STINCHCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY
16th DECEMBER 2004 AT 7 00PM
IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present
Mr G Brown (Chairman)
Mrs M Shaw (ViceChairman)
Mrs M Wannell
Mr R Bartlam
Mr R Holloway
Mr J Larroucau (Clerk)
Apologies for Absence
Mr D Wride (District Clr)
In Attendance
Mr G Wheeler (County Clr)
Chairman welcomed the County and Parish Councillors to the Meeting.
1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 2nd November 2004
The Minutes as circulated were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman.. (119/04)
2-Matters arising from Minutes
-Construction Traffic at Land adjacent to Whitehouse Farm-
Chairman has contacted the resident at “Coltacres” who has agreed to
continue to monitor the construction traffic. The matter is discussed
further under “Highways”.
-Planning Applications-
Kitchen Extension at “The Malt House”-Clerk has written to SDC
Planning Department expressing the objection of the Parish Council to
the current proposal and the preference of Councillors for the original
proposal as this did not impact the aspect of the house as seen from
the Street. (Post Meeting Note:-The Application has been approved)
-Appeal at ”Langside”-
In Mr Wride’s absence no further information is available on the Appeal Date.
-Highways-
Clerk has written to GCC expressing concern at the likely increase of
levels of traffic through the Parish following the completion of the
redevelopment of the Lister site at Dursley. No response has yet been
received.
Clerk was unable to attend the Severn Vale Strategy Area Transport Forum Meeting at Shire Hall.
--Clerk has contacted Wicksteed Leisure regarding their failure
to complete the repairs to the Safety Surface within the stated
timescale. The missing shackle pin has been replaced.
-The Community Safety-
issues are discussed later.
-Maintenance of the Millennium Tree-
Chairman will approach the Tree Warden regarding the clearance of the undergrowth.
Action-Chairman (120/04)
-Bridleway CST12-
Clerk has brought the slippery state of the surface to the attention of
GCC Rights of Way. However the state of the surface at this point does
not warrant early repair action.
-The deterioration of the surface of Clingre Lane-
has been brought to the attention of GCC Highways.
3-Planning Applications
Current Applications were reviewed. Comments on the proposed kitchen extension at “The Malt House” are reported above.
4-Footpaths and Rights of Way
-Clerk noted the use of the Old London Road (CST 35) by motorised
traffic and this was confirmed by Councillors. As no action is likely
to be taken either by GCC Rights of Way or the Police it was agreed
that at this stage it would be best to continue to monitor the
situation.
Action-Councillors (121/04)
5-Highways
-Construction Traffic on Wick Lane-
A lengthy discussion took place on the intense lorry traffic currently
travelling through the centre of the Village and Wick Lane on its way
to the gallops and landscaping works at Land adjacent to Whitehouse
Farm. A visit by the SDC Enforcement Officer has confirmed that ongoing
work conforms with approved Plans. Also no restrictions to the movement
of construction vehicles has been included in the Planning Permission
despite requests by the Parish Council and GCC Highways. In the absence
of such a stipulation it is not possible for GCC Highways to take
action to control this traffic. No help in mitigating the nuisance
created by these movements can therefore to be expected from this
quarter.
However a number of points have becoming clearer since the start of the work.
-The scale of the work has grown enormously since the original
Application. This envisaged the movement of only 500 lorry loads of
hardcore. This number has already been greatly exceeded without making
any significant inroads into the task.
-The routing through the centre of the Village and the frequency
and timing of the lorry movements result in an unacceptable level of
disturbance to the local residents.
-The movement of these lorries along the narrow stretch of Wick
Lane between the Church and the site has severe safety implications for
local residents and other road users.
-Major damage is being caused to the road surface and to the verges.
-In addition a hoarding advertising the activities of the Contractor has been erected along the M5.
Under the circumstances Clerk has written to the Divisional
Surveyor at GCC Highways (Southern) requesting that action be taken to
ban the movements from the centre of the Village and limit movements to
daylight business hours only.
It is understood that this letter has now been passed on to GCC at Shire Hall.
In the meantime a resident has approached David Drew MP seeking
his assistance and the Clerk has made repeated and unsuccessful
attempts to speak to the Contractor and arrange a meeting with
councillors.
The following course of action was agreed.
-Clerk will write to David Drew to express the Parish Council’s
support for the approach by the resident. This letter will include a
briefing on the background to the problem and copies of correspondence
between the Parish Council and GCC Highways and SDC
Action-Clerk (122/04)
-Clerk will make a last attempt to contact the Contractor and
arrange a Meeting with Councillors.. Failing this he will approach GCC
at Shire Hall to urge action on the issue.
Action-Clerk (123/04)
-Clerk will make a further approach to GCC Rights of Way to
ensure that the footpaths crossing the site remain safely usable by
walkers.
Action-Clerk (123/04)
6-Facilities
The matter is discussed under “Actions Arising from Minutes”.
7-Correspondence
-The letter from Lydney Town Council-
requesting support for an approach for the provision of a third Severn
Crossing was noted. The Parish Council decided not to respond (125/04)
-GCC Local Waste Plan-
It was decided not to submit comments on the Inspector’s Report. (126/04)
-Training Requirements for Councillors-
Clerk was asked to notify the Gloucestershire Training Partnership
that two to three Councillors would be interested in attending the
“Nuts and Bolts” course.
Action-Clerk (127/04)
-“Cotswold Life” Village of the Year Competition-
It was decided not to enter.
Action-Clerk (128/04)
-BBC Ican Initiative-
Councillors did not wish to join the training sessions. (129/04)
8-Community Safety
Clerk reported on the Meeting with Mr Sullivan which had been attended by the Chairman and Mr Bartlam.
A number of Actions had been agreed.
-As a high proportion of the six reported household burglaries
were seen as opportunity crimes and preventable by simple precautions,
Mr Sullivan agreed to make available a Guide to Home Security. This has
now been received and will be distributed to Parishioners.. (130/04)
-Consideration is to be given to regular visits to the Village by
Neighbourhood Wardens when the recruitment situation allows. If this is
found to be useful this will then be changed into a formal arrangement.
Mr Sullivan agreed to submit a costed proposal. (131/04)
-The need to relaunch the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme was
stressed. Nothing can be done in advance of the appointment of a
Coordinator.(132/04)
9-Financial Matters
-The current Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations-
was approved and the Building Society Balance verified. (133/04)
-Precept for 2005/6-
In the course of discussion the following points were noted.
Mr Bartlam was asked to raise Invoices for the printing of the Newsletters
Action-Mr Bartlam (134/04)
The eventual costs of the Neighbourhood Wardens will be taken out of Reserves. (135/04)
The restoration of the Drinking Water Fountain near the Church
was discussed. Quotations are to be obtained and a £300 provision taken
in the Accounts. (136/04)
Mr Bartlam then proposed and Mr Holloway seconded the motion that
the Precept for 2005/6 should be retained at its present value of
£2250. This was unanimously agreed by Councillors.(137/04)
Clerk was asked to submit the Precept Request to SDC accordingly.
Action-Clerk (138/04)
10-Reports by Councillors
-Mr Wheeler reported that the latest Audit had resulted in
a “Good and Improving” rating of the County Council Services. The rise
of the County part of the Council Tax was likely to be kept to 3.9%
(139/04)
Comments on the County Structure Plan had been received from
South West Regional Assembly requesting an increase in the provision of
new housing.`(140/04)
A meeting to discuss the likely traffic impacts of the Housing
Developments at the Lister site is to be convened. Councillors
expressed a wish to attend such a Meeting. (141/04)
-Mr Bartlam noted that the Parish Council might benefit
from Quality Status. Chairman stated that this would be a matter for
future consideration. (142/04)
-Mr Holloway had nothing to report.
-Mrs Wannell reported on the progress with the improvements to the Village Hall (142/04)
-Mrs Shaw had nothing to report.
-Mr Brown reported on the Chief Executive Meeting at SDC.
Presentations had been made on Community Legal Services, the Local
Strategic Partnership and on the Inspector’s Report on the Local Plan.
A summary will be distributed to Parish Councils.. (143/04)
11-Dates of Future Meetings
-Wednesday 19th January 2005 at 7 30PM
-Thursday 10th March 2005 at 7 30PM
The Meeting was closed at 9 20PM
J Larroucau
Clerk to the Council Ref min 174m
| 
