AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 11 MARCH, 2002, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
(Note: These are the draft minutes, and will not be agreed until the next meeting of the Council)
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Gerald Gaden, Fran Huckle, Adrian Grazebrook, Sally Hebbs and John Dear.
County Councillor Raymond Theodoulou
District Councillor Bruce Evans
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.15pm. There were 5 members of the public present.
Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from David Vessey
Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January, 2002
District Councillor Evans asked that the ‘small’ be removed from paragraph 6, to read: “CDC will be making changes in operations further to the new political changes, and additional changes to cover a funding deficit.”
Resolution 7/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes, as amended, of the meeting held on 14 January, 2002 be signed and adopted.
Matters arising from the meeting on 14 January, 2002
3.1 Ward Projects Fund
District Councillor Evans reported that £471 remains in the Ward Projects Fund for this financial year. This money had been set aside for a photocopier to be kept in the Rectory. However, concerns about access had meant that Reverend Woolcock had been unable to proceed with this idea.
The council heard that an application for £800 had previously been received from the Toddler Group, but had been turned down as funds were not available.
Councillor Huckle also reported that a group of residents were planning to form a petanque (boules) pitch. Costs for this were going to be in the region of £376, inc VAT. All labour would be done by volunteers. The desire for a boules pitch was identified in the Village Appraisal.
Following discussion, it was agreed that the Parish Council would support the Ward Projects Fund in awarding a grant of £250 to form a Petanque Club, and £200 for the Toddler Group, but would not support the application for a photocopier for public use in the Rectory. The application for the Petanque Club will need to be made from the Cricket Club, as the pitch will be on their land. Councillor Huckle will ask the Club to return the completed application form to CDC.
Councillor Evans will recommend that these grants be made.
Reports from County/District Councillors.
County Councillor Theodoulou made the following report:
q The Respite Service, currently operating from Churnside in Cirencester, has been given notice by the landlords (The Shaftsbury Society) that the premises are to be closed. The County Council wished to reassure users of this service that the Respite Service would continue in new premises. These premises have not yet been identified, as little notice of the closure was received.
q Estimates for highway works for 2002/03 will be made shortly. The County Council are also trying to identify priorities for 2003/04, and Councillor Theodoulou will be asking for the Council’s ideas in the next few weeks.
q The County Council is anticipating raising the Council Tax by 9.6%.
The Chairman explained that there had been correspondence with the GCC area supervisor for the Cotswolds, and a number of matters had been raised:
q Hunts Hill. The footpath up the hill was in a dangerous condition. Some money had been allocated to the repairs, but not enough. The drains on the hill are also inadequate.
q Drainage at the bottom of School Lane. This had been corrected, but the road had been narrowed in the process.
q Allotment Lane. New grips will be dug to allow drainage to be more effective.
q Poor road surface on A417 County Highways are aware of this problem and will continue to monitor the situation.
Further road repairs were required to Allotment Lane, and on the road left from the top of Allotment Lane, which are both badly potholed. Further concern was made about substantial repairs made to Back Lane, leading to the grain dryer. This road is used relatively rarely, in comparison with Allotment Lane and Hunts Hill. It was agreed that the Clerk would contact County Highways to ask why this stretch of road had been repaired instead of others.
District Councillor Evans made the following report:
q The White Paper produced by the Government in December, 2001 promotes strong local leadership and quality public services. The key theme is strong democratic and civic leadership.
q CDC faces a significant budgetary challenge over the next 5 years, with perhaps substantial revenue savings of up to £3 million. This has led to the Council carrying out a strategic review, based on the principles of Best Value. The key issues of this review will be to identify: the statutory and regulatory functions of the Council; the needs and aspirations of communities in the Cotswolds; how the Community sees the function of the District Council; the means of delivering services, and how they can be changed. There will also be investigations into how partnerships in the area could be used to the widest possible benefit. The process, which has to look at the four ‘C’s (challenge, compare, consult and complete) is planned to be completed by October 2002, so that arrangements would be reflected in the revenue budget for 2003/04.
q Overall Council tax rises will be around 10%, which appears to be the norm around the country. A band D home will now be charged £964.
q Further drainage work carried out on the A417 crossroads near the Crown has reinstated a collapsed culvert. It is hoped that this will finally cure the flooding problems.
q Dates for waste collections after public holidays had been sent to the Clerk. These will be placed in the ACT.
5. Questions from the Public
None
6. Financial matters
6.1 Current financial position.
The accounts had been circulated prior to the meeting.
The Chairman reported that a stillborn baby had been buried in the Burial Ground in February. All other organisations involved in the funeral had waived their fees. The Clerk spoke to the Auditor, who advised that subject to Councillors agreeing by telephone that they had no objections, the fees could be waived. Councillors confirmed at this meeting that overall they had no objections on this occasion to waiving the fees. However, the Burial Ground fees and regulations would be reviewed later in the meeting.
Resolution 8/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the fees for the burial of Millie Brookes-Keen be waived.
The Chairman reported that a window in the Lych Gate had been broken, and a local child had admitted to his mother that he was responsible. The mother was willing to pay for the repairs.
The Council discussed this matter, and it was agreed that although the child had admitted to breaking the window, the Council should ask the mother for the costs of repair, as the windows had been broken three times in recent months. The Police had been consulted on the previous occasion.
Resolution 9/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the invoice paid to Turbo Glass be noted. Mrs Jones will be asked to pay the full costs, excluding VAT of £34.16.
Resolution 10/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £500 is transferred from the current account to the imprest account
Resolution 11/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved the financial statements as provided by the Responsible Financial Officer, and audited by the Council’s internal auditor were an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 25 February, 2002.
6.2 Internal Audit
This was undertaken for the accounts 25 February, 2002.
6.3 Agreement of payments.
The Clerk submitted her expenses.
Resolution 12/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the Clerk’s expenses, totalling £50.22, be paid.
6.4 District Triennial Audit.
The Clerk reported that the new auditing scheme will come into force from 1 April, 2002, removing the need for triennial audits. Therefore, all councils subject to a triennial audit must submit papers for an audit in March. This will cover the financial year, ending 31 March, 2001 only. Papers will be taken to Northleach for the Audit on 27 March, 2002.
7. Burial Ground matters
7.1 Further repairs to the Lych Gate windows.
See paragraph 6.1.
7.2 Fees and regulations for the Burial Ground.
The Clerk explained that following the burial of Millie Brookes-Keen in February, it was apparent that the Council did not have a fee structure for the exclusive right of burial of children in a half size grave.
Figures from Cheltenham Borough Council and CDC were circulated. These both charge for the exclusive right of burial of a child. Costs are between £42 - £55. It was agreed that the cost of an exclusive right of burial for a child, in a half size grave, would be £40.
The new fees and regulations are attached at page375in the minutes.
Resolution 13/02 The Chairman proposed and the council resolved that the fees and regulations be amended to show the exclusive right of burial in a half size grave to be £40.
8. Planning matters
8.1 Decisions
188 CT 6523/C Sheepfold Barn Permits
203 CT 2163/M Fitzhammon House Refuses
202 CT 3031/B Orchard Cottage Accepts
206 Contr 1187 Waterton Farm House No objections
204 CT 0302/K Crucis Park Farm Permits
8.2 Outstanding applications
156 CT 7739/D Ampney Field No objection
190 CT 4170/D 1 Lake Cottages No objection
196 CT 0434/L Abbey Home Farm No objection
207 CT 8095/B Lower Field Farm No comments (out of parish)
208 CT 8095/A Lower Field Farm No comments (out of parish)
209 CT 7739/C Ampney Fields No objection
8.3 Minor amendments
210 CT 2241/F Ash House No objection
205 CT 5033/L Convamore No objections
8.4 Tree works
None
Councillor Gaden reported that a tree on the corner of The Pleydells was blocking light to properties there. The Clerk agreed to discuss this with Fosseway Housing.
9. Village Update
9.1 Playground in the Village
Kim Hartshorne was invited to explain progress to date.
A paper was distributed that identified the need for a playground, funding, future costs, insurance, and future action.
The Parish Council was asked to support the scheme by arranging insurance, acting as banker for the purchase of equipment, and supporting future maintenance.
Public liability insurance would be in the region of £30-£40, as an extension to the existing policy. The Clerk agreed to investigate this matter. Weekly checks will be made by a rota of residents in the village.
Ongoing costs will be reduced by buying quality equipment at the outset, and equipment with a long life cycle. Community Service groups can be used to install and maintain equipment, with costs for materials only. Grass cutting would hopefully be continued as present, if the site were not fenced.
Councillors were impressed with the research that had been carried out, and agreed to support the establishment of a playground.
Resolution 14/02 The Chairman proposed and the council resolved to support the establishment of a playground, by acting as ‘banker’ for the purchase of equipment, providing insurance, and looking at the costs of ongoing maintenance of the playground, to see if the council could support these.
9.2 Village Notice Board.
The Clerk explained that the Village Hall were reluctant to pay costs towards a board that would not be of use to them. The current board is not watertight, and needs replacing. It was agreed therefore that a board would be made to replace the existing one, to be erected in the same position, of a similar size.
9.3 Bus services in the village
The bus services have changed, and residents are not entirely happy with these changes. However representation to GCC has revealed that funding is not available to improve the service any further. It was agreed that any further changes to the service would be monitored.
9.4 Hunts Hill
See paragraph 4
9.5 Double white lines on the A417
The speed and visibility survey has now been carried out and results will be available at the next meeting.
9.6 Praying Cross repairs.
The Clerk reported that English Heritage have yet to comment on the further repairs to the Cross.
9.7 Robert Pleydell Trust
Councillor Vessey has written to the Charity Commission to see if the scheme can be changed in respect of the ex-officio trustees. Under the current rules, Churchwardens are obliged to become trustees of the charity and he suggested that this is something of an unnecessary burden. The Commission has agreed and subject to the agreement of the PCC the rules are to be changed so that the PCC can appoint two members from their ranks to be trustees, rather than the Churchwardens. The Parish Council have no objections to this proposal.
10. Footpath matters
Councillor Vessey will be asked to write to Wildmoor, asking why a locked gate has been erected on Back Lane, blocking access to the gate into the fields at the end of the lane.
Letters will also be written to all landowners asking for footpaths to be kept open.
11. Queen’s Golden Jubilee
Councillor Hebbs explained that plans are progressing for the jubilee weekend, but needed to know what type of commemorative gift should be made. It was suggested that a gift of up to £5 be purchased for each child under 16 in the village. An article, with a cut off strip at the bottom could be placed in the ACT to identify how many children there are in the village.
The Parish Council also needs to provide a copy of the standing orders, an original bank statement, and a signed copy of the last full year’s accounts to apply for funding from Awards for All (Lottery funding).
12. Model Code of Conduct.
Resolution 16/02 The Council agreed to adopt the Parish Councils (Model Code of Conduct) Order, 2001.
Declarations of Office, and undertakings to abide by the code were signed by all those present. Councillors were advised that their Register of Interests form should be completed within 28 days.
The Code will be sent to CDC, who will place an advertisement in the local press advising of the implementation of the code. The code, pages 376 - 383 of these minutes, will be on display in the Church porch. CDC will also notify the Standards Board of the Council’s resolution to adopt the code.
CDC will also hold the code and the register of interests for inspection if required.
13. Matters outstanding
None
14. Correspondence received
14.1 Applications for funding.
Applications for funding were received from Junior Citizenship, Ampney Crucis Toddler Group, Cobalt Unit, Winged fellowship, Victim Support and the Petanque Club.
It was agreed that S137 donations of £25 be made to the Toddler Group, Petanque Club, and Junior Citizenship.
Resolution 17/02 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 £25 to Gloucestershire Constabulary for the Junior Citizenship course; £25 to Ampney Crucis Toddler group; and £25 to the Petanque Club.
It was also suggested at this point that £25 be placed in a reserve to aid the establishment of a playground, as some costs may be incurred.
Resolution 18/02 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £25 be placed in a reserve to aid the establishment of a playground in the village.
14.2 Review of polling stations
No comments
14.3 Development Control and Focus Group meeting.
No comments
14.4 CDC Spring Clean, 2002
The Parish Council’s contribution to the CDC Spring Clean will take place on Saturday 20 April, 2002. Gloves and sacks will be requested.
14.5 Cultural strategy for the Cotswolds.
Noted.
15. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 13 May, 2002, immediately following the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm, in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 10pm.
Signed: …………………………………… Date: ………………………………..