You are at Parish Plan/PP Group meeting 18 September 2006.

Woodhouse Parish Plan Group Meeting 18 September 2006


This page includes the following documents:
  1. Agenda
  2. Minutes

(1) Agenda for the Nineteenth Meeting of the Parish Plan Group

Monday 18 September 2006, 7.30 pm � 9.00pm, Village Hall, Woodhouse Eaves
1.Notes Of Meeting Held On 10 April 2006 (see PP Group meeting 10 April 2006)  %valign=top|2.Matters Arising
  • Annual Parish Meeting - 25 April
  • Best Village Competition
%valign=top|3.Progress Reports
  • Traffic Watch
  • Neighbourhood Watch
  • Parish council
  • Village Design Statements
  • Roundabout
%valign=top|4.New Initiatives
  • Energy conservation
5.Any Other Business
6.Next Meeting

(2) Minutes

Minutes of the Nineteenth Meeting of Woodhouse Parish Plan Group
Monday 18th September 2006

''Please note: For data protection reasons names have been reduced to initials only on this on-line copy''

'''Date of Next Meeting - Tuesday 20 February 2007 at 7.30''' - Village Hall, Woodhouse Eaves

Present [11]

HF, JH, HH, AI, RM, RM, LR, JS, ST, DT, JW. Several members sent apologies owing mainly to holidays.

Previous Minutes of meeting on 10 April

Accepted.

Matters arising

 * The Annual Parish Meeting and exhibition of the group's activities had been very well received by all concerned.  The exhibition, food and drink helped to turn the occasion into a good social event and would be repeated next year ['''NB: the date is Tuesday 17 April 2007''']

 * The entry for the Best Village Competition 2006 had been successful and the combined villages won first prize in the population category 2000-5000.  A cheque for �200 had been placed in the Parish Plan Group bank account.  The Chair asked the Group for their views on how this money might be spent - the Parish Council had, at its meeting on 4 September, indicated that it would respond favourably to the Group's suggestions. The Group's suggestions were:
  • A 3-D drawing of the Parish showing important buildings and features to be placed outside the village hall
  • A bench with a plaque noting the Award
  • A tree or group of trees also with a plaque
There will also be an official plaque that would be placed outside the village hall.  The Chair will take the suggestions to the next Parish Council meeting on 2 October.

Progress Reports

Traffic Watch Group [TWG]

LR informed the Group that volunteers in both villages had operated the mobile speed monitor - but more volunteers would be welcome.  Leics CC has now appointed a Community Speed Watch officer, MW.  He recently visited volunteers using the monitor on Beacon Road.  He planned 8 pilot sites for a hand-held speed monitor - over 200 communities applied.  The pilot will be run for six consecutive weeks and if successful it would be rolled out across the County.  Volunteers would work in pairs and be trained, but could only monitor speed in the daytime owing to insurance restrictions.  Car registration numbers would be recorded, sent to him and then onto the police who would send two warning letters and then take further action for any subsequent infringements.  Because the Woodhouses Traffic Watch had significant experience it would be one of the eight pilots.  Volunteers are therefore needed to commit to this six-week pilot.

In October a new rural speed campaign starts.  An August Circular from the Department for Transport recommends 30 mph limits for all villages, and where entry is from a de-restricted route, recommends a bridging limit of 40 mph.  A new LCC committee is being formed to consider vulnerable road users e.g. elderly people, children, walkers and horse riders and Liz has volunteered the TWG for membership [TWG is already represented in the Charnwood Road Safety Forum].  Cllr DS is supporting TWG in following up the lower limits requests.

Liz also informed the PPG that the Traffic Watch Group has been nominated for a national award from the British Urban Regeneration Association - for community inspired regeneration.  BURA is "always looking for the cutting edge, the extraordinary, projects and schemes that overcome barriers and challenge traditional approaches ... in urban and rural areas."  The awards are sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government and "are a celebration of outstanding grassroots regeneration projects; the schemes that address local issues and as a result are raising community spirit and improving quality of life."

Woodhouse Neighbourhood Watch [WNW]

Nobody from NHW was able to report but there is a fledgling "Little Eyes" junior NHW in the process of formation.
 

Parish Council

The Chair informed the PPG that several councillor "surgeries" have now been held and more would be planned.

Friends of the Village Hall

This Group's list of wants has almost been completed.  The kitchen was completed in August, the main hall would be decorated in October, and the Group would be reconvened during the autumn.

Village Design Statements

Charnwood BC adopted both documents in May.  Parish Council Members and residents are using them when responding to planning applications.  The accounts have not yet been finalised as group members have not yet claimed out of pocket expenses and the print costs have yet to be paid. It was agreed that expenses claims should be made by the end of the month so that the PPG account can be wound down.

Action: Secretary to convey to VDS members

Questions arise about the impact of the VDSs, such as how can the Parish Council be most effective in the light of the VDS work, and, how can we keep pressure on Charnwood BC to take account of these documents.  One PPG member stated that there is a subtle difference between what is in the VDS and their view on it.  If it is felt that things are being allowed and proper regard is not being given, then there are grounds for complaint and contact should be made.  In general, it was agreed by all that the Parish Council could be most effective by scrutinising applications, monitoring them, and when appropriate, objecting more strongly.  A 6 month review of the impact of the VDS would be useful - with the Conservation and Design Manager MT, together with Director of Development Dave Hankin and Development Control Manager SM.  The Chair agreed to consult local Borough and County Councillors about the best way forward.

Action: Chair

Roundabout

The magazine now has an editorial and production group with a chair, secretary and treasurer, editors and an advertising co-ordinator.  There is a bank account, constitution and business plan.  This will be discussed at the October Parish Council meeting. Distribution to all households and business is good and advertising is coming in well. Feedback is good and people seem pleased with the end product.  However, more young people are needed - please let the team know of any who might be willing to contribute in some way.

Action: All

New initiatives: Energy

Some preliminary work has been done on identifying key contacts in Borough and County, but nothing further as yet.  RM informed the PPG that from June 2007 all home sales will require an energy efficiency certificate - this would spur many people on to consider more alternative and/or efficient energy sources and uses.  It was suggested that the exhibition a the Annual Parish Meeting might provide a focus for taking this action further forward, possibly by making the whole day an energy day, culminating in the Annual Meeting.  HF sits on the Climate Change Panel of the Leicestershire Strategic Partnership.
Action: A, K, R, H & A to consider

Treasurer's Report

RH had supplied interim financial accounts for the period 28 April - 8 September 2006.
There is a balance of �1,432.48 in the account, but this included the income from advertisers in Roundabout [�785.25] and the Best Village Award [�200].  Without these amounts, the balance is �447.23.  From this, payments to the VDS printers and other out of pocket expenses need to be made.

Heritage Watch

The Heritage Warden held a successful launch on 8 August and hoped to kick start some projects soon.

New Residents

When Best Village judges interviewed this year [and last] they asked how new residents were welcomed and involved. A St Paul's Church volunteer produces a Welcome Pack, but no system exists to identify newcomers or draw them in to activities. NHW Co-ordinators might be the best contacts, given the coverage of the parish.

Action: Contact Parish NHW Co-ordinator

Entertainments Warden

A proposal to set up a post was not supported in the context of the significant activities taking place.

'''Date of Next Meeting - Tuesday 20 February 2007 at 7.30''' - Village Hall, Woodhouse Eaves