Catthorpe Village Meeting Minutes 21stMay 2025

There were 21 villagers present, Quintin Heath chaired the meeting.

1. Election of Chair & Secretary:  Quintin Heath and Jacqui Day appointed for a further year.

In Jaqui’s absence, Jules Franks kindly offered to take notes of this meeting.

2. Accounts

Income was £1515.00 from Lillbourne windfarm and we spent £690, so an excess on the year of £846. We have cash in bank account of £3,077.

Costs still to be paid include defibrillator. web site and tree plaque (in total £373)

In answer to a question; defibrillator replacement battery (and pads) is every 2 years battery pack, which we would need to replace for every use Villagers were asked to please let Quintin know if it is used. The code for the defib is C159X.

The accounts were approved. 

The Swinford windfarm money is held by a Community Interest Company (Eight Parishes CIC) and may be used for longer term projects, we have circa £20k in reserve and an income of 3k for the next 10 years. 

It was noted that the requirement to get access to the Swinford windfarm is to adhere to the governance of the spend via form filling which is approved by the CIC and demonstrate that the money is for the community.

Action: Quintin will seek advice on whether the money may be used for local charities. 

3. Harborough 

It was noted that there is a national government consultation underway about the structure of local government in Leicestershire and whether there is a need for both the County and District council levels. 

4. Ideas for Improvements Projects

Idea 1. pipes for water supply for the allotments. It was noted that there may be considerable obstacles (need for a digger, road closure, connection to the mains, who would pay for water usage), there was support from the floor to develop this idea. Action:  Dave Penny to investigate 

Issue: Jean raised the issue with her fence panel was being overtaken by unmanaged growth on the allotment. Action: Dave Penny has kindly offered to cut down Jean’s overgrowth.

Idea 2: Matt Grindall proposed that a village & church notice board be installed to publish both church and village news at the church gate. It was noted that St Thomas’s is a village asset and that it does not have sufficient cash to run monthly, so is not able to not contribute. 

Approved: the spending of £600 by the Village Meeting on the noticeboard was approved

Idea 3: Proposed by Paul Bowen on behalf of Rebecca Bowen: to install a cyclist repair station as Catthorpe is on a national cycle route. Cost is about £1500; the stand can be logo-ed to say we supported it. Need a location. There was uncertainty about whether it would attract cyclists, who are normally self-sufficient in repairing their bikes. Action Paul Bowen to develop the idea further (including photos) and suggest a location. 

Idea 4: It was proposed; to replace the Catthorpe sign on the Swinford Road with one with a wooden frame, possibly on the planter. Action Jules Franks to develop a proposal. 

Idea 5: Proposed to replace the planter box for the bottom (Rugby Road) planter. Action Jules Franks to produce a proposal to repair or replace the planter.

Idea 6: Allotment fence the hedge line has become overgrown and this year a group of volunteers (GOGs) have tidied it up. The proposal is to replace all 23 panels of estate fencing to have a secure boundary, at a cost of about £1526. Designed by Bryn It would be painted black   Action: Josh Letten to circulate the final version of the proposal for any further feedback and final approval.

In addition, Jen Wyke offered to create an expenditure request form for future projects (completed). 

Idea 7: Suggestion of a native hedge along allotment fence line. Either side; hedge maintenance verses visibility of the road. Action: Need all cost options for fence and hedging in the allotment side: Quintin to get a quote. James Grindal has kindly offered to maintain if planted. It was noted idea 6 & 7 could work together.

Idea 8: Propose: Chris jones. put up a mirror at the junction from Lillbourne to Main St. Action Quintin will ask the council for any suggestions. 

Idea 9: Proposal: create a project group to generate ideas to reduce speeding in the village. Want to see data from the current camera. Action: Andy N will be asked if he can share data from the camera, Jen W offered to assess it. Quintin to ask council what information and ideas are available for the village to consider. Working group on speeding, volunteers were Amy Grindal, Jo Grewer, Jen W. & Chris.

Idea 10: Fly tipping: Action: Jenny W to investigate putting in cameras and other ideas to deter tippers.

Idea 11 History of the village. Action: Quintin to circulate and get specific project aims. Need volunteers. Collate all information first. Mel was interested in being involved.

5. Social activities for 2025/26

Social 1 Remembrance service: was approved in principle, Action Mark to be contact for the event. Matt G asked that Mark has talks to him about logistics of the event. 

Social 2: Christmas lights and an event to switch them on were approved in principle. There may be a requirement to purchase more lights. Need more lights. It was noted that start time of 6 pm would be better for children. Mark to be lead contact, it was requested that we coordinate the Christmas tree light switch on with the church tree and carol service. Action. Blanche & Mark. 

Social 3: Bonfire night was approved in principle (Village to pay for food as last year), and a request to consider the start and finish to be kind to animals. Action Jen to be lead contact.

Social 4: Halloween. The Village needs a new organiser for the Halloween kids’ party. ActionAmy (lead contact) to propose a plan. 

Social 5: Village Social, following a discussion it was believed an afternoon event would be best. Action:  Jules Franks is lead contact and will develop (with others) a proposal.

Present

27 Villagers were present

Quintin Heath opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and setting out the agenda for the meeting

Quintin Heath advised all present that he was happy to continue as Chair, although he is having knee surgery in July and will be out for a bit Nominated by : Matt Grindall Seconded by : Joy Murray

Jacqui Day advised that she was happy to continue as Secretary Nominated by :Lisa Netherwood Seconded by : Matt Grindall

Quintin Heath outlined the finances for the village for the year 2022/23 itemising the income and expenditure for this period, these were itemised in the meeting agenda. Quintin Heath advised that he would post the income and expenditure information with the minutes on the village noticeboard and website. There were no objections or questions with regard to the financial information 

There was a general discussion around the village website and whether it was value for money and whether many people accessed it . The current annual cost for this is £165 and the village has recently renewed the annual subscription.

It was realised that few villagers accessed the website and that there were a range of other options to considered for example WhatsApp and Facebook which did not carry an annual cost. It was agreed to investigate alternative options .

Neighbourhood Plan

Leo Austin prepared and presented a Power Point on this . Leo Austin explained that it was a National process for community planning and would enable the village to access funding in the form of a grant of 18k . Leo Austin advised that in order to move forward with this there would need to be 21 signatures in order to create a forum. This would then enable a framework for Catthorpe to be developed and the priorities for the village to be identified

Leo Austin agreed to send out the information around this but also directed everyone to website neighbourhoodplanning.org to access further information around this .

Lisa Netherwood felt that this was an interesting proposal,and would enable a collective understanding and focus for the village. Julie Franks advised that she had met with Leo Austin to look at this and that the forum would be custodians for village and support future planning. The neighbourhood plan would allow the village to agree on how best to use monies in support of the village and the local community.

Leo Austin advised that 21 signatures are needed to create the forum but that once the forum has been created it did not need to have 21 representatives .

There were no objections to this proposal and so it was agreed to draw up a consultation document.

Lisa Netherwood presented this item and advised all present that it was developed in 1651 to support the poor of Catthorpe by offering financial support for a range of things. Lisa Netherwood advised that we needed to find a way to use the funds which will benefit those in the village who met the criteria . Lisa Netherwood agreed to forward more detailed information on the Poor Plots with the minutes from the AGM.

Quintin Heath asked if any funds had been released and was advised that in the past the Poor Plots money had been used to provide a head stone and to support an educational visit.

Quintin Heath asked all present for suggestions for future social events for the village . Julie Franks suggested an Autumn Dinner/ Harvest Festival activity. Julie Franks suggested that this could be done in collaboration with Catthorpe Manor to further involve the manor with the village .

Judith Smith suggested a Bonfire Night event with those attending bringing their own fireworks to. the event .

Julie Franks reminded all present that the village had planned previously to plant a tree as part of

the Queens Platinum Jubilee but that this had not yet been done . There was a discussion around where the tree should be sited with suggestions of either at the entrance to the village , towards Catthorpe Manor or in place of the Christmas Tree. No definite decision was made but there was some concern over tree management . Lisa Netherwood agreed to provide a map of the village so that a suitable site could be agreed upon.

Village Fete

Lisa Netherwood suggested a Village Fete in the next year .

Rebecca Bowen suggested that Catthorpe consider entering for The Best Kept Village. It was agreed that this item could be part of the village plan in the future.

Jean Byer raised a safety issue in the village . She advised all present that motorists were using her drive to turn their cars around and on occasions driving access her driveway which was a safety concern for her. Jean also raised the issue of bonfires on the allotments and the effect the smoke from the bonfires were having on the air quality in the village.

Quintin Heath advised all present that there were rules and guidance around bonfires and that he would circulate this information..

Jean Byer also mentioned the safety issue around the trees and hedges which obscure the view of traffic passing through the village via the corner of Swinford Road and asked if anything could be done to reduce this area of concern.

Quintin Heath thanked everyone for attending and Chris Horton and Amy White for hosting the meeting.

The meeting closed at 8.25pm.