Page 19 - December 2015 Issue 300

DECEMBER 2015
from the path.
iii. Tree removal – quotations have been received to reduce twenty five Leylandii trees to 8ft, however there is insufficient funding in the budget. It was therefore recommended to allocate funding for the next financial year. It was also recommended to obtain a third quotation.
iv. Car Parking – traffic cones are currently being used on the day of a funeral to ensure parking
is available for hearses outside the cemetery. It was recommended to purchase signs stating ‘no parking as funeral in progress’.
b. Chapel
i. Brass plaque – Active Arts has agreed to donate a commemorative plaque. Prices are being investigated and clarification of the inscription is awaited.
ii. Memorial board – a resident has offered
to make two memorial boards for the Chapel entrance, which will detail those lost in battle during the 1st and 2nd World Wars and subsequent conflicts.
c. Greenhouse - The groundsmen would like to build a lean-to greenhouse, costing approximately £1000: it was recommended to request funding from this year’s budget. It was resolved to fund from the Additional Funding for Future Projects budgetary allocation.
d. Playground repairs - Concerns were raised regarding the concrete bench on Dale Acre: it was decided that it was in a usable condition and it was therefore recommended to leave in situ and monitor.
e. Memorial bench - The donated bench for Willoughby Road Playing Field has been ordered and it was recommended to arrange a site meeting to discuss the location for the bench.
f. Grass Maintenance - A letter has been issued to terminate the grass cutting contract.
g. Lectern - Quotations have been received
to place a lectern, illustrating the history of Countesthorpe, outside the Health Centre. It
is understood that Countesthorpe and Foston Heritage Group will provide the information.
h. Bench - A complaint has been received that a litter bin in Dale Acre play area has been placed too close to a bench and the smell from the bin, together with the presence of wasps, was deterring people from using the bench. It was recommended to move the bin 6ft away from the bench.
i. Maintenance issues - There were no maintenance issues.
j. Matters arising for information purpose - Four quotations for a trim trail on Willoughby Road have been received. It is understood that S106 funding is now available and it was recommended to choose a supplier and submit an application for funding.
Cllr D Findlay advised that BDC Scrutiny Committee will be looking at the S106 process.
It was resolved to approve the recommendations of the working party.
VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
a. Report – The Chairman reported the following: • the dishwasher has been ordered
• quotations are being considered to modify the toilets
• the committee are to confirm the position of bench to commemorate the Queen being the longest reigning monarch.
b. To approve accounts for payments as verified by the Finance Working Party.
REPORT AND TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FINANCE WORKING PARTY
a. Budget update/review - The budget
was discussed and was all in order. It was recommended that the Chairman and the Parish Council Manager analyse current and proposed expenditure, together with budgetary provision, in preparation for drafting the budget for the next financial year.
b. Funding for Lectern - The Estates Working Party has requested funding for a lectern outside the Health Centre: it was recommended to fund from the Additional Funding for Future Projects budgetary allocation.
c. Grant Aid - It was recommended to contact St Andrew’s Church PPC to ask for an update on the project to install handrails, for which grant aid was given. It was recommended to alter the procedures when giving grant aid to ask organisations to forward written proof ie copy invoice, after the projects have been completed, to ensure that grant aid given has been used as intended.
d. Audit - An unqualified audit has been received from the external auditors. Thank you and appreciation was given to the Parish Council Manager and Assistant Parish Council Manager for their administration of the accounts throughout the year.
e. Statutory holiday entitlement - It was resolved to defer this item until the end of the meeting.
f. Matters arising for information purposes - There were no matters arising.
GENERAL POWER OF COMPETENCE
The Parish Council Manager is awaiting confirmation that she has passed the CILCA module before the Parish Council are able to adopt the General Power of Competence, which will enable them to take over the running of the library.
LIBRARY WORKING PARTY
A meeting has been held with an officer from LCC to resolve concerns with the documentation received. It was resolved to forward the Deed of Surrender of the Lease and the Deed of Agreement to the Parish Council’s solicitors and, provided all in order, it was resolved to sign the documents. Once the Parish Council Manager has passed the General Power of Competence module the Parish Council will be in a positon to adopt the power, which will enable them to run the library service.
EVENTS WORKING PARTY - UPDATE
The bench, to commemorate the Queen being the longest reigning monarch, will be delivered next week and a dedication ceremony will be held on 25th September 2015.
REPORT FROM PLANNING COMMITTEE Cty/Dst Cllr D Jennings wished to declare a disclosable non-pecuniary interest as he is a member of BDC’s & LCC’s Planning Committee. Dst Cllr D Findlay wished to declare a disclosable non-pecuniary interest as he is a member of BDC’s Planning Committee. The Planning Committee Chairman gave her report.
MATTERS THE CLERK MAY WISH TO RAISE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY BDC’s is undertaking an Open Space Audit. It was resolved that the document is reviewed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman for next month’s meeting. At a recent Parish Liaison meeting information was given regarding government changes to planning obligations and as a result BDC has requested an initial list of potential projects requiring S106 funding.
It was resolved that in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted the press and public be temporarily excluded.
REPORT AND TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FINANCE WORKING PARTY – STATUTORY HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT
It has been brought to the Parish Council’s attention that the ‘Greenbook’, the employment Terms and Conditions, allows two statutory days over and above the eight standard statutory days.
THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD 19
As these are not currently being given, it was resolved to rectify the matter after consultation with members of staff.
THE MEETING OF COUNTESTHORPE PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, STATION ROAD COUNTESTHORPE ON THURSDAY 8th OCTOBER 2015 AT 7.30pm WHEN THERE WERE PRESENT:
Chairman: M Gillespie
Councillors: M Baum, A Clifford, J A Collis- Smith, R Daw, D Findlay, P Holdridge, D Jennings, J Jennings, S Kinvig, K Mason, M Munn, L Pringle, M Smith and M Upton
Parish Council Manager: Mrs A Bates
Assistant Parish Council Manager:
Mrs C Samuels
A letter has been received from Cllr R Spence tendering his resignation: the public notice of the vacancy has been placed on the noticeboard and Blaby District Council (BDC) has been notified.
TO RECEIVE DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST AND TO CONSIDER ANY REQUEST FOR DISPENSATION
Listed below are Councillors who wished to declare a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in the following:
Agenda item 7 – To approve accounts for payment as verified by the Finance Working Party
Cllr D Jennings – Leicestershire County Council (LCC) Local Pension Board (Chairman)
Agenda item 16 – Report from Planning Committee
Cllr D Jennings – BDC & LCC Planning Committee
Cllr D Findlay – BDC Planning Committee Agenda item 18b – Report and to approve the recommendations from the Finance Working Party Grant Aid Cllr M Smith - previous associations with Countesthorpe Cricket Club Committee
Cllr A Clifford Supporting Leicestershire Families
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