DRAFT AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 9 JANUARY 2006, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors David Vessey, Gerald Gaden, Peter Kelly, Tim Tremellen and Barry Dent
District Councillor Edward Horsfall
Presiding: Councillor David Vessey
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.15pm. There were no members of the public present.
1. Apologies for Absence
Councillor Adrian Grazebrook
2. Co-option of new Councillor
The District Council have confirmed that an election is not required to fill the vacancy on the Parish Council.
Councillor Vessey had been approached by Roger Hayes, who expressed interest in becoming a Councillor. Mr Hayes has written to express his willingness to be co-opted on to the Council and the Council agreed.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2005
The minutes were amended in paragraph 4. This paragraph now reads: ‘From April 2006 every pensioner would be entitled to a free bus pass. CDC will continue to offer tokens as an alternative as at present.’
The minutes were also amended on page 603. Resolution 56/05 should show £33.28 rather than £32.78.
Resolution 1/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes, as amended on pages 602 and 603, of the Parish Council meeting held on 14 November 2005 be signed and adopted.
4. Matters arising from the meeting on 14 November 2005
4.1 Riding Lane
The Clerk had spoken with Mr Crisp. The trees that were knocking the hay off the lorries during harvesting do not belong to him, but, he thinks, to the owners of the cottage on the corner. He will however trim one of the overhanging trees on his land.
Councillors discussed this and will look at the area in more detail and report to the Clerk.
4.2 Talland Riding School travel plan
The Clerk wrote to GCC in Cirencester who passed the letter requesting official signage to Shire Hall. Following the Clerk’s letter to Talland, she has had a reply from Brian Hutton, who says that the school will include details in their brochure encouraging all vehicles to use the Barnsley/Bibury Road. The vehicle problems in Siddington referred to the narrow entrance to the site.
The Clerk will contact the County Council again.
4.3 Bus stop
The timetable is not yet in place. The Clerk will contact the County Council.
4.4 Speed gun
Use of the Speed gun was postponed until the Spring.
4.5 Dead tree at Durncourt Cottages
This has not yet been removed. The Clerk will contact CDC again.
4.6 Standing water outside Tamarind.
The Clerk will contact GCC to ask that the dip in the road outside Tamarind be filled in.
5. Reports from County/District Councillors
District Councillor Horsfall gave the following report:
6. Questions from the Public
None.
7. Financial matters
7.1 Current financial position
The GPFA subscription was paid after the last meeting, but it was not agreed which budget would be used.
Resolution 2/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council retrospectively resolved that the subscription to Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association be paid from the playground capital expenditure reserve.
7.2 Agreement of payments
Following some discussion it was agreed that the invoice for the legal fees for the licence for the playground be paid. There was some concern however that the Parish Council were ‘paying twice’ for the service, once in individuals Council tax bills, and secondly through this invoice.
The Clerk agreed to contact GCC asking if it was normal practice to charge for work of this kind. Councillor Horsfall will check with CDC to see if it was normal practice within the District Council.
Resolution 3/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the invoice for £1000 + £175 VAT from Gloucestershire County Council be paid.
7.3 Assets register
As the refurbished bench was not yet in place (see paragraph 10.1) this item will be discussed at the next meeting.
7.4 Grass cutting contract
The Council had received one quote for the grass cutting contract.
Resolution 4/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the grass cutting contract for 1 April 2006 – 31 March 2007 is awarded to Cottage Garden Services.
It was discussed at the last meeting that a further cut would take place in November, and funding was allocated to this cut. This cut had not taken place, as the weather was too wet. The cut will take place during January if the weather is dry enough.
The contractor, Tony Williams, asked the Clerk if the Council would have any concerns to the use of a mulching mower. The Council agreed that they would have no objections.
7.5 Precept for 2006/07
There was some discussion whether to use unused funding from the playground budget towards the budget for 2006/07. It was agreed that this funding would not be used, as it was essential to keep playground funding separate from the everyday running costs.
The following budget was agreed:
Staff costs: salary £3208
Expenses £ 100
Grass cutting: £1200
Burial Ground maintenance £ 0
Ampney Times £ 108
Admin: GAPTC £ 100
Village Hall Hire £ 80
Insurance £ 630
Misc. and postage £ 124
Playground: sinking fund £1000
replacement £ 300
insurance £ 300
audit £ 100
Other:
Donations/grants £ 100
The budget for 2005/06 was £6900. The major increases for 2006/07 are for insurance (last year was offset by £335 from the reserves), and an increase of around £100 for grass cutting and the Clerk’s salary.
The Council would be in a position to look at reducing the amount of the precept request for 2006/7 once the final financial position relating to the construction of the playground was confirmed.
The Ampney Times costs £144 each year to print. Ampney St Mary and Ampney St Peter will both contribute £18 each, leaving £108 for the Parish council to fund. This is offset by advertising. It was agreed that any surplus left in the Advertising (Ampney Times) budget on 31 March 2006 would be carried forward to that budget in 2006/07.
Resolution 5/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above budget be adopted and that a precept request of £7500 is sent to Cotswold District Council.
8. Planning matters
8.1 Decisions
362 CT 1413/D Gardener’s cottage Refuses
353 05/0070/CWFUL/CAPS Sunhill Permits
361 CT 6685/C Penny Patch Permits
363 CT 5662/K Teal Cottage Permits
366 Contr 1998 The Old farm No objections
8.2 Outstanding applications
327 CT 0111/D Ampney Knowle No objections
332 CT 0111/F Ampney Knowle No objections
333 CT 0111/E Ampney Knowle No objections
354 05/0071/CWFUL/CAPS Sunhill Objection
357 CT 5662/J Lavender Cottage No objections
358 CT 5662/H Lavender Cottage No objections
364 CT 5285/G The Old Farm No objections
365 CT 4484/G Farthing Cottage No objections
367 CT 5580/P The Coach House No objections
8.3 Amendments
None
8.4 Tree works
None
8.5 Sunhill
Councillor Vessey had been informed that the Planning Inspector was scheduled to make a decision on the appeal (Planning Inspectorate Appeal Ref: APP/T1600/A/05/1187200) by written representation only. David drafted a letter that has been sent to the Planning Inspector asking that the Sunhill Action Group be allowed to make a verbal presentation. This request was denied. This application was the first application to be made for mixed organic waste.
The decision on application 05/0071/CWFUL/CAPS has been postponed by the County Council from January to March 2006.
8.6 Berry’s Yard
CDC have informed the Clerk that this matter is with the legal team at CDC. As the legal team have had this information for some time District Councillor Horsfall agreed to contact the legal team to check whether the situation could be discussed soon.
Councillor Kelly reported that large tanks are now on site, close to residential properties. Three or four businesses are using the site at present. Councillor Horsfall will ask the planning enforcement officer to make another site visit.
The application for a vehicle operator’s licence for this site is still to be decided. It was intimated that if the licence were to be agreed then certain restrictions would be placed on the permission, including access and egress of vehicles up Butcher’s Arms Lane. The Council agreed that the Chairman would write to the Traffic Commissioners asking that the traffic should use the length of Batch Lane up to the Barnsley Road.
On a separate issue, whilst discussing traffic issues it was explained that large lories use the Village Street and Butcher’s Arms lane. The Chairman will contact Christine Glenville at Crucis Park Farm to ask what lorries are used, and could they go in another direction.
A caravan is parked on the side of Back Lane. Councillor Kelly will identify the owner and inform the Clerk.
9. Burial ground matters
None
10. Village update
10.1 Bench at Donkey Field
Des Keen is repairing the bench and will put it on site when it is ready.
10.2 Village Newsletter and Directory
Elisabeth Gerver and Terry Bloxham are producing a directory of village organisations. This has been aided by a grant of £300 from Gloucestershire Rural Community Council.
11. Playground
11.1 Playground licence
The licence has now been returned, signed by GCC, and filed.
11.2 Grants
The chairman explained that CDC have no objection to the remainder of the grant being paid after April 2006, however the Rural Development Agency (RDA) want all grant monies to be paid by 31 March 2006. This puts the Council under some pressure on ensuring that the gate and signage are in place before this date.
The Clerk agreed to contact the RDA to check what paperwork is required so that there should be no delays in paying the final money due.
11.3 Cracks in skateboard ramp
The ramp has now been repaired. The Clerk spoke to the landscape section of CDC who agreed with the Council that it would be unlikely for small tree roots to damage the skateboard area. The Clerk has written to Bendcrete explaining that the Council will monitor the site.
11.4 Outstanding items: signage and gate
The Chairman has taken over the responsibility for these items. D and B Services were reluctant to provide a clear quote for the work, and as the Council cannot accept estimates the Chairman looked for alternatives.
Peter Tupper has provided a quote of £925 + VAT. This includes a gate for £150. He reserves the right to amend the final invoiced amount if the price of the gate varies. Mr Tupper would also be asked to fix the posts for the sign.
Resolution 6/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the quote from Peter Tupper for the pedestrian gate into the playground should be accepted. It was also resolved that the Council accept a small change in the price of the gate.
The Chairman has also identified other companies for the signs, and would be placing an order with the selected company as agreed under Resolution 58/05
12. Representation on Village Hall Committee
The Chairman will ask Ann Bridges to contact Councillor Tremellen with details of the Village Hall Committee.
13. Correspondence received
13.1 Land Registry
The Council has been approached by the Land Registry to ask whether the Council wish to register land owned by the Council. At present there is no obligation to do so.
The Council own the footprint of the Praying Cross and the War Memorial, and the paperwork and deeds for these are held by Nicholas Tanner.
Mr Tanner has no deeds for the burial ground but he states that this was given by the Cripps family in the 19th century. The burial folder has a very short history of the burial ground suggesting that the land was donated, presumably to the Church, by Mrs Francis Sclater after 1888. Management of the Burial Ground fell to the Parish Council when the PC was formed in 1894.
Following discussions with the Chairman and Councillor Grazebrook and subsequently with the Land Registry, the Clerk suggested that no further action is taken. Costs would be incurred to register the land.
13.2 Consultation documents
The Council noted the following consultation documents:
· Unification of the Glos Registration district – short letter detailing the proposed changes.
· GCC Minerals and Waste development strategy.
· Wiltshire/Swindon Minerals and waste development framework.
13.3 Meetings
The Council noted the following meetings:
13.4 Request for funding from Citizens Advice Bureau
Resolution 7/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the following items of expenditure be authorised as a S137 payment under the Local Government Act 1972, it being the opinion of the Council that the expenditure will be in the interests of all or part of the community: a donation of £75 to the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Resolution 8/06 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £33.28 be transferred from the Village hall hire budget to the donations/grants budget.
14. Matters outstanding
The Clerk will ascertain whether Ampney Crucis has access to an accredited snow plough operator.
The Chairman will email the ‘Better Regulation Executive’, part of the cabinet office, protesting about the new audit regime.
Councillor Gaden reported two instances of fly tipping on Riding Lane and Ash Steeple Hill. The Clerk will notify CDC.
15. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Thursday 9 March 2006. 7.15pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm.