Minutes of Annual Town Meeting held in the Youth Centre

Tuesday 21st May 2013, Linda Burke, Deputy Town Clerk

Present: Cllrs Alun White (AW), Colin Smalley (CS), Robin Jones (RJ), Mike Curtis (MC), Chris Turner (CT), Roger George (RG), Sue Lane (SL), Simon Clarke (SC), and Keith Cox (KC)

Merryl Phillips (MP) Ward Member CDC and Nigel Moore (NM) CountyCouncillor

Apologies:Police, Rebecca Scutt.

  1. Code of Conduct & Declarations of interest – members must declare any interest as it arises
  2. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 17th July last year were agreed. AW proposed, RJ seconded, all in favour.
  3. Dr Healey of Stow Surgery was invited to speak: Dr Healey spoke of the progress that the surgery thought they were making had not come to fruition and he was doubtful that it would happen. The causes being twofold. The first GCCs responsibility to the population to maximise their return of disposable assets. Secondly that the developers who were asked to participate with the Primary Care Trust overbid offering too much money. GCC accepted the bid as they sought to reduce their costs. The PCT has no ability to give hand-outs consequently the Doctors were left in the hands of the developers.

This process goes back over 7-8 years when the Doctors first entertained the Ashton House site. The Doctors were expecting to pay a peppercorn rent and negotiations were embarked on with GCC and the PCT. Subsequently GCC required extra finance from the Surgery. Now given the current financial climate GCC require the market value for the site, leaving the surgery financially unable to compete.

The need for the re-location and expansion of the surgery has become very high, given the proposed developments and therefore increasing population. The present surgery is very short on space for both Doctors and Nurses and the clinics they wish to offer.

Dr Healey stated that if there was a reversal to the Ashton House site they would be willing to reconsider, but things have reached an impasse. The Doctors were very disappointed with the outcome given the amount of work that they have carried out and the time spent, but will continue to look for a further site.

KC thanked Dr Healey for his update. He stated that questions must be asked of GCC. Also that the issue of what extra building will be put on the site if the surgery is no longer incorporated; Council needs to look carefully at any proposals. RJ pointed out that money wasn’t everything there are six proposed developments in Stow which is going to have a huge impact on the population of Stow, he asked NM to support the Council and support their concerns. The question ‘what is a fair price’ was asked, NM replied this was governed by what is proposed for the site. NM also said he would take the feelings of the Council to CDC and report back.

SC stated that the Council need to support the Doctors with their need to find a site. CT said it would be interesting to hear the thoughts of English Care Villages who have proposed rebuilding Chamberlayne House about possibly incorporating the surgery. KC stated that the plans for the development will not be in until the end of the year and the surgery problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible. RJ expressed concern that the surgery would end up in Moreton-in-Marsh. NM noted all the points raised by Council.

  1. Report from GloucestershireCounty Council:Councillor Nigel Moore stated that the election produced no clear majority, however working as a coalition Mike Hawthorne was able to form a Conservative Council. Council propose that Council tax be frozen for the next two years. GCC has passed two resolutions. The first was that the incinerator proposed for JavelinPark has been dismissed by planning, however the proposers can appeal. The second was that they did not support the proposed badger cull. GCC plan to spend 2.5M on potholes. At the moment the most dangerous pot holes are being dealt with first. Highways budget for Glos. is 20M. The other issue is planning, the public are unconcerned whether planning is a County or District matter, they are concerned about issues. GCC has a responsibility for Highways issues in any proposed development. NM stated that Ashton House was on his agenda also that he hoped to work towards getting a VIC in Stow. MC asked why the difference in provision for VICs in Oxfordshire paid by the County Council and the Cotswolds. NM disputed this and pointed out that some Town Councils provided the service. However he hoped that the grant CDC have offered to help fund a tourist centre in Stow would soon be taken up. CT mentioned the amounts of money received from Government for tourism in the area, most of which is dissipated by a few councils most of which are in the Forest of Dean area. Council feels that the offer of £10,000 to Stow was derisory. Reverting back to an earlier discussion RJ asked if compensation could be sought from the County Council for damage caused by pot holes to vehicles. NM said it was possible to apply.
  2. Report from District Council: Cllr Phillips was in attendance and informed the Council that she would speak of only two items. The first that the Local Plan was coming out on June 3rd concerning Housing, roads, services, transport etc. and secondly the Bovis Homes developer has put in his application and that MP will be meeting with the planning officer on the 22nd May to discuss this. KC asked if this was the final copy of the Local Plan, MP replied that it was not and gave dates for the various stages of development of the plan culminating with it being issued early in 2015. It was pointed out that not having a local plan from CDC put Stows in a particularly vulnerable position regarding the proposed developments. CT asked if the Council could be assured that the AONB legislation will be taken into consideration; MP assured him that it would. If matters are taken to appeal it is the Government that rules not the local Councils. MP felt that the appeal system was ridiculous as legislation appears to be disregarded. CT will produce and e-mail MP with documents that will aid in the decisions as to what is allowable and what is not, so that she is armed with the facts. MP expressed her thanks and promised to take them forward, saying she agreed that legislation has been thrown aside. CT also expressed concern that as Highways are consultees, following a presentation by Mark Power of Highways, council would like to know the reasoning behind decisions that come from his department. Concern was expresses over the gradation of land, potential residents would find it difficult to walk to the facilities in Town and could this be taken into account when planning department meets. MP stated that she took all the comments on board and will try and arrange a committee site visit. It was pointed out that the sewage facilities in Stow only just cope, with potential new developments the works will not have the facilities. MP will discuss this with Philippa Lowe. AW expressed deep concern over the firestorm of applications and said that the Council and residents of Stow need as much help from CDC and GCC as possible.
  3. Report from School: None. Ms Scutt has just returned from maternity leave and hopes to be back in full swing soon.
  4. Report from the Police: None
  5. Chairman’s Report: AW asked RJ as outgoing Chairman to give the annual report after thanking RJ for his hard work as Chair of the Town Council. RJ said that the last year has been very busy. The closure of Go-Stow was a disappointment but has led to the offer from CDC of a £10,000 grant for the provision of tourist information. The implementation of the newNational Policy Planning Framework has seen a plethora of plans for Stow. A public meeting was arranged to discuss the closure of Ashton House chaired by our MP and members of CDC and GCC emphasising the need for a Doctors surgery on this site. Since that meeting potential plans have been brought forward for another 4/5 sites. RJ thanked the Councillors for their hard work over the past year. A copy of the statement is held in the Council Office should anyone wish to view it.
  6. Finance: AW opened by saying that the coming year would be very difficult with a string of planning application being put forward for Stow. A decision about the provision of tourist information is needed given the advent of the tourist season. The CricketMuseum will provide information in mid-June and a decision could be made at the July Council meeting. The Council is negotiating with CDC re the purchase of the toilet block. Should the figures be favourable the Council would like to take it on. Moving to finance the budget for 2012/13 was £105,000 supported by a precept of £96,000. The Council has £90,000 in investments together with the current account equals £122,000 in reserves.
  7. Planning: CT thanked all who have attended the planning meetings over the past year. In all 68 applications were permitted over the past year, but was unsure of the number of rejections. The coming year will not be easy, however following a number of meetings STC now have a good idea how planners think and what is permitted and rejected in planning terms. The meetings have also proved helpful when discussing proposed plans in informing CDC of how STC view those plans.
  8. Parks:KC opened with a statement about the remit of the Parks Committee. He followed by saying that in the past year the allotment agreement had been updated, the Brethren had been given permission to replace a bench in the Shrubbery, arranged new security measures on the allotment site which is on-going. Extra dog litter bins have been provided on the cricket field. The major project of 2012 was the finalisation of the Cricket Field to QE11 status. Projects for 2013 include improvement of the area around the Wells, registering all land believed to be owned by the Council. Longer term would be the improvement of the cricket pavilion. A full copy of the report is available at the Council Office.
  9. Burial Board: CS stated that over the past year the Burial Board has continued to keep the churchyard and cemetery in good order. The ashes interment wall project is progressing well. A contractor has been appointed to resurface paths in the churchyard with a nonslip surface. The old bier house in the churchyard, now in a very dilapidated state has been viewed, and we are awaiting a report from a structural engineer. A fortnightly collection of waste from the cemetery has been arranged. A full copy of the report is held in the Council and available to view.
  10. Neighbourhood Plan: Last Autumn the Council successfully applied to CDC to develop a Neighbourhood plan and had begun work with the planning department. However with the number of proposed developments for Stow CDC felt unable to help any further. Work continues within the Council who hope to have a draft plan available soon. There may be the possibility of a grant from Central Government to help with its creation.
  11. Traffic and Parking: John Kennell was thanked for all his work over the past 4-5 years as chairman of T & P. Last year a trial build out was placed in the Square to help try and restrict the ‘rat run’ that takes place daily, also to help provide greater safety for pedestrians. Unfortunately Highways did not give advanced notice so the general public were uninformed as to its purpose thereby causing some friction. A scheme to improve the parking facilities in the Square is under consideration by Highways, in view of the growing number of Tourists and the size of the coaches using Digbeth Street. In the coming year the T & committee will look at Maugersbury car park and the charges imposed. CT thanked the members of the committee for their hard work over the year. GCC are in the process of consulting with Blockley over the inception of a 20 mph limit. NM will look at the pros and cons re Stow.
  12. Any Other Business: MC asked if the committee meetings could be moved to evenings to allow some full-time working members of Council to attend. AW stated that it would be up to the relevant Chairmen to decide. CT stated that he was happy to move Planning and T & P to the evenings. It was agreed that more use should be made of the new STC website and the notice board to encourage members of the public to attend the meetings.

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