Mrs A Hale

                                     Mr R Smith                                              

District Councillors:   Mrs June Cordwell and Mr P Smith. 

County Councillor:     Dr. J Cordwell.

Clerk:                           Mr R Symons         

Also in attendance:  1 member of public.

1.          Apologies.  The following apologies were accepted:

Mrs. P Kelly (due to work commitments); 

Mr. D Palmer (due to work commitments);  

Mr. D Purnell (due to work commitments).       

District Councillor.. Mr. C Routledge (attending a meeting in Stroud).

      2.            Declaration of Interests.  The Chairman invited Councillors to declare any Interests.

 Mr Brown declared an interest in Agenda Item 5.

      3.            Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 October 2008.

The Minutes had been distributed to all members.  All agreed that the Minutes should be signed as an accurate record. The Minutes were signed.

   4.     Matters arising from the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 October 2008

·        Parish Survey (12/08). The Clerk reported that the Survey is now complete.  The 203 questionnaires returned, out of 320 issued, are now with GRCC for processing. The results are expected later in November.  The Prize Draw winner was Lynn Thornton.

·        Measuring foot traffic using

It was agreed that the purchase of the measuring equipment should be delayed until the Spring.

·        Car parking around Village Hall   (11(d) /08)

The Clerk reported that he held a meeting with Jill Fallows (Property & Investment Manager of Stroud DC) to explain the situation about the need for additional car parking spaces at the Village Hall. He had explained that the Parish Council fully supported The Village Hall Committee’s case for additional parking in the area.  Jill Fallows agreed to go away and discuss with her colleagues and explore the potential for making some improvements.

·        Affordable Housing. (5/09)

In a telephone conversation with Two Rivers Housing, the Clerk was informed that there had been no progress with the Black Horse Inn site.  Following discussion on Affordable Housing the Council asked the Clerk to write to Two Rivers Housing to obtain a written report on the current position on negotiations with Enterprise Inns.  It was also agreed to invite Two Rivers Housing to a meeting early in 2009.

·        Innocks Estate (12(b)/10)

The Clerk has written to the householder at 8 Innocks Estate.  It turned out that this was a case of mistaken identity and the house in question is No.7.  A letter has now been sent to the householders at No.7. An apology has been sent to the householders at No 8.

·        Bus Shelter Grant (15/10)

The Clerk has applied for a grant towards constructing a ‘bus shelter on the Black Horse side of road.  The maximum grant available is £2,000 and funds are very short. Before making any further progress it was agreed that the Clerk should meet with Gloucestershire County Council Highways Dept. to ensure that it is in order to place a ‘bus shelter at this site.  It was also agreed that later we should get an estimate of costs to help the Parish Council decide if it can afford to proceed.

·        Legal Fees for Jubilee Recreational Field (12(e)/10)

Following an exchange of letters with Penleys the final Account has been presented for payment.  During the meeting The Recreation Field Committee presented the Council with a cheque for £700 as their contribution. The Clerk will write to The Recreation Field Committee to thank them for their support.

5.      Planning Applications for comment. 

Application by Mr T Brown for “Extension to roof and alterations” to Farm Field Bungalow, Waterley Bottom. (S/08/2028/FUL).

Mr Brown left the Meeting whilst the Council discussed the Application. 

     The Council Agreed to Support the Application.         Mr Brown rejoined the Meeting.

6.      Planning Decisions. 

It was reported that the following Applications had been approved by Stroud DC Planning:

·        Approval of “extension to existing bungalow” at Windmill Fruit Farm,

·        Approval of “two storey domestic extension” to

7.      Public Discussion.  A member of the public asked for and was provided with clarification about Affordable Housing.  It was made clear that at the present time there is no agreement to take forward any plans for Affordable Housing in North Nibley. Two Rivers Housing are working to identify and secure a suitable site in the parish.  It is the Council’s intention to obtain clarification of the present discussions with the land owner of the Black Horse site; and then hold further discussions with Two Rivers Housing early in the New Year.  (See Minute 4/11 above).

8.      District Council Report by Councillors Mr. P Smith/Mrs. J Cordwell.  It was explained that there was nothing to report because Stroud DC is currently in a cycle of meetings.

9.      District Council Report by Councillor Mr. Routledge. In his absence Cllr. Routledge submitted the attached.  

10.County Council Report by Councillor Dr. J Cordwell.  (See attached report.).

In response to questions Cllr. Dr. John Cordwell said that he would speak to Highways about the deteriorating road surfaces at Warren Hill. 

The Clerk agreed to contact Julian Wilson (Gloucestershire Highways Dept.) with a view to meeting him on site to discuss the issue of LGVs causing problems in the narrow lanes around Warren Hill.

11.Reports of Committees and Meetings.   Parish Councillors were invited to report back on Meetings they have attended.  

·        In his absence Mr. Purnell submitted a written report on a Meeting of Stinchcombe Hill Trustees.

·        Mr. Brown reported back on a meeting with the police.  Following problems with children’s play areas, including in North Nibley, the police are closely monitoring activities at all play areas across the District.

·        Mrs. James reported on a Standards Board Meeting which she attended on 21 October.  (See report attached).  

12.Finance Report.

a)     The Clerk presented his Finance Paper.  Following full discussion the Council agreed to:  

·        note the present 2008/09 budget position and accept that the Council is heading for an overspend this year.

·        note the requirements placed upon it to record the legislation under which it made spending decisions; and it’s authority to spend under Local Government Act 1972 s.137.  

·        accept the recommendations on how future expenditure decisions should be minuted.

·        increase the precept for 2009/10 by 10% and to minute its reasons for increasing the precept.  It was also agreed that this information should be included in a future OTE article.  Those reasons are the:

                     I.            increased costs in maintaining the village Cemetery;

                   II.            continued financial commitments to the Village Hall developments;

                  III.            continued financial commitments to the Jubilee Playing Field;

               IV.            potential expenditure for building a ‘bus stop shelter;

                 V.            cost of maintaining Parish Council land at Breakheart Hill.

The Clerk was asked to report on Finances again in January 2009, when it would be appropriate to review the budget plans for 2009/10 and 2010/11; and to set a budget for 2011/12.

b)     Statement of Finances.  The Council received a report as follows:

·        Current A/C:        £3612.15    (as at 17 October 2008)

o       (Uncleared cheques:  £348.79    (2 cheques))

·        Deposit A/C:        £2104.89    (as at 11 August 2008)

·        Legacy A/C:          £291.31    (as at 11 August 2008)

·        Parish Plan A/C:  £1356.51    (as at 17 October 2008)

·        Parish Plan (Stroud & Swindon Building Society A/C): £159.71 (as at 3 November 2008)

c)      Bills to pay:  The Council was presented with Penleys Account for the legal fees in setting up the lease on the Recreation Field.   (£1432.37). 

There was a full discussion into the reasons why the legal costs had increased.  It was reported that action had been taken in an attempt to persuade Penleys that they should reduce the bill, but this had been unsuccessful.   Following a discussion it was accepted that the Council were liable for meeting these costs and payment was approved.  Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s.19 1(b).

13.Cemetery Report.  It was reported that the war memorial had been cleaned by Mr Alan Smith and Mr Ray Smith.  Mr Ray Smith also reported that the Cemetery gates had now been secured.

There was nothing further to report.

14.Correspondence & Messages.  (See report aside).

a)     The Clerk was asked to take forward discussions with Stroud DC on the requirements for developing an Emergency Plan for the parish.

b)     The Council agreed that it should recognise the support that the OTE deliverers and other people had contributed towards the success of the Village Survey, by agreeing to collect the completed questionnaires.  It was decided that the Council would invite them all to a “Mince pie and Fizz” evening at the Village Hall on Wednesday 10 December at 7.00pm.  Councillors agreed on how to issue invitations and booked the Village Hall.

There being no other business the Meeting finished at 9.05pm.

The Next Meeting of the Parish Council is at the Village Hall on 1 December 2008, at 7.30 pm.