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Parish Council Minutes 176 10/03/05 |
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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON THURSDAY
10TH MARCH 2005 AT 7 30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present In Attendance
Mr G Brown (Chairman) Mr G Wheeler (County Councillor)
Mr R Holloway One Parishioner
Mr R Bartlam
Mrs M Wannell Apologies for Absence
Mr J Larroucau (Clerk) Mrs M Shaw
Mr D Wride (District Councillor)
Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming the County Councillor and one Parishioner atending the Meeting.
1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 19th January 2005
The Minutes as circulated were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman. (167/04)
2-Matters arising from Minutes
-Maintenance of Millennium Tree-Arrangements have been put in hand to carry out the work as soon as the weather improves. (168/04)
-Neighbourhood Watch Scheme-Volunteers have been identified for the Taits Hill Road and Clingre Down areas. Mr Holloway has identified a potential candidate for the Village and for the role of NWS Coordinator.(169/04)
Action-Mr Holloway
-Facilities-In view of the failure of Wicksteed Leisure to complete the repairs to the Safety Surface it was decided that Clerk will inform the Company that the Parish Council intend to seek legal redress unless the repairs are completed within 30 days. (170/04)
Action-Clerk
All the other Actions have been completed.
At this point Chairman decided to deal with Agenda Item 5 -Highways.
5-Highways
-Lorry Movements through Village
Chairman summarised the current situation and noted that a Meeting of interested parties had taken place on 31st January last. Copy of the Minutes of the Meeting is appended to these Minutes.The main issue requiring resolution is whether the Operator is in breach of the original Planning Permission. To this end County Council and District Council Officials have met on site.Also further contacts have taken place between the Resident and Officials.
Chairman has written to the Chief Executive of SDC expressing the deep unhappiness felt by local residents with the failure of SDC and GCC to control the traffic through the Village.
In response to this letter the Strategic Head of Development Services at SDC was tasked to review the situation. In a letter to the Chairman he has dealt with a number of issues not covered by earlier correspondence and concluded that the actions taken by SDC had been proper and that no immediate remedy was available.
Following a letter from the District Councillor to the Chief Executive a survey was to be conducted by an independent surveyor.This would seek to establish whether the extent of the work and the amount of material brought on site were consistent with the approved drawings. This survey was completed on Monday 7th March and results are awaited.
In further discussion the Resident expressed the view that a project of this scale and nature should have been subjected to a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment addressing not only the impact of the completed project on the locality but also the effect of the construction operations on the infrastructure and on the wellbeing and safety of local Residents.
At this point Chairman noted that the main issues requiring resolution were the compliance with the Planning Permission and the award of compensation to local Residents for the inconvenience experienced. The Resident noted that this was not an issue and that any money allocated would be used to assist the repair of verges and other damage to the highways.
There was however an issue of maladministration by SDC which needs to be addressed.
The way forward was then discussed. It was agreed that Projects of this nature should in future be subjected to a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment. This would not involve the District Council in extra expenditure as the responsibility for its preparation would lie with the Applicant. The Resident was also anxious that Officials at working level should be kept free from blame.
It was then agreed that Clerk would prepare the Council's response to the letter from the Strategic Head of Development Services. This would query why an Environmental Impact Assessment was not commissioned for this project and why the recommendations of the County Council for the regulation of traffic were rejected. It was noted that this latter point had been included in the Planning Permission for the Clingre Farm Development and that prior to the grant of Permission Consultants to this Development had been asked specific questions regarding the impact of the bund on the immediate locality and had been asked to ascertain whether any earth movements could impact the M5 Motorway.(171/04)
Action-Clerk
-Accreditation of Snow Plough Operator
Mr Holloway has dealt with the letter from GCC requiring accreditation of the Snow Plough Operator to comply with Health and Safety Regulations. On site training has been arranged. (172/04)
-Other Matters
-The extension of the Speed Limits on Taits Hill Road has been agreed by GCC following a number of recent accidents. In view of the extensive legal processes involved implementation is unlikely before 2006/7.(173/04)
-Prince of Wales Junction on A38. Damage to the Junction has been caused by the earth moving lorries. Also the reflective posts at the junction of Taits Hill Road and Echo Lane have been destroyed. Clerk will investigate and report to GCC Highways.(173/04)
Action-Clerk
3-Planning Applications
The current Applications were reviewed. Mrs Wannell noted that work was currently being carried out on a garage extension at Newnham House. It is unclear whether this is covered by existing Planning Permissions.(174/04)
4-Footpaths and Rights of Way
It was noted that the Footpath Sign at Whitehouse Farm on Wick Lane is missing. Clerk is to notify GCC Rights of Way Department.(175/04)
Action-Clerk
6-Facilities
Clerk noted that the Annual safety Inspection of the Playground is to be carried out in April. (176/04)
7-Correspondence
-Street Lighting on the Avenue The request by a local schoolgirl was discussed. Councillors concluded that in view of the small number of pedestrians using the footway the provision would not be cost effective.There was also some concern about increasing levels of light pollution. (177/04)
-Legal Services Commission Mr Bartlam agreed to publicise the activities of the Commission in the Newsletter.(178/04)
Action-Mr Bartlam
-Gloucestershire Structure Plan 3rd Alteration 2nd Modification-Councillors do not wish to comment on the changes as they would have minimum impact on the Village.(179/04)
-Review of Local Schools It was noted that the formal consultation process is scheduled to start in September.(180/04)
8-Community Safety
Clerk noted that the next Meeting of the Dursley Cluster of Parishes is scheduled to take place in April. Clerk will query whether Neighbourhood Wardens have been visiting the Parish and what contacts have been made with local Residents.(181/04) Action-Clerk
9-Financial Matters
-The Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations was approved and the Building Society balance verified. (182/04)
-Appointment of Internal Auditor Mr Bartlam proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that Mr Selkirk be reappointed as Internal Auditor. This was unanimously agreed.(182/04)
10-Reports by Councillors
-Mr Wheeler's Report is appended to the Minutes.(183/04)
-Mrs Wannell noted that a van was routinely being parked on Taits Hill Road outside "Glen Dene". Whilst there are no parking restrictions in force on Taits Hill Road this van is causing a significant hazard to other road users. Clerk was asked to discuss the matter with the Police. (184/04)
Action-Clerk
-Mr Holloway has attended the Safety Camera Partnership Meeting at Weston super Mare. The notes will be circulated.
(185/04) Acton-Clerk
-Mr Bartlam noted that few contributions were being received for the next Newsletter
The Stinchcombe Ball is scheduled to take place in May.
Mr Bartlam raised the matter of the Trafalgar Weekend. This needs to be given further consideration. Councillors are asked to submit proposals.(186/04)
Action-Concillors
-Mr Brown raised the matter of the restoration of the Fountain near the Church.This is specialised stonemason work and Mr Brown will try to obtain a quotation from stonemasons engaged on the repairs of the tower at St Georges Cam.
Councillors were asked to seek further quotations.(187/04)
Action-Mr Brown, Councillors
He also noted that the Website in its present form was quite adequate and did not need immediate update.(188/04)
With regard to the Spring Clean in view of the poor response from local Residents last year it was agreed that each area would be responsible for its own spring clean and that this would be coordinated by the local Councillor. An item to this effect was to be included in the Newsletter.(189/04)
Action-Mr Bartlam, Councillors
Clerk agreed to procure bags, gloves, litterpicks etc. (190/04) Action-Clerk
11-Dates of Next Meetings
Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 27th April 2005 at 7 30PM
Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting Wednesday 4th May 2005 at 7 30PM
Annual General Meeting of the Parish Council Tuesday 7th June at 7 30PM
The Meeting was closed at 9 42PM
J Larroucau
Clerk to the Council min 176
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Angela Tocknell |
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| Angela Tocknell is a Church Warden
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