STINCHCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY
28TH SEPTEMBER 2004 AT 7 30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present
Mr G Brown (Chairman)
Mrs M Shaw (ViceChairman)
Mrs M Wannell
Mr R Bartlam
In Attendance
Mr G Wheeler (County Clr)
Mr D Wride (District Clr)
Mr J Larroucau (Clerk)
Apologies for Absence
Mr R Holloway
The Chairman welcomed the County and District Councillors and opened the Meeting.
1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 10th August 2004
The Minutes as circulated were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman.(85/04)
2-Matters arising from Minutes
-Fire Hydrant on Taits Hill Road-
Mrs Wannell was asked to check whether this had been reinstated and inform Clerk. (86/04)
Action-Mrs Wannell
-Notification of Planning Applications-
The reply from SDC dealing with delays on notifications to
neighbours has been circulated and comments by Councillors noted..
Clerk was asked to provide Mr Wride with a copy of the correspondence.
It was agreed that pursuing the matter further risks upsetting the
working relationship between the Council and the Planning Department at
SDC without further benefit (87/04).
Action-Clerk
-Savings Account-
Clerk has ascertained that the Stroud and Swindon Building
Society do not have an alternative form of Account for Clubs, Parish
Councils, etc. Clerk will seek information from other Banks and
Societies.(88/04)
Action-Clerk
-Accumulation of Rubbish and Presence of Ragwort along Country Lanes-
Clerk noted that a concerted effort would be required next Spring
to eradicate Ragwort. Mr Bartlam was asked to inform Chairman when
action would be needed to dispose of rubbish at the back of the Village
Hall. Volunteers would then be invited.(89/04)
Action-Mr Bartlam
The other Actions have been closed.
3-Planning Applications
Clerk noted that there were no open Planning Applications at this date.(90/04)
4-Footpaths and Rights of Way
Mrs Shaw noted difficulties in walking the footpath through
Clingre Farm and the replacement of gates by stiles. Clerk undertook to
walk the path and report to the next Meeting..(91/04)
Action-Clerk
5-Highways
Clerk noted that the GCC Highway Maintenance and Traffic
Management Seminar would take place at British Energy Offices at
Barnwood on 14th October at 6PM.(92/04)
6-Facilities
Clerk has informed Messrs Wicksteed Leisure of the subsidence of the Safety Surface. A reply is awaited.(93/04)
7-Correspondence
-Lister Site Development-Traffic Impacts
The housing developments taking place on the site will
undoubtedly increase commuter traffic through the Parish. Clerk was
asked to prepare a letter to GCC to ask what plans were in place to
deal with this increased traffic.(94/04)
Action-Clerk
-FlyPosting-
This was viewed to be an increasing problem with notices being
pinned to the trees along the Avenue. Councillors were of the view that
the provision of posts on which to fix notices would not be effective.
SDC are thought to be preparing a circular on the matter for
distribution through the District.(95/04)
-Rural Grants 2005/6-
Clerk was asked to notify SDC of the Council’s support for the
application by Stragglers Cricket Club for the provision of
sightscreens and a wicket mower. (96/04)
Action-Clerk
-Parish and Town Council Charter-
No Councillor wished to attend the workshop being organised by GCC.(97/04)
-Regional Spatial Strategy-
After some discussion Councillors expressed a preference for the
existing Strategy 1. Clerk was asked to inform the South West Regional
Assembly accordingly.(98/04)
Action-Clerk
-Trafalgar Weekend-
It was agreed that the matter should be raised on the Website and
in the Newsletter in order to establish the views of Residents
including their support for the organisation of the event.(99/04)
Action-Mr Bartlam
8-Financial Matters
-The Statement of Receipts, Payments and Authorisations
was approved and the Building Society balance verified. Clerk
noted an unidentified receipt of £18. The matter is being investigated
by the Building Society.(100/04)
-Clerk’s Salary-
Mrs Wannell proposed and Mr Bartlam seconded the motion that Clerk’s salary be increased by 2.75% backdated to 1st April this year in accordance with the NALC and SLCC recommendations. This was unanimously agreed.(101/04)
-Hire of Village Hall-
Clerk noted that the hire fee had not been adjusted since 1997.
Mr Bartlam replied that the Management Committee of the Village Hall
will shortly be reviewing the charges. (102/04)
9-Reports by Councillors
-Mr Wheeler
reported that the Village Link had been successful in providing
transport to outlying areas and had been extended to start at
Thornbury. Mrs Shaw noted that the bus was greatly exceeding the speed
limit along Taits Hill Road and asked Mr Wheeler to bring this to the
attention of the Operator.(103/04)
A review of Primary School provision is being undertaken area by area to take account of falling attendance rolls.(104/04)
-Mr Wride
noted that the grant of Licences for the sale of alcohol was being transferred to District Councils on 1st
April 2005. This would increase the workload of the Regulation
Committee. It was feared that sufficient budgets would not be
transferred to cover the task. (105/04)
Antisocial Behaviour Orders are being introduced in the New Year.(106/04)
The outcome of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment is awaited.(107/04)
The Leader of the District Council has resigned and election of a new Leader will take place on 14th October.(108/04)
Chairman asked whether there were any plans for a further Chief
Executive Meeting. Mr Wride would discuss this with the Chief Executive
next week. The possibility exists for arranging a visit of the Chief
Executive to a group of Parish Councils. Mr Wride asked to be advised
of relevant items for discussion.(109/04)
-Mrs Wannell had nothing to report.(110/04)
-Mr Bartlam
noted the movement of heavy lorries in connection with works at
Land adjacent to Whitehouse Farm. Clerk reported that he had discussed
the matter with SDC Planning Department. Permission S02/98 had been
granted to cover the building of gallops and associated landscaping. Up
to 500 vehicle movements had been mentioned in a letter from the
Applicant’s Agent. At the time of the application the Parish Council
had raised the need to control the movement of lorries through the
Village but this was not thought to be a likely problem as in the past
traffic had approached the site along the Southern stretch of Wick
Lane. No objection had been lodged by GCC Highways although they
reserved the right to recover the repair costs following any serious
damage to the surface of the lanes.
As it now appears that the work may be exceeding the scope of the
existing Permission and may include the construction of a bund along
the M5 and other landfill, Clerk has approached SDC Enforcement Officer
to clarify the situation and take any necessary steps.(111/04)
Clerk is contacting GCC Highways to see whether any action can be
taken to divert the movement of vehicles away from the centre of the
Village and regulate the number of daily movements.(112/04)
Mr Wride asked to be kept informed of developments.113/04
Chairman undertook to discuss the matter with Mr Meredith at Coltacres. (114/04)
Action-Chairman
-Mrs Shaw
noted that Visitors to the Rugby Pitch at the top of Taits Hill were again parking in a way to obstruct access to Oldhill Lane.
Chairman undertook to discuss the matter with the Rugby Club.
Clerk noted that recently vehicles had been parked on the field.(115/05)
Action-Chairman
-Chairman
referred to the high quality of the Website. Mr Bartlam replied
that he was prepared to accept the responsibility for the maintenance
of the Website. Email Links would be provided to Mr Bartlam and Mr
Brown. It was agreed that the Annual Accounts and the Minutes of
Parish Council Meetings would be published on the Website although it
was noted that some discretion needs to be exercised to avoid
potentially damaging items such as discussions on contentious planning
applications.(116/04)
A link from the SDC Website should also be considered.(117/04)
Chairman noted that work was taking place along the disused spur
of Echo Lane to the East of the M5 bridge to provide access of lorries
to the Bund at Clingre Farm. Clerk was asked to investigate the
matter.(118/04)
Action-Clerk
10-Dates of Next Meetings
-Tuesday 2nd November 2004 at 7 30PM
-Thursday 16th December 2004 at7PM
The Meeting closed at 9 30PM
J Larroucau (Clerk) min 172
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