MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL, HELD ON MONDAY 10 JANUARY 2011, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.

Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman); Mr K Brown; Mrs K Glancy; Mrs A Hale;

Mrs. P Kelly; & Mr D Palmer.

District Councillors: Mrs J Cordwell; & Mr P Smith.

County Councillor: Dr. J Cordwell (from Item 9).

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

The Burial Clerk: Mrs M King.

1. To Receive and Accept Apologies for absence.

The following apology was accepted: Mrs EA James.

2. Declaration of Interests.

The Chairman invited members to declare any interests. There were none.

3. To Approve and Sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2010, as a true and accurate record.

The Minutes had previously been distributed to all members and displayed on public notice boards and the website. All members agreed the Minutes should be signed as a true and accurate record. The Minutes were duly signed.

4. The Council noted Matters arising from the Minutes that were not covered by agenda items.

The Clerk’s Update Note, which had been issued prior to the Meeting, informed the Council that he had:

• received a reply from the CAA in response to his letter. A copy had been provided for the Councillors and for Mr Vicks who had raised the original issue. It was agreed that no further action should be taken. (Minute 5 (bullet point 2)/11/2010);

• contracted GBS (Graham Beer) to carryout work on the hedge, trees and footpaths in the Cemetery. The work had been carried out during the previous week and completed on Friday 7 January. A quote has been received for spraying the footpaths to deter future growth of moss. Mr Beer had advised that it was best to wait until the Spring, before spraying. (Minute 13(3)/12/2010);

• submitted to Stroud DC, the Council’s application for a £12,000 Precept for 2011/12. (Minute 13(2)/12/2010);

• been in regular contact with Mr Ray Smith about the fencing of the Council’s land at Breakheart Hill. Mr Smith was in regular contact with the contractor to encourage them to get the work done. The work had started earlier on the day of the Meeting (10 January);

• been in contact with Mr Matthew Blaken regarding the sale of the land on Nibley Hill. The Clerk reported that Mr Blaken had advised him “ We are now giving the Purchaser a deadline for this and pending this will be (sic) advise my clients respectively, potentially with view to re-offering, possibly by Auction in March”.

5. The Council discussed how it should recognise Mr Ray Smith’s long service to the Parish Council and the North Nibley Community. Following discussion and consideration of several ideas it was agreed that the Council would spend up to £70 from the Chairman’s Allowance to enable the Clerk to purchase a framed print of a drawing by Claire Failes of Tyndale Monument; and for Mr Brown to arrange for a scroll, setting out Mr Smith’s Service to the Council.

6. The Meeting was closed for Public Discussion and Questions.

• Mrs King raised her concern about the planned closure by Gloucestershire CC of Wotton under Edge library. It was explained that a countywide petition about the plans for the closure of libraries, had been circulated and was now closed. As a result Gloucestershire County Council would now be further debating the matter.

• Mrs King also asked if the Council had done anything in response to changes to Concessionary Travel arrangements which from 1 April will be administered by the County Council. In particular she was concerned that the new arrangements would restrict free travel until after 9.30 am and this would automatically mean that the 8.40am ‘bus from the village to Wotton under Edge would no longer be available under this concession and would restrict her and other people’s travel. It was explained that this change brought the District into line with other parts of the County where free travel prior to 9.30am is not covered.

7. The Parish Council considered and commented upon the following Planning Applications received from Stroud District Council:

• S.10/2527/FUL. Breakheart Quarry, The Broadway, Dursley,

GL11 6ER. “Erection of toilet block”.

Following discussion the Council agreed to Support the Application on the grounds that it met Stroud Local Plan Policies EM9 & GE7.

8. The Parish Council noted that Planning Consent has been granted in respect of:

• S.10/2168/HHOLD. Dovert Cottage, Stancombe. “Proposed single storey extension and alteration to the roof pitch”.

• S.10/2208/HHOLD. Cotshill, Wotton Road, North Nibley. “Demolition of existing single storey extension and erection of replacement single storey extension. Erection of lean-to extension to existing garage”.

• S.10/1382/COU. Hunts Court Garden & Nursery, Forthay. Change of outbuildings to form one dwelling with home office and change of use of barn to a Tea Barn (retrospective) (revised description, plans and additional information received 10 August 2010.

9. The Council discussed how the decision by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to reduce County Council seats to 53, might impact on this Division. Cllr Dr Cordwell was invited to speak. He recommended that the Parish Council should defer their discussions until the February Meeting as the proposal for reducing the number of County Council seats was still under discussion. The Council agreed to adjourn the matter until the February Meeting.

9. District Councillor Mr P Smith submitted his written District Council Report. (See attached). The Council noted the contents of the Report. Mr Smith pointed out that under the central government settlement, the District would now experience a budget cut over 2 years which had previously been anticipated to happen over 4 years. As a result the Council had delayed its Budget Meeting until later in January.

9. County Councillor Dr J Cordwell provided a written report. (See attached). The Council noted the contents of the Report. During discussion Cllr. Cordwell agreed to contact County Highways about salt bins in the Parish, notably the absence of bins at Stancombe and on the hill at Old Hollow.

9. To Receive and Discuss Reports of Committees and Meetings attended by Parish Councillors/The Clerk.

• The Clerk reported that he had represented the Council at the Town & Parish Forum Meeting at Stroud District Council offices on 7 December. He informed the Council that the Garden Assistance Scheme, run by Care & Repair on behalf of the District Council, would in future only be funded for administration costs of £15,000 pa. The Clerk advised the Council that there is one resident in the Parish who currently benefits from the Scheme. He suggested that in future the Parish Council might consider making a financial contribution under its Grant & Awards Scheme.

9. Finances.

1. Following discussion the Council agreed to:

1) Approve the transfer of money (£900.00) from Parish Plan A/C to the main Bank A/C in order to fund the printing of the Parish Plan.

2) To authorise a letter approving the closure of the Council’s Recreation Field Loan A/C with Lloyds TSB. (Minute 13 (6)/12/2010)

2. The Council considered and approved payments for the following Invoices and drew up and signed cheques to make payments:

1. Qwertop, for Parish Plan printing costs. (£759.25). (LGA 1972 s.111)

2. Land Registry registration fee for Council land at Breakheart Hill. (£40.00).

3. The Clerk’s Salary for Quarter 3 (2010/11). (£1097.03) (LGA 1972 s.112(2))

4. The Clerk’s Expenses for Quarter 3 (2010/11). (£135.79). (LG (FP)A 1963).

5. Severn Trent Water. Cemetery water rates for December 2010. (£1.90). (LGA 1972 s.214)

6. Graham Beer Services. Work on the Cemetery hedge, trees and footpaths. (£498.98). (LGA 1972 s.214)

7. Gloucestershire Association of Parish & Town Councils. Payment for Parish Councillor Mrs Katie Glancy to attend the “Being a Good Councillor the Nuts & Bolts” event on 18 January. (£80.00). (LGA 1972 s.111)

14. Cemetery Report. The Council received a verbal report from the Burial Clerk. She reported that two funerals were due to take place during week commencing 17 January. She also brought to the Council’s attention that she would soon need to start locating graves in the new part of the Cemetery. She agreed to bring this matter to a future meeting of the Council, for their agreement.

14. The Council received a written update on Correspondence received since the last Meeting. (See attached). The Clerk was asked to place the future use of Parish Council land at Breakheart Hill on the February Agenda.

There being no further business the Meeting closed at 8.45pm.

The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held at the Village Hall on Monday 7 February 2011 at 7.30 pm.