CHEDWORTH PARISH COUNCIL

 

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 15th FEBRUARY 2010

 

PRESENT:  Mrs S Moore (Chairman) Mr A Bell, Mr D Broad, Mr P Cundick,

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

 

APOLOGIES;  Mr T Watt.

 

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES;  The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on the 18th January 2010 were agreed and signed as a true record with the following amendments.  Page 2, Playing Field paragraph, “and” was changed to “as” and “for the use of the whole field” was inserted. On Page 5 under “Other Business” “being used” was replaced with “investigating the possibility of using” and “a” was amended to “at” in the penultimate line..

 

MATTERS ARISING:

 

Footpaths:  The Chairman raised the problem of the footpath which runs along the boundary of the Fossebridge Inn and Mr and Mrs Gurnham's property which is obstructed by ivy.  As the ivy is growing out from the Fossebridge Inn side of the boundary it was agreed to write to Mr Jenkins and ask him to cut it back.

 

Grass Verge, Hedge and Tree Cutting:  Mr Broad circulated some photographs of the offending bush opposite Stoneridge House which Councillors felt was not bad enough to need cutting back.  The Chairman agreed to email Mrs Jess to inform her of the Council's decision.

 

Playing Field:  An email had been received from the Folk Camps Society saying they will keep us in mind for their weekend camps.  Nothing further had been heard from the Horticultural Society.  A letter had been received from Mrs Buck asking for permission to use the field for activities and parking at the school/church fete on the 19th June.  This was agreed for the same fee as last year (£30.00) with the usual stipulations.

 

Grass Keep Field:  Nothing further.

 

Affordable Housing:  It was agreed to open the meeting to allow Mr Robson to update the Council.  Mr Robson reported on the recent public meeting and stated that the majority of people who attended that meeting were in favour of the houses being sited adjacent to the Diggers' plot at the far end of the Grass Keep field.  That is the site which the CLT Board has now decided to pursue.   When Council reconvened, the Chairman thanked Mr Robson.  An email had been received from Mr Bearcroft commenting that any affordable housing should not be sited at the Village Hall as this is an amenity area open to the whole village and should not be built on.  The Chairman agreed to reply to Mr Bearcroft stating that this view had been considered previously. 

 

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

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 15th FEBRUARY 2010 – Page 2.

 

Communication between Parish Council and the Public:   a) Roadside maps – Mr Bell agreed to circulate the revised map electronically. Mr Sibbald produced a map produced by another village showing names of all the houses.  After some discussion and an invitation for Mr Musgrave to explain the Chedworth Society's proposed map, it was agreed not to pursue this at present as there had been local objections for security reasons when the idea of a map showing house names had been suggested in the past.  b) Broken Noticeboard.- The Clerk reported that Mr Wilson had shown an interest in quoting for the repairs but was currently moving house and would be in touch again when he was settled.  The Clerk reported on a broken catch on the Tuns Hill board.  Mr Sibbald agreed to see if he could fix this.  c) Updating of Welcome Information – The Chairman suggested the information on the website needed updating.  After some discussion the Chairman agreed to undertake this.  The Emergency Plan CD was brought forward on the agenda.  After some discussion it was agreed not to pursue this at present.

 

Parish Plan:  It was agreed to remove from the agenda at present as items were being discussed under other headings.

 

            Tuns Hill Waterfall, Flooding and Drainage:  A letter had been received from Mrs

Watkins stating that she was unable to submit a bid for funding for capital works to the drainage on Tuns Hill as it did not have a realistic prospect of gaining funding when the flooding of property was the priority.  Mrs Watkins stated that she would arrange for de-scaling work to be undertaken in the summer and also asked that vegetation be removed from around the waterfall.  Mr Sibbald agreed to undertake this and offered to meet Mrs Watkins on site to discuss the problems.  It was agreed to reply to Mrs Watkins informing her of this. No response had been received to the letter to the Landlord of the Seven Tuns regarding clarification of the extent of his responsibility in this area.

 

Traffic in Village and Road Matters:  The Chairman produced a copy of the new proposed traffic signs from GCC Highways. It was agreed these proposals were satisfactory with the addition of a “hidden dip” sign on the Fosseway approaching the Chedworth Turning.  Coincidentally an email had been received from the manager of the Seven Tuns asking the Parish Council's views on brown signs sited on the A429 and at the Village Hall to advertise the pub.  It was agreed to put the Seven Tuns manager in touch with GCC Highways to see if his proposals could be incorporated with the new GCC signs.  In response to the Chairman's item in the Hill and Valley asking for views on salt provision, an email had been received from Mr Bearcroft regarding roadside salt heaps.  Mr Bearcroft preferred salt bins to piles on the roadside.  The Chairman agreed to request extra bins from Mr Swift at GCC Highways and she would also reply to Mr Bearcroft.  Mr Sibbald had not yet sent his photographs regarding the overgrowth opposite Adelaide to BRB Residuary Ltd.

 

Youth Matters:  Nothing further.

 

Traffic at the School:  Nothing further.

 

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

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

 

Adoption of BT Telephone Boxes:  The signed contract had been received back

from BT but the removal of the telephone equipment was still awaited.

 

Dial-a-Ride Bus Service:  The Chairman had spoken to Bryan at the Cirencester Cotswold Voluntary Service office and was told that the service would not run due to lack of interest but ad hoc arrangements could still be made through CCVS to transport people to doctors and hospital appointments.  Mr Broad reported that the Northleach doctors branch surgery would close on the 31st March.  In view of this it was agreed to include the number in the Hill and Valley for people to contact to arrange transport.

 

PLANNING

 

Approval:

 

CD 4678/E Hills Farm – Stables

CD 4678/F Hills Farm – Demolition of Nissen Hut.

CD Contr. Jude Amphlett – Tree Works.

 

Other Planning Matters:  Mr Broad reported that the Nissen Hut at Hills Farm was to be preserved at a military camp near Chipping Campden.

 

Matters Under Enforcement:  There was none.

 

Notification of Tree Work Decisions from CDC:  These were now being received in the same way as planning decisions.  The Chairman thanked Mr Broad for his help in arranging this and it was agreed to remove from the agenda.

 

HIGHWAYS AND RIGHTS OF WAY:

 

GCC Temporary Traffic Order White Way to Compton Abdale:  This road closure from 1st to 5th March was noted.  It was agreed to include in the Hill and Valley.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL:

 

Biodiversity:   The Chairman had circulated around a suggested document which just required some more photographs.  It was agreed to include on the website when it was completed.

 

FINANCE:

 

1.   Clerks Quarterly Telephone and Broadband Contribution £42.50 prop. S Moore,

      sec. A Miles.

2.   Thames Water £8.82, prop. S Moore, sec. A Miles.

3.   Appointment of Independent Internal Auditor -  It was proposed by Mr Broad

      and seconded by Mr Bell to appoint Mr Selkirk as our Independent Internal

      Auditor for the 2009/10 financial year, agreed.

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

MINUTES – PARISH COUNCIL MEETING – 15th FEBRUARY 2010 – Page 4.

 

CORRESPONDENCE;

 

GCC Medal for Courage 2009:  The notice had been displayed on the Village Hall noticeboard.

 

GRCC Community Emergency Plan CD:  Dealt with earlier on the agenda.

 

Gloucestershire Link Public Event Information:  Noted.

 

Gloucestershire Rural Renaissance Review 2009/2010:  Noted.

 

Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association Information:  Noted.

 

OTHER BUSINESS;

 

Items Arising from E-mail – a) Email from The Seven Tuns regarding Signs – Dealt with earlier on the agenda.  b)  Chairman's Horsiculture email – It was agreed to include a link to the document from the website and publicise in the Hill and Valley.

c)  Miss Margaret Pitman – An email had been received from Mrs Sheila Harman asking if the Parish Council's minutes could reflect Miss Pitman's passing, in particular her love of the countryside, animals and her care of older residents.  It was agreed that the Parish Council was happy to record this.

 

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

 

The Annual Parish Meeting:   This was to be held on Monday 22nd March at

7.30 pm.  As the Chairman would be absent from the next Parish Council meeting she asked for ideas in advance to attract a better attendance.  After some discussion it was agreed to give the evening a charities theme and invite a representative from all of the village charities to the meeting to provide a forum for all of them to engage with the community by making a public presentation. It was agreed to write to all of the charities and invite them.

 

The meeting concluded at 9.25 pm.

 

NEXT MEETING:  Monday 15th March 2010 at 7.30 pm.

 

 

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

 

    Date.........................................................