STINCHCOMBE PARISH WEBSITE - Parish Council Minutes 182 26/07/05

In Attendance

Mr D Wride (District Councillor)

Mr W Grant (Coopted Member of Dursley Rugby Club Management Committee)

Apologies for Absence
Mrs M Wannell

Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming the Councillors and District Councillor.

1-Approval of Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 7^th and 15^th June 2005
The Minutes as circulated were found to be an accurate record of the Meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.(71/05)

2-Actions arising from Minutes

-Presentation by Mr Grant of Dursley Rugby Club (Minute 69/05 of previous Meeting)
Mr Grant gave a briefing of the future intentions of the Rugby Club. This briefing had been arranged by Mr Holloway as requested at the previous Meeting of the Parish Council.
The Club has been quite successful in attracting membership and interest in Rugby in the local community. Following a study of the requirements of the Club and of the local community a Strategy Document has been prepared.

Phase 1 of the Proposals involves the acquisition of a parcel of land forming part of Townsend farmlands at the Southern boundary of Stragglers Field along Oldhill Lane in order to provide additional play area.. This would enable the creation of one large and one small pitch. Problems of access remain to be resolved. Stroud District Council Planning Officers have indicated that they would look favourably on an Application for Change of Use from agricultural to recreational as it is the policy of the Council to promote recreational and sporting facilities.

Phase 2 involves longer term Proposals for the rebuilding of the Clubhouse so as to improve facilities available to Members.

Some discussion then followed. Chairman suggested that the Club should keep the Parish Council and Residents updated on developments as they proceed. Mr Grant pointed out that the Club are considering the setting up of a Liaison Group for this purpose. Information will be published on the Website but this is no substitute for face to face presentations to Residents.

The view of Councillors was that the Planning Applications for the two phases should be kept separate as experience with an earlier Application for the redevelopment of the Clubhouse had proven extremely contentious.

This brought the briefing to a conclusion. Chairman thanked Mr Grant for taking the trouble to meet the Parish Council and Mr Holloway for arranging the briefing. (72/05)

-Councillor Training Courses Clerk asked for confirmation of the number of Councillors wishing to attend the “Nuts and Bolts” Training Course on 21^st September. Todate there has been one firm commitment; Mr Holloway will decide in seven days time (73/05)
Action-Councillors

-Neighbourhood Watch-A presentation by Mr Whitlock has been arranged on Thursday 28^th July at 7 30PM in the Village Hall. (74/05)

-Neighbourhood Warden Patrols-Clerk has not received a reply to his letter to Mr Sullivan. Renewed contact will be made. Clerk was asked to forward copy of the correspondence to Mr Wride. (75/05)
Action-Clerk

-Triangle at Junction of Taits Hill Road and Clingre Lane-One Councillor doubted the need to clear the site. After some discussion Clerk was asked to obtain a quotation. (76/05)
Action-Clerk

-Refurbishment of Drinking Water Fountain-Clerk was asked to obtain further details of the work being proposed in the two quotations. (77/05)
Action-Clerk

All the other Actions have been completed.

3-Planning Applications
Current Planning Applications were reviewed. It was noted that Enforcement Action was being proposed by SDC Officers for the removal of the Mobile Home, Floodlights, Haybarn and Tackroom at the “Palisades” following the refusal of Planning Applications S05/1005 and 1008.
(78/05)

4-Footpaths and Rights of Way
There was nothing to report under this Heading.(79/05)

5-Highways
-Fourth Annual Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Seminar-Wednesday 5^th October 2005-Clerk was asked to circulate the Notice to Councillors.(80/05)
Action-Clerk

-Snow Warden and Snow Plough Operator Questionnaire-This was handed to Mr Holloway for his attention. It was noted that the Parish currently lack an approved Operator. (81/05)
Action-Mr Holloway

-Traffic on Wick Lane-Clerk reported on a recent telephone conversation with Mr Morris, SDC Enforcement Officer. A site meeting was held with the Developer and his Agent on 6^th July. The results of a second site survey in which the actual profiles of the bund were compared with those previously approved were presented by the Officials. The Developer was then asked to inform SDC of any action being proposed to achieve a better match. Todate no response has been received beyond a letter from the Agent informing SDC that he had written to the Owner on the subject.
SDC remain of the view that sufficient topsoil is available on site to cover the bund and that only the import of finishing materials for the Gallops should be necessary from this point.
No further imports will therefore be allowed pending the receipt of the Developer’s proposal and any breach will attract immediate Enforcement Action. (82/05)

6-Facilities
There is nothing to report under this Heading. (83/05)

7-Correspondence
Clerk was asked to circulate the Schedule of Correspondence received to Councillors. (84/05)
Action-Clerk

8-Community Safety
These matters have already been dealt with in Section 2 “Matters Arising from Minutes”

9-Financial Matters
The Internal Audit is currently underway and hence the Building Society Book and other financial documents are unavailable.
Payments of the £40 Chairman’s Allowance to Mr Brown and of £24 to the Village Hall Trust were authorised.(85/05)

10-Reports by Councillors

-Mr Wride-The decision by Tenants to keep the Housing Stock under the control of SDC will be discussed at the September Meeting of the Council. This will have farreaching financial implications. (86/05)
The Stroud Cinema will be opening in October. (87/05)

-Mr Bartlam suggested that consideration should be given by the Parish Council to the purchase of the field behind the Village Hall. Chairman noted that this could only take place with a set purpose. Clerk was asked to place the matter on the Agenda for the September Meeting of the Parish Council. (88/05)
Action-Clerk

In the meantime Mr Bartlam was asked to prepare a proposal plan for circulation to Councillors ahead of the Meeting. (89/05)
Action-Mr Bartlam

-Mr Brown raised the matter of the Trafalgar Day celebrations. Todate he has received two questionnaires, both supporting the planting of a commemorative tree. Mr Bartlam has received one questionnaire supporting a beacon on the field alongside the Village Hall. Mr Holloway has received one further questionnaire.
Chairman noted that Mr Connell is prepared to provide and plant a tree and that the involvement of the Parish Council would therefore be limited to the provision of a commemorative plaque. The best location for the tree would be in the Church Field.
The planting of a tree in the Church Field and the provision of a commemorative Plaque was then proposed by Mr Holloway and seconded by Mrs Shaw. This was unanimously agreed. (90/05)

11-Dates of Next Meetings
-Thursday 28^th July at 7 30PM -Presentation on Neighbourhood Watch Scheme by Mr Whitlock
-Tuesday 6^th September at 7 30PM-Meeting of the Parish Council

The Meeting was closed at 9 13PM.

J Larroucau
Clerk to the Council min 182