NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL |
2014 |
AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY 6 OCTOBER, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.
Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman).
Mr K Brown; Mrs J Burton; Mr S Hale; Mr K Larkin; Mr D Palmer; & Mr L Smitherman.
District Councillors: District Councillors Mrs J Cordwell; & Mrs L Reeves.
County Councillor: Dr J Cordwell.
The Clerk: Mr R Symons.
There were four members of the public present.
The Chairman opened the Parish Council Meeting.
The Chairman invited apologies. The Council received and accepted an apology from District Councillor Mr P Smith.
Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any Interests relating to this Meeting. There were none
The Council approved and signed the Minutes of the Parish Annual Council Meeting held on 1 September, as a true record. The Minutes of the September Ordinary Meeting of the Council 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.
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:
Wood Lane. A meeting involving County Council, Parish Council, Knoll Trust, Monument Trust, Cotswold AONB, & Cotswold Way volunteers, had taken place on 18 September to discuss how the issues at Wood Lane, would be taken forward.
Housing Needs Survey & Affordable Housing for the Parish. The Survey & letter had been distributed with the October Edition of “On The Edge” to all households. The Chairman recorded the thanks of the Council for the assistance of the OTE Editorial Board;
Wood Lane drainage. The Clerk had been assured by John Kay (Highways) that “an order has been placed to clean the drains that are affected. We are awaiting this work to be programmed by Amey. I will highlight to the works programme”;
He had contacted Treecreepers Arborists and instructed them to carry out a survey and report on the condition of trees in St Martin’s Churchyard;
He had also asked Treecreepers Arborists to advise on the state of the Jubilee Tree at the top of Lower House Lane;
He had instructed Garden Supplies to cut & trim (not pull) ivy, elder plants & brambles on the walls surrounding St Martin’s Churchyard;
He had not yet been able to obtain a quote from Hawkins & Sons for grass cutting at St Martin’s Churchyard;
A check on the Stroud DC planning website indicated that a decision has not been made on S.14/1287/FUL. Land At, Frog Lane, North Nibley, Gloucestershire;
He had not been in a position to advise County Highways on the Council’s decision on the report provided about the potential to reduce the speed limit on B4060 from 50 mph to 40 mph;
Garden Supplies have carried out hedge trimming in the Cemetery and tidied up the area adjoining the Garden of Remembrance;
Innocks Estate play area. Following several reminders, Stroud District Council has replaced the swing; &
The Chairman asked Mr Smitherman for an update on the Parish information Board. Mr Smitherman reported that due to family circumstances he had been unable to take this forward, but he would now get it actioned.
The
Council approved an amendment to the Council’s Standing Orders.
The
Clerk advised that following legislation, Parish Councils
are no longer allowed to use Model Standing Order 31 and must now
allow filming, photographing or making an audio recording of
proceedings at a meeting. The Council agreed to make the necessary
changes to its Standing Orders, in order to incorporate the new
provision.
The Chairman closed the Meeting for Public Discussion and Questions.
The Chairman invited members of the public to speak. The Council were asked what was happening on the Planning Application at Frog Lane (S.14/1287/FUL). The Clerk reported that he had searched the Planning website and that the application had still not been decided. Furthermore that this application was not included in an email of Planning Decisions received that day from Stroud Planning. Finally the Clerk added that he had emailed the planning officer that morning, but had not received a reply. The Chairman thanked the member of public and re-opened the Meeting.
There were no Planning Applications for the Council to discuss.
(1) The Council received and discussed its response to be delivered at the District Development Committee (DCC) on 13 October, in connection with the planning application for a “solar panel farm” at Manor Farm, Upper Wick (S.14/1336/FUL) .
The Chairman closed the Meeting and invited the members of the public to speak. Mr Patteson informed the Council that he would represent the Cotswold Solar Group at DCC and he outlined what he would be saying. Other members of the public expressed their concerns about the forthcoming DCC. The Clerk advised the meeting about his understanding of what would be likely to happen at the DCC. The Chairman thanked Mr Patteson and re-opened the Meeting. Following discussion of the Council’s objections to the application, the Council agreed that Mr Larkin would present at the DCC and approved his draft speech which had been previously circulated. District Councillor Mrs Reeves informed the Council that she would also be speaking at the DCC. The Clerk reminded the Council that he had arranged a meeting for the following day between Mr Larkin, himself and the Alkington Parish Council’s representative to discuss their responses to this application.
It was also agreed that the Clerk should write to each of the District Development Committee members setting out the Council’s Objections to this planning application.
(2) The Council had been earlier copied an email (dated 3 September at 20.00) received from the developer of the proposed “solar panel farm” at Manor Farm, Upper Wick (S.14/1336/FUL). The Clerk informed the Council that he had sent a holding reply, until the Council had an opportunity to discuss its contents at the October Meeting.
The Clerk read out the email. Following discussion it was evident that the developer had not spoken to any of the Parish Councillors about an offer of “community benefit”. He was probably referring to a conversation with County Councillor Dr Cordwell. Furthermore the reference in the email to “Council owned properties” was inaccurate as the Council does not own any properties upon which solar panels could be located.
Following discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should write to the developer pointing out these errors and adding that the Council would consider holding further discussions about “community benefit”, should the planning application be approved.
The Council received a written District Council Report from District Councillor Mrs Reeves. (See filed aside). The Chairman thanked Cllr. Mrs Reeves for her Report.
The Council received a written County Council Report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. (See filed aside). Following a brief discussion the Chairman thanked Cllr. Cordwell for his report.
The Chairman invited Councillors to report on Committees and Meetings they had attended.
Mr Brown reported that recent changes to land grants could mean that in future the Parish Council would not receive grants on its two pieces of land. Mr Brown would look into how this might be resolved.
Mr Larkin reported on a recent meeting of the Recreation Field Trust. This meeting had dealt with “day to day” business. There were no matters of direct interest to the Council.
Messrs Brown & Purnell reported on the meeting on 18 September with County Rights of Way to discuss Wood Lane. (See notes attached). It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Rights of Way to ascertain progress since the meeting and to comment that care needed to be taken to ensure that any stone used in infilling Wood Lane was substantial enough to reduce the chance of it being washed away..
Mr Palmer reported that he had attended a meeting of Monument Trust at which the recent repairs to the monument had been discussed.
Mr Palmer reported that a review of the Parish Plan had been started. It was agreed that this should be put on the November Agenda for fuller discussion.
Mr Smitherman reported that recent repairs to potholes on the Devil’s Elbow road out of Waterley Bottom had been poorly carried out. The Clerk was asked to report this to Amey/Highways.
Mr Brown reported that Amey/Highways had delivered bags of salt to his yard, for use throughout the winter. Grit bins in the parish had also been topped up.
Parish Council Finances.
The Council approved the Invoices and drew up cheques for items on the Payments Schedule.
The Council noted that the second half of the Precept/LCTS for 2013/14 had been paid by Stroud DC.
The Council agreed to defer the planned pre-budget meeting until 24 November.
The Council received a verbal Cemetery Report from the Clerk. Following discussion the Council approved an application to put a plaque in the Garden of Remembrance.
There was also a brief discussion about the condition of the Garden of Remembrance. It was agreed that in the long term the Council needed to take action to improve and extend this facility. This would be a matter to include in future plans for the Cemetery and included within future budget plans.
The Clerk had been unable to produce a Correspondence paper for this meeting. He agreed to update Councillors following the Meeting.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 8.35 pm.
The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 3 November 2014 at 7.30 pm.