AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY 7 APRIL 2014, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 8.50PM.

Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman).

Mr K Brown; Mrs J Burton; Mr S Hale; Mr K Larkin; Mr D Palmer & Mr L Smitherman.

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

There was one member of the public present for the Meeting.

The Chairman opened the Parish Council Meeting at 8.50 pm.

1. The Chairman invited apologies. Apologies were received and accepted from District Councillors Mrs J Cordwell & Mr P Smith; & County Councillor Dr J Cordwell.

2. Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any Interests relating to this Meeting. There were no Declarations of Interest.

3. The Council approved and signed the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 3 March 2014, as a true record. The Minutes of the March 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 by the Chairman.

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:

• The Informal Meeting about Wood Lane (involving representatives of: Gloucestershire County Council Rights of Way Team; North Nibley Parish Council; The Knoll Trust; The Monument Trust; Cotswold Way AONB; & The Cotswold Wardens) had taken place on 17 March to discuss the landslips onto Wood Lane. Mr Lane, from Gloucestershire County Council Rights of Way Team, agreed to pursue the matter with the Council’s new contractor after 1 April. He will work to secure an assessment of the bank and examine options to the problem. At which stage a further Meeting of the same parties will be convened.

• He had made the necessary arrangements for the Village Clean-Up Day on Saturday 12 April, including advertising for volunteers.

• He had advertised in On The Edge the Council’s suggestion that parishioners be given the opportunity to place a replacement flowering tree in the Cemetery.

• As Councillors will now be aware, his telephone & broadband have been cut off since 20 March, hence fewer emails.

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

There being no questions from members of the public, the Chairman re-opened the Meeting.

6. The Council had received four planning applications for their comments. Following full discussions of each application the Council decided to make the following comments:

• S.14/0366/FUL. Bird Farm Stancombe, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6AY. Erection of three poly-tunnels. The Council agreed to Oppose the Application on the following grounds:

The field in which these structures would be placed lies within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This application is therefore contrary to the NPPF. The proposed poly tunnels clearly do not meet the requirement at para. 28 which states that new buildings need to be "well designed". In the Council's opinion the proposed poly tunnels can in no way be described as well designed; and evidently they would be visually intrusive from many parts of the AONB. They would be detrimental to landscape and character of the AONB; and temporary in terms of their construction.

The proposal is also contrary to NPPF para..115 which states that structures should enhance the landscape and scenic beauty. The Council do not accept that these structures can possibly achieve that requirement as they will be visually prominent throughout the AONB. The proposed tree planting to screen the development from the road would not screen it from other view points.

Furthermore the proposed structures would be visible from a wide area including the important “Cotswold Way” which forms an important part of the National Pathway The field is immediately adjacent to Stancombe Park, a grade 1 listed Parkland which includes "Lake Lodge" (listed grade 2) which is immediately opposite the application site. As such this proposal is also contrary to NPPF 115.

It is also of note that the Application fails to meet the 3 criteria in Stroud Local Plan Policy NE8 (adopted 2005), a policy which is replicated in the Stroud District Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan.

Finally it is noted that the Application fails to mention the length of the proposed poly tunnels.

• S.14/0622/DISCON. Old Bournstream House, Bradley Road, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PA. Discharge of condition 5 - Materials from planning permission S.11/1776/FUL. Following discussion the Council agreed to make No Comments.

• S.14/0703/HHOLD. Five Acres, Millend Lane, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6ED. Proposed pitched roof extension, storm porch and conservatory. Following discussion the Council agreed to make No Comments.

• S.14/0385/FUL. Katharines Farm, Swinhay Lane, Swinhay, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PH. Setting up a work experience project. Dividing the field into 4 paddocks, paddocks 1 and 2 will be for small numbers of livestock. Paddock 3 for a wood shed for a mess room and paddock 4 polytunnel for vegetables and flowers. Following discussion the Council agreed to make No Comments.

7. Finance.

1. The Council approved the following Invoices and drew up cheques for the following items: (See attached Payments Schedule.)

• GAPTC: Annual Membership fee for 2014/15 year. £183.57

• Mr R Symons: Clerk’s salary for Quarter four 2013/14. £947.68

• The Post Office: Clerk’s PAYE for Quarter four 2013/14. £237.00

• Mr R Symons: Clerk’s expenses for Quarter four 2013/14. £210.82

• Mrs M King: Burial Clerk’s salary & expenses for 2013/14 £72.00

• Stroud DC: Annual Non-Domestic Rate Demand for The Cemetery £ Nil

The Council noted that the half yearly payment of £1,068.74, payable to Public Works Loan Board for the pavilion loan, will be taken by Direct Debit on 1 May 2014.

8. The Council agreed that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman should meet with the Clerk to review his last year’s performance.

9. The Clerk advised the Council that, because of IT problems, he had been unable to draw up details of Correspondence received since their last Meeting. A list will be issued later.

There being no further business the Chairman declared the Meeting closed at 9.20 pm.

The Chairman advised the Council that the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 12 May 2014 at 7.30 pm. This Meeting will be the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council.