BRIZLINCOTE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

Minutes of Brizlincote Parish Council Meeting held at Violet Way Academy and Nursery on Thursday 15th August 2019.
Present
Chairman, Councillor Robin Ludford-Brooks, Vice Chairman, Councillor Brian Judd and Councillors Adrian Cowan, Robert Bidgood, Karen Hyde, Peter Marston, Barry Marsden, Rita Page and Walid Qneibi
Public
Borough Councillors Colin Wileman and Bernard Peters (part) and Clerk Barbara Roe
Public Session – There were no members of the public present, however, Conon Geoffrey Willet had asked the Vice Chair to thank all Councillors on his behalf for the kind thoughts on the signed condolence card. Also, to report that the sum of £2,400 had been raised for his chosen charities.
51/19 Apologies – apologies were received from Councillors Campion and Moss.
52/19 Declarations of Interest – no declarations were received.
53/19 Minutes of previous Council Meeting (18th July 2019) – the minutes of the July Parish Council meeting held 18th July 2019 were proposed for acceptance by Councillor Qneibi, seconded by Councillor Bidgood and approved by all.
54/19 Report by the County Councillor – County Councillor Conor Wileman did not attend but reported via Borough Councillor Colin Wileman that the drains had been cleaned in Astil Street, Brizlincote Street and Woods Lane.
55/19 Report by the Borough Councillors – Councillor Bernard Peters reported that, due to the problems with the name choices on the Grafton Road development site, it now meant that we have street names unrelated to the Parish.
He reported that Open Spaces were in consultation to renew the Public Space Protection Order on dog fouling/poo bags and keeping dogs on leads – this is a three-year review.
He said that ESBC will be reviewing the situation with the trees on Marlborough Crescent.
They will be looking at the tree policy document being mindful of residents’ problems with digital tv reception.
He said he had taken part in a successful Speedwatch with Councillor Cowan and said it was a good deterrent.
He also reported a problem with some fly tipping on Stanton Road and said ESBC had found the person responsible for this and, after consultation with him, the majority had now been removed.
Borough Councillor Colin Wileman said he had cleared the walkway at the back of Tesco Express on the Nature Trail but so far had not managed to repair the bridge.
He had been to see the resident in Springfield Villas who had recently reported flood water coming on to their property from the Grafton Road development site. He had also met with the Site Manager, who assured him they are taking measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again, although they are not taking responsibility for the flooding. Councillor Wileman had arranged a meeting with Severn Trent who said there was a problem with the sump, and they were going to clear it out and check that the hydro brake is working.
He also thought the trees along Grafton Road were causing a build up of silt. Councillor Wileman had also been speaking to Emma Roberts of ESBC regarding this problem.
He said the problem with the manhole cover off Trevelyan Way which had been knocked off by a contractor’s tractor had now been sorted and efforts had been made to ensure it did not happen again.
In response to Councillor Hyde’s query about the trees in Longford Close, he said the trees at No 19 are separate trees whereas the ones at No 9 are too close.
He had spoken to the Site Manager about Mr Bridges complaint regarding vehicles arriving at the Grafton Road site before it was open and sitting with their engines running. He was told that the Manager had asked for photographic evidence of the vehicles, so that he could
speak to the contractor involved, unfortunately, he had only received one photo.
He also reported that the entrance to the site, situated further up Violet Way, was going to be used by the developers but only for light vehicles – e.g. cars. It was noted that in an earlier meeting the Council had been assured that this entrance was for the farmer’s use
only and would not be used by the developers. He said it would need to be monitored.
56/19 Flooding in Grafton Road as reported above in Councillor Wileman’s Report. Councillor Judd said he and Councillor Ludford-Brooks had visited the resident of Springfield Villas and spoken to one of the builders on the site. He was told, that all the water from the
new estate was being discharged into the what is now a lake. He asked if Councillor Wileman could find out if this was true and if it had been agreed at the planning stage.
Action: Councillor Wileman
The resident of Springfield Villas had a 10’ wall which was not a retaining wall and on the site side there was about 6’ of soil, he said this needs to be looked at as it could cause the wall to collapse.
57/17 Naming of Roads on Grafton Road Development – As the email regarding this had not been received by the Clerk, she had spoken to Strata Homes and was told that these could not be changed due to mortgage offers and contracts being made with the service
providers. It was felt that Borough Councillors should also be included in this process in future.
58/18 Traffic Calming Measures – Councillor Cowan reported that he had only received a response from Highways that day (15th August) and they would be meeting the following week to discuss everything.
Councillor Cowan also reported that, through Speedwatch, the Police had agreed to provide 30mph stickers which could be placed on waste bins etc.
59/19 Nature Walk – it was agreed that this needed future maintenance sorting out urgently.
The Chairman thought it would be a good idea to look into a contractor to do this work, he said at present the pathway maintenance was reliant on too few people. Councillor Cowan said the Council should be wary of taking over maintenance of ESBC land. It was agreed that the broken bridge was dangerous, Councillor Wileman said he was going to replace the two broken boards on the bridge.
60/16 Parish Plan – the Clerk had looked into mailing out a leaflet via the Post Office but this had proved far too expensive. It was decided that the leaflet would go out in the Newsletter in October.
The Parish Plan meeting would now be held in October, the Chairman said he would look into available dates for the Glebe.
There followed a discussion about the Newsletter and it was agreed that it would be the same size as last time and everyone’s input was urgently required, this should be sent to the Clerk by the 10th September, the Working Party would then meet on the 12th September
and it would be discussed in the Parish Council meeting on the 19th.
It was proposed by Councillor Hyde that we should use Pete’s Printing again for the Newsletter, this was seconded by Councillor Cowan and agreed by all.
61/19 Standing Orders – the new standing orders had been issued by the Clerk in June to be approved in this meeting. Councillor Cowan proposed these were accepted to remain in place until 2022 unless there were any legislative changes. This was seconded by Councillor Judd and approved by all.
62/19 Newsletter Distribution List – it was noted that Councillor Marsden had been omitted from the final list – the Clerk said she would amend. Councillor Marston asked if the delivery list could be provided to the printer and each area be given a list. Action: Clerk
63/19 Brizlincote in Bloom – the Clerk said that two of the trophies were full – it was agreed that the oldest winner’s shield be removed and a new one put in its’ place. Also, the Clerk said we needed a new trophy for Best Hanging Basket. It was proposed by Councillor Judd
that this work would go ahead, seconded by Councillor Qneibi and approved by all. Action:
Clerk
The Clerk also asked for approval for a voucher for Sue Priest, the judge. This was proposed by Councillor Page, seconded by Councillor Judd and approved by all. Action: Clerk
The Clerk notified the Council that all winners and those that were not successful had been written to and all winners had agreed to attend the September meeting for the presentation.
64/19 Notice Boards – the Clerk had received two quotes but was still waiting for one from Reflex. It was also agreed that she would look at some online. Her findings to be circulated.
Action: Clerk
65/19 Bill Warrilow Bench – the Clerk had looked into the cost, type of treatment and the safety regulations. As Councillor Bidgood may not be able to carry this work out for the next few weeks, Councillor Judd said he would do it. It was proposed by Councillor Bidgood,
seconded by Councillor Marston and approved by all that the Clerk would purchase the treatment and a 3” brush. Action: Clerk
66/19 Planning – Councillor Page said she had received three planning applications – two were on trees which she needed to look into and one in Greenvale where there was nothing to object to.
67/19 Defibrillator – the representative from Community Heartbeat felt the awareness session was well attended and he was pleased with the numbers. Councillor Hyde thanked the majority of Councillors for attending.
68/19 Finance – all finances were proposed for payment by Councillor Cowan, seconded by Councillor Bidgood and approved by all, along with the purchase of badges and Good Councillor Guides for the new Councillors.
The approval for advance payment to the Clerk for the purchase of the vouchers for Brizlincote in Bloom winners – 5 x £100 + 1 x £25. This was proposed by Councillor Marston, seconded by Councillor Bidgood and approved by all.
69/19 Correspondence – any correspondence received had been covered in the meeting.
70/19 Clerk and Members’ Reports – Councillor Hyde questioned the need for this section, it was agreed to continue with it.
No other matters were raised.
The meeting closed at 20.55.
The next meeting will be held at 19.00 on Thursday 19th September 2019.