Draft AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 26 SEPTEMBER, 2005 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors David Vessey, Gerald Gaden, Adrian Grazebrook, Tim Tremellen, Peter Kelly and Barry Dent.
District Councillor Edward Horsfall
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
Councillor Kim Hartshorne and County Councillor Lady Mavis Dunrossil
2. Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July, 2005
Resolution 43/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 11 July, 2005 be signed and adopted.
3. Matters arising from the meeting on 11 July, 2005
3.1 Riding Lane
The Clerk reported that GCC have passed the details about the necessary ditch clearance to the drainage team, who were to contact Chris Huck. As the ditches had not yet been cleared it was agreed that the Clerk would contact GCC and ask them to pursue this matter.
Following a query from Councillor Gaden, the Clerk reported that boundary hedges are the responsibility of the land owner abutting the highway. Often part of the problem is overhead clearance, when hay can be knocked onto the roads, blocking the drains. The general unobstructed height is approx 16' 6" (imperial measure). The Clerk agreed to write to Mr Crisp of Birch Farm, asking that the hedges are trimmed.
3.2 Speed limit signage – A417
Norman Simpson has advised The Chairman that there was consultation on the siting of the speed warning sign near the Red Lion and the opinion was that it was too close to be of benefit. The suggestions were ignored.
3.3 Highway matters
The Clerk had contacted GCC about:
4. Reports from County/District Councillors
District Councillor Edward Horsfall reported the following:
· The new licensing laws come into force on 24 November 2005. Many breweries and landlords have applied for longer licensing hours, although it is unclear how many of these licences will apply to rural areas. The new scheme will be assessed in February 2006.
· Bus passes will soon be eligible for a free bus pass. The costs of this to the District Council are likely to be in the region of £50,000 - £100,000. This could be paid for from Council Tax, possible Government funding, or funded from the Council Tax raised from 2nd homes.
A question was asked about the new bus stop sited in the village. No information was available on the bus stop. The Clerk agreed to contact GCC.
5. Questions from the Public
None
6. Financial matters
6.1 Current financial position
The Clerk reported the following:
· With reference to resolution 38/05 at the last meeting the Clerk made a mistake when transferring the money between playground and treasurers account and transferred it from playground to treasurers account rather than the other way round. £129.58 (£64.79 x 2) therefore requires transferring from the treasurers to playground account to balance the playground account and reserves.
Resolution 44/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £129.58 be transferred from the treasurer’s account to the playground account.
· Transfer of £450 from the treasurers to imprest account.
Resolution 45/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £450 is transferred from the treasurer’s account to the imprest account.
6.2 Agreement of payments
Clerk’s expenses £61.94
Resolution 46/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above amount totalling £61.94, be paid.
A request for the annual subscription to Gloucestershire Playing fields Association (£50.00) was received. Councillor Hartshorne will be asked if this is necessary.
6.3 Insurance
The Clerk reported that the costs of increasing the wall and bench (and for interest the war memorials) insurance from impact only to all risks are as follows:
Impact only All risks Increase
Benches £14.42 £21.63 £ 7.21
Burial ground wall £24.97 £37.46 £12.49
Bench at Burial ground £ 2.15 £ 3.22 £ 1.07
War memorials £65.07 £98.56 £33.47
Gates and fences are available on impact only.
Resolution 47/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved to increase the insurance for all benches, burial ground walls and the two war memorials from impact only (scheme B) to all risks. The Clerk was authorised to pay the excess premium out of the precept using the imprest account.
6.4 Assets register
The Clerk agreed to amend the assets register to take account of the change of insurance as shown in 6.1 above. The updated register will be available at the next meeting.
7. Planning matters
7.1 Decisions
324 CT 8455 Wayside House Withdrawn
325 CT 4170/F 1 The Lake Permits
347 CT 4570/D The Old Bakery Permits
348 CT 7718/B Cumberland House Permits
349 CT 2312/1/Y Ampney Park Permits
350 CT 3758/C Land at Pound Lane No objections
351 CT 2706/H 14 Ampney Crucis Consents
352 CT 4222/E Mill Cottage No objections
7.2 Outstanding applications
327 CT 0111/D Ampney Knowle No objections
332 CT 0111/F Ampney Knowle No objections
333 CT 0111/E Ampney Knowle No objections
353 05/0070/CWFUL/CAPS Sunhill See paragraph 7.5
354 05/0071/CWFUL/CAPS Sunhill See Paragraph 7.5
355 CT 2706/H 14 Ampney Crucis No objections
356 CT 3986/G Orchard Hill No objections
357 CT 5662/J Lavender Cottage No objections
358 CT 5662/H Lavender Cottage No objections
359 CT 3387/R Ridge Barn No objections
7.3 Amendments
None
7.4 Tree works
None
7.5 Sunhill
The Chairman reported that three planning processes are currently in discussion.
The first relates to the appeal against non-determination. After contacting other Councillors the Chairman had sent a letter to the planning inspector recommending that the appeal be dismissed on two counts. The first of these was that the application had raised objections from virtually all the affected Parish Councils, Town Councils and the District Council. The second of these was that the original application had been incomplete and contained inconsistencies, a fact also remarked by the consultants (Enviros) appointed by GCC to review the environmental aspects of the application.
Two further planning applications had been received, the first (05/0070/CWFUL/CAPS) is a resubmission of the initial planning application with increased detail, the second (05/0071/CWFUL/CAPS) is for a temporary application to process green waste. The Chairman and Councillor Dent had read through all the information provided, but the technical detail within the document made it difficult to assess. It was agreed therefore that the Parish Council should not comment on this application.
The Sunhill Action Group however has access to technical advice and have hired a barrister to advise them on the planning proposals. After some discussion it was agreed that the Sunhill Action Group be mandated to act on behalf of the Parish Council, with specific concerns of the impact of Heavy Vehicle movements on the A417; kerbside handling of Mixed Organic Waste (MOW); and handling of waste on site. It was also agreed that a £100 donation be sent to the Sunhill Action Group as a donation towards their costs.
Resolution 48/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the mandate for Sunhill Action Group be signed, with particular concerns for the impact of Heavy Vehicle movements on the A417; kerbside handling of Mixed Organic Waste (MOW); and handling of waste on sit.
Resolution 49/05 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 £100 from the general contingencies reserve to the Sunhill Action Group.
7.6 Berry’s Yard
The Chairman explained that the Berry’s Yard area had a complicated history. This area of land is served by a recently resurfaced road. This road was resurfaced in the spring of this year by the County Council after a protracted correspondence with the current owners of the builder’s yard. Following this resurfacing, an illegally sited gate that had been erected by the owners of the builder’s yard, blocking the ancient highway, was removed.
A number of issues were raised:
· The road had been resurfaced first followed by the removal of the gate; this sequence did not comply with instructions issued by GCC Legal Services which required the gate to be removed irrespective of the need to resurface the road.
· The Council were concerned that the Parish Council had not been copied in on the correspondence, or kept in touch with the details surrounding the discussions.
· This grade 5 highway had been resurfaced from the entrance to the builder’s yard past The Lannocks to The Pound, thus encouraging traffic to use the village roads rather than going north out of the village
· The gate was removed after the assurance from GCC that the road would be resurfaced.
· There were concerns that this resurfacing was completed and other smaller projects in the area were struggling for monies to repair them.
It was agreed that the Council would contact the County Councillor, Lady Mavis Dunrossil, to inform her of the progress to date.
Planning permission had been given (CT 2905/U) in 1990 for a small builder’s yard to allow dressing of local Cotswold stone. This was specific permission for a named individual and was subject to a number of conditions, some of which related to the unsuitability of the site. Two earlier planning applications (1987 and 1988) had been refused, one on appeal. In both cases, the location and unsuitability of the site were the principal reason for refusal.
A subsequent application in 2000 for mixed residential and Class B1 use for a sole user was turned down on appeal due to the residential element, the site being identified as lying in open countryside.
The current use of the land indicates that the site is now split into several units and being used for at least two different purposes in contravention of the permission granted under 2905/U. The District Council are preparing a planning contravention notice to be served on the current owners of the land, ensuring that they must provide all relevant information to the District Council allowing the District Council to then ascertain what permissions would be needed for the current occupation of the land.
It was agreed that the Clerk would contact the District Council asking what progress had been made to date, and informing them that the site may have been legally split into two sections, thus affecting the planning permission in place for this area.
Following some discussion the Chairman was given the authority by a majority of the Council to object to the forthcoming planning application on behalf of the Council, and speak at the public planning meeting if necessary.
The final item of discussion related to the new application for a Vehicle Operators Licence from the builder’s yard. It was agreed that the Chairman would make representations on behalf of the Council, on the grounds that access to and from the site was unsuitable; that there was no planning permission in force allowing a haulage company to operate from there (a haulage company was refused planning permission some years ago); and that there were no records of the company’s activities.
7.7 Statement of Community Involvement
The statement of Community involvement is now open to public consultation. Councillor Vessey has looked at it, and the way it covers the planning procedure appears to be adequate, therefore no action will be taken.
8. Burial Ground matters
The Clerk has spoken with Andy Slade and has asked him to remedy the furrow in the bottom of the hill, and then submit his invoice.
9. Village update
9.1 Village Clear up
As the playground will be closed on the first Saturday of March and October to comply with the licence, the next clear up day will take place on Saturday 4 March 2006 from 1 -3 pm.
9.2 A419 Cirencester - Latton bypass
The Clerk reported that as Clerk to Preston Parish Council she had been in contact with the Highways Agency about the resurfacing of the A417/419. Preston have now been told that the ministerial commitment to resurface all concrete roads by 2011 will not now take place due to reduced funding, and that there was little hope that it would be resurfaced during scheduled maintenance in 2013. The Council agreed that a letter should be written to the Minister of Transport, with a copy to the region’s MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.
9.3 A417
It is understood that the A2B campaign to reclassify the A417 from an ‘A’ road to a ‘B’ road was gathering momentum. It was noted that the Council should have made responses by mid September. As they had no strong objections to the proposal, no action will be taken.
9.4 Crucis Park Farm
The Clerk had received a letter from Christine Glanville of Crucis Park Farm. A resident had complained about the overuse of farm vehicles using the lane towards the grain dryer. Ms Glanville stated that the excess use was due to harvesting in a short period and asked that this information be passed on to the Parish Council.
9.5 Allotments
Councillor Vessey had received written letters from 10 residents asking that allotments be allocated in the village. After checking with GAPTC, the Clerk has discovered the following:
Councillor Gaden agreed to meet with two representatives of the interested residents to find out more facts about, for example: the possibility of hiring land from Crucis Park Farm; possible costs that will be incurred; and long term use of the allotments. The Clerk will copy all letters received regarding the playground and send them on the Councillor Gaden.
The Clerk will ask GAPTC for model agreements for licences between landowner and Parish Council and Parish Council and allotment holders.
10. Playground
10.1 Playground licence
It was reported that the contents of the licence had been discussed between the school, GCC and the Parish Council, and that all parties were happy with the agreement. Once the corrected plan has been received, the Clerk was authorised to sign the licence on behalf of the Parish Council.
Resolution 49/05 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that when the map showing the location of the playground is received, the licence (copy attached to pps 597 - 601 of these minutes) be signed by the Clerk and returned to the County Council.
10.2 Skateboard ramp
Cracks have appeared in the ground. Councillor Hartshorne has spoken to Bendcrete asking that it be remedied with little response. The materials for the repairs have not been delivered to Bendcrete. The Council agreed to write to Bendcrete asking that they repair the cracks as part of their guarantee before the winter, when frost and ice could make the cracks bigger.
10.3 Outstanding invoices for the playground.
CDC and the Rural Development Agency will require invoices for the remaining part of the playground work very shortly. A gate, signage and legal costs are still outstanding. It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the playground committee asking them to have all figures available for the November meeting.
10.4 Damage to playground fence.
There is some damage to the fence at the north end of the playground. The Clerk will inform the school.
11. Representation on Village hall committee
The Parish Council have been asked to nominate a representative on the Village Hall Committee. Councillor Tremellen agreed to talk to Ann Bridges to discuss what is involved.
12. Correspondence received
12.1 Talland Riding School
A letter has been received from Joan Stevens asking for reassurance that heavy vehicles will be kept out of the village when the riding school opens. The Parish Council will receive the Talland transport plan in the next few days and this should indicate whether vehicles will be advised to avoid the village. Mrs Stevens will be informed.
12.2 Rural Beat Officer
PC George Lager is, for health reasons, no longer Rural Beat Officer. He has been moved to Firearms Liaison in Fairford. The new rural beat officer will introduce himself after his appointment.
12.3 GCC Draft Rights of Way Improvement Plan; Provisional Local Transport Plan 2; future of Fairford Hospital; invitation to Cirencester Citizens Advice Bureau AGM; invitation to the inaugural meeting of the Airfield Liaison meeting, Duke of Gloucester Barracks; Highway Maintenance and Traffic Management Seminar.
All items noted.
13. Matters outstanding
The Clerk agreed to contact GCC to ask whether a speed gun could be hired by the Parish Council, in order that a speed survey can be carried out.
There is a dead tree in the car park of Durncourt Cottages. The Clerk will contact the District Council’s Tree Officer, Matt Reid.
There was a request for the village telephone directory to be reprinted. It was suggested that this would be very difficult to do, as the turnover in the village is very high, and the Data Protection Act would require a positive written reaction from all villagers asking if they would be willing to have their details included. A village organisation directory is due to be printed in next year.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting and meetings for 2006
Next meeting on 14 November 2005, 7.15pm in the Village Hall.
Meetings for 2006: 9 January, 13 March, 8 May, 10 July, 18 September, 13 November. The Clerk will book the Village Hall.