AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY, 1 MARCH 2010, THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.

Present: Mrs EA James (Chairman); Mr D Purnell; Mrs A Hale; Mrs. P Kelly & Mr. D Palmer.

District Councillor: Mrs J Cordwell; & County Councillor Dr. J Cordwell

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

Cemetery Clerk: Mrs M King.

Apologies. The following apologies were accepted: Mr K Brown; Mr R Smith; & District Councillors Mr. C. Routledge & Mr P Smith.

1. Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any interests.

There were none.

2. To Approve and Sign the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 February 2010, as a true and accurate record.

The Minutes had previously been distributed to all members and displayed on public notice boards and websites. All members agreed that the Minutes should be signed as a true and accurate record. The Minutes were duly signed.

3. The Council noted Matters arising from the Minutes that were not covered by agenda items. The Clerk’s Update Notes, which had been issued prior to the Meeting, informed the Council that:

• the Parish Clean-up Day has been set at 8 May 2010 and was mentioned in the Parish Council OTE article. (Minute 4/02/10). The Clerk has contacted Stroud DC who will supply the necessary equipment for the day. It was agreed to meet at 9.00am at the Village Hall. Several Councillors volunteered to take part. It was suggested that posters seeking further volunteers should be displayed in the Village Shop, the Black Horse Inn, the Village Hall and on notice boards.

• the Clerk has written to Mr Owen regarding the ending of his license for the land advising him that the Council are intending to fence the land and that this would involve contractors visiting the land in the coming months, to cost the work. (Minute 5/02/10). It has been confirmed that the letter has been received.

• the Clerk has written to Mr Julian Wilson (Highways) bringing to his attention that during the recent spell of bad weather some areas of the parish were without the means to salt the roads. He has responded to say that they “intend to review the situation with grit bins and as you are aware we struggle to keep all the existing bins full during periods of winter weather, so we are reluctant to put any more out as this will only make our response time even longer when refilling is necessary”. (Minute 5/02/10). The Council agreed that there was a need to follow-up this issue in the Summer.

• also in his letter, Julian Wilson advised the Council that he had spoken to Mr Ray Smith about his snow plough and Mr Smith had felt unable to continue to be a snow plough operator. The plough had been moved to another volunteer in the Wotton under Edge area, leaving the Parish with one operator (Mr Ken Brown) and the new snow plough operator being able to help out in the North Nibley area once he has cleared up snow around Wotton. (Minute 5/02/10). Some Councillors expressed concerns that the Parish had lost one of its two snow ploughs, but after discussion, during which it was revealed that Wotton under Edge had previously not had a snow plough, it was agreed that the situation was acceptable.

• the local meeting on the Consultation on the Core Strategy for Stroud District will be at Wotton under Edge Civic Building at 6.30pm on Tuesday 2 March. Two Councillors and the Clerk will be attending. (Minute 10/02/10)

• the Loan from Public Works Loan Board, less £2,219.50, has been transferred into the Parish Council Loan Account with Lloyds TSB. (Minute 13/02/10)

• following the February Meeting, County Councillor Dr Cordwell had corresponded with the County Council regarding the Travellers’ Encampment on the road to Stinchcombe Hill, in the vicinity of Hermitage Wood. (Minute 6/01/10). Cllr. Dr Cordwell reported that he has been advised that Stroud DC have provided all the necessary sites for travellers, as required by the Regional Spatial Strategy.

• the Clerk had contacted Mark Hemming (Arboriculture Officer of Stroud DC) regarding the tree at Nibley Green. Mr Hemming advised him that he had visited the site and he is content about the arrangements. Furthermore he had investigated the claimed historic links with the tree and he does not accept that there are any links to the historic event at Nibley Green. Following discussion the Clerk was asked to contact the local Historical Society as they are likely to have evidence to the contrary.

• it was reported that, in spite of assurances to the contrary, the road through North Nibley was still very muddy as a direct result of the tipper trucks accessing a site in Swinhay. The Clerk was asked to speak to Julian Wilson and request that he contacts the contractor to get the road cleaned.

8. The Council received information about the latest Consultation Stages of the Stroud District Council Core Strategy; and went on to decide how it would submit its views to the District Council.

The Chairman brought forward agenda item 8 to enable the member of the public present to comment.

The Chairman pointed out that there is a meeting at Wotton under Edge Civic Centre on 2 March, to which all Parish Councillors were invited. There will also be a Public Exhibition at the Farmers Market at Wotton under Edge Town Hall on Saturday 6 March (10.00 am to 1.00 pm). Posters advertising this event have been displayed on the notice boards. Councillors were also reminded that anyone can submit their own views on-line. www.stroud.gov.uk/core.

As the Parish Council does not meet again before the Consultation period ends on 22 March, the Clerk presented the information which had been previously sent to the Council. It was agreed that the Parish Council should decide their preferred options and that the Clerk would draft a response for comment, which will be sent to all Councillors, prior to submission to the District Council.

Councillors expressed several views in favour of the various options. Options E,F&G, as set out in the Alternative Strategies Document, all included the possibility of substantial housing development within the Parish. Councillors were concerned that the potential outcome of these three Options could lead to a disproportionate increase in the size of North Nibley and create developments in the area outside of the village envelope. It was recognised and accepted that the Parish does need some Affordable Housing development, but not on the scale proposed under any of these options.

An objective, as set out in the Document, requires the creation of two employment opportunities per house developed. Councillors welcomed the potential of more local jobs being created, but were very sceptical about the possibility of creating the numbers envisaged in the Document as there were few sites in the Parish suitable and acceptable for business development. It was pointed out that the Document itself acknowledged these difficulties in relation to Options E,F&G.

Concerns were also expressed that the current infrastructure of schools, roads, public transport arrangements and other local facilities were insufficient to support any of the options which potentially included North Nibley

Following their discussion the Council voted on the Options and they agreed that the Council’s preferred options were: 1^st equal Options B & D; 3^rd Option A.

Following the Meeting on 2 March the Clerk would draft a reply on behalf of the Parish Council and send it to members for comment before submitting it to meet Stroud DC 22 March deadline.

5. The Meeting was opened for Public Discussion and Questions.

There was none.

7. There were no Planning Applications for the Council to consider.

5. The Council noted that:

1. Planning Consent has been granted in respect of:

• S.09/2046/FUL. Erection of replacement agricultural building at Waterley Bottom. It was stated that this Permission relates to land adjoining Axe Lane at Breakheart Hill.

The conditions placed upon the permission were read out by the Clerk.

• S.09/1974/HHOLD. Erection of extension and alterations at Denewood, Pittcourt, North Nibley.

• S.09/2272/HHOLD. Erection of single storey extension to rear of building at Fortune Cottage, Road Green, North Nibley.

(B) Listed Building Consent has been granted for the following application:

• S.09/2072/LBC. Conversion of coach house to form dependant persons’ annexe.

9. The Council received a written District Council Report from District Councillor Mrs J Cordwell. (See attached).

9. District Councillor Mr C Routledge did not submit a written report for this Meeting.

9. The Council received a written District Council Report from District Councillor Mr P Smith. (See attached). Cllr. Smith was not in attendance, so it was agreed that any questions relating to his report should be deferred until the April Meeting.

9. The Council received a written report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. (See attached). Cllr. Dr Cordwell was asked about his views on the proposed Severn Barrage. He explained that he had been involved in a Working Group on the topic, but that because he disagreed with the proposals he has since withdrawn from the Group.

9. The Council received and discussed Reports of Committees and Meetings attended by Parish Councillors.

The Chairman invited Councillors to report back on any meetings they had attended.

• Mrs Kelly, Parish Council representative on the Village Hall Management Committee, presented a written report. (See attached). Mrs Kelly reminded the Council that the Village Hall AGM is on 22 March and that all are invited.

• It was reported by Mrs Hale, Parish Council representative on the Board of Governors at North Nibley Primary School, that the vacancy for a head teacher has been advertised in the Times Educational Supplement.

• The Clerk reported that on 4 February he represented the Parish Council at the annual Forum for Parish & Town Councils hosted by Mr David Hagg, Chief Executive of Stroud DC. In addition to the Core Strategy, already reported under item 8, it was reported that Stroud DC were looking at ways of saving money and that as a part of this process they were seeking alternative strategies to delivering services, including by asking Parish Councils to take on some of their activities. The Parish Council were concerned about the financial impact on the Parish Council budget.

9. The Council discussed and agreed that the Agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.00pm on Monday 12 April 2010 will include the following topics:

• An Update on the Recreation Field Pavilion by Mr Paul Findlay and Mr Roly Brown. The Clerk was asked to request that they provide some visual aids to their presentation.

• An Update on the Parish Plan.

• To provide information on the Village Clean-up Day on 8 May; and seek additional volunteers to join the activity.

• inform parishioners and seek out ideas on the Council’s plans for Breakheart Hill.

• To provide an overview of the Council’s Budget and how it is spent.

• To receive Reports from Parish, District & County Councillors. Councillors were reminded to send their reports to the Clerk in advance of the Meeting.

9. Finances.

Following discussions the Council agreed to pay and signed cheques for the following Invoices:

1. Payment of expenses for Parish Plan Wine & Cheese evening and Coffee Morning, September 2009. (£40.00)

2. Payment of GAPTC Annual Membership, due on 1 April 2010. (£164.40)

3. Payment to GAPTC for a half-day training event on Council Insurance and Standing Orders. (£30.00)

16. To Receive and Approve the Cemetery Report.

1. Mrs King (Cemetery Clerk) reported that she had been speaking with Grimes and Goscombe regarding the two graves which were now ready for the replacement of their memorial stones. She reported progress in one case, but that the relatives of the deceased in the second grave were not in contact with Grimes and Goscombe and no progress has been made.

2. The Clerk presented a paper to the Council to assist them in reviewing the charges the Council make for burials. The rates charged were last increased in April 2008. The Clerk reminded the Council that the cost of running the Cemetery had been met by income in the current year. The costs for grass cutting in 2010/11 were to be held at the 2009/10 price. Following the Clerk’s Recommendation it was agreed by the Council the Rates would be held at the current level and reviewed again in March 2011.

3. The Council received, for information, details of Correspondence received. A written report was issued. (See attached).

Temporary closure of Forthay/Barrs Lane. The Clerk advised the Council that he had that day spoken with the contractors regarding the forthcoming closure, in three stages, of the road from Crowell Brook to Barrs Lane at the end of April/early May. He had secured assurances that residents would be still able to access their homes during this period but that there might be some delay on occasions. Also that it would be necessary for through traffic to use diversions. He had also alerted the contractors to the impact that stage 3 (Barrs Lane) would have on residents and the Village Shop and that he was awaiting further discussions with the contractor about this stage.

The Clerk also advised the Council that he had posted notices on the notice boards; and advised the Shop Manager of the plans to close Barrs Lane.

There being no further business the Meeting closed at 9.40pm.

The Chairman reminded Members that the next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall on Monday 12 April at 8.30pm, following the Parish Meeting.