MINUTES OF THE LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 11 JANUARY 2011 AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES COMMENCING AT 7.30PM Present The Town Mayor, Councillor R Perkins The Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor N Ackerley Councillors J Ackerley, R Coleman, E Derrick, R Dewes, D Gair, T Hirons, M Johnson-Howe, P McVay, B Piper, G Robinson, V Thornton, J Turner, C Weston and M Willey At 7.00pm prior to the Town Council meeting Mark Flood (Director of Insight Town Planning Ltd), John Coleman (Planning Manager at William Davis Ltd) and Robert Jays (Assistant Planning Manager at William Davis Ltd) presented their indicative proposal for residential development on land north of Bill Crane Way. Mr Flood advised that whilst Harborough District Council’s Core Strategy highlighted that a minimum of 150 out of the 500 dwellings allocated to Lutterworth would need to be on brown field sites, William Davis Ltd believed that only 79 units could realistically be achieved in this manner. William Davis Ltd expressed their plan to develop the 7.6 hectares of land north of Bill Crane Way between the Bitteswell Brook and Leicester Road. Five hectares will be used for residential development of up to 149 dwellings, whilst the remaining 2.6 hectares would be for public open space and green infrastructure. It was confirmed that ecology surveys undertaken had not shown there to be any protected species on site but that the existing trees would be retained as much as possible. A flood risk assessment was also in the process of being prepared as the land adjacent to the brook would require sustainable drainage with a balancing pond. Mr Coleman advised the intention for two points of access from Bill Crane Way into the proposed residential area. A transport assessment had indicated that this would not have any adverse impact on the existing junctions but William Davis Ltd would be seeking to actively encourage other modes of transport via the publication of a Travel Plan. Members highlighted that cycle links would be required not only along Bill Crane Way but also along Leicester Road into the town centre. It was advised that a noise assessment had also been undertaken and there would be some measures for acoustic glazing implemented to protect the existing properties fronting Bill Crane Way. As part of the detailed landscape and visual assessment there were to be a number of hedgerows planted as part of the development as well as avenues of trees. Feature houses were proposed to be located on the entrances to the scheme with dwellings fronting Bill Crane Way to ensure that the scheme appeared cohesive with the rest of the town. The properties are proposed to be predominantly two to four bed starter homes / family housing of a similar density to that of the surrounding development. The character of which is to be varied across the scheme to provide an attractive contrast. It was suggested that a three storey design should be maximised. 1 Members queried how the areas of open space would be maintained in the long term and it was advised that discussions would take place with either Harborough District Council or a management company to take on these areas with an appropriate sum commuted from William Davis Ltd. Parking arrangements were also of concern to members, as was the number of extra traffic movements to be generated by the site upon the Bill Crane Way / Leicester Road junction, which would be in need of improvement. William Davis Ltd was urged to ensure that garage sizes were appropriate and that sufficient parking was available on plots. Mention was also given to the impact that this development could have on the local schools and it was recognised that this would need to be considered. 287 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE None were received. 288 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None were received. 289 MINUTES, LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the Lutterworth Town Council meeting held on 14 December 2010 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record. 290 MINUTES, EVENTS WORKING PARTY MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the Events Working Party meeting held on 16 December 2010 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved, subject to the following amendment to minute 2: “RECOMMEND that Feast Week be held from Monday 15 August to Sunday 21 August 2011, with Carnival Day being held on Saturday 20 August.” Upon being put to the vote this amendment became the substantive motion, which members subsequently RESOLVED to approve. 291 MINUTES, ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the Administration, Finance and Development Committee meeting held on 21 December 2010 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved, subject to the following inclusion at minute 2: “Councillor Coleman declared a personal interest in item 9 of the clerk’s report as a member of the Lutterworth Royal British Legion”. 2 Councillors J Ackerley, Coleman, Gair, Johnson-Howe and Weston volunteered to serve on the Working Party identified at minute 6 to investigate the existing and future potential of the Pavilion. 292 PLANNING AND GRANTS COMMITTEE MEETING RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning and Grants Committee meeting held on 4 January 2011 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted and that all recommendations contained therein be approved, subject to the following amendment: 293 At minute 4 the wording ‘in this financial year’ be removed from the last sentence of the paragraph. TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS Councillor Perkins reported his attendance at Armistice Day on 11 November in the Memorial Gardens; tour of Asda’s new site at Magna Park; Remembrance Day parade and church service to include the laying of wreath and taking salute from the parade; Judging of Best Christmas Shop window competition; Switch on of Lutterworth’s Christmas Lights; opening of Treviso hairdressing; opening of new craft shop on Linden Drive; Guest speaker at Lutterworth Rugby Club dinner; Civic Christmas service at St Mary’s Church arranged by Harborough District Council Chair, Councillor Rosita Page; St Mary’s Church family carol service; Crib service at Salvation Army Church, Hinckley; St Mary’s Crib service and the Lutterworth Open Christmas event at the Wycliffe Rooms with District Council Chair, Councillor Rosita Page. Councillor Perkins thanked the Events Working Party for organising a successful Christmas Lights event for the town, and also thanked Councillor N Ackerley for attending the League of Friends of Feilding Palmer Hospital carol service in his absence. 294 COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Two members of the public and the press were in attendance. Mr Taylor requested that the Clerk assist him in trying to arrange for the battered guard rails on the Coventry Road / Bitteswell Road junction to be repaired. The Clerk advised that an Officer at the County Council had already been spoken to earlier in the afternoon concerning the matter. Mr Taylor also queried whether there had been any feedback received from William Davis Ltd in the pre meeting in relation to the unadopted land that remains along Bill Crane Way. Mr Taylor was advised that the briefing note he had prepared had been passed onto William Davis Ltd and that the Clerk would be following this up outside of the meeting. 295 ACCOUNTS PAID AND TO BE PAID Councillors N Ackerley and E Derrick reported that all was in good order. 3 Accounts Paid 21 December 2010 9006 Bray & Bray Solicitors 705.00 9007 Surecare Surveys Ltd 47.00 9008 National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Ltd 66.00 9009 Harborough District Council 52.88 9010 Lutterworth Museum 9011 Lutterworth Open Christmas 200.00 9012 Wycliffe Lutterworth U3A 250.00 9013 Ullesthorpe Windmill Project 400.00 9014 Plantool Ltd 188.00 9015 Leicestershire County Council 1,200.68 9016 HM Revenue & Customs 2,457.00 9017 Post Office Ltd 73.00 9018 G Kooner 10.50 9019 G Kooner 10.50 9020 H Perkins 139.21 5,000.00 Accounts Paid 24 December 2010 BACS Wages 6,795.40 Accounts to be Paid 11 January 2011 296 9021 Central Stores UK Ltd 10.45 9022 Severn Trent Water Ltd 47.36 9023 Leicestershire County Council 754.58 9024 Lutterworth Ford 189.12 9025 ESPO 126.05 9026 GES (Leicester) Limited 117.50 9027 PHS Group 596.35 9028 C Hammond 31.84 9029 M Bayliss 33.93 9030 R Perkins 611.49 9031 Leicestershire Scout Council 9032 Focus4 Training Ltd 36.00 117.45 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE / BANK RECONCILIATION Members noted that the income and expenditure and bank reconciliations as at the end of December 2010 would be circulated at the February meeting due to the recent absence of the Accounts / Administration Officer. 297 PLANNING APPLICATIONS RESOLVED to support the following application: 4 10/01684/TCA Mr Michael McLoughlin Works to tree Carrick House, 10a Coventry Road, Lutterworth 298 CCTV STRATEGY REVIEW RESOLVED to defer this item for consideration under the ‘confidential’ section of the meeting in order to ensure that the subject was not prejudiced by publicity. 299 PART NIGHT LIGHTING PROPOSALS Members noted the County Council’s comments and were informed that an approved plan would be forwarded once comments from the emergency services had been received. 300 YOUTH SERVICE RESTRUCTURE RESOLVED to express concern over the proposed drastic reduction in Youth Leader hours, which was estimated at leaving only 41% of the existing number of hours. 301 GEORGE STREET PUBLIC CONVENIENCES Members noted that the temporary licence had now been finalised, allowing the Town Council to commence operation of the George Street public conveniences whilst the transfer documentation was prepared. It was further noted that Harborough District Council had confirmed their commitment towards the roof reparation work at a proportion of 57%, which was in line with the agreed terms for the internal refurbishment of the building. This work was due to be carried out within the next week, weather permitting, and it was reported that the facility would be therefore due to open week commencing 24 January 2011. 302 ELECTION WORKSHOP RESOLVED to arrange an Election Workshop on a Tuesday evening in March to provide interested residents the opportunity to find out more about becoming a Town Councillor in readiness for the local elections that will take place on Thursday 5 May 2011. 303 REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS Members received an apology for absence from County Councillor Page. 304 REPORTS FROM MEMBERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN COUNCIL None were received. 305 INFORMATION ITEMS The following information items were received and noted by members: 5 (i) Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils December Newsletter (ii) Lutterworth Rotary Club January COG Newsletter (iii) Lutterworth Community Forum – notes from the meeting held on 22 September 2010 / Letter from the Chair, Mr John Warren (iv) Voluntary Action South Leicestershire Autumn 2010 Newsletter 306 CONFIDENTIAL RESOLVED that “because publicity would prejudice the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public and the press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting”. 307 CCTV STRATEGY REVIEW Members considered the Harborough District Council CCTV Strategy review and its proposed actions. As one of the proposals is to disconnect the current broadband line between Market Harborough and Lutterworth, members RESOLVED to request that measures are put into place to ensure that the correct equipment is available at Lutterworth Police Station for continued successful monitoring. Members noted that the proposed actions could in fact result in the Police responding more quickly to any incidents captured on the cameras and it was therefore RESOLVED to also request that the Police are able to alter the camera settings in order to ensure that the Lutterworth CCTV system continues to be increased in its effectiveness. It was reported that a local Beat Officer had recently carried out a review of all Lutterworth’s camera links, and as a result, the timings of the camera settings had been tweaked in order to improve the coverage of those areas where there had been known to be potential problems. Meeting adjourned at 8.18pm. Signed............................................... 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