AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 10 MAY, 2004 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Gerald Gaden, Kim Hartshorne, David Vessey and John Dear.
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly (Retiring Chairman)
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 8.05pm. There was 1 member of the public present.
1. Apologies for absence
Councillors Sally Hebbs and Adrian Grazebrook, County Councillor Raymond Theodoulou and District Councillor Edward Horsfall.
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 Hartshorne proposed, Councillor Gaden seconded and the Council agreed that Councillor Vessey be elected Chairman. Councillor Vessey then signed his Declaration of Office, and took the Chair.
Councillor Dear proposed, Councillor Gaden seconded and the Council agreed that formal vote of thanks is made to Councillor Kelly for his work as Chairman over the past 5 years.
2.2 Election of Vice Chairman
Councillor Dear proposed, Councillor Hartshorne seconded and the Council agreed that Councillor Grazebrook be re-elected Vice Chairman. (Councillor Grazebrook had indicated previously that he was willing to be nominated for the post of Vice Chairman.)
2.3 Declarations of Office and model Code of Conduct
All Councillors have to sign the undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct. Councillors Kelly, Gaden and Hartshorne completed a form declaring that their circumstances had not changed.
Councillors Grazebrook and Hebbs will be contacted to ask whether their circumstances had changed.
Councillors Dear and Vessey thought that their circumstances had changed, and therefore a new form will be sent to them to be completed.
Unrelated to this, the Clerk reminded Councillors that if they held membership of a political party charity group, or the Freemason’s Grand Charity then they should contact James Ellis at the District Council to notify him, and change their register of interest.
2.4 Consideration of any annual subscriptions
Resolution 12/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved to renew the Council’s annual subscription (£82.75) to the Gloucestershire Association of Parish and Town Councils
2.5 Election of representatives to the Robert Pleydell Trust
Not required until 2007.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March, 2004
Resolution 13/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March, 2004 be signed and adopted.
4. Matters arising from the meeting on 8 March, 2004
4.1 Building works, School Lane
Councillor Kelly will contact Jephson Housing to arrange a meeting at the end of the works.
4.2 BAC 22 – Green Lane
The Chairman advised the Council that recent legislation in the House of Lords (relating to the buying of Lords of the Manor titles, and then charging residents to cross common land) had an impact on RUPPS. It is thought that residents who have used this piece of land will have an absolute right to continue using it. It will be a considerable time before this matter is now resolved.
5. Matters arising from the Annual Meeting
The Chairman will write to Mr Thompson about the questions he raised about the Pleydell Trust.
6. Reports from County and District Councillors
None
7. Questions from the Public
None
8. Financial matters
8.1 Formal adoption of the accounts for the year ending 31 March, 2004
It was noted that during the year, the Statement of Accounts had shown incorrect figures. This had no relation to the balance of the accounts. The correct version was given to the Councillors.
Resolution 14/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements, (attached to the minutes at pages 484 - 509) 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, 2004.
8.2 Current financial position
Resolution 15/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements as provided by the Responsible Financial were an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 28 April, 2004
Resolution 16/04 The chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £200 be transferred to the imprest account.
Resolution 17/04 The chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £3000 be transferred to the deposit account.
The Clerk reported that the current account, imprest and playground accounts no longer pay interest. She will speak to Lloyds and find out if there are other accounts that could be used that would pay interest.
8.3 Agreement of payments
The insurance premium has reduced to £421.27. The Clerk has spoken at length to Cornhill, who say that the Lych Gate has been re-rated.
Resolution 18/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above amounts, totalling £412.27, be paid. The excess in the budget will be placed in a reserve for use in 2005/06.
8.4 Allocation of reserves
Resolution 19/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the reserves are allocated as shown on page 510 of the minutes.
8.5 Reassessment of the Council’s assets register
Whilst re-rating the Council’s assets Cornhill have also adjusted the figure for each building. The Council agreed that a request would be placed in The Ampney Times asking if a builder or surveyor in the village could accurately assess the value of the Council’s assets. In the meantime the Council would accept Cornhill’s insurance valuations.
Resolution 20/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the Assets Register be amended as shown in page xx of the minutes.
8.6 Audit for the year ending 31 March, 2004
The annual return has now been received for the year ending 31 March, 2004. Part 1, the statement of accounts and part 2, the statement of assurance require signature. The internal audit has been satisfactorily completed, with comments that the amended salary scales should be attached to the minutes, and that a professional valuation should take place on all the Council’s assets. The annual return should be returned to the external auditor by 30 June, 2004.
Resolution 21/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that Sections 1 and 2 of the Annual return as required by the external auditors be agreed and signed
9. Planning matters
9.1 Decisions
287 CT 5121/E 17 Park Corner No objection
288 CT 8382/A The Paddock No objection
289 CT 8382 The Paddock No objection
290 Contr 1606 A C Burial Ground Permits
291 CT 0607/H Firs Farmhouse Permits
293 CT 7739/J Ampney Fields No objection
294 CT 7739/K Ampney fields No objection
297 CT 8399 Crown Field Withdrawn
306 TPO 1/7 Coach House Approved: Yew and Ash
Refused: Sycamore
9.2 Outstanding applications
275 3805/PATS Crucis Park Farm Objection
295 CT 1762/1/G A C C of E School No objection
296 CT 1762/1/H A C C of E school No objection
300 CT 7373/A Cobbler Cottage No objection
301 CT 7373/B Cobbler Cottage No objection
302 CT 7373/C Cobbler Cottage No objection
303 CT 8355 Crucis Park farm Objection
304 CT 1221/G Sheephouse Farm No objections
305 CT 1221/H Sheephouse Farm No objections
9.3 Amendments
273 CT 3914/B Ampneyfield Farm Objection
9.4 Tree works
None
9.5 Procedure for dealing with planning applications
This item will be carried forward to the next meeting.
9.6 Local Plan Inquiry
Councillors Kelly and Vessey attended a Round Table Session on 20 April to discuss the proposed Policy 21 of the new plan. In a two-hour discussion most of the attendees were seeking to increase the areas in which open market housing would be allowed. The focus was mainly on those development areas, which had been deleted from the original draft and comprised the larger villages such as Andoversford, and Upper Rissington. Parish Council concerns centred on the lack of clarity as to how social and economic needs of those living in the countryside was to be defined if open market housing was to be allowed as an exception in the other villages. The inspector will produce a record of the discussions that is thought will cover the Council’s objections and thus provide clear guidance for the future.
Councillors Kelly and Vessey also attended a hearing on a one to one basis with the Inspector and the forward planners of CDC on the 28 April to discuss the lack of clarity in distinguishing between villages and the open countryside. A full and frank discussion took place and as the CDC representative agreed with the points made by the Council, the Inspector will clarify the situation in his record of the discussions, which should meet Parish Council objections.
10. Burial ground matters
10.1 Removal of spoil from Burial Ground
Work on this should start within the next month.
10.2 Inspection of gravestones
Dike and Son will carry out an inspection of the gravestones. The inspection is free, charges will only be made for any remedial work.
10.3 Fallen limb in Burial Ground
It was noted that a limb had fallen off a tree in the Burial Ground, and split a gravestone. Don Underwood and David Ockwell had removed the limb. The clerk agreed to write a letter of thanks.
11. Village Update
11.1 New noticeboard
Harold Stevens is in the process of making the notice board, and this should be ready by July.
11.2 Drainage on Riding Lane
The drainage works on Riding Lane have now finished. However, there is still an ongoing investigation by Thames Water into a leak at the junction.
11.3 Parish Partnerships
The Clerk will check on the progress of the Parish Partnership. It was agreed that clearing the ditches on Riding Lane still remained a priority, however there is damage to road 40948, (Hoder’s Farm Road) in the dip to the north of the end of Allotment Lane. The Clerk will contact County Highways.
11.4 CDC Spring clean
14 people took part in the Spring Clean. It was agreed that more advertising needs to be done next time.
11.5 Dog fouling
This is still a problem with dog fouling in the village. The Clerk will talk to the residents who first made the complaint to find out more, and then notify the dog warden if any definite times, places and culprits can be identified.
12. Playground in the village
The Council hold the Playground Committee’s funds, and it was apparent that they would need cheques issuing between Council meetings.
Resolution 22/04 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that subject to sufficient funds being in the account, cheques could be issued where necessary for the playground committee, subject to the usual signatories.
13. Correspondence received
13.1 Best Value review – Tourism and Visitor Information Centres
The Council agreed that tourism is neither important nor important to the village; financially contributes slightly to the Church; were not aware that the Visitor Information Centres made any difference to the numbers of visitors to the village; and were not willing to make any contribution to the running of the Centres.
13.2 Invitation to a briefing at RAF Fairford
Councillor Kelly to attend.
13.3 The Ampney Times
A letter has been received from the village hall committee, expressing appreciation for the newsletter, with particular praise for the editors.
13.4 Best Kept Village
The Council agreed not to take part.
14. Matters outstanding
14.1 Deposits of building rubble
The Council was advised of two areas of private land where builder’s rubble have been left. One area is very near a public footpath. Councillor Vessey will contact GCC’s Public Rights of Way Officer to ask for advice.
The second area is at the builder’s yard owned by Wildmoor, backing on to The Malthouse. It is thought that this rubble is causing an environmental health problem, with rats. The Clerk will contact Environmental Health.
14.2 Drains on School Lane
These are blocked. The Clerk will write to County Highways.
14.3 Park Corner.
The patch of land at Park Corner is overgrown with scrub and weeds. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to County Highways asking of they could clear and grass this area. The Council agreed that they would then take over responsibility for maintaining this area.
14.4 Back Lane.
This has now been declared a Public Right of Way.
14.5 Signposts
The signpost at the crossroads where Akeman street and Riding Lane meet does not show that Barnsley lies to the north. The Clerk will write to County Highways.
15. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 12 July, 2004, 7.15pm, in the Village Hall.
NB: The meetings in September and November have been changed to 20 September and 15 November, both meetings at 7.15pm.