Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council – September 2026
Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council held monthly parish council meetings over the summer on 23 June, 28 July and 25 August 2026 in the Studio at the Kibworth Community Hub.
Tuesday 23 June 2026
Parish Manager’s Report
Tree Survey at Rookery Park by Thompson Trees for a cost of £600 + VAT (shared with KHPC on a 50/50 basis) has been completed. Urgent removal of a fallen branch in the cemetery has been completed at cost of £300, shared with KHPC on a 50/50 basis.
Finance
Payments of £37,515.58 since the last meeting were approved.
Transfer of Open Spaces and car parks
Three areas are progressing towards transfer from HDC: land at St Wilfrid’s Close; land on Foley Road; and land around Brookfield Way, Larkswood and Rookery Close. However, School Road and Paget Street car parks will not be transferred because HDC is retaining them as operational properties. The Parish Council expressed disappointment.
Joint Board Expenditure
£730.15 + VAT was approved for the Warwick Park zipwire service, and £525 + VAT for fencing at Smeeton Road play area.
Rookery Park pathway – HDC have approved a grant for £10,000 to add to the grant to improve the slope from Church Road. Work is due to start in July.
Communications
Following negative and allegedly untrue comments on Facebook, the Council resolved that its social media should be used for sharing information and updates only, rather than debating issues. Residents are encouraged to contact the Council directly with concerns.
Planning
Support for a new Kibworth Cricket Club score box and WCs for the second pitch.
An amended application to convert the former Working Men’s Club into nine flats will be considered at the July meeting.
Community Hub
The HDC environmental grant for solar panels had been reduced to £12,463.87. A renegotiated installation price is £14,466, and the Council approved an additional £371.05 plus its previously agreed match funding. The panels could reduce electricity bills by up to 50% and are due to be installed in October. Arrangements are being made to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the 1936 building of the Kibworth Grammar School Hall. The Council resolved to fund an annual Roger Garratt Music Award of around £100 (shared with KHPC) and further work with Kibworth Mead Academy is due in September.
Tuesday 28 July 2026
Public participation
Members from the Stop the New Town (STNT) campaign presented aims and concerns to councillors about the proposed major housing development south of Gartree Road/north of Great Glen — around 4,000 homes. Traffic impacts, particularly on the A6 and Gartree Road, and the lack of a Kibworth bypass were highlighted. The Parish Council agreed to let the campaign hold a Public Meeting in the Hub’s Main Hall on Saturday 15 August from 11am.
Planning
The Council agreed to strongly object to converting the Working Men’s Club on Fleckney Road into nine dwellings, principally because of inadequate parking, bin storage and likely additional pressure on already congested local roads.
Finances
Payments of £23,461.84 since the last meeting were approved.
Old library: The Council decided not to pursue the Scouts’ proposal to list the old library as an Asset of Community Value.
Community Hub: Roof repairs (£540) and gutter clearance (£400) have been completed. The new Scribe booking system is now live.
Cemetery: A workshop project costing £23,081.50 was agreed, with £21,893.52 approved by HDC from s106 funding and the remaining £1,187.98 to be shared 50/50 with KHPC. The piles of compost are due to be removed as part of the project.
Tuesday 25 August 2026
Following Cllr Janet Dowling’s resignation, Cllr Caroline Abbott agreed to join the HR Committee.
Planning
The council supported an outline application for Class E retail/food floor space and a drive-through west of Warwick Road, Kibworth Harcourt. A Toucan crossing is proposed near the new entrance on Warwick Road.
Finance
Payments of £21,439.92 since the last meeting were approved. The external audit had been received, with no matter giving cause for concern over compliance. Staff pay: The 2026/27 NJC pay scales increase is 3.3% and will be implemented in September and backdated to 1 April 2026.
Local Government Reorganisation
Proposed new unitary arrangements for an enlarged Leicester City and doughnut. Leicestershire and Rutland are progressing, with shadow elections in May 2027 and the new councils expected to start in April 2028.
Joint Recreation Board
The tarmac path and entrance-slope work for Rookery Park are complete; with new gates due on 14 September. The council declined to fund a resident’s requested fence extension relating to privacy concerns. Approved spending includes £820 + VAT for remedial tree work at Rookery Park, £815 + VAT for two new Warwick Park benches, and £470.83 + VAT to install slabs under benches at Smeeton Road Park.
The next monthly public council meetings are on 22 September and 27 October at 7pm and will be reported in due course.
For the latest news and information from Kibworth Beauchamp Parish Council, please follow us on Facebook and the Parish Council website.
Maria Smith (clerk@kibworthbeauchamp-pc.gov.uk)
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