Chairman's Report 2006/2007

On October 6th 2006 the Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood, Councillor Ken Pacey and Mrs Maureen Pacey visited Seagrave to officially open the new Splat play equipment on South Long field. They were escorted around the village, took lunch in Church, where they met residents, representatives from Splat, the School, the Parish Council and the Borough and County Council. After the Mayor had officially opened the new play equipment, he and the Mayoress attended the School Harvest Festival in the Memorial Hall. Photographs of this very successful and enjoyable day can be seen on the web-site -www.seagraveparishcouncil.org.uk

The 2006 Remembrance Day Service was attended by a large number of residents and visitors. Thanks go to John Dean for leading the Service and to the ladies providing refreshments afterwards in the Memorial Hall.

The Parish Council has entered the Best Kept Village competition 2007. The format of the competition has altered greatly since the Parish Council last submitted an entry. Two categories out of a possible five are required. The two chosen were Building Community Life and Village Venture. This has involved the Memorial Hall Committee, Splat and the Wednesday Club held in Church.

In the Chairman's report of 2005/6 reference was made to the Environment Report of 2001. There were several areas of work outstanding. The hedge between South Long and the Memorial Hall fields. The Tree Warden's recommended clearing all hedging material between the two fields, leaving the living trees - adding more if necessary. The Councillors' agreed to this (minutes 13.Dec .06 item 06/114) This work will now be looked again in the
Autumn. The possibility of a circular walkway from Seagrave, Mucklegate Lane, Pawdy Crossroads and Big Lane has not progressed. This was raised at a joint meeting with British Gypsum and a report will be given at the May 07 Council meeting. The Woodland area on Big Lane. In the May 2007 Parish Magazine a full explanation of the Council's decision not to proceed with this project was given. (copy of magazine article can be seen at the Parish Office) Many months of work and research highlighted numerous complicated legal reasons for this to be halted. The Parish Council is grateful to the Village Organisations who had offered trees for this project.

The Parish Council is indebted to the Tree Warden's for their commitment and hard work over the last twelve months. 100 free trees have been secured by them from Leicestershire County Council. These whips have been sited on the allotments until the Autumn.

I would like to express my thanks for the support shown to all Parish Councillors and the Parish Clerk over the last year. It has been a very demanding and at times difficult year, with an ever increasing work load. When the Parish Council reluctantly accepted Councillor Lesley Tyers resignation, it reduced the Councillors to 4. At the Elections on the 3rd May 07 three candidates expressed an interest in serving as Parish Councillors and were nominated. The two remaining vacancies will be filled by the Parish Council co-opting. After serving as a Parish Councillor for the past ten years, Harry Porter has decided to stand down. Denis Hand has
also decided not to continue. To Lesley, Harry and Denis our sincere thanks for all they have achieved in serving as Parish Councillors.