MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 9 JULY, 2001, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Gerald Gaden, Fran Huckle, David Vessey, Adrian Grazebrook, Sally Hebbs and John Dear.
District Councillor Bruce Evans
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm. One member of the public present.
1. Apologies for Absence
None
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 14 May, 2001
Page 316, paragraph 6 was amended to read: “£450 was set aside last year for the Church” rather than “£450 was made available last year for the Church”.
Resolution 23/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the amended minutes of the meeting held on 12 March, 2001 be signed and adopted.
3. Matters arising from the meeting held on 14 May, 2001
3.1 Benches in the village
Harold Stevens has agreed to repair, for free, the broken bench in The Pleydells as soon as possible.
3.2 Setts on Church Lane.
It was reported that a £400 grant had been received from Cotswold District Council towards placing setts on Church Lane. The Clerk has instructed Ringway Highway Services to start the work. The Clerk will write to Mr Cottingham and Mr Brake, thanking them for their offer to plant the verges, and letting them know that the work will start soon. The PCC will also be informed of progress.
3.3 Village Noticeboard
Councillor Huckle reported that the Village Hall management committee were keen to remove the three small boards, and put one larger board on the end of the building.
It was suggested that the board should be split into two, with two separate lockable sections, for use by the Village Hall, and the Parish Council. The Clerk will contact Frank Perkins after the next Village Hall Management Committee meeting.
4. Report from District Councillor Evans.
Councillor Evans reported the following:
q The new arrangements under Political Management are due to be signed by the Minister this week, and early indications are that CDC is to be used as a model for other Council’s pursuing the possible ‘4th’ method of political management.
q Dr Leslie Jones has been elected as Chairman of the Executive Committee. A new Chairman of the Council, for civic duties only, will be elected in September. Councillor Evans will stand down as Chairman on 1 September, 2001.
q The Cotswold Community Plan 2001/2005 has now been published, and budgets will be based around this plan
q The Electoral Review will shortly be signed by the Minister, leading to a new ward for Ampney Crucis. The new ward, which will be called Ampney Coln, will include Ampney Crucis, Ampney St Mary, Ampney St Peter, Barnsley, Bibury, Coln St Dennis and Winson. Driffield and Harnhill move to the Hampton ward, and Preston to the Water Park ward.
q He was pleased that the Ward Projects Fund had been allocated to the scheme to place setts in Church Lane.
q The School Lane social housing scheme has encountered some problems: the road has to be adopted, and there are high utility costs to pay before the houses are built. It is however, still hoped that a nominal start will be made in late August/early September.
q The Best Value Review on Development control is currently being undertaken. The Parish Council will be affected mainly by the proposal to reduce consultation times to 21 days from 28 days, and Parish Councillors will no longer be allowed to attend site meetings.
q The proposal to put arches in Cirencester has been refused by the planning committee.
It was agreed that the Clerk write to David Gayler, expressing their thanks for the work done whilst a County Councillor.
5. Questions from the public.
None
6. Financial matters
6.1 Current financial position
Resolution 24/01 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 28 June, 2001
6.2 Agreement of payments
None
Resolution 25/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £300 be transferred into the imprest account.
6.3 Movement of reserves
Resolution 26/01 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the War Memorial, Church Path and Praying Cross reserves are now closed, and these reserves totalling £816.16 be moved to the Village Maintenance fund.
7. Burial Ground matters
7.1 Clearance of land in the Burial Ground
No progress at present
7.2 Safety of gravestones
Dike and Sons have undertaken a survey of the Burial Ground and have identified 11 graves that require attention. Three of these, (Edwards, Edwards and Saunders) require urgent attention. Although the company were unwilling to give a specific price for the work, they anticipate that it would be in the region of £60.
7.3 Drainage ditch adjacent to the Burial Ground
The ditch has now been piped and filled in. An invoice for £500 from the County Council is expected.
8. Planning matters
8.1 Decisions
172 CT 7493/H 8 Ampney Crucis Consent
171 CT 8127 15 Ampney Crucis/Malt Cottage Consent
175 CT 5905 Orchard Cottage Consent
8.2 Outstanding applications
156 CT 7739/D Ampney Field No objection
8.3 Minor amendments
170 CT 7493/E 8 Ampney Crucis No objection
174 CT 4784/E Lost Elm No objection
176 CT 1762/1/A The Old School House No objection
177 CT 1413/D Wych Elm No objection
8.4 Tree works
173 Contr 1076 The Mead No objection
9. Village Update
9.1 Praying Cross repairs
The Cross has now been repaired to the satisfaction of Cornhill Insurance. English Heritage have yet to inspect the work done, but they will need to inspect the new stones and the mortar work. The mortar will mellow, given a little time, as will the new stones. One coping stone has been left with sharp edges – English Heritage are often anxious that repairs are not artificially weathered, therefore that stone has been left as it is until English Heritage have inspected it. If they agree, then Wells Masonry will come back and roughen the edges, and weather it a little.
9.2 Playground in the Village
Councillor Huckle reported that Kim Hartshorne had had a meeting with the Headteacher, Ray Newton, and that plans are now being drawn up, to allow for discussions to go ahead. The School are happy to insure the use of the field up to 4pm on school days.
There was still some concern that the Allotment lane site is too far from the village centre for it to be used frequently.
9.3 Village Appraisal update
A meeting was held with the Rural Community Council and Malcolm Mosely, from Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, who is researching the use of appraisals.
The Appraisal was regarded as efficient and professional. It was an opportunity to see how the projects generated by the Appraisal were progressing, and it was also suggested that a review be held next year. It was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting.
9.4 Parachuting exercises from South Cerney airfield.
There were some concerns that the frequent parachuting exercises were noisy and intrusive. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to The Commanding officer at South Cerney to ask that the routes be varied slightly, and that flights and drops be restricted to prescribed hours.
9.5 Drainage
It was reported that drains in the village were full, after rain. It was agreed that the Clerk writes to the County council to ask that the drains be cleared. It was also agreed that an article be placed in the Ampney Crucis Times, asking residents to keep drains outside their houses clear of leaves and other debris.
10. Footpath matters
The County Council would be informed that the signposts to BAC 2 and BAC 27 were incorrectly sited.
It was also reported that footpaths in the east of the County had been reopened, with restrictions in areas near livestock.
11. Queen’s Golden Jubilee
Councillor Hebbs reported that a series of events would be held over the four day bank holiday weekend. These could include a family bike ride/walk, musical events in Church, Barn dance, exhibitions, and a link with St Paul’s on the date of the Jubilee.
Volunteers will be required to help to organise the events.
Any monies raised will be directed back to the village, to provide a commemorative reminder of the weekend.
12. Correspondence received.
12.1 Parish Council views on Highway maintenance.
Councillor Kelly to respond.
12.2 Gloucestershire Police
The request for funding towards a mobile Police station was refused.
12.3 Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Theatre, Chipping Norton
The request for funding was refused.
12.4 Area Liaison panels.
Councillor Kelly to attend.
12.5 Temporary Speed restriction
A Temporary Speed restriction will take place on the A429 from 18 July to 21 August, inclusive.
12.6 Snow Plough operator.
Mr Schroeder is unable to operate the snowplough in the future, therefore the Council should try to find another operator. The Clerk will approach the Agricultural College (who own the farm at Harnhill) and Dr W Bxxxxxxxx of Easterton House.
13. Matters outstanding
None
14. Date, time and place of next meeting
Monday 10 September, 2001, 7.15pm, in the Village Hall.