MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 11 SEPTEMBER, 2000, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Fran Huckle, David Vessey, Sally Hebbs and John Dear.
District Councillor Bruce Evans
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.00pm. There were no members of the public present.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Councillors Adrian Grazebrook and Gerald Gaden
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 3 July, 2000
Resolution 35/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July, 2000 be signed and adopted.
3. Matters arising from the meeting on 3 July, 2000
3.1 Repairs to the Praying Cross
The Clerk reported that the Cross was a scheduled monument by English Heritage, and would therefore need scheduled monument consent from the Department of Culture Media and Sport.
Two courses of action were open to the Parish Council. The cross could be lifted and made secure with steel brackets, but this would be an extremely expensive operation, and would necessitate closing the adjacent road. Alternatively, the cross could be made safer than it is at present, with minimal disturbance to the cross and the neighbouring tree, (which is subject to a tree preservation order). Councillors agreed that quotes be sought for the second proposal, and that quotes are also found for sturdy metal fencing to be placed round the cross, to deter the passing public from climbing or sitting on the cross’s base.
3.2 Repairs to the chain fencing at the war memorial, and benches around the village, and replanting at the War Memorial.
It had been expected that the repairs would have taken place before the end of August. The Clerk agreed to contact the Contractors to ask when the work would be completed.
3.3 Periodic Electoral Review
Councillor Vessey reported that CDC had contacted the Parish Council with the proposals for the changes of Ward Boundaries in the District. This would mean for Ampney Crucis, a larger ward, with two District Councillors being responsible for the ward. Councillors felt that they had little alternative other than to accept the recommendations. However, they were concerned that the proposed ward would be geographically very large and they envisage a situation in the future where Ward Councillors may find it difficult to travel the distances involved to attend to problems at individual or Parish level.
Councillors also suggested that the name of the new Ward is "Ampney and Coln" to reflect the fact that virtually all the parishes in the new Ward are visited by either the Ampney Brook or the River Coln. A letter conveying the Council’s views had been sent to CDC.
3.4 Occasional Public Entertainment Licence. District Councillor Evans reported that the application for an occasional public entertainment licence had been refused by CDC following considerable discussion at Committee.
3.5 The Clerk reported that she had contacted the County Council asking that:
q The tree outside the school to be replaced, and the salty soil removed.
q The name signs at the entrance to the village to be replaced
q The road sign at the top of Ridings Lane to be moved to show the correct direction
A reply had not yet been received. The Clerk would contact the County Council once again.
It was requested that the County Council be contacted to remove discarded asphalt from BAC22, and to repair the pothole on the road leading from Dudley Farm to the A419.
The Clerk would contact Thames Water in relation to the leak at the bottom of Allotment Lane.
4. Report from the District Councillor
District Councillor Evans gave the following report.
q Due to the current fuel crisis, CDC had taken the decision to suspend its waste and recycling collections as from Wednesday 13 September. Street cleaning would also be suspended. Householders were being asked not to put out bins and bags to minimise the spreading of waste by weather or animals. The County Council tips would also be closed.
q The Government Road Improvement plan was published in July, this includes the resurfacing of the concrete section of the A419/417. Councillor Evans has written to Geoffrey Clifton-Brown to ask for a possible timescale for the works. Mr Clifton-Brown will contact Lord Whitty.
q A report entitled the “Study of landscape outside the Cotswold AONB and land surrounding key settlements in the District” has been published, and it is envisaged that this would help the Local Plan Review process.
q The Government have agreed that District Councils of less than 85,000 will be allowed to retain the Committee system with a Scrutiny Committee. This is subject to agreement by a survey of over 500 residents in the district.
q £590 remains in the Ward Project Fund. The Village Hall Management committee has already applied for £120.
5. Questions from the Public
None
6. Financial matters
6.1 Current Financial position.
Resolution 36/00 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 17 August, 2000
The Clerk explained that the imprest account required a transfer of money from the current account to pay an invoice from Jeremy Simmons.
Resolution 37/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £400 be transferred to the imprest account.
The Clerk explained that there should only be a Capital reserve for monies raised from the sale of Capital assets.
Resolution 38/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the Capital Reserve is closed, and the amount in this reserve, totalling £500, is moved to the unallocated reserve.
6.2 Agreement of payments.
The Clerk submitted a claim for expenses.
Resolution 39/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the Clerk’s expenses, totalling £51.09 be paid.
An invoice from B and D services has been received for the resurfacing of Church Walk. Councillors were concerned that the surface of the path is uneven and loose, and requested that the Clerk liase with the Parochial Church Council, who had specified the task and were overseeing the work to check whether in their view the work was satisfactory.
A grant of £500 has been received from Gloucestershire County Council, and is held in the Reserves, £250 will be sent from the Parochial Church Council, and the Parish Council agreed to pay the remainder.
Resolution 40/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that subject to the work being approved by the Parochial Church Council, the invoice of £917.69 is paid.
Resolution 41/00 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the Church Walk reserve be used towards the invoice from B and D Services.
7. Burial Ground Matters
7.1 Reservations in the Burial Ground
The Clerk reported that a notice would shortly be placed in the Burial Ground, the Church newsletter, the Ampney Crucis Times and in the local press asking for information about reservations in the Burial Ground.
7.2 Maintenance in the Burial Ground.
Following an inspection of the Burial Ground, the Chairman reported that it required ‘one-off’ maintenance. It was agreed to place an advertisement in the Ampney Crucis Times, appealing for a volunteer workforce on the morning of 15 October. Councillor Huckle will check the volunteer sheets from the Village Appraisal to look for additional volunteers.
7.3 Inspection of the Burial Ground
Following the inspection, a number of gravestones looked unsafe. The Clerk will write to the Diocesan Office asking for advice.
8. Planning matters
8.1 Decisions
142 CT 6523/A Sheephouse Barn Refuses
144 CT 2706/A Malt Cottage Permit
147 CT 2706/B Malt Cottage Consent
148 CT 4148/N Glebe Farm Cottage No objection
150 CT 4679/D Sterries Mill Permits
143 CT 2905/K The Builder’s Yard Refuses
8.2 Outstanding applications
102 CT 5581/C Cobbler Cottage No objections
146 CT 3317/H Gillhayes No objections
152 CT 2241/D Ash House No objections
153 CT 0980/G Waterton Barn Cottage No objections
154 CT 0980/H Waterton Barn Cottage No objections
158 CT 6523/B Sheephouse Barn No objection
155 CT4784/E Lost Elm On circulation
156 CT 7739/D Ampney Field On circulation
157 CT 3603/E Ampney Downs Farm No objection
8.3 Minor Amendments
151 CT 3317/H Gillhayes No objections
8.4 Tree works
149 Contr 951/2 Bramleys No objections
157 Contr 702/3 8 Ampney Crucis with Tree warden
The Clerk was asked to circulate the applications for Lost Elm and Ampneyfield with the previous applications, and to contact the planning officer for further background information about Lost Elm.
The Chairman read from a letter from the agents for BTA Drilling who applied for planning permission for the Builder’s Yard. An appeal is being held for this application, and the agents urged in their letter for support for their application. The letter was sent to those who objected originally. The agents stated that the Yard would revert to its previous use as a builder’s yard, with substantial lorry movements each day, if their application were not supported.
The Chairman and Councillor Vessey suggested that the previous planning history would prohibit this type of heavy use..
The Council also agreed that the Clerk would contact those who originally objected to the scheme, and send them a copy of the letter sent by the Parish Council, which outlined the planning history.
8.5 Discussion with Head of Planning, and consultation on planning applications
The Chairman reported that he would arrange a meeting with the Head of Planning to discuss the handling of Parish Council comments on planning applications and the letter concerning the Builders Yard.
Councillor Vessey reported that he had attended a meeting on planning consultation, and explained that two main problems were highlighted – that the public did not understand the decisions made, and that there was little or no feedback from comments made. A report from the meeting will be circulated.
9. Village Update
9.1 Village Shop
Councillor Dear reported that the working party would meet again shortly. The Council suggested that a public meeting be held to ascertain public opinion. The Council agreed that the costs of the meeting would be met from the Parish Council.
Councillor Vessey confirmed that the Post Office had written to say that it would be extremely unlikely that a post office would be sited in Ampney Crucis in the future.
9.2 Millennium Celebrations
Councillor Hebbs reported that the celebrations had been extremely successful, and had raised £1500 for the church and the village hall. The Council wished to record their thanks to Councillor Hebbs and the committee for their hard work in making the event such a success.
She confirmed that the fete committee was no longer in existence.
9.3 Verges on Church Lane
It was agreed that the County Council is asked to quote for placing new setts on the corner leading to the Church. The owner of the Old Rectory had stated he was willing to plant and maintain the verges.
It was suggested that the unspent budget from the repairs to Church Walk could be spent on this task and an application made to the Ward Projects Fund.
9.4 Drainage ditch between the school and the burial ground.
Gloucestershire County Council had agreed to pipe and fill in this ditch as soon as possible. £500 had been allocated in the budget for this work.
9.5 Village Appraisal
It was agreed that a review of the village Appraisal would be held at the next meeting.
9.6 John May Charity.
Councillor Vessey reported that the process to wind up this charity had now started.
9.7 Neighbourhood watch scheme.
The sign would need attaching to a telegraph pole, and the Council agreed that the Clerk should sign the appropriate forms and return them to British Telecom.
It was agreed that an article be placed in the Ampney Crucis Times to encourage the scheme in the School Lane area.
9.8 Ampney Crucis Times
Councillor Vessey reported that the ACT would shortly have been published for 12 months, and that a review was probably necessary. He also suggested that a third editor be found for the newsletter.
None
11 Correspondence received.
11.1 Request for Playground in Ampney Crucis.
The Chairman reported that a letter had been received asking if a playground could be provided in the village. Councillor Huckle reported that the Council had discussed this matter ten years ago, and had met opposition from local residents. The Clerk circulated copies of play equipment brochures and price lists. It was agreed that even if land and substantial funding were found, the costs of maintaining and insuring the playground would remain prohibitive.
It was agreed however to contact the Clerk at Poulton Parish Council to ask about their overall maintenance and running costs.
The Clerk would contact the author of the letter with this information.
11.2 Land at the edge of the Donkey Field.
A letter had been received from the owner of 1 The Donkey Field, offering to fence and then maintain the triangular piece of land to the north of his boundary. The Clerk confirmed that this land is the property of the County Council, although the tree belongs to the Parish Council. The Parish Council had no objections to the proposal, and agreed that the letter be forwarded to the County Council.
The Clerk would contact the author of the letter with this information.
11.3 Fire Brigade Millennium Auction, sponsorship of books in the library and community training questionnaire.
The Council agreed that they were unable to help.
11.4 South Cotswold Community Consultative meeting and Citizens Advice Bureau AGM
Representatives of the Parish Council were unable to attend these events.
11.5 Rural Access Forum
The Chairman would attend.
Councillor Vessey reminded the Council that the budget would require discussion at the next meeting. Consideration should also be given to tenders for the grass-cutting contract, and an annual review of the Burial Ground fees.
13 Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 13 November, 7pm, in the village hall.
Helen Tonks
13 September, 2000