MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL

ON WEDNESDAY 5^th APRIL 2006 

PRIOR TO THE MEETING PARISHIONERS WERE INVITED TO RAISE MATTERS OF CONCERN WITH CLLRS: 

§          Police Report

PCSO Lynne Aldridge gave a report on the up-to-date policing situation and said that figures for reported crimes between January 2005 and April 2006 showed a decrease.  At present the situation was generally quiet. 

Chairman thanked PCSO Aldridge for attending and she left the meeting. 

oooOOOooo 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING 

PRESENT

Cllrs Alexander, Coole, Greenfield, Greenway, Howe (Chairman), Hunter, Matthews and Speed were present, plus District Cllr Smith and 2 members of the public.   

APOLOGIES

County Cllr Booth, Cllr Clifford and the Clerk Mrs L. Ireland.

In the absence of Mrs Ireland, Notes of the meeting were taken by Cllr Alexander. 

39/06      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations. 

40/06      PREVIOUS MINUTES

(a)     The Minutes of the meeting held on 1^st March 2006 were amended as follows: 

§          Page 556 Item 29/06 The proposal under Item 2 to read:

“….. Mr Selkirk to act as Auditor…..” 

The Minutes were then approved as a true record of proceedings and signed by the Chairman.   

(b)   The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 15^th March 2006 were approved as a true record of proceedings and signed by the Chairman. 

41/06      PLANNING

(a)    decisions of the district council

(b)    to consider applications for planning

(c)        other planning matters

§             Planning Application S05/0418/OUT

Notification has been received that the applicant has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. This Parish Council would wish to continue its opposition to the application. 

§          Forest of Dean District – Statement of Community Involvement

Notification of the appointment of the Inspector was noted. 

§          Lagger at Church End

It was confirmed that Penley’s Solicitors had been contacted to act on behalf of Parish Council in the transfer of the lagger. 

§          War Memorial

Cllr Alexander advised detail of ownership. 

42/06      ACCOUNTS

§          Invoices

The following invoices were authorised for payment: 

The following invoices had been agreed and paid between meetings: 

§          Clerk’ Salary

NALC have proposed a 3% salary increase for Clerks for 2006/07.  Cllr Speed suggested taking this to the next meeting to allow the new Council to make the decision.  The proposal was defeated. 

Proposal                Cllr Howe proposed the increase for Mrs Ireland to £2072 pa (£518 each quarter).

Seconded              Cllr Greenfield

Vote                        5 in favour 1 abstention 

§          Accounts – Other

The following amount had been received and banked: 

§          Parish Council Audit

Mr Ian Selkirk was confirmed as Internal Auditor for 2006/07.  Notification of Audit has been received and the Annual Return is to be submitted by 31^st August 2006. 

43/06      DISTRICT/PARISH ELECTIONS

District/Parish elections are due to take place on 4^th May 2006.  Parish Cllrs Coole, Hunter, Greenway and Matthews were not standing for another term.  Three parishioners had put themselves forward and Parish Council would be required to co-opt to fill the ninth place.  Cllrs were asked to bring any suggestions to the May meeting. 

44/06      SEVERN VOICE

Whitminster Parish Council had hosted the meeting held on 22^nd March.  An officer from the County Council gave a presentation about the South West Regional Spatial Strategy and the meeting discussed issues arising.  Phil Sullivan and one of the Neighbourhood Wardens gave a report on the Neighbourhood Warden scheme for the Stroud District.  

45/06      ARLINGHAM RACEWAY

Cllrs agreed to send a letter of support to Arlingham Parish Council in their attempts to reduce the impact of the Raceway.     

46/06      COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

                No report. 

47/06      DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

District Cllr Smith reported the District Council have a fund available for community grants. 

48/06      CORRESPONDENCE

§          Smell from the Landfill site

Mr House at the EA advised every incident should be reported to the EA with full details.    A notice will be placed in the next issue of the Newsletter

§          Bridge Road Traffic Calming

Mr Lindsay advised the results of the traffic speed and volume survey indicate that a small traffic calming scheme would be appropriate.  This will be dependent on the level of funding available in the next financial year.  

§          Section 106 Bus Shelters

The County Council are investigating new sites for bus shelters.  No action is required by Parish Council.  

§          Village Hall

The committee of the Village Hall confirm that the grant given by Parish Council has been used to provide a disabled toilet and improved access for wheelchairs. 

§          Stroud Valleys Cycling Campaign

Co-ordinators have requested completion of a survey to assist with their plans to create a Cycling Strategy for the Stroud District. 

§             Mobile Police Station

The MPS will visit the parish on the 4^th and 22^nd May. 

§          Miscellaneous

Various papers and reports were made available for Cllrs’ perusal. 

49/06      CHAIRMAN’S ITEMS

§          Twinning Group

Members of the Bourgbarré Youth Council are to visit over the Easter weekend and a meeting has been arranged with members of the Stroud District Youth Council on the 15^th May.  Cllrs were asked to support the event and attend at 2.00pm in the Chapel Schoolroom. 

50/06      ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Matthews reported there is still a problem with smell from the landfill site on the Perryway. 

Cllr Greenfield asked if Parish Council could provide a green waste bin and a red dog fouling bin in the Church End area.

Cllr Greenway was disappointed to see sheep in the churchyard at St Mary’s.

Cllr Alexander reported that the sign outside Ivelway in Bridge Road, advertising the computer business, was blocking the view for vehicles emerging from Wisma Mulia.

Cllr Howe officially thanked Cllrs who were retiring from the Parish Council - Martin Matthews had given 8 years of service with a short interlude and Tim Greenway had also given 8 years service

Cllr Alexander officially thanked Cllrs who were retiring from the Parish Council - John Hunter had given 24 years to Parish Council which including some time as the Vice Chairman, and Les Coole had served in excess of 30 years.  These were both excellent records of service to the community and were very much appreciated. 

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.07pm.