The Chairman, Cllr Stuart opened the Parish Council meeting at 7.30pm.

It was proposed by Cllr Mrs. Chapman and seconded by Cllr Mrs. Chubb that the Minutes as altered were a true and accurate record. Cllr Jay, Cllr Squire and Cllr Webb all abstained as they did not attend the meeting in October. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Chairman Cllr Stuart invited Cllr Parsons (GCC) to make his report as he had other meetings to attend that evening.

Cllr Mrs. Clark (CDC) reported that she would be seconding a motion which would be proposed by Cllr Bennett (CDC) at the next meeting of the Cotswold District Council.

Cllr Nicholas informed the Parish Council that the situation which had developed in Station Road was fundamentally different to the flooding which had occurred previously. This current problem was to do with the rising main sewerage pipe which took sewage to Shorncote through a 12 inch diameter pressurised pipe and this had failed.

Cllr Squire agreed with Cllr Stuart who stated that the main sewerage pipe was nearly 50 years old and conversations with various people indicated that the pipe would probably require renewing in the near future.

Cllr Nicholas asked Cllr Parsons (GCC) to inform Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP that the malodorous stench in the dwellings in Kingfisher Place was continuing to cause concern to the residents. Cllr Parsons (GCC) agreed.

Cllr Webb complained that the long awaited report from Thames Water on the previous flood was still not forthcoming. Cllr Nicholas explained that the breakage in the pressurised rising main was totally different from the fiasco Cllr Webb was referring to and specific conditions needed to be in place before a conclusion could be ascertained by Thames Water engineers.

Cllr Parsons (GCC) noted that sewage from new developments like the Four Seasons hotel and the Jeremy Paxton development at Lower Mill will have their sewerage moved by tanker. He thought that this practice was a worrying trend especially for the future.

Cllr Jay proposed and Cllr Stuart seconded a vote of thanks on behalf of the residents of the village to the personnel from GCC and CDC who helped limit the consequent mess and distress of the burst main. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Caunce asked if something could not be done to keep the highway leading to Cerney Wick from the Spine Road clean. Cllr Parsons (GCC) said that it was time to test the protocol which had been agreed between the parties responsible for keeping the highway clear and asked the Clerk to inform Martyn Summerell at GCC Highways Cotswold Division of all occurrences.

Cllr Parsons left the meeting at 8pm.

On Thursday 13th October I accompanied Cllr Stuart to the presentation of the Bledisloe Awards at Stanway House, Winchcombe.

Yesterday afternoon 8th November, I met with John Whittaker GCC Highways, Cllr Stuart and Cllr Squire to confirm the exact positioning of the interactive speed signs which should be installed shortly. Notification of the change in speed limits from Silver Street to Preston Toll Bar will be promulgated on the 10th November and if no objections are received by 1st December their change will take place after then. Consultations are continuing regarding the positioning of the pedestrian crossing in High Street. Due to residents’ objections it will be suggested that the crossing point is moved closer to the junction of Clarks Hay and Station Road.

During October I averaged 4 hours 53 minutes per available working day. It is difficult to allocate a precise daily average as some two and a half days were spent at the SLCC annual conference which technically is classed as training.

Cllr Squire reported on the deliberations of the Playing Fields and Village Maintenance Committee which had met on 7th November.

Cllr Harris reported that the remains of the strimming in the bottom of the ditch in Station Road would decay naturally and presented no immediate problem.

Cllr Stuart also reported that Mike Barton GCC PROW had not yet been able to arrange a meeting with Ben Knight to discuss the creation of the cycle path along the old canal from South Cerney to Siddington.

Cllr Jay complained that GCC Highways was applying its usual creeping forgetfulness regarding a response to the Clerk’s enquiry about unauthorised advertising signs in the village. The Clerk reported that Cllr Bennett (CDC) had informed him that he had spoken to various officers at CDC and told them to make approaches to Thames Water to get something done to solve the sewerage problem. He would be tabling a motion (no pun intended) at the next full council meeting. Cllr Mrs. Clark (CDC) will second the motion. They were calling on Thames Water to take urgent action to rectify the problems with sewers in South Cerney to prevent any more instances of untreated sewage washing into peoples properties, public highways and other areas. He would like to go further and call for a ban on further development until the sewers are replaced but does not think that would get through, and it was better to get what you can, rather than nothing of what you want. He also congratulated CDC staff who on Sunday, 23rd October, once they were informed of the problem they had sandbags protecting threatened houses within less than an hour.

Cllr Stuart was informed by a local resident that Thames Water was aware that the life expectancy of the main sewer to Shorncote was exhausted and is now due for replacement. This would be a major undertaking as the sewer was very deep in places.

Cllr Caunce reported no problems with the equipment. He would inform the new Chair of Cerney Wick Village Committee Mrs. Kerry Bamford that the hedge needed to be cut back. The new safety surface had been installed.

Cllr Stuart reported that the new safety surface had been installed and alterations to the slide had been carried out. On inspection minor adjustments had been recommended by Mr. John Hicks which the installers had agreed to carry out in the next few days. The Committee recommend to the Finance Committee that payment for the work be made as soon as it has been satisfactorily completed. The CCTV camera would be removed in the next few days. Overall, Cllr Stuart noticed a marked reduction in bad behaviour in the neighbourhood of its coverage. Cllr Squire and Cllr Stuart agreed that the grass on the playing fields would need another cut. The Committee agreed to recommend the action to the Finance Committee. The Community Payback team has started cutting the hedge at the west end of the cricket field to open up a vista.

Cllr Harris reported that there was no equipment problems. Cllr Harris asked that signs be erected to prevent dog owners using the enclosed toddlers play area to secure their animals while supervising their children on the rest of the play area. An old hazardous ash trunk needs to be removed.

Cllr Harris declared a prejudicial interest and left the room.

It was proposed by Cllr Squire and seconded by Cllr Stuart that James Harris Contracting removes the old ash trunk for £50. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Harris returned to the meeting.

The Clerk was asked to provide two “No Dogs” signs to be placed on the fence surrounding the toddlers play area.

It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Webb that the Parish Council makes the above payments. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Jay and Cllr Stuart both declared a prejudicial interest in the following two items and left the room. Cllr Webb continued as spokesman on the deliberations of the Finance Committee.

It was proposed by Cllr Webb and seconded by Cllr Caunce that the Parish Council makes the above two payments. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Jay and Cllr Stuart returned to the room.

It was proposed by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr Jay that the Parish Council accepts the recommendations of the Planning Committee on the above applications. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Harris declared a prejudicial interest in the next three items as the applicant was a client and left the room.

CT.1470/1/A to be rescinded.
NO OBJECTION

It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Webb that the Parish Council accepts the recommendations of the Planning Committee. After a vote 8 (eight) Parish Councillors were in favour and 1 (one) abstained. Therefore the motion was carried.

Cllr Harris returned to the room.

Cllr Nicholas declared a prejudicial interest in the next item as the applicants were a client and left the room.

It was proposed not to object by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Mrs. Pollard subject to satisfactory noise tests being carried out on the air conditioning unit by CDC Environmental Department. The remainder of the Parish Council was all in favour.
NO OBJECTION

Cllr Nicholas returned to the room.

The Parish Council supported a suggestion from Cllr Jay that the money be used to support the youth of the village primarily through pump priming schemes. Cllr Caunce wished that any such scheme would develop something new. The Clerk was asked to create a new item on the Allocation of Funds to provide for this expenditure. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Mrs. Pollard said that the revised plan will cover aims instead of actions. The plan will now be put to the Village Plan Sub Committee and no more suggestions could be accepted. The meeting was arranged for Thursday 17th November at 7pm in the Committee Room of the Village Hall.

Cllr Stuart gave his report on the Airfield Liaison meeting he attended at Duke of Gloucester Barracks on 18th October 2005.

“As agreed, I represented the Parish Council at the above meeting, which had been setup as a “joint initiative” by the Environmental Officer of the CDC (Mr. Ray Brassington) and the 29 Regt RLC.

All local Parish and Town Councils in the area affected by the aircraft had been invited to attend but only three parish representatives turned up. They included myself plus one from Driffield with Harnhill and one representing three of the Ampneys. Cirencester sent apologies but none of the other villages replied. Anne Clark and Clive Bennett were also there as Ward Councillors. Three executive officers from CDC, one newspaper reporter plus four army personnel and one minutes secretary made up the assembly.

After the welcome and introductions were made Col. McKend volunteered to take the chair and set out the purpose of the meeting. He suggested that future meetings be held at six monthly intervals but that representation be limited to elected councillors, which meant that representatives of the complainants would be excluded. Ray Brassington felt that there should be a place for reps of the complainants but he was outnumbered. I asked if I could read the prepared statement at that juncture rather than wait until nearly the end of the agenda, as our council is opposed to the formation of the ALM. Although this request was refused, the message had got through to the meeting and there was a marked change in the attitude in several of the delegates.

Col. McKend gave a top class presentation on the role of the Silver Stars within the Regiment. By doing so he appeared to alter the views held by the councillors from the other two villages who had no idea that others than the Silver Stars used Cerney airfield for parachuting. Their main cause for complaint was the noise from the other planes such as the Skyvan used by the paras. etc

Considerable discussion on the flight paths took place but I believe that the Army finally convinced every one that these routes were the only ones available to minimise the noise and that at times they had to be altered due to prevailing winds etc.

The Colonel confirmed that he requests other users should adhere to the flight pattern used by the Silver Stars but has no overall control. The use of the Sky Van is beyond his and this committee’s remit.

I then read the statement on behalf of this Council and it was well received by most present.

We then discussed the methods of dealing with complaints and RB suggested that the Army set up a system to record all such calls and letters listing when they had been received, from whom, and what action had been taken. He was told that such a system had been in operation for many years. I took the opportunity of asking RB how he recorded all complaints he received and if he could tell us how many such calls he had recorded in the previous twelve months. He initially ignored this request and went off at a tangent. I waited until he had finished and I said that I was still awaiting a reply to my question that he had ignored. He then shuffled his pile of papers pulled out some maps on which were a series of yellow spots. He explained that whenever he received a complaint about the aircraft noise he marked the position of the complainant's home on the map. No names, addresses, phone numbers. I counted these yellow spots and suggested that perhaps 23 complaints from an area with a population of over 48000 was insufficient to warrant such a time consuming exercise as he had arranged for today. His colleague then suggested that although there were only 23 individual complaints, there could be at least one other in each household who also were upset by the noise! Cllr Clive Bennett suggested that there could be as many as four in each house but even then there would be less than 100 complainers!

RB would not accept that anyone should be precluded from being able to complain and that all who phoned the camp should be advised that they should contact then – local parish council. I disagreed and stated that all complaints should be directed to the CDC and to Mr. B in particular.

The meeting continued for just over two hours and at the end. Col. McKend suggested that perhaps future meetings should be held every twelve months, not six monthly as originally suggested. All except RB and his colleague agreed to this. RB requested that we could call an extraordinary meeting in the period up to the next scheduled meeting if a need arose.

Minutes of the meeting are being sent to all representatives and as soon as these are received they will be included in the usual correspondence section of our agenda for the next meeting.

I think the meeting was a useful exercise but we should now officially/formally write to both the Colonel and to the CDC suggesting that the entire scheme is unnecessary and should be abandoned.”

Cllr Stuart then read a response to Ms. Cooksley’s letter and asked the assembled Parish Councillors for their approval.

It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Nicholas that the Parish Council totally supports the content of the letter and the actions of the Chairman. It also agrees that no further meetings of the Airfield Liaison Committee are necessary and we should inform the authorities concerned that we recommend that the Aircraft Liaison Group be disbanded. The Parish Council was all in favour.

Cllr Webb gave his report on the Cotswold Water Park Liaison meeting he attended at  Keynes Country Park on 12th October 2005.

The meeting elected members to the Liaison Committee. Cllr Webb informed the Parish Council that eventually the footprint of the Water Park would extend as far as Fairford. Officers of the Society were confident that the Limited Company was financially secure and support was expected from the Regional Development Authority. The mineral extraction rights would last for the next 40 years. There was confusion over the title Cotswold Water Park which is fundamentally different to the Cotswold Water Park Society Ltd.

Cllr Harris interjected disingenuously that as there were less and less opportunities for the public to use the water facilities through the private development of the lakes maybe a more appropriate title might be “The Pits”.

Cllr Webb volunteered to attend further meetings of the Liaison Committee on behalf of the Parish Council.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Webb for attending the meeting.

Following discussions about the stopping of Berkeley Close, the Parish Council agreed to a suggestion from Cllr Caunce that the Clerk enquire from John Whittaker about the possibility of gating The Lennards and Robert Franklin Way and make both streets cul-desacs.

Cllr Mrs. Clark (CDC) replied to an enquiry from Cllr Webb about when the allocation of Council Tax collected from second homes might be applied for by informing him that she is awaiting information from a CDC officer.

Cllr Jay reported that after recent heavy rainfall, parts of the village had once again flooded especially Clarks Hay and asked the Clerk to report the occurrence to Mrs. G. Portlock at GCC Highways.

Cllr Jay also asked the Clerk to inform PCSO Yeomans that cyclists were using the footpaths in the vicinity of Box Bush causing inconvenience to pedestrians, especially the elderly, using the pathways.

Cllr Jay reported that the Village Hall had been awarded a public entertainment licence.

Cllr Stuart listed events he had attended since the last meeting: the Bledisloe awards at Stanway, the opening of the new club house at South Cerney Sailing Club; the opening of refurbished village hall; Year 11 at Deer Park School on local governance and the airfield liaison meeting at the Duke of Gloucester Barracks.

Cllr Harris asked the Clerk to write again to Cotswold Water Park Society Ltd about the missing routing on the gateway at Robert Franklin Way playing field.

Cllr Squire reported that he had met members of the College to discuss local systems of governance.

There being no further business Cllr Stuart closed the meeting at 9.50pm.