1813
QUENIBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of a Meeting of the Parish Council held at 8.00 p.m.
in the Council Meeting Room on Wednesday, 10th December 2014
PRESENT: Mr S. Wright (in the Chair)
Mrs D. Hurwood
Mrs J Ross
Mrs R Smith
Mrs S. McKenzie
Mrs M. Winterton
There were apologies from Mrs S Buckenham, Mrs P Jones and Mr J Whitmore
Cllr Hampson and Cllr Grimley attended during the course of the meeting.
5176 Declaration of Councillors’ interests and requests for dispensation
None
5177 Minutes of a meeting of the Parish Council meeting held on 19th November 2014
RESOLVED: that the minutes be signed as a true record
5178 Matters arising from those minutes
5148/5136. Outdoor gym equipment. Mrs Hurwood said that this has now been ordered. The Clerk reported that he had still not had a firm delivery date.
5149. P/14/2062/2. Demolition of industrial building and erection of dwelling. The Print Room, 37 Main Street, Queniborough. LE7 3DB.
Mr Wright asked for this description to be checked as he had not been aware that the application had involved the demolition of the building and that this had not been mentioned by the architects when they had visited the Council. The Clerk confirmed that the description was correct.
5155. Heavy Lorries through the village. Mrs Winterton reported on a recent road accident killing a dog. This had been as a result of a heavy lorry. Mr Wright asked if the Council had received any correspondence from the police. The Clerk reported that they had not and that he had not sent the letter to the Police Commissioner due to other work. Mr Wright said that this should be sent as soon as possible.
5179 Minutes of a meeting of the Annual Budget meeting of Both Committees held on 26th November 2014
RESOLVED: that the minutes be signed as a true record
5180 Matters arising from those minutes
5174 To consider the precept for the civil year 2015-16. Mr Wright said that although the decision had been made to raise the precept by £1170 this only represented an increase of £650 due to the reduction in the Council Tax Support Grant. When Council had a budget that had almost the same income as expenditure there would need to be very close scrutiny of spending in 2015-16 with cost kept to a minimum.
The Clerk stated that the increase was £1.28 per household per annum.
5181 Planning applications and planning matters including:
The Parish Council’s complaint to Charnwood Borough Council regarding the Plans
Committee 17th November 2014
There were no new planning applications.
P/14/1565/2 Site for the erection of four dwellings. Land adjacent to Mere Lane, Queniborough. The Clerk confirmed that this application had been refused.
P/14/0708/2. Site for the erection of 165 dwellings including access and associated works. Land of Barkby Road, Queniborough.
Copies of the reply from Charnwood Borough Council, to the Parish Council’s complaint regarding the handling of this application at the Plans Committee on 17th November, had been sent to Councillors. Mr Wright said that figures had been obtained for the estimated cost of a judicial review. These put the cost of preparation of papers at £3,000-£4,000, with costs of submitting the claim at £13-14,000. Additional costs could be made against the Council if it failed. Further action was discussed.
RESOLVED: a) that the Parish Council did not have the resources to go to judicial review
b) that copies of the correspondence with Charnwood should be sent to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government explaining that the cost of judicial review meant that in practice Parish Councils cannot challenge planning decisions
d) that a copy of the letter from Charnwood should be placed on the website with an explanation as to why the Council cannot go to judicial review
Tree Preservation Order. 1 London Plane, 9 Sycamore, 4 Pine, 6 Lime, 5 Maple, 6 Horse Chestnuts, 2 Robinia, 1 Whitebeam. Rearsby Road and Queniborough Road, Queniborough.
The Clerk reported that he now had received a copy of this order.
RESOLVED: that this should be scanned and copied to Councillors and placed on the Council’s website
5182 Correspondence received
Items for Discussion
1. Leics. Playing Field Assoc. – request to retrieve old files before they are disposed by the Association if any are pertaining to Queniborough – by the 31st Dec, 2014
RESOLVED: that the Council should have copies of any old files relevant to the village
2. National Highways & Transport Public Satisfaction survey parish consultation – comments by Friday, 9th December 2014
3. Request to use King George V Playing Field for organised football matches: further correspondence following November Council
This was discussed.
RESOLVED: a) that the Clerk should write to Queniborough Football Club to clarify what arrangements are being made for the teams playing on a Sunday morning
b) that this should then be placed on the agenda for the January meeting
4. Leicestershire Football Association. Dual use of football pitches by different age groups
5. County Council comments on the proposals put forward by the Parish Council on the Melton Road Traffic calming scheme
6. Complaint re: new proposal for traffic scheme for Melton Road
7. County Council ‘operational’ meetings for Parish Councils 15th January
8. Syston Rugby Club regarding the Barkby Road development
9. Letters to Charnwood and replies regarding the conduct of the Plans Committee on 17th November.
Additional (emailed out)
10. Resident re re Melton Road scheme
11. LLITM not fit for purpose
RESOLVED: that the Clerk should pass on the Council’s concerns about traffic planning
12. Police re Syston and Loughborough merger
13. Abolition of centre white lines markings
RESOLVED: that the Clerk should find out more information about the scheme
14. Heavy lorries from construction Barkby Road Syston
RESOLVED: that the Clerk should check the planning applications to see what permission was given for vehicle access to the sites
A list of other correspondence received is filed with the minutes.
5183 Report from QVHMC Representative
Mrs Ross reported that she was unable to attend this month’s meeting as it was on the same night as this meeting. She had passed on the need for the Council’s Ground Rent invoice. Mrs Ross said that there had been problems with the new heating system but it was now working well. The Beer Festival had raised £600 for the hall. There was still an issue regarding the replacement of the kitchen following a recent hygiene report. Discussions were still taking place regarding the removal, replacement or reduction of the conifers on the boundary of the land.
5184 Cemetery Report
Mrs Smith reported that the cemetery was being kept tidy and well maintained. The leaves need picking up, which the Groundsman will do. The new litterbin had been received and was being installed over the next week.
5185 Annual Pay Award 2014-15
A report giving the 2014-15 award had been circulated with the agenda. The Clerk confirmed that he, the Assistant Clerk and Cemetery Clerk were covered by the terms of the award.
RESOLVED: that the pay award be made.
5186 To confirm the Precept for 2015-16 and signing of the precept request form
A copy of the Precept form had been circulated with the agenda. The Clerk reported on some revisions to the amounts shown in the box at the head of the form as this is required to be the precept only and not the precept plus Council Tax Support Grant.
RESOLVED: that the precept of £40,170 be agreed for 2015-16.
The Precept Form was signed by Mr Wright, Chairman, Mrs Ross and Mrs Smith, Councillors, and Mr Laughton, Clerk.
5187 Accounts for Payment and financial report
A statement of the Council’s current financial position and accounts for payment had been circulated with the agenda.
RESOLVED: that the schedule of accounts of £3,480.32 be authorised for payment.
5188 Clerk’s Report on Work in Progress
The Clerk gave a verbal report:
· Charnwood BC have notified cost of elections next year: Uncontested £71; Contested £1,650
· Kenway will lag the pipe at the cemetery next week
· Jubilee Tree has been treated for Coral spot
· The tree work on Rearsby Road Playing Field will be done this week.
· Pension Auto-enrolment requirements meeting on 12th February – Clerk will check if he needs to attend
· LRALC and County Council are forming a Parish Council website focus group for contract for 2016 onwards – 3 meetings. Clerk would like to attend.
· Office windows rot being treated but is also some damp. An annual buildings check on the office will be including in the future annual programme
· Snow warden storage. The Clerk had met with the new warden at Rearsby Gardens and it is hoped this will be resolved.
5189 Information items for the web site/Gazette
Update on the planning situation
5190 Chairman’s Announcements
None
5191 Items for discussion at the next meeting
The Clerk reported that he had received a consultation document from Queniborough Primary School regarding their catchment area.