Minutes of the Meeting of Packington Parish Council held on Tuesday 12th November at 7.00pm at Packington Memorial Hall.
Present: Cllrs Keith Goodwin, Robert Martin (Vice-Chairman), Christopher Miles (Chairman) and Russell Powell.
In attendance: Locum Clerk to the Council, Emma Andrews
7 members of the public were present.
163/24 Questions from members of the public
Issues raised included:
The poor state of Little Lane. The footpath is muddy, overgrown and needs attention.
Problems on the righthand side of Homecroft Drive Packington, which is very dangerous.
A request for the contact details of the PCSO for Packington.
A request for details of the new Clerk for inclusion in the Packington Post.
164/24 To receive apologies for absence and to note acceptance by the Council.
RESOLVED: Council received and accepted apologies from Cllrs Fleetham and Smith.
165/24 To note Declarations of Interest both Personal and Prejudicial on items within the agenda.
Cllr Miles declared an interest in agenda item 14b. as a Trustee of the Packington Memorial Hall Committee.
7:10pm the meeting was suspended by the Chair to discuss the status of the Memorial Hall, the Parish Council’s connection with the Hall, and any conflict of interest between the Hall and the Parish Council in terms of ownership, governance and finances. The input of the Memorial Hall Secretary was invited.
7:20pm meeting resumed
166/24 To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1st October 2024 RESOLVED: That the minutes were approved and signed by the Chairman as a true and accurate record of that meeting.
167/24 To approve the appointment of a new Clerk and RFO for Packington Parish Council. RESOLVED that the Council were pleased to appoint Victoria Webster as the new Clerk. This appointment takes effect on 13th November 2024. The contract of employment was signed by Cllr Miles on behalf of the Council.
168/24 Questions to and reports from County and District Councillors N/A as neither councillor was present.
169/24 To receive a Police report. A report had been submitted by email ahead of the meeting. There were three recorded crimes in October:
• 08/10/24 Common Assault on High Street (verbal incident)
• 10/10/24 Traffic offence on Babelake Street – use of mobile phone when driving
• 22/10/24 Criminal Damage on Normanton Road – damage to caravan
170/24 Situation Updates:
Although not on the agenda, a report was received about litter picking. The situation in Coleorton Road is getting much worse, with a huge amount of fly-tipping, and LCC are failing to remove all the rubbish even when they attend in response to incidents being reported.
a. To receive an update on flooding and consider any actions arising from recent correspondence with NWLDC and LCC. A detailed report was delivered following a useful meeting between representatives of Packington, NWLDC, LCC, and the Environment Agency. There is no funding available for measures to prevent flooding, but systems can be put in place to mitigate against this, to include a new gauge and earlier flood warnings. Concerns were expressed about the constant running water on Babelake Street which will be dangerous when icy.
b. CCTV – To receive an update The CCTV is now up and running and a Service Level Agreement is in place. RESOLVED to adopt the draft CCTV Policy (item 11 on the agenda)
c. To receive an update on actions by, and correspondence with, the Traffic Calming Group Deferred until the December meeting.
d. To receive an update from Community Safety and Neighbourhood Watch Deferred until the December meeting.
e. Street lamp on the footpath to the Church Too big and expensive a job. The possibility of solar powered lights was suggested.
f. Scams and Cyber Crime Event deferred until December meeting
171/24 Financial Matters:
a. To approve the payments for November and note income received RESOLVED the Schedule of Payments was approved and the income was noted.
b. To receive and approve the bank reconciliation for 31st October 2024 RESOLVED to receive and approve the reconciliation on the Unity Trust Bank accounts. It was not possible to provide a full reconciliation as the Locum Clerk could not access the HSBC accounts.
c. To receive and approve bank statements for September and October RESOLVED that the statements for the Unity Trust accounts were received and accepted.
172/24 To discuss planning applications received:
a. 24/01227/FUL – Cluny Lodge. 3 Heather Lane – Erection of single-storey front extension and a first-floor balcony to the rear elevation of the main dwellinghouse. RESOLVED not to comment
b. 24/01121/FUL – 7 Mychecroft Drive – Conversion of Loft into habitable living accommodation RESOLVED to offer mixed comments to NWLDC on the grounds of concerns that this sets a precedent for converting bungalows in this location into two-storey houses and that larger houses may exacerbate existing parking problems.
c. 24/01294/FUL – Land at Drum And Monkey Lane RESOLVED to defer discussion of this application until the December meeting, as the deadline for comments is the 9th of December.
173/24 To review and adopt a CCTV Policy See 170/24
174/24 To consider and approve the purchase of a new laptop for the Clerk RESOLVED to approve the purchase of a new laptop costing no more than £700, to belong to the Council and be used by the Clerk for Packington Parish Council business only. The old laptop is obsolete.
175/24 To sign the LCC Licence relating to the installation of a new dog waste bin on the footpath off Ashby Road RESOLVED that this was signed by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman on behalf of the Council.
176/24 To consider grant applications
a. From Packington Post for £2500 RESOLVED to approve this award. It was noted that the Packington Post does an excellent job in the village.
b. From Packington Memorial Hall for £6716.16 towards the purchase of solar panels RESOLVED to defer this until the December meeting.
177/24 To note correspondence received:
a. Street naming, land off 16 Babelake Street RESOLVED that a suggested name of Coopers Close was approved
b. Mease River Improvement Scheme – meeting requested for January, February or March. RESOLVED that the new Clerk would action this.
c. Queen Elizabeth Memorial March The Council were thanked for their help with the 2024 March, which raised £1000 for SSAFA. The 2025 March will be on the revised date of 13th September and the Council are asked to assist in helping with refreshments from 7:30-8:30am. RESOLVED to assist with this.
178/24 Clerks Report N/A
179/24 Members Exchange – for information and suggestion of future agenda items only N/A
180/24 To consider the following resolution: That, in view of the confidential nature of the following agenda item, the press and public be excluded from the meeting, in accordance with the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, section 1 RESOLVED to accept the resolution
181/24 To discuss confidential correspondence received Confidential content.
182/24 Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 3rd December November at Packington Memorial Hall, starting at 7pm
Meeting closed: 9:21pm
Payments approved under item 171/24
A.Streeton – Back pay April to September -£126.10
E. Andrews – Locum salary – £652.00
HMRC – PAYE – £194.40
E. Andrews – Postage and printer ink reimbursement – £29.39
HSBC – Bank charges – £5.00
Unity Trust – Bank charges – £5.40
NWLDC – Play area inspection – £285.98
NWLDC – Replacement bin – £372.00
NWLDC – Bin emptying – £348.40
NWLDC – Bulbs – £80.70
NWLDC – Bin emptying – £467.70
Packington Memorial Hall – Hall hire – £52.50
Packington Memorial Hall – Hall hire – £29.75
Z. Holden – Hedge cutting – £105.00
Measham CCTV – Village CCTV system – £600.00
Total: £3354.32