Page 22 - February 2016 Issue 301

22 THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD
REPORT FROM EVENTS WORKING PARTY Christmas Spectacular – The performances
were well received and the church was full. The Food Bank raised £213.81 in donations. It was recommended to write and thank the performers, staff and church volunteers. Concerns were raised regarding lack of councillor’s help.
It was resolved to approve the recommendation of the working party.
Letter to Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government regarding Planning Permission and the Localism Act
The Planning Committee recommended sending a letter, which was circulated prior to the meeting. After amendments it was resolved to send the letter to the Secretary of State.
REPORT FROM PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Planning Committee Chairman gave her report.
REPORT FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES WORKING PARTY
Update/review budget 2015/16 – The Estates Working Party recommended virement of £1600 to the Machinery and Tools budgetary provision in this financial year, however it was recommended to virement £2000 from Village Improvements Additional Funding for Future Projects budgetary provision. The Chairman would like to use some of his Chairman’s Allowance to enable all the permanent members of staff to go for a Christmas meal to thank them for their hard work during the year: this was approved.
Budget 2016/17 – The draft budget was
discussed and Earmarked Reserves reviewed.
It was recommended to purchase a Public
Address System and to look at hiring or loaning the equipment for community use. It was recommended to move funding to Earmark Reserves for Street Furniture, New Play Equipment, War Memorial and Design Layout. It was recommended to move the Earmark Reserve and this year’s funding under Country Park to a Machinery Earmark Reserve. It was recommended to keep the library as a separate heading and to discuss budgetary allocation. The cost to the parish to run the library has been estimated, however further investigations are required before these estimates are publicised.
Audit update - From 2017/18 Parish Councils
can choose to have an external auditor appointed to them by a new ‘sector-led body’ or decide
to procure their own: external audit is a legal requirement. The contents of the fact sheet will
be analysed and bullet points made for the next meeting.
Matters arising for information purposes – It was recommended to increase the bar float to cover
the events over the New Year period. The Parish Council’s bank has advised that the £20 they deducted in error has been reimbursed plus £5 to cover administrative costs.
LEICESTERSHIRE SPEAKERS
OUT OF ORDER
A New Year and a change to the format for our January programme followed a reading of ‘Ballad of Salad’ written by Dylan Thomas for his school magazine and discovered some seventy years later. Instead of the usual practise of planned speeches and reviewers assigned prior to the meeting. Mark Glover, our programme planner, suggested titles be put into a hat for members to pick one. Fifteen minutes preparation time was allowed. Each speaker was asked to follow suggested guidelines contained in the Basic Speaking section of our manual covering ‘expression and movement’. Following the speech a member was asked to review it. This was an exercise that was
not only fun but also educational giving an opportunity to hone impromptu speaking and reviewing skills. Our President Josephine Burgess awarded Mark ‘Star of the Month’ for his innovative approach to this month’s programme.
The diversity of subjects ranged from the frivolous to the serious. Sue Coleman once again inspired us with her amusing, constructive and sometimes wry speech on ‘Out of Order’. Neil Barker‘s subject was ‘Keys’, leading him divulge amusing anecdotes of his experience with keys. A tale of revenge was heard from Heather Mawbey.
The Leicestershire Speakers welcome anyone who would like to learn the art of speaking in public. Our meetings are supportive, informative and entertaining, helping to turn nervous wrecks into confident, speakers. We meet at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the Blaby Drop in Centre. For more information ring Anne Jones on 2772295 or visit our website www.leicspeakers. co.uk. We can also provide entertainment and talks to other societies and groups.
FEBRUARY 2016
BBC Children in Need Appeal.
Over the past 20 years the club have now collected the staggering total over £150,000. Pudsey Bear and his friends were collecting in Blaby, Sainsbury’s ,Grove Farm Park, Asda Fosse Park and the main shopping areas of Fosse Park. Children in Need co-ordinator Lion Richard Fox said “Blaby & District Lions are very grateful to the management of Fosse Park, Sainsbury’s ,Asda and Blaby for allowing us to opportunity to support this very worthwhile cause.”
“Each year it never ceases to amaze us the generosity shown by the public and this is clearly reflected when we manage to raise over £4860 in one day alone.”
“Such a busy day puts a huge pressure on our membership and we are very grateful for the additional support from friends and other members of the public
Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Its 1.35 million members in more than 46,000 clubs are serving communities in 207 countries and geographical areas around
£4860 CHEQUE
GIVEN TO BBC RADIO
LEICESTER
Blaby & District Lions were doing their bit to collect money for BBC Children in Need. They have now handed over the cheque to BBC radio Leicester and were interviewed by Ady Dayman. With the usual twist on collection tins, volunteers were stood with huge wheelie bins at Fosse Park, urging drivers to offer a parking donation by throwing in their loose change as they drove by.
On Friday November 13th members of Blaby & District Lions along with friends and other volunteers were out in force all day completing their annual collection for
Picture Lion Norman Smith, Ady Dayman BBC, Lion President Linda Modley
the globe. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, championed youth initiatives and strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the Lions can look at the Blaby Lions site http://blabylions.org.uk
The Blaby District Lions club is very active in local charities and works to serve the local community where possible. Anyone interested in being considered as a member should in the first instance contact Lion Roger Smith on 2751567