Present
Mr G Brown (Chairman)
Mrs M Shaw (Vice Chairman)
Mrs M Wannell
Mr R Bartlam
Mr J Sant
Mr J Larroucau (Clerk)

In Attendance
Mr D Andrewartha (County Clr)
Mr D Wride (District Clr)

The Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming all Councillors and noting that he had a request for the Reports by the County and District Councillors to be advanced to the beginning of the Meeting. It was agreed that these Reports should be taken immediately following Section 2 “Matters Arising from Minutes.

1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 15^th May 2006
The Minutes were found to be a true record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman. (129/06)

2-Matters arising from Minutes
-Trailer at foot of Old London Road-Clerk has ascertained the ownership of the trailer and obtained an undertaking that it will be removed in the near future. Mr Wride will be forwarding documentation required for its enforced removal by SDC should this prove to be necessary. (130/06) Action-Mr Wride

-Water Fountain-Clerk reported that he has been unable to contact Mr McAllister. The face of the Fountain has been cleaned, the base tidied and the lettering painted.

Clerk has spoken to SDC Rural Regeneration Officer in order to carry the approved grant over into the current financial year.

Clerk will again endeavour to contact Mr McAllister to establish his intentions. (131/06)Action-Clerk

All the other Actions have been completed.

10-Reports by District and County Councillors

-Mr Wride reported that the Enforcement Report on the bund at “The Palisades” had not been approved by the SDC Development Control Committee. Some Members had been in favour of the removal of the excess material.

The officials had been requested to reexamine the situation and prepare a new Report for consideration at the 11^th August DCC Meeting.

Mr Wride has circulated an E mail outlining the options being studied by the Officials. Some doubt of the quality of the legal advice being offered by SDC was voiced by the County Councillor.

Some further discussion then took place on other possible options including changes to the specification of the Gallops to reduce the further material imports and the control of lorry movements.

Chairman then summarised the position saying that of the three options offered so far he would favour the removal of excess material even if this implied the risk of additional lorry movements.

Mr Bartlam then proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that Enforcement Action be instituted by SDC to remove the excess material from the bund. This was unanimously agreed. (132/06)

Mr Wride then referred to the possible closure of hospitals at Stroud and Berkeley and urged that Parish Councils and Residents should be encouraged to express their opposition to the plans of the Gloucestershire Group of NHS Trusts. It was viewed that these proposals were precipitate and not based on sound financial considerations. It was agreed that the Parish Council will Email the trusts accordingly. (133/.06)Action-Clerk

-Mr Andrewartha noted that the recently circulated Gloucestershire Charter will prove a useful document as it codifies the relationship between the County Council and the Town and Parish Councils.

He concluded his report by outlining the current position on Public Rights of Way and in particular on Roads Used as Public Paths. (134/06)

3-Planning Applications
Current Applications were reviewed.

Clerk noted that no new Tenant had yet been selected for Townsend Farmlands. This is awaiting the conclusion of the review being conducted by GCC on the future of all its country estates. (135/06)

4- Footpaths and Rights of Way
Mr Sant noted that the footpath from Whitehouse Farm across adjacent fields was blocked by an electric fence. Clerk requested to be kept informed of problems so that the appropriate Officer at GCC can be contacted. (136/06)

Mrs Shaw noted that access to Melksham Woods had recently been denied. (137/06)

5-Highways
Mr Sant noted that a branch had recently fallen along Church Lane. Clerk noted that responsibility for ensuring that trees on Highway verges do not hazard road users rests with the land owner. Where branches fall onto the carriageway it is the responsibility of Gloucestershire Highways to have them removed under their obligations to ensure road safety. (138/06)

6-Facilities
The refurbishment of the Drinking Water Fountain has already been discussed in section 2 “Matters Arising”.

No other issues were raised. (139/06)

7-Community Safety
Nothing to report

8-Correspondence
-Charter 88-Councillors did not propose to take action on the matter. (140/06)

-Gloucestershire Charter-Clerk was asked to recirculate the document for further consideration by Councillors. (141/06) Action-Clerk

-Littlecombe Planning Application-It is understood that the Application has not been approved by the SDC Development Control Committee. Chairman undertook to circulate a copy of the Application to Councillors (142/06) Action-Chairman

9-Financial Matters
-The current Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations was approved and the Building Society Balance verified. (143/06)

-Approval of Annual Return for Financial Year ended 31^st March 2006
Chairman noted that parts 1 and 2 of the return had been completed by Chairman, Vice Chairman and Clerk and asked for this to be approved by the other Councillors.

Clerk noted that the Accounts have been audited by the Internal Auditor. There were no qualifications.

The Return was approved by Councillors.(144/06)

-Approval of Donations
Mr Bartlam proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded a motion that a sum of £100 should be allocated to support local Charities and Mrs Wannell proposed and Mr Sant seconded the motion that two donations of £50 each should be authorised. This was agreed by a majority of Councillors. (145/06)

Mrs Shaw then proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that a £50 donation to Yercome Lodge be authorised. This was unanimously agreed. (146/06)

Mr Sant proposed and Mr Bartlam seconded the motion that a £50 donation should be made to the Cotswold Care Hospice. This was unanimously agreed. (147/06)

Mr Bartlam requested that in future years the Appeals should be circulated to Councillors ahead of the Annual General Meeting.(148/06) Action-Clerk

-Parish Council Insurance
During the recently conducted review of risks it was noted that the Bus Shelter insurance cover was limited to £500. Clerk has established that the responsibility for the insurance and upkeep of Bus Shelters rests with the Parish Council and that it is the responsibility of the Parish Council to safeguard Public Assets. He also noted that GCC offers a grant of £1500 towards the provision of Bus Shelters. The view was taken that with the availability of grants from various sources a sum of £3000 from Parish Funds should be sufficient to repair or replace the Bus Shelter should this prove necessary.

Mr Bartlam then proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that the insurance cover for the Bus Shelter should be raised to £3000. This was unanimously agreed. (149/06)

The Trafalgar Commemorative Plaque should also be insured to its replacement value of £275.(150/06)

10-Reports by Councillors
Councillors had nothing further to report. (151/06)

11-Dates of Next Meetings
Wednesday 26^th July 2006 at 7 30PM
Wednesday 6^th September 2006 at 7 30PM

The Meeting was closed at 9 45 PM

J Larroucau (Clerk) min 194