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MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
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The Chairman of the meeting, Cllr Stuart opened proceedings at 7.30pm. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE PARISH COUNCIL Cllr Caunce proposed and Cllr Webb seconded a proposal that Cllr Stuart continue as Chairman of the Parish Council. Cllr Stuart had no objection and the Parish Council was all in favour. Cllr Stuart signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office and the Clerk witnessed the signature. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN Cllr Webb proposed and Cllr Jay seconded a resolution that Cllr Nicholas be reappointed Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council. Cllr Nicholas accepted and the Parish Council was all in favour. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES Both the Chairman Cllr Stuart and Vice Chairman Cllr Nicholas are automatically members of the Planning, Finance and Playing Fields & Village Maintenance Committees. Cllr Stuart is also on the Personnel Committee but Cllr Nicholas declared a prejudicial interest as the Clerk is a client of his firm and therefore declined. Members of the other Committees were content to remain serving. COTSWOLD WATER PARK AND VILLAGE HALL REPRESENTATIVE It was proposed by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr Mrs Chub that Cllr Webb remain as representative of both the Cotswold Water Park and Village Hall. The Parish Council was all in favour. BURIAL AUTHORITY The Clerk will enquire and report back if Rev D. Bowers, Mr G. James, Mr T. Squire and Cllr Webb are all willing to serve on the Burial Authority. Flood and Snow Warden Cllr Harris was content to continue in the posts of Flood and Snow Warden. Tree Wardens Cllr Kimberley agreed to join Cllr Harris as a Tree Warden. The Clerk will inform Mrs A. Jones at CDC of the change in personnel.
It was
proposed by Cllr Webb and seconded by Cllr Mrs Land that the representatives
for Flood, Snow and Tree Wardens are as above. The Parish Council was all in
favour. Cllr Bennett (CDC) had apologised for his absence. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 8th APRIL 2009 It was proposed by Cllr Kimberley and seconded by Cllr Webb that the minutes were a true and accurate record. Cllr Mrs Tunbridge and Cllr Nicholas abstained as both had not attended the meeting. The remainder of the Parish Council was all in favour. YOUTH PARISH COUNCIL REPORT Michael Brown, Joe Lodge, Sinead Peare and Jasmine Tresadern of the Youth Parish Council attended the meeting and Joe Lodge gave a brief resumé of their activities. Joe apologised for the group not attending previous meetings. Joe had finished first in his group trekking over Dartmoor in the Ten Tors competition. Cllr Stuart, on behalf of the Parish Council, congratulated him on this achievement. Joe continued that the group had reorganised itself and new responsibilities delegated. There had been discussion on replacing the basketball hoop but no firm decision had been reached except all agreed that they did not want to extend the tarmac area. The group were researching a series of play equipment and when a decision was reached they would inform the Parish Council of its proposals. Cllr Mrs Land stressed the importance of choosing equipment which would be suitable for the less agile members of the community. Cllr Nicholas advised that if a safety surface was needed it could prove expensive and careful thought must be applied to this element of any package. The Parish Council agreed to remove the basketball post and hoop and the Clerk would arrange for this to be carried out. Sinead Peare requested the Chairman to promote the YPC report at the AGM on 20th May. The Chairman agreed to call for the report before the Police made theirs. The Clerk agreed to invite either Mary Mychaleckyj or Emily Hallett to support the group at the AGM. Cllr Jay wished the group well in their forthcoming examinations. They then all left the meeting. MATTERS ARISING Cllr Mrs Land reported that she had attended the Police Consultative Committee meeting in Siddington on 15th April. She raised the on-going parking problem especially in the centre of South Cerney and was expecting a report from the PCSOs at the next meeting which will be held in the Village Hall, South Cerney sometime in July. Cllr Stuart thanked her for attending the meeting and said that it was much appreciated. Cllr Caunce noted that there had been no progress in the construction of a path on Lake 10 which was a condition of the development and that action was also awaited on the work outside the Four Pillars hotel. The last communication stated that the District Council was awaiting a response from Gloucestershire County Council on its assessment of the proposal. Cllr Parsons (GCC) asked the Clerk to let him have a copy of the latest correspondence regarding the matter. He was also disappointed that no action had been taken by CDC in enforcing the removal of advertisements which did not have permission. He suggested that a senior manager from CDC should be asked to attend a meeting of Parish Councillors and explain the reasons for the delay. Parish Councillors did not commit themselves and there was no proposition considered. Cllr Harris reported that he had been informed that the sewage leak near the Lakeside car park had been repaired. Cllr Kimberley reported that he had experienced a strong stench of sewage on the previous Sunday. CLERK’S REPORT During April of the 10 available working days I averaged 5 hours 50 minutes per day which is more than 2 hours a day in excess of my contract. This was due to preparing the Parish Council’s accounts for audit and completing the minutes and agenda for the Annual Parish meeting on 20th May. Cllr Stuart informed the meeting that while the Clerk was on holiday an incident occurred and access to the insurance documents had been necessary. The Clerk had picked up the email, telephoned back and arranged for him to retrieve the paperwork from his office. Cllr Stuart thanked the Clerk for his cooperation. SUPPORT OF SOMERFORD KEYNES PARISH COUNCIL Cllr Nicholas stated that Somerford Keynes Parish Council had expressed its concern over the threat to curtail the historic public access to Keynes Country Park. There was uncertainity over the plans of the new lessee regarding the permissive rights of way. If the new sub-lease prevented access serious public displeasure would result in a valid potential problem. Cllr Nicholas continued that the legal set up was unnecessarily obtuse. There was also concern that Gloucestershire County Council may have acted ultra vires (outside the control of the authority). The lease clearly forbade the lessee, Watermark Investments Developments Ltd, to construct holiday lodges. Buildings could be erected for the benefit of staff and security. Cllr Parsons (GCC) said that assurances had been given that access to the permissive rights of way would continue although between dusk and dawn it would be restricted because security needed to be maintained. There was a possibility that at some future date access to permissive rights of way may be rescinded. There was no threat to the PROW. Cllr Jay mentioned that there were at least two instances where access had been blocked. Cllr Parsons (GCC) was aware but countered that the action had been reversed soon afterwards. Cllr Jay thanked Cllr Nicholas for his research on the implications of the lease. Somerford Keynes Parish Council had referred the action of GCC to the Audit Commission querying if best value had been achieved and who else had been invited to bid for the concession. Cllr Parsons (GCC) informed the Parish Council that the Audit Commission’s report was expected this month. Cllr Harris informed the council that the park was now called Cotswold Country Park. Cllr Parsons (GCC) said that officers at Gloucestershire County Council were responsible for drawing up the lease and in his view proper procedures were abided by. Cllr Nicholas explained the differences and implications of a Public Right of Way and a Permissive Right of Way. Cllr Stuart said that the public purse had financed the Water Park all to no avail to the local public. It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Harris that South Cerney with Cerney Wick Parish Council supports Somerford Keynes Parish Council in its endeavours to ensure future public access to Cotswold Country Park is maintained. The Parish Council was unanimous in its agreement with the proposal. REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE PLAYING FIELDS & VILLAGE MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE HELD ON MONDAY 11th MAY 2009 Cllr Caunce, Cllr Mrs Chubb, Cllr Harris, Cllr Kimberley, Cllr Nicholas, Cllr Stuart and Cllr Mrs Tunbridge attended the meeting. Cllr Caunce opened the meeting at 7 pm. Matters Arising from previous Minutes Meeting with Gloucestershire Highways representatives. Cllr Jay and Cllr Stuart had a meeting with Chris Franklin and Paul Swift of Gloucestershire Highways. During the meeting which lasted about 90 minutes, the trees in the Bow Wow, 20 mph zones and tactile paving were discussed. Discussions about the trees in Bow Wow were progressing and the scruffy Ash tree by the water’s edge will be dealt with in the near future. Chris Franklin will arrange for the damaged wall to be rebuilt. Reinstatement of Bow Wow will take place, after the Gas Board has relaid the mains pipe there, later in the year. The Clerk was to ask Dave Ludford, Environment Agency, to continue to keep the Parish Council informed of developments. Action on converting parts of the village to a 20 mph zone should await national government direction as its intention to create such zones had been broadcast recently. Better pedestrian crossing points in Silver Street, High Street, Clarks Hay and Broadway Lane were discussed and it was agreed that Paul Swift will liaise with Cllr Mrs Land regarding the installation of tactile pavements. Gloucestershire Highways is aware of the proliferation of advertising signs along the Spine Road, especially at the junction of Station Road, Cerney Wick Lane and Spine Road crossroads. Grand Opening of facilities at Upper Up. Cllr Caunce remarked on the successful opening of new facilities on the Upper Up playing fields. £167 had been collected from the sale of tickets for the prize of a tandem parachute jump. The Committee agreed with Cllr Stuart who recommended that the proceeds should be given to the Help for Heroes charity and that the Parish Council consider increasing the donation by £83 to make a total of £250. It further recommended that the Parish Council considers making a £25 donation to the Salvation Army in recognition of its band’s performance at the opening. Committee members agreed to a suggestion that the Parish Council record its thanks and appreciation to Alan and Sarah Browning from Red Onion for providing refreshments. Shorncote Link. Cllr Stuart reported that work to complete the path at the western end of the Upper Up playing field was still unsatisfactory. He had informed Stuart Milsom (MAI) who in turn would contact Richard Maggs (Thames Water) and request that satisfactory completion is awaited. Grass Cutting. Cllr Mrs Chapman had informed Cllr Caunce that in her opinion grass cutting in Cerney Wick was below standard. Cllr Caunce had informed Adrian Gibbs and a close watch will be kept on the contractor’s work in future. In defence of Adrian Gibbs, Cllr Stuart remarked that over the period in discussion the growth of grass had been exceptionally fast and possibly the contractor who had introduced new equipment had not quite mastered the machinery. Cllr Mrs Chubb remarked that residents in her neighbourhood were very pleased with the latest cut. Station Road Bus Shelter. Cllr Caunce had spoken with Paul Swift, Gloucestershire Highways about the proposed positioning the bus shelter. Mr Swift had no objection and reconfirmed that Gloucestershire Highways would provide a pathway from the shelter to the road. Cllr Mrs Chubb reported that not one of the contractors which the Clerk had asked to quote had contacted her for information. Cllr Caunce asked the Clerk to let him have the names and contact details and he would try to get a result. Cllr Caunce had persuaded Kevin Messenger to quote for laying a concrete base. It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Caunce that the Parish Council accepts. The Parish Council was in agreement. Sewerage Leak. Cllr Kimberley reported that the stench of sewage in Station Road, near to Lakeside car park was still a problem. Cllr Harris will make more enquiries to try and resolve what action has been taken or is needed. Dog Litter Signs. Cllr Kimberley thanked the Clerk for providing self adhesive labels which alerted pet owners to the necessity of clearing up after their animals foul public areas. He had received more complaints about the state of Gypsy Lane. The Dog Wardens are aware and will be keeping a look out for miscreants. Parking Problems in Berkeley Close. Cllr Kimberley reported that parking arrangements in Berkeley Close were becoming problematic. He suggested that the Parish Council considers approaching Fosseway Housing to see if it would agree to converting part of its grassed area for car parking purposes. The Clerk would add this item to the agenda for the next Committee meeting. INSPECTION REPORTS Cerney Wick Robert Franklin Way RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE The Committee recommends that the Finance Committee agrees to top up the donation to the Help for Heroes charity achieved through the sale of tickets for the tandem parachute jump by £83 to £250. The Committee recommends that the Finance Committee agrees to donate £25 to the Salvation Army towards their expenses incurred in performing at the opening ceremony at Upper Up playing fields. The Committee recommends that the Finance Committee agrees to contract Tim Bryant to repair the fence at Lakeside. COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS Cllr Harris reported that the surface of the PROW BSC13 from Station Road to Bow Wow is in need of attention. The Clerk will inform Mike Barton at Gloucestershire County Council PROW. Cllr Harris asked that the Committee agrees to the use of Upper Up as an over flow car park for those attending the Duck Race and associated events of the Street Fair. The Committee had no objection. Cllr Nicholas enquired what should be done with wooden planks left over from the erection of the compost bins. It was agreed that Cllr Harris would store them for future use by the group. Cllr Nicholas noted that there was no reference to any financial contribution to the restoration of BSC20 Wildmoorway Lane to Wilmoor Lock. Cllr Stuart had been in discussions with the Water Park Society and hopefully would enlighten the Parish Council at its meeting on Wednesday. Cllr Stuart had spoken to Jill Bewley from the Cotswold Water Park Society regarding their applications for grants to improve BSC20. The application for the previous grant had been unsuccessful but it had been resubmitted. Ms Bewley told Cllr Stuart that for every £1 committed by other agencies as a grant would mean £3 for the Society if the appeal was successful. TASK LIST The Task List was projected and updated. Cllr Webb and the Clerk will meet to decide on a strategy to involve the Gloucestershire Charter group in expediting the completion of the cycleway enhancement opposite the Four Pillars hotel. There being no further business Cllr Caunce had closed the meeting at 8.25pm. REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HELD ON MONDAY 11th MAY 2009 Cllr Jay, Cllr Mrs Land, Cllr Nicholas and Cllr Webb attended the meeting. Cllr Jay had opened the meeting at 8.30pm. SPREAD SHEET ANALYSIS Cllr Jay noted that the expenditure detailed on the spread sheet was in order although the Cost of Employing the Clerk was distorted as period 1 coincided with an accumulated payment to HM Revenue and Customs. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACCEPTANCE FROM THE PLAYING FIELDS AND VILLAGE MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE The Playing Fields and Village Maintenance Committee recommended that the Finance Committee agrees to top up the donation of £167 to the Help for Heroes charity achieved through the sale of tickets for the tandem parachute jump by £83 to £250. It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Caunce that the Parish Council accepts this recommendation. The Parish Council was in agreement. The Committee recommended that the Finance Committee agrees to donate £25 to the Salvation Army towards their expenses incurred in performing at the opening ceremony at Upper Up playing fields. It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Webb that the Parish Council accepts this recommendation. The Parish Council was in agreement. The Committee recommended that the Finance Committee agrees to contract Tim Bryant to repair the fence at Lakeside. It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Mrs Land that the Parish Council accepts this recommendation. The Parish Council was in agreement. The Finance Committee had not objected to any of the above recommendations.
Cllr Jay inspected the invoices and agreed the Clerk’s travel expenses for April. The Committee had recommended that the Parish Council agrees to make the above payments. It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Webb that the Parish Council agrees to make the payments recommended by the Finance Committee. The Parish Council was all in favour. Cllr Stuart recommended that the Parish Council withholds the outstanding payment to Park Leisure Ltd as the floor of the shelter on the MUGA site had not been finished to a satisfactory standard. Marks on the surface where the original holes had been filled in were still visible and there were cracks where the filling material met the original surface.
ANNUAL RETURN OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 2008 TO MARCH 2009 It was proposed by Cllr Jay and seconded by Cllr Nicholas that the Parish Council accepts the recommendation of the Finance Committee. The Parish Council was in full agreement. The Chairman Cllr Stuart and the Clerk then signed the documents which the Clerk will forward to the external auditors for their scrutiny. Cllr Nicholas noted the £4,009 excess which he suggested should be allocated to items on the reserve list. The Clerk will update and forward a revised contingency list and the Committee can then decide on how to redistribute the allocation at its next meeting. There being no further business Cllr Jay closed the meeting at 8.55pm. REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD ON MONDAY 11th MAY 2009 Cllr Mrs Chapman, Cllr Mrs Land, Cllr Nicholas and Cllr Webb attended the meeting. Cllr Nicholas opened the meeting at 9pm. PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL 09/00140/CWMAJM PLANNING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY COTSWOLD DISTRICT COUNCIL Cllr Nicholas had declared a prejudicial interest in this application as he was a friend of the neighbouring householders. 09/00598/OUT 09/00811/FUL 09/00839/FUL 09/00866/FUL It was proposed by Cllr Stuart and seconded by Cllr Webb that the Parish Council accepts the recommendations of the Planning Committee. The Parish Council was all in favour. APPLICATIONS APPROVED 08/00974/LBC 08/00975/FUL 09/00532/FUL CT.0649/3/E APPLICATION WITHDRAWN 08/03169/FUL CORRESPONDENCE
COUNCILLORS’ REPORT Cllr Mrs Chapman requested that the Clerk asks the Enforcement Officer investigate the new large advertising sign on Lake 11 facing on to the Spine Road and also the new advertising signs at the entrance to the site on Cerney Wick Lane. There being no further business Cllr Nicholas had closed the meeting at 9.20pm. CORRESPONDENCE
COUNCILLORS' REPORTS Cllr Webb asked the Clerk to inform Fosseway Living that the front fence hedge at 30 Broadway Lane was overgrowing the public footpath impeding pedestrian access. Cllr Messenger thanked Cllr Jay and Cllr Stuart for the help provided to Siddington Parish Council in preparing its questionnaire on its Village Plan. Cllr Jay reported that WoW, Walk on Wednesday initiative at Ann Edwards School was in full swing and the award would be determined at the end of this half term. The winning pupils will vote on which “Reward Days” they wish to take part. Cllr Stuart reported that on 21st April he had met with Mike Barton, GCC PROW and discussed Wildmoorway Lane and the difficulties in working with Payback in the Community. On 6th May Cllr Stuart had a meeting with the acting Commanding Officer, Adjutant and Sgt Matty Holford of the Silver Stars at the barracks. The tandem jump had been agreed. The Silver Stars needed to have an update on the agreed flying times for their drop aircraft. On 20th May Cllr Stuart will meet the new surveyor from Aggregate Industries. The Play Rangers were pleased with the initial response to their initiative on the Upper Up playing fields. On the first day 12 youngsters took part. This had doubled to 24 by week three. Helen Jones GCC Youth Services had explained that the mobile skate boards had not been available for the opening of facilities at Upper Up as the equipment, originally supplied by Park Leisure Ltd, had been condemned as unfit for use as it was dangerous. Cllr Stuart continued that it should be recorded since our last Parish Council meeting the Cricket Club building had been subjected to an arson attack. The front door had been smashed off its hinges and it seems that whoever did the damage used the rail from the veranda as a battering ram as the door frame had been split and all three security locks had been pushed out. The fire had been started in a waste bin used to store the goal nets for the youth football teams and the resulting fire has damaged the partition wall between the hail and kitchen area. The actual structural damage was limited due to the very prompt arrival of three fire engines and the flames were extinguished quickly. However, the smoke damage is extensive and the entire interior needs attention. Work has commenced on the chemical cleaning of the interior Monday 11th May and that will take some time to complete. Then the repairs will be carried out all by contractors employed by Norwich Union Insurance. On the day of the fire 17th April I had been to the field mid afternoon and noticed that there were many young people all over the area due to it being school holidays. The actual attack happened late afternoon and an adult phoned the emergency services but claims to have not seen anyone actually damaging the building. Despite the fact that the field was crowded about an hour previously, by the time the police arrived, soon after the fire service, there was hardly anyone there. It would be good to hear what investigations if any have been made by the police. There must have been at least three police vehicles present at the incident with five or more uniformed officers. Perhaps we expect too much in hoping that we will ever be kept informed by the police. We will raise these questions at the Annual Meeting next week. CERNEY NEWS News and information about the Composting Club. The Play Rangers initiative at Upper Up. Use of the recycling bins at Upper Up. There being no further business Cllr Stuart closed the meeting at 10:05pm. |
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