Minutes of the Meeting of Quorn Parish Council held on Tuesday 8 th January 2013 at 7:00pm in the Council Chamber at Quorn Village Hall

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1 PRESENT Minutes of the Meeting of Quorn Parish Council held on Tuesday 8 th January 2013 at 7:00pm in the Council Chamber at Quorn Village Hall Cllr Ivan Bexon - Chair Cllr Gary Hughes Cllr David Cawdell Cllr Jim Orr Cllr Elizabeth Harrison Cllr Tim Tyler Cllr David Rennie Cllr Peter Lenthall Cllr Phil Child Christina Gibbs - In attendance for part of the meeting was Borough Councillors David Slater and County Councillor Tony Kershaw 13/001 Public Participation Alan Southam of Wood Lane thanked the Council and its officers for the work they had carried out in the village in He went on to alert members to the lack of road markings for the Leicester bound bus stop on Leicester Road. He pointed out that the bus often has to stop on the crown of the road because of parked vehicles at the bus stop and that the road is effectively barred to traffic from either direction. The cars parked at the bus stop were also causing problems with cars exiting the Quorn Country Hotel and the village hall. RESOLVED: That the matter be reported to the County Council and the photographic evidence provided be submitted. Terry Stirling of Castledine Avenue raised a number of issues: Lights on the Station Road car park - why they had still not been repaired. He was informed that the matter was on the agenda. The Slabs - it was requested that the Environment Agency be asked to explain why they denied the County Council taking measures to stop the footpath flooding. It was agreed to raise the matter with the County Council member later in the meeting. Flooding on Soar Road - It was reported that there had been no response from the Environment Agency to enquiries from locals about the problem. It was confirmed that matter was to be discussed later on the agenda. RCC Newsletter - It was pointed out that there was a questionnaire about flooding on the newsletter that needed to be responded to by the Parish Council. The matter was noted. Old School Trust - A consultation with potential hirers of the facility was underway to establish demand. Car parking had come back as a key element in deciding whether to use the facility. Mr Stirling called for the Parish Council to solve the problem of lack of car parking and to satisfy the demand for parking at the facility. The Chair formally opened the meeting. Quorn Parish Council Minutes Tuesday 8 th January 2013 Page 1

2 13/002 Apologies Apologies had been received and were accepted from Cllrs Smith and Brown. BCllr Shepherd had sent word that he may be delayed. 13/003 Declarations of interest The Chair reminded members to declare any personal or pecuniary interests in the items on the agenda. 13/003a Dispensations 13/004 Minutes of the last meeting There were no requests for dispensations. Members had reviewed the minutes of the last meeting. RESOLVED: That the minutes be accepted as a true account of the meeting. 13/005 s Report 12/168a Ombudsman complaint - a suggestion was made to send pictures of the flooded alternative allotment site to the Borough Council. 13/006 Policing Matters RESOLVED: That a letter be sent to the Borough Council and the Planning Inspector who had been involved in the earlier dismissed appeal on the site as a matter of record. Members reviewed the newsletter and were alarmed about the number of burglaries in the village for a second month. Perpetrators of vandalism in Stafford Orchard had agreed to pay for a replacement tree and help plant it. The first instalment of the cost of the tree had been received. The matter of taxis parking on The Cross and obstructing the free flow of traffic was also mentioned. RESOLVED: To bring the matter to the attention of the Police. 13/007 Committee Reports There were no committee meetings in December /008 Reports on current projects 13/008a Land to the rear of Poulteney Drive i) Progress on the land transfer from David Wilson Homes. There had been no further news about the transfer to report. ii) Community Working Groups - It was confirmed that a public meeting had been arranged for 22 nd January 2013 at 7:30pm in the Village Hall. The Chair reported that residents of houses backing onto Tom Long s Meadow had received a letter from the Borough Council s about encroachment on the land. There were concerns that the letter is seen as contrary to the approach proposed by the Parish Council. Quorn Parish Council Minutes Tuesday 8 th January 2013 Page 2

3 13/009 Quorn Old School Report 13/010 Planning 13/011 Finances RESOLVED: That residents be contacted to confirm the approach that the Parish Council wishes to take. The Chair raised the issue brought up under Public Consultation and said that the question of car parking for users of the Old School is long-standing issue. He confirmed that Council is willing to consider any suggestion presented to them to resolve the problem. 13/010a Applications discussed at meeting - there were no applications discussed. 13/011a 2013/14 Budget and Precept - The Chair explained that the position with Council Tax Benefit had been clarified and that Council was now in a position to authorise the budget brought to the last meeting. RESOLVED: That the budget provisionally accepted at the last meeting be approved for submittal to Charnwood Borough Council. 13/011b Payments List sign off - Members reviewed the list and queried a number of items. Clarification was given by the. RESOLVED: That the payment list be approved with one abstention. Cllr Cawdell declaring an interest retrospectively. 13/011c Statement of Account - Members reviewed the statement. There were no matters arising. 13/011d Section 137 Applications St Bartholomew s Church Children s Trail 13/012 County Council Matters RESOLVED: That the grant be given to St Bartholomew s Church. 13/012a Flood Plain - Meeting with County Council officer. The confirmed that the officer from the County Council had not been in touch about attending the meeting. The Chair questioned whether it was still necessary for the officer to attend and whether another approach should be taken. RESOLVED: to seek information from villagers through the Parish News and website about any incidence of flooding which is then to be collated and sent to the County Council/EA. 13/012b Churchyard path - resurfacing - CCllr Kershaw had no further news. RESOLVED: That the establish if the footpath is a public one. 13/012c Ponding outside of Rawlins - This matter had been resolved. RESOLVED: To remove the item from the agenda. 12/012d Slabs footpath - Response to complaint. Quorn Parish Council Minutes Tuesday 8 th January 2013 Page 3

4 RESOLVED: That Cllrs Child and Cawdell help the put together a potted history of the Parish Council s involvement with the Slabs scheme for a joint response from both Quorn and Barrow upon Soar Parish Council. Cllrs Child & Cawdell Issues raised under public participation were brought to the attention of CCllr Kershaw. Cllr Child questioned the poor quality of the finish of the footpath surface and questioned whether the meadow is to be reinstated following the works. RESOLVED: That a formal letter of complaint be sent to the County Council setting out the issues raised and copied to David Wilson Homes, Barrow upon Soar Parish Council and CCllr Kershaw. Members thanked CCllr Kershaw for the removal of the Star Trax Hub. 13/013 Borough Council Matters 13/013a 2013/14 Council Tax Benefit - Borough Council policy - This matter had been dealt with earlier in the meeting. 13/013b Advertising on traffic islands - Update on discussions between Borough and County councils. Cllr Tim Tyler declared an interest in this item. BCllr Slater reported that the County Council is to apply for a blanket permission for signs on traffic islands and that the signs will be changed to fall in line with those that have been agreed to be acceptable elsewhere in the County. The application is about to be submitted. It was confirmed that the signs are likely to be smaller. 13/013c Conservation Area Advertising Control - BT Box on Station Road. This matter had been dealt with by the Enforcement Team at the Borough Council and the advert had been removed. 13/013d Floodlights on Station Road Car Park - BCllr Slater agreed to pursue this matter as there had been no response from the officer at the Borough Council. 13/013e S106 monies for short term parking arrangements on the Station Road Car Park BCllr Slater confirmed that the release of the monies depends on the rate at which the new houses become occupied. He agreed to send a copy of the S106 agreement to the Parish. BCllr Slater BCllr Slater BCllr Slater reported that the Borough Council is coming under pressure about applying car parking charges outside of Loughborough. He called for the views of the Parish Council. RESOLVED: That the write to the Borough Councillor with the views of the Parish Council following discussion of the members who have carried out previous studies. /Cllrs Hughes & Cawdell 13/014 Any other business 13/014a Complaints Procedure - the tabled Cllr Orr s suggested amendments to the procedure for members to consider. RESOLVED: To incorporate the amendments. Quorn Parish Council Minutes Tuesday 8 th January 2013 Page 4

5 13/014b Conservative Club - Cigarette ends outside of the premises. 13/015 Date of next meeting RESOLVED: The to write to the Trustees of the club and point out the problem. Tuesday, 5 th February :00pm - Village Hall Quorn Parish Council Minutes Tuesday 8 th January 2013 Page 5