From Cllr. Val Davies, Were Received and Accepted

/ Stow-on-the-Wold Town Council
Stow Youth Centre, Fosseway, Stow-on-the-Wold
Gloucestershire GL54 1DW

tel. 01451 832 585

MinutesAnnual Town Meeting

held on Tuesday 26th May 2015at 7:00pm

Present

Cllr. Simon Clarke
Cllr. Richard Clifford Mike Curtis
Ben Eddolls
Cllr. Sue Green
Cllr. Mike Moseley
Cllr. Jenny Scarsbrook
Cllr. Colin Smalley
Cllr. Alun White / (SC)
(RC)
(MC) Chair
(BE)
(SG)
(MM)
(JS)
(CS)
(AW) / J. Turner (Stow Times)
28members of the public
Caroline Doran - Town Clerk

Apologies

From Cllr. Val Davies, were received and accepted.

Other apologies: D.Cllr. Barry Dare, C.Cllr.Nigel Moor (NM), Police

Minutes of Last Meeting

The minutes of the last Annual Town Meetingheld on 13 May 2014 with the year corrected to 2014 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Proposed – AW Seconded -BE, agreed by all previously present

Matters Arising None

MC welcomed every one present and commented that the town now had an elected council.

Council report of the previous year (AW)

AW thanked councillors for the support he had received as Chair over the last two years.

Planning: There had been a number of controversial planning applications. The Bovis appeal was rejected and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was thanked for his intervention. The Bretton House/ECV application is ongoing.

Traffic and Parking: The council had made Glos CC aware that Stow is a pinch point and have opposed the parking review proposals to introduce parking charges.

Neighbourhood Plan: Views had been collected from residents.

Parks and Square: Working groups have improved the QE2 field and the Wells.

Burial Board: A dangerous shed in the churchyard was removed.

Staffing: The council now employs a full time clerk.

The costs last year amounted to approx. £125000, slightly over the £122,000 set in the original budget.

Report from The Stow and Swells Neighbourhood Development Plan (BE)

The NHP focuses on land use issues within the framework of the Local Plan. A professional advisor has been employed to help put together the plan.

Over 1000 leaflets and questionnaires have gone to households. Surveys have been carried out and adverts posted in the Stow Times, online and in the library. There have been 4 public meetings – which were poorly attended. Finding ways to reach people is a key issue.

The next stage is to produce a document which can be presented to residents. A referendum will then be held prior to the resulting document being presented to CDC.

Landuse projects that have been suggested include:

The Swells:-Traffic calming measures and a play area.

Stow:-Health Centre

Parking close to the town centre

Affordable housing for young people (perhaps a housing association)

Pavilion / youth club on KGF

BMX / Skate park

Small workshops

Preservation of green spaces

Reconfiguration of the square

Footpath to improve the Monarchs Way

Report from the new, elected, town council (MC)

The council have produced the first draft of a strategic plan. The purpose of the plan is to identify issues, produce and action plan and set a timeframe. MC urged councillors to listen to residents and to use the information to inform the plan.

Planning:- The power to make decisions lies with CDC however STC can influence their decisions and will work on improving the relationship with CDC planners.

STC priorities:-

To oppose large developments

To discourage applications for care homes and homes for elderly people

To encourage applications with affordable housing for young people

To increase the supply of low cost housing

To encourage the development of workshops

Parks:-The council will carry out the recommendations of the recently completed tree survey.

Consultation with NM / Glos CC will continue regarding improvements to the Monarchs Way.

Traffic & Parking: STC are in a position to raise issues with Glos CC.

MC welcomed everyone to attend council meetings and to make suggestions that will improve the town.

Open Meeting

1. Oddington Road. Ongoing problems with speeding were reported.

STC have put pressure on the police to address the issue. The police now recognise the problem and speeds are regularly monitored.

Action :Traffic and Parking Committee will look into the problem.

1. Hedges overhanging the pavement.

Action: Parks Committee will identify locations on a town walk-about

The clerk will inform Glos CC Highways of the problem

1. Evesham Road. cars jumping the lights are making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the road.

Action:Issue to be brought to the attention of the Police.

1. Police Station. ‘not really a station’. Perhaps the building could be put to better use eg flats.

Action: STC to consider and talk to Nigel Moor about the use of the building.

1. Battle of Stow Heritage Centre. Stow has history and artefacts but nowhere to display them.

The Methodist Church and a telephone box were suggested locations.

Action: STC will help and support any initiative.

1. Lorries. Along Sheep Street and Park Street the speed and size of lorries is a problem

Action: Bob Skillern to be asked again to fix the road outside the opticians.

Traffic and Parking committee to consider routing issues

1. Communication.More communication is needed from the council. Suggestions included:

Emails, website with feedback buttons, facebook, twitter, notice board – condensation a problem – Silica gel?, lampposts, website, newsletter, a card with useful contact details to each household, estate agents to hand out ‘new residents’ packs’, courses in the library to help people get onto the internet/ use of tablets, a member of the council to be responsible for communication, school news on the website, street presence – relocate the town council office, VIC to hand out information to visitors and residents.

Action: STC to improve communications.

1. The council was questioned about its policy of discouraging applications for older people/care homes.

CDC make the decisions but STC, and the Neighbourhood Plan have identified a greater need for lowcost housing for young people. Stow is overrepresented by older people and A&E facilities are 25 mile away.

1. ‘What is an acceptable size for development’?

STC don’t really have an answer and it would depend on the location.

The Bovis development was large and would have had ‘affordable housing’ but this is not the same as low cost housing. The Aston House proposal has no social housing.

1. Public Transport

STC have put pressure on Glos CC who have agreed to puton a new bus service that will tie in with the train services. The details are yet to be published.

The point was made that housing, jobs and transport are linked issues.

Action Details of the new bus service will be put on the website

The meeting closed at 8.35pm

Signed ……………………………………

Date ………………………………………

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