AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 11 JULY, 2005 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors David Vessey, Gerald Gaden, Peter Kelly, Tim Tremellen and Barry Dent
County Councillor Lady Mavis Dunrossil
Presiding: Councillor David Vessey
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.15pm. There were 4 members of the public present.
1. Apologies for Absence
Councillors Adrian Grazebrook and Kim Hartshorne and District Councillor Edward Horsfall
Councillor Grazebrook has found it difficult to attend meetings recently as work commitments on the dates of the meetings had to take preference. He will also be on holiday at the next meeting. If a Councillor is absent from meetings for more that 6 months, that Councillor is automatically disqualified as a Councillor, unless the Council resolves that his excuse is valid.
Resolution 32/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the absence of Councillor Grazebrook is unavoidable at the next meeting in September.
The problem of future meetings may be resolved by moving the dates of the Council meetings to the 1st Monday of every other month and the Clerk will see if this is possible.
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 9 May, 2005.
Resolution 33/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the Annual Parish Council Meeting held on 9 May, 2005 be signed and adopted.
3. Matters arising from the meeting held on 9 May, 2005
3.1 Riding Lane
As the ditches at the side of Riding Lane had still not been cleared, it was agreed that the Clerk would ask GCC to contact Chris Huck.
3.2 The Lannocks
This lane has been tarmacced up to the junction with Back Lane.
3.3 Hunts Hill
This matter has now been resolved.
3.4 The Donkey Field
The problems at the Donkey Field appear to be less that earlier in the year. No action to be taken at this point.
4. Reports from County and District Councillors
Lady Dunrossil gave the following report:
· Two special schools threatened with closure have been informed that they will now stay open.
· More money will be specifically allocated to rural roads.
· There are proposals to create a ‘children's department’ for the County council. This will provide a more holistic approach with Social services and Education working together.
· District Councillors had argued for a more positive approach towards rural communities at a recent conference on ‘sustaining rural communities’. The policy in the new proposed Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) leans very heavily on developing urban areas. Sustainability of rural areas relies on providing the means for a whole cross section of the population to be able to live in small villages.
There were some concerns that a non-statutory body was developing plans for the next 10 years – however opposition to this has failed and has received little publicity.
5. Questions from the Public
The noise and speeding cars from the Donkey Field appears to have been transferred to the Village Street. It was suggested that a speed gun be borrowed from GCC to check speeds in the village.
An article will be place in the newsletter asking that speed is kept to a minimum through the village.
A new sign that illuminates when vehicles are being driven at faster than 50mph has been erected near the Red Lion Pub. There were suggestions that it was placed too near the bend. The Chairman will contact Norman Simpson to check what consultation had been carried out.
6. Financial matters
6.1 Current financial position
Following the discussions at the last meeting, it was noted that the accounts did not need to be resolved at every meeting. Councillors however noted the following:
· Since the meeting payments have been made for the playground to Wicksteed, Richard Minnett, Cotswold Estates Services and Play Management (for the inspection) using resolution 22/04 (May 2004) Other payments for the playground will be made using this resolution.
· The Clerk has also paid the extra insurance (resolution 28/05) for the Lych Gate. (see 6.3)
Resolution 34/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the unallocated reserve be transferred to the general contingencies budget and that the overspend of £77.05 from the insurance be taken from the general contingencies reserve.
· When applying for the £2,000 grant from the Crime and Disorder Unit for the playground, the Clerk submitted the invoice from Bendcrete as evidence that the work had been done. CDC subsequently paid the whole amount of the invoice to Bendcrete. There was some confusion earlier to this as CDC thought that the Parish Council were trying to claim more than they were due to. Bendcrete have agreed to repay the whole amount to CDC, and a cheque for the amount, minus £2000, has been sent from the Parish council to Bendcrete. The remaining £2000 will be paid when a) confirmation that the full amount has been repaid to CDC and b) the final smoothing work has been carried out.
The £2,000 grant has now been paid into the Council’s treasurer’s account. This needs to be transferred into the playground account. The playground account in turn needs to repay £2,000 to the Business Call account (transferred for ease of cash flow). Councillors agreed therefore to transfer £2,000 from the Treasurer’s account to the Business Call account.
Resolution 35/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £2,000 is transferred from the treasurer’s account to the business call account.
Resolution 36/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £400 is transferred from the treasurer’s account to the imprest account.
The Chairman explained that the balance of the playground account and the amount held in the playground capital expenditure reserve should match as they both represented the amount of money available for playground expenditure. At some point in periods 3 and 4 of the last financial year a discrepancy had arisen with the playground account exceeding the reserves by £45.21. After detailed checking it was found that the reserves were accurate and therefore £45.21 should be transferred out of the playground account into the treasurer’s account in order to bring the account and the reserve back into balance.
In addition to this, the £110 allocated in the playground non-capital reserve (representing the reimbursement of the fees for obtaining planning permission) should be transferred to the playground capital expenditure reserve with a corresponding transfer made from the treasurer’s account to the playground account. The playground non-capital reserve could then be closed.
The net effect of these transfers was that £64.79 should be transferred from the treasurer’s account to the playground account.
Resolution 37/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £64.79 be transferred from the treasurer’s account to the playground account.
Resolution 38/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £110 be moved from the non capital playground reserve to the playground capital expenditure reserve to repay the fees for obtaining planning permission.
6.2 Agreement of payments
External audit: £120.00 + £21.00 VAT
Resolution 39/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above amounts, totalling £141.00, be paid.
When agreeing the payment to Wicksteed at the last meeting of the Parish Council, the amount had been based on a revised computer schedule itemising the items actually installed which had differed slightly from the original quotation. However, Wicksteed had pointed out that the computer schedule had not included carriage which had been included in the original quotation. This had since been paid.
Resolution 40/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council retrospectively resolved to agree the carriage charges paid to Wicksteed (£546.67 + VAT)
6.3 Insurance
The amended insurance quote has been received – the extra bench, the playground and Lych Gate are all now included. The premium had risen by £57.39, and as agreed at the last meeting this has been paid from the imprest account.
It was agreed that the Clerk would contact Cornhill Insurance to check on the increased costs of insuring all benches and the burial ground gates for all risks rather than impact only.
6.4 Audit for the year ending 31 March, 2005
The external audit has now been completed, approved and returned to the Parish Council with no comments. A notice explaining the closure of the audit has been placed on the notice boards.
6.5 Assets register
To be carried forward to the next meeting.
7. Planning matters
7.1 Decisions
335 CT 8399/A Crown Field Permits.
336 CT 8482 Land East of Crown of Crucis Refuses
338 CT 3914/C Dairy Farm, Ampney Knowle Permits
342 CT 8473/C 38 Ampney Crucis Permits
343 CT 8473/B 38 Ampney Crucis Consents
344 CT 2672/L Crowthorne Permits
345 CT 1221/K Sheephouse Farm No objection.
346 Contr 1878 Woodside House No objections
The refusal of CT 8482 defines this area of land as outside the settlement of Ampney Crucis.
7.2 Outstanding applications
324 CT 8455 Wayside House No objections
325 CT 4170/F 1 The Lake No objections
327 CT 0111/D Ampney Knowle No objections
332 CT 0111/F Ampney Knowle No objections
333 CT 0111/E Ampney Knowle No objections
347 CT 4570/D The Old Bakery No objections
348 CT 7718/B Cumberland House No objections
The Chairman had been contacted by a local resident asking if they would object to a proposal at The Millers House (in the Parish of Driffield) for a conservatory. The Council agreed that they would not get involved in what could become a neighbour dispute.
7.3 Amendments
None
7.4 Tree works
None
7.5 Talland equitation
The Clerk explained that she had corresponded by email with Mike Napper about the proposed travel plan for the Talland application. He replied as follows:
In order to reassure your councillors, I know that your concerns are also issues that the Highways authority will be seeking to control as they have a statutory responsibility for highway safety. In this instance the parish council's views were fully expressed in the Committee report and considered at the determination of the application. We need to be careful about setting any precedent for involving parish councils generally in discharging conditions. I am currently chasing progress re: the Travel Plan & have discussed the parish council's concerns with Highways.
The Council agreed that they would monitor the situation but would like to see the travel plan when completed.
There were concerns that setts placed by GCC were incorrectly aligned with the existing road. The Clerk agreed to contact GCC.
7.6 Sunhill
An independent document from Enviros had been circulated around Councillors. A number of discrepancies were noted in the report, and it was agreed that Councillors Vessey and Dent would respond.
8. Burial ground matters
8.1 Removal of spoil from Burial ground
It was agreed that subject to a furrow being levelled and confirmation that burials can be placed in the cleared ground, then Andy Slade should be invited to submit his invoice for payment at the next meeting.
9. Village update
9.1 Straying dogs
The school have repaired the fence and spoken to one resident about his dog, however the broader problems of dogs in the village remains. No further action at this stage.
9.2 Parking near the school
No action at this stage.
9.3 Website
No further action.
9.4 Village clean up
Following the difficulties with this year’s clean up, it was agreed that dates need to be set further in advance. A date will be set at the September meeting, and circulated to all village organisations.
9.5 Carriageway repairs.
Some concerns were raised about the recent repairs. The Clerk was informed of several problems and these will be communicated to the County Council.
10. Playground
10.1 Official opening
This was very successful, with a large village representation.
10.2 Financial position
Future costs will include benches, gate, signage, and culvert work. Further grants are available up to £1200, however there could be a cash flow problem. It was suggested that the playground committee may be able to loan the money to the Parish council to enable the invoices to be paid before grants are received.
10.3 Licence
Following circulation of a draft licence between the school, County Council, Adrian Grazebrook and David Vessey an amended draft was circulated to the Council. This has now been returned to GCC for agreement. There were two major areas of concern for the Council.
The first was that the Parish Council would be responsible for all fences bordering the playground. This was felt to be unreasonable given that much of the older fencing was buried in hedgerow and in a very poor state of repair. The counter proposal was that responsibility would be accepted for the visible areas of fencing and for trimming the hedgerows where the fence was not visible.
The second area was in the period of notice given on termination of the agreement. The proposed changes would give the Council 12 months notice with a minimum period of four years to elapse before notice could be served.
Resolution 41/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the Chairman and Councillor Grazebrook should proceed with the negotiations with the County Council over the licence and that the Chairman and Clerk be authorized to sign the licence when it had been finalised.
11. Correspondence received
11.1 GRCC
The Council has received a request from GRCC that we join them at a cost of £25.00. It was agreed, with regret, that they would be unable to do so this year as the Council had many demands on its funding.
11.2 Junior Citizenship.
Resolution 42/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the following items of expenditure be authorised as a S137 payment under the Local Government Act 1972, it being the opinion of the Council that the expenditure will be in the interests of all or part of the community: a donation of £25 to the Junior Citizenship programme.
The Clerk will notify the school that a donation has been made.
11.3 Bus stop grant aid
Noted.
11.4 Affordable Housing consultation
Noted
11.5 Resale of former Council homes
Noted.
12. Matters outstanding
The Clerk agreed to contact Fosseway Housing, informing them of a dead cherry tree in the car park at Durncourt Cottages.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 12 September 2005, 7.15pm in the Village Hall.
The meeting closed at 9.45pm.