Blaby Topic

Blaby Parish Council

Newsletter Issue 09, October 2005

Members of Blaby Parish Council: -

Chairman
Mrs. L. Gutteridge 2775947
Vice Chairman
Mr. W. Jennings 07951-028691
Members
Mr. R. Benford 2771633
Mr. C. Bonser 2776158
Mr. J. Churchard 2771403
Mr. A. Goodwin 2559453
Mr. G. Harding 2772237
Mr. P. James 2777017
Miss. A. M. Morris 2772088
Mr. C. Orton 2785318
Dr. D. Pollard 2772076
Mrs. F. Pollard 2772076
Mrs. M. Robinson 2779162
Mr. J. Roper 2773965
Mrs. C. Sayer 2772695
Mrs. C. Thomas 2772894

Diary (All Meetings are open to the Public)

Council Meetings
(Tuesday, from 7:30pm held at Blaby Social Centre)

8th November 2005
6th December 2005
10th January 2006
14th February 2006
14th March 2006
11th April 2006

Diary (Social Events)

· Christmas Lights Switch-On
Friday 25-11-05, 6-30 pm.
John’s Court Shopping Precinct
· Carol Singing
Christmas Eve (Saturday 24-12-05), 4-30 pm
John’s Court Shopping Precinct (with REAL reindeer)

PRECEPT MEETING
The Parish Council will consider its budgets and set its Precept for 2006/07 at a meeting to be held at Blaby Social Centre on Tuesday, 7th February 2006. The meeting will be open to the public.

Blaby Youth Council Needs You
The Blaby Youth Council is a group of youths who deal with matters in Blaby concerning young people. It works with the Parish Council to address various matters, especially in the areas of recreation (parks, playing fields etc.), litter and vandalism.

In February, the Youth Council carried out an environmental project, planting British native tree species in no. 3 Cemetery. This project was in association with Blaby Parish Council and The Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project at Leicestershire County Council. In April we held our Annual Village Meeting. In May we were planning our role within the Blaby Gala, which was held in June. In the near future we are looking at having litter bins installed along Winchester Road between Blaby and Countesthorpe Schools.

As you can see our meetings deal with a variety of business.

We have bi-monthly meetings usually on the first Tuesday, at the Parish Council Office on Western Drive. If this room is unavailable we use the Kabin on Oakfield Park. There are currently five members of the Youth Council, and we are eager to improve this number, possibly having ten members.

If you are aged between 11-18 and you are interested in attending one of our meetings, initially just to listen in and see what you think telephone the Parish Council Offices on (0116) 2784728 and they will put you in touch with one of our team. Each new member will receive a folder, agendas and minutes for each meeting.

As a member of the Youth Council you will help make a positive difference to our community and see changes happen.
Your contribution would be greatly appreciated.

Rebekah Cowrey,
Clerk

VACANCY ON COUNCIL
There is a vacancy on the Council following the resignation of Mr. John Troake. If an election to fill the vacancy is not called by 31st October 2005, the Parish Council will fill the vacancy by co-option. If you are interested in becoming a Member of Blaby Parish Council, please contact the Clerk on 0116-2784728.

Grants 2005-06
So far this year, the Parish Council has made grants to the
Following: -

Leicestershire Crimestoppers - £50.00
College Playscheme 2006 – Half deficit or £100 (max.)

There is more funding available to village groups. If your
Group is in desperate need of funding for a project, please
Contact the Clerk on 0116-2784728.

Blaby Parish Council’s Activities since Newsletter
Issue 8: April 2005

New Members

The Council started the 2005/06 term with 2 vacancies,
Which increased to 3 with the resignation of Mr. Stuart
Parker in May. The Council has since had the pleasure
Of co-opting Mr. Robert Benford, Mr. Peter James and
Mrs. Christine Sayer.

Planning Application – Change of use of land,
Hospital Lane for siting 2 mobile homes and new
Vehicular access
The Council’s Planning Committee meeting on 14-6-05
Was attended by 178 parishioners. After considerable
Discussion, a hand count was taken. Those present
Appeared to be unanimously against the application. The Council, at the meeting which followed, agreed to support the residents of Blaby in opposing the application.

New Licensing Laws
Several establishments have applied for new licenses. The Council has opposed the terms of the Tom Thumb and Bakers Arms applications, and concessions by the Breweries have been made in both cases.

Cemetery Extension
Plans have been finalised and will soon be put out to tender. The Council agreed to borrow £50,000 over 10 years from the Public Loans Board, to cover the balance of what is required to pay for the work.

Christmas 2005
The Council continues with its plans to increase Christmas lighting in the centre of the village and is discussing with the County Council and the power suppliers, the possibility of erecting lights on the new lamp posts in the centre. The County Council has offered £2,000 towards the scheme.

Assistant Clerk
Sue Wilson, the Assistant Clerk, left after working for the Council for 10 years. The position was redefined and the Council advertised for an Assistant Clerk, who would become the deputy Clerk after a training period of 6 months.

Evaluation of Clerk’s Job
The Council asked the Leicestershire Association of Local Councils to carry out an evaluation of the Clerk’s job, as part of the new, national Contract/Terms and Conditions of Employment. The job was valued at £29,004 per annum. The Council offered £26,703. The Clerk accepted the offer.

Football Pitches
During the 2005/06 season, the following Football Clubs have leased pitches on Blaby’s Parks: -
· Wigston Youth
· The Navigation Inn
· Blaby Athletic
· Oakfield Park Rangers
· DGT Transport
· Blaby Foxes
· FC Tumar

Social Events

To raise its profile the Council set up a Committee to organise social events in the community.

· Car Boot Sale (2-5-05)
The event was a resounding success and another is planned for 29-4-06. (Pencil the date in your diary).
· Quiz Nights
A second series is being planned.
· Gala Procession
The procession took a great deal of organising, especially concerning the need for a thorough risk assessment, which was carried out with the help of Blaby District Council.
It was good to see the parade of horses and carriages, en route from Oakfield Park to the Gala at Northfield Park. The risk assessment will not go to waste either; it will be used as a template for the 2006 Gala Procession.

Money raised by the above, will fund future events.

Parish Council Surgeries

The Council will hold Saturday surgeries at Blaby Library on the following dates, from 10am – 11am. If you have a problem or a query, and you live in Blaby village, there will be a Member of Blaby Parish Council to help you: -

19th November
17th December
21st January
25th February
25th March
22nd April

Obituary
The Parish Council offers its condolences to the family of Mrs. Sheila Richards who was a Member of the Council from June 1987 to February 1997.

Printed by Blaby Parish Council, Leics. LE8 4FR.
Tel.0116-2784728
e-mail> blabyparishcouncil@tiscali.co.uk