Minutes of Parish Council Meeting

							Minutes of Annual Parish Meeting held at Sheepy Memorial Hall 5th May 2009

1) Attendance and Apologies Jim Aldridge - Chair, Brian Greenfield, Mary Beechey, Andrew Gough, Oz Hall, Brian May, Alf Oliver, Anne Parkinson 4 parishioners Apologies: Pat Bingham, Malcolm Greenwood, Kevin Morrell and Ivan Ould 2) Minutes of meeting of 6 May 2008 – were approved as a true and correct record 3) Matters Arising – there were no matters arising 4) Open Forum – no questions raised 5) Chairman’s Report The Chairman commented on the ground maintenance contract, which, although given to another supplier at the beginning of the year, was now, back with the original contractor Organisations supported and encouraged throughout the year included: Sheepy Greens, Sheepy Memorial Hall, Sibson Village Hall. Sheepy PTA, Sheepy Playing Fields Association, the Local History Society for their Memories of Sheepy Day and the Flood Action Group. Parish Councillors represented parishioners at local forums including the Community and Crime and Safety. Also extensive consultations were held with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council concerning the Local Development Framework Core Strategy. Councillors also carried out risk assessments on All Saints Parish Churchyard and implemented remedial work. Discussions took place with Leicestershire County Council Highways re speeding in Ratcliffe Lane and Main Road, Sheepy Magna, and a 20mph speed limit is to be implemented outside the school in 2009/10. Dog bins were serviced during the year and a new bin was installed at Sibson. Village Signs were now in place in Sheepy Magna and Sibson and signs for Sheepy Parva and Upton will be made this year. Thanks was given by the Chairman to parishioners, who attend most meetings, all the Parish Councillors for their time especially Andrew Gough for his work on the Crime and Safety and Community Forums and excellent reports. To the Borough Councillors for keeping us informed of what is happening in the wider area and Ivan Ould, our County Councillor, for his support on County issues and sometimes even wider important issues. Thanks were also given to the Clerk, Mavis Bassett for keeping control of the ever-increasing amount of paperwork, which passes through the Parish Council office.

6) Financial Report
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The Clerk presented the report for 2008/9. The precept was increased from £21,000 to £22,000 to take account of inflation, new village signs and the emptying of more dog and waste bins. The year ended with a balance of £21,422 compared to £20,103 last year. The balance was higher than last year due to the fact that the village signs for Upton and Sheepy Parva were not completed and money has been carried forward. Donations made by the Parish Council included £1,000 to Sheepy PTA for the Summer Festival: £100 to First Responders: £200 to Sheepy Memorial Hall: £254 to Sibson Village Hall and £258 to Sheepy Greens. The Parish also contributed £150 to Memories of Sheepy Day. A grant of £2,500 was received from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council towards the Village signs and £1,774 was received as developer contribution at Sibson and this was used to resurface the car park at Sibson Village Hall. 7) Report from Poor Pieces Charity An email was read out from Neil Jones stating that he was concerned that the independence of the charity would be lost if a report was included in the Annual Parish meeting. The Clerk was asked to write to Neil Jones and express the disappointment of the meeting that there was no information available. Also to send details of Annual Parish Meetings. 8) Report from Sheepy School The Headmistress, Charlotte Ward Lewis, reported that there were 97 children on the roll, 45 from the catchment area. Key stage 2 results were excellent with 100% of children achieving 1evel 4 in English, Maths and Science. Exceeded targets and are amongst the top 10 schools in Leicestershire. Considerable amount of work has been done in school including library and storeroom, more play equipment, car park extension and children have made a vegetable garden and planted trees. Good links with the community and Market Bosworth High School. Redesigning curriculum and updating ICT equipment. Before and After School Club now fully established from 7.45am – 6pm five days a week.

11) Report from Sheepy Playing Fields Committee Clive Blewett reported that income for year ending April 2009 was £46,032.07 and expenditure £52,396.86. Approximately £1,600 was still outstanding from the National Lottery Fund raising activities had been minimal in the past year due to concentration on other matters such as the children’s play area. Containers continue to be a positive feature of the playing field by providing adequate facilities for sport activities. Playing Field Association is currently assessing the feasibility & requirements for extra storage for ground maintenance equipment, as sports clubs using the field are an important source of income. Maintenance in general has been steady throughout the year & has included recent tree surgery work

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With regards to the Play area: a sub committee was formed in 2007 to apply for the funding made available by the Parish Initiative Fund & the Big Lottery to replace outdated equipment. During this year the new play area has been approved and fitted and feedback from the local community has been very positive. Thanks to the Parish Council and Councillors for support in presentation to HBBC. Also thanks to the parishioners who sent emails to the Council to demonstrate their support for the Play area and thanks to Jim Aldridge for providing the finishing touches. A sub-committee will coordinate an event this summer to formally ‘Open’ the Play area General thanks were given to Parish council for the continued support with mowing services & public liability insurance. Dorian Moody for making bench repairs on the field. Dog walkers in the parish for making use of the dog waste bins provided and Mr K.Brown for mowing services in the glade 12) Report from Sheepy Memorial Hall Vicki Heath was not able to attend the meeting but had sent the following report: the Whist Group, Ladies Group and Parish Council regularly use the Hall. New classes include bingo, pilates, judo, dancing and art and crafts. The Hall is looking at the possibility of Local History Society storing the archives upstairs and additional maintenance and repairs are planned. Staging was being stored for the Melody Makers. The Chair pointed out that Stage belonged to Sheepy Memorial Hall and is for the use of everyone in the parish. 13) Report from Sibson Village Hall Brian May reported that they had started the year with a balance of £3,684 and finished with £2,991. The Hall was used by Brownies, Scouts, Cubs and Playgroup and private use. Work had been carried out to the car park and store room and a new floor was planned in the small hall in 2009/10. 14) Report from Sheepy and District Environmental Group (The Greens) Ian Papworth reported on the newly formed Group. A Big Tidy Up had been carried out in September, with 14 people attending and 30 bags of rubbish being collected. The litter picking was ongoing and everyone was welcome to get involved. An Energy Roadshow had been held at the Hall in November and, as a result of this, the group were looking at setting up an Energy Saving Bulb Library and Allotments. A meeting had been held with an Energy Adviser to look at heating Sheepy Memorial Hall and a recent Sausage Supper had been successful in raising £200 for the Group.

15) Report from Crime and Safety Forum Andrew Gough reported on the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator in Newbold and Desford. Also the loss of Inspector Ball and a new sergeant for NW Leicestershire.

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There was a petition to try and get Market Bosworth Police Station open again, as it is difficult to get hold of a local person. The new Police Pledge emphasises that it will try and restore a physical presence and follow up incidents. On the safety side, speed tests have taken place during April in Ratcliffe Lane and tree inspections were carried out in Sheepy Magna and Pinwall. Thanks were given to the farming fraternity for their co-operation, when work had to be carried out on the trees. Mobile Youth Van continues to visit Sheepy Magna every other week but only used by 2 people. Details for Roadline, a free phone service to report potholes etc., and the telephone number to report fly tipping was circulated to the meeting. 16) Any Other Business – nothing to report. 17) Date of Next meeting The next Annual Parish Meeting would be held on first Tuesday in May, i.e. 4th May 2010

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