MINUTES OF STOW ON THE WOLD COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 21ST JUNE
2016, AT THE YOUTH CLUB CENTRE, FOSSEWAY, STOW ON THE WOLD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL54 1DW AT 7.15 PM
PRESENT: Councillors: M Curtis (Chairman), C Smalley (Vice Chairman), A White, S Clarke, B Eddolls,
S Green, M Moseley, V Davies, J Scarsbrook, P Day & H Sipthorp, Clerk/RFO & 7 members of the public
Also in attendance: PS R Payne & PCSO J Page & County Cllr N Moor
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Members of the Public present were given an opportunity to speak during the course of the Meeting at the Chairman’s discretion.
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Cotswold District Cllrs B Dare & R Keeling
2. CODE OF CONDUCT & DECLARATION OF INTERESTS ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
During the course of the Meeting Cllrs White & Clarke declared an interest in the Stow Community Land Trust as they are both members.
3. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 26TH MAY 2016
RESOLVED – That the Minutes were a true and accurate record and were signed by the Chairman. RECORD OF VOTING – 8 in favour, 2 abstentions. Motion carried.
4. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chairman gave thanks to all Members for all the hard work they do on behalf of Council and the community.
5. CLERK’S REPORT MATTERS ARISING FROM ABOVE MINUTES
Clerk began by running through matters arising.
Local Council Award Scheme (LCAS) – Work has commenced but this would take time bringing all the documentation together and bringing it all up to date.
Mayor’s Awards – A date/venue for this event, to take place in September, is still to be confirmed and is deferred to the July Council Meeting. Revamped poster and nomination form have been completed. Poster and details have been placed on the Council’s website, notice board and Clerk is arranging for all local organisations etc to be sent a copy to try to encourage nominations. It was also pointed out that the Awards are for ALL ages. The event had also been publicised on the Council’s page in the July issue of Stow Times too.
Internal Audit Report – Clerk has now received a copy and this is deferred to the Finance & General Purpose Committee to review and make any recommendations to Council.
Annual Return – Clerk had sent off to Grant Thornton and they had acknowledged safe receipt.
Notice of the Commencement of Period for the Exercise of Public Rights for Accounts
Period has commenced and will end on 11th July 2016.
Christmas Lights External Sockets - Clerk reported that S Turner Electrical Limited will be carrying out this work in the next couple of weeks. Cllr Curtis proposed that either he (if available) or another member of Council should visit the relevant properties to explain what was happening. Mr Turner had also said that he will also be fitting the defibrillator at Fisher House too.
Veale Wasbrough Vizard Invoice - Clerk had written to the Gloucester Diocese to reiterate that the Council will not be paying this invoice.
6. REPORT FROM POLICE
PS Payne and PCSO Page were in attendance. PS Payne spoke in relation to the incident report for the town, for the period from March to May 2016, saying that incidents had increased by 7 when compared to the same period last year. He said that 50% of the incidents reported could have been prevented with more care and attention by the public, for example, by locking up their houses, property etc. He went on to talk at length about Stow Fair saying that he believed the event is “winding down”. He said that Cumbria Police had also been present during the fair as they had a vast experience of being involved, on an annual basis, with the much larger Appleby Horse Fair. They had carried out covert operations the day before and on the actual day. He thanked the Youth Club for allowing them to use the building as a Command Centre. He said there had been no major incidents on the actual day but a few in the run up, like driving horse drawn vehicles in pedestrian areas and a couple of incidents of harassment to local youths.
He then took questions and someone mentioned a blue BMW that had been seen in the area that was trying give the impression that it was an unmarked police vehicle. The driver would approach from behind continually flashing its headlights obviously attempting to get the vehicle in front to pull over. He confirmed this was not a police vehicle and that the public should not pull over. Chairman thanked PS Payne & PCSO Page for attending and they left the Meeting.
7. REPORT FROM COTSWOLD DISTRICT CLLR RICHARD KEELING/BARRY DARE
No report given as both Cllr Keeling and Cllr Dare had given their apologies. Clerk had written to Cllr Keeling, earlier in the week, asking that he ensure that the Council’s emerging NHP be taken into consideration before finalising the CDC’s Local Plan which is due to start its 6 week consultation period on 27th June 2016. He had replied saying he would speak to the relevant Officer to make the Council’s wishes known.
Council also said that thanks should also be given to Cllr Keeling for his continued support of the Council whilst covering for Cllr Dare who is current recovering from surgery. Clerk requested to write to Cllr Dare to ask how he is getting on.
8. REPORT FROM GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY CLLR NIGEL MOOR
Cllr Moor began by advising that the local Fire Service Co Responder Scheme is fully operational and that they would now be attending cardiac arrests and providing CPR until the Ambulance Service arrived.
He gave an update on the Missing Link A417 and that it was progressing.
He thanked the Council for sending in comments on GCC’s Scrutiny Report on the A429 and said they would be taken into account when finalising the Report. Timescales will be confirmed by GCC Officers in the near future. He also said that it is likely that the Fosse Way will have a 50 mph speed limit which he accepts could be controversial.
To coincide with Euro 2016 a Road Safety Campaign had taken place around the County. He said many would have seen the various signs attached to traffic cones warning drivers not to use their mobile phones whilst driving etc.
He mentioned the 802 Bus Route which is not cost effective to run. GCC are currently in discussion with Pullmans.
Cllr Moor talked about the Children’s Centre Services in the Cotswolds saying that a new centre is being opened in Cirencester. He also said that the Stow Children’s Centre will continue to operate. He said it was important not to cut back these services and to ensure that families get the support they need.
Monarch’s Way – two options available for resurfacing – shingle or tarmac. Council to write to Conservation Board to say they prefer the tarmac option.
Cllr Moor said that the resurfacing works on the A429, carried out in the evening, had worked well and caused minimal disruption.
He then took questions, the first relating to A Boards placed on the footways in the town causing obstruction. A member of public also asked what progress had been made in putting up bollards by the cemetery wall – opposite the BP garage – where lorries parked up and are causing damage to the wall. Progress on The Square works was mentioned and he said that he was meeting Mr Skillern, GCC Highways, next week and would get updates on all these outstanding issues. Chairman thanked Cllr Moor for attending.
9. TO APPROVE CO OPTED MEMBER – PETER DAY – ONTO THE PLANNING, TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMITTEE & FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSE COMMITTEE
RESOLVED – Approved. RECORD OF VOTING: All in favour. Motion carried.
10. AUGUST COUNCIL MEETING
RESOLVED – That the Council will not meet in August 2016 on the proviso that if anything urgent came up that an Extraordinary Meeting of Council will be called. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion carried.
11. POLICE & CRIME COMMISIONER’S GRANT FOR SAFE & SOCIAL DRIVING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
RESOLVED – That Council apply for the funding for a 20 mph scheme in The Square, Well lane, A436 Sheep Street, Lower Park Street & Back Walls. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion carried.
12. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS
a) Burial Board
Cllr Smalley said that the last Meeting had to be cancelled as it was inquorate. The next Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 7th July 2016.
Clerk said that Thames Water had been in contact and they are doing further work at the Stow Reservoir. They are asking permission to park their vehicles, by the lock up at the Cemetery, from 6th to 15th July 2016. Cllr Smalley asked the Clerk to see if they would be prepared to make a donation to the Council for the use of the site.
There have been lots of complaints about the state of the cemeteries. The Clerk apologised but the Action List following the walkabout had still not been forthcoming. In the interim the Clerk is to arrange for a new Grundon bin to be delivered as the wheels are broken on the current one. Clerk also to ascertain if Grundon will pick the bin up (and return) from its proper location by the Bier House when emptying. People had been dumping rubbish by the Bier House rather than walking to the gate where the bin is currently located. Complaints also about the two water butts in the cemetery where again people had been using them as rubbish bins and they are now overflowing. Cllr Smalley said that a representative from CGS was on the walkabout and had agreed to remove them from site. Clerk to contact to chase this up and to request he also picks up the rubbish from around the Bier House too.
b) Finance & General Purposes Committee
Minutes of the Meeting held on 9th June 2016 had been circulated to all Members. Cllr Moseley gave a summary of the items discussed. He then asked the Council to take the Committee’s recommendation to approve the following two items:-
To confirm and approve expenditure for the month of May 2016 (See Appendix 1 Page 12)
RESOLVED – Approved. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion Carried.
To confirm and approve the Regular Payment Summary for current financial year ending 31st March 2017 (See Appendix 2 Page 13). RESOLVED – Approved. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion Carried.
c) Parks & Square Committee
Cllr Green said that the Meeting scheduled for 14th July 2016 had been abandoned as inquorate. The Meeting has been rescheduled for 22nd June 2016. She asked if anyone would be interested in joining the Committee. RESOLVED – That Cllr Scarsbrook will sit on the Committee with immediate effect. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion carried.
Hatwell’s Fair – The fair paid £500 to Council for the use of The Square. Mr Hatwell had also wanted to contribute to a local charity on top of this and had asked for guidance on who this should go to. This had been discussed at a recent Parks & Square Committee Meeting but the decision to propose the money should go to the Stow Community Land Trust (SCLT) had not been noted in the Minutes of that Meeting. At the opening event of the fair a cheque had also been presented to the Chairman for the SCLT for an amount of £200. Cllr Green asked Members if they approve the donation to go to this local charity or would they prefer an alternative? RESOLVED – That the donation of £200 be given to the SCLT. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion carried.
Cllr Green also reported that Mr Hatwell had also donated a large teddy bear to the Council so they could raffle it off and again raise funds for the community. A decision will be taken at a later date as to how the bear would be raffled off.
The Council had received a number of complaints from the local traders in relation to the fair being allowed to come back to The Square. However, the Council had also received positive feedback from residents too. One member of public spoke at this juncture saying how good it was to have the fair back and hoped it could become an annual event. Cllr Green said that the Committee would be discussing both the negative and positive feedback at the Meeting tomorrow night.
Queen’s Birthday Celebrations – The dance in The Square on 11th June 2016 had been a great success and the Council had received very good feedback from the event. Special thanks to go to Mr Geoff Parke for all his hard work in preparing and erecting the signage in relation to the road closure.
Finally, Cllr Green said that she and the Clerk had met with staff from The Library/Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in relation to extending the opening hours at the weekend and also on Bank Holidays. They were all in favour of this but would like the Council to find the volunteers on their behalf and then they would then train them up. Cllr Moseley was also present at this Meeting but in his capacity as a Trustee of St Edward’s Hall. He said that he had spoken to his fellow Trustees and they would be in touch with The Library/VIC directly to see what could be worked out.
d) Planning, Traffic & Parking Committee
Cllr White began by saying that the Council had engaged Counsel (Miss Anne Williams from 6 Pump Court, London) to act on their behalf with reference to the McCarthy & Stone’s Reserved Matters Planning Application for land north of Tesco, Fosseway. He proposed formal ratification of the costs that will be incurred. In view of the urgency on this matter the Clerk had contacted all Members by email and had received a majority vote to enable the Council to go ahead and from the two Chambers considered, 6 Pump Court had been engaged. RESOLVED – Council approve the Counsel’s costs for initial consultation and advice up to an amount of £2750 + VAT. RECORD OF VOTING – All in favour. Motion carried.