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BILLESDON PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of Billesdon Parish Council held in the
Chapel, Billesdon, on Monday 26th September, 2011.
Present: Parish Councillors I. Bowler (Chair), N. Sedgwick, R. Corlett, S. Ford and J. Pain.
Also in attendance: Mr. P. Camm (Parish Clerk)
ITEM / ACTION
1. PUBLIC FORUM
No members of the public were present.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllr. Francis, County Cllr. Feltham and District Cllr. Charlish.
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None.
4. MINUTES OF THE LAST PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
The minutes of the meeting held on 15th August, 2011, having been previously circulated,
were offered and accepted as a true record of the meeting, and signed by the Chair.
5. MATTERS ARISING
Footpaths and rights of way: Cllr. Francis advised, via the Clerk, that he will report back on his footpath seminar at the next Council meeting.
Annual Accounts: The Clerk confirmed that the external auditor had approved the annual
accounts, and that the relevant public closure notice has been posted.
Pathway between Weare Close and Vicarage Close: A meeting had taken place with the Seven Locks surveyor and some problem areas had been discussed. No firm suggestion has subsequently been received from Seven Locks regarding the surface. It was agreed that Seven Locks/LCC be urged to act quickly to resurface the pathway, as it now forms part of the School’s “walking bus” strategy. It was agreed that Malcolm Moss be asked to tender for managing the vegetation along the path during a year, in the absence of any undertaking by Seven Locks.
Grass verge cutting: The Clerk confirmed that LCC had acknowledged the query on grass verge cutting on Uppingham Road, but no action seems to have followed this. The Clerk was asked to pursue the matter again with LCC.
Dog/litter bins: It was reported that the dog waste bin on the footpath between Weare Close and Vicarage Close, and the litter bin on the play area, are not being emptied. The matter will be brought to the attention of HDC.
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations: The Chair reported that the (1) commemorative tree, (2) street party, (3) beacon fire projects are in hand.
Polling Station review: The Clerk confirmed that Council’s view had been passed to the
electoral review team. / Cllr. Francis
Clerk
Clerk
Clerk
Chair
6. CORRESPONDENCE
a) ‘Village Voice” looking for articles to publish regarding Jubilee celebrations. Any decision
in Billesdon is unlikely to meet their deadline, the Clerk to respond accordingly.
b) Village SOS fund – passed to other village groups for information. No further action. / Clerk
7. CORE STRATEGY
The Chair reported having met representatives from the RCC in seeking assistance in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan. The RCC can offer assistance on the community involvement process, at a cost of £25 per person hour. However, to be able to present a coherent Plan, the Council is advised that a consultant planner would be needed - the estimated cost would be around £500 per day. The total cost to the Parish of a Neighbourhood Plan could amount to between £5,000 and £10,000. However, funding towards these costs could be applied for through: The Big Society, Awards for All, Leics and Rutland County Foundations, and Planning Aid. There may be the possibility of using the village in a “vanguard” arrangement with HDC. It is believed that Blaby had been piloted in this way, with funding of around £20,000 having been made available.
The Chair reported that there could be some needed urgency in forming a Neighbourhood Plan: work appears to be progressing, at District Council level, regarding the redrawing of development envelopes around villages, the allocation of housing to specific villages, and exploratory contacts with prospective developers. Thus events could overtake a parish council if action is not taken urgently.
It was agreed that our County and District Councillors be acquainted with the Parish Council’s anxieties and that the proposed Neighbourhood Plan Group be convened by the end of October.
/ Chair
8. BRIBERY ACT 2010
Council noted the content of the new Act.
9. COPLOW CENTRE
Cllr. Francis reported, via the Clerk, that the escalated costs of the new extension had been paid and that lessons had been learned from the exercise. He had passed potential sources of funding to the committee.
10. LEICESTER ROAD BANK
Cllr. Francis reported, via the Clerk, that Mr. Liggins’s quote had been received. It was agreed that a quote from Malcolm Moss be obtained.
/ Cllr. Francis
11. PLAY AREA REPORT
Cllr. Pain reported that a quote for the required work had been obtained. This was considered expensive, although no like-for-like figures are available for comparison. It was agreed that at least one additional quote be obtained.
/ Cllr. Pain
12. QE II PLAYING FIELDS REGISTRATION
Passed to the Wildlife Group for consideration.
13/14. DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS AND MUGS
(See also item under Matters Arising). The Council agreed that it would not pursue the purchasing of Jubilee mugs.
/ Chair
15. JOINT BURIALS COMMITTEE
Cllr. Ford reported that some research needs to be carried out, initially via HDC, to
establish the procedures, if any, to be followed in order to extend the cemetery, and to seek the identity of the adjacent land-owners.
/ Clerk
16. STREET LIGHTING
Cllr. Sedgwick reported that the proposed new lamp and bracket details had been circulated, following their receipt from the Old School Trustees. The Parish Council approved the design of the bracket and lamp, and noted the written assurance from LCC Highways that a light of equivalent brilliance would be installed. The Old School Trustees are to be encouraged to pass their draft planning application to the Parish Council for comment, before it is submitted.
The Parish Council noted that it had not received a formal written letter from the Old School Trustees, acknowledging and accepting their responsibilities for the erection and maintenance of the new bracket and lamp, and the removal of the old lamppost. In return, the Council will confirm that it will reimburse the Old School annually for up to a maximum of one twenty-sixth of its total annual electricity bill for streetlights, to cover the cost of electricity used by the lamp.
/ Cllr. Sedgwick
Cllr. Sedgwick
17. ALLOTMENTS
Cllr. Sedgwick reported that the allotment land sale is proceeding but he remains confident that the new owners will be happy for the allotments to continue thereon. Talks with the
owners will be held shortly.
The allotments had received a gold award from the RCC’s Village Achievement competition. The prize money of £50 will be used to acquire communal equipment for the allotments.
18. GARAGE RENTALS
The Clerk appraised the meeting of the current rent payable and the valuation carried out in 2003. Before deciding on future levels, Council asked the Clerk to look into the wording of the leases and report back at the next meeting.
/ Clerk
19. WILDLIFE AREA
The Chair reported that a fallen tree at the access gate had been removed by Malcolm Moss.
The meeting was advised that parts of the footpath around the pool are becoming overgrown and may present a safety hazard to wheelchair users. It was agreed that the Council is minded to spray the grass verges to the footpath and will liase with the Wildlife Group accordingly.
/ Chair
20. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Cllr. Corlett reported that:
a) The Leicestershire NHW Group had recently announced a scheme for doorway lighting for
vulnerable residents.
b) New NHW signs have just been received and will be erected in the near future. / Cllr. Corlett

21. FINANCE

Receipts since last meeting (other than bank interest): Precept £ 6,824.00 Payments since last meeting other than bank charges: NIL

Due for payment
Clement Keys Audit fee £ 162.00
Clerk’s salary £ 516.93
Clerk’s expenses £ 129.93
LCC Street Lighting charge 2010/2011 £ 1,210.57
HDC Playground RoSPA inspection charge £ 67.54
Billesdon/Rolleston Joint Burials Committee £ 3,562.00
Total payments due: £ 5,848.97
Gross balances after all income and payments shown
Parish Council Current a/c £ 100.00
Parish Council Reserve a/c £ 12,382.04
Total £ 12,482.04

Account retentions Play area £ 865.00 Street Lights Fund £1,000.00Wildlife Fund £ 300.00Street Party fund £ 449.35Total £2,614.35 £ 2,614.35- Non-retained net balance available for Council: £ 9,869.69

Resolved: That the accounts and payments made/due be approved.
/ Clerk
22. PLANNING
The Clerk outlined the under-noted cases that had been circulated prior to the meeting.
APPLICATIONS:
11/1121 – Knowles, 29 Church St – Installation of solar panels
APPROVED:
11/376 FUL– Weaffer, 5 Market Place – erection of dwelling/garage
11/965/FUL – Kendrick, Springbrook Farm, Coplow Lane – single storey extension
REFUSALS
11/1126/NMA (08/1676) – Lucas, 36 Leicester Road – Refusal of non-material
amendment.
23. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Councillors agreed to the laying of a wreath on Remembrance Sunday, as happened last year. A similar donation will be made.
/ Chair
13  24. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Monday 7th November, 2011 at 8.00 p.m in the Chapel Room.
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.35 p.m.

Signed………………………………..………Chairman Date………………….