CHEDWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 12th SEPTEMBER 2011

 

PRESENT: Mr P Sibbald (Chairman) Mr G Brister, Mr D Broad, Miss L Gallagher,

Mr J King and Mrs E Broad (Clerk).

 

APOLOGIES;  Mr A Bell and Mr T Watt.

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES;  The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting  held on the 17th August 2011 were agreed and signed as a true record.

 

MAIN MATTERS:

 

Taking Stock of Chedworth Parish Council:

a)  Setting of a Four Year Plan:  Mr Brister had produced a draft document which he had circulated to Councillors and invited comments or amendments.  It was agreed to discuss this again at the next meeting.  Mr King reported on his progress with    Quality Status research.  Mr King had spoken to the Clerk from Cam Parish Council who had obtained Quality Status and also to Kim Bedford from GAPTC.  He ascertained that all current Councils that had obtained Quality Status were larger ones.  It was acknowledged that as we did not meet the criteria regarding elected members we could only currently work towards the standards required to meet Quality Status.  It was agreed that Mr King would carry on progressing his research.

b)  Reviewing Standing Orders:  Miss Gallagher had familiarised herself with the Standing Orders recently in her work producing the document on getting help from the new Parish Council.  Miss Gallagher suggested that the Standing Orders should be applied more robustly.  After some discussion it was agreed that all members should read the Standing Orders by the next meeting and make any suggestions for amendments to them.

c)  Re-styling The Parish Council:  It was proposed by Mr King and seconded by Miss Gallagher to abandon any idea of changing the name of Chedworth Parish Council at present, this was agreed unanimously.

d)  How to get help from the new Parish Council:  Miss Gallagher had produced a document which she had circulated to Councillors.  It was felt this document could go hand in hand with the four year plan and it may be possible to deliver the documents together through the Hill and Valley distributors.  It was agreed to make any suggested amendments to the document by the next meeting.

 

Communication between Parish Council and the Public:

a)  Facebook and other Social Media:  Miss Gallagher had set up the Chedworth Parish Council Facebook page and was receiving a good response to her friend requests.  Miss Gallagher was still exploring how to join Facebook and Twitter so information can be posted on both together.

b)  Introduction of Email Communication:  It was agreed to wait until the Website was sorted out.

c)  The Parish Council Website:  The Chairman had made further enquiries and

 

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

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 12th SEPTEMBER 2011 – Page 2

 

agreed to email around the draft proposals.  It was suggested that a target date of 1st November to have the site up and running.

d)  Notices for the Noticeboards:  Miss Gallagher had displayed the agreed notices on the noticeboards.

 

MATTERS FOR UPDATING AND DISCUSSION:

 

Footpaths:

a)  KCH 22, Footpath below Parsonage House:  The Chairman reported that Beth Cox will undertake the repairs on behalf of Mr Beach.

b)  KCH 44, Footpath near Denfurlong:  Mr King had spoken to Mrs Stainforth and

Mr Booth.  Mr Booth was going to undertake the repairs.

c)  Temporary Closure of KCH 55 – Email from Mike Barton GCC PROW:  The wall had been repaired and the path was now open.

d)  Dangerous Animal on Footpath – Reply from Mrs Duggleby:  A reply had been received stating the foal had been moved.  A further email had been received from Mrs Duggleby stating the foal had been moved back into the field.  After some discussion it was agreed to reply to Mrs Duggleby.  On this occasion Mr Brister agreed to have an informal word with Mrs Tice.  As a matter of principle it was felt that in this sort of situation, we would normally expect the “complainant” to contact the other parties involved directly themselves, in the first instance, to try to resolve the issue. It was agreed that if this proves to be unsuccessful then it is appropriate for the Council to become actively involved.

 

Traffic in Village and Road Matters:

a)  Winter Maintenance & Grit Provision:  The Chairman had met with Paul Swift from GCC Highways and they have agreed to reinstate Chapel Hill and the Lower End on the gritting route.  Mr Swift had requested a map of the grit bins and grit piles.  Mr Broad had produced a gritting map and it was agreed that he would circulate his map for comments.  Mr Swift had also requested a map of the proposed route for the towed gritter.

b)  Purchase of Grit Spreader:  GCC Highways have offered £750.00 toward the purchase of a towed grit spreader this is half the cost of a machine purchased through their suppliers.  GCC would not be able to cover the gritter on their insurance.  Mr King had made further enquires regarding insurance and found that towing a grit spreader may be permissible on private car insurance although he was still awaiting confirmation in writing.  AON our insurance company had reconfirmed that they were unable to offer any insurance cover but Mr King reported that Zurich Parish Council insurance would be able to.  Mr King agreed to obtain a quote from Zurich to possibly transfer the insurance to them.  It was felt the grit spreader would live at Manor Farm and it may be possible to cover it on their farm insurance.  It was agreed that the Chairman would speak to Mr Swift and suggest the Parish Council donate their half of the cost of the towed gritter to GCC Highways and they will purchase it for us from their suppliers and keep it on their books along with the Snow Plough.

c)  Roadside Hedges:  An email reply had been received from Mrs Watkins at GCC

 

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

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 12th SEPTEMBER 2011 – Page 3

 

Highways stating that although they had undertaken some cutting on Hemplands

Hill on road safety grounds they always abide by GCC's Biodiversity Action Plan..

d)  A429 Fossebridge:  An email had been received from GCC Highways giving notice of a Temporary Traffic Order for a 10mph speed limit to facilitate resurfacing works on Fossebridge Hill from 19th to 29th September.  This was noted and Miss

Gallagher agreed to post the information on the Facebook page.

 

Defibrillators: 

a)  Purchase of the Third Defibrillator:  The Chairman reported that a cheque from the local Conservative Association was to be presented by Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP at the Village Hall on Friday 7th October.  The eXbox was suggested as an alternative location, the Chairman agreed to speak to Mrs Thacker about this.

 

Items Arising from Email:

a)  Gloucestershire Highways Survey:  The Chairman had completed this.

b)  Parish Council Reserves FOI Request from BBC Radio Gloucestershire:  It was acknowledged this would mean extra work for the Clerk.  Mr Broad reported this was a valid request although CDC had told Radio Gloucestershire that no more requests would be passed on through them.  It was agreed to send the minimum amount of information requested via email.

c)  Faster Broadband in Gloucestershire Information Evenings:  It was agreed that Mr Scott and Mr Aveline would attend the evening at Northleach on the 20th October to represent the Parish Council.

d)  GCC Highway Information Evening - 10th October:  The Chairman would attend the meeting on 10th October so would be unable to attend the Parish Council meeting on the same evening.

e)  CDC Community Workshop – Making Sense of Localism in the Cotswolds

27th September Andoversford Village Hall:  Mr King reported that although Mr Musgrave might have been interested in attending he was not intending to go now.

Mr Broad was asked to keep the Council informed of any information on localism he may come across in his role as District Councillor that may be of interest to the Parish Council.

 

Roadside Maps:  Three of the village maps had been refurbished by Mr King and the Village Hall map by Mr Broad.  The Chairman thanked both gentlemen for their work.  The Chairman undertook to seal the maps with all-weather sealer.  It was further agreed to think about where to site the spare map and case.

 

Septic Tank Registration – Notification it is now on hold:  It was agreed to remove this item from the agenda.

 

PLANNING:

 

Applications:

 

No objection raised from Chedworth Parish Council

 

11/04026/TCONR Badgers Rake – Tree Works.            Chairman.............................. 

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 12th SEPTEMBER 2011 – Page 4

 

CD 6536/1/C Longfurlong Farm – Garage.

 

Cotswold District Council Approval:

 

CD 7478/C Laburnum Cottage – Extension and Alterations

CD 7532/B Wookeys Tump – Demolition of Existing Extension, Garage & Outbuilding.

 

FINANCE:

 

1.   Clerk's Quarterly Salary £534.50, prop. P Sibbald, sec. L Gallagher.

2.   Clerk's Quarterly Mileage £9.65, prop. P Sibbald, sec. L Gallagher.

3.    Bibury (Playing Field Cutting August) £88.80, prop. D Broad, sec. J King.

4.   Chedworth Village Hall (Rental & Cupboard) £215.80, prop. D Broad, sec.

      L Gallagher.

5.   A T Chapple (Wall at Chapel) £295.00, prop. D Broad, sec. P Sibbald.

6.   Viking (Ink and Stationary) £51.35, prop. L Gallagher, sec. G Brister.

7.   Council in receipt of £10.75 Part Water reimbursement from Mr Baker.

8.   Council in receipt of £30.00 Playing Field Rental from Horticultural Society.

9.   Audit Letter from Mr Selkirk – It was agreed to appoint Mr Selkirk to undertake

      the audit if the current audit system was to be replaced.

10. Donations for Consideration:

       a)  PCC, Cutting of Churchyard and Hill and Valley News.  It was proposed

       by Mr Sibbald and seconded by Mr Broad to increase the donation to £225.00

       for this year, agreed.

       b)  Cirencester Citizens Advice Bureau £100.00, prop. J King, sec. D Broad.

       c)  Gloucestershire Chest Fund – letter requesting funding – It was agreed not

       to donate this year.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

 

Items for the Hill and Valley:  Several item were identified.

 

Free Crime Home Survey from the Police:  It was agreed to include this in the Hill and Valley.

 

Roadside Litter:  Mr King enquired if there were any schemes in place.  The Clerk confirmed that in the past CDC had run a Clean up the Cotswolds campaign.  It was agreed to include on the agenda in the spring.

 

It was agreed to note the information from the SDR checks recently conducted on Fields Road.  The Road Safety and Traffic Management Team state the means of

38 &39mph do not indicate a general problem here.

 

The meeting concluded at 9.20 pm.

NEXT MEETING:  Monday 10th October 2011 at 7.30 pm.

 

Chairman.............................Date............................