Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council – Feb 2025
An emergency parish council public meeting was held on 14 January 2025 in the Studio at the Kibworth Community Hub. This was to agree the budget for 2025/26,
Finances
All financial statements, reconciliations and the payments since the November meeting were approved. The budget for 2025/26 was discussed and approved at £210.865. This is an annual increase for Band D properties of £20.82 or 40p per week.
Chairman
Following the resignation of Martyn Wyburn, the chairman of the Hub Steering Group, the KBPC chairman has taken on the role of chairman there too. He had recently attended a virtual parish liaison meeting for HDC parishes. Some of the issues raised were: prospect of devolution of district councils; future of the £1m Community Grant funding; parish council drop-in sessions; planning strategy and that the publication of future housing plans are delayed for several weeks.
Clerk’s report
The parish manager is arranging LRALC code of conduct training for some new councillors.
Planning:
24/01481/TPO. Fell beech tree outside 4 School Road, Kibworth Beauchamp. This mature beech tree is very large and is affecting the properties at both 4 and 8 School Road. This would be a great loss to the amenity of that part of School Road if it is removed. But the parish council has no expertise in damage to buildings or tree works. It would accept the advice from relevant experts including LCC Forestry. Our preference would be to trim back the bigger branches rather than fell it. But we will go along with the forestry experts advice if it needs felling.
24/01635/FUL An application for 22 Home Close, Kibworth Beauchamp, for a two-storey extension incorporating the garage. Councillors considered that this would become a 5 bedroomed property. It would reduce the space for off-street parking, as defined in the Neighbourhood Plan, so have a potential effect on local on-street parking. They agreed to object.
HDC
£1m grant offer for parish councils. A revised application from The Well for the kitchen and other improvements had not been received. KHPC has now submitted an application for £9,995.40 for new metal fencing and a wide gate for Polwell Park. The present wooden fencing is rotting, falling apart and unsafe. KBPC are in the process of submitting an application for Smeeton Road Rec where the tarmac pathway surface is uneven, and drainage is poor.
Kibworth Community Hub
Building work completion is due in early February. A revised Deed of Variation for the existing lease between KBPC and the KGSH Trustees has been produced. This will reduce the annual rent from £5 to £1 on advice from our solicitors.
Contracts and Expenditure for 2025/26
It was agreed to approve the following contracts (excluding VAT) for 2025/26: Quarterly playground inspections at annual cost of £585 for Smeeton Road and Warwick Park; Leicestershire Gardens to carry out 15 cuts per year for £5,874 on all of the KB park areas (Smeeton Road, Warwick Park, Rookery Park, Larkswood, Melbourne Close with KH sharing costs where appropriate); HDC to monitor the CCTV network for £2,523 and to empty the bins for £2,557.73.
The next monthly public meetings at 7pm on 28 January and 25 February will be reported in due course.
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Maria Smith (clerk@kibworthbeauchamp-pc.gov.uk)
Former Trustees of KCH Return
