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

Apologies were received from the following:

To confirm the Notes of the Parish Council Forum held on 4 March 2019.

The Notes of the Parish Council Forum held on 4 March 2019 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 4 March 2019.

There were no matters arising from the last meeting.

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

No updates were received from parish representatives.

To consider nominations for membership on the Parish Council Working Group.

The Parish Council Working Group currently has the following vacancies:

·         Parish/Town Council Vacancies: 3

·         Parish Meeting Vacancies: 2

If your Parish wishes to put forward a nomination for one member of your Parish to join the Parish Council Working Group, please forward the nomination to governance@rutland.gov.uk.

Nominations to fill the vacancies on the Parish Council Working Group had been received for the following:

·         Cllr Peter Coe – Edith Weston Parish Council

·         Cllr Neil Newton – Empingham Parish Council

·         Cllr Jennifer Maskell – Langham Parish Council

·         Cllr Cornelius Vincent-Enright – Uppingham Town Council

Mr Cliff Bacon proposed that all those nominated should be accepted on to the Parish Council Working Group. This was agreed by the Forum.

Councillor Gordon Brown felt that the terms of reference for the Parish Council Working Group were out of date and asked that the terms of reference be looked at by the Working Group and brought back to the Forum.

Libby Kingsley, Digital Rutland Project Manager at RCC, to provide an update to the Forum on the Digital Rutland Local Full Fibre Networks Project which will deliver full fibre (1GB capable) connectivity to public sector buildings (defining the statutory meaning of “public sector buildings”) in Rutland and stimulate additional commercial full fibre coverage to nearby residential and business premises. Also to provide an update on the enhanced Gigabit Voucher Scheme for rural communities announced in May 2019.

Mr Oliver Hemsley – Leader and Portfolio Holder for Rutland One Public Estate & Growth, Tourism & Economic Development, Communications, Resources (other than Finance), provided the Forum with a presentation regarding the Digital Rutland Local Full Fibre Networks Project. A copy of the presentation would be appended to the minutes.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Deadline for bids into the scheme was October 2019.

    ii.        The Full Fibre Network would provide a better service to the community for the long term future.

   iii.        Further information regarding the project can be found using the following link:

https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-community/digital-rutland/local-full-fibre-networks/

Hugh Crouch, Community Safety Manager at RCC, to speak to the Forum regarding the Community Safety Team at RCC, detailing the scope of the service the team provides and providing further information regarding PREVENT, County Lines, and the main issues of Community Safety within Rutland.

A presentation was received from Rutland County Council’s Community Safety Team detailing the scope of the service the team provides as well as going into detail regarding the Safer Villages Scheme. A copy of the presentation would be appended to the minutes.

If Parishes were interested in signing up for the Safer Villages Scheme, they could register their interest by emailing communitysafety@rutland.gov.uk. Further information about the scheme could be found using the following link:

https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-council/council-news/council-police-and-fire-service-team-up-for-safer-villages-scheme/

A presentation was also received from Matthew Walters, Station Manager at Oakham Fire and Rescue Station.

During the presentation from Matthew Walters, the following points were noted:

      i.        The fire service wanted to work with all parishes with the direction of preventing fires starting in the first place.

    ii.        Plans are to find out who may be in benefit of extra assistance and home safety checks.

   iii.        The fire service wants to get details of each parish to see what they can do for the community.

   iv.        The Chairman noted that smoke detectors can be issued sealed and free of charged.

To receive a presentation from Adrian Gombault regarding recent developments in Neighbourhood Watches across the county and to initiate a discussion about how the Neighbourhood Watches and the Parish Councils can and should work together in the future.

A presentation was received from Adrian Gombault regarding recent developments in Neighbourhood Watches across the county. A copy of the presentation would be appended to the minutes.

During discussion the following point was noted:

It was suggested that businesses should also be encouraged to sign up to the Rutland Neighbourhood Watch app as well as residents.

To receive an update regarding St George’s Barracks and the Local Plan from Councillor Oliver Hemsley and Councillor Gordon Brown.

A presentation was received from Councillor Gordon Brown, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment, Planning, Property, and Finance. A copy of the presentation would be appended to the minutes.

During discussion the following points were noted:

      i.        Dave Hodson from Greetham Parish Council had submitted questions to Councillor Brown prior to the meeting regarding the local plan. The questions and responses would be appended to the minutes.

    ii.        Councillor Gale Waller stated it was the intention of the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee to look at the Local Plan prior to Cabinet. Members of the public would be able to ask questions at the committee.

   iii.        If the HIF bid was successful, the project would be viable to deliver the master plan.

   iv.        If the HIF bid was unsuccessful, there would be the possibility of Homes England coming in and it would be uncertain whether they would follow the master plan.

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

A small number of copies will be available at the meeting. The Parish Briefing Paper will be circulated to all Parishes along with the minutes.

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

The Parish Briefing Paper was circulated at the meeting and would be distributed by email to all parish clerks.

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

There was no other urgent business.

Parish Council Forum

21 October 2019

13 January 2020

23 March 2020

Parish Council Working Group

18 September 2019

11 December 2019

19 February 2020

Potential agenda items for the Parish Council Forum should be sent to the Governance Team at governance@rutland.gov.uk. Once received they will be considered by the Parish Council Working Group.

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 for consideration by the Parish Council Working Group.