MINUTES OF THE LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON 11 FEBRUARY 2014 AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES
COMMENCING AT 7.30PM
Present The Town Mayor, Councillor B Howes
The Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor P Toye
Councillors J Ackerley, R Coleman, E Derrick, B Duesbury, D Gair, T Hirons,
M Johnson-Howe, B Piper, G Robinson, I Staples (7.30), V Thornton,
J Turner and C Weston
At 7.00pm prior to the Town Council meeting, John Redmond and Paul Hostead, Assistant Principals at Lutterworth College, were in attendance to provide members with an update on the progress of the Sir Frank Whittle Studio School and to answer any questions in relation to the project.
Mr Redmond advised that the Sir Frank Whittle Studio School will be for a maximum number of 300 pupils aged between 14 to 19 years. It was noted that there will be a high level of employer engagement and some of the companies involved to date were mentioned. Lutterworth College has worked hard with the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to define the School’s specialisms, which will be Engineering, Logistics, Retail and Travel and Tourism. Mr Redmond highlighted that Lutterworth College’s bid to open the Sir Frank Whittle Studio School had been heavily influenced by strong support from the LLEP.
The academic qualifications of the Studio School will be underpinned by the CREATE framework i.e. Creativity, Relating to others, Enterprise, Applied, Thinking skills and Emotional intelligence.
Mr Redmond went on to explain that the Studio School would afford 14-15 year old pupils with up to four hours of work experience each week and it was the aspiration that Post 16 pupils would be entitled to a significant amount of paid employment per week with the selected employers.
Mr Hostead advised members that the planning application for the Studio School had been submitted to Harborough District Council two weeks ago and that it was the proposal to construct the Studio School on the former swimming pool site on Bitteswell Road, currently used by staff as a car park.
Members advised that the Town Council was due to consider this planning application at the next meeting of the Planning and Grants Committee on 3 March 2014.
The plans appeared to suggest that approximately 90 homes were informed about a public consultation event hosted by Lutterworth College and this figure was queried by members as research suggested that the actual number was significantly lower.
Concerns were expressed in relation to the parking problems along Greenacres Drive and the adjoining roads. These areas were already heavily congested with student and staff vehicles and there was a fear that the Studio School would exacerbate the existing situation by resulting in congestion further along Greenacres Drive and Holly Drive.
Mr Hostead advised that an agreement had been made with Serco for the Studio School staff and pupils to use fifty parking spaces in the car park at the rear of Lutterworth Sports Centre. Members queried how successful this would be as a similar arrangement had been set up when the E-Learning Centre was opened but had not been used. Mr Hostead advised that an electronic keypad was to be installed at the rear College gates on Waterworks Lane to encourage easier access and therefore parking in this area is to be actively promoted by the Studio School.
It was however admitted that the College currently has more staff than available parking but it was recognised that the number of pupils attending the College in future may reduce due to the education restructure, which may in turn also affect staff numbers.
It was queried why the Sir Frank Whittle Studio School had chosen to work with Cross Counties Radio as opposed to Radio Lutterworth and Mr Redmond advised that this was due to Cross Counties Radio contacting them directly and apologised for not retaining contact with Radio Lutterworth.
Members commended Lutterworth College for its superb initiative and for getting the Sir Frank Whittle Studio School to its current stage of development. It was reported that the Studio School would be ready mid November 2014 but that temporary accommodation for pupils would be available from September 2014 to January 2015. The Studio School would then be officially opened in January 2015.
Members expressed that the College may wish to consider establishing an alternative drop off / pick up point slightly away from the College to ease congestion and it was reported that the main entrance to Lutterworth College may even be altered in the future.
304 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and approved from Councillor Holyoak.
305 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Ackerley declared a non-pecuniary interest in planning application 14/00101/FUL and item 8 of the Clerk’s report as a member on the Seven Locks Board.
306 DISPENSATIONS FROM MEMBERS ON MATTERS IN WHICH THEY HAVE A DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST
None were received.
307 MINUTES, ALLOTMENT WORKING PARTY MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Allotment Working Party meeting held on 9 January 2014 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved.
308 MINUTES, LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
Councillor Hirons voiced concern that none of the representatives due to attend the strategic planning meeting with Harborough District Council were currently members of the Town Council’s Planning and Grants Committee. The Clerk advised that Councillor Hirons was able to additionally attend this meeting if he wished as it had not yet been convened.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Lutterworth Town Council meeting held on 14 January 2014 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record.
309 MINUTES, EVENTS WORKING PARTY MEETING
Councillor Derrick queried the recommendation at minute 3(vi) concerning the Fair as it was considered to attract a large number of residents to the Carnival. It was noted that this recommendation would only be implemented by the Events Working Party, subject to the results of the public consultation exercise that was due to be shortly undertaken.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Events Working Party meeting held on 20 January 2014 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved.
310 MINUTES, STAFFING COMMITTEE MEETING
Members were informed that Mr White had been requested to sign and return the summary of his exit interview by 31 January 2014 but that this remained outstanding.
Councillor Weston highlighted that the first recommendation at minute 5(ii) should be amended to reflect that the Premises Officers would also be authorised to claim for one full hour when working more than ten minutes if called out during unsociable hours.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Staffing Committee meeting held on 28 January 2014 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved, subject to the above inclusion.
311 MINUTES, PLANNING AND GRANTS COMMITTEE MEETING
Councillor Hirons requested that minute 5 be amended to reflect that the Planning and Grants Committee were unhappy with the level of detail provided in support of the grant applications submitted for the Lutterworth Slipper Exchange event.
Further comments were made in relation to this event and it was therefore RESOLVED to defer consideration of the last recommendation at minute 5 to coincide with item 6 of the Clerk’s report when the Lutterworth Slipper Exchange event was due to be discussed in greater detail.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning and Grants Committee meeting held on 3 February 2014 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved, subject to the deferral of the last recommendation at minute 5.
312 TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councillor Howes reported his attendance at the Community Computer Centre open day; the opening of the Lutterworth Rugby Club refurbished facilities; the NHS local Urgent Care event; ex Town Mayor Gerry Fry’s funeral at St Mary’s Church; the Jobs Fair at the Wycliffe Rooms; and the consultation exercise with Councillor Turner concerning a second pedestrian build-out for Church Street.
Councillor Howes thanked Councillor Toye for attending the Wycliffe Drama Group pantomime at Lutterworth College in his absence.
313 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None were received.
314 ACCOUNTS PAID AND TO BE PAID
Councillors Hirons and Johnson-Howe confirmed that all was in good order.
Accounts Paid 24 January 2014BACS / Wages / 6,304.82
Accounts Paid 30 January 2014
10289 / Plantool Ltd / 4.20
10290 / The Lutterworth & District Journal / 475.20
10291 / Zurich Management Services / 114.00
10292 / HM Revenue & Customs / 1,956.49
10293 / Leicestershire County Council / 1,421.69
10294 / A Hirons / 22.65
10295 / Lamps & Tubes Illuminations Ltd / 602.40
10296 / Kompan Ltd / 149.58
10297 / Post Offices Ltd / 110.00
10298 / G Kooner / 10.50
10299 / G Kooner / 10.50
10300 / Lutterworth Ford / 100.00
10301 / Supplies Team / 21.05
10302 / R White / 18.79
10303 / Leicestershire County Council / 400.00
10304 / Bitteswell Cricket Club / 300.00
10305 / Lutterworth Gateway Club / 356.00
10306 / Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Limited / 103.81
10307 / C&M Electrical / 1,365.34
10308 / H Surtees / 123.55
Accounts to be Paid 11 February 2014
10309 / Lutterworth Plant & Bonsai Nursery / 3.99
10310 / WPS Insurance Brokers & Risk Services Ltd / 73.18
10311 / Arco Limited / 64.80
10312 / I.C.P. Cleaning Services Ltd / 700.92
10313 / St Mary's Lutterworth PCC / 336.00
10314 / Severn Trent Water Ltd / 224.43
10315 / Mr S Brown / 1,340.00
10316 / John & Philip Signs & Designs Ltd / 192.00
10317 / Play-Ground Supplies Limited / 108.00
10318 / Leicestershire County Council / 120.00
10319 / Lutterworth Ford / 192.00
10320 / A Bayliss / 26.10
10321 / M Bayliss / 32.76
315 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE TO DATE / BANK RECONCILIATION
Members noted the bank reconciliations and income and expenditure for the end of January 2014.
316 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Members RESOLVED to support the following applications:
Plan No. / Applicant / Nature of Development & Location14/00093/FUL / Mrs M Fazackerley / Change of use of redundant building to new dwelling,
38 Regent Street, Lutterworth
14/00101/FUL / Seven Locks Housing / Demolition of existing Residential Care Home and erection of 24 dwellings comprising 17 two-storey houses, 4 flats and 3 bungalows for affordable rent,
Westerby Court, Maino Crescent, Lutterworth
14/00103/PCD / Gazeley UK Ltd / Discharge of Conditions 3 (materials), 4 (levels), 5 (landscape scheme), 7 (cycle parking provision), 11 (construction method statement), 12 (car and lorry parking provision) and 13 (motorcycle parking provision) of 11/01475/FUL,
Former George House, Hunter Boulevard, Magna Park
14/00121/FUL / Miss L Higgins / Alterations, erection of two storey rear extension and reconstruction of existing detached double garage (revised scheme of 13/01533/FUL),
18 Coventry Road, Lutterworth
317 PLANNING ENFORCEMENT TRAINING
It was RESOLVED that Councillor Duesbury and an Officer would attend the Planning and Enforcement event being organised by Harborough District Council for Monday 24 February 2014 between 1pm to 4pm.
Should there be sufficient places, Councillors Piper and Toye also expressed an interest in attending this event.
318 A426 LEICESTER ROAD & BILL CRANE WAY SPEED LIMIT
Members noted that, due to recent correspondence with Leicestershire County Council, it had not proved possible for an application to be submitted to the New Homes Bonus District Wide Fund to assist with any costs involved in attempting to reduce the speed limits from 40mph to 30mph on Leicester Road and Bill Crane Way.
Members considered this correspondence which highlighted the fact that there are not any residential frontages directly onto Bill Crane Way. Additionally the County Council would find it difficult to justify the implementation of traffic calming measures in accordance with a reduction in the speed limit to 30mph as it considers there to be good compliance with the 40mph speed limit and a lack of any injury accidents in this location.
It was RESOLVED to revisit this subject with Leicestershire County Council Highways Officers at the impending strategic planning meeting.
319 LUTTERWORTH MUSEUM LIMITED
Members received a letter from Lutterworth Museum Limited confirming their acceptance of the previous agreement made with Lutterworth Town Council in March 2013.
Further to the financial documentation that had been submitted by Lutterworth Museum Limited to support a recent grant application, it was noted that there were a number of outstanding invoices.
It was therefore RESOLVED to:
· seek legal clarification to ensure that the Town Council’s representatives are suitably protected in terms of any financial liability and to query whether the Articles of Association, dated 9 September 2013, need to be amended as they currently make no reference to the agreement outlined in Lutterworth Museum Limited’s letter, dated 29 January 2014.
· contact Lutterworth Museum Limited to advise that the above legal clarification is being sought and to request an up to date set of profit and loss accounts, plus a balance sheet clearly showing all assets and liabilities of the limited company.
320 MEMORIAL GARDEN LIGHTING
Members were reminded that at minute 233 of the 2013 Estimates meeting, it was resolved to obtain additional information from the Town Council’s electrician on the type of lights / fittings proposed and to allocate £1,000 from the Capital Fund to replace only the two subterranean light fittings not currently working at this stage. Members further resolved to source another quotation and to consider making a grant application to assist with funding at a later meeting.
Members were informed that since the 2013 Estimates meeting, Targetti Poulsen had been in contact to advise that previous communication difficulty was as a result of its UK Office closing.
Members considered a quotation from Targetti Poulsen to replace the gearing element within two of the subterranean light fittings and RESOLVED to approve that it be accepted at a total cost of £397.20 plus installation at a charge of £25 per hour. This amount is to be met from the Capital Fund.