AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 7 JANUARY, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.

Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman).

Mr K Brown; Mrs K Glancy; 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.

Burial Clerk: Mrs M King.

There was one member of the public in attendance.

1. To receive and accept Apologies for absence.

An apology was received and accepted from District Councillor Mrs J Cordwell.

2. Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any Interests relating to this Meeting. Mr Brown declared that he had an Interest in Item 8.

3. To approve and sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on held on 3 December 2012, as a true record. The Minutes of the December 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 advised that:

• Gloucestershire “Rights of Way Team” had sent a copy of the Land Registry search on the bank adjoining Wood Lane. This shows that most of the area is “Unregistered”. (Further discussion under item 9 on January Agenda);

• he has organised a meeting for Councillors to meet with Gloucestershire Highways to look at options for reducing the speed of vehicles travelling on the B4060 through the Village. Meeting is at 9.30am on Friday 18 January;

• he has instructed Ian Hall to defer further work to clear the moss on the path in the Cemetery, until dry weather permits;

• he had met with Ken Brown to identify overhanging trees on the main B4060 (North Nibley Wotton under Edge road) towards Wotton. The Clerk is in the process of writing to the relevant householders;

• he has issued Parish Council Grant Application Forms to organisations awarded Grants in 2012. The Clerk has also used the Parish Council OTE item to invite applications from other organisations.

5. The Chairman closed the Meeting for Public Discussion and Questions. There being no public discussion or questions the Chairman re-opened the Meeting.

6. The Council considered and commented upon the following Planning Applications & Application for a Certificate of Existing Lawful use/development. :

• S.12/2551/CPE. Glendale, Waterley Bottom, North Nibley, Dursley. Certificate Existing Lawful Use/Dev Use of land as residential curtilege to dwelling 'Glendale'.

Following a full discussion and consideration of the statements and location plan BEH1, submitted in support of the Application the Council decided to make the following observations:

“(1) In his statement Mr Howard Cowles says (point 4) "I have never practised an agricultural trade or business". This statement is also supported in the statement by Gladys Cowles (also at point 4). The Council is aware that Mr. Cowles has operated a business selling firewood/logs from this site for many years and has stored wood within the grounds of Glendale, for the purpose of operating that business. This point has not been covered in these statements. (2) The Council has also had brought to its attention by parishioners that the Applicant has constructed a residential building on this site and to their knowledge a planning application has not been submitted. That building is not shown on the attached plan”.

• S.12/2472/HHOLD. Church Farm, Frog Lane, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6DJ. Erection of conservatory and office on the ground floor and first floor extension over existing garage. Access to the garage moved from the front to the side of the property and provision of a driveway.

The Chairman closed the Meeting and invited the Applicant to speak. The applicant explained that he was content to respond to any questions raised by the Council. In response to questions by Councillors the applicant explained the proposed changes to vehicle access to the property. He also was able to point out the other proposed changes to the property. After a full discussion the Council Agreed to Support the application.

The Council consider that the planned development is consistent with Stroud Local Plan Policy HN16. The removal of the garage entrance to the side of the building will significantly improve the safety of the highway. No longer will cars emerge/enter directly to/from "The Street". The planned development is fully in keeping with the existing building and visually will be an improvement on the current arrangement.

• S.12/2522/HHOLD. Park Lodge Stinchcombe Hill, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6AQ. Erection of single storey extensions, external remodelling and removal of existing utility outbuilding. Following discussion of the Application the Council decided to make No Comments.

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

• S.12/1929/HHOLD. The Round House Whiteway Hill, Woodmancote, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 6AD. Erection of a single storey glazed extension to the west and a single storey extension with a balcony over to the south. (Revised plans received 12/11/2012).

8. Mr Brown, having previously declared an Interest in this item, left the room at this point in the Meeting.

The Council discussed the inclusion of application S.12/2051/HHOLD at the forthcoming Stroud District Council Development Change Committee on 8 January 2013. The Council agreed that the Clerk should speak on behalf of the Council in support of the application.

Mr Brown returned to the Meeting.

9. The Clerk informed the Council about the situation in Wood Lane. Information received from Gloucestershire County Council Rights of Way revealed that much of the land on the right bank of Wood Lane was “Unregistered”. The Clerk also advised the Council that he had written to Mr Walsh regarding the ownership of the unregistered land. The Clerk is still trying to track the owner of the areas which have been registered. Following a brief discussion the Council agreed that if ownership couldn’t be ascertained the Council should consider making an application to the Land Registry to register the Parish Council as the owner. During discussion it was pointed out that with ownership of the land came responsibility for the trees and damage caused by trees falling. The Clerk said that Parish Council insurance considerations were also relevant. It was agreed that such matters were important to take into consideration at the appropriate time. The Clerk agreed to keep the Council informed.

10. The Council received a brief verbal report from District Council Mr P Smith. Mr Smith advised the Council that budgetary discussions were currently underway within the District Council following the government’s funding announcements.

11. The Council received a written County Council Report from County Councillor Dr John Cordwell. Dr Cordwell said that a meeting with Wales & West Utilities regarding planned works in Wotton under Edge, had been inconclusive. The Chairman thanked Dr Cordwell for his Report.

12. The Chairman invited Parish Councillors and the Clerk to report on Committees and Meetings they had attended.

• Mr Smitherman observed that he had not been informed about any Safety Cluster Meetings at which he was due to represent the Council. The Clerk agreed to contact the organisers and inform Mr Smitherman of arrangements for the next meeting.

• Mrs Glancy reported that she had received complaints from the School about dog mess on a footpath leading to the School. The Clerk said that earlier in the day he had contacted the Neighbourhood Warden Service and requested that they repeat the signs previously placed on footpaths. He would also ensure that a prominent entry was inserted in the next OTE article.

• Mr Hale reported that he had attended the meeting in Wotton under Edge with Western Power Distribution. He observed that North Nibley seemed to have fewer problems with power discontinuity than Wotton under Edge. However one quoted instance of power being cut-off without notice, appeared to receive little understanding of the financial impact on a local business.

• Mr Brown reported that he and the Clerk had driven along the Wotton Road in order to identify the ownership of hedges which had overgrown and been reported as causing problems for operators of lorries and coaches. The Clerk advised the Council that he was in the process of writing to the land owners.

• The Clerk reported that he had attended three meetings. He had attended an event run by GRCC to brief parish councils on how to work with developers in the interests of their communities; a Charter Meeting held by Gloucestershire County Council at which Highways provided updates of matters affecting parish councils; and a Clerks Network Meeting at which he received useful information about PAYE changes and Insurance matters affecting Councils.

13. Parish Council Finances.

1. The Council approved the Invoices and drew up cheques for the following items which were listed on the enclosed Payments Schedule:

1. Garden Supplies. Work on the Cemetery as instructed.

2. Mr R V Symons: Clerk’s Salary Quarter three 2012/13.

3. The Post Office: Clerk’s PAYE Quarter three 2012/13

4. Mr R V Symons: Clerk’s Expenses Quarter three 2012/13.

5. Mr D Palmer: Travel expenses to attend Councillor Training Event at Highnam.

2. The Council noted that a Rural Payments Agency Single Payment Scheme Payment for £540.21 has been credited to the Council’s bank account.

3. The Council discussed and approved a Quote from TW Hawkins & Sons for grass cutting & strimming in the Cemetery in 2013.

4. The Council agreed to defer their decision to approve the Council’s Precept for 2013/14, until after the Meeting on 14 January, called by the Chief Executive of Stroud DC to explain the impact of recent government decisions upon the Parish Precept. The effects of these changes on the Parish Council budget and Council tax payers is still unclear. The matter would be put onto the February Agenda.

14. The Cemetery Report.

• The Council received and approved a decision to adopt Cemetery Regulations in respect of the operation of North Nibley Cemetery. The Clerk, having previously sent out a draft version of Regulations, explained the importance of having clear Regulations for the operation of the Cemetery. The Council agreed to adopt the Regulations with immediate effect.

14. The Clerk invited the Council to put forward suggestions for this Year’s Annual Parish Meeting on 8 April 2013. Several suggestions were made which the Clerk agreed to draw up into a draft agenda for sign-off at the next Meeting.

16. The Council received for information details of Correspondence received.

(See attached paper).

There being no further business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 9.15 pm.

The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday

4 February 2013 at 7.30 pm.