NORTH NIBLEY ANNUAL PARISH MEETING: MONDAY 4TH APRIL 2011

CHAIRMANS REPORT

Thank you all for attending this Annual Parish Meeting.

This year your Parish Council has endeavoured to do it's best to ensure the smooth running of the Parish.

We have met regularly each month.

We have been presented with and discussed many planning applications, listened to the comments and concerns of Parishioners and made our recommendations to Stroud District Council Planners.

Thanks to the hard work of Cllr. David Palmer and his team the Parish Plan was finally completed and a copy has been delivered to every household in the Parish. We now need to ensure that the Plan works for the Parish

The Sports Pavilion has been completed and officially opened and I am sure everyone will agree it is a great asset to the village.

The Parish owns a few small parcels of land around the village one of which is at Breakheart Hill just off the Stinchcombe Golf Course road. It has for many years been rented out as grazing land but the Parish Council took the decision to take it back into our care. In order to manage it efficiently it has been fenced and will be cleared and then we will make a decision on what next to do with the land. There have been some suggestions that the land may be of some archaeological interest.

The Parish also owns a small parcel of land and part of the quarry on Nibley Knoll. The land around this is currently on the market and I am sure you will have read in On The Edge that there is a move to try to raise enough money so that this can been purchased to enable people to still have free access to the area to continue to enjoy it as they always have been able to do.

Your Councillors have represented the Parish at various Committee Meetings throughout the year and have produced reports for you to read.

Earlier this year we were all saddened by the death of Mrs Edna Purnell who for many years served as a Parish Councillor, she will be missed by all for her kindness and for all the hard work she put into many projects around the village.

A few months ago Mr Ray Smith decided to retire after serving many years on the Council. We thank him for all his hard work especially with the Monument Trust, the care and upkeep of the Cemetery and also his involvement with the Playing Field Committee.

Mrs Katie Glancy applied and was co-opted to fill his seat on to the Council, she is very welcome.

I would like to thank on behalf of the Council, Dr John Cordwell our County Councillor, Mrs June Cordwell. Mr Paul Smith and Mr Alan OConnor, our District Councillors for their regular attendance at our meetings and their hard work on your behalf.

I would also like to thank Mrs Marlene King for her continuing work as the Clerk to the Burial Board.

Our thanks go to our Clerk Mr Rex Symons for all his hard work and advice. He has also managed to drag us into the electronic 21^st century with emails, minutes posted on web-sites and even Twitter.

Finally thank you to all my fellow Councillors for their support and hard work throughout the year.

I would just like to remind everyone that all the Parish Council seats are up for election on May 5. I encourage everyone to use their vote.

Ann James Chairman