NORTH LUFFENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held at the North Luffenham Community Centre at 7.30pm on Monday July 20th 2015 
	
Present: Cllr Cade, (Vice-Chairman) Cllr Sewell , Cllr  Barnes , Cllr Burrows and Cllr Marson
Also in attendance: Mr. I Ferguson, (Parish Clerk), and Cty Cllr Miss Waller

The meeting was chaired by Cllr Cade

There were 10 members of the public present. The following comments were made from the public area:-

Parking on the zig-zags by pedestrian crossing.  This illegal practice is causing a danger particularly to children attending the school.  The Clerk will alert PC La Pla to the issue.
Purchase of strimmer.  If the Parish Council are to purchase a strimmer they should ensure they comply with training and safety requirements (action = Cllr Cade).  
Weed killer on the walkway  It was requested that all safety requirements are in place with signs put up (action = Cllr Cade)
Bonfire Night report.  The PC were congratulated on an excellent report
Skateboard site.  It was suggested that we should consider sharing with a neighbouring village
New cricket nets  It was commented that they are an abomination
Route of walkway path.  It was requested that the Alloment Holders Society be consulted re the route the path will take.  Two residents of Geoff Sewell Close expressed disappointment with the consultation process in that it was done on an individual basis (rather than as a group) with no plans available.
Hedge in front of Geoff Sewell Close is now much tidier

As no further issues were raised by the public, the meeting proper then commenced.

	
ITEM	ACTION	
1.	APOLOGIES
Received from Cllrs Cummings, Smith and Riordan. Cty Cllr Bool also indicated he was unable to attend.
2.	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllrs Cade and Burrows declared an interest in item 13 (new cricket nets) by virtue of being in positions of authority of North Luffenham Cricket Club. Cllr Sewell declared an interest in item 14 by virtue of being a tenant to the PC’s field  

	
3.	MINUTES OF MEETING OF MAY 18th 2015 
These had been circulated to Councillors and were signed by the Chairman of the meeting as being a true record.	

	
4.	MATTERS ARISING
PC Paul Le Pla will give a brief talk at the next Parish Council meeting on September 7th. 
3rd Notice Board.  The Clerk reported that he still awaits the licence and approval for this to be erected on the highway.  However, Robert Baxter of RCC believes that approval has been given though not in writing. He went on to say that the work can start without waiting for the licence.  In order to erect the notice board the PC will need two posts and a bag of mixed cement and the Council approved a spend of up to £60 for this.
Insurance renewal.  At the last meeting the Clerk had reported that Zurich had quoted £250 pa as against £367 from our normal insurers, Aon.  However after factoring in the Bonfire night event the Zurich quote was very similar to Aon so we renewed with Aon wef June 1st as usual.
Telephone box.   BT have agreed to organise the telephone box to be painted
Pedestrian access to Rosewood Close.  The Clerk had received confirmation from Robyn Green, Assistant Engineer (Development Control) at RCC that (1) it is intended to create a pedestrian access from Edith Weston Rd to 15/17 Rosewood Close and (2) it is proposed to build a pavement from the access point to the top of Oval Close.  

Clerk

	
5.	CORRESPONDENCE
•	Rutland CAB had sent in a letter of thanks for our donation.
•	Beat report for South Rutland from PC Le Pla.  This had been circulated to Councillors and the Clerk had posted  a cautionary note on the website about crime in our area.  
•	Letter from Rural Community Council seeking trustees. The Clerk has more details and an application form.
•	Email from Matt Butcher to the Chairman expressing concern about speeding in Butt Lane.  Butt Lane is adjacent to a recreation ground and play area and has no pavement and is a danger spot. The Clerk has posted an item on the website urging residents to use the lane with caution and he will take this up with PC Le Pla.
•	Street light in Rosewood Close.  A resident had complained that there is a very bright LED light outside his bedroom window.  Furthermore the light is on all night. The Clerk had passed this to Highways Dept at RCC who will contact the Contractors Manager first and then talk to the resident direct
•	Fly-Tipping  Within the last few days there has been an incident of Fly Tipping at the top of Warren Lane.  The Clerk will take this matter up with PC Le Pla

MinutesJUL20(2)	

 

Clerk

Clerk	

6.        6           FINANCE (GENERAL BUSINESS)
•	The Finance Report had been circulated with the agenda and was duly approved 
•	Re VETS scheme fridge magnates, approval was granted to spend up to £74 pending Cllr Smith providing documentary evidence of this amount 
•	The Minutes of the Finance Committee’s meeting of July 2nd had been circulated with the agenda and was accepted. This included a plan to exert more stringent financial controls so that section 2 of the return to the Audit Commission could be answered with a degree of integrity.
•	Re the Asset Register. The Clerk explained that he had now ascertained that there are no “write-downs” in Parish Councils and gifts should be shown at a notional value of £1.  Furthermore the PC and Trust assets should be split into two asset registers and the Clerk has taken this action.
•	The Finance Committee had recommended that the Clerk’s pay should be based on 6 hours a week (currently 5.5) This was AGREED and the Clerk will action this

7         PLANNING
Military Working Dogs.   Very minor variation of a condition.  No objection.
“The Fox”  Change of use of outbuildings - granted
8 Kings Road  -  Extention to dwelling  -  granted
27 Church Street   The application to build a property on the rear garden had been refused by RCC and the applicant had appealed the decision.  It was AGREED that the Parish Council’s original objections remain extant and the Planning Committee will reply to that effect by the deadline of August 11th.  

Cllr Smith

Cllr Cummings

Clerk

Cllr Smith	
8	BONFIRE NIGHT REVIEW REPORT
Prior to the meeting the report had been posted on the website and had been circulated to councillors.  Cllr Marson commented that both the report itself and the consultation that went into its production was excellent and thought it could be used as a model for other reviews of this nature.  The Parish Council accepted the report and the recommendations will be adopted.

Cllr Cummings

	
9         WEBSITE
Cllr Burrows reported as follows:-
•	·         Web site administration / contact details have been re-organised to distribute the workload of managing posts etc more evenly
•	·         “How to get involved” page has been published describing how members of the community can request permission to post items on behalf of groups they are involved with.
•	·         Direct email addresses have been implemented for the Village Trust and Parish Council group pages in place of Contact Forms, as these pages are where people are likely to send potentially sensitive information, and the details entered would be visible to Web Site editors.
•	·         Request for a vote from the PC to permit the implementation of direct responses from Web Site users to original group posts.  The PC agreed to allow posts in response to original postings.

	
10        ASPIRATIONS
Since being elected in May the new Parish Council had drawn up a list of projects which the village may want aspire to.  The Chairman, Cllr Cummings, had asked for personnel from both outside and inside the Council to come forward for the various Groups.  The following people came forward:-
Governance     None
Village Plan     Cllrs Marson and Barnes
IT/communications   -   none more needed
Risk Management  -  working party complete
Playground equipment  -  no more needed
Planning  -    Cllr Cummings
Community Centre review  -  Cllr Marson
Village Day 2016  -   Full Council to be involved

Cllr Cummings had circulated a draft Village Plan information brief which he had requested should stay in draft form until he has met with Peter Beever of RCC on July 30th.  Cty Cllr Miss Waller referred to Edith Weston’s Village plan as being something of a model plan which carries weight should there be a move contrary to it. It may also be worth looking at Barrowden’s Neighbourhood plan.

The Parish Council fully endorsed a Village Plan Scoping Study to be carried out by Cllrs Cummings & Smith for consideration at the next meeting	

Cllr Cummings
Clerk

Cllrs Cummings & Smith	
11        HIGHWAYS ISSUES
Speed limit on Edith Weston Rd.  Cty Cllr Miss Waller said that since May 2015 portfolio holders had changed. She will find out the status of our request for a reduction to 30 mph on both Edith Weston Roads and Station Rd.
One way system in the village   Cty Cllr Miss Waller will ask Dave Brown whether he would be prepared to meet with the PC To discuss this.
Speed Gun training    The Clerk will follow this up with PC Le Pla

For items 12, 13 & 14 The Parish Council is acting as Trustee for the Oval recreation ground and the Field Gardens.

12        FINANCE (TRUST BUSINESS)
•	The Finance report had been circulated with the agenda and was accepted
•	Cllr Cade proposed that the village should purchase its own strimmer to assist with maintenance of the Oval and field. After a lengthy discussion on this it was AGREED to authorise a spend of £400 (incl VAT) subject to our receiving evidence of cost and a detailed proposal
•	Cllr Cade sought authorisation to spend £600 on a gate + installation in the NE corner of the Walkway field. There was a lengthy discussion on this particularly as the route of the path has not yet been finalised. However Cllr Cade pointed out that the gate is at the opposite end of the field from the houses in Geoff Sewell Close.  Councillors felt that they did not have enough information on which to base a decision so it was AGREED that Cllr Cade will put forward a detailed proposal (with plans) for consideration at the next meeting.
•	It was AGREED that as last year, Mow-All be asked to cut the woodland grass and a spend of up to £300 was authorised for this.
•	Cllr Cade reported that the inspector from the Woodland Trust had inspected the walkway trees which he said were in good condition but had recommended that weed killer be applied around the bottom of the trees.  It was AGREED to authorise £45 for this.
•	Referring to the Trust section of the Finance Committee minutes the Clerk explained that he had been asked to research what other Charity funds there may be as an alternative although there are no plans currently to change the investment.

13       OVAL REPORT
Minutes of Oval/FG group meeting of June 14th had been circulated with the agenda. The salient points are :-
•	All the wooden play equipment to be removed for safety reasons
•	The main play area needs enlarging and improving as per Wicksteed inspection report.
•	Cllr Marson will repair the small gate at the southern end of the Oval.  Also, the main gates need painting.
•	These and other jobs can be done on a village work day. This was set for Saturday September 12th and Cllr Burrows will post details on the web-site.
•	It was agreed that we will write to allotment holders who do not maintain their allotment in good condition advising that unless there is improvement, they will be asked to give up the plot.
New cricket nets.  Following discussions between the North Luffenham Cricket Club and representatives of the PC , Cllr Cummings has issued a report making recommendations as to the way forward.  The proposal to endorse the report was carried 3-0 against with 2 abstentions. The Clerk will now write formally to the cricket club and post the report on the website
Trees   The Clerk has asked Hill-Fort tree care to undertake the P2 & P3 work in the autumn and the Company has confirmed that it will do so. Additionally they will do the recommended work on T11
Oval Rules.  The Clerk stated that Cllrs Smith & Riordan are doing work on these.

14        FIELD GARDENS REPORT
Allotments  Cllr Cade reported that there is no waiting list and all the allotments have been hired out
Walkway path  Cllr Cade reported that he had consulted with residents of Geoff Sewell Close as to the route of the path. He had consulted with them individually and 2 were in favour of the proposed route, 1 very much against and the rest neutral.  In view of the Allotment Association wanting to be consulted it was AGREED that after the field has been mown Cllr Cade will hold an on-site meeting for allotment holders and residents of Geoff Sewell Close. He will have plans available which can be circulated in advance
Minutes of Oval/FG group of June 14th 2015  were agreed and accepted

15             DATE OF NEXT MEETING
                Monday September 7th 2015  

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9-40 pm.

Signed  ___________________________  Chairman      Date  ____________	

Clerk

Cllr Cade

Cllr Cade & Clerk

Cllr Cade

Cllr Cade/
Clerk

Clerk

FG/Oval group
FG/Oval group

Cllr Marson
Cllr Burrows

Cllr Cade/Clerk

Clerk
Clerk

Cllrs Riordan & Smith

Cllr Cade

	
		
FINANCE REPORT - Positions at July 9th 2015  – Parish Council Account

Monies paid since last meeting
A	Alan Swindley	£100-00	
 B	Aon insurance	   £367-32	
    C		Rutland CAB							     £100-00
    D		Mow-All (2nd of 7)						     £  18-85
    E		Ian Ferguson (net pay + expenses)				     £598-32
    F                  Neil Atkins (bins)						      £  75-00
    G		HMRC								      £340-80
    H                 LRALC  (Councillor training)				      £  35-00
    I		Field Gardens Trust account	(VAT transfer)		      £208-44
    J		Mow-All (3rd of 7)						      £  18-85	     			

Account balances 

a	HSBC Community a/c	£11,940-81	
b	HSBC Money Manager a/c	£7,392-64	
		
To be paid before the next meeting
Mow-All  (4th of 7)								    £18-85	

FINANCE REPORT  -  Positions at July 9th 2015   -  Trust Accounts

Monies paid since last meeting
Mow-All (2nd of 7)								£172-00
Mow-All (3rd of 7)								£172-00

Account balances
FG/Oval trust Money Manager account					£   7657-15
FG/Oval trust current account							£   3086-09

To be paid before the next meeting
Mow-All (4th of 7)