NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL

2013


AN ORDINARY MEETING OF NORTH NIBLEY PARISH COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER, IN THE VILLAGE HALL, NORTH NIBLEY AT 7.30PM.

Present: Mr D Purnell (Chairman).

Mr K Brown; Mr S Hale; Mr K Larkin; Mr D Palmer; & Mr L Smitherman.

District Councillor: Mr P Smith (from item 8).

County Councillor: Dr J Cordwell.

The Clerk: Mr R Symons.

There were five members of public present for part of the Meeting.


The Chairman opened the Parish Council Meeting.

  1. The Council invited apologies. An apology was received and accepted from Mrs J Burton; & District Councillor Mrs J Cordwell. District Councillor Mr P Smith had previously explained that, due to attending another meeting, he would join the Meeting later in the Agenda.

  2. Declaration of Interests. The Chairman invited members to declare any Interests relating to this Meeting. There were none.

  3. The Council approved and signed the Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 7 October, as a true record. The Minutes of the October Ordinary Meeting had previously been distributed to all members and displayed on the public notice boards and the website. All members agreed the Minutes should be signed, as a true and accurate record. The Minutes were duly signed by the Chairman.


  1. The Council noted matters arising from the Minutes, not covered by agenda items. The Clerk referred to his Update Note, which had been issued prior to the Meeting. He advised that:

  1. Bird Farm. Mr Martin Evans, Legal Dept. Stroud DC, had advised the Clerk that although Mr & Mrs Bird have removed their mobile home “the Enforcement Notice also requires the permanent cessation of residential use of the site – so continued residential occupation of the touring caravans would still be in contravention of the Enforcement Notice”. Mr Evans has requested the Enforcement Team to check the site again to establish whether all residential occupation has ceased. The Clerk had not received any further update.

  2. The Island flower borders. Work was carried out on the Island borders by Jenny Wren, on the morning after the October Council Meeting. The Clerk had subsequently spoken to Mrs King who will thank Jenny for doing the work and advise her that volunteers will be taking on the task from next year.

  3. Pre-Budget Meeting. Councillors should have received papers for this informal meeting. The date of the Meeting has been moved to 11 November.

  4. Checks of Council Accounts. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman have carried out half yearly checks of the Council’s Accounts. The Chairman reported that the Council’s Accounts were in good order.

  5. New Road Cottages access & car parking. The Clerk has written to Ms Jill Fallows, Property Manager, Stroud DC about New Road cottages access & parking arrangements, on 10 October. The letter was copied to Mr Tim Power, Head of Housing Management, Stroud DC & District Councillors. A letter from Ms Fallows, which the Clerk considered to be an inadequate reply, was received on 30 October. Meanwhile there has been an exchange of correspondence between Mrs Convery & Ms Fallows. The Clerk has forwarded a copy of Ms Fallows reply to the Parish Council and he awaits the Council’s instructions. The Clerk has separately written to Land Registry in support of the residents’ case.

  6. Training for Councillors & the Clerk. The following nominations have been made for GAPTC training events.

  1. The Chairman closed the Meeting for Public Discussion and Questions. The five members of the public present sought the Council’s continued support on a matter relating to access by their vehicles to land behind their houses in New Road. The parishioners reported on an exchange of correspondence with Stroud DC and legal advice they had received. Following a full discussion of the issue the Council provided ideas and advice on the way forward. Meanwhile the Clerk will investigate the contents of the “North Nibley 1867 Inclosure Award”, by visiting Gloucestershire Records Office.

There being no further matters the Chairman re-opened the Meeting.


  1. The Council considered and commented upon the following Planning Applications:



  1. The Council noted that Planning Consent has been granted in respect of:



  1. Finances.

  1. The Clerk reported that there were no Invoices due for payment at the Meeting.

  2. The Council noted that the Direct Debit for (£1,068.74) payable to the Public Works Loan Board, in respect of the pavilion on the Recreation Field, had been taken on 1 November 2013.

  3. The Council noted that HMRC have made a VAT repayment of £471.69 into the Council’s Current A/C.

  1. The Council received a verbal report from the Clerk on recent discussions he had held with a representative of St Martin’s Parochial Church Council. The Clerk had been approached by the Church Warden (Mrs Holcombe), to discuss the possibility of the Parochial Church Council handing over responsibility to the Parish Council for the management of the closed churchyard. The Clerk reminded the Council that there had been an earlier approach in January 2013. (See Minute 8/02/2013). This had not been followed up by the PCC.

The Clerk reported that he had advised Mrs Holcombe of the legal position and that the PCC is required to provide 3 months’ written notice. (Local Government Act 1972 S215 (2)). The Parish Council will then have 3 months to take on the responsibility, or to give notice to the District Council to take on the responsibility. Either way the cost is likely to fall on the parishioners of North Nibley through the Precept, as Stroud DC is likely to charge the Parish Council. The Clerk reported that the matters under consideration included the grass, trees and walls.

The Council was advised that the next PCC Meeting is on 28 November and that the Clerk had advised Mrs Holcombe of the need for an early decision, to inform the Council’s budget discussions.

The Council agreed to include these matters in their budget considerations later in the month.



  1. The Council received a written District Council Report from District Councillor Mr P Smith. (See filed aside). Cllr. Smith also presented a verbal report on an announcement made to District Councillors at a meeting earlier that evening. He reported that Stroud District Council’s appeal in the High Court against the Inspector’s findings on a planning application in respect of Box Road, Cam, had been rejected. The judge had found that Stroud DC did not have a “five year supply of land” and as a direct result it was anticipated that there could be a significant impact on future building developments in the District. There were no questions for Cllr Smith.

The Chairman thanked Cllr. Smith for his report.

  1. The Council received a written County Council Report from County Councillor Dr J Cordwell. (See filed aside). There were no questions on his report.

The Chairman thanked Cllr. Cordwell for his report.



  1. The Chairman invited Parish Councillors to report on any Meetings they had attended:

  1. The Council received the following Cemetery Reports:

  1. The Clerk reminded the Council the contractors were due to start work at the Cemetery on 12 November.

  2. The Council was advised that Treecreeper Arborists are due to carry out a tree safety assessment in the Cemetery on 18 November.

  3. The Clerk reported that moss has grown on the paths and he has requested that Garden Supplies carryout out work to remove the danger, particularly around the war memorial area.

  4. The Clerk reported that Mr & Mrs Willcox had requested permission to place a bench in the Cemetery. Following discussion the Council agreed to the request but suggested that the Clerk should oversee the location of the bench.

  5. A request was received from Mrs Dommett for a memorial stone to be placed on her husband’s grave. Following discussion the Council agreed to the proposal.



  1. The Council received a written report (See aside) on Correspondence & Messages received.



The Chairman reminded the Council that a Remembrance Service would be held at the Village War Memorial on Sunday 10 November.



There being no further business the Chairman closed the Meeting at 9.25 pm.



The next Meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Village Hall, on Monday 2 December 2013 at 7.30 pm.



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