STINCHCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 11^TH OCTOBER 2005
AT 7 30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL

In Attendance
WPC T Rogers (Rural Beat Officer)
Mr P Helbrow (SDC Community Safety)
Mr C Edwards (Neighbourhood Warden)
Mr D Wride (District Clr)
One Resident

Apologies for Absence
Mr D Andrewartha (County Clr)

Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming the Resident , the District Councillor and the  Community Safety and Police Representatives.

1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 6^th September 2005

The Minutes as previously circulated were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman. (117/05)

2-Actions arising from Minutes

-Drinking water Fountain-This item will be dealt with under Section 6 Facilities

-Fourth Annual Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Seminar-Clerk was asked to circulate a note to Councillors.(118/05)
Action-Clerk

-Snow Warden and Snow Plough Operator-Approval is still outstanding.(119/05)
Continuing Action-Mr Holloway

-Trafalgar Commemorative Tree-Chairman has obtained the Vicar’s approval for the planting of the tree in the Church Field. Mr Connell has agreed to supply and plant an English Oak tree during the present planting season (September to January). Mrs Wannell was asked to coordinate the project. (120/05)
Action-Mrs Wannell

-Berkeley Stakeholders Committee-Clerk agreed to inform the Chairman of the Committee of Mr Bartlam’s nomination as Parish Council Representative. (121/05)
Action-Clerk

All the other Actions have been closed.

At this point Section 9 was dealt with out of sequence  for the convenience of attending Police and SDC Officers.

9-Community Safety

Clerk opened the discussion by presenting the latest Crime Statistics for the Parish. These show a significant improvement over the equivalent period in 2004, with no reported domestic burglaries up to the end of August.

Chairman then confirmed the intention of the Parish Council to support the Neighbourhood Warden Patrols and looked forward to maintaining the close working relationship with the new  Rural Beat Officer which had previously been established with PC Croot.

The Rural Beat Officer then outlined her duties noting that she may be contacted on the following telephone numbers.

Mobile    07740 441850

Office      01452 335743.

Mr Wride noted that the Mobile Police Station would be attended by an Officer of Stroud District Council giving an opportunity for Residents to raise particular matters of concern.

Matters of current concern to the Parish Council were

• Late night use of swings causing disturbance to near residents
• Indiscriminate dropping of litter from passing cars, cars parked offroad and by people using the bench seats in the Parish
• Use of Bridleways by motorcycles and offroad vehicles-Mr Helbrow noted the new powerswhich enable the Police to issue warnings culminating in the eventual seizure of the vehicle
• Obstructive Parking by visitors to  Dursley Rugby Club on the highways and verges- Mr Holloway noted that the Club had taken special steps to deal with the matter over recent weeks.

Mr Helbrow then outlined the activities and powers of the Neighbourhood Warden Patrols. Patrols would be carried out amounting to 3 to 4 hours per week. The separate  settlement areas of the Parish would be adequately covered. The arrangements are being left flexible for operational reasons Specific hotspots can be dealt with by special request. Mr Edwards will provide a monthly report on the activities and achievement of the Patrols.

It was agreed that the offer contained in Mr Sullivan’ letter of 16^th May 2005 was quite acceptable. The initial trial period will terminate on 31^st October.

Clerk was asked to notify Mr Sullivan of the Council’s formal acceptance of his offer. (122/05)
Action-Clerk

This will enable SDC Community Safety to send the necessary invoice to the Parish Council. Agreed payments were £100 for the period 1^st November 2005 to 21^st March 2006 and £300 for each year thereafter.

At this point Mr Holloway proposed and Mr Bartlam seconded the motion that a payment  of £100 for the period 1^stst March 2006 and £300 for each year thereafter be authorised. This was unanimously agreed. (123/05) November 2005 to 31

Finally Clerk was asked to approach Inspector Donovan regarding the appointment of a Community Safety Police Officer with responsibilities for Stinchcombe.(124/05)
Action-Clerk

3-Planning Applications

Current Planning Applications were reviewed. The following were the subject of detail discussion.

-Cricket and Rugby Ground-
Change of Use of Agricultural Land to Outdoor Recreational Use
Clerk noted that the Application was to be considered at the Development Control Committee Meeting of 11^th October. (Post Meeting Note-Consideration has been deferred to the 8th November Meeing)

Chairman has attended a Meeting of the Rugby Club Development Committee where he was given the opportunity of voicing the concerns of local Residents. The Committee  confirmed that they are anxious to establish good relations with local Residents and that they would take their concerns on board. Plans cater for the provision of a sizeable parking area within the grounds and  all access will be through the existing gate and drive and through an aperture in the existing hedge. No access along Northfield or Oldhill Lane is being considered.

With regard to the possible redevelopment of the Clubhouse, which would inevitably lead to greater use and increased disturbance to Local Residents, this project was viewed to be a long way into the future (maybe six to seven years) The immediate priority lies in the provision of the extra pitch and training areas.

An open Meeting is being arranged at the Club House on 19^th October next to which all Residents are invited.

The Chairman noted that the Parish Council had taken all reasonable steps to represent the concerns of the local Community.

Mrs Shaw remains concerned at the lack of consistency of the information being provided by the Club.
(125/05)

-The Palisades-Wick Lane-
The Applications for the Haybarn and Tack room are still under consideration by SDC.

There have been no further contacts between SDC Enforcement Officer and the Applicant on the matter of the construction of the Gallops and the bund.

Clerk has contacted GCC regarding the repairs to the highways and verges. GCC has agreed that the time is opportune to start recovery of costs for the extraordinary road repairs and will write to the Developer. No further information has been received. (126/05)

-Stinchcombe Manor-
Erection of two Semidetached Dwellings, Erection of Single Dwelling-These are resubmissions of an earlier approved Application for the erection of a single Dwelling. The new proposals are larger and may possibly consist of two Dwellings. Chairman noted that the Application was still in circulation for comments by Councillors. He has expressed his own concerns on development creep . The Parish Council will make its response in the normal way following receipt of comments from all Councillors. The Resident expressed concern that following approval of this Application there was every possibility that further developments would be contemplated. (127/05)

It was noted that Neighbours had not received notification of the Application. (PostMeeting Note-Letters were posted on 10^th October)

Mr Bartlam agreed to arrange to copy  the plans and forward them to Neighbours for their information. (128/05)
Action-Mr Bartlam

4-Footpaths and Rights of Way

There is no current activity under this heading.(129/05)

5-Highways

The subject of the Highways Maintenance and Traffic Management Seminar has been dealt with in Section 2 Matters Arising.(130/05

The deteriorating condition of the surface of Church Lane has yet again been raised with GCC.
(131/05)

6-Facilities

Clerk has contacted the  two stonemasons who submitted quotations for the refurbishment of the Drinking Water Fountain.

It proved impossible to get further information from Messrs Omar L Cottle. Messrs McAllister Masonry appeared entirely competent to repair the coping , clean the fascia stonework and restore the lettering. This would involve tidying the characters and highlighting in black paint as per original build.

Under the circumstances Clerk felt that Messrs McAllister should be tasked to proceed with the restoration work. It was noted that this quotation was the cheaper one. This was unanimously agreed. (132/05)
Action-Clerk

7-Special Item-Proposal for Purchase of Millennium Field and Preparation of Parish Plan

The absence of a Parish plan is giving concern to Councillors. Chairman noted that a number of issues would need to be addressed in the longer term, such as the future of the Village Hall, support for expanded sporting facilities, expansion of Industrial Facilities and local employment, provision of affordable housing, etc.

Councillors were asked to give consideration to which items would need addressing in the coming 7 to 10 years.
Action-Councillors

Once these had been agreed it would be possible to start planning the way ahead and the preparation of a suitable questionnaire and enlist such assistance as is deemed necessary

This will be an appropriate item for inclusion in the January Newsletter. (133/05)

These Special Items will be placed on the Agenda  of the next Meeting (133a/05)
Action-Clerk

8-Correspondence

The current schedule was circulated. (134/05)

10-Financial Matters

-The current Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations was approved and the Building Society Balance Verified. (135/05)

-Precept 2006/7-Clerk circulated a note outlining the likely expenditure for the financial year 2006/7 Bearing in mind the escalating insurance costs and the added cost of the Neighbourhood Warden Patrols an increase in the Precept would ultimately be unavoidable , although it should be possible to meet next year’s requirements by running down the Building Society balance slightly.

The matter will be settled at the Parish Council Meeting scheduled for 22^nd November. (136/05)

11-Reports by Councillors

-Mr Wride referred to the Planning Delegation Scheme recently circulated to Parish Councils by SDC. The District Council are under pressure from HMG to reduce the proportion of Planning Applications being referred to the full Committee. Nevertheless the proposal to water down  the powers of Parish Councils to take Applications away from delegation will not be acceptable. It is felt that a visit by Planning Officers to  Parish Councils to discuss the proposals may be useful.

The matter will no doubt be raised at the Chief Executive Meeting with Chairmen and Clerks on 7^th December next.(137/05)

-Mrs Shaw noted the current state of the Clingre Down Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. (138/05)

-Mrs Wannell reported that the installation of insulation and redecoration of the Village Hall will shortly be undertaken. (139/05)

-Mr Bartlam reported that he had attended the recent “Nuts and Bolts” Training Course organised by the Gloucestershire Training Partnership. He noted the formal format of Summons which requires to be issued to Councillors to attend Council Meetings.(140/05)

-Mr Holloway  did not wish to report anything further. (141/05)

-Mr Brown noted that he had received complaints about the boulders placed on the pavement outside Melksham Court. Clerk reported that following earlier complaints by Residents he already had brought the matter to the attention of GCC Highways. (142/05)

12-Dates of Next Meetings

-Tuesday 22^nd November 2005

-Thursday 15^th December 2005

All Meetings start at 7 30PM.

The Meeting was closed at 9 40PM.

J Larroucau