MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY

13TH MARCH 2007 STARTING AT 7 30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL

Present 

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

In Attendance
Mr J Larroucau (Clerk)
Mr L Jones
Mr P Policzeswki

Apologies for Absence
Mr D Andrewartha (County Clr)
Mr D Wride (District Clr)

Presentation by Mr Jones on Further Development Plans at Clingre Farm

Mr Jones started his presentation by thanking the Chairman for the opportunity to present his current plans to the Parish Council.

Earlier plans for the development of office facilities were being abandoned as they were likely to generate excess traffic on Clingre Lane and were not likely to be economically viable.
The possibility of a residential Development consisting of 6 pairs of houses was being considered and had been discussed with SDC Planners.This would take the form of a high quality development in character with the adjoining farm and may involve some form of leasing or management arrangement so that some degree of control over the development would remain in Mr Jones’ hands.

There will be no visual impact on the locality. The buildings will be faced in natural local stone.

Work will be required on Clingre Lane to restore the passing bays in conjunction with the installation of drains ,water and gas supplies, etc.

Mr Jones said that he was willing to show the site to Councillors at a mutually convenient date.

Chairman thanked Mr Jones for his presentation noting that this was by far the best way of addressing development matters.

At this point Chairman opened the formal Parish Council Meeting.

1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 25th January 2007

The Minutes as circulated were found to be a true record of the Meeting and were then signed by the Chairman. (23/07)

2-Matters arising from Minutes

1. -Trailer on Old London Road Since the last Meeting Clerk has written to Mr Trude reminding him of previous undertakings and a reply received. Mr Arnot of SDC had visited the site and confirmed that SDC had powers to remove the vehicle. Clerk agreed to approach Mr Arnot in seven days’ time to have it removed. (24/07) Action-Clerk
2. -Letter from Messrs Bristol and Avon to County Councillor- A response from SDC Legal Department has now been received . Clerk will draft a reply for approval by Councillors.(25/07) Action-Clerk
3. -Footpaths on Stinchcombe Hill-With the arrival of more seasonal weather the new surfaces along the Cotswold Way have healed and can now be walked with greater ease. (26/07)
4. -Highways-The matter of the lack of response to the November 2006 letter was raised at the recent Meeting of the GCC Chief Executive with Parish Chairmen and Clerks. An early response was promised. (27/07) Continuing Action-Clerk
5. -Other Actions have been completed. (28/07)

3- Reports by County and District Councillors

A report has been received from the District Councillor and is appended to these Minutes.

No report has been received from the County Councillor. (29/07)

4-Planning Matters

-Crest Nicholson Boards- Crest Nicholson have twenty eight days to appeal against the refusal of planning Permission. Following expiry of this period SDC Enforcement Officer will write to the Company to ask for their removal. Note that the sign at Stragglers Field has been approved. (30/07)

-Southend Farm-This application has been approved. Mr Sant noted that he had objected to the proposal on behalf of local residents but that his Objection had not been supported in the Council’s response to the Application. Clerk explained that the Council’s response reflected the majority view of Councillors but where objections were notified these were generally included as further comments. It was however essential for Residents to lodge individual objections to Applications directly with SDC as a minimum of 5 legitimate individual Objections are necessary for an Application to be taken out of Delegation and referred to DCC. In order to avoid future misunderstandings Clerk will notify Councillors if their comments are not being supported by the majority view. (31/07)

-Enforcement Actions

• -Floodlights at “The Palisades” Wick Lane- Following dismissal of the Appeal by the Planning Inspector the owner has a three months compliance period for the removal of the lights. This expires in mid April . If they have not been removed by that time SDC will issue an Enforcement Order. (32/07)
• -Fencing at Melksham Court-SDC Enforcement Officer has been appraised of the situation and will be taking appropriate action following expiry of the compliance period in mid March. (33/07)

5-Footpaths and Rights of Way

The matter of the closure of the tracks in Melksham Woods was briefly raised. Chairman was of the view that this was a private matter outside the remit of the Parish Council. Any approach to the Owner or application for the dedication of these tracks as Public Rights of Way will therefore have to be pursued by Residents.. (34/07)

6-Highways

Mrs Wannell noted the encroachment of grass on the narrow footway alongside Newnham House. Clerk agreed to contact adjacent landowners. (35/07) Action -Clerk

7- Community Safety

Clerk noted that the next Meeting of the Dursley Cluster of Parishes was scheduled for Wednesday 14th March 2007. (36/07)

8-Correspondence

-2007 Springclean - This has been fixed for Sunday 1st April 2007 meeting at 10 30 AM in the Village Hall Car Park. Clerk will provide the usual supply of binbags, gloves , litter pickers and safety jackets. (37/07) Action-Clerk

 Chairman agreed to prepare a notice for distribution to Residents. (38/07) Action-Mr Brown

9-Parish Plan Update

Chairman noted that three Councillors were directly involved in the four Theme groups which are meeting at regular intervals to draw up recommendations. These will be ready by end April for presentation at a Parish Meeting in May.

A grant for £1500 has been made by SDC, which with the grant of £450 already received from the Parish Council will be sufficient to support the preparation and printing of the Plan. (39/07)

10-Financial Matters

-Appointment of Internal Auditor-Clerk confirmed that Mr Iain Selkirk had been reappointed as Internal Auditor in accordance with resolution 102/06 of the Annual General Meeting held on 15th May 2006. (40/07)

-The Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations was approved and the Building Society Balance verified.(41/07)

11-Reports by Councillors

-Mr Sant reported on his continuing disagreement with SDC Planners as to the amount of excess material imported to “the Palisades” on Wick Lane.

He is also trying to obtain confirmation from SDC that the bund along the Motorway at Clingre Farm conforms to approved plans. He is also pursuing the issue of increased perceived noise at Stinchcombe Green with SDC Environmental Officers concurrently with approaches by Residents to the Highways Agency. (42/07)

Chairman thanked Mr Sant for his continued support of the local residents on the noise issue. (43/07)

-Mr Bartlam noted that a recent visit by the Mobile Police Station had been made. Mr Bartlam had thought that the Mobile Police Station was no longer coming round and talked with the driver. The driver assured him that Stinchcombe was still on the route but also admitted that it was on the wrong day according to his own schedule. The route and real schedule is not publicised anywhere in the Parish. As a result no members of the Public had visited the Station. Clerk agreed to raise the matter at the Dursley Cluster of Parishes Community Safety Meeting. (44/07) Action-Clerk

Other Councillors had nothing further to report. (45/07)

12-Dates of Next Meetings

-Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting- Wednesday 9th May 2007 at 7 30PM

-Annual General assembly of the Parish Council-Wednesday 16th May 2007 at 7 30PM

-Parish Council Meeting-Wednesday 4th July 2007 at 7 30PM

The Meeting was closed at 9 45PM.

J Larroucau

Clerk to the Council min 199