STINCHCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON WEDNESDAY 16TH MAY 2007 AT 7 30 PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL
Present In Attendance
Mr G Brown (Chairman) Mr D Wride (District Councillor)
Mrs M Shaw (Vice Chairman)
Mr R Bartlam Apologies for Absence
Mr J Sant Mr D Andrewartha (County Councillor)
Mrs M Wannell
Mr J Larroucau (Clerk)
Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming the District and Parish Councillors.
1-Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman
Mr Brown expressed his willingness to accept the post of Chairman for a further year. Mr Bartlam then proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that Mr Brown be reelected as Chairman. This was agreed unanimously. (46/07)
Mr Brown then reassumed the Chairmanship of the Meeting. Mrs Shaw expressed her willingness to accept the post of Vice Chairman for a further year. Mr Sant then proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that Mrs Shaw be reelected as Vice Chairman. This was agreed unanimously. (47/07)
2-Signature of declarations of Acceptance of Office
These were duly completed and signed by thr Chairman and Vice Chairman and witnessed by the Clerk. (48/07)
3-Confirmation of Appointments
-Snow and Flood Warden-Mr Holloway’s appointment was confirmed. Mr Sheldon remains the Snow Plough Operator. (49/07)
-Tree Warden-Mr Connel’s appointment is confirmed. (50/07)
-Trustee to Stinchcombe Hill Recreational Ground Trust-Mrs Shaw’s appointment is confirmed. (51/07)
-Trustee to Stinchcombe United Charities and Dursley United Charities Mr Holloway’s appointment is confirmed. (52/07)
Chairman noted that the Parish Council had the right to appoint three Trustees to Stinchcombe United Charities. Mr Holloway and Mr Pinch were Council Representative trustees but the third position was vacant. Mr Bartlam then proposed and Mrs Shaw seconded the motion that Mr Sant be nominated as a Council representative Trustee. This was agreed unanimously. Clerk was asked to notify the Secretary of the Charity. (53/07) Action-Clerk
-Trustee to Stinchcombe Village Hall Trust-Mrs Wannell’s appointment is confirmed. (54/07)
-Representative on Berkeley Site Stakeholders’Group-Mr Bartlam’s appointment is confirmed.
(55/07)
-Internal Auditor- Mr Selkirk’s appointment is confirmed. (56/07)
4-Financial Matters
-Budget 2007/8 A revised budget proposal was presented by the clerk based on the proposals previously considered during the Annual Precept discussions at the Parish Council Meeting of 11th October 2006. Clerk noted that expenditure was expected to exceed income substantially and that the reserves would be significantly reduced. Following a discussion it was agreed that economies would be possible on the Donations to Charities and on the production costs of the Quarterly Newsletter. Mr Bartlam was asked to advise on the possibility of some sponsorship for the website and on possible cost savings from a black and white Newsletter. A 25% cost reduction was envisaged on this item. (57/07) Action-Mr Bartlam
Mr Sant then proposed and Mr Bartlam seconded the motion that the payment of donations to Charitable Institutions be discontinued. This was unanimously agreed. (58/07)
It was also agreed to cut the Chairman’s Allowance for the current year. (59/07)
Finally a budgetary allowance of £800 was agreed for the replacement of the swings. (59a/07) Mr Bartlam then proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that the proposed budget be adopted with the above revisions. This was unanimously agreed. (60/07)
The revised Budget is appended to the Minutes. (61/07)
-Confirmation of Clerk’s Salary Clerk reported that negotiations were still ongoing between the Employee and Employer Representative Bodies. Mr Sant then proposed and Mr Brown seconded the motion that Clerk’s Salary be increased by 3% or by the National Settlement if higher from 1st April 2007. This was agreed unanimously. (62/07)
-Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations The Statement is appended to the Minutes. Clerk noted the Invoice for the Annual Safety Inspection of the Playground and the failure of the Junior Swings less than three weeks after the inspection. It was agreed that payment be withheld until a satisfactory explanation of the failure to detect the severity of the degradation of the structure is received from Playsafety Ltd. Clerk was asked to contact the Company in the matter. (63/07) Action-Clerk
With the above proviso the Statement was agreed and signed by the Chairman and Vice Chairman. (64/07)
5-Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13th March 2007
The Minutes as circulated were accepted as a true record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman. (65/07)
6-Matters arising from the Minutes
-Highways-The response to the letter of November 2006 is still awaited despite earlier assurances from the Chief Executive of GCC and further E mails to Gloucestershire Highways.Continuing Action-Clerk
-The Crest Nicholson Signs at Taits Hill and at the Echo Lane Junction are still in place. SDC Enforcement Officer has written to the Company requesting removal within seven days. (67/07)
-Mobile Police Station-The schedule of visits has been circulated. (68/07)
The remaining Actions have been completed. (69/07)
7-Reports by County and District Councillors
-The District Councillor reported that the first Council Meeting following the recent Elections was taking place the following day.Environmental issues were dominating. The recycling rate needs to be raised if Council Tax penalties are to be avoided. Home composting is to be encouraged and is a big issue. Consideration was given to a note on this matter in the Quarterly Newsletter. (70/07)
8-Planning Matters
-Current Planning Applications were reviewed. It was noted that Application S07/1031 for the erection of dwellings on land adjacent to No1 The Buildings had been withdrawn.District Councillor referred to the need to consult the SDC Planning Website and advised Councillors to be vigilant on unauthorised Developments particularly of mobile homes in remote areas. (71/ 07)
-Bund at Clingre Farm-Mr Sant was asked to prepare a synopsis of the current situation for the attention of the District Councillor. This would deal with the conformance of the bund as constructed with approved plans.(72/07) Action-Mr Sant
District Councillor asked to be kept informed on Enforcement matters. (73/07) Action-Clerk
9-Footpaths and Rights of Way
Nothing to report.
10-Highways
Nothing further to report.
11-Facilities
The failure of the Junior Swings at the Playground has already been discussed above. Clerk has obtained some catalogues. (74/07)
12-Parish Plan
Nothing to report
13-Community Safety
Clerk has circulated the latest crime statistics and the schedule of Mobile Police Station visits. (76/07)
14-Correspondence
The schedule of correspondence is appended to these Minutes.
-Revised Code of Conduct-Clerk informed the Meeting that a letter had been received from SDC on the implementation of the Revised Code of Conduct. This is to be circulated. (77/07)Action-Clerk
--LaMiss Land Management System-Chairman reported that Mr Bartlam had contacted the Company for further information on the system. (78/07)
-Consultation on the Role of Councillors-Clerk noted that the closing date for consultation was 19th May and that it was now too late to make a response. (79/07)
15-Reports by Councillors
-Mrs Wannell noted the degraded state of the lower section of Taits Hill Road and was intending to contact Gloucestershire Highways on the subject. This is one of the items in the Clerk’s letter to GCC. (80/07)
Other Councillors had nothing further to report.
16-Dates of Next Meetings
-Wednesday 4th July 2007 at 7 30PM
-Wednesday 29th August at 7 30PM
-Wednesday 10th October at 7 30PM
The Meeting was closed at 9 27PM
J Larrocau
Clerk min 202
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