Minutes of the Scraptoft Annual Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 2nd August 2017 in the Village Hall, Scraptoft
Present
Councillors - Mr Peter Elliott (Chairman); Emma Lee (Vice Chairman); Gillian Graham; Leanne; Lynn Morris
Sally Skyrme (Clerk);
12 members of the public
1 Chairman’s Welcome
Cllr Peter Elliott welcomed everyone to the meeting
2 Apologies
Cllr Leanne Taylor
Cllr Andrew Hall
3 Public SessionA member of the public thanked the Parish council for helping to make sure the hedges on Beeby road were cut and for getting the enforcement officer involved to get the building site on Hall Road made safe. He also reported a large pothole on Stocks Road which he believes is caused by lorries using the road to get to the Co-op.
He also reported heavy vehicles near the golf course, a sunken pavement on The Mount near the BT box and the hedge that needs cutting on the service road on Beeby and Hall Road.
Action: Sally to get in touch with Leicestershire County Council Highways to report pothole.
Sally to contact highways regarding heavy vehicles
Sally to contact relevant people with regards to overgrown hedge
Sally to contact Highways regarding the sunken pavement.
A member of the public asked about the extra site at the Belways development. Cllr Elliott said that it must be returned to farmland once the building is finished on the site
A member of the public reported a pile of concrete with a hole in it that would be dangerous to children. It is on the grass on the Strawberry Fields Estate off Pavilion Road to the left. He was also concerned that the land around Pavilion Road is open to travellers
Action: Cllr Elliott will have a look at this
A member of the public said that it would be worth putting in a smaller gate on Edith Cole Park to prevent Travellers coming again.
Action: Cllr Elliott has requested a quote from Burnt Oak, the contractors for Edith Cole Park, to fit a stronger gate
A member of the public said he liked the suggestion of a wild meadow being planted in part of Edith Cole Park and said if it was planted he would help with any extra litter picking that might be needed as a result. Cllr Elliott asked for the idea to be put on next month’s agenda.
Action: Item to be placed on next month’s agenda
A member of the public asked for an update on the T-junction signs on Wickets Close,
Fielders Drive and Willows End.
Action: Sally to chase Street Services about this
4 Council Session
(a) Minutes
The minutes of the parish council meeting held on 5th July 2017 were accepted as a true record and duly signed by the chairman.
(b) Declaration of Members’ Interests/Dispensation
None
(c) Clerk’s report
Clerk’s Report Wednesday 2nd August 2017
With regards to actions from the last meeting:
· I have contacted Leicestershire County Council highways department to request a no right turn sign to be placed at the junction of Hamilton Lane and Scraptoft Rise.
· I have reported the leak on Beeby Road and on the pavement further down
· I have requested a weight limit sign be put up on Beeby Road to prevent further damage caused by heavy vehicles
· I have contacted HDC about the constant fly tipping on Covert Lane
· I have been in touch with Jimmy’s Rugby club and licensing at Harborough Council and I think the matter of noise and litter is being resolved as a result
· I have been in touch with Lee Quincy from the County Council about getting a new bus stop put in at the top of Edith Cole Park and this has been agreed so a bus stop will go up there soon. I also asked about the viability of the new bus route and questioned the use of double decker buses. He has yet to get back to me about this.
· I have asked Davidsons to put a gap in the low fence near the Hall but they have yet to get back to me about this.
· Lee from GF Tomlinson presented us with a new design for a gate at the Community Hub and he will forward a picture by email for the council to agree on
· The steering group meeting went ahead with seven people in attendance. We are due to have another meeting to decide on what form the hub will be run.
· I have emailed Martin from Burnt Oak about the bushes near the benches on Edith Cole park to say we want them completely clearing away.
· I haven’t applied for funding with the co-op yet because we are not sure of the status of the community hub.
With regards to other matters, I have been in touch with British Telecom with regards to the phone box on Hamilton Lane and they have told me that it is on the list to be removed but the electricity and phone line needs to be disconnected first.
I attended the topping out ceremony at the community hub with Peter, Amanda and Father Martin. It was good to see inside the building and speak about other projects that are being built. Lynn, Peter and myself also had a look round at the site meeting. We were told that it will be safe to take people to have a look at the progress by the end of August. The project is coming on well and the steering group is working toward getting the correct advice with regards to how to run the building so we get off to a good start.
I have done the training for the website and I have yet to set up a Facebook page to link to the website. I foresee this getting a lot more use when the hub opens.
There were travellers on Edith Cole Park for the first time I’ve been told in many years. They didn’t stay long and didn’t leave too much mess but it caused some anguish amongst villagers. Peter dealt with the situation so I will leave it for him to report further.
We are due to have a meeting with residents of Leticia Avenue with regards to the land on Facers Lane that has become overgrown.
I have still been having a few problems with Natwest but I have been dealing with some helpful people and we are being given £200 compensation. Hopefully this will be completely resolved by the next meeting.
(d) The number 55 bus service – bus stop near Edith Cole Park
See clerk’s report
(e) Traffic/road issues
None reported
(f) Hedges/Verges/Green Spaces issues – all
The grass verge on Church Hill has now been re-turfed – there is still some work to be done but it will grow back eventually
(g) Where to put dog fouling signs
Suggestions were made to replace the signs on Edith Cole Park, and to put them on the grass verges on Beeby Road, Station Road, Covert Lane, Malsbury Avenue, Cranbrook Green, Hamilton Lane, the entrance and exit of Hall road and around the Strawberry Fields Estate
Action: Sally to contact HDC with these suggestions
.
(h) Update on Community/Sports Hub – steering group- all
Cllr Elliott reported that the build of the hub is coming of well and that we had a steering group meeting on 26th of July and it was decided that more official advice was needed on how the hub is going to be run. Sally and Peter went away to get advice and they will be meeting with a solicitor and someone form the Rural Community Council to get correct advice. Once we have this the steering group can meet again.
Action: Sally and Cllr Elliott to meet with advisors regarding the hub.
Next site meetings:
2 pm Thursday 31st August
10 am Thursday 28th September
10 am Thursday 26th October
10 am Thursday 30th November
(i) Edith Cole Park – all
There was an issue with Travellers staying at the park for a few nights last week. Cllr Elliott contacted the Gypsy Liaison Team at Leicestershire County Council and they dealt with the situation. The travellers moved on before the weekend was over and left a small amount of mess which has been cleaned up now. Cllr Elliott has requested a quote from Burnt Oak, the contractors looking after Edith Cole Park, for a new stronger gate.
Action: Sally to chase contractors for the quote if necessary
(j) Davidsons Update
Davidsons are not responding to our solicitor’s calls or from ourselves. We have been told they are putting bollards around the green but this hasn’t yet happened. It was hoped they would be put in before the craft fair on 2nd September.
Action: Sally to keep trying Davidsons
(k) Persimmons Update
The grass is now growing well on the playing field although there are serious concerns about the drainage. Cllr Elliott is due to meet with Persimmons – he will ask them to take down the Harris fencing and make good the car park.
Cllr Elliott said that the Parish Council will be taking on the sports pitch and there is the possibility of taking on the maintenance of the pond are grassy areas. A decision will have to be made soon because it is already 18 months overdue but it was agreed that the land should not be accepted by Scraptoft Parish Council or HDC if is was not in an acceptable state.
Cllr Galton said that the woodland might be handed to a charity but they would not accept it unless there was community input in terms of decisions about the land.
A member of the public said that a lot of the fencing is down on the footpath at the side of the estate.
Cllr Galton said this would need to be put right before handing it to HDC
Cllr Graham said there would be a lot of footfall because it is between Bellways and Persimmons estate.
A member of the public who lives on the estate said he had spoken to the enforcement officer, Heather Wakefield who said Persimmons are going to be doing something with the ice house in the woods. It was agreed that this would be a good thing if it happens.
(l) Bellways Site update
There are concerns about the extra site used for parking and storage but hopefully this will be
restored to farmland when the development is finished.
(m) Jelsons site update
The final plans for the new estate off Pulford Drive have come in and they will be discussed in the Planning applications section of the meeting.
5 Local Plan
Harborough District Council (HDC) will be coming to Scraptoft to show the public what will be happening with regards to the Local Plan. Cllr Galton said that the will be in The White House on Scraptoft Lane on 7th October from 10 am – 3 pm. It will probably include the plan for Scraptoft North.
6 Planning Applications
17/01142/FUL 23 Leticia Avenue Single story rear extension
17/01175/FUL The Stables 2 Scraptoft Hall, Church Hill Erection of a single-story rear extension
17/01117/FUL Land north of Charity Farm, Uppingham Rd, Bushby sports pitch and allotment
All planning applications can be seen online, please check site for Parish Council’s detailed responses:
https://pa2.harborough.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application
A further discussion was had about the plans for the land north of Charity Farm. There would need to be a joint committee from Scraptoft and Thurnby and Bushby to run the allotments. It was suggested that an allotment committee could run them.
A member of the public said that the new estate would be good for Scraptoft because it is offering facilities that will be more accessible for the people of Scraptoft rather than Thurnby where ha said most facilities have ended up going to with new developments. He said 1860 trees would be planted and a third of the estate will be public space so this development could be seen as a positive addition to Scraptoft.
7 Correspondence
A request for renewal of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) membership was read out. It was resolved to renew the membership. Also, an email from the Police Crime Commissioner giving information on when he will be available for suggestions from the public.
Action Sally to renew membership for CPRE
8 To receive items for information
None
9 Finance for 6th September 2017 meeting
Payments
Scraptoft Village Hall hire 2nd August 2017
/ £22.00HMRC period ended March 2017
/ £240.81Clerk – Salary August 2017
/ £791.24Burnt Oak Developments Ltd – Edith Cole park monthly instalment of yearly maintenance
/ £486.00Turneys Grass cutting
/ £362.06Petty Cash (paid out for cash book and ink cartridge)
/ £50.00CPRE membership
/ £36.00Direct Debit for Clerk’s Pension
/ unknownHDC cost of allocating address for Hub
/ £40.00Total
/ £2,028.11Community Hub Account
GF Tomlinson Building Ltd for work done in
August 2017
/ £171,460.88Total
/ £171,460.88
Finances for 2nd August 2017 proposed by Cllr Graham and seconded by Cllr Lee and it was resolved to sign cheques
Chairman formally closed the meeting at 8.30 pm