Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council – March 2025

15th March 2025 | Councils

The usual monthly Parish Council public meeting was held on 28 January 2025 in the Studio in the Kibworth Community Hub.

Allotments s106 request

The chairman of the Society explained the grant was for new secure fencing and better car park surfacing. Councillors agreed to support the bid for £7,881.91 which had already been approved by KHPC.

Planning: 24/00814/FUL

Change to agreed plans for 4 Station Street, Kibworth Beauchamp. Ronan Donohue from Clarity Properties explained that the porch on the side of the block of flats was only aesthetic. The door behind it was false. Councillors agreed that it could be removed from the plans.

£1m Community Grants Fund

It was agreed by a majority vote for the council to support the £7,359.76 bid by The Well for a kitchen upgrade and improvements.

Councillors also discussed the application for £26,678.04 by KBPC to re-tarmac and improve drainage of the pathway from the Smeeton Road entrance past the tennis courts.

Finance

Payments since the last meeting were approved. The Parish Manager has now entered all accounts data for the year since April 2024 into the Scribe software. The new Scribe reports will be issued from the February meeting, alongside the usual style reports, until the latter are phased out from April. It was resolved to approve the 2025/26 budget facts sheet so it can be added to the website.

Chairman

He reported that he was writing to HDC regarding concerns about the allocation of any future Community Grant funding, because for this last Fund Kibworth had been treated as one community instead of allocations for the two parishes separately.

Clerk’s Report

A Grant Surgery is being held on 5 March in the Community Hub. Staff and councillors have already booked a slot. Concerns have been raised about the tyre tracks on the grass verge and steepness of the pathway down to Rookery Park from Church Road. The original owner of the grass verge is no longer trading although HDC mow the grass. This will be discussed at the next Joint Rec meeting.

Graffiti on the new School Road railway bridge has been reported to Network Rail.

Urgent repairs to replace the water pump and thermostat on the parish van have been completed for £632.31.

Fenland have completed the Park Inspections and we await their reports.

The Norton Antivirus renewal has been cancelled, saving £129.98, as McAfee is free with the O2 contract.

Reports

All two-tier council areas, like Leicestershire, have been told to consider options for a unitary council. There might be opportunities for parish councils to take on additional responsibilities.

Joint Recreation Board

Willow arbors and benches have been installed in both Larkswood and Rookery parks. It was resolved to pay £150 for Playdale to repair the inclusive roundabout, and £2,400 to clear dead wood and prune trees at Smeeton Road playground.

Youth Council

Council approved the initial meeting at KMA being held on 24 February. KHPC had agreed to clerk.

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 to reduce the annual rent from £5 to £1 on advice from our solicitors. There have been changes in KGSH Trustees with resignation of chair and vice-chair.

UK Shared Prosperity Funding

Cllr Copson and the deputy-clerk had recently met with the Business Forum. A resident had reported that the Bank bus shelter has graffiti and needed refurbishing. The Parish Manager will contact Littlethorpe, who provided it originally, for a quote. It was agreed to use £1,394 for Glyn Mould to provide a new oak Parish Noticeboard.

Local Plan

Publication of the Plan has been delayed until late February. HDC are no longer able to show a five-year housing supply.

PAT testing

Council approved the cost of testing kit and training for Grounds Team.

Grounds Team Equipment

Councillors approved the purchase of new grounds equipment for the team at a cost of £1,268.58 + VAT.

VE Day 80 Celebrations on Thursday 8 May

Cllrs Lee and Copson will lead on arrangements, with staff support, including contacting local organisations about their plans.

The next monthly public meetings at 7pm are on 25 February and 25 March and will be reported in due course.

For the latest news and information please follow us on Facebook, X and our website: www.kibworthbeauchamp-pc.gov.uk

Maria Smith (clerk@kibworthbeauchamp-pc.gov.uk)