STINCHCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD ON 19TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 7PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL

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

In Attendance
Mr D Wride (District Councillor)
Mr D Andrewartha (County Concillor)
One Parishioner

Apologies for Absence
Mrs M Wannell

Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming the District Councillor noting that the County Councillor had been delayed and would join the Meeting later.

1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 14th November 2007

The Minutes were found to represent a true record of the Meeting and were signed by the Chairman (154/07)

2-Matters arising from Minutes

-Highways Issues Clerk has written to Gloucestershire Highways on the matter of the outstanding commitments and a reply has now been received. The matter is discussed under Section 6 “Highways”. (155/07)

-Bund at Clingre Farm Residents are awaiting a response from the Highways Agency. (156/07) Continuing Action -Mr Sant

All other Actions have been completed. (157/07)

3-Reports by County and Distict Councillors

Mr Wride reported that a proposal for a rise of 2.5% in the District Council Tax would be submitted for approval by the Council at the end of January . This would allow two further Neighbourhood Wardens to be appointed. The Hunts Grove Planning Appeal will take place at the end of January. The position of the Parish Council in this matter was considered later in the Meeting. (See Section 11)  (158/07)

-Mr Andrewartha noted that the County Council was proposing to engage in consultation with the public on the level of the County component of the Council Tax. He was unclear as to what form this consultation would take. (159/07)

(Post Meeting Note-The consultative document has now been received and is being circulated to Councillors) He also reported that GCC are proposing to build a Heat Treatment Plant for waste disposal within the District Council Boundary near the Blooms Garden Centre.(160/07)

Clerk asked Mr Andrewartha to make representations to GCC on the Green Waste recycling containers recently installed at the Horsley Site. These are proving difficult to use and Clerk has received a number of complaints from Residents. (161/07)       Action-Mr Andrewartha

4-Planning Matters

Clerk reported on the progress with the current Planning Applications. On the matter of Application S07/2336- Land at Townsend Farm-Erection of Detached Garage, Chairman expressed concern that the number of garages built on site would exceed the number contained in the Planning Permission for the Redevelopment of the Site (S01/1611) whilst a Resident was equally concerned that the new garage was encroaching on open land although within the curtilage of the property as shown on approved drawings. Examination of the Planning Application shows that the original garages included in the existing Permission are being retained. District Councillor was asked to convey these concerns to SDC Planners. (162/07) 

(Post Meeting Note -The Application has now been approved. Clerk has also established that Applications S 07/1268 and 2234 have been approved)

Enforcement Actions-A resident has contacted the District Councillor regarding the installation of Velux windows within the roof of Plot 5 of the Townsend Farm redevelopment in a position which causes a serious loss of privacy. The position of these windows appears to differ from approved drawings although there appear to be discrepancies between issues of these drawings. The relocation of windows appears to be related to the construction of an additional bedroom within the loft space, a development which does not require planning permission. Following some discussion Mr Wride was asked to raise the issue with SDC Planners.(163/07)Action-Mr Wride

5-Footpaths and Rights of Way

Clerk noted that a Land Owner on Old London Road was of the view that the new signs installed by GCC Rights of Way at the foot of the Bridleway contravened the status of Old London Road as a Highway. Clerk has asked the Resident to contact GCC Highways in the matter. (164/07) Clerk also noted that a new fingerpost had been installed at the junction of Footpath CST20 with Bridleway CST36. (165/07)

6-Highways

Clerk has now received a reply to his recent letter to Gloucestershire Highways on outstanding highway maintenance issues . The letter is being circulated to Councillors. Clerk noted that major repairs to the surface of Taits Hill Road will be undertaken and that the installation  of Electronic Speed Boards is being prioritised. Other issues have not yet been dealt with and Clerk will make renewed contact on these. (166/07) Action-Clerk

County Councillor noted that automated speed monitoring equipment is now available and suggested that speed measurements should be carried out on Taits Hill Road following the introduction of the extended speed limits. (167/07)  Action-Clerk

7-Facilities

Chairman undertook to approach DRFC re the likely time frame for the 3xtension of the safety surface at the Junior Swings. (168/07) Action-Chairman)

8-Community Safety

County Councillor noted that increased Community Policing activity within urban areas may drive criminality into adjacent rural areas. Clerk reported that at this time there was no evidence of any worsening of community safety within Stinchcombe. Police crime statistics are regularly monitored by Clerk. (169/07)

9-Correspondence

The current schedule of correspondence is appended to these Minutes. (170/07)

10-Financial Matters

-The current Statement of Receipts Payments and Authorisations was approved and is appended to these Minutes. The Building Society Balance was verified. (171/07)

-Precept 2009/9-Clerk noted that the financial outlook for this year was significantly better than expected as major calls for Parish Council support of the Parish Plan had not materialised and the Newsletter was now self financing. Also the replacement of the Junior Swings was not likely to proceed  before the start of the next Financial Year. In the circumstances the existing level of Precept would be adequate. Nevertheless  Mr Bartlam recommended that the Precept be raised in line with the SDC Council Tax escalation. After some discussion Mr Sant proposed and Mrs Shaw seconded the motion that the Precept for 2008/9 should be retained at its current level of £2550. This was approved by a majority of three votes in favour to one against. (172/07)

11-Reports by Councillors

-Mrs Shaw noted the untidy state of Mr Trude’s site along Old London Road and the proliferation of sheds and equipment. The building activities on this site had originally been covered by an Agricultural Notification but there was concern that current activities were not of an agricultural nature. Clerk was asked to discuss the matter SDC Planners. (173/07)  Action-Clerk

She also noted that a container had recently been located in a field adjacent to “Clovergate” in full view of the Residents of Old Hill Lane. Clerk was asked to query the Planning position with SDC. (174/07) Action-Clerk

-Mr Bartlam reported that the village hall Accounts showed a balance of £6484 at end September with a surplus of £2246 for  the activities over the year. He noted that no improvements or repairs had been completed during the year and that Disabled facilities would have to be introduced in the future. (175/07)

-Mr Sant had nothing to report.

-Mr Brown reported that he and the Clerk had recently attended a Code of Conduct training Session at SDC noting issues of Personal and Prejudicial Interest. Copies of Viewgraphs are being circulated to Councillors. (176/07)

He also mentioned the recent Meeting of the SDC Chief Executive with Town and Parish Councils which he had attended with the Clerk. Presentations had been made on Street Cleaning, the Canal, Car Parking enforcement, the Stanleys Waste Trial and Hunts Grove. On the latter issue it was unanimously agreed that the Parish Council would not make any representation to the Planning Inspector. (177/07)

12-Dates of Next Meetings

-Wednesday 6th February 2008 at 7 30PM
-Wednesday 26th March 2008 at 7 30PM.

The Chairman then wished all Councillors and Clerk a merry Christmas.
The Meeting was closed at 9 25PM

J Larroucau
Clerk to the Council                                               min 206