82
MINUTES OF BRIMSCOMBE & THRUPP
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
AT THE BRIMSCOMBE AND THRUPP SOCIAL CENTRE ON
TUESDAY 7th DECEMBER 2010 AT 7.30PM
Present: Cllr A Grant Chairman
Cllr R Martin
Cllr G Russell
Cllr Mrs J Trayler
Cllr A Watson
In Attendance: District Councillor M Whiteside
Helen Bojaniwska
In the absence of the Chairman Cllr Harvey the Vice Chairman Cllr Grant chaired this meeting.
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from County Councillor Chas Fellows, District Councillor Mrs E Peters and Parish Councillors Mrs H Acock, Mrs S Dalby, Mrs N Russell and Cllr Harvey.
2. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA
There were none
3. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2010
The Minutes were confirmed and signed as a true record.
4. YEW TREE WAY PLAYING FIELD PROJECT.
The Chairman Grant advised that a meeting had been held to discuss the Lease for Yew Tree Way and the Clerk had arranged to speak to the Parish Council’s Solicitors to advise of the new amendments. One main amendment was that the Parish Council would like to have pedestrian access to the whole of the field at all times. ACTION: CLERK
5. DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORTS
(a) District Councillor Mrs Peters tendered her apologies and submitted the following report:-
“During the last month I went on a Housing Management Forum tour of the District. We visited was Chalford as there were concerns as to the lack of public transport to some areas.* We visited Willow Road in Stonehouse to look at an air source heat pump fitted to the scheme there and a drop-in centre in Stonehouse amongst other properties within the District. * I have contacted Barry Carr of GCC in relation to our poor bus services but have had no reply. The 26 which ran every 30 minutes had its service cut some years ago. On Saturdays the %54, 26 and 289 run within 10minute window and are invariably at Brimscombe corner at the same time! This means that one bus picks up all the passengers leaving the other 2 empty!!
A tenant had faulted on his introductory tenancy agreement and his case was brought before the Licensing and Regulation Committee. This was the first of its kind. The tenant was evicted - the Council discharged their duty of care.
www.racetoinfinity.bt.com now has received nearly 10% of what is needed for a chance to have fibre optic cable installed from Brimscombe exchange for faster broadband. Please do tell anyone you know, especially businesses on this exchange You only have until 31 December to notify any of your friends, neighbours, - in fact anyone in the Brimscombe exchange area - to click on to the website to increase the internet connection speed of Brimscombe Exchange.”
(b) District Councillor Whiteside advised that Central Government changes would mean cuts to Pensioners Bus Passes. Bus Routes within the County may also be cut.
Cllr Whiteside advised that proposals were going to Cabinet on Thursday to move people from Hazel Court and they would need to decide whether to sell or repair Hazel Court. They were also looking to sell 1 Unit in Cleeve House. Cllr Whiteside also advised that there was an issue with dog fouling in Middle Road and enquired whether the Parish Council had any signs that could be displayed. The Chairman advised that Cllr Harvey had some spare and Cllr Whiteside advised he would contact him.
Cllr Whiteside advised that there was no grit bin at the bottom of Thrupp Lane and it was agreed that the Clerk would speak to Highways to enquire whether we could obtain one.
ACTION: CLERK
Cllr Whiteside enquired whether the presentation recently held at Bisley with regards to the Wind Turbines could be put be presented to the Parish Council. It was agreed that Cllr Whiteside would let the Clerk have details of the Presenters in order she could contact them and enquire whether they could attend the next meeting.
(c) District Councillor Mrs Young did not attend the meeting and did not submit a report.
6. COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT
County Councillor Fellows tendered his apologies and did not submit a report
7. DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
Cllr Russell confirmed that the Parish Appraisal was now completed and the draft Parish Plan should be ready to view shortly with a Public Meeting taking place in early January. It was agreed that a meeting of the Sub-Committee should take place within the next week. A planning application for the Port is expected to be submitted in early February and the Parish Plan needed to be completed prior to this. If the Parish Plan is agreed by the Parish Council in January a Public Meeting could go ahead week commencing the 17th January. A possible “open day” for the Parish Plan could be scheduled for the 19th January. An A4 paper could be sent to all householders early in January with 10 bullet points asking parishioners for their views on the Parish Plan. The Clerk will enquire as to the cost of using the Royal Mail to leaflet drop this paper. ACTION: CLERK
Cllr Russell handed out a Press Release with regards to a scheme “Planning Power from Town Hall and Whitehall to Local People” suggesting “Neighbourhood Plans”. It was agreed that the Parish Council would like to be Vanguards for this new scheme and Cllr Whiteside advised that he would contact Neil Carmichael MP for him to consider the Parish Council to be a Vanguard for this scheme.
8. CANAL / PORT REGENERATION
The Chairman advised that Ken Burgin, Chairman of Cotswold Canals Trust has described a scheme at a recent Western Canal Consultative Meeting for the Canal becoming the pipeline between the Severn and Thames which would cost much less than creating a Reservoir to serve the Severn and Thames. The Public Enquiry relative to this should have been concluded back in November but no update had been received at present.
Cllr Whiteside advised that members had been invited to view 3 proposed plans for Brimscombe Port. The Chairman confirmed that himself, Cllr Russell and Cllr Harvey would be attending.
The Chairman and Cllr Russell advised that they had attended a meeting with Martin, Lucas and Max of Stroud Commonwealth for ideas on possible community based projects within the Port. This group of a people had a meeting with Kevin McCloud wherein the Port had been discussed and he had shown an interest in the Project. It was agreed that Cllr Whiteside would contact Kevin McCloud to see if his organisation would be interested in the Port Project, also Cllr Whiteside would contact Lord Drayson to discuss possible donations to the Community Centre project in the Port.
9. FINANCE
(a) Accounts for payment. The following accounts were presented for payment:
Salaries and Expenses £815.38
Income Tax & NI Contributions £182.30
Petty Cash £94.99
CR Signs (Millennium Parish Map) £176.25
Brimscombe Hill Limited (Parish Appraisal) £450.00
Total Invoices for payment: £1,718.92
The accounts were approved for payment.
(b) To consider the Budget for the financial year 2011/12. The RFO presented a draft Budget which was approved by the Parish Council.
(c) To set the Precept for the financial year 2011/12. The Council agreed to set the Precept at £19,945.00 being a 3% increase on the previous years Precept.
10. PLANNING
(a) Applications and decisions by Stroud District Council. A schedule of Parish Council recommendations and decisions by Stroud District Council had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Council discussed the details. Cllr Grant advised that the Wagon and Horses Appeal had been dismissed.
11. HIGHWAYS
(a) To receive the notes of a meeting held between the Parish Council and Gloucestershire Highways on the 18th November. The notes were discussed and it was agreed that an item be put on the next Agenda for discussion around the possible storage of handyman equipment and salt supplies for the Parish. ACTION: CLERK
12. COUNCILLORS REPORTS
(a) Cllr Martin advised that Brimscombe & Thrupp Football Club were going through to the County League and the Club would be looking to apply for planning permission in the near future to install floodlights on the pitch.
(b) The Youth Shelter was discussed and it was agreed that the Parish Council should look to dispose of it as there was no suitable place in the Parish to situate it and the Football Club where it is currently situated would like it removed. It was agreed that Cllr Watson would supply the Clerk with the details of members of the working party in order that the Council could formally request that they were happy for the Youth Shelter to be disposed of. ACTION: AW / CLERK
(c) The Chairman advised that he had been approached by the owners of 1 Silvertree Gardens requesting that they be allowed to fell a tree next to Yew Tree Way. The Parish Council confirmed that they were happy for them to do so as long as they paid all costs in connection with the same.
(d) The Chairman advised that the Parish Handyman was currently repairing two benches by Goughs Orchard.
13. TO RECEIVE THE RESIGNATION OF CLLR MRS J TRAYLER
The Chairman read out Cllr Mrs Trayler’s letter of resignation and thanked Cllr Mrs Trayler on behalf of the Parish Council for all of her hard work particularly with regards to the Yew Tree Way Project and her support over the years that she had served as a Parish Councillor
14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 4th January 2011 at 7.30pm at Brimscombe and Thrupp Social Centre.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS
THE MEETING CLOSED AT 9.20PM