Page 18 - June 2016 Issue 303

18 THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD
JUNE 2016
THE MEETING OF COUNTESTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, STATION ROAD, COUNTESTHORPE ON THURSDAY10th MARCH 2016 AT 7.30 PM WHEN THERE WERE PRESENT:
Chairman: M Gillespie
Councillors: D Ball, M Baum, A Clifford,
J A Collis-Smith, R Daw, D Findlay, P Holdridge, D Jennings, J Jennings, K Mason, M Munn,
M Smith, J Thacker and M Upton
Parish Council Manager: Mrs A Bates
Assistant Parish Council Manager: Mrs C Samuels There were five members of public present.
REPORTS AND QUESTIONS FROM COUNTY, DISTRICT AND PARISH COUNCILLORS
Cty Cllr D Jennings advised that LCC are arranging to change the street lights to LED over
a nine year period Dst Cllr D Findlay advised that planning appeals decision for Cosby Road and Willoughby Road should be known mid-May. A member of the youth Council was in attendance shadowing Dst Cllr D Findlay to gain an understanding of how Councils work. He reported that the Chairman of Blaby Youth Council is a member of the UK National Youth Council.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
A member of the public complained regarding
the state of the Z44. She requested the Parish Council support a cleaning project, by supplying refuge bags and litter pickers; she is happy to arrange the project. The Events Working Party will investigate, however it was suggested to contact BDC regarding the issues. Dst Cllr A Clifford suggested the cleaning could be undertaken as part of The Duke of Edinburgh award or by the Youth Council. Dst Cllr D Findlay suggested contacting the Tesco Store in the village for ‘community funding’.
Another member of public complained that barriers and road signs are being left on the side
of the road,by Virgin Media contractors, after their works have been completed. This will be reported to LCC.
POLICE MATTERS
A report from the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) was read to the meeting.
RESPONSE RE: PEDESTRIAN FOOTWAY LINK LEICESTER ROAD/LADBROKE GROVE A monitoring camera, which was sited at the junction, did not record a high footfall and although LCC agree that the junction is dangerous, they advise that they are unable to fund the required works due to countywide priorities. The cost to install a footway is £8,608. The Parish Council disputed the length of the footway quoted, it therefore resolved to obtain confirmation of the length of footway and ask for design drawing. It was resolved to proceed with the project provided the costs do not exceed the price quoted.
REPORT ESTATES WORKING PARTY
Cemetery Benches – The position of the new bench has been agreed, with relatives, in line
with the Parish Council’s resolution. It was recommended to mark,on the cemetery plans, all proposed bench positions to cover future requests.
Willoughby Road Playing Field - Countesthorpe Athletic Football Club has paid the outstanding rental fees for 2015/16. It was recommended to write to the club regarding the changing rooms.
Bench on Station Road - The bench, which is in a bad state of repair, is privately owned and on private land. It was therefore recommended to inform the next of kin, with a copy to the
landowner.
Maps - It was recommended to up-date the maps on the noticeboards. It was resolved to use the same maps for the noticeboards outside the church and village hall, however these maps will incorporate village landmarks around the borders.
War Memorial - Three quotations have been received for the proposed paved area: it was recommended to accept the quotation from Oswin Builders, depending on confirmation of any additional costs. It was recommended to obtain quotations to install a wrought iron fence along the low wall at St Andrew’s Church. It was also recommended to apply for a faculty for the paving and fencing.
Wooden plaque - It was recommended to head the first board ‘Roll of Honour – 1914 - 1918’ and the second board ‘Roll of Honour – 1939 - 1945. It was recommended that the names are not entered alphabetical and space is left on the 1914 - 1918 for any additional names which may become known. It was recommended to write
to Silvan Select Ltd to thank them for their kind donation of the two wooden boards. A small steel plaque will be placed in the Chapel in recognition of the renovation works being carried out by Countesthorpe and Foston Heritage Group.
Topographical survey - The landscape architect has advised that a topographical survey is required on the new cemetery land to assist with the detailed drawings. They have forwarded a quotation from their recommended supplier, however a second quotation has been sourced and it was recommended to accept this quotation for £365 from SV Surveying Ltd.
Open spaces - Davidsons Group has offered the public open space, on their land at Willoughby Road, to the Parish Council. The road, drainage, sewers, balancing pond, V ditch and Grass Crete will be maintained by a management company. It was recommended not to accept the open space.
Grass verge - It was recommended to write to the County Councillor, with a copy to Mr P Crossland, LCC Director of Environment and Transport regarding the installed paving on Rosebank Road.
Reed Pool Close - The verge and road have
been badly damaged by contractors. It was recommended to write to LCC Highways, with a copy to BDC Planning Department, to ensure that the contractor reinstates the verge and repairs the
road now.
Maintenance issues - A complaint has been received from a resident regarding the removal of her fence and shrubs on Bassett Avenue by building contractors. She has contacted them, but has not received a satisfactory response. She also raised concerns regarding damage caused to the public footpath and grass areas, and the mud and dirt left on the road. It was recommended to send her letter to LCC Highways and BDC Planning Dept. for their attention and to advise the resident of the Parish Council’s action.
Although the Village Hall Management Committee gave the Patient’s Participation
Group (PPG) permission to install a defibrillator on the building and use the electricity, it was understood that they would carry out the necessary checks. The PPG believed the defibrillator was being serviced by the Parish Council; as this
is not the case the defibrillator has not been correctly maintained and has been temporarily decommissioned. It was recommended that
the Finance & Human Resources Working
Party investigate the annual maintenance fees, replacement of equipment and carry out weekly and monthly checks. It was noted that although the PPG’s minutes state that the Parish Council will carry out the checks and maintenance, this was not agreed by either the Parish Council or Village Hall Management Committee. It was recommended to write to the PPG regarding this.
A ramp, to enable the mower to be loaded onto the trailer, has been built by the groundsmen: safety checks have been carried out by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
It was recommended to use similar colours to last year in the hanging baskets.
A letter has been received from a resident raising several issues regarding areas requiring cleansing. It was resolved to write to shop owners at The Bank and request that they keep the outside paved area clean and to write to the Co-op asking them to clean their car park. She also raised concerns regarding charges for green waste removal: this is not the Parish Council’s remit. Another resident has written regarding Ash trees overlooking
her property: it was resolved to meet with the respondent to discuss
REPORT LIBRARY WORKING PARTY
Terms of Reference - It was resolved to change the working party to a committee and approve the
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