MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 3 JULY, 2000, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Fran Huckle, David Vessey, Adrian Grazebrook, Sally Hebbs and John Dear.
County Councillor D Gayler
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm. There was 1 member of the public present.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from District Councillor B Evans.
2. Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on 8 May, 2000
Councillors agreed that the minutes were satisfactory.
3. Minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 8 May, 2000
Resolution 31/00 was amended to read:
Resolution 31/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the General Contingencies reserve be increased to £1000, the Capital reserve increased to £500 and a Village Maintenance reserve of £399.30 be set up to cover costs of repairs to the Parish Council’s benches and other property. A reserve of £724 should be allocated to the repairs to the War Memorial, £200 to burial ground maintenance, and £146.20 to drainage and ditch works. The unallocated reserve would therefore be dispersed between these earmarked reserves.
Paragraph 12.6 was amended to read: ‘Councillor Vessey agreed that he would attend’
Resolution 32/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the amended minutes of the meeting held on 13 March, 2000 be signed and adopted.
4. Matters arising from the Annual Parish Meeting
4.1 Repairs to the Praying Cross
Following suggestions at the Parish Meeting that the Cross be repaired, the Clerk was tasked to begin looking at the costs involved, and investigate the history of work already done to the Praying Cross.
5. Matters arising from the Parish Council Meeting held on 8 May, 2000
5.1 Repairs to the benches around the village, the fencing at the war memorial and gardening improvements at the War Memorial.
The Clerk reported that a grant of £715 had been offered from Cotswold District Council. She had instructed Ringway Highway Services to start the repairs to the benches, and authorised the Gardening Club to begin replanting in the autumn. (Resolutions 24/00 and 25/00 refer)
During the Millennium Celebrations the unsafe benches will have a temporary barrier erected, to discourage visitors from using them.
5.2 Fly tipping
The Clerk reported that Cotswold District Council and Gloucestershire County Council officers suggested that an article be placed in the newsletter, asking for fly tipping to be stopped. The Clerk agreed to approach Mike Wier-Wierzbowski at Cotswold District Council for an article. Councillors agreed to contact the Clerk with details of locations of fly tipping, to be passed on to Mr Wier-Wierzbowski.
5.3 Tree Warden
The Clerk informed the Council that Janet Campbell had agreed to become the Council’s tree warden. All tree works applications will be passed onto Mrs Campbell. Any comments regarding trees in the parish can be made to Mrs Campbell.
Mrs Campbell reported that there was a dead tree outside the school. The site was contaminated with road salt. The Clerk agreed to contact the County Council, asking them to replace the tree, and remove the salt.
5.4 Letter boxes
It was agreed that the Ampney Crucis Times would print an article, explaining that the Parish Council had requested an A4 letterbox, but that it would not be available for some time.
5.5 Neighbourhood Watch
A Neighbourhood watch scheme had been suggested for the School Lane area. The organiser would be contacted to check whether Durncoat Cottages could be included.
5.6 Village Directory
Ampney St Mary and Ampney St Peter have indicated that they would not wish to be included in the Village Directory next year.
5.7 Electoral Review.
Councillor Vessey reported that he had attended a recent meeting. It appears to be certain that the ward boundaries will be changed. The Parish Council will be consulted in August/September.
5.8 Removal of dangerous studs
Councillor Hebbs reported that the dangerous studs had been removed from the bench that had stood outside the former village shop. The Clerk had written to thank Andrew Barnes
5.9 Tree houses.
The Clerk confirmed that if a tree house has a ridged roof, then the top of the roof must not be more than 4m from the ground; if the tree house has any other sort of roof then the top of the roof must not be more than 3m from the ground. The tree house must also not exceed 10 cubic metres. If any of these restrictions are broken, then an application should be made for planning permission.
6. Reports from the County Councillor.
Councillor Gayler made the following report:
q The County Council elections will take place next May
q The County Council budget process has begun
q The Local transport Plan has been submitted for approval
q There is still some dispute on how the improvements to the Eastern Spine Road will be funded.
q Resurfacing at RAF Fairford has now started
q A recent meeting with ACC Todd was held to discuss rural policing
7. Questions from the Public
None
8. Financial matters
8.1 Audit
The Clerk reported that the Audit had taken place on 29 June, 2000. There were no major observations requiring immediate attention. Any necessary action on minor issues will be taken following publication of the auditor’s report.
8.2 Current financial position
Resolution 33/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements as prepared by the Responsible Financial Officer, were an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position as at 19 June, 2000
Resolution 34/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £700 be transferred to the imprest account.
8.3 Agreement of payments
None.
9. Burial Ground Matters
9.1 Reservations in the Burial Ground
The Clerk reported that no further action had been taken at this stage.
9.2 Maintenance in the Burial Ground
The Clerk would check what maintenance work had been done in the Burial Ground.
10. Planning Matters
10.1 Decisions
128 CT 7493/E 8 Ampney Crucis Permits
130 CT 2908/T Crown of Crucis No objection
10.2 Outstanding applications
102 CT 5581/C Cobbler Cottage No objections
142 CT 6523/A Sheephouse Barn No objection
143 CT 2905/K The Builder’s Yard Objection
144 CT 2706/A Malt Cottage No objection
146 CT 3317/H Gillhayes No objection
147 CT 2706/B Malt Cottage No objection
148 CT 4148/N Glebe Farm Cottage No objection
10.3 Minor Amendments
10.4 Tree works
149 Contr 951/2 Bramleys Application with the Tree Warden
There was some discussion about the District Council’s decisions on 8 Ampney Crucis. Councillors were concerned that site drawings had not been available for perusal, and that the Parish Council’s objections on the grounds of the Local plan appeared to have been overlooked. The Council also wishes to see copies of the Officers comments. Councillor Kelly will contact the Head of Planning to discuss these matters.
11. Village Update
11.1 Village Shop
Councillor Dear reported that four meetings had been held to discuss the viability of a village shop. It had been agreed at these meetings that a village shop would have difficulty in surviving, and making an income. The members attending these meetings agreed that the only possibility would be for the shop to be subsidised, and run, voluntarily, by at least 20 village people. A public meeting would be held in September to discuss the proposals. It was suggested that a local resident would try to raise the volunteers needed if the scheme was to go ahead.
Premises for any shop would have to have sufficient storage, parking and security.
One of the main aims of a shop would be to provide a meeting point for residents. Alternatives to a shop could include opening the Village Hall for the sale of Sunday newspapers.
11.2 Millennium Celebrations
A series of events will be held over the weekend of 8/9 July, including church activities, children’s sports, fly past by the Red Arrows, mini fete, and barn dance. Any profits would be given to the Church and the Village Hall Management Committee. There was a wide spread of activities, appealing to most residents.
11.3 Ampney Crucis Times.
This is still successful. The deadline for the July issue is 15 July, 2000.
12. Footpath Matters
The Clerk reported that the damaged sign on Riding lane had been reported to Gloucestershire County Council, and that action would be taken by the County Council if necessary.
Thanks were expressed to Councillor Vessey and Harold Stevens for their work in clearing the entrances to the footpaths.
13. Correspondence received
13.1 JumpStart
A request was made from JumpStart to help fund the scheme to encourage those in rural areas to start new jobs. JumpStart will help to relieve some of the costs in finding transport to get to work. The Council agreed that this was a worthwhile venture, and agreed to place some information in the Ampney Crucis Times. JumpStart would be asked to notify the Parish Council if a resident of the Parish made an application.
13.2 Older People’s Support Services
CDC requires a ‘contact’ to provide information on facilities for older people in the village. The Clerk agreed to contact Paddy Thompson to ask if he could provide contacts for the different organisations in the village.
13.3 Consultation on planning applications
The Clerk reported that CDC, as part of the Best Value regime, would be carrying out a review of how they deal with planning applications, listed building consents, etc. Part of their review involves finding out what improvements could be made to increase their efficiency. A meeting will be held on Thursday 20 July, at 6.30pm in the Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, to discuss these matters. Councillor Vessey will attend.
13.4 Invitation to RAF Fairford Briefing meeting, and meeting with ACC Todd.
Councillors had been notified of these meetings, but unfortunately were unable to attend.
13.5 Applications for Occasional Public Entertainment Licence.
Two applications had been received. The first was for the Barn dance at the Village’s Millennium Celebrations. The second was for a music festival at Rough Hill, Ampney Down Farm. It was agreed that the relevant licensing authorities and Cotswold District Council would be able to comment as necessary.
13.6 Gloucestershire Army Cadet Force – Request for funding
The Council felt unable to help.
14. Matters outstanding
q It was requested that the Highways Authority be asked to replace or repaint the village name signs.
q At the November meeting, there should be an update on the progress made since the Village appraisal.
15. Date, time and place of next meeting
Monday 11 September, 7.00pm in the Village Hall.
Signed: …………………………………………… Date: …………………………………….
*******
Helen Tonks
15 March, 2000.