MINUTES
OF THE MEETING OF BURTON & DALBY PARISH COUNCIL ON THURSDAY 23RD
OCTOBER 2008 IN VILLAGE HALL AT BURTON LAZARS AT 7.00PM
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PRESENT Cllr B Ludwig (Chairman), Cllr
G Digby, Cllr Dr L Stocks, Cllr G Whitehouse, Cllr Y Rowe, County Cllr J
Orson, Parish Clerk Mr S C Johnson, Member of Public Mrs Ewart, Mr B Steans,
Mr M Stimson, Mrs S Stimson, Mrs M Atton, Later Mr G Parkinson Community
Initiatives coordinator (Neighbourhood Watch) APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Borough Cllr R Holt DECLARATION OF INTEREST Personal - Cllr Dr L Stocks
08/00655/FUL, Personal & Predjudicial Cllr Y Rowe Appeal
APP/Y2430/A/08/2077007/NWF Personal Cllr G Digby Village Hall Grant APPROVE AND SIGN MINUTES OF LAST MEETING Held on 4th August 2008 in the Chapel room at Great Dalby.
Observation made by Cllr Ludwig that comments made under item 75/08 did not
imply that Clerks hours were to be reduced to contracted hours but to reduce
time spent on peripheral items focussing on important matters. All Cllrs
agreed the minutes subject to the later observation no further objections
raised - signed by the Chairman. OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF PUBLIC TO SPEAK Mr M Stimson of Little Dalby raised the issue of retaining the red
payphone box in that village. Discussion resulted in a decision by the Parish
Council to adopt the box at a cost of £1.00. Clerk to make application before
1st November 2008 and clarify whether a power supply exists for
lighting/confirm the power will be disconnected. It was
established that the Earnest Cook Trust were agreeable to the retention on
this basis. MATTERS ARISING The following matters addressed being actions from the last meeting: Risk Assessment
overhaul by Clerk this relates back to minute 49/08 and will be effected
with other auditor recommendations as soon as possible. Community Need
Camera Contact was made with the CNC team who explained that this was not
the correct tool for determining speeds of motor vehicles through Great Dalby
the advice is to proceed with the Community Speed Watch arrangements. Utility meters
In minute 76/08 a conservation issue was raised about externally mounted utility
meters, rather than internal fixing. A paper from E-ON and advice requires
outside mounting of meters for access purposes. Advice from Building Control
was that it is not within their remit.
Garden Shed in Pebble
Close, Great Dalby, replaced and causing neighbour problems. Written planning
guidance on size and electrical supplies provided to the meeting. A shed
should not overhang a property boundary and should not be greater than 50% of
garden. Pent roof should not be higher than 3m and apex roof 4m. Electrical
supply to conform to current IEE practice. MBC Grant
payment MBC have been reminded that this payment has not yet been made, it
seems to be a hiccup in the link between Accounts and Community Small Grants Officer.
An undertaking to locate the payment has been given. MBC Fire staff
had now returned to Melton being accommodated in that part of the building
not affected by the fire. There are still teething problems with telephones. The Chairman permitted County Councillor J Orson to address the
meeting on the subject of village Entry Treatments at this point. Cllr Orson stated
that funding for the works had been approved, an announcement was anticipated
in the next 2 to 3 weeks. He discussed the Parish Council responses to this
LCC initiative in an attempt to gain a consensus. Adjustments were made
following this discussion which Cllr Orson undertook to convey to the
relevant department in County Hall. It was pointed out that a financial contribution
could be made to the scheme by the Parish Council for specific items should
this be desired. Neighbourhood Watch the chairman directed that this item be brought
forward prior to the arrival of the Community Initiatives Coordinator.
Principle numbers of signs required were agreed as 4 to 6 for Burton Lazars,
2 for Little Dalby and 5 for Great Dalby at a cost of c£20.00 plus vat for
each sign. Mr G Parkinson Community
Initiatives coordinator (Neighbourhood Watch) This followed the earlier discussion and is included here for
clarity. Mr Parkinson gave a short presentation on the scheme. The meeting
established that groups were supported by the Parish Council but the latter
carried no responsibility for them or the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. The
permissions for, and erection of, the signs is to be established by the Coordinator.
Mr Parkinson handed a copy of a letter to each Councillor which is to be sent
to residents. Meetings will be held in Burton Lazars on 27th
November 2008 and in Great Dalby on 20th November 2008 each having
a Local Police Constable present. PLANNING MATTERS a)
Planning
Applications received since meeting on 4th August 2008: 08/00655/FUL GLebe Farm
Nether End Great Dalby (Cllr Stocks signed personal
declaration of interest and took no part in discussion on this item) 08/00656/FUL Ivydene
Burrough Road Great Dalby 08/00656/FUL Amended 08/00659/FUL The Kiln 2
Sawgate Road Burton Lazars 08/00675/TCA Rackham Brown
Burrough End Great Dalby 08/00683/FUL Ash Close
Peppers Lane Burton Lazars 08/00685/TCA Ford Farm
Nether End Great Dalby 08/00776/FUL Gravel Farm 6
Burrough End Great Dalby - (Follows 08/00374 which was approved) b)
Receive
Planning Decision Notices Approvals 08/00448/FUL Brook Farm 8-10
Nether End Great Dalby 08/00453/TCA 17 Burdetts
Close Great Dalby 08/00489/FUL Airfield Farm
Dalby Road Great Dalby 08/00656/FUL Ivydene
Burrough Road Great Dalby 08/00659/FUL The Kiln 2
Sawgate Road Burton Lazars 08/00675/FUL Rackham Brown
Burrough End Great Dalby 08/00685/TCA Ford Farm
Nether End Great Dalby c)
Receive
Planning Refusals None NB Application 08/00260/OUT, Appeal Ref APP/Y2430/A/08/2077007/NWF to
be heard on 16th December 2008 at 10.00am in the Baptist Church,
Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray (Cllr Rowe signed declaration of Personal and
Prejudicial interest and took no part in the discussion on this item) The appeal hearing has now been confirmed by letter from MBC dated 17th
October 2008, received 24th October 2008. The above planning applications and notices were noted by the meeting. In respect of planning application 08/00683/FUL the meeting was informed that a written response had been sent to Planning Officers and a response was awaited. FINANCIAL
REPORTS a)
The Statement of accounts
for the quarter ending 30/09/08, attached, was agreed by the meeting. Clerk
stated that the bank balance was equivalent to the adjusted bank balance
shown on the statement of accounts less 2 payments made in October so far.
These payments were to B & H Midland, £23.50 and Clerks expenses for
September 2008, £77.83. b)
Invoices and expenses paid
since the meeting on 4th August 2008 were as shown on the running
budget, sheet 1, which had been circulated to all councillors, a summary (sheet
2 of the latter) which was circulated and is attached to these minutes. In
addition the request from the Burton Lazars Village Hall committee for a
grant was tabled. Cllr Digby who is on the committee signed the personal interest
register at this point and took no further part in the discussion. The application forms were
circulated and the Clerk explained that part of the grant would be forwarded
direct to the main contributor who would then include that amount in their
contribution (This practice had been checked with LRALC and was considered
acceptable). The proposal to pay the grant was made by Cllr Rowe and seconded
by Cllr Dr Stocks. The meeting approved all the invoice and expenses payments.
Clerk to write to the Village Hall Committee informing them of the grant
approval. c)
Budget Control to date was
demonstrated by the same summary sheet as in b) above. The situation regarding
street lighting was queried as there had been no spend in the current
financial year to date. Clerk stated that he had endeavoured to make contact with
LCC Street Lighting (and failed) as payment for the year was now due (the last
account had been paid in September 2007). Last year the budget estimate from
LCC for the whole year 2008/2009, had been c£1500. The remainder of the
budget was for replacement of lighting columns if necessary. The possible
need for funds for the Great Dalby Christmas Tree was raised. New licensing
conditions had been received from LCC and it was necessary to purchase a Code
of Practice published for and on behalf of the County Surveyors Society
at a cost of £45.00. The meeting agreed that if the tree were to be erected
this year the Parish Council would fund the cost of the Code of Practice.
Clerk to inform those involved. A further expense was the additional work
required to the Little Dalby bus shelter. During maintenance an area of the
roof was found to be unsound requiring repair at an estimated cost of
£260.00. The meeting agreed that this work should be completed as soon as
possible. Clerk to inform Mr Morris. d)
Budget setting and Precept for 2009/2010 was
considered using the summary forecast sheet as in b) above. The budgeted
figure of £3000 for Village Halls in Burton Lazars and Great Dalby was
queried. After discussion the meeting agreed to reduce this sum to £1500 each
with a reduction to the proposed precept figure of £1500 and an increase in
the investment bond of £1500. The precept figure of £11,500 was unanimously agreed
and the Finance Act forms were signed by the Chairman, all Councillors and
countersigned by the clerk. Clerk to return the forms to Melton Borough
Council. e)
The external audit completion was notified to the
meeting. An unqualified audit opinion had been awarded. Correspondence
relating to the completion of the Annual Return had been satisfactorily
answered, previously aired under item 68/08, and the appropriate closure of
the audit had been notified on the notice boards. Cllr Digby proposed that
the external audit of the Burton and Dalby Parish Council be approved,
seconded by Cllr Dr Stocks. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED A box
containing the correspondence was placed on the table at the meeting for
Councillors to select as appropriate to interest. VACANCY The
resignation of Cllr Lyn Fraser on 10th October 2008 had been
notified to all Councillors previously. Clerk reported that the legal
processes had been put in place and unless an election was requested by at
least 10 parishioners the earliest date for considering co-option was 7th
November 2008. One parishioner had requested that they be considered for
co-option by letter to which an answer had been sent outlining the process
described above. At the request of the meeting the clerk will write a letter
of thanks to Mrs Fraser enclosing the pro rata expenses up to the time of
resignation. PROPERTY CHANGE OF USE The
change of use of a property in Great Dalby to that of a Bed and Breakfast
establishment had been questioned by councillors. The response to a request
to MBC suggested that action was needed for change of use if the number of
rooms available exceeded those used by the proprietor. Councillors were also
concerned about appropriate fire and safety regulations being put into
effect. The meeting decided that a letter should be sent to the owner
requesting information. TELEPHONE BOXES Dealt
with under item 82/08 WIND FARMS A request for this item to be included came
from the recent planning application for a meteorological
Mast, 08/00489/FUL Airfield
Farm Dalby Road Great Dalby, which as noted in 84/08 b) has now been
approved. Papers were tabled a) Campaign for the Protection of Rural England
a presentation about Wind turbines and the Planning Process on 28th
October 2008 at Market Harborough and b) a paper from British Wind Energy
Association comments on noise associated with the generating machinery.
Discussion resulted in a request that an information folder be assembled in
the coming months including material from pro and con factions, including the
local enquiry results in the Vale of Belvoir. Clerk to lead. LEICESTERSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY This item
concerns the use of the Melton airfield by groups which appear to have no
connection with Agriculture e.g. Wozwolf Rally. In addition the secretary has
never answered correspondence from the Parish Council regarding the latter.
The meeting agreed that the situation should be monitored and that a letter
should be sent to the President in an effort to work with the society on
upcoming events so representing the voice of parishioners affected by noise,
litter and safety issues. DOCUMENT TRANSFERS BETWEEN WARDS AND COUNCILLORS A recent
difficulty arose around the circulation of a tome from Central Government on
the East Midlands Regional Plan. Dalby Councillors had little time to
assimilate the publication due to its late arrival on their doorsteps. It was
agreed that a tightening of the procedures for circulation of documents would
be led by a revision of the flyer attached by the clerk. At this point a CD
containing the latest output from EM Regional Plan partial review was
circulated. Comments to be returned to the clerk by 12th December
2008, circulation commenced with Dalby Councillors. CLERKS REPORT The Parish computer has now been replaced with new machine which is
functioning satisfactorily. The clerk asked for, and was given permission by
the meeting, to responsibly dispose of the old machine having first
electronically deleted and mechanically destroyed the hard disk. PARISH CONCILLORS REPORTS AND RISK ASSESSMENTS Cllr Stocks Hedge outside Gladdles, Main Street, Great Dalby, still needs
trimming, overhanging pavement. Cllr Whitehouse Requested that a letter of thanks for services rendered to the Parish
Council be sent to Lyn Fraser. Cllr Rowe Reported overgrown hedge between Schoolhouse and No. 39 New Road
Burton Lazars has still not been actioned. Cllr Ludwig Reported ongoing dialogue with the Monitoring Officer at MBC concerning
the Standards Committee issue which involved a councillor of this
parish. Cllr Digby - Repeated reporting of hedge on east
side of A606 between No1 Melton Rd. and Sawgate Lane A606 junction which is
overgrowing path. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Clerk queried the progress in finding an individual to regularly
clean the bus shelter at Burton Lazars. The matter is ongoing. A letter was tabled from a Burton Lazars resident about the deposit
of take-away wrappers 2 miles out of Melton at Burton Lazars. This will be
covered in the upcoming Newsletter DATE & TIME OF NEXT
MEETING The next meeting will be
held on Monday 19th January 2009. The venue will be the Chapel
Room at Great Dalby and the meeting will commence at 7 pm. Signed
.. Dated
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