MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL, SOUTH CERNEY
ON WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL 2002

Two members of the public were present.

The Chairperson Cllr Mrs Gardiner opened the meeting at 7.30pm.

APOLOGIES
Apologies had been received from Cllr Dunn, Cllr Harris and Cllr Jones (CDC).

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13 MARCH 2002
Page 4 ­ Upper Up Precept: change ... not been able to obtain ... to read "overlooked obtaining"
Page 6 ­ Golden Jubilee: Insert after Capt Ian Cheeseman ... "and Mrs Anne Stuart"

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Chubb and seconded by Cllr King that the Minutes as amended, were a true and accurate record. The Parish Council was all in favour and the Minutes were signed by the Chairperson Cllr Mrs Gardiner.

MATTERS ARISING

Shorncote Sewage Pumping Station Visit The Clerk was asked to arrange, with Thames Water, for Parish Councillors to visit the pumping station at Shorncote on Thursday 13 June at 7.30pm or 8pm.

Web Site
Cllr Nicholas reported that Raymond Fenton had amended the design of the web site and it was now ready for launch. Cllr Nicholas would inform Mr Fenton and create an item for Cerney News publishing the address www.southcerney.org.uk


LOCAL TRANSPORT NEEDS

Cllr Mrs Gardiner read a letter from Dr Stephenson regarding local transport needs. Cllr Stuart  invited Dr Stephenson to join a sub-committee and he agreed. Cllr Stuart would invite the involvement of local people to join a steering group including the PTA, South Cerney Residents Association, the Play School, South Cerney Trust and others. Cllr Mrs Spriggs expressed concern that the findings of the sub-committee be respected and that it should not be ignored by the Parish Council like those of the Village Appraisal. She asked for reassurance that the same thing would not happen to this sub-committee. Cllr Stuart confirmed that he would use his best endeavours to make sure that as long at this Parish Council exists a similar situation would not develop. The Parish Council was all in favour of creating a sub-committee and Dr Stephenson left the meeting at 7.55pm.

PLANNING
Cllr Nicholas reported on the deliberations of the Planning Committee which had met on 8 April.

Matters Arising
Appeal by Westbury Homes
Cllr Nicholas had made a further enquiry of Hunter Page Planning (HPP) whether the Parish Council could make a statement independently of CDC and Westbury Homes at the forthcoming Appeal and as a result HPP had arranged for the Inspector to issue a formal invitation to the Parish Council to attend. This invitation had now been received. The Parish Council agreed that the fear factor regarding the implications of this application was paramount and the Inspector should be made aware of those concerns. The Parish Council agreed to focus on points already detailed in its letter to the Inspector with special mention of drainage, traffic and additional asset facilities which may be made available to benefit the village as Conditions if permission is granted. The Inspector requires Proof of Evidence by 30 April and Cllr Nicholas will try to combine both opinions in a draft document to be circulated to all Parish Councillors for their approval. Cllr Nicholas volunteered to present this document at the enquiry and expected to be cross-examined on it. Cllr Gardiner proposed and Cllr King seconded a motion that Cllr Nicholas should represent the Parish Council at the Appeal. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Planning Applications received by Cotswold District Council

CT.0144/4/L
The erection of a pitched roof single storey extension and alterations to the existing bungalow at Hailwood, Station Road, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.3115/B
Minor amendments in respect of Plot 3 land off Meadow Way, South Cerney
NO OBJECTION

CT.4067/2/H
Erection of a two storey side extension at 1 Oak Way, South Cerney, Cirencester
NO OBJECTION

CT.5322/N
Replacement of timber bungalow with masonry bungalow at Rosemary, Cerney Wick, Cirencester
NO OBJECTION provided the building is ancillary to main dwelling

CT.6216/C
Installation of hydrological monitoring equipment, housed in a prefabricated fibreglass kiosk at The Crown Inn, Cerney Wick, Cirencester
NO OBJECTION provided that the installation does not obstruct the public footpath

CT.6271/B
Erection of house and garage at land rear of 3 Meadow Way, South Cerney The garage cladding is inappropriate and not in keeping with the vernacular style.
OBJECTION

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

CAMAS PHASE II
Notification of an application to be made for redevelopment of part of the CAMAS Building Materials Site to provide 30 (thirty) dwellings at Station Road, South Cerney

Planning Permission granted by Cotswold District Council

CT.1350/C
Replacement of roof tiles to existing dwelling at Berry Farm, Cirencester Road, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5TR

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, Cirencester, Glos.

CT.1470/Z
Change of use from holiday lodge to sales and letting office at Lodge 39, Spring Lake, Station Road, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5TL

CT.2116/A
Two storey side extension at Strathmore, High Street, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5UR

CT.3140/A
Outline planning permission for demolition of existing dwelling and replacement with new single storey dwelling at Crosslane Cottage, Broadway Lane, South Cerney, Cirencester

CT.3948/E
Erection of a side extension at Vine Cottage, The Langet, South Cerney, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 5US

Correspondence

FINANCE
Cllr Mrs Gardiner reported on the deliberations of the Finance Committee which had met on 8 April.

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

Upper Up Precept
The Clerk had obtained a copy of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provision Act 1976 and Cllr Nicholas confirmed that it authorised the Parish Council to make a precept for the park work planned to be carried out at Upper Up.

Receipts
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 (April)    £40.00
M. McKee    Clerk's Travel (March)    £66.78
CPRE    Bledisloe Cup Overall Winners Plate entry fee     £5.00
GAPTC    Practitioners' Guide on new Audit regime    £9.95
Southern Electric    Supply Charges to bus shelters     £10.99
R.O.W. Berry    Painting bus shelter    £125.00
R. W. Gardiner    Collection of bark for Robert Franklin Way playing field £30.00
R. W. Gardiner    Ground maintenance Cerney Wick (March)     £53.55
Jeremy Simmons Ltd    Ground maintenance (March)    £710.57
Village Hall    Village Hall Grant    £2,000.00
Busy Fingers    Photocopying         £34.90  £3,086.74
Cllr Mrs Gardiner inspected and agreed the Clerk's travel expenses for March

Cllr Gardiner and Cllr Mrs Gardiner declared an interest in payments made and did not vote on the proposition by Cllr Nicholas seconded by Cllr Stuart that the Parish Council agrees to make the above payments. The rest of the Parish Council was all in favour.

Payments Withheld
Awaiting Response 
District Audit    Audit Fees for 2000­2001    £571.05
Wicksteed Leisure    Safety tile repairs    £279.65
The Clerk confirmed that Wicksteed Leisure would issue a credit note for the unpaid invoice.

Correspondence

PLAYING FIELDS & VILLAGE MAINTENANCE
Due to the absence of the Committee Chairman Cllr Harris, Cllr Stuart reported on the deliberations of the Playing fields and Village Maintenance Committee which had met on 8 April.

Matters Arising
CCTV Survey
If no action has been notified before end of April the Clerk is to ask Mr Mooney for a progress report.

Village of the Year Prizes
Cllr Stuart reported that the Village Hall Committee was in the process of purchasing the armed chairs.

Street Lighting
Cllr Mrs Chubb, Cllr Gardiner and Cllr Stuart had met with Mr B. Greenaway GCC Street Lighting to inspect street illumination in South Cerney. Cllr Stuart reported that Mr Greenaway was embarrassed that so little of the work which he had ordered had been completed. He recommended that a new light be installed nearer the footbridge in Bow Wow. He proposed to erect a post with an extended arm at Bridge House in Silver Street and install an extra light in Clarks Hay between the Post Office and Meadow Way. Extended arms to two lamps in Station Road were being redesigned and accepted that the new light outside the Scout Hut in Berkeley Close was still not working. Mr Greenaway would liaise with D. Taylor of GCC Highways to lop overgrowing tress obscuring lamps in Upper Up.

Stile on BSC17
The Clerk had contacted the PROW office at GCC and was informed by Mrs A. Keys that Mr Phil Cluely had inspected the stile and would shortly be in contact with the landowner to offer him his advice on how to proceed.

Golden Jubilee
Cllr Dunn, Cllr Stuart, Mrs A. Stuart and Ian Cheeseman had met with Mrs Rowena Merson and arrangements were progressing for the gala to be held at Atkyns Manor.

Cycle Racks
Cllr Harris had confirmed that the racks were currently being fabricated.


INSPECTION REPORT
Cllr Gardiner reported on his inspections. There were cracks in the swing seats at Cerney Wick and Upper Up but were not considered dangerous at the moment. Repairs had been carried out to the post and rail fence at Cerney Wick by a work party organised by Ian Fairbrother. Due to the seasonal improvement in the weather the algae which was covering the safety tiles was disappearing. Pressure cleaning was not considered necessary but future inspections must ensure that the tiles do not become a trip hazard. Cllr Stuart will carry out the inspections in the coming period.


WICKSTEED SAFETY REPORT
Wicksteed Leisure recommended that information signs be erected at all play areas denoting ownership and location of an emergency service contact point. The Clerk had ascertained that the signs were advisory only. Entrapment points on the tower slide at Upper Up and the slide at Cerney Wick were considered a hazard. Cllr Gardiner, Cllr Harris and Cllr Stuart had inspected the tower slide and found a problem area where small fingers could get caught. Further discussion will take place to decide whether to seal or widen the offending gap.

WORK ON THE PIECE
The Clerk was asked to produce a notice to inform affected residents that tree work on the Piece was to be rescheduled to the end of the summer season to protect nesting birds.


UPPER UP PARK REPORT
The outcome of a water vole survey which was currently in progress had delayed the submission of the plans to CDC. Tender replies were awaited.


CORRESPONDENCE

After a discussion the Parish Council agreed to object to the tree work which proposed felling trees to enlarge a car park.


COUNCILLOR'S REPORTS
The Clerk had reported a missing sign for the Lennards at its junction with Station Road. Dangerous potholes in Station Road were continually being reported to Parish Councillors and the Clerk was asked to inform D. Taylor at GCC Highways. Mrs Chubb reported that although piecemeal repairs had been made to the carriageway other holes were constantly appearing. Cllr Mrs Pearse asked that the Clerk enquire from GCC Highways as to their future plans regarding Station Road. The Committee asked the Clerk to contact Jeremy Simmons regarding the lack of grass cutting at Upper Up and Robert Franklin Way play area.


QUALITY COUNCILS
The Clerk attended a conference at the Cheltenham & Gloucester University on 16 March to formulate a strategy on training for Clerks and Parish Councillors. It was the intention of central government to encourage all members of Town and Parish Councils to attend training classes which would improve their understanding of their responsibilities as public representatives.


CODE OF CONDUCT
Cllr Mrs Gardiner read a letter from Poulton Parish Council detailing its opposition to the new Code of Conduct. All eleven Parish Councillors had completed the Register of Members' Interests and with the exception of Cllr Dunn and Cllr Harris who were not at the meeting signed a Undertaking to Observe Members' Code of Conduct. The Clerk would now hold copies of the Register in a locked cupboard in the Village Hall and an identity record kept of anyone asking to inspect it. The originals would be forwarded to the Monitoring Officer at Cotswold District Council in accordance with the regulations. A motion was then proposed by Cllr Gardiner and seconded by Cllr Nicholas that the Parish Council adopt the Code of Conduct. The Parish Council was all in favour.


PARISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
Cllr Mrs Spriggs volunteered to remain as Parish Council representative on the Village Hall Committee. It was proposed by Cllr Mrs Chubb and seconded by Cllr Mrs Pearse that Cllr Mrs Spriggs be nominated as Parish Council representative on the Village Hall Committee. The Parish Council was all in favour.


CORRESPONDENCE

COUNCILLOR'S REPORTS
Cllr Mrs Gardiner reported on a South Cerney Trust meeting she attended on 9 April where it was proposed to create a book of favourite village walks.

There being no further business Cllr Mrs Gardiner closed the meeting at 9.55pm.