19 November 2018
Action Notes
Date: Tuesday, 19 November 2018
Meeting: Belton Village Liaison Meeting
Location: General Manager’s Office
Start time: 5.30 pm End time: 6.20 pm
Attendees and their role at the meeting:
1. Ian Cooper, National Trust - General Manager (IC)
2. Note Taker: Deborah Thomas, Business Support Co-ordinator (DT)
3. Simon Syddall, Deputy Chairman, Belton Parish Council (SS)
4. Sally Thompson, Parish Councillor, Belton Parish Council (ST)
5. Tony Hopwell, Belton Villager (TH)
1.
Acceptance of Minutes of 7th August 2018
1.1 The minutes were agreed including the following amendment.
Item 3.1 Amend to “Tony Hopwell advised that his attendance at the meetings was in a hand over capacity and he would be standing down after the first 3 meetings of the Belton Liaison Meeting”
Action for DT
2.
Matters Arising from last meeting
2.1.1 Belton Village Residents Listing by NT
• Tony Hopwell confirmed that he had circulated an update list to Deborah Thomas and Debra Saunders at the National Trust on 24 August and 2 November 2018.
Noted
2.1.3 “No Parking” cones along Main Street on Bank Holidays at busy periods or for events:
• As an add-on to discussions at the last meeting, Tony Hopwell asked if cones could be put out on busy school holidays and National Trust events.
Agreed
2.2.2 NT Belton House “on site” residents
Tony Hopwell advised the National Trust “on site” residents had given permission for their details to be circulated and this had been included in Belton Village residents listing prepared by Tony Hopwell and circulated with the listing on 28 August 2018.
Noted
2.3.1. Second Line of hedging in front of fence – Five Gates Lane
Tony Hopwell asked the General Manager for an update in relation to the above. The General Manager advised that the current situation was that no progress had been made as the National Trust needed to identify what it wished to do with the area. He confirmed the Outdoors and Garden Manager and the Facilities and Operational Support Manager were currently reviewing the area, and that funding was a challenge. Tony Hopwell advised that the initiative had been one from the National Trust and not the Belton Village initially. The General Manager reported the National Trust were also in discussions with the Woodland Trust on the Belmount Tower site in relation to joint working regarding entrances and walks for the new Hub site. He advised that the Council had also indicated they may wish to become involved regarding the possible closure of Five Gates Lane.
Ongoing
2.4 Unsafe Wall – Churchyard/Italian Garden
Tony Hopwell asked if progress had been made on the unsafe wall. The General Manager confirmed that the Facilities and Operational Support Manager had made the wall temporarily safe. However, the National Trust were obtaining a survey report to confirm what is required to permanently safely restore the wall. It was hoped that this would be remedied within the next two weeks. The General Manager confirmed the Church would be consulted as part of this process.
Ongoing
2.5.2 No. 1 and The Forge - update
Tony Hopwell asked if a decision had been made on the letting status of No. 1 and The Forge. The General Manager confirmed that No 1 is going to be a Holiday Cottage and that no other Holiday Cottages were planned in the village in the foreseeable future. The Forge would not be occupied by a Blacksmith and would be a standard rental with off street parking.
Noted
2.6.1 Biomass Boiler Project
Tony Hopwell asked the General Manager what the current status of the IC/SS/Howard Pell meeting was. The General Manager confirmed there had been no changes since the discussions at the last meeting. He advised that a Planning application had now been submitted. Simon Syddall advised that the Parish Council had not been aware that an application had been submitted. The General Manager confirmed that plans were shown to Howard Pell, the village representative and the General Manager confirmed there would be no change to the discussions at that meeting going forward. He confirmed that the Biomass boiler would be located next to the Dutch Barn and it would be screened from sight. It would not be located in the position originally proposed.
Noted
2.7.1 Feedback on Belton Old School Village Hall Main Hall wooden floor
The Business Support Co-ordinator confirmed she had checked with the contractor and he had confirmed that the floor would be waxed (not varnished) due to the wood being the original flooring to the historic building. She advised that there had been a recommendation from the Contractor that the floor be waxed every 2-3 years and not 5 to keep the floor in good condition.
Noted
2.8.1 Notification to Belton Villagers of NT Events
Tony Hopwell advised that an updated email listing for Belton Villagers had been circulated but he did not receive the opportunity of early morning deer stage viewing with warden or the recent apple picking. The Business Support Co-ordinator advised that she had circulated the information on the email list she had for the Community Apple Day but Tony Hopwell’s email address had been incorrect. She was unsure what had happened in relation to the deer stage viewing as this was not her event. Posters for the Apple Picking Day had been circulated around the village. She confirmed that a recent email had been circulated to villagers regarding the forthcoming Tree Decorating Day at the Old School on 1 December. Tony Hopwell confirmed he had received this email. Sally Thompson very kindly offered to distribute the posters for the Tree Decorating Day around the village.
Noted
3.1 Constitution of Liaison Meetings
Tony Hopwell advised that he had retired from the Parish Council a few years ago. He would therefore attend the first three meetings as a bridge from the previous committee. Two Parish Councillors and the NT General Manager would then be the Liaison Committee (Attendance at meetings would rotate between Simon Syddall, Sally Thompson and Colin Thornton).
Action for DT
Noted
3
New items
3.1 NT Bonfires
Tony Hopwell asked if the National Trust Belton House could be considerate to Belton Villagers when leaf burning and account for the wind direction. It was understood that Michael Coney had three days of burning with smells over his house and property. Tony Hopwell advised that the issue of bonfires had been discussed at a meeting during 2015, where Alec Gordon, the General Manager had advised that there would be no burning in the Wood Yard area for the foreseeable future.
Noted
Ian Cooper (General Manager) advised due to the hot summer weather there had been restrictions on burning on site. Therefore there had been a backlog. He advised there shouldn’t be any further burning in the Wood Yard and advised there were plans to obtain a skip to remove the backlog down by the lakes at Belton House. Going forward a brick enclosure would be built to keep the amounts burnt at any one time down to low levels. He advised there should be no burning during the evening.
Tony Hopwell responded he was pleased that the NT were addressing the issue and thanked the General Manager for actioning this.
Noted
3.2 Access to Church for NT Visitors when Stables Work Complete
Tony Hopwell advised that many visitors have been saying that they could not find their way to the Church because of changed access arrangements to the gardens whilst the Stables work was ongoing. He advised that the Church Alms-Box receipts were approximately 40% down this year and it was hoped that visitor access from the stable yard through the gate to the Italian Garden could be re-opened as soon as possible.
The General Manager advised that the access gate had been closed because of concerns regarding damage to the gardens, caused by families playing games. He reported that since the closure the garden was in a much better condition and so the gate would not be opened when the stables restoration was complete. Tony Hopwell asked if anything could be done to make people better understand where access was to the Church. He asked if the history of the Church and its relation to Belton could be linked to the National Trust website.
The General Manager agreed to review this matter when the Stables work was completed in May 2019.
IC Review May 2019
3.3 Mounting Post for Parish Council – Reactive Speed Sign – road edge of Community Orchard
Sally Thompson referred to previous conversations with the Alec Gordon (previous General Manager) whereby the post was felt to be a good idea. She advised the Highways had been consulted but had not responded. It was believed a post past the orchard to be more practical (its currently southerly facing on approach to orchard not working). It was agreed the sign should not be under the Chestnut tree in the orchard and would be more beneficial beyond the Bus Stop.
Ian Cooper confirmed he was happy for Simon Syddall to approach the Highways Department to pursue the above. It was agreed that Ian Cooper should be kept informed of discussions.
Agreed
4.
Any Other Business
• Ian Cooper confirmed he had no other business to raise.
• Simon Syddall confirmed he had no other business to raise.
Belton Village Christmas Lunch
• Tony Hopwell understood that an email had been forwarded by Julie Coney in the village advising that the Village Christmas Lunch would be held this year in the Pavilion Café at Belton House. An area would be sectioned off for this event. Ian Cooper advised the Trust could look at a new location once the Stables development was completed.
• Tony Hopwell asked what the arrangements would be for the infirm villagers. It was agreed that the best course of action would be to park in the disabled car park and for the Greyhound to transport those who required a lift to the Pavilion.
Printed copy of Belton Liaison Meeting
• Sally Thompson asked if she could have a copy of the minutes in printed form in large print. This was agreed.
Noted
Agreed
5.
Date and Time of Next Meeting
The following dates were agreed by the Committee as future meeting dates:
• Monday, 4th February 2019 – 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm (GM Office, Belton House)
• Monday, 6th May 2019 – 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm (GM Office, Belton House) (Please note this date is a Bank Holiday)
The committee confirmed that these dates were acceptable. Sally Thompson thanked Tony Hopwell for his hard work on the Belton Village Liaison Meeting.
The meeting closed at 6.20 pm