MINUTES OF THE LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON 10 DECEMBER 2013 AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES
COMMENCING AT 7.30PM
Present
The Town Mayor, Councillor B Howes
The Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor P Toye
Councillors J Ackerley, R Coleman, E Derrick, B Duesbury, D Gair, T Hirons,
A Holyoak (6.58pm), M Johnson-Howe, G Robinson, V Thornton (7.30pm),
J Turner and C Weston
At 6.45pm prior to the Town Council meeting, Adrian McInnes, Land and Technical Director
for William Davis Ltd, was in attendance to discuss the Town Council’s previously expressed
aspirations for a cycleway along Leicester Road and improvements to the junction at Bill
Crane Way and the A426.
Mr McInnes outlined that he had been employed with William Davis Ltd for 33 years and that
he had a good understanding of Lutterworth issues as he had been previously involved with
the Macaulay Road development within the town and as such, had been specifically involved
with the construction of Bill Crane Way.
Mr McInnes reminded that William Davis Ltd had recently obtained outline planning
permission for 149 dwellings at the land north of Bill Crane Way and was now in the process
of ensuring that a number of conditions were discharged as part of the ‘reserved matters’
stage. William Davis Ltd hopes to commence construction on site during February / March
2014.
Reference was made to the Section 106 Agreement that was completed in January 2012
with Harborough District Council and Leicestershire County Council, which requires William
Davis Ltd to make provision for healthcare, allotments, recycling and policing.
The Clerk queried whether the Section 106 Agreement had been amended to take into
consideration the additional sum of £26,000 that had been recommended for a contingency
fund by Leicestershire County Council Highways. Mr McInnes reported that this sum of
money was now not due to be part of the Section 106 Agreement as a different legal
mechanism had been put in place to achieve the same aim.
Mr McInnes advised that William Davis Ltd was working on the philosophy of improving the
Bitteswell Road cycle route into the town centre as opposed to Leicester Road due to the
conflict with heavy traffic, although they were also providing a new pedestrian crossing on
Leicester Road near to its junction with Elizabethan Way.
Members expressed their disappointment that William Davis Ltd was not due to install a
traffic island at the Bill Crane Way junction with the A426 and noted that Leicestershire
County Council Highways had deemed such a construction not to be required.
Members advised that there was new development potentially planned for the land on the
A426, which could be located directly opposite the William Davis development on Bill Crane
Way. There were concerns that this additional development would further exacerbate the
traffic congestion at the Bill Crane Way junction. Members sought assurance from William
Davis Ltd that its development would not hamper the future provision of a roundabout at this
junction if it was needed at a later date. Mr McInnes thought that this future aspiration could
still be accommodated as the junction is considered to be very wide.
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Members requested that Mr McInnes confirms that there is to be a shared footpath /
cycleway along Bill Crane Way and Bitteswell Road. Mr McInnes will also investigate the
transfer of ownership of the hedgerows on the opposite side of Bill Crane Way as it is
understood that they were not previously transferred to Harborough District Council and as a
result, there are maintenance difficulties.
Members suggested that a representative from Leicestershire County Council Highways be
invited to any future informal presentations from developers so that members may obtain a
better understanding of what highway improvements can or cannot be achieved as a result
of new development.
250
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and approved from Councillor Staples.
251
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Coleman declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 of the Clerk’s report due to
his position as a Trustee on the Lutterworth Town Estates Charity.
Councillor Derrick declared:
 a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 of the Clerk’s report due to her position as a
Trustee on the Lutterworth Town Estates Charity.
 a non-pecuniary interest in item 13 of the Clerk’s report due to the proprietor of Oh
Lovely being her great niece.
Councillor Duesbury declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 13 of the Clerk’s report due to
him being the father-in-law of Sergeant Paul Hardwick of Lutterworth Police.
Councillor Robinson declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 6 of the Clerk’s report due to
her position as Chair of the Lutterworth Town Estates Charity.
Councillor Toye declared a non-pecuniary interest in the fourth recommendation at minute 5
of the Planning and Grants Committee meeting held on 2 December 2013, as a member of
the project management team for the Lutterworth & Villages Foodbank.
Councillors Hirons, Toye, Turner and Weston declared a non-pecuniary interest in the fifth
recommendation at minute 5 of the Planning and Grants Committee meeting held on 2
December 2013, as members of the Lutterworth Rotary Club.
252
DISPENSATIONS FROM MEMBERS ON MATTERS IN WHICH THEY HAVE A
DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST
None were received.
253
MINUTES, LUTTERWORTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Lutterworth Town Council meeting held on 12 November
2013 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record.
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254
MINUTES, EVENTS WORKING PARTY MEETING
Councillor Thornton advised that the event control point was to be operational from 4.30pm
as opposed to 4pm (minute iv), and that the A2 poster to be produced was not to be
laminated (minute vi).
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Events Working Party meeting held on 18 November
2013 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 above amendments.
A vote of thanks was recorded to the Working Party, volunteers and staff for an extremely
successful Christmas Lights switch on event and it was highlighted that a letter of thanks
should specifically be sent to Joe Chandler and Mick Utting for their sterling efforts on the
day. The Clerk advised that letters of thanks were in the process of being sent out by the
Events / Administration Officer.
255
MINUTES, PLANNING AND GRANTS COMMITTEE MEETING
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Planning and Grants Committee meeting held on 2
December 2013 be signed by the Town Mayor as a true record, that the minutes be adopted
and that all recommendations contained therein be approved.
256
TOWN MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councillor Howes reported his attendance at the opening of the Asda Christmas Fayre at the
CDC warehouse at Magna Park; the Inter Faith relation meeting; an archaeological site visit
at Leaders Farm with Councillor Turner; the public consultation for the potential new
development off Leicester Road; the Chairman of Leicestershire County Council’s Charity
Dinner; the Lutterworth Christmas Lights switch on event; the opening of the Walton Bannus
Estate Agents on Market Street; the Lutterworth Santa Fun Run; the LOROS carol concert at
Leicester Cathedral; the Chairman of Harborough District Council’s civic carol concert at St
Mary’s Church and at the Lutterworth & Villages Foodbank collection at Waitrose.
257
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Philip Toye advised members that they were invited to attend a small presentation on
Wednesday 8 January 5pm at the One Stop Shop to mark the launch of the Lutterworth &
Villages Foodbank.
258
ACCOUNTS PAID AND TO BE PAID
Members were informed that Appendix A had been altered slightly since the circulation of the
agenda due to the fact that a new cheque book was awaited and therefore payments had
been reviewed in order of priority. Councillors Ackerley and Coleman confirmed that all was
in good order.
Accounts Paid 24 November 2013
BACS Wages
Accounts Paid 26 November 2013
10232 M Carter
10233 Sustainable Drainage Centre Ltd
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6,390.76
250.00
1,014.00
10234 J Stamp & Sons Memorials
10235 HM Revenue & Customs
10236 Leicestershire County Council
10237 J Turner
10238 Birstall Parish Council
10239 Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Limited
10240 Leicester Sound & Lighting
10241 Home-Start South Leicestershire
Accounts to be Paid 10 December 2013
10242 A Wood
10243 R Howes
10244 A Hirons
10245 Post Office Ltd
10246 Leicestershire County Council
10247 Play-Ground Supplies Limited
10248 Powers Carpets
10249 Griffindale Ltd
10250 M Bayliss
259
192.00
2,057.80
1,113.04
24.99
69.60
216.36
385.56
500.00
55.75
246.20
25.35
50.00
96.00
954.00
102.60
524.40
57.42
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE TO DATE / BANK RECONCILIATION
Members noted the bank reconciliations and income and expenditure for the end of
November 2013.
260
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Members RESOLVED to support the following applications:
Plan No.
Applicant
13/01688/FUL
Mr Aidan Gamble –
Gymba Ltd
13/01743/TPO
Mrs Needham
Nature of Development &
Location
Change of use of day nursery
(Class D1) to gymnasium (Class
D2)
Lutterworth Day Nursery, Vedonis
Works, Leicester Road, Lutterworth
Works to trees (crown reduce one
lime and one oak, HDC TPO 87)
54 Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth
261
CONSULTATION ON LEICESTERSHIRE MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN
– ISSUES DOCUMENT
Members noted that Leicestershire County Council has commenced a review of the current
planning policies dealing with mineral extraction and waste management in Leicestershire,
which were adopted in 2009. As the first stage in this review, a consultation document has
been prepared which identified a range of key issues that are likely to influence the future
strategy for minerals and waste planning in the County. The comments received from this
consultation will assist the County Council in preparing a new Minerals and Waste Local
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Plan. It was RESOLVED to reiterate the Town Council’s previous comments that were
submitted in 2006.
262
NEW HOMES BONUS DISTRICT WIDE FUND
(i) Confirmation of Funding
Members received confirmation from Harborough District Council that its grant application for
£1,570 towards the provision of brown tourism signage for the town had been successful. It
was noted that definitive locations for the signage will now be explored further with
Leicestershire County Council. Thanks were extended to Mrs Alison Wood for submitting the
application in August 2013 during her role as Acting Clerk.
(ii) Application Window for Second Round of Funding
It was reported that the second opportunity to apply for New Homes Bonus District Wide
Funding is now open until 13 January 2014. Members RESOLVED to submit an application
to assist with any costs involved in attempting to reduce the speed limits from 40mph to
30mph on Leicester Road and Bill Crane Way in conjunction with Leicestershire County
Council.
Should this project not prove possible within the timescale that is attached to the grant
scheme, then an application should instead be submitted for the purchase of an additional
speed activation sign to be relocated around the town, advising drivers of their actual speed.
In addition to the above, it was RESOLVED that a further application should be submitted in
order to improve car parking signage within the town.
263
HIGHWAYS MATTERS
(i) Carriageway Patching
Members noted that a temporary Traffic Regulation Order is in place for High Street and
Rugby Road to facilitate Leicestershire Highways in carrying out carriageway patching for
approximately two weeks from Wednesday 4 December 2013.
(ii) Resurfacing Work
Members noted that the southbound carriageway of the A5 between A5 / A4303 Magna Park
Island and A5 / A426 Gibbet Hill Island will be resurfaced from Monday 9 December to
Thursday 12 December 2013.
264
LEADERS FARM DEVELOPMENT
Members were informed that the Bellway Homes development at Leaders Farm requires
formal street naming by Harborough District Council and a number of themes for the
potential naming of the site were discussed.
Councillor Turner advised members that as his neighbour is an archaeologist at
Leicestershire County Council, he had been fortunate enough to receive an invitation to the
site and a number of discoveries had been unearthed from both the Iron Age and the Bronze
Age. These findings indicated that a settlement had existed in Lutterworth for approximately
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3,000 years. Councillor Turner advised that he would be happy to circulate photographs of
some of the findings to members.
Whilst members emphasised their pride in the existing connections to Sir Frank Whittle
around the town, it was felt that the theme of aviation was not appropriate for this
development and it was instead RESOLVED to focus upon a theme attached to historical
Lutterworth place names.
It was further RESOLVED to suggest that:
 the spine road throughout the new development be named ‘Leaders Way’.
 the 3 x Closes be named Palisade Close, Townend Close and Woodbrig Close.
 Bellway Homes be asked to alter the site reference from ‘Whittle Fields’ to ‘Leaders
Fields’ to avoid any confusion with the estate located in close proximity to the Whittle
Roundabout.
265
BIG HEALTHCARE CONVERSATIONS 2013
Members noted that the NHS is hosting an event on Thursday 12 December 2013 to obtain
views on how local healthcare services are designed, planned and managed.
266
LUTTERWORTH TOWN ESTATES CHARITY
Members were reminded that Lutterworth Town Council has three named representatives
that hold the position of Trustee for Lutterworth Town Estates Charity. It was reported that
one of the three named Trustees, Mrs Carole Harrington, had recently been appointed by the
Lutterworth Town Estates Charity as a co-opted Trustee due to her position as Treasurer
and as a result, members were asked to fill this vacancy for a nominated Town Council
representative.
Members were further reminded that currently the other two named Town Council
representatives are Councillor Coleman (until October 2014) and Councillor Derrick (until
July 2015).
Nominations were received for both Councillors Hirons and Toye. Upon being put to the vote,
it was RESOLVED that Councillor Tony Hirons be appointed as the third Town Council
representative to serve as a Trustee on the Lutterworth Town Estates Charity for a four year
term.
267
SLIPPER EXCHANGE
Members noted the information obtained from the Volunteer Centre / Community Transport
and Age Concern, who had both expressed their commitment to work with the Town Council
in order to co-ordinate a successful slipper exchange event for Lutterworth.
It was therefore RESOLVED to work with both organisations, as well as with Harborough
District Council, to co-ordinate a slipper exchange event in Lutterworth for either the end of
February or beginning of March 2014.
268
REPORTS FROM COUNTY AND DISTRICT COUNCILLORS
An apology was received from County Councillor Page and District Councillor Tomlin.
No reports were received.
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269
REPORTS FROM MEMBERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED MEETINGS ON BEHALF
OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
Members noted Councillor Piper’s attendance at the Annual General Meeting of the Rural
Community Council in September 2013.
Members further acknowledged that the presentation slides from the Planning and
Enforcement event hosted by Harborough District Council on 28 October 2013 had been
circulated by email. Members confirmed that they were happy to receive training on the
planning section of the District Council’s website once wi-fi and a projector / white screen
had been installed at the Pavilion in 2014.
270
INFORMATION ITEMS
The following information items were received and noted by members:
(i)
Resolution List
(ii)
Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils – October & November 2013
Newsletters.
(iii)
Harborough Youth Service Report – October 2013
(iv)
Harborough District Council Annual Parish Liaison Meeting – Wednesday 29 January
2014 6pm to 8.30pm, Great Glen
Councillors Duesbury and Hirons expressed an interest in attending.
Royal British Legion – correspondence
(v)
271
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.”
272
LUTTERWORTH MUSEUM LTD
Members were reminded that, in accordance with minute 169 of the October 2013 Town
Council meeting, a letter was sent to confirm that no further support will be forthcoming from
Lutterworth Town Council until such time as Lutterworth Museum Ltd returns to the original
agreement made at the meeting held on 11 March 2013.
Members noted that a verbal request for a meeting with the Clerk and Chair had been
received from Lutterworth Museum Ltd in an effort to dispel their concerns that the Town
Council will take over the running of the Museum. It was RESOLVED to agree to a Full
Council meeting with the Trustees of Lutterworth Museum Ltd, as opposed to just the Clerk
and Chair.
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273
CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION
RESOLVED to instigate a meeting with both the Police and Harborough District Council to
discuss the current CCTV operation within the town and to plan for the future operation and
management of the system.
Meeting adjourned at 8.28pm.
Signed ............................................
Date...............................................
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