AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY 4 MARCH, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.

Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman).

Mrs K Glancy; Mr S Hale; Mr K Larkin; & Mr L Smitherman;

District Councillor: Mrs J Cordwell & Mr P Smith.

County Councillor: Dr J Cordwell.

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

Burial Clerk: Mrs M King.

1. To receive and accept Apologies for absence.

Apologies were received and accepted from Mr K Brown.

2. Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any Interests relating to this Meeting. Mrs Glancy, as a School Governor, declared an interest in Item 11.

3. To approve and sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on held on 4 February 2013, as a true record. The Minutes of the February 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 he had:

• along with Councillors, attended the re-arranged meeting with Gloucestershire Highways on Friday 8 February. Councillors had agreed with Gloucestershire Highways some actions which should assist traffic calming on New Road. A copy of a letter from Gloucestershire Highways to Mr T Cornell, North Nibley Garage, has been received. The Clerk is now awaiting further news from Mr Gray, County Highways;

• reported to Gloucestershire Highways the loose bollard on the Island; and the pothole (now repaired) in Barrs Lane, near the Forthay junction;

• visited the Cotswold Way steps since the last Meeting and reported that they have collapsed. As a result of the bank slipping some trees have become unstable and County “Rights of Way” have temporarily closed Wood Lane. He has continued, without success, to make contact with Mr Walsh to discover if he is the owner of the land on the right bank of Wood Lane, which is “Unregistered” at the Land Registry. The Clerk verbally reported that today he had spoken with County “Rights of Way” and been advised of the following: a notice addressed to the land owner has been in place since 27 February and would remain for 3 weeks. If no response is received, “Rights of Way” have arranged for an officer to do a bird survey (because the bird nesting season is now underway). If this is satisfactory it is planned that a contractor would move in on 25 March to carry out the necessary work.

• not heard anything further from St Martin’s Church Parochial Church Council regarding the possible handover of the closed churchyard at St. Martins Church. He had, as requested, contacted the three parish councils in Stroud District where closed churchyards have been handed to Stroud District Council for them to carryout out maintenance. Unfortunately the councils had little knowledge of the effectiveness of the arrangements with Stroud and knew nothing about financial arrangements. As far as they are aware the parish councils aren’t being charged by the District Council. The feedback on the quality of the service was generally unfavourable. In the two instances where he could get more information the work is being supplemented by volunteers in the parishes. In the absence of anything definitive from Stroud DC the Clerk have gone back to them to ask more about what their intentions would be about charging for the service. He awaits a reply.

• organised the equipment necessary for the Parish Clean-Up Day on 20 April.

• been in contact with Peter Gleed (Neighbourhood Warden) to find out when he is planning to do the stencils with notices about dog fouling. A combination of bad weather and his absence has delayed the work. Hopefully by the day of the Meeting it should have been completed.

• contacted Mr Chris Burns-Cox about the 150^th Anniversary of laying of the Foundation Stone of Tyndale Monument to find out if they had any plans to celebrate the occasion. The item is on today’s Agenda for the Council’s suggestions.

• reported the rubbish dumped in The Throat, leading from Old London Road.

• received applications for Parish Council Grants, which closed on 23 February. (Item on March Agenda). An early indication from Village Shop Association was that they won’t be applying this year. He had also been advised that the Chapel will not be applying.

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 did not have any Planning Applications to consider at this Meeting. The Clerk advised that he had earlier that day received notification of a Planning Application. He had successfully negotiated an extension which would enable the Council to give a measured response at their next meeting.

7. The Council noted that approval had been granted in respect of:

• S.12/2578/FUL. Road Green House, Blanchworth Lane, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6BA. Amendment of existing access and the creation of a new driveway.

• S.13/0110/DISCON. Katherine’s Farm. Discharge of Conditions. Permission given.

• S.12/2551/CPE. Glendale. Certificate of Lawful Use granted.

8. The Council received a written District Council Report from District Councillor Paul Smith. (See report filed aside). Following discussion of the article about the Incinerator at Javelin Park, the Council accepted the Report.

9. The Council received a written County Council Report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. (See report filed aside). Following discussion of the articles about Highways Works & the 30mph reminder signs, the Council accepted the Report.

10. The Chairman invited Parish Councillors to report on Committees and Meetings they had attended since the last meeting. There were no reports.

11. The Council received applications for Parish Council Grants in 2013/14 Budget Year.

The Clerk reported that by the closure date (23 February 2013) seven applications had been received. These were detailed on the Paper to the Council. On the 3 March a further application was received. The Clerk suggested that the Council should first decide whether to accept this late application. Following discussion the Council agreed to reject this late application.

The Clerk advised the Council that all the applications listed on the Paper qualified for a grant from the Council. He informed the Council that the available money in the 2013/14 Budget was £1,800; and that the applications totalled £2,638.33. The Clerk read out each of the applications and the merits of each was discussed by the Council. The Council agreed that they would support each of the organisations. The Council agreed that the following Grants would be made:

• North Nibley Pre-School. £285.00

• North Nibley Village Hall. £355.00

• On the Edge. £250.00

• Stroud Citizens Advice Bureau. £200.00

• North Nibley Friendship Club. £100.00

• North Nibley C of E Primary School. £200.00

• Breakheart Community Project Ltd. £410.00.

Cheques will be awarded to the successful organisations at the Parish Meeting on 8 April, when the organisations’ representatives will be invited to say how the grant will be used. .

12. The Council was invited to put forward and consider ideas for celebrating the 150^th anniversary of laying the Foundation Stone of Tyndale’s Monument.

The Clerk explained that contact had been made with the Tyndale Monument Trust who showed interest in receiving ideas for a celebratory event around the time of the Anniversary.

Suggestions included a “re enactment” of the earlier event; a celebration involving school pupils from the Primary School (Mrs Glancy agreed to discuss this with the school head); and involvement with St Martin’s PCC. It was pointed out that the date coincided with half term and that this might reduce options involving school pupils. The Clerk was requested to contact the PCC and the Monument Trust.

13. Finances.

1. The Council received and approved Invoices and drew up cheques for items as below, set out on the enclosed Payments Schedule:

• Severn Trent Water Ltd. Water supply to the Cemetery. £14.10.

• Gloucestershire Association of Parish & Town Councils. Annual membership subscription. £187.66.

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14. The Cemetery Report. The Council were advised by the Burial Clerk that the only issue to report was that badgers continued to cause damage in the Cemetery. Following discussion the Chairman, and the Clerk agreed to arrange a meeting with the registered owner of the affected grave to explore how the Council might resolve the problem. The Burial Clerk will supply details for the Clerk.

15. The Council noted for information details of Correspondence received. (See paper aside).

The Clerk drew the Council’s attention to the fourth item on the list. (Stroud DC: Copy of a letter to Ms Penny Kelly about recent motocross event on Nibley House land).

The Council acknowledged that Stroud Environmental Health had responded very swiftly to residents’ concerns. The Clerk was asked to contact Gloucestershire County Rights of Way about the issue of the event taking place on a public right of way.

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 8 April 2013; to follow the Parish Meeting.