LEICESTER FOREST EAST PARISH COUNCIL Minutes of the Leicester Forest East Parish Council Meeting held on Wednesday 15th of June 2016 in the Committee Room, Parish Hall, Kings Drive, Leicester Forest East, commencing at 7.00pm. Present: P. Fox – Chairman D. Morgan Mrs. L. Dracup P. Linnett – Vice-Chairman I. Deacon S. Coar Mrs. S. L. Jones – Clerk to the Parish Council District Councillor D. Clements 16.95 To receive the Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Office. 16.96 To receive the Vice-Chairman’s Declaration of Acceptance of Officer. 16.97 To receive Apologies for Absence – Councillors R. Darlison and A. Naylor. To receive the resignation letter from Councillor A. Newton. The Clerk was asked to write to Councillor Newton and thank him for his support to the parish council. Clerk to action. 16.98 To receive Declarations of Interest in accordance with Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 – None. 16.99 To receive and resolve to accept Order paper 06/16 – Proposed by Councillor P. Linnett, Seconded by Councillor L. Dracup. Carried. To adjourn the meeting to receive Questions from the Public – None. Meeting reconvened. 16.100 To receive reports from County/District Councillors: County Councillor R. Blunt has not submitted a Report. District Councillor’s Reports: District Councillor S.Coar reported: (a) Scrutiny Committee at Blaby District Council will be reviewing new items. Councillor Coar said that the Committee will discuss whether or not parish councils should be notified of planning applications on trees with TPO’s. (b) Leicestershire County Council Highway Forum, Councillor Coar reported that at the last Forum meeting, Beggars Lane was not on the Agenda. Councillor Coar reported that changes will be made from November 2016 to street lighting within the parish. LED lights will be included. Councillor Coar also reported that it had been said at the meeting that crime statistics show that crime has not risen due to street lighting being switched off. (c) Samworths, Councillor Coar reported that the District Council has now served an Order on the Company and that they will be prosecuted if the continue to omit odours. (d) Councillor Coar has received complaints from residents regarding the installation work carried out on Forest House Lane by contractors for Virgin Media. District Councillor Dracup reported: (a) That there has been a change over in working parties and gave details of which Committees etc., she was a member of. District Councillor Clements reported: In the first instance Councillor Clements apologised for not attending the last 3 meetings. (a) Councillor Clements informed members that he has stepped down from the Executive Committee but has taken on responsibilities as Vice-Chairman of Planning and that he is Vice-Chairman of the District Council for 1 year only. 1 (b) Councillor Clements reported that the District Council are looking at several new projects, one being to have Council owned properties. Councillor Clements said that there are several large plans in the pipeline relating to Castle Acres and Fosse Park. Councillor Clements will ask for bungalows to be included in any further planning applications for the parish. 16.101 To receive the monthly report from Leicestershire Police – Members had received a copy of the May Report. The Chairman reported on offences on Beat 5. It was noted that a new policing operation to target ASB is being considered. 16.102 To resolve that the Minutes of the meeting held on 18/05/16 are received as a true copy. Councillor Coar asked for an amendment to item 16.83 (e) penultimate paragraph on page 2 ......‘It was then Proposed by Councillor D. Morgan, Seconded by Councillor R. Darlison that points raised in the correspondence dated the 14/1/16 were discussed by those Members present at the Council Meeting on 20/1/16 and that no further action is required. Amendment to include – Councillor Coar said as he had received correspondence in his capacity as a District Councillor on this matter he would go down the route of referring the matter to the Monitoring Officer, Blaby District Council’. Proposed by Councillor Linnett, Seconded by Councillor Morgan that the Minutes be received as a true copy with the above amendment. Carried. Discussion ensued with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman confirming to Councillor Coar that dates had been suggested to meet with the parishioner, one was refused and no response has been received to other dates offered. Further discussions ensued with Councillor Coar saying again that he would refer the matter to the Monitoring Officer, Blaby District Council. Councillor Coar was reminded by Members that this is a parish council matter, not a District Council matter. Councillor Dracup said another 10 minutes had been spent discussing this matter when it had been resolved at the May 2016 Full Council Meeting that no further action was required. 16.103 Matters arising from those Minutes: (a) 16.83(c) – Update regarding new parish website – The Clerk reported that the 1st training session had taken place and another was booked for June 20th. The Clerk asked Members for any suitable photographs they may have for the parish website. (b) 16.83(g) – Update on Centre Stage/Live & Local productions for 2016/17 – The Clerk reported that a bid had been made for several shows for Winter 2016, Spring 2017. No confirmation has been received as yet as to whether the bid has been successful. 16.104 To receive correspondence relating to Small Business, Business Rates and a report from the Clerk – The Clerk advised Members that correspondence had been received with a view to reclaiming historic business rates on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. The Clerk had made enquiries with the District Council as to whether there was the possibility of reclaiming the rates and had been informed that there was. The District Council have refunded the parish council in the sum of £13699.83 in respect of rates for the parish office and the parish hall. 16.105 To receive correspondence from Blaby District Council relating to Community Safety Partnership Consultation. Noted. 2 16.106 To receive a report from the Clerk regarding the parish office computer – The Clerk reported that she had had to have some repairs made to the parish office computer. The Clerk has been told that the hard drive is failing and it is recommended that a new system is purchased. Members discussed the matter and it was Proposed by Councillor L. Dracup, Seconded by Councillor P. Linnett that up to the sum of £2600 is allocated from General Reserves to facilitate a new system. Carried. Clerk to action. 16.107 To receive the Clerk’s Report: Somerfield Way Car Park – A complaint has been made that young people are skateboarding in the car park. New Dog Control Orders – Blaby District Council’s Dog Warden visited the Forest East Park and Kings Walk Park a couple of weeks ago to speak to dog owners with regard to the new laws which came into force on 1/6/16. Not only is it now an offence to not clean up after your dog but it is also a fineable offence not to have any bags with you to clean up after the dog whilst out walking. Blaby District Council say that the cleanest parish is Countesthorpe with Sapcote following second and the dirtiest is Stoney Stanton followed by Fosse Meadows. Staff Holidays - The Premises Officer will be on annual leave from 20/6/16 to 26/6/16 The Clerk will be on annual leave from 4/7/16 to 8/7/16. 16.108 To receive Delegates Reports: (a) Councillor Linnett reported on behalf of the Patients Participation Group that the Current Practice Manager will be leaving and a new Manager has been appointed from 1/7/16. 16.109 Action List: (a) Monthly – None. (b) Annual: Risk Assessment – to be reviewed at Finance Committee Meeting – 29/6/16. 16.110 Councillors’ Forum: (a) Councillor Dracup asked if the Parish Council had any nominees for the Blaby Outstanding Achievements Awards. Members suggested that Mr. J Mitchell should be Nominated. Clerk to action. (b) Councillor Linnett thanked the Clerk for contacting LCC and getting the pothole on Warren Lane repaired. (c) Councillor Linnett asked that an item to review numbers of Members on Committees is included on the Agenda for the July meeting. The Clerk advised Members in accordance with the rules of numbers of members on committees. Councillor Morgan said he would also like this item to be on the Agenda for the July meeting. Clerk to action. (d) Councillor Coar reported that he had had to sweep the entrance hall floor this evening as there was a large amount of grass inside the hall. 16.111 Date of next meeting – 20th July 2016 at 7.00pm. The Chairman gave his apologies for absence at this meeting. The Clerk was asked to contact all Councillors with dates of meetings for the next month. Clerk to action. The meeting closed at 8.20pm. 3 4 .