The Stn Editor’s Report on the Full Town Council Meeting held on Tuesday 22nd October 2019

There were 11 Councillors (Cllrs) one CCllr. one Borough Cllr, one member of the public, Lord Willy Bach and Inspector Mark Botte.
Apologies were received from Cllrs L. Towell and M. Carmal.
There were no declarations of interest made in relation to items on the agenda.
There were no public matters raised.
Lord Willy Bach was welcomed to the meeting a he read a short statement thanking the council for the invitation and acknowledged the there were a lot of issues raised in the questions sent to himself and Inspector M. Botte. He thanked the members for their questions. He explained that it is six years since the post of Police and Crime Commissioner was introduced and he is the second commissioner and will be standing down next May after three years. He went on to explain his role and that he holds the budget and so works closely with the chief inspector of Leicestershire police. He has money that he can allocate to try and prevent crime in the broadest sense of the word. Explaining how this is used within the county he then spoke about the recently received violence reduction grant for serious violence, knives, drugs and in close collaboration with other services in the county. Each year produce the police and crime document. Copies were made available to councillors.
He and Inspector M. Botte then went through a series of questions submitted to himself prior to the meeting and answered each one in turn fully. The transcript will be on the Syston Town Council website.
The Chairman thanked both Lord Willy Bach and Inspector M. Botte for attending and answering questions.
Chairman’s Announcements Ms C. Voyce read out a letter from Cllr K. Pacey in which he tendered his resignation as chairman from 1st November 2019, he said that he had found it difficult to continue and attend functions on his own. He will remain as a councillor. No comments were made by any councillors to this notification.
County and Borough Cllrs ReportsCcllr James Poland reported that the County Council (CC) had been awarded £480k over two years to tackle violent youth crime. This funding will help support Advanced Lifeskills programme in schools across the county. He then reported on the Ten-year plan for Country parks which aims to enhance visitor facilities, six parks have been identified including Watermead. Finally, he spoke about the proposed Unitary Status for Leicestershire being put forward to Cabinet and if agreed it will go to full council in December. If this is agreed that will become the focus of the CC going forward. The CC can’t implement this without an Act of Parliament. At the moment it is still in discussion and not everyone is in favour. Borough and districts against it. County MPs also against it at the moment.
Cllr S. Bradshaw spoke about the new chief executive appointed at Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) – see article in November Issue. He told members about Christmas lights switch on in Loughborough 26th November with a variety of activities and finally that another bus service, the 128 is being reviewed.
Cllr K. Pacey reported on Licencing and showed a rule book that the committee have to review every year. It had been passed and will now go to consultation.
Cllr T. Barkley reported on the core strategy consultation which is open until 16th December. Syston Community Centre has a copy of plan and a display open to the public for their views. The Stn included this in in the November Issue.
Council Vacancy Mr Ian Haze had sent in an application but wasn’t present so agreed to invite him to the next full council.
Selection of Panel for EMiB 2020 after a meeting with open spaces and Ideverde. It was suggested the panel should be made up of a Borough Cllr, Town Cllr, and volunteers. The members were asked if they would like to join the panel which will meet in the daytime only. Cllrs T. Barkley and M. Mcloughlin put themselves forward.
Syston Topic Newsletter The Town Manager said that other Leicestershire Councils produce their own newsletter and it ticks the box for the gold award in the Local Council Award Scheme. It wouldn’t be a large print run and will be placed in Shops, Cafes and online it will be a quarterly publication. Proposed and agreed.
Local Council Award Scheme Currently hold a foundation award and want to apply for gold. Agreed to apply for it.
Reform the cemetery panel after a long discussion it was agreed to have a new panel set up for phase 2.
Managers report This had been circulated to members and Ms C. Voyce gave the following updates: Planning permission has been passed for the skate park flood lights. There had been a loss of connection on Central Park camera, but discovered the problem had affected other areas around Syston, Thurmaston and Birstall. Christmas event notices had been circulated. The Allotments minutes to be given to Amenities. A complaint received about Wingfield Park, the complainant attended the meeting and then contacted the her to ask why he hadn’t had a letter with their decision, she has sent him a clip of the minutes and thought as he was present at the meeting it wasn’t necessary to write. She gave an update on the ongoing Tree work around the town.
Friends of Barkby Road Cemetery met and Ms C. Voyce is acting on the requests. All budgets have gone through committees and drafts will be presented as December meetings.
20 headstones had been checked and only two had to be laid down as they were dangerous.
Kay Liquorish went through her work with the allotments. Delivered over 200 letters for the Christmas event.