successful applications will be loaned a speed detection device to undertake their own traffic monitoring with the assistance of volunteers. The details of vehicles speeding would be passed on to the Police for consideration of a letter that explains the purpose of the project to be sent to them. Repeat offenders could face prosecution.
RESOLVED to confirm the Town Council’s interest in a Community Speed Watch pilot scheme with the appointment of Councillor N. Ackerley as the co-ordinator and Councillor Watling as deputy should a pilot scheme be awarded in Lutterworth. Councillor Poulter registered his interest as a Community Speed Watch Volunteer, as did Mr Hopkins, whose interest was registered through Councillor Watling.
319 PARKING
Members received a copy of correspondence from Councillor Jones and the Police Community Support Officer Peter Willson. There was concern over implied officer discretion and it was RESOLVED to seek clarification that parking regulations are strictly enforced according to the law and not each case taken on its own merits or exceptions made.
320 LOROS
Members received a grant application from LOROS and RESOLVED to expend the remainder of the smaller grant estimate provision, thought to be approximately £200-300.
321 AGE CONCERN
Members received a report from the ‘Celebration of Older People’ event that was held in August 2006.
322 CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION
The District Council have confirmed that there is no current requirement to upgrade Lutterworth’s CCTV system as it stands. They are looking to improve the monitoring of the cameras and to reinstall the camera at Morrison’s car park early in the new financial year. The Town Council will be kept informed of the progress.
Members felt that Lutterworth’s CCTV system was in need of an upgrade, based on a verbal report that had previously been received from the police, which stated that the picture quality was extremely poor at night and that the cassettes used for recording were extremely worn.
RESOLVED to request
§ specifications of both Lutterworth and Market Harborough’s CCTV systems
§ that the police be contacted and asked for their opinion on the worth of Lutterworth’s CCTV system, as well as being involved in suggesting other possible sites for additional cameras
§ that monies be utilised to purchase the best technology to ensure high quality data output, as opposed to being used to employ somebody to monitor the images.
It was further RESOLVED to highlight the Coventry Road recreation ground / Sports Centre entrance as a future camera site, particularly focusing on the skate park and public conveniences, which are subject to recurring vandalism.
323 LITTER BINS
RESOLVED to provide 85ltr cast bins with crest in Lutterworth RAL 5011 blue alongside all eight bus shelters in the town at a total cost of £3,200. All bins to have the larger opening.
324 STATION ROAD CAR PARK REDESIGN
RESOLVED to request another meeting with the District Council to discuss where to site the disabled parking spaces and to check the project timescale.
325 PUBLIC CONVENIENCES
It was noted that Rachel Doyle and Gina O’Connor-Frisby from the District Council would be presenting members with various public convenience specifications and visuals within the next month.
326 SPONSORSHIP
At the February meeting members raised concern over Gazeley UK Ltd sponsoring the Town Council newsletter. The District Council have received a copy of the newsletter and have advised that the Town Council are within their right to accept Gazeley UK Ltd as the sponsor but that it would be useful to include a disclaimer that covers all articles not written by the Town Council.
RESOLVED to adopt a disclaimer that covers all newsletter articles not written by the Town Council.
327 REGENT COURT LANDSCAPING
Following a site visit in February 2007 ISS Waterers are currently determining what could be achieved with a budget of approximately £30,000 to re-landscape the Regent Court embankment, which would be obtained through funding.
Councillor Watling advised that the tree wardens would be interested in participating in the project and requested that their interest be communicated to Lutterworth Improvement Partnership.
RESOLVED to include the grass verge opposite the embankment within the maintenance schedule.
328 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
RESOLVED to add the following line to the document: ‘Photocopies of any documents will be charged at the relevant rates’.
329 STANDING ORDER 13(l)
RESOLVED to defer the recommendation put forward by Councillor Robinson to amend Standing Order 13(l), in accordance with Standing Order 58.
58: A resolution permanently to add, vary or revoke a Standing Order shall, when proposed and seconded, stand adjourned without discussion to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.
330 APRIL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
RESOLVED to approve that the next Town Council meeting be held a day later on Wednesday 11 April, as the scheduled date falls on Easter Tuesday.
331 COMMUNITY CONSULTATION AND DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR
No members were available to attend the Rural Community Council’s Annual Seminar on 22 March 2007.
332 TOWN COUNCIL SURGERY
RESOLVED to approve Councillors Palmer, Piper, Robinson and Seymour as the members to be present at the Town Council surgery on Saturday 31 March.