Page 23 - Countesthorpe Herald April 2025

APRIL 2025
THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD 23
Also in attendance was Blaby District Councillor, R Holdridge, and two members of the public. Parish Council Manager: Miss J Leech
Assistant Parish Council Manager: Miss E Frost
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Cllrs R Bayliss,
A Clifford, P Cornforth and K Pearce as well as Leicestershire County Councillor, Les Phillimore.
APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES TO COMMITTEES, WORKING PARTIES AND OUTSIDE BODIES
It was resolved that Cllr D Shuttleworth be appointed to the Emergency Plan Working Group.
REPORTS AND QUESTIONS FROM REPRESENTATIVES, COUNTY, DISTRICT AND PARISH COUNCILLORS
Blaby District Councillor, R Holdridge, reported on Blaby District Council’s Planning Committee meeting which had taken place earlier in
the evening. It was noted that the proposed development off Gillam Butts had been deferred to a future meeting and that revised housing figures for the district arising from the Planning Policy Framework had been announced.
Cllr S Palmer requested any update on Bouskell Park to which he was advised that District Councillors were challenging decisions which had been made.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
There were two members of the public present who wished to discuss the recent flooding which had impacted Mennecy Close.
POLICE MATTERS
Cllr K McGovern provided an update on local police matters, including that the new full time PCSO was now in post and had been visiting local organisations, including the Parish Council. Additionally, it was noted that the next beat surgery had been scheduled for Tuesday 25th February at Tesco. The PCSO had also scheduled beat surgeries to be held in the Library on a monthly basis.
YOUTH WORK MATTERS
The youth workers report on activities which had taken place during January 2025 was received. It was resolved to follow up on the section regarding publishing their photograph for increased awareness amongst residents by requesting photographs to be included in the next edition of The Herald.
Cllrs V Armstong and M Smith also provided feedback following the recent meeting with the two Youth Workers.
CORRESPONDENCE
A letter of thanks was received from
THE MEETING OF COUNTESTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THURSDAY 9TH JANUARY 2025 WHEN THERE WERE PRESENT:
Councillors: M Gillespie, V Armstrong,
R Bayliss, P Cornforth, S Burditt, C Ibbotson,
S Kinvig, P Mount, S Palmer, K Pearce, W Read, D Shuttleworth, P Servdei, M Smith, J Thacker and S Turner.
Also in attendance was Leicestershire County Councillor, L Phillimore, Blaby District Councillor, R Holdridge and five members of the public.
Parish Council Manager: Miss J Leech
Assistant Parish Council Manager: Miss E Frost
Apologies were received from Cllrs A Clifford and K McGovern.
DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST
Cllr R Bayliss declared a non-disclosable pecuniary interest in Blaby District Council (BDC) and Cllr M Smith declared a non- disclosable pecuniary interest in The Countesthorpe Herald, discussed under later item.
REPORTS AND QUESTIONS FROM REPRESENTATIVES, COUNTY, DISTRICT AND PARISH COUNCILLORS
Leicestershire County Councillor, L Phillimore, reported that the recent flooding had taken priority for both Leicestershire County Council and Blaby District Council over the past week with actions still ongoing as a result. He advised that, although no funding had yet been confirmed, there was funding still available following Storm Henk at the beginning of 2024, for any residents affected who have not previously applied.
In response to a Councillor query, it was also confirmed that the possibility of a gauge to be installed at Crow Mills to alert people to the water depth would be investigated.
L Phillimore also advised that Leicestershire County Council had submitted an expression of interest in response to the proposed Local Government Reform.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION
There were five members of the public present who wished to discuss the cause and effect of the recent flooding in Countesthorpe.
POLICE MATTERS
The Parish Council Manager provided an update on local police matters, advising that there was a new PCSO in post called Kirsty Reid who would be introducing herself to the Parish Council office shortly. It was also noted that the next Police Beat Surgery was scheduled to take place in the Library on Tuesday 28th January between 10am and 11am and that this would be publicised to residents.
Cllr S Kinvig reported that there had been an increased police presence recently in response to a number of burglaries which were reportedly on the rise across the district.
YOUTH WORK MATTERS
There was no monthly report as the youth workers had been on their winter break.
TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND PRECEPT REQUIREMENT FOR 2025/2026
It was resolved to set a budget of £493,799 for 2025-2026. It was resolved to send a precept request to Blaby District Council for the sum of £454,328. This equates to £175.68 per year for each Band D dwelling, an increase of £11.12 per annum or 6.76%.
REPORT ESTATES WORKING PARTY
The Estates Working Party meeting scheduled to
be held on 6th January 2025 had been cancelled due to the flooding incident. The following items which required immediate action were discussed and approved:
To obtain advice and costings from Beddow Tree Specialists as well as a local builder with regards to a damaged pathway in the closed Churchyard, suspected to be caused by tree roots
To request that Blaby District Council reinstate the dog waste bin at Stroma Way
REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
The report of the Planning Committee meeting held 9th January 2025 was received.
REPORT FINANCE WORKING PARTY MEETING
The report of the Finance Working Party meeting held 8th January 2025 was received and the report adopted. It was resolved to approve the following actions, further to the recommendations of the Finance Working Party being received and discussed.
To obtain additional information regarding the
use of electrical grounds equipment from other Parishes as well as warranty information from the supplier, prior to a decision being made regarding the replacement of three items of equipment which were flagged in the recent HAVs testing
For the proposed budget and precept requirement of £454,328 for 2025/2026 to be approved and adopted
For the asset register to be approved and adopted
To award a grant of £500 to The Countesthorpe Herald in order to aid the replenishment of its working reserve, and to request they reapply for a further £500 towards the end of the financial year when it would be reviewed once more
A Councillor, other than the Chairman or bank signatory will be appointed to verify the bank reconciliations for all accounts for October
to December 2024 that been produced by the Parish Manager. Arrangements will be made for Councillor K McGovern to carry out a check from payments made against the bank statement and bank reconciliation for payments made to December 2024.
THE MEETING OF COUNTESTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THURSDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2025 WHEN THERE WERE PRESENT:
Councillors: M Gillespie, V Armstrong, S Burditt, C Ibbotson, S Kinvig, K McGovern, P Mount,
S Palmer, W Read, D Shuttleworth, P Servdei,
M Smith, J Thacker and S Turner.
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