MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD IN THE VILLAGE HALL

ON WEDNESDAY 4^th APRIL 2007  

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

The Rev Dr John Hunter

Rev Hunter  thanked everyone who had attended the Lenten lunches.  £1460 had been raised for Wick Court Farms for City Children.

POLICE REPORT

Sgt Steve Irvin reported crime figures from April 2006 to April 2007.  There had been 69 reported crimes of which 15 had been detected.  The Speed Indicator Board had recently been deployed in Lake Lane with good results.  A campaign will be taking place in the whole district after Easter targeting motorists using mobile phones or not wearing seat belts.  

Residents were advised to be aware of a team of bogus callers operating in the district posing as Severn Trent employees or gas/boiler technicians.  They are using a green Ford Mondeo registration T356 EBF and if the vehicle is seen please call 999 immediately.  Cllrs asked if the Neighbourhood Warden, PCSOs and Village Agent could liaise to ensure that vulnerable residents are aware of the danger.

Cllr K Lewis reported the police have been called on a number of occasions to incidents in Ann Wicks Road and The Oval.  Sgt Irvin  will ask the PCSOs to be aware when they are patrolling in the area.

Sgt Irvin left the meeting

MINUTES OF THE MEETING  

PRESENT

Cllrs Alexander, Clifford, Howe (Chairman), Greenfield, K Lewis, M Lewis, Price, Speed and Wagstaff were present, plus Lynn Ireland (Clerk) and 3 members of the public.   

APOLOGIES  

None received.  

37/07      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None.  

38/07      PREVIOUS MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7^th March 2007 were amended as follows:  

Item 26/07 – (d) Other Planning, third bullet point 

The words “with it” to be added to complete the sentence at the end of the second line.  

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

39/07      PLANNING

(a)    decisions of the district council

(b)     the following aplication had been taken by the planning sub group

(c)   other planning matters

§           Frampton Youth Football Field, Whitminster Lane

Cllr Clifford declared a non- prejudicial interest

Cllr K Lewis had spoken to the Chairman of the FYFC.  They have carried out the majority of the planting and are waiting for completion of the building works before completing the planting. The Club Chairman has offered to attend a Parish Council meeting to discuss timescales with Cllrs.

Cllrs discussed the situation and concluded that this matter is between Frampton Youth Football Club and the District Council and as such there is no action Parish Council can take.  Residents should be advised to take any complaints direct to the Enforcement Officer. 

Proposal               The Chairman brought discussions to a close by asking those who felt no further action could be taken to so indicate

Vote                       6 members voted for no further action; 1 opposed; 2, including the Chairman, abstained.  

The Chairman was asked to contact Mr Precious and let him know the decision reached by Parish Council.

40/07      ACCOUNTS

§          Payment of Annual Donations

In accordance with Minute 135/06 from the November 2006 meeting, the following donations were made:

The annual donation traditionally made to St Mary’s for maintenance of the churchyard was discussed.  Until the planned meeting with the PCC had taken place it was not clear how the PCC wished to tackle the issue of grass cutting.  Quotes for grass cutting obtained by Parish Council three years ago were in the region of £3500 pa and would inevitably have increased since then.  Parish Council has offered to cover this cost but the PCC has not accepted the offer.  The Chairman will try to arrange a meeting between three representatives of the PCC and three Parish Cllrs before the AGM of the PCC.

§          Invoices for Payment

   §          Invoices paid between meetings

The following invoices were paid between meetings using the Chairman’s discretionary powers:

    §          Financial Update

Cllrs noted the contents of a Financial Statement for April 2007 presented by Cllr M Lewis.  Copies of the Annual Accounts will be circulated in advance of the May meeting.  

§        Other Financial Matters

-  Moore Stephens have been appointed as External Auditors for the 2006/07 financial year.  

-  Cllrs confirmed the Chairman’s purchase of the reference book ‘Our Common Land’ at a cost of £30.   

41/07      ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

The Chairman reported the meeting had been very successful.  The presentations from village organisations had been well received.  Cllrs agreed to repeat this format for future years and invite a maximum of four organisations to give presentations each year and allow a short time for the County and District Cllrs.  Minutes of the meeting will be circulated to Cllrs for information.

42/07      SEVERN VOICE GROUP OF PARISHES

The meeting held on 19^th March had been hosted by Hardwicke Parish Council and Chaired by Cllr John Howe.  Minutes of the meeting had been previously circulated for information.   

§           Housing Needs Survey

The GRCC had provided an Executive Summary for the meeting and advised that individual reports would be provided for each parish.  The Severn Voice Chairmen had requested a meeting be arranged with GRCC to take this forward.

Cllrs discussed availability of land in the parish and the Old Dairy Site and the Old Tennis Courts were put forward as suitable for development of low cost housing. 

Old Tennis Courts, Lake Lane – a previous application for housing had been turned down by the District Council.  Tomkins Barron have been unable to attract more businesses to the estate and Cllrs wondered if an application for housing on the site might be considered due to the changed circumstances.  It was agreed that in due course a meeting should be held with Mr Barron, the Chief Planning Officer and representatives from this Parish Council to discuss the possibility.

The Old Dairy Site, Oatfield – Cllr Clifford declared a non-prejudicial interest.  Cllr Clifford reported that at present the site is agricultural not brownfield.  Frampton Court Estate have approached the District Council to rezone this site for residential use.  Cllrs agreed to support the proposal in principle, it being mentioned in the Parish Plan.  

Cllr M Lewis left the meeting

§           Neighbourhood Warden Scheme

Andy Foster has been appointed as Neighbourhood Warden for the Severn Vale parishes and will be allocating a half day each week to patrols in Frampton-on-Severn.   The 6-month pilot will start on 1^st April and will be reviewed in September following community consultation.  An item will be placed in the August issue of the CA Newsletter inviting responses from residents. 

Cllr K Lewis will contact Andy to take forward problems discussed with Sgt Irvin at the start of the meeting. Andy will be invited to attend the May Parish Council meeting.   

§           Parish Charter

Parish Councils are encouraged to sign up to the Charter which aims to keep Parishes advised of what County Council departments are doing and improve lines of communication.  Copies of the revised Charter will be circulated for discussion at the next meeting.  

§           Village Link

The Government subsidy has been cut and therefore the Village Link service will not be proceeding.  Parish Councils will be consulted on proposals for a new service.

43/07      PARISH PLAN UPDATES

Copies of the updated document prepared by Cllr Speed had been previously circulated.  A great deal has been achieved since September 2005 and many items continue to move forward.  Work is ongoing.

44/07      COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

No report.

Cllr Alexander reported that Highways are carrying out a feasibility study for traffic lights at the A38/Perryway junction at a cost of £15,000.  The proposal will need to go before Elected Members to finalise any scheme.

45/07      DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

No report.

46/07      CORRESPONDENCE

§          Lagger at Glebe Close

Council authorised the Chairman and Vice Chairman to sign the various papers regarding the transfer of ownership of the lagger to the Parish Council

§          Statement of Community Involvement

The District Council require responses by 14^th May.  Cllrs Alexander, Howe and Wagstaff will check the document and report to the May meeting.

§            Mobile Police Station

Will visit the parish on 3^rd and 21^st May.

§          Miscellaneous

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

47/07      ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Cllr Wagstaff asked if any progress had been made regarding parking at Roes Pool.  The Chairman has agreed with FCE that people using the Congregational Church can park on the parking area north of Portland Place and the Minister has been advised.   Cllr Speed suggested the use of mock staddle stones and/or kerbing at various locations on The Green to discourage parking.  It was agreed to take this as an Agenda item for the next meeting.

Cllr K Lewis reported that following the request for householders in Lake Lane to cut back shrubs overhanging the footpath, only one householder has taken any action.  The main culprit has not taken any action.  This will be added as an Agenda item for the next meeting.

Cllr Price reported the potholes adjacent to Frampton Village Stores have been filled in but the work is not satisfactory.  Cllr Alexander advised that only temporary works had been carried out and Highways are hoping to have funding for permanent repairs in the new financial year.

There being no further business the meeting was closed at 9.41pm .