THE ANNUAL MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY 16 MAY 2016, 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 Councillor: Mr K Tucker.

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

Mrs Oakley, (Clerk designate) was in attendance in an observer role.

There was 1 member of the public present for part of the meeting.

The Chairman opened the Annual Parish Council Meeting. He welcomed Mrs Oakley; & congratulated Councillors on their re-election.

1. The Chairman invited apologies. The Council received and accepted apologies from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell & District Councillor Mrs C Braun.

2. The Council elected a Chairman of the Parish Council for the year 2016/17. Mr D Purnell was proposed and seconded as Chairman. There being no other nominations the Council elected Mr Purnell to serve as Chairman for the year 2016/17.

3. The Council elected a Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council for the year 2016/17. Mr K Brown was proposed and seconded as Vice-Chairman. There being no other nominations the Council elected Mr Brown to serve as Vice-Chairman for the year 2016/17.

4. The Council elected Councillors onto the following Committees & Groups at which the Parish Council is to be represented during 2016/17:

• Mr D Purnell: Stinchcombe Hill Trust

• Mr K Larkin: North Nibley Recreation Field Trust Committee

• Mr S Hale: Village Hall Management Committee

• Mr D Palmer: Parish Footpaths

• Mr D Purnell: William Purnell Educational Charity

• Mrs J Burton: Tyndale Monument Trust

• Mr L Smitherman: Stroud Joint Cluster Group

• Mr K Brown: Police Key Individual Network

5. Parish Councillors were issued forms to Register Members’ Interests as required under the Localism Act 2011. Councillors were informed that the forms were to be returned to the Clerk who is required to send them to Stroud DC.

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

7. The Council approved and signed the Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 4 April 2016, as a true record. The Minutes of the April 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.

8. 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:

• Defibrillator. The CPR training, run by the Ambulance Service (at nil cost to the Council) took place on 9 May. There were 30 people in attendance;

• Breakheart Hill. He had met with Loxleys Solicitors, regarding instructions about the sale of Breakheart Hill land, as agreed by the Council in March. He had negotiated a fixed fee of £1,000 plus disbursements and vat for the work associated with the sale. The Clerk understood there has been significant interest in the land. Closing date for bids is 12 noon 18 May 2016.  Following that the Council will need to consider all bids and decide on which to accept.  28 days after the Council accepts an offer the sale will be completed;

• Clerk’s Vacancy. Interviews had taken place on 11 May. The Council had appointed Mrs Elizabeth Oakley, who was in attendance at this meeting in an observer role;

• Affordable Housing. He had been in contact with Karen Phimister (GRCC) and following discussions the Council asked for the matter to be put onto the June Agenda and to invite Ms Phimister to attend;

• Broadband. An email had been received from Matt Lloyd at BT/Openreach that afternoon. Mr Lloyd advised the Clerk “We’re still looking to complete the build for Dursley PCP1 as per our commitments earlier in the year but we’re still waiting on confirmation of survey date from our suppliers. Work on planning and design has been going on in the background so there is stuff now underway as we’re in the new financial year, but once I’ve got a new survey date I’ll get in touch and we can coordinate”. The Clerk promised to follow up again prior to the next meeting;

District Councillor Tucker informed the Council that EE were carrying out surveys in the area to see if it was possible to improve wi-fi broadband connections;

• Council’s Annual Report & Accounts. Mr Alan Kennett had completed the annual Internal Audit of the Council’s accounts, which were now ready for sign off and submission to the Auditors. Mr Kennett had informed the Clerk that he is no longer taking on any accountancy work, so the Council would need to seek alternative arrangements in 2017. Mr Kennett has been voluntarily doing the Council’s internal audit without charge for in excess of 10 years. The Council agreed to purchase a good bottle of wine (payable from the Chairman’s Budget) to thank him on behalf of the Council for all his work.

9. The Chairman closed the Meeting for Public Discussion and Questions. There being no questions the Chairman re-opened the Meeting.

10. The Council discussed and commented on the following planning applications:

• S.16/0680/HHOLD. Laburnum House, 2, The Street, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6DW. Redesign of garden. Following discussion the Council agreed to make “No Comments”.

• S.160888/HHOLD. Five Acres Millend Lane, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6ED. Widen driveway. Following discussion the Council agreed to make “No Comments”.

• S.16/0759/FUL. Millmans Farm Wotton Road, North Nibley, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PD. Creation of five dwellings. The applicant was present. The Chairman Closed the Meeting and invited him to speak about his application. The Council also questioned the applicant in order to gain a better understanding of the application and how it related to an earlier Planning Approval for development on this site.

The Chairman re-opened the Meeting. Following a full discussion by the Council it was agreed that the Council would make “No Comments“.

• S.16/0786/LBC. Millmans Farm, Wotton Road, North Nibley, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PD. Change of use and alterations to existing out buildings to form five new dwellings.

Following discussion by the Council it was agreed that the Council would make “No Comments“.

11. The Council noted that Planning Consent has been granted in respect of:

• S.16/0376/FUL. Iona, Pitt Court, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6EB. Replacement dwelling (revised drawings received 15/4/2016).

• S.16/0360/FUL. Katharines Farm, Swinhay Lane, Swinhay, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PH. Continue work experience project on a permanent basis (extend existing temporary permission S.14/0385/FUL).

• S.16/0402/HHOLD. Waterley House, Waterley Bottom, North Nibley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 6EF. Replace existing store and parking with new single storey extension, convert and lower existing outbuilding and construct new detached garage/log store.

• S.16/0425/HHOLD. Brookside Cottage, Park Lane, Stancombe, Dursley. Replacement annex on site of approved mobile home to provide family accommodation (revised application following S.15/2268/HHOLD).

• S.16/0419/FUL. Valley Farm, Waterley Bottom, North Nibley, Gloucestershire. Full Planning Permission. Erection of an agricultural livestock building with lean-to and associated works.

12. The Council received and discussed a report from District Councillor Tucker. Cllr. Tucker informed the Council that due to the increased size of their area, in future District Councillors would attend Parish Council meetings on a rota basis. He advised the Council that this arrangement was further assisted by the 3 District Councillors all being part of the ruling “Cooperative Alliance” at Stroud DC.

Following comment the Clerk was asked to email Cllr. Tucker in relation to the District Council’s recent decision to cease providing website facilities for parish councils. The Chairman thanked Cllr. Tucker for his report. District Councillor Mr K Tucker left the meeting to attend another council meeting elsewhere.

13. The Council received and noted a Report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. The Chairman registered the Council’s thanks to Cllr. Cordwell.

14. The Council were invited to report on Committees and Meetings which they had attended. There were no reports.

15. The Clerk presented a diary of Parish Council Meetings for 2016/17. The Clerk advised that he had not set a date for the Annual Parish Meeting. This was for the Council to decide. Following discussion the Council agreed the timetable.

16. The Clerk presented to the Council a paper setting out options for the Council to replace their current website provider. There was a full discussion of the options and their merits. A proposal was made and seconded that the Council should accept the Clerk’s advice and proceed to purchase a website through Vision ICT. An amendment was tabled and seconded that the Council should delay the decision. The amendment was defeated by 4 votes to 2.

The original proposal was then carried by a 4 to 2 margin meaning the Council agreed to proceed with purchasing a website from Vision ICT. The cost for at least the first two years would be fully met from the Transparency Fund grant already received by the Council. The grant also included funding for adequate time to enable the Clerk to transfer materials from the current jigsaw website (Stroud DC) to the Vision ICT website. The Clerk was instructed to progress the matter.

17. The Clerk provided the Council with a verbal update on progress towards the sale of the Council’s Breakheart Hill land. He reported that a condition had been placed upon the sale so that it could only be used for agricultural/horticultural/or equestrian purposes. The Clerk had been asked to explain why a covenant on the land had not been secured. He had consulted the solicitors and reported back he had been advised that the only way to secure a legally binding covenant would be by retaining a one metre strip of land around the field. This would have meant a change in the terms of the sale and also place long term responsibilities on maintenance & legal liability for the Council. Following a detailed discussion the Council agreed to continue the sale with the “conditions currently in place”.

The Clerk advised the Council that he would be taking delivery of any bids at 1.00 pm on Wednesday 18 May; and the Council would meet that evening to decide on the sale. Once accepted the sale would be completed within 28 days.

18. Finance Report.

1. The Council received details of the amended Budget for 2016/17, brought about by the recent receipt of a Transparency Fund Grant. (See filed aside).

2. The Council received a statement of Council Finances. (See filed aside).

3. The Council approved the Parish Council Insurance Premium Renewal from 1 June 2016. The Council had in 2015/16 committed to a 3 year fixed rate arrangement with Came & Company. This is the second year of that agreement.

4. The Council noted that the half-yearly repayment of the Pavilion Loan had been paid by Direct Debit to PWLB on 1 May 2016.

5. The Council noted that the first half of the Precept had been credited to the Council’s Current Bank A/C on 1 May 2016.

6. The Council noted that Parish Council’s End of Year Accounts had been cleared through internal audit.

7. The Council approved the Invoices and drew up cheques for the items on the enclosed Payments Schedule.

19. The Council approved and the Chairman & Clerk/RFO signed-off of Section One (Annual Governance Statement 2015/16) on the Council’s Annual Return for year ending 31 March 2016.

19. The Council approved and the Chairman & Clerk/RFO signed-off of Section Two (Accounting Statement 2015/16) on the Council’s Annual Return for year ending 31 March 2016.

19. The Council received and approved the Cemetery & Churchyard Report filed aside.

19. The Council received for information details of Correspondence received. (See paper filed aside).

Since the Correspondence Paper had been written, letters/emails of thanks had been received from 5 recipients of Parish Council Grants.

The Clerk added that an email had just been received from Ms Trickey (Stroud DC Monitoring Officer) inviting councils to receive training on the Code of Conduct. The Council decided not to take forward this offer.

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.25 pm.

The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 6 June 2016 at 7.30 pm.