CHEDWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 15th MARCH 2010

 

PRESENT:  Mr D Broad (Vice Chairman in the Chair) Mr A Bell, Mr P Cundick,

Mr A Miles, Mr P Sibbald and Mrs E Broad (Clerk).

 

APOLOGIES;  Mrs S Moore and Mr T Watt.

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES;  The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 15th February 2010 were agreed and signed as a true record.

 

MATTERS ARISING:

 

Footpaths:  The Chairman had flagged up that nothing further had been heard recently from GCC PROW regarding the footpath claim on Hill Farm Track. It was agreed to defer until next month when the Chairman would be present at the meeting.

 

Grass Verge, Hedge and Tree Cutting:  The email reply to the Chairman from Mrs Jess was raised.  It was agreed to reply to Mrs Jess stating her comments were noted.

 

Playing Field: a) Booking by Mr Edelsten for The Roman Run on 21st March: Mr Edelsten had paid the £15.00 and the booking was agreed with the usual stipulations. b)  Booking by Camping and Caravan Club 1st to 5th April 2010:  The Clerk had raised this as a reminder of the booking which had been accepted last year.  £200.00 fee was expected for four nights camping on the Playing Field.  Mr Broad reported that a rail had been broken between the playing field and the play area.  Mr Sibbald offered to replace this with a spare rail he had to hand and was duly thanked.

 

Grass Keep Field:  a) The Diggers Plot:  The Chairman had flagged up that an additional area had been ploughed up.  Mr Broad had measured the area and it was now only 8.2 metres from the fence instead of the 12 metres agreed in the licence.  Mrs Sissons representing the Diggers was present and it was agreed to open the meeting to allow her to speak.  Mrs Sissons stated that she understood the Diggers had acknowledged their mistake and have undertaken to reinstate the area.  When Council reconvened and after some discussion the Clerk reminded the Council that the Diggers Licence was due to be renewed in May so it will have to be discussed at the next meeting.  Mr Broad had marked the CLT plan from the March Hill and Valley with a suggested boundary amendment, but as Council were not sure of the scale of the CLT map it was agreed to consider it again next month.  Mr Lewis from the CLT was asked if he could try to ascertain the scale of the CLT map.  A telephone call and an email had been received from Colin Davies, Enforcement Officer, CDC stating that in his opinion the Diggers plot required planning permission as it was a change of use from agricultural to community garden. 

 

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Councillors disputed this and Mr Bell reported that he had spoken to Bryn Pugh the legal consultant at the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners who disputed the need for planning permission quoting that the opinion in Crowborough still stands and that planning permission is not needed for Allotments/Community Gardens.  Mr Pugh also offered assistance if necessary.  It was therefore agreed to reply to Mr Davies stating Chedworth Parish Council disputes the need for planning permission.

 

Affordable Housing:  It was agreed to open the meeting to allow Mr Lewis from the CLT to address the Council.  Mr Lewis gave an update which included the percentages of people in favour and against the CLT proposal at the far end of the playing field as printed in the March Hill and Valley, he also explained the CLT Board's need not to reveal the other possible sites considered at present.  Mr Musgrave also spoke about the plans.  When Council reconvened it was noted that the Parish Council had received ten communications objecting to the plans as proposed in the March Hill and Valley and none in favour.  As there appeared to be some misinformation in the objections received on exactly how the Parish Council acquired the land holding at the Village Hall, it was agreed to print a factual account of how the land was acquired  in the April Hill and Valley.  Mr Broad undertook to produce this.

 

Communication between Parish Council and the Public: a) Roadside maps:  An email had been received from CHOC asking if the scheme was still progressing.  Mr Bell reported that he hoped to have the maps ready by the end of the month.  It was   agreed to reply to CHOC informing them of this and asking if the £126.00 could be paid to the Parish Council when convenient.  b) Broken Noticeboard:  Mr Wilson had telephoned and he estimated that the repairs to the noticeboard at the Village Hall would be in the region of £70.00.  It was proposed from the Chair and seconded by Mr Miles to ask Mr Wilson to go head with the repairs, agreed.  Mr Sibbald had the catch repair to the Tuns Hill noticeboard in hand.

 

 Tuns Hill Waterfall, Flooding and Drainage:  Mr Sibbald reported that he had cleared the overgrowth from the watercourse and was awaiting to hear from Mrs Watkins regarding a site meeting.  It was agreed to remind Mr Watkins about this.

 

Traffic in Village and Road Matters:   a) Ground Investigation Works in Middle Chedworth Notification from GCC Highways:  The work was progressing and was noted.  Mr Bell asked if the marker posts requested to protect the verge opposite the notice board in Lower Chedworth could be chased up.  The Clerk was asked to do this. 

 

Youth Matters:  Nothing further.

 

Traffic at the School:  A letter had been received from the School Eco Committee asking for assistance in getting a footpath from the Village Hall to the School and also for consideration to be given to a one-way system.  After some discussion it

 

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MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 15th MARCH 2010 – Page 3.

 

was agreed to reply that the provision of a pavement was fully investigated some

years ago  and the options considered outlined.  It was also agreed to include that a one-way system might increase the speed of cars and it would inconvenience local residents all of the time, whereas the school traffic is only busy for a short period twice a day.  It was also agreed to include reference that fast traffic around the school at times is usually traffic hurrying to and from school and suggest this could be addressed via school newsletters.

 

Adoption of BT Telephone Box:   The telephone equipment had been removed and Mr Bell had the required notice to be displayed in the box.  It was agreed to seek suggestions as to future use via the Hill and Valley.

 

PLANNING:

 

CD 3139/B Cloud Cottage – Extension and Alterations – Objection.

 

Approval:

 

10/00670/TCONR Opposite Woolpack – Tree Works.  This approval was for information only and was not subject to consultation.

 

Other Planning Matters:  Nothing further.

 

Matters Under Enforcement:  Nothing further.

 

FINANCE:

 

1.   Clerks Quarterly Salary £499.00 prop. P Cundick, sec. A Miles, agreed with one

      abstention.

2.   Clerks Quarterly Mileage £9.65, prop. A Bell, sec. P Cundick, agreed with one

      abstention.

3.   Viking Direct (ink cartridges) £39.27, prop. A Miles, sec. P Sibbald.

4.   GAPTC Annual Membership £155.94.  It was agreed not to subscribe again

      this year.

5.   Council in receipt of £8.82 Water Reimbursement from HVLTC.

6.   Council in receipt of £15.00 Playing Field Rental from Mr Edelsten.

 

CORRESPONDENCE;

 

Encouraging Children to Walk to School Letter from St Andrews Eco Committee:

This had been dealt with under “Traffic at the School” agenda item.

 

OTHER BUSINESS;

 

Items Arising from E-mail: a) Mini Bus and Digital Switch Over Information from Cynthia Laird.  Mr Lewis was invited to clarify the minibus situation, which he did,

 

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stating he understood the journey would cost £1.00 and the bus would run when required, but a minimum of 5 people had to use it. It was agreed to include the information in the Hill and Valley.  It was further agreed to include the digital switch over information in the Hill and Valley.

 

Items for the Hill and Valley:  Several item were identified for Mr Broad to include as he would be writing the article in the absence of the Chairman.

 

The meeting concluded at 8.52 pm.

 

NEXT MEETING:  Monday 19th April 2010 at 7.30 pm.

 

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING:  Monday 22nd March 2010 at 7.30 pm.

 

 

Chairman..................................................

 

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