AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL

 MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 15 NOVEMBER, 2004 IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.

Present:          Councillors David Vessey, Gerald Gaden, Kim Hartshorne, Adrian Grazebrook, Sally Hebbs, Peter Kelly and John Dear.

                        County Councillor Raymond Theodoulou

Presiding:        Councillor David Vessey

Clerk:               Mrs H Tonks

The meeting commenced at 7.15pm.  There were three members of the public present.

1. Apologies for Absence

District Councillor Edward Horsfall.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September, 2004

Resolution 47/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September, 2004 be signed and adopted.

3. Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 11 October, 2004

Resolution 48/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 11 October, 2004 be signed and adopted.

4. Matters arising from the meeting held on 20 September, 2004

4.1 The Builder’s Yard

Councillor Grazebrook has confirmed that the Builder’s Yard is in the ownership of Nigel and Joyce Evans.  The Clerk has spoken to Rob Bull, CDC’s engineer attached to Environmental Health who will visit the site to see if the drainage has been affected.

4.2 Riding Lane

Letters have been sent to the residents on Riding Lane, asking them not to put rubbish in the verges.  It is believed that the landowner adjoining the field, Chris Huck, is responsible for keeping these ditches clear.  Mr Huck disputes this, therefore the Clerk will contact Mr Huck again after speaking to James Thomas from County Drainage to check the exact facts.

4.3 Park Corner

The Clerk has written to the County Council asking that marker posts be put up to discourage people from driving over there.

4.4 The Lannocks

The Clerk has written to GCC asking that this area is tarmacced.

5. Matters arising from the extraordinary meeting held on 11 October, 2004

See paragraph 12

6. Reports from County/District Councillors

County Councillor Raymond Theodoulou gave the following report:

• A review of primary and secondary education, countywide, will begin soon.  Projected figures suggest that there will be 6000 excess places in primary schools in 2011. 

It is anticipated that review panels will be set up for each region of the County, with representatives from parents, teachers, and Councillors.  The review is likely to take up to three years to complete.  In the meantime schools which are unviable will be closed.  In essence budgets for schools are allocated by the numbers of children attending the school, therefore schools with low numbers will be at greater risk of closure.  The County Council are aware of the social implications if a school closes in a rural area.

• The County Council and the freight lorry partnership are aiming to look at future freight routes in the County.  A map will shortly be issued for consultation, on which Councillor Theodoulou encouraged Councillors to comment.
• The County Council is preparing budgets for 2005/06.  At present the Social Services budget has slipped by £2 - £3 million.  Government has suggested that Council Tax increases are kept to 3%.  The County Council is trying to keep to a minimum increase of 6.7%, although this may not be realistic.
• The tripartite emergency centre that takes emergency calls from the County is threatened with closure in favour of a fire control centre possibly based in Exeter.  There are no indications at present where the ambulance and police services will then operate.  There will be some financial implications to this.

In response to questions from Councillors, Councillor Theodoulou replied:

• There are suggestions that there may be a focus on the towns rather than villages when the panels discuss possible closure of schools.
• Given the results of the vote in the North East of England, where electors voted against a regional assembly, it is still possible that plans for regional assemblies will still go ahead in other parts of the country.
• The £2- £3million overspend by social services arose from differing priorities by social services and the partnership appointed to run the service.

District Councillor Edward Horsfall sent the following report:

• The garden waste scheme is due to start next spring.
• CDC is now in the process of consulting for the budget for 05/06. 
• It is probable that there will be a 2 hour parking charge from next April 
• Cotswold News seems to have been well received.

7. Questions from the Public

A member of the public asked whether the lorry route proposals would have any impact on the scheme to have the A417 downgraded to a ‘B’ road.  County Councillor Theodoulou explained that these two schemes were not directly related.  A petition for the downgrading will be submitted to council within two months.

8. Financial matters

8.1 Current financial position

Amended papers for the accounts were circulated.

Resolution 49/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements as provided by the Responsible Financial Officer were an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 8 November, 2004.

Resolution 50/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £400 be transferred to the imprest account.

It was noted that the grass cutting contract had been overspent.  The Clerk will check the number of cuts and contact the contractor.

Resolution 51/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £63.28 be moved from the burial ground maintenance budget to the grass cutting contract.

8.2 Agreement of payments

The Clerk reported that at the meeting on 20 September it was agreed that keys would be cut for the Lych Gate – a resolution was not made at that time.  The keys have been cut, at a cost of £24.00.

Resolution 52/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council retrospectively resolved that the above amount of £24.00, be authorised.

8.3 Reassessment of Council’s assets register

The Clerk reported that Charles Brown from James Slater carried out the valuation of the Lych Gate on 9 November.  The report and invoice has not yet been received. 

The Clerk has not yet contacted Farmington Stone yet about the memorials.

8.4 Budget and precept for 2005/06

The proposed budget for 2005, shown below, was agreed by the Council.  This budget however will not be authorised until January 2005, when details of the grass cutting contract, audit fees and playground finance will be available.

Staff costs:    salary                          £3116              increase of 2.95%

                        expenses                    £  120              no change

Grass cutting:                                               £1100              increase of £150 for playground

Burial Ground maintenance                        £      0              adequate reserve

Advertising                                        £    75              no change

Admin:                        GAPTC                                    £    95              increase of 5%

                        Village Hall Hire                       £    80              no change

            Insurance                    £  485              See *

                        Misc. and postage       £  180              increase of £7

Playground:                                       £1800              See **

Other:             Donations/grants                    £  100              no change

                        Audit                            £  250              See ***

TOTAL:                                               £7321             

*           The insurance has been increased by 10% on what was paid last year,(£421)  and £300 added on for the playground insurance. There are  reserves from 2004/05 of £278, so this has been deducted  from this year’s proposals.

**         This £1800 includes:

• £500 for the recovery of the reserve set in 2004/05, for which there was no budget allocation in 2004/05.  It was agreed this allocation of £1500 would be paid back by £500 each year.
• £300 for any minor replacements or repairs of equipment due to damage or wear and tear.
• £1000 for the sinking fund for either long term replacement of equipment or short term removal of equipment.  There was considerable discussion on this matter.  A quote has been received of £5180 for removal and making good of the whole site, and it was thought that putting aside £1000 each year would provide enough to enable the equipment to be removed if necessary.

***        Audit fees will increase to £250 for income or expenditure up to £50,000.  For income or expenditure between £5,000 and £100,000 fees will be £350.

9. Planning matters

9.1 Decisions

309      CT 1221/H                   Sheephouse Farm                  Consents

310      CT 5400/A                   2 Lake Cottages                      Permits

311      CT 0607/F                   Firs Farmhouse                      Permits

312      CT 2130/E                   Stonelea                                  Permits

314      CT 2260/B                   Transco site                Withdrawn

315      CT 1805/E                   The Old Sheephouse  Permits

9.2 Outstanding applications

295      CT 1762/1/G               A C C of E School       No objection

296      CT 1762/1/H                A C C of E school       No objection

316      CT 7373/D                  Cobbler Cottage                      No objection

317      CT 7373/E                   Cobbler Cottage                      No objection

318      CT 7373/F                   Cobbler Cottage                      No objection

319      CT 3387/P                   The Ridge                   No objection

320      CT 3387/P                   The Ridge                   No objection

321      CT 1221/K                   Sheephouse Farm                  No objection

322      CT 4942/Q                  Holbrook, Dudley Farm           No objection.

It was agreed that there would be no objections to CT 4942/Q as  there is a precedent for the change of use for agricultural land for use as part of the domestic curtilage (CT.4942/F – 11 February 1992.

However, the land in question is in a prominent position at the entrance to the village along Riding Lane (road 3/154) and is also opposite an area which lies within the Ampney Crucis Conservation Area.  Councillors agreed therefore that they would like to see conditions attached to any permission for this application in order to prevent any unsuitable use in the future.  The area is currently largely laid out to grass and trees and Councillors agreed that they would like conditions attached which would prevent its future use for hard standing or building construction.

The occupiers would naturally wish to achieve a level of privacy but Councillors would like to see conditions attached which would prevent the erection of close lap fencing etc or the planting of aggressive hedging such as Leylandii.

These concerns will be passed onto the District Council.

9.3 Amendments

None

9.4 Tree works

323      Contr 1766                  Orchard Hill House     No objections

The Council also agreed to an item appearing in the village newsletter regarding how objections to planning applications could be copied to the Parish Council .

10. Burial ground matters

10.1 Removal of spoil from Burial Ground

The debris at the rear of the burial ground has been removed and burnt, however the area is still not  finished.  The Clerk agreed to contact Andy Slade.

10.2 Inspection of gravestones

The Clerk has instructed asked Dike and Son to repair the gravestones identified as being in need of stabilising.

11. Village Update

11.1 Drainage on Butcher’s Arms Lane

Following concerns about water coming out of the road in several locations, GCC have undertaken some remedial works in the area.  It is hoped that this will cure the problem.  To replace the drains in this area would cost in the region of £50,000.

It was agreed that the Clerk would contact GCC to ask whether the village could be placed on the salting run.

It was agreed that both matters would be included as items in the newsletter.

11.2 Notice board

No further information.

11.3 Annual Clear up

The clear up, and a further two clear ups have taken place at the playing field.  The work done was to clear the hedgerow on Riding Lane to make the playground area more visible as this was a police requirement.

11.4 War memorial

One of the white posts at the war memorial has broken.  It was agreed that the Clerk would ask Harold Stevens if he could repair it.

As the male section of the Royal British Legion had ceased to function, it was agreed that the Parish Council would pay for the Remembrance Day wreath this year and in future years.

Resolution 52/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved to pay, each year,  for the Remembrance Day wreath for the war memorial to a maximum of £25.00.

12. Playground

12.1 Licence

The following points were noted:

• Planning permission has been given for the playground
• Planning permission is not required for the gate as it has been used as a gate in the past.
• The Governors have to formally agree to the new fence and gate, and to a four year notice agreement should the playground need to be removed.

Once these formal agreements have been made, and if the working party agreed that all problems have been resolved, then the licence can be officially drawn up.

Resolution 53/04  The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that subject to  the agreement of the playground working party the licence can be agreed.

Councillor Grazebrook agreed to carry out the Council’s legal work at no cost.

12.2 Funding.

The current funding situation is  shown on page 535 of these minutes.  CDC’s grant is 27.73% of the total project costs subject to a maximum grant of £12,000.  Certain work had been done by volunteers and also by people offering their professional services at no cost.  Subject to receiving confirmation from the individuals concerned, it would be possible to include this notional expenditure in the accounts for the purposes of increasing the grant from CDC.

12.3 Removal costs

The Clerk has investigated the possibility of insurance for the removal of the equipment as an alternative to accumulating a large sum of money in the reserves.  Cornhill, the Council’s insurers, have said that they cannot provide this type of insurance. 

13. Correspondence received

13.1 CDC Draft statement of Licensing Policy.

Noted.

13.2 Flood pack

An information pack is available to residents if they feel they are in danger of flooding (to be noted in the newsletter)

13.3 Grimebusters – memorial cleaning.

Noted

13.4 CDC – Code of Conduct, registration of interests and freemasonry – revised advice.

Enclosed in circulation folder.

13.5 CDC Budget Community meeting, 9 December, Cirencester.

Noted.

13.6 CDC – Meeting future housing challenges up to 2011.

Noted.

13.7 Citizens Advice Bureau request for funding.

Resolution 54/04 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 £50 to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

13.8 Cotswolds AONB ballot paper.

Noted.

13.9 Speed limit gateways.

The Clerk enclosed with the briefing notes a copy of a letter and drawing of a speed gateway that could, if wished, be painted at the entrances to the village.  The Council agreed to take no action.

14. Matters Outstanding

15. Dates and times of meetings for 2005

Dates for next year are as follows.  All meetings will be held, on Mondays, in the Village Hall, starting at 7.15pm, excepting the Annual Parish meeting in May that will start at 7.30pm: 10 January, 14 March, 9 May, 11 July, 12 September, and 14 November.

The meeting closed at 9.50pm.