AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2012, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.

Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman).

Mr S Hale; Mr K Larkin; Mr D Palmer; & Mr L Smitherman.

District Councillor: Mr P Smith.

County Councillor: Dr J Cordwell.

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

There were no members of the public in attendance.

1. To receive and accept Apologies for absence.

Apologies were received and accepted from Mr K Brown; Mrs K Glancy; & District Councillor Mrs J Cordwell.

2. Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any Interests relating to this Meeting. There were none.

3. To approve and sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on held on 1 October 2012, as a true record. The Minutes of the October Ordinary Meeting had previously been distributed to all members and displayed on the 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, not covered by agenda items.

The Clerk referred to his Update Note, which had been issued prior to the Meeting. He had:

• been informed that The Cotswold Wardens have carried out repairs to steps to the Monument. The Clerk has written to thank them;

• been advised that arrangements to install a handrail at the top of the steps leading to the Monument are in hand. Delays have been caused by difficulty in accessing the area by vehicle;

• written to Highways to seek their permission to install a Parish Information Board in the area adjoining the ‘bus stop . A written acknowledgement has been received;

• been in touch with land agents who conducted the sale of Westridge Woods, Gloucestershire Rights of Way Team and The Land Registry in an effort to identify who owns the area of bank adjoining the steps and on right hand side of Wood Lane. To date he has been unable to identify who owns that land. “Rights of Way” are due to get back to the Clerk soon;

• instructed Garden Supplies to carry out hedge cutting; and removal of the moss on the footpath, in the Cemetery;

• made some progress with drafting the Cemetery Regulations and plans to put the item on the Agenda for the January 2013 Meeting;

5. The Chairman closed the Meeting for Public Discussion and Questions.

There was none. The Chairman re-opened the Meeting.

6. The Council considered and commented upon the following Planning Applications:

• S.12/2051/HHOLD. Farm Field Bungalow, Waterley Bottom, North Nibley. Raising of garage roof and single storey lean-to extension.

Following discussion the Council agreed to Support the application on the grounds that it fully meets the three criteria set out in Stroud Local Plan Policy HN16. It was agreed that the conversion and extension of the garage will improve the current arrangements and in no way detract from the appearance & character of the area.

• S.12/1929/HHOLD. The Round House Whiteway Hill, Woodmancote, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6AD. Two storey extension.

Following discussion The Council agreed to Support the application.

• S.12/1930/LBC. The Round House Whiteway Hill, Woodmancote, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6AD. Two storey extension, internal alterations clad twentieth century pebble dash elevations with cotswold stone, add glazed porch extension on west entrance side.

Following discussion The Council agreed to Support the application.

• S.12/2081/HHOLD. 21 The Street, North Nibley, GL11 6DW. Construction of extension at first floor level, new dormer roof and single storey extension.

Following discussion The Council agreed to make No Comments.

7. (A) The Council noted that Stroud District Planning Authority has agreed to give Permission for:

• S.12/1768/FUL. Park House Farm, Park Lane, Stancombe. GL11 6AT. Permission to make a change of use from agricultural to equestrian use, and construction of all-weather equestrian turn-out/exercise area with associated landscaping.

(B) The Council noted that Stroud District Planning Authority has agreed to award a Certificate of Lawfulness for a Proposed Use or Development in respect of:

• S.12/1820/CPL. Tedcombe Waterley Bottom, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6EF. Proposed front extension.

8. The Council received and discussed the “North Nibley Parish Council: Property Maintenance Plan”. Following discussion it was agreed that it was desirable to have a Plan which would assist the Council in planning and budgeting works to Council property. The Council agreed to adopt the Plan.

9. The Council received a verbal update on proposals to construct a Parish Information Board. The Clerk reported that he had written to Gloucestershire Highways seeking permission to site the Information Board in an area adjoining the ‘bus stop shelter on the corner of Wotton Road and The Street. He was awaiting a response. Mr Smitherman reported that he had approached a local craftsman and was in the process of speaking to potential advertisers. He was optimistic that the project would be self funding.

The Clerk reported that he had budgeted for some expenditure in the 2013/14 financial year.

It was agreed that Mr Smitherman would do further work in obtaining figures and would report back to a future Meeting. Once an agreement was reached it was agreed that the Council would need to inform parishioners through “On The Edge” and the notice boards, to enable any business in the Parish to apply for advertising space. The Clerk also advised the Council that they would need to obtain three quotations for the work.

10. Finances. The Council received a Report and papers from the Clerk.

1. The Council received the “Tasks & Options Paper” (See aside) and after discussions agreed on the following decisions:

1. Task B1. To construct an access pathway to the “new area” of the Cemetery.

• Following discussion and consideration of financial matters, it was agreed to adopt Option 2. During Spring/Summer 2013/14, to carry out work on the Garden of Remembrance wall and lay foundations for path (as per estimate). Cost £3,600 plus vat.; and complete by laying tarmac (as per estimate). Cost £2,015 (no vat). Total cost £5,615, plus £720 vat.

It was agreed that this work should progress in one phase and, subject to finances, be completed in 2013/14. The Clerk advised the Council that in order to proceed three quotes would need to be obtained.

2. Task B2. To carry out an assessment of the trees in the Cemetery. By Summer 2013.

• The Clerk reported that he had received two quotes for the work. It had previously been discussed that this assessment should be carried out soon and after discussion the Council agreed to proceed in 2013/14.

3. Task B3. To carry out any remedial work required as a result of (2) above.

• It was agreed that the Council should await the outcome of the assessment (Task B2).

4. Task B4. To carry out repairs to the metal railings on the road side boundary of the Cemetery.

• The Clerk reported that he was awaiting an estimate for the work. As this is a safety matter he recommended that it is carried out as soon as possible and possibly in 2012/13. The Council requested the Clerk to proceed.

5. Task B5. To renew the surface to the main pathway through the Cemetery.

• The Clerk suggested that this work could be delayed until 2015/2016. The Council agreed.

6. Task B6. To extend the “Garden of Remembrance”, by extending in the southern direction.

• The Council discussed this proposal and agreed that in the longer term this should be carried out. It was suggested that over the next few years the Council should save money towards this Task, and consider this work in 2015/16 or later.

7. Task B7. To carry out regular hedge trimming to boundary hedges; and ensure that pathways are kept clear of moss and weeds.

• It was agreed that this Task needs to be built into the annual maintenance of the Cemetery.

8. Task B8. To carry out a “Risk Assessment” on the Cemetery.

• The Council had previously agreed this should be done in October 2013.

9. Task C. To purchase & erect a Parish information Board.

• The proposal, previously presented and agreed by the Council, is that sponsorship of all or part of the cost should be raised from local businesses.

10. Task D. Church Cemetery.

• It was noted that the Church Cemetery remains the responsibility of the PCC and has not been included in the 2013/14 Budget.

2. Having taken decisions under (1) above, the Council received and discussed the “Budget & Precept Paper for 2013/14”. (See aside)

• The Council received, noted and accepted the current Budget position Annex A.

• Following a full consideration of the Proposed Budget (Annex B) the Council was minded to set the 2013/14 Precept at £13,500 by a vote of 4 votes for and one abstention. The Clerk reminded the Council the Precept should not be signed-off until after government announcements were made in early December. The Clerk was requested to amend the proposed Budget (Annex B) taking into account the decision on Precept and adjusting the Cemetery Construction Works budget to take account of decisions made under 10 (1) above.

• The Council agreed that bank reserves up to £4,100 should be utilised to enable works in the Cemetery to progress in 2013/14.

3. After discussion the Council requested the Clerk to make amendments to the Draft Budgets for 2014/15 & 2015/16, to take account of decisions made under 10 (1) above.

4. The Council approved the following payments as set out in the Payments Schedule.

• North Nibley Village Hall. Payment for use of Village Hall for Parish Council Meetings during period January 2012 to October 2012. £154.00

• GAPTC. Payment for two Councillors to attend Localism Briefing at Stroud on 19 November. £40.00

5. The Council noted that the Direct Debit for (£1,068.74) payable to the Public Works Loan Board in respect of the loan for the pavilion, had been taken on 1 November 2012.

6. The Council noted that the Clerk had approved work in the Cemetery to cut back the hedge (adjoining Southwold House); and to remove moss from the main path through the Cemetery.

11. The Council received a written District Council Report from District Council Mr Paul Smith. Following a brief discussion the Chairman thanked Councillor Mr Smith for his Report.

12. The Council received a written County Council Report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. It was brought to the Council’s attention that the land slip at Waterley Bottom was being resolved following Cllr. Cordwell’s intervention. Following comments from the Councillors, the Chairman thanked Councillor Dr Cordwell for his report.

13. The Chairman invited Parish Councillors to report on Committees and Meetings they had attended.

• Mr Purnell reported that he had recently attended a Meeting of the Trustees of the William Purnell Education Trust. The Trust has awarded two payments of £50 to young people in the Parish.

14. The Council received for comments on the Stroud District Economic Assessment and Employment Land Study. The Council decided it did not wish to comment.

15. The Council received a verbal Cemetery Report. The Clerk reported that he had Drafted Regulations and would be passing them to Mrs King for comment.

The Clerk requested the Council to consider a written request for an inscription on a plaque to be erected in the Garden of Remembrance. The inscription was approved.

16. The Council received for information details of Correspondence & Messages. (See attached).

There being no further business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 8.55 pm.

The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 3 December at 7.30 pm.