Twycross Parish Council Meeting – 21st September 2017 Meeting Minutes Minutes of the meeting held on 21st September 2017 at Norton Juxta Twycross Village Hall, commencing at 19:03 037/17: Present & Apologies Councillors: A. Davies (Chair), S. Hubbard, A. Taylor Clerk: C. Bailey Apologies received and accepted: W. Nally, M. Large, G. Massey LCC Councillor: I. Ould HBBC Councillor: K. Morrell (absent) Others: 8 parishioners 038/17: Declaration of Interest None declared. 039/17: Approval of Previous Minutes (July 2017) July minutes proposed as a true record of the meeting. Proposed by Cllr. Taylor, seconded by Cllr. Hubbard. Unanimously agreed. Minutes signed by the Chair, Cllr. Davies. 040/17: Councillor Vacancies (1 x Norton Juxta Twycross) The Council have not received any applications for the vacancy and no interest was shown by the Norton Juxta Twycross parishioners attending the meeting. RESOLVED: The vacancy will continue to be advertised. 041/17: Matters Arising from Previous Minutes i. Farm traffic issues: Cllr. Davies advised he has raised the issues regarding farm traffic not driving in accordance with regulations, with the NFU. ii. Social Media Policy: Clerk to create policy prior to the next meeting. 042/17: Public Questions and Comments (10 Minutes) Issues raised regarding planning application 17/00881/OUT (8 Wood Lane, Norton Juxta Twycross). See minute reference 045/17 (viii): Planning. No other issues were raised. 043/17: Reports i. Leicestershire County Council (August report circulated prior to the meeting). • Crime Commissioners meeting: Lord Willy Bach (Police) was reported to be disappointed by the low attendance. Cllr. Ould recommended that the next meeting be held during the evening to accommodate working councillors. Also, to avoid the holiday period. • HBBC Rural Conference (November 2017): parishes will be updated regarding the new housing requirements for the Borough. • HS2 route: it is almost confirmed and should not directly affect the parish. Cllr. Ould advised that MP David Treddinick was of great assistance with this. There are concerns about a possible cut to train services for Atherstone/Tamworth/Nuneaton when the HS2 is live. • A444 white lane markings: Cllr. Ould requested the Council writes to Highways regarding the fading of the lines. • Planning application for Wood Lane: Cllr. Ould will send a letter to HBBC encompassing all the views he receives from parishioners. • East Midlands Ambulance Service: 3 instances in Fenny Drayton of ambulances failing to attend with several more very late arrivals within the local parishes. Parishioners need to report any instances directly to the Ambulance Service (and copy in Cllr. Ould). Printed on 14/10/2017 P a g e | 1 of 5 • Fairer funding will be available to Leicestershire schools. Cllr. Davies thanked Cllr. Ould for his work on this project. ii. HBBC: no report received. iii. Police: Report available at www.police.uk/leicestershire/NH29 044/17: Correspondence: i. General email correspondence circulated to Councillors for information. ii. Twycross House School requested the Council inspect the trees on the Bottom Green, Twycross, as there are some low hanging branches and dead wood within the tree. RESOLVED: The Clerk will contact the grounds maintenance contractor for advice and report back. 045/17: Planning Planning Applications No Ref Subject Date Comments/Action 17/00583/ i. Installation of timber/iron gate – 12 Church St, Twycross. 18/07/17 No comments HOU 17/00778/ ii. Two storey side extension – 44 Main St, Orton on the Hill. 04/08/17 No comments HOU 17/00771/ Works to 2 cherry trees – St Edith’s Church, Orton on the iii. 15/08/17 No comments TPOCA Hill. Certificate of lawful development for occupation of dwelling to be unrestricted, in breach of condition 2 Council requested that HBBC 17/00849/ iv. (agricultural occupancy) of planning permission reference 21/08/17 fully consider the impact of a CLUE 4472/62 - Boundary Farm, 27 Warton Lane, Orton on the change of use from agricultural. Hill. Prior approval for change of use of an agricultural 17/00842/ building to a dwelling (C3) and associated building v. 31/08/17 As above CQGDO operations - Lea Grange Farm, 11 Twycross Lane, Orton on the Hill. Conversion of agricultural building to a conference and 17/00836/ vi. function room (Retrospective) - Cottage Farm, Cottage 04/09/17 No comments FUL Lane, Norton Juxta Twycross. Change of use and conversion of agricultural building to 17/00838/ vii. holiday let accommodation (Retrospective) - Cottage 04/09/17 No comments FUL Farm, Cottage Lane, Norton Juxta Twycross. 17/00881/ Erection of three office buildings (outline - access and viii. 13/09/17 Objection* (see below) OUT layout) - 8 Wood Lane, Norton Juxta Twycross. Comments received regarding planning application 17/008881/OUT Henton’s Factory raised concerns regarding: • the size of the proposed car park (76 vehicles) which will create a significant increase in traffic. • sewer issues created by the office blocks. • the size and elevation of the offices on the map being incorrect. • the possibility of the office building being converted into dwellings should the offices not be let. Other parishioners raised similar concerns including the lack of public transport in the locality. Cllr. Davies stated his opposition to the development: • due to Norton Juxta Twycross being a rural hamlet which cannot support the scale of such a development. • Wood lane is unsuitable for the increase in traffic and the absence of footpaths is a risk to pedestrians. • it is not to be a sustainable solution, it fails to promote the use of public transport/encourages vehicle use. • concerns that Hentons factory may be compromised. Cllr. Ould raised additional considerations: • the strain on local services and amenities. • increase in volume of delivery vehicles and refuse vehicles, etc. • potential light issues for surrounding properties. • environmental report currently outstanding (flooding concerns due to water run off). Printed on 14/10/2017 P a g e | 2 of 5 Cllr. Davies urged parishioners to contact HBBC with their viewpoints and to copy in Cllr. Ould. Cllr. Davies thanked Cllr. Ould for his support. *RESOLVED: The Council objects to planning application reference 17/00881/OUT for the following reasons: 1. Norton Juxta Twycross is a rural hamlet which is unsuitable for this form of development. 2. The road infrastructure, particularly Wood Lane cannot support this proposal. 3. The scheme will not encourage sustainable development as it envisages a huge increase in private car use. 4. The scheme jeopardises the future of Henton's factory, a major local employer situated at the end of Wood Lane. Proposed by Cllr. Davies, seconded by Cllr Taylor. Unanimous agreement. 046/17: Financial Information i. Income, expenditure and signing of cheques Bank Account Overview (as at 21/09/17) Community £8,923.31 BMM £7,036.44 106 £9,006.33 Petty Cash £250.00 Total £25,216.08 Income (Community Account) Date Reference Payee Details Value 28/07/2017 BACS HMRC VAT Refund £730.52 05/09/2017 BACS HBBC Precept (2nd instalment) £8,301.00 Cheques Raised (Community Account) Date Reference Payee Details Value 21/09/2017 200200 Leicestershire County Council Grounds maintenance £837.74 21/09/2017 200001 Leicestershire County Council Grounds maintenance £272.15 21/09/2017 200002 Grant Thornton External audit Fees £240.00 21/09/2017 200003 C S Bailey Clerk expenses (July & August) £40.95 21/09/2017 200004 Haines Watts Payroll services £66.00 21/09/2017 200005 Garner Canning Solicitors Land Registry title update £20.00 21/09/2017 200006 Playsafety Ltd ROSPA play area inspections £180.60 21/09/2017 200007 HBBC Bin servicing £23.56 21/09/2017 200008 Leicestershire County Council Grounds maintenance £272.15 Petty Cash Account Transactions Date Reference Payee Details Value - - - - - ii. Internet banking: Changes to processes are required to increase security and minimise risk. RESOLVED: Clerk to contacted LRALC regarding alternative banking options. iii. LCC Pension’s ill health policy letter: Further correspondence received recommending that the Council takes out this policy. Cllr. Davies has left message for LCC pensions to enquire as to the cost and will report back. RESOLVED: If the cost is less than £100, the council agree to progress with the policy, proposed by Cllr. Hubbard, seconded by Cllr. Taylor with unanimous agreement. NOTE: The Council’s Completed Annual Return/Audit has been returned with no comments or recommendations. The document has been uploaded to the Council’s website and posted on noticeboards. 047/17: Purchase of Twycross Play Area & Memorial Site i. Update: Land registry title has been received. The previous lease details are still registered and these need to be removed to ‘clean up the title’ at a cost of £20.00. RESOLVED: Cheque to be raised. Unanimous agreement. Land valuation: Cllr. Davies is for waiting information regarding a pro bono valuation. RESOLVED: Cllr. Davies to follow up and report back to the Council. Printed on 14/10/2017 P a g e | 3 of 5 048/17: Policy Adoption/Review i. Insurance policy review: RESOLVED: Cllr. Davies to provide costs of the NJT play equipment and Clerk will request the insurance company include the memorial stone in the policy. ii. Grounds Maintenance Policy: RESOLVED: Clerk to change the dates on the tender/contract to March through October with ‘dates to be confirmed’. The Council agreed to re-contract LCC for grounds maintenance services (subject to matching the service level and cost as per the 2017 contract and accepting inflationary increases). Clerk to confirm this is acceptable in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations/Standing Orders. 049/17: Parish Clerk Report i. LRALC updates: Circulated to councillors. Clerk to provide Cllr. Taylor with information regarding the Tree Warden Scheme. ii. HS2 update: Update to be provided by Cllr.