MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 14 MAY, 2007 AT 7.30PM IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.

Present:                                  8 electors, District Councillor Edward Horsfall.

Presiding:                              Councillor D C Vessey

Clerk:                                      Mrs H E Tonks

1. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 8 May, 2006

The Minutes of the meeting were posted in the village.  There were no objections to the factual record.  Councillor Kelly proposed, Councillor Gaden seconded and the meeting agreed that the minutes be approved and signed.

2. Annual Report of Ampney Crucis Parish Council

The Chairman gave the following report:

The Parish Council has had another busy year with ever increasing diversity of business, and, unusually, with no change of personnel.  This means that for the last year the Council comprised myself, Roger Hayes, Gerald Gaden, Adrian Grazebrook, Peter Kelly and Tim Tremellen and our vice chairman for the last 12 months, Barry Dent

Tim Tremellen stepped down at the recent elections, and we would like to thank him for his work over the last 12 months.  Roger Hayes ahs also stepped down, because of ill health, and we would like to wish him every good wish for his recovery.  We have now been joined by Frank Skinner, who many of you will know as the designer of the Ampney Crucis website.  Just five nominations were received for the Parish Council, meaning that there was no need for an election.  The Parish Council will now fill the two vacancies by co-option and I am pleased to tell you that Barry Dent has agreed to rejoin the Council.

The Council has been very ably represented at District level by Sir Edward Horsfall who, at the recent elections, has been re – elected as our District Councillor.   Two villagers who provide a regular service to the Council are Janet Campbell, our Tree Warden who comments on all tree applications and Neil Holt our Internal Auditor.

We have held eight meetings this year, two of which were extraordinary meetings, covering a wide variety of topics.

We were pleased to welcome Bob Austin, CDC’s Chief Executive, to the meeting in November when he very kindly answered some of the Council’s questions surrounding planning, waste collection, recycling, pensions, and grant aid.

Planning

The Parish Council comments on all planning applications.  We received 32 (as at 2 April) applications this year, but of these, the Council objected to only two.  Copies of all letters of objection written by the Council are posted on the notice boards.

The new Local Plan for the ten year period up to 2011 was adopted last April.    This is the document that will be used in determining all planning applications in the Cotswolds.  Of key importance to many villages, of which Ampney Crucis is one, is Policy 19 which effectively prohibits any new houses for sale on the open market being built within the village.  The new planning legislation allows reviews of Local Plans within the ten year period but Policy 19 cannot be reviewed until February 2009 at the very earliest.

The applications at Park Close provided much discussion for the Council.  For the uninitiated, the original planning permission granted in 1990 allowed for the construction of a single building for the occupation by a single occupant.  In recent years, more occupants have moved on to the site and there is a danger of the emergence of a mini trading estate.

The Parish Council successfully objected to the removal of a condition designed to prevent retail sales from the site.  The Council also objected to the application for a Certificate of Lawful Existing Use or Development (mercifully known as a CLEUD) which, if granted, would allow the multiple occupancy of the site.  This was something of a first for the Council as CLEUDs are legal applications based on fact rather than an interpretation of the Local Plan.  In simple terms, the applicant says “I know I broke the rules but the relevant period of time has gone by and now everything is legal”.  The Parish Council objected on the grounds that, in its opinion, the required period of time had not elapsed

The District Council refused the application which has now gone to appeal.  There may be some parishioners who wish to add their comments to the appeal.  They should be aware that these comments must be with the Planning Directorate in Bristol by 24 May at the latest.

Burial Ground

The grass-cutting contract for the coming year has been awarded again to a local contractor, Tony Williams.  Tony’s company have been cutting the grass in the village for 3 years now, and his work is appreciated.

Finance

The precept for the year ending 31 March 2007 was set at £7,500.  The accounts for the year have been audited by our Internal Auditor, Neil Holt (thank you Neil) and externally by Moore Stephens of Bath.

As part of the financial procedures following the audit, myself and the Clerk have been through the risk assessments, assets register and insurance with a fine toothcomb, highlighting any possible discrepancies.  The assets register is somewhat of a misleading term, as most of the Council’s assets seem, by their very nature appear to be liabilities rather than assets, simply by their ability to leech money!

The precept for 2007/08 has remained the same at £7,500.

Highway matters

County Council finance for highway repairs is very limited, but the Parish Council continues to lobby for further repair work when necessary. 

The Council asked for volunteers to join an action group, based in Latton, to lobby for the resurfacing of the A417/A419.  We had no volunteers.  The latest news is still mixed, in that the Ministerial Commitment to resurface the road by 2011 still stands, although any work will not be carried out until a maintenance need arises.  Our stretch of road is not scheduled for maintenance until 2013, and even then this will not include resurfacing.

The Council investigated the possibility of working with Community Service volunteers to litter pick within the village and neighbouring roads.  The wealth of bureaucracy behind the scheme soon discouraged the Council from being proactive!  Gone are the days when a man with a bag would clear the roads.

Footpaths

The village footpaths are walked on a reasonably regular basis by members of the Parish Council but we do depend on members of the public to alert us to any problems with the footpath network.  We maintain good relations with the local farmers who can generally be relied upon to mark clearly any footpaths which have been disturbed by ploughing.

Communications

The Ampney Times is now delivered to all 416 households in the three villages.  Thanks go to our three longer standing editors, Christine Cridford, Terry Bloxham and Elisabeth Gerver and we welcome new arrival David Wells.  Elisabeth and Terry’s venture to produce a Directory of Village organisations received funding from Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, and this Directory will prove useful for a few years to come.  A small amount of funding is now left over towards a further issue.

There is also a village Website run by Frank Skinner. The Parish Council posts their agendas and minutes on the site as an additional means of notification, and all minutes, from 2000 onwards are on the site.   Increasing use is being made of the site by local organisations.

The Council also investigated the possibility of replacing the notice board at The Pleydells.  In the interests of keeping the parish precept low however, it was agreed that as full grant funding was not available, the Council would discuss it at a later date.

The Playground

The Playground Committee has effectively closed as the two principal members have moved out of the village.  The day to day management of the playground now lies with the Friends of the School, although the Parish Council meets the costs of insurance premiums.

The Council continues to build up a sinking fund for the removal of the playground, and at present this stands at just over £2800.  It is imperative that the required amount is built up by June 2010 at the latest.  Although it seems odd to have to think about this it is important.  However small the risk of having to remove the playground (and it cannot happen before June 2010 at the earliest, the responsibility for removal will be the Parish Council’s and the audit requirements oblige us to cover the risk.  The original cost was estimated to be £5,000 though this is likely to be nearer £6,000 in 2010.

Sunhill

The proposal to compost Mixed Organic Waste at Sunhill has not gone away completely.  Gloucestershire County Council still need to find somewhere to complete this composting, but according to the latest minutes of the Sunhill Action Group there is some uncertainty on whether there will be an application to resubmit the application for MOW composting at Sunhill

The District Council has recently advised the Parish Council that a series of road shows is to be organised over the summer to advise everybody in the District on its proposals for waste collection.  More news to follow in due course.

Administration

The Parish Council set up a working party consisting of myself and Councillors Kelly and Dent to consider the redrafting of the Clerk’s Terms and Conditions as recommended by the National Association of Local Councils and the Society for Local Council Clerks.  This work is now complete and the new contract will be signed at the meeting to follow.

The twin bodies also issued new salary scales and, after considering the way the Clerk’s job has grown over the last couple of years, the Parish Council agreed to her upgrading.

Thanks

Which leads me neatly into thanking the Clerk for all her work over the last year.   With a Parish Council, you simply never know where the next problem is coming from and the one thing we can never accuse Helen of is clock-watching.  If the problem arises, she deals with it.

And at the same time, I would like to thank my fellow Councillors for their commitment over the last year and also to those residents who get involved in matters affecting the village.

Reaction from the public

• Use of the Ampney Crucis website is increasing, as is the use of ‘The Ampney Times’.
• Why were there changes to the Clear Up day during 2006/07?  The Chairman replied that it had been an oversight on the part of the Council and should have been discussed during the January meeting.
• Further road repairs were required:  the drainage grate outside the Crown Of Crucis was loose and could cause a problem to traffic; and the road sides on Riding Lane have eroded to the extent that a mains water stop cock is visible as part of the Lane.  The Clerk will contact County Highways.
• It was asked that the Parish Council formally record the village’s thanks for the work undertaken by Mrs Ann Bridges, Chairman of the Village Hall management committee.  The Clerk agreed to write to Mrs Bridges.

3. Parish Council accounts for the year ending 31 March, 2007

The summary accounts, which had been drawn up in the format required by the Accounts and Audit regulations, 1996, as amended, were circulated to those present.  Detailed accounts will be found with the Annual Parish Council minutes.

These accounts will be adopted at the Annual Parish Council meeting.

4. Accounts of the Village Hall Charity and the Robert Pleydell Educational Charity.

These were presented to the meeting. 

5. Reports, if any, from other Village organisations and District and County Councillors.

District Councillor Edward Horsfall was congratulated by the Chairman on his re-election.  Councillor Horsfall then gave the following report:

• The District Council comprises 38 Conservative seats out of 44.  Councillor Horsfall has been asked to be as part of the Cabinet, responsible for Community Services
• Council Tax increases have been contained at 2.5%.
• Recycling remains a key subject.  No firm decisions have yet been made, although Councillor Horsfall would support fortnightly waste collections only if increased recycling was available kerbside and at recycling areas.  A waste road show will be held during the summer to allow residents to look at the proposals and make comments.  A saving of up to £½ million could be possible, with savings made from less tonnage to landfill sites.  He will report back to the Parish Council at a later date with more information.
• Promotion of affordable housing is also par of the Council’s remit.  Policy 19 of the Local Plan does allow for affordable housing in villages.
• There are still hopes that sports coaching courses could be held in Ampney Crucis during 2008.
• Councils are being encouraged to work together to make savings.  Bob Austin, CDC’s Chief Executive will, for a trial period of 6 months, be splitting his time between CDC and Tewkesbury District Council.
• There was an error of judgement when designing the new sports centre, with a lack of energy saving measures.  Money raised from the 2^nd home Council tax will be used to improve energy efficiency.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Horsfall.

County Councillor Dunrossil was unable to attend the meeting, but sent the following report:

• It has  been  a  productive  year  for  the  County  Council  with  recognition  from  a  national  body  that  the  county  is  a  good  and  improving  Local Authority.  This  sort  of  accolade  is  not  easy  to  sustain  when  Government  expects  Authorities  to  do  more,  and  often  provides  less  than  adequate  resources  for  extra  duties.
• We  have  found  £9m  in  efficiency  Savings  and  the  budget  set  this  year  is  the  lowest  council  tax  increase in  Gloucestershire’s  history  at  3.4%.  This  has  only  been possible  with  the  help  of  dedicated  and  committed  staff  responding  to  clear  leadership.
• Let  me  just  give  you  a  snapshot  of  the  resources  we  shall be  spending  on  your  behalf  this  year.  £294m comes  to  us  as  a  dedicated  schools  grant, most  of  which  is  “passported”  directly  to  schools,  and,  despite  our  low  funding  per  pupil, still among  the  lowest  in  the  country, I  think  you’ll  agree  our  schools  do  a  great  job  for  our  young, especially  our  village  schools  which need  all  the  support  we  can  give  them  from  our  communities.
• We  then  have  a  budget   of  about  £311m  of  which  only  £95m  comes  from  Government  and  the  rest is  provided  by  all of  you  as  council  tax  payers.

Some achievements and challenges:

· Beacon award for  our  Emergency  Management Service  which  involved  all  the  county’s  local  authorities  and  many voluntary  organisations – all working  together.  The Award  citation  stated “Strong  corporate  commitment  and  a  holistic  approach  have  ensured  that  resilience  is  deeply  rooted  within  the  local  community.” – that is good news for all of us!

· Highways - of deep concern to many of us in rural areas. The  county  is  trying  to  listen  more  and  we  are  targeting  more  resources  again  this  year,  but   there have  to  be  priorities of spend and  not everything  can  be  done.

· Older people - There are  a  lot  of  us  in  the  county, and  we  are  spending  more  again  on  care  for  the  elderly, to  help  them, where  possible,  to  stay  in  their  own  homes.

· Safer Communities - We continue to invest in more police. There will be 17 extra funded by the county since 2005.

· Waste – a big problem for us all if we cannot continue to increase our recycling. In the past we dumped our waste in landfill.  Now we face steep  and  progressive  fines  from  Europe  if  we  miss  the targets, which  are  set  lower each year, and  the  fine, which  would  have  to  come  out  of  council  tax  will  be  £1m and  rising if we fail to meet the quotas set.

· Cotswold  District  leads  our  Districts, who  have  the  job  of  collecting  our  waste,  in  recycling , but even Cotswold was  still  sending 63% of  what  is  collected  to  landfill  last  year (Cheltenham  sent 74%, Gloucester 84%).  I appreciate, as a householder, how difficult that will be with almost everything we buy wrapped in plastic, but somehow we have to do it.

We need to show, despite  Government pressures for  Regionalism  and  Unitary Authorities that we  can  all  work  together in Gloucestershire  to  achieve  the  best.

On a lighter note:

• I have enjoyed being chairman of our county; it gives a wonderful opportunity to see how much good work goes on, and see the investment made by public sector and volunteer organisations in trying to improve services.
• We are celebrating the Shire’s Millennium this year.   The  High  Sheriff  summoned  us  to  a  meeting  in  Shire  Hall  last  November at  which the  Professor  of  Anglo-Saxon  History  from  Cambridge ,  the  Queen’s  Remembrancer and  David  Smith (formerly county  archivist)  examined the  legitimacy of 1007 as  the most  likely  date, and the  Jury, of  which   the  Bishop of  Gloucester  was elected  Foreman,  supported  their  recommendation  that  1007 marked   the  date  of Gloucestershire as an administrative unit for defence and the raising of taxes!  There is a web  site,  schools are  to   be  invited  to  get  involved and it  would  be  great  if  any  local  events  planned  were  “badged”  as  part  of  this county-wide  special celebration !
• Whilst we are into history our Archives Service (HQ in Albion Street, Gloucester, used to be called the Record Office) have just been assessed nationally and received the highest rating possible, only of four in the country to be so recognised.  Don’t forget to send them any historic village or personal records languishing in cupboards!

Many apologies again for not being able to attend.

The Chairman thanked all those attending.

The meeting closed at 8.00pm.