Croft Parish Council
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 5
To receive a report from the Clerk
(a) New signage in The Bridle – update
All parties appear to be satisfied with our offer to pay half of the cost of moving the sign. The resident of 50 Petersfield has no objection to the new location and the County Council appear to have obtained agreement to their suggested wording of the blue sign. At the time of writing (7 April) there has been no further contact from the residents.
(b) Defibrillator training
Bridget Longland is to arrange a training session on 13 or 14 June
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 6
Reports
Police – compiled by the Clerk from a Police website
Crime Statistics for CroftCategory / Aug-16 / Sep-16 / Oct-16 / Nov-16 / Dec-16 / Jan-17 / 6 mths
Anti-social behaviour / 3 / 4 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 10
Burglary / 0 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 4
Criminal damage and arson / 3 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4
Drugs / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 2
Other theft / 2 / 4 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 11
Public order / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 3
Shoplifting / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 1
Vehicle crime / 1 / 0 / 1 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 10
Violence and sexual offences / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 1 / 7
Total / 10 / 12 / 10 / 7 / 5 / 8 / 52
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 7
Croft Good Neighbours Scheme
Janet Thompson will attend the meeting and a report on progress to date has been submitted as follows:
Croft Good Neighbours constitution states that:
“The financial accounts will be presented to the Parish Council annually and available to the community to view in public places annually”
Background
Local Good Neighbour schemes are being promoted by the Rural Community Council (RCC) a small Leicester based charity supported by Blaby District Council.
A community survey in November 2014 indicated that a Good Neighbour scheme would be welcomed in our village.
Residents particularly interested in the scheme held a meeting on 5th March 2015 and began setting up Croft Good Neighbours. They were supported by RCC development officer Jo Ling, who gave advice regarding Policies and Procedures, Insurance, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks etc. ()
Operation
Croft Good Neighbours became operational on 24th November 2015. Flyers were sent to all the residents of Croft introducing the scheme and notices were displayed at various points in the village.
Anyone wanting help will phone the Croft Good Neighbours telephone number. Members of the scheme’s organising committee take turns to hold the phone. On receiving a call, should it seem likely that help can be given, then details will be taken and a volunteer found who is available and able to help out.
Over the last year, Croft Good Neighbours have helped residents of Croft on about fifty occasions. Most requests are from people who require help with getting to appointments at times when other transport is not available. We have also assisted with minor DIY jobs and short term visiting.
Finances - Overview
In order to run the Croft Good Neighbours scheme we need funds each year for the following:
The Mobile telephone
Our Website
Public Liability Insurance
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks for all volunteers
Promotional material - Leaflets, lanyards, posters
Croft Good Neighbours have received funding from the following sources
One-off grant from RCC
Proceeds from a stall we had at the Croft Fun Day, summer 2016
Grant from the Croft Fun Day Trust
Occasional donations
Grant from Croft Parish Council
The Future
The scheme organising committee are keen that Croft Good Neighbours should continue while there is a perceived need. However, running the scheme takes time and costs money. In order to make the time and effort that the volunteers put in worthwhile, and to justify the cost of the scheme, Croft Good Neighbours is looking to make itself better known in the village so that hopefully more people will take advantage of the scheme. We organised a Litter Pick in April of this year, and we intend to advertise again.
Finances- Accounts
A statement of Croft Good Neighbours Accounts is given, both as a full record and a summary
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 11
Planning Applications and Decisions for Consideration
(a) 17/0223/HH – 5 Coniston Way – Two storey front, side and rear extensions, first floor rear
extension and 1.8m fence
The closing date for comments here was 5 April as previously advised but an amendment has been received and was advised to Councillors on 7 April|:
(1) to delete the two storey rear extension and re-arrange the internal layout
(2) to re-site the 1.8m boundary fence
The deadline for comments is now 19 April.
(b) 17/0300/CC – Quarry – Non-material amendment to original planning permission
2014/0854/1/PX (to allow three additional stocking areas) to identify an additional area
on site as stocking (CC i/d: 2017/NMA/0061/LCC)
This application was advised to Councillors on 27 March.
(c) 17/0304/DOC – 37 Salisbury Avenue - Discharge of Condition 7 (landscaping) to planning
permission 15/1593/FUL
This application was advised to Councillors on 27 March.
(d) 17/0323/FUL – 14 Dwellings at Broughton Road
This application was advised to Councillors on 28 March.
(e) 17/0394/HH – 47 Broughton Road - Two storey front extension including canopy roof over existing bay window, and first floor rear extension.
This application was advised to councillors on 7 April.
(f) MAS/002/15/HF – Quarry – Application by Aggregate Industries to vary Environmental Permit
Re: MAS/002/15/HF to operate a blending, packing, loading and use of bulk cement plant
This application was advised to Councillors on 13 March.
An initial comment from Cllr Spence relates to dust affecting the palatability to cows of grassland on neighbouring farms. In a discussion with the case officer, we have been asked to consider whether noise is an issue. The District Council would also like local residents to consider having a temporary dust monitor to check on the level of emissions.
(g) Enforcement – The School House, Hill Street (update)
Some work to insert additional granite appears to have begun on or about 10 March. The following has been advised by the enforcement team:
“Works have been carried out to the gable end of the property in relation to increasing the amount of dressed stone to the property. Given these works; it is now acceptable in its current format and I will be closing the enforcement case”.
(h) Enforcement – 1a Hill Street (update)
The use of UPVC windows has been approved; this was advised to Councillors on 30 March and to District Cllr Freer on 31 March with Cllr Mawby’s request for a meeting. At the time of writing (7 April) a reply is still awaited.
(i) Enforcement – Station Court (update)
A further update will be provided to the meeting.
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 12
Repairs and Maintenance
(a) To consider quotations for repainting of play equipment
Quotation A: A local contractor £400
Quotation B: Wicksteed £1,680, yes £1,680.
(b) To consider quotations for repainting of the Station Road Bus Shelter
Quotation A: now confirmed as £210 in total
Quotation B: £250 in total
(c) Sports Ground Hedge Laying – update
The Clerk spoke to Greg Thurlow on 27 March about the work being undertaken at Winston Avenue. He has submitted an invoice for £1,355 against an original quote of £1,450 (93%). This includes the planting of new slips which will be carried out in September/October ‘to avoid them being destroyed by local youths during the summer holidays’.
The arisings are currently too damp to shred and he has been discussing this with Aaron and will suggest that Aaron taken them away and burn them. The cost saving will be set against other tree work which has emerged.
Both Cllr Ratcliffe and I have now asked him to submit an indication and quote for other work and he has agreed to submit this after discussions with Cllr Spence.
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 13
Cemetery
To consider a request for a memorial bench for the late Andrew Damsell
This request has been submitted by Mrs Gregory, the sister, a relative of Mr Damsell who died recently at the age of 52. Her proposal is for it to be laced near the existing seat by the hedge.
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 15
Parking Arrangements in Brookes Avenue
Summary: Blaby DC have stated that they own no land in this area. This is disputed by the Land Registry who have a record of them owning the highway, verge and path in front of 97-111. The County Council have clarified that, regardless of ownership, this is Highway land and therefore they are responsible and will need to give consent to any changes.
Bollards outside 97 could be placed on highway land, subject to permission, and Cllr Howard is getting a view from the owner and tenant of No 97.
A complaint has been received from a resident on the opposite side of the road who feels that the area is ‘worse than Braunstone’.
There has been no further response from EMH and it has proved impossible to make contact with their managers, Keith Mills or Michael Abell.
13 April 2017
Agenda Item 16
Finance and Accounts
(b) To consider a request for financial assistance from the Friday Toddler Group
From Hayley Coombes:
“I currently run a small toddler group at Croft primary school on a Friday morning. We haven't had anything like this for many years in Croft and with our public transport not being great we have lots of mums dad's and carers with under 4year olds that cannot get to sure start centres or other groups. We have been running since December and have 13families that join us off and on. I run the group with support from the church and reverend Sharon [Constable] and am able to request £20 ever so often. The group is free as I don't want to put families off if they struggle to pay. We provide tea coffee juice and biscuits and have a pot for contributions. We provide craft activities such as making mothers day cards and have also planted in the woodland garden.
We currently pay £5 a week for hiring the room at school. Some weeks we only get £2-3 donation so the rest has to come from either myself or from some of the other helpers from the church. We are in need of some financial help to allow us to have storage boxes for the toys and to continue the craft activities.
We currently do not have anything else of this kind in the village so it would be a shame if it couldn't continue”.
(d) Year end matters, including audit arrangements
Proposals will be made to allocate funds to the sinking fund for the play equipment and to the Village Hall project.
The timetable for external audit is, in general, the same as in recent years but has not yet been received. It will, however, be necessary to agree final accounts and the governance statement at the May meeting in order to comply with the statutory timetables.
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