NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL 2019

THE ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2019, AT THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY, AT 7:30 PM.

Present: Mr Ken Brown (chair), Mrs J Burton, Mr D Roberts, Mr D Palmer and Mr D Purnell.

Eight members of the public attended the meeting.

District Councillors: Ms Catherine Braun.

County Councillor: Dr J Cordwell.

The Acting Clerk: Mrs J Burton.

The Chairman opened the Parish Council Meeting.

The Chairman invited apologies. Apologies had been received from the Parish Clerk Ms E Oakley, Cllr Mr R Symons, Cllr K Larkin, District Cllrs Mr K Tucker and Mr G James. The Chairman informed the Council that the Clerk was unwell and Mrs J Burton would be acting as Clerk for the meeting.
The Chairman invited any Declaration of Interest. There were no declarations of interest.
The Council approved the Minutes of the October Council Meeting. The Minutes of the October 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 auditors have completed the audit and issued the appropriate certificates.
An unhelpful reply was received from BT regarding the two public telephone boxes. The PC may need to purchase the boxes if SDC permit BT’s application for their removal.
No further progress on traffic calming.
The culvert at the bottom of Wood lane has been emptied but is full again after recent rains.
Cllr Brown has cleared the fallen tree stump from Wood lane.
Nationwide have requested various documents before the savings accounts can be opened.

A resident raised concerns about the proposed new housing development, including possible access problems with the entrance to the site. If all the houses were filled to capacity it would come to 74 persons and a population increase of 8%.
The Chairman re-opened the Meeting without further discussion.

The Council discussed matters arising from the public consultation by the proposed developer of a housing scheme on land off Wotton Road.

It was noted that insufficient notice was given for this consultation but nevertheless it was attended by a significant number of residents. There were several anomalies in the plans that were submitted, most significantly the incorrect address of the site. A serious omission was the lack of a Housing Association representative. Many concerns were raised about the location, the road and pedestrian access and lack of information on Affordable Housing

The Council received a presentation on proposals for an improved children’s play area.

A resident proposed a new set of children’s playground equipment on part of the playing field. Similar schemes nearby had cost £50,000 to £125,000. The Council requested further information on costs.

The Council considered and commented upon the following Planning Applications:

Application Number: S.19/1137/FUL Location: Pasture land east of the reservoir and north of the New Inn North Nibley Gloucestershire. Proposed erection of a small shed with private way. Following a brief discussion the Council agreed to make no comment.

The Council noted the following Planning Application decisions by Stroud DC Planning.

Application Number: S.19/1173/FUL. Location: Lot 1 and 2 Waterley Bottom North Nibley. Erection of farm building for storage of animal feed, equipment plus holding yard / hardstanding, alterations to access and creation of track to proposed building. Withdrawn.
Application Number: S.19/11750/COU. Location: Post Office 9 Barrs Lane North Nibley. Change to mixed use to open a cafe inside shop premises Permitted.
Application Number S.19/1786/HHOLD, Location: 17 Highlands Drive North Nibley. Single storey rear and second storey side extensions, with enlarged porch. Permitted.
Appeal Decision, Location: The Annexe Cedar Lodge Pitt Court North Nibley. Appeal Allowed

The Council receive a written District Council Report. The Council received a written report from District Cllr Catherine Braun. The Chairman thanked Cllr Braun for her report. (Filed aside)
The Council received a written County Council Report. The Council received a written report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. The Chairman thanked Cllr Cordwell for his report. (Filed aside)
The Chairman invited Parish Councillors to report on any meetings they had attended.

Cllr Purnell had attended a meeting of the Stinchcombe Hill Trust and noted that the ash trees there were affected by ‘die-back’.
Cllr Brown reported on a meeting between himself, Dignity Funeral directors, the grave digger and the burial clerk. The meeting was held to discuss concerns with the way earth from an excavated grave was placed on adjoining graves against the written wishes of the Burial Clerk when there was adequate space adjacent to the grave.
Cllr Palmer reported that he had been contacted by a member of the public about a salt bin that had been knocked over into the road at Crowell Brook which was too heavy to move. This person also asked when the grit bins would be refilled and if lids could be provided for the bins to prevent water from getting in and to deter people from using them as rubbish bins. Cllr Palmer has emptied the bin, moved it back to it’s position and refilled it.
A representative of CAB asked if there was a form for grant funding for 2020 and when the application should be submitted. The Council agreed to update the website with this information using the same form of wording as for 2019.

The Burial Clerk’s report (filed aside)
The Council agreed that a note should be added to the cemetery fee schedule for the garden of remembrance to the effect that “plots purchased before 1^st June 2018 are inclusive of two interments”.
Cllr Palmer reported no significant changes in the Closed Churchyard since the last report.
The Council approved a replacement plaque for an existing plot in the garden of Remembrance.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 2^nd December 2019 at 7:30pm.