STN Report of January Syston Town Council Meeting.

Seven members of the public attended the monthly Town Council meeting held on 26th January.
Matters raised by the public.
Two matters where raised by the public, the first related to the Village green/Central Park and cars parking near the Bowls Club. According to the 1956 ordinance survey it is illegal to park on the Village green and the question asked related to whether or not the council were covered by insurance for any accident or accidental damaged caused while parked on the green. The Notice Boards needed up dating to show that no parking for cars was allowed. There may be a need for a codicil required and added to the 25 year lease to the Bowls club. The response from the council was that this needed to be reviewed and it was agreed to add it to the next relevant committee meeting. The second matter raised related to the condition of the car park owned by the Borough Council on Walkers Way/High Street, this was noted during a Ward Walk and passed to the Borough Council.
Chairman’s announcements
Councillor Midgley, Chairman, had received a letter from Councillor Ken Pacey resigning as vice chairman of the council and from the development and general purposes committee but he continues as a council member, Amenities Committee member and chairman of the resources committee. He stated that this was for personal reasons.
The weather had not prevented councillors turning out to committee meetings and thanked councillors for attending in such wintery conditions. He had attended the official opening of the South Charnwood Leisure Centre on Saturday 23rd January, see separate story on page 3.  A letter had been received for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service apologising for the council being left out of the consultation and it was to be discussed at the next amenities meeting so that they could agree what they want from the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service.
The area forum will meet in Syston on 11th February at the Working Men’s Club, Brookside. Allan Clarke, town manager, had been in communication with Mr P Carver of The Town Square about the problems with youths and was asking about a dispersal order. PC Carly Adams responded by saying that one was already in place and that the new Inspector at Syston was going to be looking into a no drinking policy for the Town Square, Central and Donkey Park, it has to be put forward to gain approval and she would update the council once the outcome was known.
Police report
There had been five burglaries of dwellings in January down on December figures, enquiries were ongoing. Non-dwelling burglaries down three reported. Four thefts reported again lower than December although thefts of cycles where up. There had been four thefts from vehicles and there was no pattern to these events, enquiries are continuing. No thefts from shops had been reported. Seven reports of criminal damage down one on December figures and three criminal damage to vehicles, again down on the previous month. There had been 44 calls about anti-social behaviour. She also reminded the council that the neighbourhood watch meeting had been arranged for Monday 8th February in the community centre.
Councillor Ken Pacey added that he had gone out with the police and the new inspector on Friday 22nd January in one of the antisocial behaviour vans and wanted to thank the Police for allowing him to join them. Their time was spent chasing the same group of youths around the area between Thurmaston, Syston and Birstall, who were drinking alcohol. The Anti-Social Behaviour van will be in these areas every Friday between 7.00pm and midnight.
Council Items discussed
Planned redecoration of the community centre was now urgent, it was agreed that there was no need to gain additional 10 further quotes and the Amenities committee were asked and agreed to waive this to propose an additional three quotes. This would then be considered at the resources meeting in order to make a quick decision.
The Cricket Club had been asked by the league if another cricket club, from Wigston could play on the same wicket. This was rejected after discussion as the cost to Syston Cricket Club and the council may be higher than any income received.
County/Borough Councillors report
Councillor David Houseman reported that the council needed to be aware of the protocol when attending the area forum, to avoid any one council dominating the meeting. The Connect2 lottery bid funding was now available for a plan to incorporate a new bridge to go over the confluence of the river Wreake and the canal near the marina. It will be built high enough for any future navigation rights for travelling towards Melton and should connect with Cossington. The plan had incorporated steps which have to be removed to avoid discrimination of disabled users. The bus stop on Glebe Way had now been enhanced with the grass verge removed, curb raised and covered with a hard standing surface. Watermead Park, Tony Newman had suggested that a football pitch could be included at the Syston end of subject to a review.
Councillor Mike Preston reported the closures to Barkby Road for implanting the traffic calming humps. The Budget at County level was being reduced by £70 million over the next three years which will result in staff losses but that there should be no reduction in services.
Loughborough is looking for small additional sites outside of the National Forest area and Syston could be recommended. The Big switch off had saved Charnwood Borough Council 0.5% of its energy usage which if done across a full year would amount to a saving of £2.6million. The County Council are looking at reducing the brightness or switching off some lights.
Councillor Tom Barkley reported that Charnwood Borough Council was promoting the Wild Card for children five to 16 years to gain discounts during half-term in February and Mini movers at Syston Library. Also a grant had been received for seven Leicestershire districts to provide a choice of housing opportunities and that the first council homes in 19 years are to be built in the Charnwood area. The latest news stated that the country was coming out of recession but this was not evident in Charnwood as yet.
Councillor Ken Pacey reported that licensing requests had been received mainly from clubs and restaurants to open until 3.00 or 4.00am, these had not been granted. If one was granted it would make it difficult in the future to reject any further requests. The police official objections aided the rejections. The reference group and training are now available to parish and town councils and suggested that the town manager may find these useful. Parking problems report produced concluded that there was little that could be done in the Loughborough university area. The next report will take in a wider area which will include Syston.
Councillor Steve Hampson made the council aware that some residents in Queniborough were objecting to the proposed site of the new Cemetery for Syston.