MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, SOUTH CERNEY
ON WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH 2002

Prior to the start of the Parish Council meeting Margaret Skivington, Thames Water Pumping Stations Catchment Manager gave a presentation on the state of the sewerage, drainage and pumping stations in the South Cerney area. She was accompanied by Liz Sale Community Liaison Executive for Thames Water who extended an invitation to Parish Councillors to visit the pumping station at Shorncote. Ms Skivington then reported that flow meters had been installed for 15 weeks in Broadway Lane and Berkeley Close and data from them was being analysed. For example the Broadway Lane meter had shown that average flows recorded were 1-2 litres per second while peak flows were 6-20 litres per second. Overall there was no correlation between rainfall and flows but the evidence proved that the water table in the area was below the sewerage levels. A CCTV survey of the 225mm pipe in Station Road to the pumping station showed that the pipe was 50% full. Cllr Nicholas asked why a flow meter had not been installed instead of a camera survey? Ms Skivington did not know the technical reason but surmised that flow meters were targeted primarily at the problem areas. CCTV showed up obstructions and infiltration problems but accepted that with a 50% usage it was difficult to assess problems in the pipe. A further survey would be carried out in drier weather. Cllr Nicholas then queried whether the main channels were large enough to cope. Ms Skivington replied that the sewers were in good condition although there was a problem with river and storm water infiltrating the system. Ground water levels are now the same as last winter's very high levels but the system was coping. On 30 October 2001 the pumping stations were thoroughly checked and found to working very well. They are constantly being monitored and operate when the level dictates. Ms Skivington took note of a request from Cllr Nicholas that a flow meter be installed in Station Road. Cllr Nicholas wanted to know the flow capacity of the 225mm pipe and how many dwellings were served by the pumping station in Robert Franklin Way. He was also concerned whether with the new developments planned, the pipe would be big enough to handle the effluent. Cllr Stuart considered that the size of the pumps would also be a factor. Cllr King asked what was the length of the CCTV survey in Station Road? Ms Skivington replied that it had been carried out from Drift Cottage to the pumping station. She added that the pumping station at Shorncote was due for a major upgrade costing £3.5 million pounds to be completed in 2005 but operational in 2004. Liz Sale repeated the invitation she made at the outset to Parish Councillors to visit the pumping station at Shorncote where she would arrange for a technical team to be on site to explain its workings. Parish Councillors were generally favourable and a suitable time for a visit would be arranged. The Thames Water delegation left the meeting at 7.40 pm.

The Chairperson Cllr Mrs Gardiner opened the meeting at 7.40pm.

APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Cllr Dunn, Cllr Gardiner, Cllr Mrs Pearse, Cllr Jones (CDC) and Cllr Parsons (GCC).

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13 FEBRUARY 2002
Page 9 ­ Item 28: change ... Tracks ... to read Racks
Page 10 ­ COUNCILLORS' REPORTS: Delete ... On 23 January Cllrs Harris, King and Spriggs met to discuss obtaining quotes for new play equipment. Insert ... On 23 January Cllrs King and Nicholas met to discuss getting quotes for new play equipment.

MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 1 MARCH 2002
Page 2 ­ Delete penultimate and last sentences: This motion ... carried.
Insert: The latter was proposed as the motion by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr Gardiner. The Parish Council voted 6 to 4 in favour of the motion being not to object in principle with proposed Conditions and this motion was carried.
Page 3 ­ Delete: motion which was accepted by Chairperson Cllr Mrs Gardiner.
Insert: motion.

It was proposed by Cllr Nicholas and seconded by Cllr Harris that the Minutes of both meetings, as amended, were a true and accurate record. The Parish Council agreed and the Minutes were signed by the Chairperson Cllr Mrs Gardiner.

PLANNING
Cllr Nicholas reported on the deliberations of the Planning Committee which had met on 11 March.

Matters Arising
Appeal by Westbury Homes
Cllr Nicholas reported on a conversation he had with Paul Fong of Hunter Page Planning (HPP) regarding the Parish Council's response to the forthcoming Appeal by Westbury Homes. Mr Fong informed him that it was not out of the question that Westbury Homes would agree to the Conditions proposed by the Parish Council if the appeal was successful. Mr Fong suggested that a representative of the Parish Council might appear at the Appeal as a witness in support of Westbury Homes. It was generally agreed by the Parish Council that it was not appropriate for it to actively support Westbury Homes. Cllr Nicholas volunteered to make an objective statement of the Parish Council's position at the Appeal. Cllr Mrs Spriggs and Cllr Mrs Chubb were not in favour of this suggestion and argued that the letter sent to the Inspector would suffice and the Parish Council should now withdraw and no further contact made with HPP or Westbury Homes. Cllr Nicholas disagreed and would not be bound by this suggestion. Cllr King proposed that a prepared statement on behalf of the Parish Council's position be made at the Appeal. Cllr Harris supported Cllr King's proposal. Cllr Mrs Spriggs stated that as there was a deep division of opinion in the Parish Council and echoed in the village it was time to stand back and do nothing further. Cllr Mrs Gardiner disagreed with Cllr Mrs Spriggs and said that residents she had spoken to had congratulated the Parish Council on its decision. Cllr Mrs Clark (CDC) informed the Parish Council that a new date for the Appeal had been arranged for 28 May and it was scheduled to last four days. The Chairperson Cllr Mrs Gardiner decided to leave the decision on any action until next month¹s meeting. Vice Chairman Cllr Stuart agreed and added that hopefully there would be a larger turnout of Parish Councillors present and the differences could then be resolved.

Cllr Harris left the meeting at 8.10 pm

Planning Applications received by Cotswold District Council

CT.1350/C
Replacement of roof tiles to existing dwelling at Berry Farm, Cirencester Road, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION provided roof tiles used are of a suitable material

CT.1454/3/S
Installation of hydrological monitoring equipment, housed in a pre-fabricated fibreglass kiosk at South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre, Lake 12, Station Road, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.2116/A
Two storey side extension at Strathmore, High Street, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.3115/D
Re-position garage of Plot 1 approved under CT.3115/B on land to rear of 3 Meadow Way, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.3948/E
Erection of a side extension at Vine Cottage, The Langet, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

It was proposed by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr Mrs Gardiner that the Parish Council agrees to accept the deliberations of the Planning Committee. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Mrs Gardiner declared an interest in the following three applications and left the Committee Room while the remainder of the Parish Council discussed the applications.

CT.3377/E
Listed building/Conservation application: Alterations and extension at The Cottage, High Street, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.3377/F
Alterations and extension at The Cottage, High Street, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.3577/G
Reconstruction of the chapel to form a dwelling at the Brethren Chapel, High Street, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

It was proposed by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr King that the Parish Council agrees to accept the deliberations of the Planning Committee. The Parish Council, with the exception of the absent Cllr Mrs Gardiner, was all in favour.

Cllr Mrs Gardiner returned to the debate.

Planning Applications granted by Cotswold District Council

CT.1454/3/F
Amendment: The replacement of previously approved windows and pedestrian door with larger solid doors to front elevation. Refers to erection of maintenance building at Lakes 4 & 5, Spine Road, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos for Watermark Ltd.

CT.4762/C
Proposed extension to existing dwelling, new detached garage and alterations to existing boundary wall at Lane End, Latton Close, Station Road, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos.

Correspondence
 1.    CDC ­ CT.1470/Z (Decision Notice issued prematurely and now withdrawn)
19.    CDC ­ CT.2648/2/X (Decision Notice explanation). No Decision Notice had been issued due to outstanding Section 106 Agreements and an awaited environmental assessment.
36.    CDC ­ Housing Strategy 2002­2005. Cllr Nicholas considered this reply to the Parish Council's query on a local housing needs assessment as inconclusive. Cllr Mrs Clark (CDC) would ask Adrian Holloway to forward a more detailed explanation if one was available.

FINANCE
Cllr Mrs Gardiner reported on the deliberations of the Finance Committee which had met on 11 March.

Matters Arising
Response from Audit Commission The Clerk reported that no reply had been received from the Audit Commission.

Upper Up Precept
Cllr Nicholas stated that, as yet, he had not been able to obtain a copy of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1976.

Outstanding Accounts
Football Club    Water services at Upper Up Playing Fields     £3.59
Cricket Club    Water services at Upper Up Playing Fields     £18.31    £21.90
Payments
Petty Cash    Bus Shelter Cleansing (March)    £40.00
Petty Cash    Stamps & Heat    £30.00
M. McKee    Clerk's Travel (February)    £65.79
M. McKee    Clerk's Office Allowance    £150.00
BT    Clerk's Telephone    £69.41
Blackfords    Play bark for Robert Franklin Way playing field     £64.77
Thames Water    Water services 3 December 2001 to 3 March 2002     £21.90
Wicksteed Leisure    Play areas inspection    £88.13
United Church    Hire of Church Hall    £15.00
Busy Fingers    Photocopying      £34.47   £579.47
Cllr Mrs Gardiner inspected and agreed the Clerk¹s travel expenses for February.

It was proposed by Cllr Nicholas and seconded by Cllr King that the Parish Council agrees to make the above payments. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Awaiting Response 
District Audit    Audit Fees for 2000­2001    £571.05

Payment Withheld
Wicksteed Leisure    Safety tile repairs    £279.65 The Parish Council agreed with the Playing Field and Village Maintenance Committee which considered that the work on the safety tiles was of an unacceptable standard and recommended that payment be withheld until it was completed satisfactorily. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Requests for Donations    Date Received    Donation
 1.  Marie Curie Cancer Care    July 2001     £150.00
 2.  Cotswold Victim Support    October 2001     £150.00
 3.  Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS)    October 2001     £100.00
 4.  Glos Constabulary ­ Junior Citizenship    January 2002       £50.00
 5.  Cobalt Unit Crack Cancer Campaign    January 2002     £150.00
 6.  CHYP ­ Cirencester Housing for Young People    February 2002    £100.00
 7.  Winged Fellowship Trust    February 2002       £25.00
 8.  Invitation to join CPRE    February 2002       £25.00        £750.00
It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Chubb and seconded by Cllr King that the Parish Council agrees to make the above donations. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Quotations
Two quotations had been received to place gravel in the Station Road ditch to prevent bank erosion. The quotation for £30 from Dave Hester was the lower. Two quotations to repaint the bus shelter had been received. The quotation from R. O. W. Berry for £125.00 subject to gloss paint being used on the walls was the lower.

It was proposed by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr Gardiner that the Parish Council accepts the above quotations. The Parish Council was all in favour.

As only one quote for hedge and tree pruning on the Piece had been received, Cllr King had forwarded the specification to Tim Bendall and asked him to quote. Four other contractors had been contacted but no replies had yet been received. The Parish Council agreed to await further responses before awarding a contract.

Correspondence
26. CDC ­ Alterations to the criteria of Community Projects Fund
30. GEMS ­ quotations


PLAYING FIELDS & VILLAGE MAINTENANCE
In the absence of the Committee Chairman Cllr Harris, Cllr Stuart reported on the deliberations of the the Playing Fields and Village Maintenance Committee which had met on 11 March.

Matters Arising
CCTV Survey
The Clerk had contacted Mrs Watkins at GCC Highways who informed him that Pat Mooney GCC Drainage Engineer would write to the Parish Council. The Clerk had emailed this information to Cllr Stuart who had then contacted Mr Mooney. Cllr Stuart reported that Mr Mooney had been very proactive in contacting all the various authorities and statutory undertakers which had services crossing the pipe. Mr Mooney had inspected the video and was concerned that the gas supply crossed the pipe but was unaware of the previous gas leak. Mr Mooney had asked those concerned for details and plans of all such services crossing the pipe. When these are received he will send a notice to all of the authorities insisting that all services offending/ compromising the pipe be removed and the pipe reinstated. When all such services etc have been removed, his department will arrange for the pipe to be scoured, a further CCTV inspection made and all necessary repairs to be carried out including extra inspection covers and reopening others that had been covered over.

Village of the Year Prizes
Cllr Stuart reported that the Village Hall Committee would arrange for the supply of armed chairs to the Village Hall to the amount of the £250 prize money awarded to the Parish Council.

Street Lighting
Cllr Stuart had arranged to meet with Mr B. Greenaway GCC Street Lighting, Cllr Harris and Cllr Gardiner for an explanation of the work on the street lamps in Station Road. Cllr Stuart had informed him that the new lights were still not operative.

Stile on BSC17
The Clerk had contacted the PROW office at GCC and a reply was awaited.

Golden Jubilee
Cllr Stuart reported that the proposed plans for the celebration at Upper Up playing field would clash with other activities in the village. The organising group would liaise with Mrs Rowena Merson to help with the gala to be held at Atkyns Manor. Cllr Dunn, Cllr Stuart, Capt Ian Cheeseman had arranged to meet with Mrs Merson on 20 March.

Cycle Racks
Rev Calvert had no objection to the cycle racks being placed in the churchyard. Marcus Kitchen, CDC Planning Officer had informed the Clerk that Planning Permission was not necessary for the Parish Council to erect the cycle racks.

Moles
Cllr Gardiner had reported that the moles were reappearing again on the playing fields at Upper Up. It was agreed to monitor the situation for the moment and the Clerk was asked to contact Able Pest Control to see if another solution could be found to eradicate the nuisance.

INSPECTION REPORT
Cllr Harris had carried out the inspections during the last period. At Robert Franklin Way play area he had cleared up broken bottles found at the bottom of the slide. At Upper Up he found that in wet weather the safety tiles were dangerous. The reinstatement of the tiles carried out by Wicksteed Leisure was ineffective. The Clerk had asked Drainmaster at Minety and Cllr Stuart had contacted Hydro Rod at Swindon to quote for pressure cleaning the tiles on all playing fields. It was decided not to repaint the basketball board at present as it will need to be replaced within the next two years. At Robert Franklin Way the play bark had been renewed. At Cerney Wick play area the post and rail fence had not been repaired. Cllr Harris counted eight upright posts which were rotting and six rails broken off. The hedge to the west needed to be pruned. At the Church Lane end of the play area the hedge there needed to be replaced. Cllr Harris was frustrated with the Cerney Wick Village Hall Committee in their lack of effort and it was agreed that he and Cllr Gardiner and Cllr Stuart should have a meeting with Mr Ian Fairbrother to resolve the situation. Cllr Gardiner will carry out the inspections in the coming period.


UPPER UP PARK DEVELOPMENT
Cllr Harris reported that Martin Portus would submit the plans to the CDC today. Tenders for the work had been sent to four contractors. The Sub-Committee had met to discuss grant applications.


WICKSTEED INSPECTION REPORT
Cllr Stuart stated that the Committee would report their comments on the Wicksteed Inspection at next month¹s Parish Council meeting.


CORRESPONDENCE

QUALITY COUNCILS
The Parish Council had been invited to have a direct say on the National Training Strategy and contribute ideas and views on a County Strategy. A meeting had been arranged for Saturday 16 March to be held at the Park Campus of the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham to which the Clerk and at least one Parish Councillor were expected to attend. No Parish Councillor was available but the Clerk volunteered to attend and report back to next month's meeting. The Parish Council agreed.


CODE OF CONDUCT
Cllr Mrs Gardiner and the Clerk had attended a Roadshow on 7 March in Bingham House outlining the responsibilities of Parish Councillors under the new regulations regarding the Code of Conduct. To comply with the legislation it would be necessary for all Parish Councillors to sign up to the new code and that it be adopted by the Parish Council before 5 May 2002.


PARISH COUNCIL WEB SITE
Cllr Nicholas described the facilities and interests available on the web site which was currently being developed by Raymond Fenton for the Parish Council. He asked Parish Councillors if there was any further topics which they thought should be included. Parish Council information already available included Minutes of previous meetings, Schedule of Meetings, Accounts, Parish Council contributions to Cerney News and much more. It was hoped to create a Chat Room to exchange comments but a facility already existed to email comments on the site. The Parish Council agreed that when the pilot site was ready it should be launched as soon as possible.


CUTTS CHARITY
Mr Peter Jay and Dr Michael Bride whose terms of office expired at end of 2001 and April 2002 respectively were willing to continue their association with the Cutts Charity. Cllr Mrs Gardiner proposed, seconded by Cllr Stuart that the Parish Council nominate Mr Jay and Dr Bride as Trustees of the Cutts Charity. The Parish Council was all in favour.


CORRESPONDENCE

COUNCILLORS' REPORTS
Cllr Stuart attended a concert at RAF Fairford on Sunday 10 March. On 25 February Cllr King and Cllr Nicholas met to discuss playing field equipment and its funding. Cllr Mrs Gardiner attended a meeting of South Cerney trust on 5 March.

There being no further business Cllr Mrs Gardiner closed the meeting at 9.47 pm.