The Chairman welcomed all parish representatives to the Parish Council Forum.

Apologies received as listed above.

To confirm the Notes of the Parish Council Forum held on 10 December 2018.

The notes of the Parish Council Forum held on 10 December 2018 were confirmed as a correct record by parish representatives and were signed by the Chairman.

To discuss any matters arising from the Parish Council Forum held on 10 December 2018.

All matters arising from the previous Forum had been completed.

To receive updates from parish representatives on organisations they represent which might be of interest to other members of the Forum.

Mrs Joyce Lucas thanked all those that had submitted puzzles for the Rutland Jigsaw Festival due to take place from 19 April to 22 April 2019.

To receive a presentation from Mr Dave Pye regarding the progress made by the Highways and Transport Working Group regarding speeding in Rutland, and how the Council considers, investigates and designs schemes for speeding.

Mrs Lucy Stephenson, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Highways & Transport, introduced the item, the purpose of which was to provide the Forum with a progress update on the Highways and Transport Working Group which was still in the first 12 months of it being started. The Working Group are trying to improve the system in how the council considers, investigates, and designs schemes for to reduce speeding in Rutland. The Working Group wished to encourage face to face conversations regarding any issues parishes had.

Mr Dave Pye, Senior Transport Manager, provided the Forum with a presentation, a copy of which is appended to the minutes.

Meeting notes from the Highways and Transport Working Group could be found using the following link:

https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-community/transport/transport-strategy/

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Mr Pye let parishes know that a speed gun was available for use if they wished. A demonstration would be given to those that wish to use it.

    ii.        Mrs Stephenson wanted to emphasise that they were serving Rutland and trying to do the right thing. If there is a problem, the team could come to parishes, sit round a table and try to find a solution.

   iii.        Mr Gilman, Pilton Parish Meeting, noted that when he was 21 there were a lot more road traffic accidents then there are now. In Pilton, the Council did a good job to quickly and promptly setup a 20mph speed limit.

   iv.        Mrs Joyce Lucas, Oakham Town Council, felt that the recently added chicane on Braunston Road in Oakham was not working and that at the entrance to Balmoral Road there should be an improvement to the roundabout.

    v.        Mr Pye noted that simply changing a speed limit was not enough, thought should be given to including signs as to the reasoning for a speed change. For example, if there was a playground nearby, a sign should be placed explaining there may be children crossing the road.

   vi.        Mr David Hodson, Greetham Parish Council, asked that average speed cameras be considered for Rutland, with a camera being placed at the start of the main road of a village and a camera at the end issuing tickets to those over the limit. Mr Hodson noted Leicestershire’s success in implementing average speed cameras in a number of villages. My Pye stated that average speed cameras would be intrusive on the villages with there being a lot of advisory signage to go along with the cameras. Mr Pye suggested that a representative from the Road Safety Partnership could attend a future Parish Forum to explain further on the Council’s plans for tackling speeding within Rutland.

  vii.        Mrs Stephenson stated that if anyone had any further suggestions or feedback that they send them on to her email where she would follow them up. LIStephenson@rutland.gov.uk

To receive a sector update from Jake Atkinson, chief Executive of the LRALC, going into detail regarding changes to the LRALC such as structure, the board and strategy of the LRALC.

Mr Jake Atkinson, Chief Executive of the Leicestershire and Rutland Association of Local Councils (LRALC) provided a verbal presentation to the Forum.

A list of dates for core and specialist training supplied by the LRALC in 2019 was distributed at the Forum, a copy of which is appended to the minutes.

During the presentation, the following points were noted:

      i.        LRALC along with RCC would be run a 90 minute session for county councillors regarding co-operation be county councillors and parish councils.

    ii.        Mr Atkinson thanked those that had responded to the LRALC Development and Member Support Questionnaire, it was a good way to feedback to the LRALC regarding the services and support provided along with any way parishes felt the Association could develop.

   iii.        The LRALC had now become an incorporated company, but was still a non-profit organisation. Becoming an incorporated company meant the LRALC can become more dynamic and react quicker to its members.

   iv.        LRALC had launched an Internal Audit Service which 50 councils had already signed up to.

    v.        A HR Support Service had also been setup which could provide support for recruiting a new clerk or another type of officer.

   vi.        There was plenty of information on the LRALC website regarding purdah which starts on March 25^th 2019 and the incoming local elections. More information could be found using the following link:

https://www.leicestershireandrutlandalc.gov.uk/uploads/elections-faq-2019.pdf

  vii.        Parish Councils must have an internal auditor to undertake an audit of the council at the end of the financial year.

viii.        It was mandatory for each Council to proactively publish certain materials on their website, for example agendas and associated papers. The LRALC will be checking and any issues would be reported as it was an important part of legislation.

   ix.        Nomination packs would be available from the Elections Team at Rutland County Council after 14^th March 2019.

Further information regarding transparency and internal audits could be found using the following link:

https://www.leicestershireandrutlandalc.gov.uk/uploads/the-good-councillors-guide-on-finance-and-transparency-digital.pdf

To receive a briefing from Mr Cliff Bacon, Chair of the Parish Council Working Group, going into detail the role of the Working Group and how Parishes can be involved with the agenda for future Parish Council Forums.

Mr Cliff Bacon, Chairman of the Parish Council Working Group gave a presentation regarding the role of the Working Group and how Parishes can be involved with the agenda for future Parish Council forums.

A copy of the presentation is appended to the minutes.

To receive a progress update on the St George’s Barracks Project from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Oliver Hemsley.

Mrs Helen Briggs, Chief Executive of RCC, provided the Forum with an update regarding the St George’s Barracks Project.

The Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) business case had been submitted. The outcome of which would unlikely to be known until May 2019.

The year of closure of St George’s Barracks was now likely to be 2022, this would not affect the HIF if successful as that would not need to be spent until 2024.

To receive an update from the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Gordon Brown, on changes made to the budget since the briefing to Parishes on Monday 4 February 2019.

Mr Gordon Brown, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, provided the Forum with a finance update.

Mr Brown thanked those that were able to attend the finance briefing at the Museum in early February.

The Government has reduced funding in recent years, and while the Council had made savings and avoided cutting costs from frontline services, it had been a difficult time for the Council. However, there were concerns in regards to future funding. The Council has responded to consultation for the Government’s Fairer Funding Review, however the earliest the Council would know of any feedback would be December 2019.

The council approved the budget at the 25 February 2019 Full Council meeting unanimously. The Council had to raise general Council Tax by 2.99% and 2% for Adult Social Care. 72% of the expenditure of the Council is from Council Tax, while with other authorities it is 60%. The money Rutland receives from Government was significantly less than other authorities.

To receive the Parish Briefing Paper on issues currently affecting Rutland.

Parish Clerks and Representatives are asked to display the document on parish notice boards.

The Parish Briefing Paper was circulated at the meeting.

To consider any other items of business which parish representatives may wish to raise.

The Chairman notes that this meeting of the Forum was the last in this electoral term, and gave thanks on behalf of Rutland County Council and the Forum to all Parish and Town Councillors who would not be standing for election again for all the hard work they have done for their Parish.

To be confirmed at Rutland County Council’s Annual Council

Monday 15 July 2019

Monday 21 October 2019

Monday 13 January 2020

Monday 23 March 2020

Potential agenda items for the Parish Council Forum should be sent to the Governance Team, Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP, or emailed to governance@rutland.gov.uk

To be confirmed at Rutland County Council’s Annual Council

Monday 15 July 2019

Monday 21 October 2019

Monday 13 January 2020

Monday 23 March 2020

Potential agenda items for the Parish Council Forum should be sent to the Governance Team at governance@rutland.gov.uk