1.                   Apologies for Absence

Councillors Grazebrook, Gaden and Kelly.

2.                   Minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2007

The date of the meeting was amended to show the 16^th July rather than 26^th July.

Resolution 43/07  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes, as amended, of the meeting held on 16 July 2007 be signed and adopted.

3.                   Matters arising from the meeting held on 16 July 2007

3.1           Highway matters

There was considerable discussion about the road surface of the A417 and the white line markings on the road.  Three fatalities have occurred on the stretch of road from Ampney Park to the Red Lion in one month.  It is thought  possible contributory factors could be the seemingly inappropriate  lines markings  painted on the road and lack of speed limits: it was thought that speed activated signs might be suitable for this part of the road

Signs referring to weather damaged road surface have appeared in recent weeks.

Councillor Vessey reported that in 2001/02 there was correspondence with GCC focussing on the need for double white lines on the road.  A speed and visibility survey was carried out, with the results leading to the current white line markings being painted in 2003. 

County Councillor Lady Dunrossil asked that facts surrounding our previous correspondence about white line painting, speed issues and the deteriorating road surface be sent to her and some reference be made to the recent fatalities.  Local feeling should also be reiterated.            

Although the road surface is in bad condition, County Councillor Lady Dunrossil explained that following the July floods, the County Council faced a severe financial problem, as no governmental financial aid has been received by the County Council to fund the essential road repairs. Any road surfacing repairs would be looked at in conjunction with, and prioritised with, the many road repairs caused by the floods.

There was additional discussion that recent planning permission at Stonelea had allowed access and egress onto the A417 at almost the exact spot where a cyclist was killed when perfectly satisfactory access is available, and used to date, in the small side lane adjacent to the position of the approved house.  This decision was made despite objections from the Parish Council, and it was suggested that it was probably a result of a lack of communication between the Parish, District and County Councils.   County Councillor Lady Dunrossil suggested that in future applications where highways may be an issue, the County Council be contacted directly by the Parish Council.  She asked that details surrounding the Stonelea application be sent to her.                                               

A number of issues were raised following the meeting on 16 July, and were responded to by GCC.

• The hedges along Ridings Lane appear to be boundary hedges, therefore the County Council will need to send letters to the owners to ask for these to be cut back so that they don't encroach into the highway.  The Parish Council will help to identify the landowners and get back in touch with the County Council.                                                                                                                           
• The footway between Parkside and Ampney Park is too narrow to be cut by tractor and flail.  GCC will arrange for this to be strimmed.  All other verges have received two cuts with the tractor, which is County policy.  It is understood that this verge has been cut by tractor and flail in the past.  The Clerk will contact GCC to check whether this can be done again.  The most recent fatality occurred very close to this area.                                                                                                                                 
• It would be difficult for GCC to commit scarce resources by improving verges in Church Lane to provide car parking.  GCC will contact the Clerk with details about possible costs.  Officers from GCC have asked whether reasonable local contributory funding would also be available.  The Chairman will contact the Parochial Church Council.

Further items were raised:

• The bus stop outside the Old Post Office is crumbling and dangerous. 
• The evergreen hedge at the Old Post Office is obscuring visibility at the junction.  The Clerk will contact the owners.
•  The village sign on the entrance to the village has been stolen. 

3.3           Repair of village benches

The Clerk has written to Ted Brain.  He has responded to say that the costs of repairing and treating each bench would be greater than £200 each.  He was unable to undertake the job.

No action.

4.                   Adoption of Code of Conduct

Resolution 44/07  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that Ampney Crucis Parish Council adopts the Model Code of Member Conduct for Parish Councils (S1 2007/1159), as attached to pages 731 – 739 of these minutes, including paragraph 10(2), with effect from 10 September 2007. 

It was agreed that the general statement of principles would not be adopted but used as guiding principles for all Councillors. 

The Standing Orders will be changed at the November meeting to allow members of the public the opportunity to present facts at Parish Council meetings.  The Clerk will present draft documents at the next meeting of the Council

The new code will also require a change in the Register of Interests forms.  The Clerk will issue these when they are available.  

5.                   Reports from County/District Councillors

County Councillor Lady Dunrossil gave the following report:

·         Gloucestershire County Council has a considerable cash crisis, having received no funding from the government following the July floods.  There is a lot of pressure on the highways department to repair or replace flood damaged roads and bridges, and immediate emergency work must be carried out.  Funding has not been given to other affected areas, such as a flooded school in Moreton on the Marsh that needs up to £2m to rebuild or repair.

·         There was a fantastic, co-ordinated effort from all emergency services and volunteer groups during the crisis, aided by the presence of the tri service emergency centre at Quedgley.  It is proposed by government that the fire service element is moved to a regional centre in Taunton.  This action is opposed by GCC. 

·         All vulnerable residents (and their pets) were moved to areas of safety before their homes were flooded.

·         There has been an effect on the County’s tourism from the floods, with visitors believing that the County is not suitable for visitors.  A publicity campaign has been undertaken to ensure that visitors know that the County and Districts are ‘open for business’.

District Councillor Sir Edward Horsfall gave the following report:

·         The Government have allocated £10 million towards flood relief, of which the District Council have received £600,000.  One third of this will go to individuals, one third towards community assets, and the final third towards finding ways of minimising and providing resilience towards flooding in the future.  As the County Council received no finding from this £10m the District will try to aid County projects within the District

·         It is unlikely that the CDC Council tax will rise as a result of the flood.

·         Bottles only can be placed in plastic recycling banks.

·         News on future waste and recycling collections will be issued later in the year.

·         The District Council are in the process of making their first prosecution for fly tipping.

6.                   Questions from the Public

The move to improve safety on the A417 was endorsed.

7.                   Financial matters

7.1           Current financial position

Resolution 45/07 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements prepared by the Responsible Financial Officer should be adopted by the Council as an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 29 August 2007. 

Resolution 46/07 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £27.73 be transferred from the playground replacement budget to the playground insurance budget.

Resolution 47/07  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £450 be transferred to the imprest account.

7.2           Agreement of payments

External audit fees:  £141.00

Clerk’s expenses for March – September:  £19.13

Resolution 48/07  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the above amounts, totalling £160.13, be paid.

7.3           External Audit

This has been passed by the external auditors, with no comments.

County Councillor Lady Dunrossil left the meeting

8.                   Planning matters

8.1           Decisions

414          Contr 2364                                                             The Malthouse                     No objections

8.2           Outstanding applications

354        05/0071/CWFUL/CAPS                                         Sunhill                                    Objection

414          CT0607/K                                                              Firs farmhouse                      No objection

8.3           Amendments

None

8.4           Tree works

412          Contr 2342                                                             Convamore                                            No objection

413          Contr                                                                      The Old Poste Office                           No objection

8.5           Stonelea

Dr Pellegram has replied to the Parish Council explaining that the decision at Stonelea was reached correctly.   The Council agreed that despite parts of the Local plan being subjective, there was no further action that can be taken.

8.6           Park Close

No more progress.  The Clerk will contact CDC to see if officers are aware of when the appeal is likely to be.

8.7           Cripps proposals

The results of the referendum were as follows: 232 people voted in favour of the proposals out of a total of 510 people who were eligible to vote.  These figures indicate that 45.49% of those eligible to vote were in favour of the proposals.

It is understood that a planning application for the development will be submitted.

9.                   Burial ground matters

The Clerk has written to Mrs Elwes, explaining that the Cripps family grave in the Burial Ground is damaged and needs repair.

10.                Playground

Councillor Skinner reported that the playground sub committee from the Friends of the School would be meeting later in September to discuss the repairs.

11.                Village Update

11.1         Talland equitation

The Parish Council have been approached by Talland equitation to ask whether the Council could support their case for a brown tourist sign directing traffic into the venue.  It was agreed that for Talland to be regarded as a tourist attraction, changes to the permitted planning conditions would be needed.  The Parish Council however are grateful for the efforts made by Talland in keeping traffic out of the village, and will therefore support the use of other signage.

11.2         A417 safety measures

Discussed in paragraph 3.1.

11.3         The Ampney Times

The editorial team is changing at The Ampney Times.  It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the departing team to thank them for their efforts in producing the newsletter.

It was agreed that the following disclaimer is added to each edition of The Ampney Times, in addition to the disclaimer that already appears on the back page.     "The editors reserve the right at their discretion to amend all articles submitted for publication.  Nonetheless the contents of published articles and views expressed are solely the responsibility of the authors and not of the publishers or the editors."

Although there is never any guarantee that any disclaimer will be regarded as foolproof or "reasonable" in any specific context, in terms of warding off action or rebutting any claims (however unlikely) the Council would be better having it in than not having it in.

11.4         Ampney Downs Farm party

The Clerk had been contacted by the organisers of the 30^th birthday party at Ampney Downs Farm, with the information that they hope to hold a similar event in 2008.  The organisers suggested that they meet with the Parish Council in anticipation of the application being made. 

The Council agreed that they would prefer to comment on an application received rather than on a proposed application.  The Clerk will notify the organisers, and the Chairman will talk to the Chairman of Barnsley Parish meeting to inform them of the decision made. 

There were concerns that the Parish Council was not obliged to be consulted on these applications.

12.                Correspondence received

12.1         CDC draft licensing consultation

Councillor Skinner will check this information, and circulate a draft response if appropriate.  It was suggested that it may be useful to comment that Parish Councils were not statutory consultees on all licensing applications.

12.2         Indigo- Request for funding

The Council agreed that this application does not meet the requirements for funding from the Council’s limited budget.

13.                Matters outstanding

It was agreed that Daniel Sinclair, new Police and Community Safety Officer, would be invited to the next meeting.

There were concerns that a track leading across Crown Field could cause flooding on the A417.

A parishioner notified the Chairman that some footpaths in the village are effectively closed following ploughing.  The Clerk will contact the landowner.

14.                Date, time and place of next meeting.

Monday 12 November 2007, 7.15pm in the Village Hall.

It is proposed that meetings for 2008 be held on the 2^nd Monday in January, March, May, July, September and November.

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