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Minutes of the Meeting of Dunton Bassett Parish Council held on Monday 10 September 2007 in the Village Hall, commencing at 7.15 pm.
Present: Councillor Hill in the Chair, Councillors Boat, Hurford,Mofford, Pridding and Thrower.
In attendance: Mr S C Blackburn, Clerk, County Councillor Liquorish and one member of the public.
Apologies for absence: District Councillor Fuchs.
82 / Declarations of Interest None.urford declde
83 / The minutes of the meetings held on 9 July were signed as a correct record.
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89 / Chairman’s Remarks
Cllr Hill announced that Mrs Smith was recovering after treatment and hoped to be active again within six months. At her requested, it was agreedthat positions of footpath warden and heritage warden would remain open for the time being.
Cllr Hill noted the intention of the clerk to study for the CiLCA qualification and felt that this should be fully supported financially as there would be benefits to the Parish Council, even though the Parish Council did not intend to seek quality status. Cllr Hill also felt that the Clerk’s attendance at the SLCC conference in October should be fully reimbursed. These proposals were supported by the Councillors.
Noted that the Playground was formally opened on Bank Holiday Monday with about 70/80 people attending, and had been well used since then.
A recent press article had highlighted the failure of Lutterworth Town Council to prevent lorries from using the A426 through the town. In the past the use of Coopers Lane had been acknowledged to be a main route as it was a B road and had no weight restrictions, and that this was unlikely to change.
A further article on Community Speedwatch had outlined the procedure that the Police would follow; if the same car was noted twice, a letter would be sent, if noted four times, the Police would actively attend and target the offender. It was stressed that a number of volunteers would be required, that at least two should carry out monitoring at any one time and that training would be provided. Agreed that the matter be placed on the next agenda for Cllr Fuchs to give an update and to consider arranging the loan of the equipment for evaluation. In the meantime, to be added to the general appeal in the newsletter for volunteers.
Cllr Hill referred to the need for more volunteers to be sought for general initiatives in the village which could include Speedwatch and playground inspection and tidying. Action: Clerk to submit an appeal for inclusion in the newsletter.
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98 / Clerk’s Report
Action taken on matters arising at the previous meeting
50 Neighbourhood Watch. See separate agenda item.
56 Fencing at 15 Elwells Avenue. Repaired by 31 august.
58 Standing Water. The drain near the Village Hall was cleared on 16 July.
59 The planning enforcement team have been asked to take enforcement action against an advertising trailer parked near Arkwright Farm on the A426. Advertising of this nature needs planning consent, which does not appear to have been sought. We have been advised that this is one of a number of issues at Arkwright Farm which are being dealt with by the planning enforcement team.
61 Following a request from the tenant of the adjacent land, Mr Sutton was asked to clear the thistles near the playground. In future years the cheaper alternative of springtime spraying will be employed.
63 Overgrowth on Methodist Chapel plaque. After two reminders, this has been cut back.
Action taken since the last meeting
Bus Stops. Startrak is now likely to be installed in September or October following resolution of problems with the aerials fitted to the buses. The County Council are proposing ‘improvements’ to the four bus stops in Coopers Lane which will include raised kerbs, guard rails and further hard standing at the stop opposite 16 Coopers Lane.
Bridleway to Leire. The County Council have written to the Aikman Estate seeking improvements to the surface and drainage of the bridleway. So far there has been no response and it is possible that the County will take action, although the spring water needs to be drained away before the line of the path can be restored. A further update will be sought before the meeting.
Bridleway sign at the Pingle has been re-erected.
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100 / Meeting Open to the Public
Agreed that the installation of new bins and the emptying of the new bin recently installed at the playground would be chased up.Action: Clerk.
Noted that there was flowing water near 1 Coopers Lane but that Severn Trent Water had recently been seen examining the area, including the waterlogged verge opposite.
101 / Playground
Cllr Hill circulated a note from the Playground Group which was intending to install further equipment and to plant shrubs, after which the group would wind up and pass full responsibility to the Parish Council. It had been expected that the group would continue but it was felt to be symptomatic of lack of involvement that few were willing to continue to do anything. Regular inspections were desirable and would not require formal training, although a record of inspections and defects would have to be maintained. Cllr Pridding has attended a training course. Noted that an annual inspectionswould be arranged with the District Council. Resolved that future management would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
102 / Remembrance Sunday
As Cllr Hill expected to lay a wreath on behalf of Beavers, a volunteer would be sought to lay a wreath on behalf of the Parish Council.
103 / Neighbourhood Watch
The Clerk summarised his meeting with the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators based in Oadby. There is no specific role for Parish Councils and for data protection reasons the existing co-ordinators could not be named, although it was established that there are no co-ordinators for Church Lane, Elwells Avenue, Main Street and The Mount. The Council could, however, support the replacement of the existing signs with a newer design and, through the newsletter, distribute printed material including a card offering sources of approved contractors and a leaflet offering individual membershipat a cost of £7 p.a.
Resolved [a] that the Parish Council would fund the purchase and installation of 13 signs at a cost of £6.50 each, [b] that a newsletter article would publicise the scheme and seek volunteers where there were gaps and [c] that leaflets would be obtained and delivered with a future newsletter. Action: Clerk.
104 / Use of Village Hall for Council Business
Resolved that,in view of the cost of hiring the village hall for additional sessions and the low attendance level at meetings, additional expense could not be justified.
105 / Risk Management
The Clerk had circulated the risk register with additional items 16-19. In relation to item 17, following recommendations of NALC, a risk assessment of home working had been created and would be completed by the clerk.
In the absence of any further additions or comments, Resolved that revised risk register be accepted.
106 / Code of Conduct
The Clerk having circulated a note from LRAPLC on the effect of Paragraph 12 of the revised Code of Conduct, it was noted that concerns had been raised with NALC about their advice and that further clarification was likely to be forthcoming.
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108 / Parish Plan
The Council noted the minutes of the Parish Plan meeting held on 22 August.
Resolved to defray the cost of hiring the Village Hall for the open meeting planned for 2 October at an approximate cost of £20.
109 / Clerk’s application for the CiLCA qualification
The Council noted the Clerk’s application use the Council’s records for the purposes of completing the course of study and portfolio of evidence and Resolved to grant permission as requested.
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112 / Repairs and Maintenance
The council noted the summary of the costs of employing the Garden Team. Further work in the playground by volunteers might include strimming and could help to keep external costs down.
The Council noted with thanks the work of Cllr Mofford in cleaning up the second of the two refuges at the traffic lights.
The Council noted the receipt of a letter from Harborough District Council concerning the need to place ‘No Smoking’ signs in enclosed bus shelters. The clerk advised that the brick shelter in Main Street was not, in his opinion, sufficiently enclosed to fall within the regulations and it was Resolved to take no further action.
113 / Planning - Applications and Decisions
Current Applications:
The Pines Lutterworth Rd – GarageRefused
1 Old Coach Road - TreesGranted
7 The Mount - rear extensionsGranted
11 Little Lunnon - extensionGranted
Primary School extensionGranted
48 Coopers Lane - extensionsRefused
28 Coopers Lane - rear extensionGranted
Cherry Oaks, The Mount, extensionNo objection
Manor House, Well Lane (LBC)No objection
Manor House, Well Lane (FUL)No objection
48 Coopers Lane - extensions (revised)No objection, concerns raised
Dunton Mill, Ashby Parva LaneNo objection
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119 / Finance and Accounts for Payment
Following an application from the Clerk to attend one day of the SLCC conference at a cost of £30.00 this was approved. It was also agreed that the cost of travel to the Coventry venue, although not applied for, would also be paid.
It was also resolved that the cost of the Clerk’s application for the CiLCA qualification, estimated at £130.00 (see item 110 above) would be met by the Council.
Payment of the following accounts was confirmed:
Garden Team - 2.7 and 10.7 £210.00
Garden Team - 23.7 £105.00
LRAPLC – Councillors Course A Mofford £25.00
G Sutton – Playground, clearance of thistles £130.00
P B Design & Sign – Playground £235.00
C Hill - Brush cutter and parts £242.08
Payment of the following accounts was approved:
Garden Team –8.8/15.8 £105.00
Garden Team – 28.8 inc Playground £150.00
The Brush cutter will be added to the schedule of assets and the insurance policy.
Noted that a previously unrecorded roadside seat exists opposite 79 Dunton Road. Although it is not clear who put this up, it had been there for some time. For the purposes of insurance it was Resolved that this be added to the schedule of assets and the insurance policy.
120 / Items for discussion at the next meeting
  • Playground Management
  • Speed Monitoring
  • Precept

The meeting closed at 8.20 pm.

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Chairman

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