MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 14 MAY, 2001, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Gerald Gaden, Fran Huckle, Adrian Grazebrook, Sally Hebbs and John Dear.
District Councillor Bruce Evans
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 8.45pm. There were no members of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence
David Vessey.
2. First Business of the Annual Meeting
2.1 Election of Chairman, and receive Chairman’s Declaration of Office.
The retiring Chairman took the Chair and called for nominations for the post of Chairman. Councillor Grazebrook proposed, Councillor Hebbs seconded and the Council agreed that Councillor Kelly be re-elected Chairman. Councillor Kelly then signed his Declaration of Office.
2.2 Election of Vice Chairman
Councillor Dear proposed, Councillor Gaden seconded and the Council agreed that Councillor Grazebrook be re-elected Vice Chairman.
2.3 Consideration of any Annual Subscriptions
The Clerk advised the Council that the only subscription to be renewed was for GAPTC. (£73.92)
Resolution 15/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved to renew the Council’s annual subscription (£73.92) to the Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March, 2001
Resolution 16/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March, 2001 be signed and adopted.
4. Matters arising from the meeting held on 12 March, 2001
4.1 Benches in the village
Harold Stevens has repaired the bench on the Pound. Councillor Gaden will ask Harold to quote for the other bench, to include painting. Councillor Gaden had painted the bench in the Burial Ground.
4.2 Setts on Church Lane
Councillor Evans reported that £400 was available from the Ward Projects Fund for the forthcoming year. This includes an amount not spent from the previous financial year. In addition, when the Parochial Church Council made their donation to the Church Path, it was agreed that the excess £41.46 paid (minutes page 299, paragraph 9.3) would be used towards the replacement of the setts in Church Lane.
Resolution 17/01 The Chairman proposed, and the Council resolved that following the authorisation of a £400 grant from Cotswold District Council, Ringway Highway Services be instructed to place setts on Church Lane, at a cost not to exceed £880 (exclusive of VAT).
4.3 Periodic Electoral review.
The recommendations of the Local Government Commission had been produced and, if unaltered, will mean that the new Ampney and Coln ward would consist of the three Ampney parishes, Barnsley, Winson, Bibury and Coln St Dennis. Driffield Parish would become part of Hampton Ward and Preston would become part of Water Park Ward (though the Commission accepted that there was some merit in including Preston in the Hampton Ward).
5. Matters arising from the Annual Parish Meeting
The following matters were raised at the Annual Parish Meeting:
q That minutes should be placed on the village notice board. Minutes are displayed in the Church Porch and inside the Village Hall as there is insufficient space inside the notice boards. It was agreed however, that Harold Stevens be asked to quote for the erection of a new board, and for repairs to the old board. Councillor Huckle will also raise this issue with the Village Hall Committee.
q That a footnote be placed on the summary accounts in future to show what payments and receipts are made into the ‘other payments’ and ‘other receipts’ category.
q The signs for BAC 2 and BAC 27 are incorrectly sited. The footpath co-ordinator will be asked to check this.
6. Reports from County/District Councillors
Councillor Evans confirmed that £400 is available in the Ward Projects Fund. £450 was set aside last year for the Church to use towards a new printer and copier.
7. Questions from the Public
Councillor Gaden explained that he had been asked if the Council could prevent children playing on the main village Street. It was agreed that this is a matter for parents.
8. Financial matters
8.1 Internal audit
Councillor Vessey had carried out an audit of the Council’s accounts and was satisfied that they accurately reflected the Council’s financial position. There were some recommendations on the layout of the reserve accounts and the Council accepted these.
8.2 Formal adoption of the accounts for the year ending 31 March, 2001
Resolution 18/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements prepared by the Responsible Financial Officer should be adopted by the Council as an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 31 March, 2001.
8.3 Current financial position
Resolution 19/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved the financial statements as provided by the Responsible Financial Officer were an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 1 May, 2001
8.4 Agreement of payments
The following payments were authorised:
q GAPTC: £73.92
q Cornhill Insurance: £398.28
Resolution 20/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above amounts, totalling £472.20, be paid.
It was also agreed that £400 be transferred into the imprest account.
Resolution 21/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £400 be transferred into the imprest account.
8.5 Allocation of reserves
Resolution 22/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the under spend from March 2001, (£421.29) be moved to the unallocated reserve and the unspent £353.80 allocated in the 2001 budget be moved to the drainage and ditch works reserve.
9. Burial Ground matters
9.1 Clearance of land in the Burial Ground
No further action taken at present. It was noted that the WI planted a tree in this area, and this should not be felled.
9.2 Maintenance in the burial Ground.
As the April Spring Clean had been abandoned, no further work would be done until the autumn. There still remained the outstanding matter of leaning gravestones and it was agreed that advice would be sought from local undertakers and stonemasons on the best way forward.
The warped door to the Lych Gate has now been repaired.
9.3 Drainage ditch adjacent to the Burial Ground
The Clerk explained that Gloucestershire County Council had not yet scheduled the work. However, as the wall bordering the Burial Ground has now started to crumble into the ditch, the Clerk has been asking the County Council for the work to be carried out as soon as possible. A letter should be sent to the GCC explaining the collateral damage being caused by the non-completion of this work
10. Planning matters
10.1 Decisions
169 CT 8114 1 Wiggold Cottages Permits
168 CT 2672/K Naracott House Permits
10.2 Outstanding applications
156 CT 7739/D Ampney Field No objection
171 CT 8127 15 Ampney Crucis/Malt Cottage No objection
172 CT 7493/H 8 Ampney Crucis No objection
10.3 Minor amendments
170 CT 7493/E 8 Ampney Crucis No objection
10.4 Tree Works
11. Village Update
11.1 Praying Cross repairs
Work will start on the Praying Cross on 17 May, and will last approximately 3 days.
11.2 Playground in the village
The Education Authority are not opposed, in principle to the idea that a playground be placed on the playing fields at Allotment Lane, but wish to see a draft proposal and costings before taking the matter further. Councillor Huckle will contact Kim Hartshorne, and ask her to liase with the Headmaster of the school.
11.3 Parish Directory
This had now been printed and was on sale. The majority of the production costs had been covered by the sale of six advertising spaces on the back page.
11.4 Neighbourhood Watch
It was agreed that the Rural Watch Officer be invited to a meeting of the Parish Council in the future. A visit was made by PS Taylor in January 2000.
12. Footpath matters
The County Council had shown no signs of relaxing its policy on footpaths and, for the time being, all affected footpaths in the parish remain closed. The County Council had been approached on their views regarding BAC 22 and were happy for the path to be formally declared open for general use.
13. Queen’s Golden Jubilee
The first meeting of the group organising this event will be held shortly.
14. Correspondence received
14.1 Babtie
A general letter had been received from the maintenance contractors and the Council agreed to write to them urging the early resurfacing of the A417 on environmental grounds.
14.2 Macmillan Cancer Relief and GCC Youth and Community Service
Requests for funding were turned down.
14.3 GCC temporary speed restriction on A429
Noted.
14.4 Invitation to Gloucestershire Community Shops conference
Sally Hebbs to attend
14.5 Consultation on the draft school organisational plan
Sally Hebbs to attend
14.6 Invitation to the Junior Citizenship workshops
Noted.
14.7 Deposit draft local transport plan.
On circulation.
15. Matters outstanding
There was some concern that cars parking on School Lane, and blocking the road, were causing damage to drives and verges. Solid objects blocking access were not permitted by the County Council, however, chain fencing may solve the problem, and is permitted by the County Council.
16. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 9 July, 7.00pm, in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9.45pm.
Signed: …………………………………………….. Date: ………………………