Present: Tim Fox - chair, Ailsa Dempster, Andrew Royle, Barrie Woolley, Mark Thompson, Terri Meechan, Paul Seaton - part, Phil Bromhall - Borough Councillor - part, Stan Heggs - County Councillor - part, Lucy Fox - Jnr. Councillor - part, Lewis Holdsworth - Jnr. Councillor - part, two members of the public, Phil Oram - clerk.

1      Apologies - Marshall Ferguson, Vic Clark.

2      Meeting Open to the Public

Jnr. Councillor asked about a bus service to Uppingham, as there are some youths in the village who have found jobs in Uppingham but are not always able to get to work. They would like a service to enable them to get to work and also visit friends at week-ends. This was an aspect being looked at under the Village Plan and the two Jnr. Councillors were asked to carry out a survey on all school buses to find out numbers and destinations.

A faulty light was reported in Kirby Rd opposite the top of School Rd.

3      Declaration of Councillors' Interests

Chairman reminded Councillors that they should declare an interest where this was involved.

4      Minutes of meeting held 9 January 2006 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the chairman.

5      Report from Borough councillor

Phil Bromhall reported he had attended the Policy meeting to discuss the forthcoming Budget and that the Borough council was a "Debt Free" council.

A Heritage Strategy had been discussed at draft level - this covers all aspects of Corby area from the Pole Fair to Listed Buildings and he expected the Parish Council to be consulted at some stage.

The planning application for the new Travellers Site was on the Borough Council's web site but the Parish Council had not received a copy. As a general comment about planning it was said that planning applications were on the Corby council's web site but it was not easy to follow and not all the detail was available.

He was asked if he knew about travellers on the back road to Weldon and what was happening about them.

6      Report from county councillor

Stan Heggs reported that the County council Tax had been agreed at approx. 3%, an increase of 5% or above would lead to being capped by the government. The council are looking at keeping services open and do not intend to sell Grendon Hall; on being asked about education he could not give any firm information about certain projects that were being reported as being under threat. He did report that the Youth Service needed 15% to attend to justify cost and only 5% actually attended. Although there will be a reduction in the number of Mobile Library vehicles the villages will continue to be serviced.

He reported that at a meeting with East Northants Council re R.M.S. it was agreed the villages under C.B.C. will have a representation on the committee.

He also reported that the Police had been involved in a survey of speeding in Corby Rd and further action was being considered.

He was also to arrange a meeting with Bob Seery, himself and any member of the Parish Council available to discuss roads in Gretton.

7      Matters Arising from Minutes

a      Proposed new site for Travellers - there had been no feedback but the planning application was on the C.B.C. web-site.

b      Clerk reported that C. Woolston had been paid for the hedge cutting in Caistor Rd.

8      Village Plan

The inaugural meeting of the Recreation Club committee had taken place, Terri Meechan, who agreed to act as chair pro tem, would contact The Sports Club, Gretton Silver Band & Chirpy Chicks asking them to attend a meeting next week when it was planned to elect officers.

Tim Fox reported that he would be attending a meeting of the ACRE Parish Plan Grant Awarding Panel on 1 March when there was a possibility of money being available.

Clerk requested to talk to Post Office with regard to siting a Parish Council notice board on the wall outside the Post Office.

9      Correspondence

a      Green Waste alternative week collections - request to put on notice board.

b      Street Scene draft service standards consultation - although only received 11 February request for reply by 17 February - Tim Fox to complete.

c      Weldon Parish Plan - invitation to launch Saturday 25 February - put in circulation file.

d      Northants Criminal Justice Board - help for witnesses or victims of crime - put in circulation file.

e      Fundraising conference 9 March - passed to Terri Meechan.

f      NALC session covering role of chairman.

g      Northants ACRE - Village of the Year competition - Ailsa Dempster agreed to make application.

h      Dogs Trust - Poster for Free Canine Care - to be put on notice board.

i      NCC notice of intention to adopt Waste Local Plan - put in circulation file.

j      Copy of e-mail sent to Phil Bromhall from Ian Tattershall re street lighting - clerk to send detail of survey carried out by Village Plan sub-committee.

k      East Midlands Rural Delivery Framework - can be seen on web-site or apply for hard copy -m put in circulation file.

l      Consumer Council for Water - put in circulation file.

m      NCC budget cuts for Right of Way - dept asking for support to stop cuts - agreed to send letter of support.

n      ENC customer satisfaction survey for Rural North Oundle & Thrapston - reply by 10 March - put in circulation file.

o      NHS Reconfiguration of Primary Care Trusts - two options - put in circulation file.

p      Two Shires Ambulance Trust to split in two- response by 24 Feb - put in circulation file.

q      grass cutting - quote from O'Conners from £3452 to £3548 for same as last year- cannot get a reply from C.B.C. re their responsibility. Clerk to chase C.B.C. so that alternative quotes can be obtained.

r      Letter from Jeff Ward re problems in village - clerk asked to write to persons concerned about the problem.

Circulation file:

CBC Full Council meeting 12 January

CPRE - Outlook

Glasdon local councils newssheet

Northants ACRE - The Playing field

EMDA Jan magazine

CBC Dev. Control meetings 26 & 31 Jan.

Rural Area Forum 19 Jan.

Corby Area Committee 1 Feb.

SMP playground equipment

PC mins - Weldon, Cottingham (Dec & Jan), East Carlton, Stanion, Middleton.

10    Highway Matters

a      Letter received from Chief Executive of NCC informing Council that the drain outside 38 High St will be repaired before 31 March 2006.

b      Rep's Review - circulation file.

c      Chairman had contacted clerk regarding repairs to "Clinkers" footpath; NCC proposed to do away with the footsteps at the Station Rd end of the footpath and continue the incline. Council thought this could be a dangerous change and suggested either the steps are kept or a double handrail be put at the bottom of the footpath. Clerk to confirm this to NCC.

11    Planning Matters

a      Construction of family dwelling - The Old Station, Hatton Lane - outline planning permission granted subject to certain conditions.

b      Replacement windows & additional windows to cloakroom, rendering & internal works - The Vicarage, Station Rd - listed building consent granted subject to certain conditions.

c      Internal Alterations at Village Farm, 3 Maltings Rd - listed building consent granted subject to certain conditions.

d      Two storey extension to form family room, consulting room with bedroom & shower room - The Coach House, High St. - planning permission & listed building consent granted subject to certain conditions.

e      Siting of Mobile Home for residential use - land adjoining 50A Arnhill Rd - permission granted as use as a single residence in excess of 10 yrs.

f      Demolition of two double garages, shed & hedge & erection of new double garage for 14 Kirby Rd & creation of five new 3/4 bedroom houses - 14 Kirby Rd. This application was discussed at great length and various observations were made. It was felt this was a back land development and both the Parish & Corby Councils had recently refused permission for such development. Major concern was expressed over access, as even though a wider access than at present was planned it would still be at a dangerous spot in Kirby Rd with the additional traffic from the five houses. The number of houses off the access would be more than is normally allowed. The privacy of surrounding property and the mix of new property was thought to need further looking at. It was felt that if permission was granted this would create a precedent and there could be a lot more similar applications in the village.

g      Two storey & single storey extension to rear of dwelling & porch front & garage to rear - 18 Kirby Rd - planning permission has been refused. Amended plans were discussed at the December 2005 meeting.

h      Change of use of speedway area from motor racing/race testing to a driving performance centre - Rockingham Motor Speedway.

As this application was only received on Saturday 11 February it was decided that a special meeting should be held at the Village Hall at 7 p.m. on Thursday 2 March.

12    Finance Matters

	a	Current balance		8983.66
	b	Payments received	Silver Band - rent	100.00
	c	Payments due	Uppingham C.C. - newsletter	58.30
			R.J. Fer guson - half-pipe repairs	15.00
			P A Oram - Petty Cash	23.19

d      Clerk's resignation

The clerk has decided to retire and it was agreed that we should advertise for a new clerk in the Post Office and the Notice Board. It was agreed that the clerk would sort out the advert with the chairman and a specific request for the salary banding should be shown.

13    Police Matters

The Police attended the meeting and emphasis was placed on distraction burglaries, which have been common in the area recently. She was asked about a burglary in Kirby Rd last September and so far no statement has been taken, said this would be looked into. In answer to a question about theft of riding tack and hay being stolen from premises in Gretton Brook Rd she said this matter was being looked into. Police suggested that a "Patch" walk with councillors could be arranged in the near future.

Andrew Royle commented that all the wheelie bins in Dingley have a 30 MPH sign on them so at least once a week motorists are made aware of the speed restriction. Clerk to find out how this might be arranged.

Parish Council received a copy of the letter sent to Kerry Greenan regarding speeding in Corby Rd. This would be put on the agenda and discussed at the next meeting.

14    Any Other Business

Mark Thompson reported that there was a faulty light next to the Old Vicarage; also reported a considerable amount of dog fouling in the recreation field.

Ailsa Dempster also reported dog fouling from station Rd to the Post Office. and sets of Village Hall accounts were distributed to councillors.

Paul Seaton reported that T. Forsey had refused to accept the letter regarding parking. Clerk asked to send a letter to tenants and a copy to T. Forsey.

Terri Meechan reported that a new "Princess" had been elected - Leanne Bell - she was now looking for a sponsor for the cost of the dress.

Barrie Woolley reported that work being done by the main river bridge was to do with taking out the siphons.

Tim Fox asked who was responsible for keeping the Bus shelter clean and tidy as it had a lot of glass and rubbish inside it. Clerk to find out who has responsibility for this.

15    Date of next meeting - Monday 13 March 2006 - Annual Meeting at 7 p.m. followed by monthly Parish meeting.