MINUTES

STOUGHTON PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 10 October 2016 at STOUGHTON VILLAGE HALL, 7.30 PM

Councillors (Cllrs) present: Mr Bob Battey (BB) - Chair; Mr Tom Richardson (TR) Vice Chair; Mrs June Sparrow (JS); Mrs Tracy Mee (TM), Mr Paul Creswell

Also in attendance: MrTomGrozdoski (TG) and a few parishioners.

49. Chairman’s Opening Remarks

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed parishioners and the district councillor to the meeting.

50. Apologies for Absence

There were no apologies for absence.

51. Declaration of Interests

There was no declaration of interest.

52. Minutes of previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a true record.

53. Matters Arising

  1. Recreation Project

Cllr TR reported that the donated bulbs had been planted. He also reported that the step at the recreation ground hadn’t been repaired but this would be completed in early November.

  1. Wooden Gate

Cllr PC advised that a site meeting was held with all concerned to discuss the repositioning of the wooden gate. Following a brief discussion, it was agreed that the wooden gate will be re-erected to its original place.

  1. Inspection Report

Cllr TM advised that the play equipment inspector had not provided her with a date of inspection. TG would contact the inspector to arrange a convenient date.

  1. Parishioners’ Time

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Mr Omar thanked the Parish Council for the time given to discuss the rise in criminal activity in the village, especially at the Old Charity Farm Road. He advised that he discussed the issues with some of the parishioners who wanted to see improvements in the security of the village. He had also been in touch with the police seeking for their help and advice.

Following a lengthy discussion Cllr BB thanked Mr Omar for his effort with bringing matters to the attention of the Parish Council. The Parish Council advised that it would be impossible to achieve what was suggested i.e. a security gate at Old Charity Farm as that is an adopted road with public right of way. Cllr PC advised that research suggested that there had been a far more burglaries in the gated areas, which got targeted a lot more for crime. The Parish Council confirmed that it would not support segregation of the community in Stoughton, and Stoughton must remain as one community and one village.

A parishioner advised from his experience that lighting is important and that good lighting would deter criminals. It was also suggested that the lights at the end of the Old Charity Farm Road be reinstated by LCC.

DECISION:

  • That the Clerk would write to LCC requesting the two lights at the end of the Old Charity Farm road be reinstated.
  • That the Clark would write to the Police asking if a relevant officer could attend the next Parish Council meeting
  1. Pathway down Thurnby Lane

JS advised that the pathway down Turnby Lane was dangerous and that the hedge would needed to be cut. A concern was also raised that trees in the village have grown and they were very intrusive. Cllr BB reported that the church had a problem with trees too. Cllr TR advised that a tree survey had been carried out a year ago by LCC.

DECISION:

That the Clerk would write to the Co-op’s agent requesting that the hedge be cut down.

  1. Large vehicles entering road by village hall damage to trees

A concern was raised that large delivery vehicles that enter the road by village hall damage trees. It was advised that Stoughton was covered with relevant signs at any entrance and that the delivery vehicles had to deliver to Stoughton. The traffic calming however still was representing an issue for Stoughton.

DECISION:

The clerk would write to Lee Measures asking him if he could attend a meeting with Stoughton Parish Councillors to discuss traffic calming measures.

  1. Community Gardens

TG reported that he had received an advice from NALC in relation to updating the management arrangements with the community gardens. The Parish Council expressed thanks to NALC for their advice, which confirmed that although there was no formal definition of a community garden; section 1 of the Allotments Act 1925 defines an allotment as including "any parcel of land not more than five acres in extent cultivated or intended to be cultivated as a garden or farm, or partly as a garden and partly as a farm" i.e. any community garden of less than five acres is an allotment but any community garden of more than five acres will not be an allotment. After lengthy discussion, the Parish Council confirmed that the community gardens at Stoughton include 7 acres of shrubs, paths, grassland, benches, trees and areas for growing vegetables. The vegetable growing area is accessible for all the parishioners of Stoughton. There is a nominal fee by the users of the vegetable growing area and this is to pay for the water, to sustain the initiative which is for the benefits of the parishioners. The Parish Council will not consider running the community gardens as sub-lease but if NALC would suggest a more effective option to running it, the Parish Council would consider accordingly at their next meeting.

DECISION:

That the Parish Council would not consider going through sub-lease arrangements route for the community garden but it would continue operating the management of the community gardens as a sub-committee unless there is a better alternative and that any relevant papers will be updated to reiterate the committee arrangement management.

58. Planning Applications

The following planning application was considered.

Planning Ref. / Address / Outcome
16/01482/FUL / 16 Old Charity Farm Stoughton Leicestershire LE2 2EX / Support
  1. Reports from Meetings

There was no report from other meetings

  1. Update of Accounts

a)That the following invoices were approved:

Invoice / Description / Amount / Cheque No
Brian Mee / Grass cutting / £318 / 631
HDC / Bins emptying / £110.73 / 640
RCC / Flayer / £84 / 639
  1. Notice Board

TG reported that three quotations were received \\for the notice boards.

DECISION:

That the contractor with the best quotation be selected for the works.

  1. Correspondence

There was no correspondence to report on.

  1. Any Other Business

CHAIRMAN