STINCHCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 6TH FEBRUARY 2008
AT 7 30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL

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

In Attendance
Two Parishioners

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

Chairman opened the Meeting by welcoming the two Parishioners and Mrs Wannell who has now recovered from illness.

1-Approval of Minutes of Meeting held on 19th December 2007

The Minutes as previously circulated were found to be an accurate record of the Meeting and signed by the Chairman. (01/08)

2-Matters arising from Minutes

-Bund at Clingre Farm- Following a discussion on the motorway noise levels at Stinchcombe Green, the possible effect of the Clingre Farm bund, the inadequacy of the Highways Authority response and the compliance with noise criteria guidelines claimed in the recent Clingre Farm Planning Application (S07/2735) Chairman noted that the noise survey had been discredited by its limited scope. He then submitted that the Way Ahead should involve a Parish wide initiative with the first part concentrating on the noise situation at Stinchcombe Green.

Clerk was asked to contact the Highways Agency and arrange a Meeting between the Agency  and Councillors at which the issue could be discussed. (02/08)  Action-Clerk

-Green Waste Recycling Bins-In Mr Andrewartha’s absence there was no update on this
Action.(03/08)  Continuing Action-Mr Andrewartha

-Velux Windows at Townsend Farm Development-Clerk reported that he had received an E mail on the subject from Mr Wride, who has been informed by the SDC Enforcement Officer that the installation of these windows did not violate Planning Regulations. Clerk was also informed by SDC Enforcement Officers that the windows were located as shown on approved drawings and that  some minor deviations had been cleared by the Building Regulations Inspector. (04/08)

-Highways Issues-Clerk will be contacting Gloucestershire Highways in the near future. In the meantime Clerk has notified Highways of the degraded condition of Oldhill Lane and the missing valve housing cover on The Street. Mr Sant noted that Wick Lane was still subject to poor storm water drainage and local flooding. (05/08)           Continuing Action-Clerk

-Speed Measurements on Taits Hill Road and The Street will now be undertaken by the Parish Plan Action Group. (06/08)

-Safety Surface at Junior Swings- Chairman has been informed by the Rugby Club that the outstanding contractural issues on the extension of the rugby pitches would shortly be resolved and that work on the safety surface will be started by Contractors immediatley following completion of the car parking facility at the club." (07/08)

-The Annual Safety Inspection of the Playground by RoSPA had been cancelled. (08/08)

-Site at Old London Road and Container at Clovergate-Clerk has raised these issues with SDC Enforcement Officer and has been informed that no Planning Regulations were being violated. Nevertheless SDC will contact the owner of the Old London Road site and ask for the site to be tidied. (09/08)

3-Reports by County and District Councillors

In Mr Andrewartha’s and Mr Wride’s absences no detailed reports are available. The SDC Budget for the Financial Year 2008/9 has been set. (10/08)

4-Planning Matters

Current Planning Applications and Enforcement Issues were discussed. The Parish council’s  responses to Planning Applications S07/2734 “Clingre Farm-Alteration and Extension of Barn…“ and S08/0005 “No 4 the Avenue-Erection of Front Porch and…” were agreed. (11/08)

5-Footpaths and Rights of Way

Mrs Shaw noted that residents had complained that  mud had been deposited on the surface of Oldhill Lane by farming activities. This has now been cleared. (12/08)

6-Highways

Councillors expressed concerns that the closure of Taits Hill Road from 18th February to 5th March will lead to an increase of traffic on  Wick Lane and Church Lane. Clerk was asked to raise the matter with Gloucestershire Highways and ask for the installation of signs to deter HGV’s from accessing the lanes. (13/08) Action-Clerk

7-Facilities

Nothing further to report.

8-Community Safety

Mr Sant agreed to represent the Parish council at the SDC Meeting on Emergency Planning Response on 11th February. (14/08)                                Action-Mr Sant

9-Parish Plan

Chairman reported that the preparation of the Parish Plan was effectively complete. The process was started in February 2006 and had taken two years. The Plan is currently in print in two versions.

A shortened version of some 24 pages and in A3 format has been designed to be circulated to every household in the Parish.

The main Plan consisting of some fifty pages in A4 format will have a limited circulation to Local Authorities, Government Agencies and other parties who need to be made aware of the contents of the Plan. The distribution list is being currently made up.

The Plan will need to be formally adopted by the Parish Council (15/08)

10-Correspondence

-The Annual Spring Clean will take place on Sunday 30th March meeting at 10.30AM in the Village Hall Car Park.. Chairman agreed to produce a leaflet for distribution to households. (16/08) Action-Chairman

-Grass Verges-Under  Parish Plan Actions Parishioners are intending to tidy particular  stretches of verges . In support Clerk has obtained twelve litterpickers from SDC. (17/08)
Clerk pointed out that the Parish Council does not carry Public Liability Insurance for third Parties and that it will be necessary to inform participants that the cleaning activities will be taking place at the participants’ own risks. (17/08)

-Chartered Parishes Meetings at GCC-Dates for the Meetings have now been fixed. Chairman and Clerk will attend the Meeting on Thursday 28th February next starting at 4 30PM at Shire Hall.(18/08)  Action-Chairman and Clerk

11-Financial Matters

-The Statement of Receipts Payments  and Authorisations  was approved and signed and the Building Society Account verified. Copy is appended to the Minutes. (19/08)

-Appointment of Internal Auditor-Mr Bartlam proposed and Mrs Wannell seconded the motion that Mr Iain Selkirk be appointed Internal Auditor for the Financial Year starting 1st April 2008. This was unanimously agreed. (20/08)

12-Reports by Councillors

-Mrs Wannell asked Clerk to ascertain the ownership of the grass verge along the ValeVets boundary on Taits Hill Road. Clerk agreed to contact GCC accordingly. (21/08)Action-Clerk

Other Councillors had nothing further to report.

13-Dates of Next Meetings

-Wednesday 26th March 2008 at 7 30PM
-Annual Assembly of the Parish Meeting Wednesday 7th May 2008 at 7 30PM
-Annual General Assembly of the Parish Council Wednesday 21st May 2008 at 7 30PM

The Meeting was closed at 9 25PM.

J Larroucau
Clerk to the Council                                               min 207