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WEST DEAN PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF AMEETING OF WEST DEAN PARISH COUNCIL
HELD AT THE BERRY HILL MEMORIAL INSTITUTEON WEDNESDAY 27th May 2015
PRESENT:
WDPC COUNCILLORSP Hiett (Chairman)P Dunford E Dyer S Freeman B Freshwater B Gayler T Gwilliam P Hiett R James F McGuinness J Pugh R James V Stacey D Kent (Clerk) P Jones (Deputy Clerk)
COUNTY COUNCILLORS: R Leppington, V Smith, C Guyton
DISTRICT COUNCILLORS: A Grant, C McFarling
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
L Elliott, M Anderson, S Cowlin, D Sharp, R Gittings, I Price, S McMillan, B Evans, A Sumners
PUBLIC OPEN FORUM
R Gittings drew attention to the state of road drainage in Christchurch
R Leppington provided a resume of County Council activity affecting the Forest of Dean, including consultation on car parking at Lydney station, school meals, the foster care programme, the appointment of Cinderford Councillor as Chairman of GCC and, of particular relevance to the Parish Council, a meeting with GCC Highways about the possibility of a sheep grid at the former Vencel Resil site at Whitecroft.
C Guyton advised that the application for gym equipment provided through his councillor’s allowance had been approved by him and was with GCC for final approval.
V Smith, GCC Cabinet member for highways, delivered a comprehensive report on highways maintenance in the county. His presentation contained the following points:
There had been a backlog of maintenance work costing £91m, which was expected to be down to £80m later this year. This was in addition to day to day maintenance, which cost GCC £15m pa at a 4% deterioration rate.
The Amey contract was recovering after a difficult start. Payment by results rather than by time was proving successful.
Local contractors were used more frequently, and the ‘lengthsman’ scheme was about to be introduced, giving local areas more input into local priorities.
It was more cost effective to resurface a road than continually to repair potholes.
Local issues would be taken up with Brian Watkins of Gloucestershire Highways.
Frustration was expressed by some councillors and members of the public at the slow pace of repairs to roads and to road drainage in various areas of the parish, especially in Christchurch and Berry Hill.
Mr Smith was thanked for his presentation by the Chairman.
COUNCIL MEETING
- APOLOGIES
WDPC Councillors: C Jones
FODDC Councillors: D Edwards, M Smart
GCC Councillors: P McMahon
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- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The Chairman declared an interest as a colleague and friend of B Evans, a candidate for co-option in item 4 below.
T Gwilliam, P Hiettand R James declared an interest in item 13 as members of FODDC.
- MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes were approved
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- CO-OPTION OF COUNCILLORS
Standing orders were suspended to permit the 5 applicants for Co-option who were present at the meeting to make a brief personal presentation.
A ballot was held, and the successful applicants were:
Bream Ward: Bill Evans and Simon McMillan
Pillowell Ward: Louise Elliott
- ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE
The successful applicants completed their Declaration of Acceptance of Office, and took their seats as Councillors.
- PLANNING COMMITTEE
The minutes of the meetings held on 5th and 19th May were received.
It was agreed that an observation to FODDC in respect of applications P424/15/FUL and P423/15/FUL, indicating that the site for both of these applications was visible from the Tufts and from Clements End, was factually untrue. The Clerk would retract this assertion, if it was still possible to amend observations.
- FINANCE & STAFFING ISSUES
i) The minutes of the meeting held on 21st May 2015 were received.
ii) The Annual Report was received and approved for signature.
iii) The Annual Governance Statement was received and approved for signature.
iv) It was agreed that the size of the newsletter be increased to 8 pages at a cost of £397 for a trial run.
v) The timetable for the summer grant awarding process as presented was approved.
vi) The monthly schedule of income and expenditure against budget was approved.
vii) The cheques for signature were approved.
viii) It was noted that Financial Inspections had been conducted on 26th May 2015 by E Dyer and V Stacey.
ix) It was agreed that the June inspections would be carried out by V Stacey and B Gayler.
- NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
In view of the recent elections there was little to report. R James advised that the Berry Hill/Christchurch community had arranged a litter pick.
- PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
It was agreed that a formal letter be sent to GCC Councillor V Smith after the next Council meeting. The matter to be tabled for discussion at the next meeting.
In respect of floral licences for highway displays, the Clerk would seek information from B Watkins of GCC about any height restrictions, and would send maps for annotation with requested sites to councillors.
The police crime and incident statistics were received.
F McGuinness reported on the Bream Anti Social Behaviour Partnership. Discussions had taken place with youth workers, but further work was required. GCC were supportive in respect of
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increased lighting. New signs had been set up at the Bream cross roads. There was much in the Bream Local Plan which was useful. The matter would be a permanent item on the Council agenda.
It was advised that funding for youth initiatives were available through GCC and the Police & Crime Commissioner’s fund.
10.SHEEP
The sheep incident spreadsheet was presented to the meeting. It was agreed that this was useful and should be continued. The Chairman would attend the next meeting of the Sheep Liaison Group. A public question from WDPC to the FODDC should be put, asking for an explanation of why a Public Space Protection Order would not be made in respect of sheep nuisance.
11. PARISH ANNUAL MEETING
It was agreed that the ‘Question Time’ format was successful and would be part of next year’s meeting.
The three motions approved by the Parish Meeting were presented to Council and were all approved:
i) The Council re-affirms its opposition to parking charges, and the Clerk to advise FODDC accordingly
ii) The Council supports the installation of a bus shelter in Bream. The Parish Council will carry out the necessary preparatory work.
iii) It was agreed that the Clerk would write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to request that the Homes and Communities agency land at the Five Acres College site, Berry Hill, be transferred to West Dean Parish Council.
12. COUNCILLOR TRAINING
Councillors to advise the Clerk of preferred day for training on a Saturday in October.
13. COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY
It was agreed that the following motion should be presented to the GAPTC AGM, to be seconded by Newland PC:
“This Association deplores the delay, frustration and lethargy with which Gloucestershire County Council and the six District Councils have shown in introducing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) within the county. The CIL payments due to town and parish councils with Neighbourhood Development Plans are intrinsic and essential for the delivery of community projects. Therefore the Gloucestershire Association of Town and parish Councils urges NALC to seek the following assurances from the county’s principal authorities to recognise the importance and urgency of implementing and delivering CIL payments to the relevant minor authorities. That Gloucestershire County Council and the six district councils will act with vigour and efficiency and deliver due CIL finance to relevant minor authorities who have registered Neighbourhood Development Plans in place”.
B. Evans was thanked for his part in working with Newland PC to prepare this motion.
14. MONTHLY UPDATES
i) The Clerk’s report was presented. He added that he had spoken to FODDC’s Leisure Services Consultant in respect of the Five Acres project.
ii) The Deputy Clerk’s report was presented. Major items had been discussed elsewhere in this meeting.
15. CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE
The Chairman presented a verbal report.
16. OTHER MATTERS
S Freeman would prepare name markers for the next meeting.
17. FUTURE MEETINGS
5.00pm: Tuesday 2nd June 2015: Planning Committee, WDC
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6.30pm: Monday 15th June 2015: Neighbourhood Development Plan, Berry Hill RFC
5.00pm: Tuesday 16th June 2015: Planning Committee, WDC
3.00pm: Thursday 18th June 2015: Public Safety Committee, WDC
5.30pm: Thursday 18th June 2015: Finance & Staffing Committee, WDC
7.00pm: Wednesday 24th June 2015: Council Meeting atEllwood School
There being no other business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.38pm.
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